1. Schedule for the Remainder of the Semester
DATE
ACTIVITY
Nov. 16
Project Management
Nov.21
No class – Project /Lab Help
me your preferred presentation date.
Nov.26
Exam 2 will be ed – covers from Ch. 8 to today
Nov. 28
No Class – Exam 2 Due by midnight EST
Nov. 30
Lecture Wrap up/Lab 9 Due
Dec. 5
Presentations begin
Dec. 7
Presentations
Dec. 12
Presentations 8:
Dec. 15
All project materials due by noon
Lecture 16

2. Project Presentation Example
Lecture 16

3. Project Paper
Length – long enough to cover the subject, short enough to make it interesting (average length is 5 to 6 pages plus appendices).
Format:
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
Appendices
Data sources
Table inventory
Data dictionary
Lecture 16

4. Lab 9 – Tracking Seal Movement
Lecture 16

5. The GIS Project
First Steps
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6.
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7. Introduction Designing a GIS project.
What is the nature of the project?
Is it a one-time project or one that needs to be maintained
What is the scope of the project?
Project management and implementation.
Can you deliver the project on time?
Can you deliver a project of the appropriate quality?
Evaluation of the application.
Were you successful?
Do you need to make changes?
One of the key elements of delivering a successful project on time is to get it right from the start.
Lecture 16

8. Stages in Developing an Application
Problem identification
Interview the client(s) – Needs Assessment
Rich Picture
Root Definition
Designing a Data Model
Conceptual data
Physical Data
Determining the Analysis
Following this 3 step process can be helpful in getting it right.
Lecture 16

9. Figure 12.4 The system development life cycle
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10. 1. Problem Identification
Problem types:
Structured - A problem which can be broken down into a series of well- defined steps.
Unstructured - A problem that requires the use of intuition, reasoning, and memory.
A rich picture is a schematic view of the problem being addressed.
A root definition is a statement of an individual or group’s perspective on the problem
Structured – identifying the location of the properties an real estate agent has for sale.
Converting a unit of measure between its English and metric equivalents, Solving for X in an algebraic equation, and Calculating the trajectory of a rocket's flight.
Unstructured – choosing a neighborhood in which to live, priorities differ from person to person and so options must be considered,
Judging the adequacy of a theoretical proposition, Predicting how to dispose of nuclear waste safely.
Lecture 16

11. Rich Pictures
An effective tool for analyzing problems and expressing ideas.
Can focus attention on important issues.
Help individuals visualize and discuss the roles they have in an organization.
Establish exactly which aspects of the information flows within the organization and are going to be covered by the system.
Allow individuals to express worries, conflicts and responsibilities.
Lecture 16

12. How to Draw A Rich Picture
Start with a short problem statement near the center of the page.
Place all of the relevant key words around it.
Write down everything you can think of.
You can remove irrelevant words later.
Do not expect to complete your rich picture at once
Start with a rough version and develop over time.
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13. Example 1
Rich Pictures provide a mechanism for learning about complex or ill-defined problems by drawing detailed ("rich") representations of them. Typically, rich pictures follow no commonly agreed syntax, usually consist of symbols, sketches or "doodles" and can contain as much (pictorial) information as is deemed necessary.
Lecture 16

14. Drawing Guidelines Components Comments Actors – stick figures
These are the users of the system. An actor may represent a group of users. An actor may carryout any number of operations
Eyes
External observers
Speech bubble
Personal or group opinions
Crossed swords
Used to express conflict between actors
Operations (Processes or Functions) – circles or ovals with descriptive labels
What the system does. Each operation is executed by an actor or another operation.
Data Stores (Tables) – rectangles with descriptive labels
Tables in your database or files in the system. It is only necessary to show the type of data they contain.
Arrows – arrows with descriptive labels
Arrows show the direction of information flow among, actors, data stores and operations.
Boundary
The system boundary encloses the operations you are responsible for.

15. Example 2

16. Root Definition
Short textual statements which define the important elements of the relevant system being modelled - rather like mission statements.
What the system does – X
How it does it – Y
Why it’s being done – Z
Different users have different views of a problem. The system developer must get them to agree on a common root definition.
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17. Soft Systems Methodology with Root Definition
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18. Example 1
A university owned and operated system to award degrees and diplomas to suitably qualified candidates (X), by means of suitable assessment (Y), (in conformance with national standards), in order to demonstrate the capabilities of candidates to potential employers (Z).
Lecture 16

19. Problem Identification Questions
What is the problem you wish to address with GIS?
Is it structured or unstructured?
Can it be summarized in a rich picture?
Does the rich picture include views of all users as well as those affected by the GIS?
Can a single root definition be defined for the problem?
Is the definition acceptable to all users as well as those affected by the GIS?
If it is too difficult to draw a rich picture or formulate a root definition, the problem may be unstructured. These are difficult to address with a GIS
Can the problem be tackled with available resources?
Should the problem be broken into smaller parts?
Lecture 16

20. 2. Design and Choose a Data Model
The conceptual data model is a high level view, independent of the computer system.
Identify the elements of the data model and their relationship to one another (flowchart)
Create a list of actions the system must perform.
Identify system inputs and outputs.
Group actions, inputs and outputs into a logical order,
Lecture 16

21. Maps and GIS are Models of Reality. Abstraction GIS Data Modeling
They model some aspects of reality, while ignoring or simplifying others.
Abstraction
The process of abstracting what can be sensed in the real world into symbols.
GIS Data Modeling
The process of abstracting from the real world for representation in a GIS.
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22. Lecture 16

23. Lecture 16

24. Creating the Product Choose the appropriate application.
Choose the appropriate data model.
Data acquisition.
Create the metadata.
Develop the application.
Test.
Implement.
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25. Evaluation
The GIS must be evaluated for: Accuracy Efficiency Effectiveness User needs analysis Cost
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26. Deliver the System
Lecture 16