Lessons Learned from GIS Application Development Lessons Learned from GIS Application Development in a State Government Contextin a State Government Context

Yueming Wu, Ph.D.Yueming Wu, Ph.D.

West Virginia Department of Environmental ProtectionWest Virginia Department of Environmental Protection

2006 West Virginia GIS Forum & Workshop2006 West Virginia GIS Forum & Workshop

Morgantown, May 18, 2006Morgantown, May 18, 2006

ContentsContents

What is GIS application development?What is GIS application development? Why is GIS application development needed?Why is GIS application development needed? How is a GIS application developed?How is a GIS application developed? Case study Case study LessonsLessons Questions & commentsQuestions & comments

What is GIS application development?What is GIS application development?

GIS application development or GIS GIS application development or GIS customization development is not to rewrite a customization development is not to rewrite a proprietary GIS package, but to incorporate proprietary GIS package, but to incorporate users’ ideas to convert it into a usable and stable users’ ideas to convert it into a usable and stable product. product.

  

Why is GIS application development needed?Why is GIS application development needed?

There are no truly "off-the-shelf" GIS applications There are no truly "off-the-shelf" GIS applications satisfying all organizations due to the variety of satisfying all organizations due to the variety of organizational business models. Business intelligent GIS organizational business models. Business intelligent GIS applications are needed to address the issue. applications are needed to address the issue.

Casual users, representing the majority in a government Casual users, representing the majority in a government agency, prefer user-friendly and practical GIS applications. agency, prefer user-friendly and practical GIS applications.

Commercial GIS packages focus on basic and common Commercial GIS packages focus on basic and common GIS functions across industries. Power users need more GIS functions across industries. Power users need more complex GIS tools than a commercial GIS package could complex GIS tools than a commercial GIS package could offer.offer.

How is a GIS application developed? How is a GIS application developed?

Bell D, Morrey I and Pugh J (1992) Software engineering: a programmingp Bell D, Morrey I and Pugh J (1992) Software engineering: a programmingp approach. 2nd edn. Prenctice-Hall, New York approach. 2nd edn. Prenctice-Hall, New York

Case study Case study

Establish requirements (use case)Establish requirements (use case) Specify (requirements)Specify (requirements) DesignDesign ImplementImplement Operate and maintainOperate and maintain

Case study: establish requirements (use case)Case study: establish requirements (use case)

West Virginia Department of Environmental ProtectionWest Virginia Department of Environmental Protection

(WVDEP) has been developing an Enterprise Information (WVDEP) has been developing an Enterprise Information System (EIS), involving a variety of spatial and non-spatial System (EIS), involving a variety of spatial and non-spatial databases. databases.

Users in the Mining & Reclamation Program were looking Users in the Mining & Reclamation Program were looking for a convenient way to for a convenient way to electronically link GIS data electronically link GIS data with data in non spatial databases.with data in non spatial databases.

Case study: specify (requirements)Case study: specify (requirements)

Composite query:Composite query:

Electronically link GIS data with data in non-spatial Electronically link GIS data with data in non-spatial databases (e.g., ERIS & EQuIS)databases (e.g., ERIS & EQuIS)

Facts:Facts: Available in-house database applications didn’t offer Available in-house database applications didn’t offer

such a functionsuch a function Most employees lacked advanced GIS skills to take Most employees lacked advanced GIS skills to take

advantage of GIS packages (e.g., ArcGIS)advantage of GIS packages (e.g., ArcGIS)

Case study: specify (requirements)Case study: specify (requirements)

Streamline composite query processesStreamline composite query processes Provide easy access to GIS dataProvide easy access to GIS data Provide easy access to non-spatial dataProvide easy access to non-spatial data Improve spatial operation efficiencyImprove spatial operation efficiency

Case study: design -- application modelCase study: design -- application model

Client-server architectureClient-server architecture Client sideClient side

SQL statementsSQL statements API callsAPI calls

Server sideServer side Smart geodatabaseSmart geodatabase Procedures/triggers/views in databasesProcedures/triggers/views in databases Programs to link spatial & non-spatial databasesPrograms to link spatial & non-spatial databases

Case study: design -- application structureCase study: design -- application structure

A toolbar integrated into ESRI ArcGIS/ArcMap platformA toolbar integrated into ESRI ArcGIS/ArcMap platform Four groups of functionsFour groups of functions

Access GIS dataAccess GIS data Perform composite queriesPerform composite queries Access non spatial dataAccess non spatial data UtilitiesUtilities

Case study: implement -- codingCase study: implement -- coding

Programming languages/techniques Programming languages/techniques

Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0, Microsoft ActiveX Data Object Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0, Microsoft ActiveX Data Object (ADO), Microsoft OLE DB provider, Microsoft Component (ADO), Microsoft OLE DB provider, Microsoft Component Object Module (COM), ESRI ArcObjects library, Oracle Object Module (COM), ESRI ArcObjects library, Oracle SQL statements, etc.SQL statements, etc.

ProductsProducts

COM based dlls (dynamic link libraries), each of which COM based dlls (dynamic link libraries), each of which performs a specific taskperforms a specific task

Case study: implement – application settingCase study: implement – application setting

Toolbar integrated into ESRI ArcGIS/ArcMap platformToolbar integrated into ESRI ArcGIS/ArcMap platform ArcMap running via a Citrix metaframe terminal services ArcMap running via a Citrix metaframe terminal services

architecturearchitecture

Case study: DMR Information NavigatorCase study: DMR Information Navigator

Case study: implement – application settingCase study: implement – application setting

End UsersEnd Users DMR NavigatorDMR Navigator

ArcMap/ArcGISArcMap/ArcGIS

Citrix ServerCitrix Server

..

ERIS/EQuIS/RIMS ERIS/EQuIS/RIMS DatabasesDatabases

ArcSDE ArcSDE GeodatabasesGeodatabases

ORACLEORACLE

Case study: implement – application testingCase study: implement – application testing

FunctionalityFunctionality PerformancePerformance FlexibilityFlexibility

Case study: operate and maintainCase study: operate and maintain

DocumentDocument Train usersTrain users Provide customer servicesProvide customer services Upgrade on user feedbackUpgrade on user feedback

LessonsLessons

Administrative lessonsAdministrative lessons Technical lessonsTechnical lessons

Lessons: administrative lessonsLessons: administrative lessons

Interaction with end usersInteraction with end users Understanding usersUnderstanding users From beginning to endFrom beginning to end

Budget considerationBudget consideration Tight budgetTight budget In-house resourcesIn-house resources

Intra agency collaboration & cooperationIntra agency collaboration & cooperation Across the Mining and Reclamation programAcross the Mining and Reclamation program Across the agencyAcross the agency

Inter agency collaboration & operationInter agency collaboration & operation Between WVDEP & the Feds (e.g. DOI-OSM)Between WVDEP & the Feds (e.g. DOI-OSM) Between WVDEP & universities (e.g. WVU-NRAC) Between WVDEP & universities (e.g. WVU-NRAC)

Lessons: technical lessonsLessons: technical lessons

Application developmentApplication development Code as simple & reusable as possibleCode as simple & reusable as possible User involvement as early as possibleUser involvement as early as possible

Application testingApplication testing Client side testingClient side testing Server side testingServer side testing

Application deployment Application deployment PerformancePerformance Deployment modelDeployment model

Application maintenanceApplication maintenance Customer serviceCustomer service Prompt updatesPrompt updates

Questions & commentsQuestions & comments

QuestionsQuestions CommentsComments