1. System Requirements Software and Hardware
Geog 469 GIS Workshop
System Requirements Software and Hardware

2. Outline What are software requirements of GIS?
Evolution of GIS software
Terms related to GIS software
Types of GIS software systems
GIS software vendors
What are hardware requirements of GIS?
Classifying system functions
Two types of network configuration
Four types of system interface (client/server architectures)
Determining adequate system interface and network configuration
Longley reading is available in the department office

3. The evolution of GIS software
Toolbox approach (command line)
1980s~
Graphic User Interface (GUI)
Simplify user interaction with a GIS
Customization capability
Creation of GIS applications tailored to the needs of major markets (e.g. government, utilities, military, and environment)
1990s~
Distributed GIS
Example: demographic analyst can begin with exploring data through American Fact Finder on the internet, then move on to more complex functions in desktop GIS

4. The evolution of customization
1980s ~ 1990s
GIS vendors provide proprietary customization capability (e.g. AML, Avenue)
No standard customization systems existed
Programmers had to learn different macro languages to develop applications
2000 ~ 2010
Industry-standard programming language like Visual Basic, Python, or Javascript for customization
Programmers work with software components, and more easily assemble them into larger systems

5. Basic terms for GIS software
Presentation, business logic, data
Client, server
Stand-alone vs. client/server
Thin client vs. thick client
Middleware - application server

6. Elements of an application
Three key elements of application
Presentation: provide interaction with users
Business logic: perform operations
Data: data management
Application can be functionally divided into
Client: make a request
Server: fulfills the request

7. Stand-alone GIS vs. Client-server GIS
If the three elements reside in the same machine, the application is called stand-alone
e.g. ArcInfo in the Sherman lab “ArcGIS for Desktop”
If the three elements reside in different machines, the application is called client-server
e.g. web browser acts as client remote from the server where data and business logic reside
Can be implemented with different network configurations on LANs and WANs, e.g.“ArcGIS for Server”

8. Thin client vs. thick client
Three application elements can be divided into client and server at any point (a to e: a, c, e are components; b and d are connections)
System with partitioning point closer to “a” is said to have thin client (i.e., light work load in client a -b)
The system whose partitioning point is closer to e is said to have thick client (i.e., heavy work load in client a - d)

9. Middleware
For client to communicate with the server, we need translator to link them.
Intermediate connection component is called middleware or application server
e.g. ArcSDE functionality links ArcInfo (client) and DBMS (server) in enterprise-wide GIS (although ArcSDE ha sbeen subsumed into ArcGIS for Server)

10. Types of GIS software Desktop GIS software Server GIS
Developer/professional GIS
Mobile GIS
Other types of GIS software

11. Levels of desktop GIS software
Focus functions
Products
Cost ($)
GIS viewer
Display, query, mapping
ArcReader
free
Desktop mapping GIS
Data use, mapping
ArcView
ArcEditor
1k-2k
Professional GIS
Data collection, editing, DB administration, advanced geoprocessing
ArcInfo (ArcGIS for Desktop)
7k-20k

12. Server GIS
GIS runs on a computer handling concurrent processing requests from a range of networked clients
Lower cost per user
Typical costs range between $ 5k-25k
Examples of implemented system include
Mapquest.com
Realtor.com
Census.gov
e.g. Autodesk MapGuide, ESRI ArcGIS for Server, MapInfo MapXtreme

13. Developer GIS Component-based software development
Used to build a specific-purpose GIS application
Most of products are built on top of Microsoft’s .Net technology
Typical cost ranges between $ 1k-5k
e.g. Blue Marble Geographics GeoObjects, ESRI ArcGIS Engine, MapInfo MapX

14. Mobile GIS
GIS software for mobile and personal use on hand-held systems
Based on location positioning technology (GPS) and wireless networking
Typical cost ranges between $
e.g. Autodesk OnSite, ESRI ArcPad, Intergraph Intelliwhere

15. Other types of GIS software
Raster analysis
ERDAS IMAGINE, Clark Labs’ Idrisi
$ K
CAD-based
Autodesk Map 3D, Bentley GeoGraphics
$ 3k – 5k
Middleware
Autodesk GIS Design Server, ESRI ArcSDE, MapInfo SpatialWare
$ 10k – 25k
DBMS
Spatial extension of DBMS servers (e.g. Oracle Spatial)

16. GIS software vendor ESRI Intergraph Autodesk GE Energy
Focus on hard-core GIS users
ArcGIS
Intergraph
Began with computer graphic
GeoMedia
Autodesk
CAD-based company
Map 3D
GE Energy
Purchase of UK-based GIS firm Small World (2000)
Market share
see Figure 7.10 (p. 166) from Longley et al (2005)

17. GIS software survey 2005 Commercial products
Open Source products

18. Classify system functions
Class 1 functions
Functions that have an extremely high frequency of use; system users heavily rely on them
Must be proven to present, and operationally efficient
Class 2 functions
Functions that are essential and are heavily used
Must be in place and be efficient
Class 3 functions
Least-used functions
Need to be present, but not necessarily efficient
This classification will be helpful in making a recommendation of software
For example, the software that does not support class X function might be automatically disqualified.

19. Total function utilization table
Frequency of use
Business workflow
Function class
Function1
129
Work A
Class 1
Function2 42
Work B
Class 2
Function3 23
Work C
Function4 8
Work D
Class 3 …
IPD + MIDL

20. Two basic network types
Local Area Networks (LAN)
Support high-bandwidth communications over short distances
High-speed access data
Within a building or localized environment
Wide Area Networks (WAN)
Support communications between remote locations
Lower-bandwidth than LAN
Internet is a global WAN

21. Four types of system interface: client-server architectures
What does it look like? Which one to choose? How do I choose them?
Central file server with workstation clients
Central DBMS server with workstation clients
Centralized application processing with terminal clients
Web transaction processing with browser or workstation clients

22. 1. Central file server with workstation clients
Data is retrieved from the server and processed on the workstation
Client contains presentation and business logic (i.e. thick clients)
Server contains data management
Requires the transfer of large amounts of data from the server to the client
High demand for bandwidth
Best deployed over LANs

23. 2. Central DBMS server with workstation clients
Data is retrieved from the server by the DBMS and map rendering is processed on the workstation
Only the data required to support the client display be transferred because DBMS filters data needed
Reduce demands on the network
Best deployed over LANs

24. 3. Centralized application processing with terminal clients
Data and application software are both stored and run on servers
Significantly reduces network bandwidth requirements
Will be best deployed over WANs

25. 4. Web transaction processing with browser or workstation clients
Application software and data files reside on servers
Web browser displays information products via Internet or Intranet (i.e. thin client)
Requires sequential support for a large number of user transactions
Can be best deployed over WANs

26. Four types of system architecture based on previous descriptions
Thick clients
Thin clients
Large amount of data transfer
Small amount of data transfer
Small # users
Large # users
1. Central file server with workstation clients
2. Central DBMS server with workstation clients
3. Centralized application processing with terminal clients
4. Web transaction processing with browser or workstation clients

27. Interface and Communication Technologies
The relation between system interface and network configuration
Data volume
File server or DBMS server?
Level of computing complexity, number of users
Thick client or thin client? Web transaction?
Wait tolerance
Emergency dispatch will require low wait tolerance, and thus demand high bandwidth
Technology life cycle
Organization policies and standards

28. Review - Typology of GIS Software
Software type
Desktop
Viewer
Mapping
Professional
Server
Developer
Mobile
Middleware…
System architecture
Stand-alone
Client/server
Thick clients {file server, DBMS server}
Thin clients {citrix, web}

29. Team Discussion Consider your GIS project:
What functions are needed in your project based on frequency of use?
Identify GIS functions needed to create information products as well as to put data into the system (data readiness)
Identify Class 1, 2, 3 functions
Consider GIS software survey
Can you identify software to be disqualified based on class X function requirements?
Recommendations for software fucntions for your project
Why make those recommendations?