8. GIS Software © John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Overview Evolution of GIS software Architecture of GIS software Types of software Example products The GIS market
GIS Software The geoprocessing engines of GIS Major functions Collect, store, mange, query, analyze and present Key terms Program – collections of instructions to manipulate data Package – integrated collection of programs Component – self-contained, reusable software building blocks
Evolution of GIS Software Sub-routine libraries (60s/70s) Libraries of small programs (sub-routines) Required advanced programming skills Tool box with CLI (70s/80s) Basic package with Command Line Interface Required advanced technical skills Task-oriented system (90s/00s) Graphical User Interface (GUI) Customization capabilities to create specific-purpose applications
Three-tier Architecture User Interface Presentation Tools Business Logic Data Management Data Server Data
Project and Departmental GIS Project GIS Department GIS
Enterprise GIS
Customization
Desktop and Internet GIS Feature Desktop Network Client Size Thick Thin Client platform Windows Browser Server size Thin/thick Server platform Windows/Unix LAN/WAN Internet
Functionality Architecture User Interface Applications Geographic Tools Analysis Output Translation Customization Editing Display Data Manager Spatial Reference Data Access Vector Raster
Product Families Autodesk ESRI Intergraph MapInfo Smallworld Viewer Autodesk ESRI Intergraph MapInfo Smallworld Viewer AutoCAD LT ArcReader GeoMedia Viewer ProViewer Custom Desktop World ArcView GeoMedia MapInfo Professional Spatial Intelligence Profess-ional AutoCAD / Map ArcEditorArcInfo GeoMedia Pro Smallworld GIS Hand-held OnSite ArcPad IntelliWhere MapXtend Scout Database Server Design Server ArcSDE Uses Oracle Spatial SpatialWare Part of Smallworld GIS Component In several products Map Objects Part of GeoMedia MapX, MapJ Internet MapGuide ArcIMS GeoMedia Web Map, GeoMedia Web Enterprise MapXtreme, MapXSite Smallworld Internet Applic- ation Server CAD AutoCAD Map
GIS Software Classification Number of Users Cost Internet Viewer Component Hand-held Desktop Professional Functionality
Professional GIS Full featured Automation Manipulation Data access Query Spatial Analysis Visualization Mapping Advanced editing Customization $10,000
ArcInfo 8
Desktop GIS Data exploitation Data access Query Spatial Analysis Simple editing Visualization Mapping Customization $1500
MapInfo
Hand-held Field-based GIS Lightweight hardware Extension of desktop Limited capabilities Data collection Mobile mapping $500
Autodesk OnSite & ArcPad
Component GIS Do it yourself GIS Software building blocks Embeddable Highly customizable Highly interoperable Lightweight, low cost deployments $5000 for 50 ($100 each)
Internet GIS Distributed GIS Centralized service Simple, low cost Easy to use Map focused, some other services Read-only $7500 per server (10-30 users)
MapGuide
GIS Viewers Free GIS Lightweight Low cost Read only Mini-desktop GIS No customization $0!
GIS Market
Summary GIS software is developing fast Consistent GIS architecture Major development areas Internet Hand-held Increasingly standards-based Very wide ranging Rationalization of vendors