Got Data
Is the Internet the Solution to Sharing Data?
Introduction
Does your agency have data that needs to be shared with others? The Internet can be the solution. This paper will address many of the issues associated with placing an agency's data on a GIS website. This is a summary of issues that SanGIS (A JPA between the City and County of San Diego) faced. SanGIS has been hosting a GIS website since 1997. Starting with a MapObjects application and now using ArcIMS and hosting an online store. Come take a ride on the www.sangis.org Internet technology roller coaster.
A growing number of agencies are developing and maintaining GIS data. Once an agency has data the next challenge is how to distribute it. You can make maps, but they get out dated and fade. There is always buying a server and making the data available to every one on the agencies network. That works fine until you try and share the data with the public or anyone outside your network. Then there is the Internet and the issues associated with becoming active in the World Wide Web. Those are the issues that this paper will try to address.
Author
Steve McCarthy's background:
- 10+ years extensive technical experience in GIS.
- 4+ years consulting at large advanced GIS site.
- 12+ years experience in local government.
- Experience as project manager, staff supervisor, and senior level programmer.
- Experience in all phases of large-scale GIS development: needs assessment, functional requirements analysis, project design, database design, data conversion, data warehousing, application programming, and client training.
- Strong Esri product line experience: ArcIMS, ARC/INFO (both UNIX and NT), ArcStorm and ArcView. Esri product line programming AML and Visual Basic/MO.
- Experience with System Administration in UNIX and NT.
SanGIS
SanGIS was created in July 1997, as a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) between the City and County of San Diego. After 13 years of working together on data and application development, the City and County decided to formalize their partnership in GIS by creating the SanGIS JPA. Finding that access to correct and current geographic data was considered more important than application development to County and City departments, SanGIS focuses on ensuring geographic data is maintained and accessible.
SanGIS Mission
To maintain and promote the use of a regional geographic data warehouse for the San Diego area and to facilitate the development of shared geographic data and automated systems, which use that data.
SanGIS Goals
- To ensure geographic data currency and integrity.
- To provide cost effective access to geographic data to member agencies, subscribers and the public.
- To generate revenue from the sale of geographic data products to reduce the cost of map maintenance to member agencies.
SanGIS Internet history
SanGIS started out with a website that had the following:
- Information about SanGIS
- Map Gallery of pre-made maps that could be purchased via e-mail, walk in or phone.
- Map Objects (MO) application that had the following functionality:
- Search By Address
- Search by APN
- Pan
- Zoom in & out
- Turn on and off layers
- Local News about SanGIS and GIS in the San Diego Area
- A listing of SanGIS product that can be purchased at SanGIS
- How to contact SanGIS
Current SanGIS Internet Functionality
In the past two years SanGIS has made the following changes to the website:
- Upgrade the MO application with the help of a MO/ISA that was developed by Esri.
- Added an on-line store with the following capabilities:
- Where shape files can be purchased with a credit card and down loaded
- View the data prior to purchase
- View Metadata prior to purchase
- Send comments of data that is available for purchase
- Created the following ArcIMS interactive maps:
- Community Services
- Police & Fire Stations
- Libraries, Schools
- Community Service Centers
- Census 2000
- Community Plan Areas
- Parks, County Supervisor
- San Diego Council Districts
- Property Maps
- Parcels
- Roads
- Topography
- SanGIS grid
- Natural Features Maps
- Flood plains
- Geologic hazards
- MSCP
- Utility Maps
- hydrants
- Storm
- Water
- Wastewater facilities
- 2000 Election Results
- Presidential
- Mayoral
- Precincts
Future plans for SanGIS web hosting
- Migrate to ArcIMS 3.1.
- Hard copy maps in the on-line store.
- Secure data transfers large data sets that can not be sold in the on-line store.