An Enterprise GIS Application Package for Japanese Local Government
An implementation of GIS requires a huge budget for Japanese local governments. And each section of municipalities has developed each legacy systems, which has been designed only for internal use and maintained database with each budget.
To minimize and reduce its cost, PASCO Corp. has developed an Enterprise GIS Application Package with Map-Objects taking advantage of MS-SQL Server. This package takes cooperative database design and enables customers to chose from scaleable optional database design, which is expandable to ArcInfo. And 6 main applications, Fixed Assets Management, City Planning, Road Maintenance, Water Supply, Sewage Management and Universal Mapping are now available.
SUMMARY
The government agencies, and especially local governments have lots of occasions to make use of some maps in several fields, such as fixed assets management, city planning, road maintenance, water supply and sewage management. Most of sections of local governments are individually providing map data only concerned with their business or their routine.
However, in this manner, it is natural that several sections have similar data with different structure and accuracy. And this situation prevents them from making good use of some data for many purposes, and from introducing GIS.
Then, PASCO has developed the application with Map-Objects, with the aim of common use of the information based on maps, that are related to registers or tax rolls data.
Figure 1. Summary of enterprise GIS application package.
SYSTEM CONCEPT
On developing the enterprise GIS, we have to make clear a designing policy, including data base building and system design, the employment after system introduction, and so on. Some fundamental opinions about designing system are shown below.
Figure 2. System concept.
Application Developing
It is ideal that the enterprise GIS is developed by distributed processing by Client-Server. When the introduction of system is begun for new case, or in the local government, which doesn't possess many information systems except GIS, hardware should be selected with putting the enterprise GIS in consideration from early step.
On the other hand, in case some GIS are already introduced, integration of those systems should be promoted from viewpoint of grade, so that each system can function well mutually. On this occasion, we have not to forget that the newly added system must be consistent with legacy system.
Database Processing
We have to keep in our mind that the data prepared for the enterprise GIS is composed of common use data and individual use data, that is used in common in each post, this is used only in specific post.
The data in high need in agencies, such as roads, parcels, buildings, geographical features and administrative boundaries, are included in common use data. The data, which privacy protection is necessary for and which common use is unnecessary for, are regarded as individual use data.
On preparing data for this system, we have to configure explicitly how mach quality of information is required in each post and have to find the database building skill suitable for their quality. Furthermore for reducing cost in data setup, it is effective to unify data used in multiple posts, in other words, to avoid duplicate investment in each post.
Customer Supporting
Data in high need circulate inside agencies as an information, which can be shared, within environment of the enterprise GIS provides. We have to distribute careful consideration for protection of individual information.
The connection of enterprise GIS to the other administrative systems enables to make use of geography data accompanied with new attributes. Such a connection among systems brings increase in efficiency and quality of administrative office work, and this will realize improvement of inhabitant service and industrial activation.
System Expansion
We have to avoid hasty countermeasure because multiple post shares geography information, have to presume what administrative service should be, have to define the role of GIS and functions to realize it, and have to develop applications systematically.
We had better begin with data used frequently in various posts inside agency in planning data preparation. After that, every time one system is introduced at each post, individual use data will be increased and extended from viewpoint of grade.
SYSTEM CONFIGURATION
This system was developed on assumption that this works by Windows NT network environment. The data access to geography information is gotten in file server style by Map-Objects, and to attribute information, in client-server style by SQL.
Figure 3. Summary of system configuration.
HARDWARE
Personal computers working in Windows NT network environment and peripheral equipment such as printers are necessary for this system. Number of server or client computers depends on user's number, condition of routine, and so on. It is typically found one server and some client machines installed at each post.
Server Configuration
Size of database and number of connected client machines are elements to decide disk capacity and performance of server machine. When it is expected to handle very important or frequently updated data, introduction of RAID or mirror server will need to be examined. At least one unit in servers connected with system must have function of Primary-Domain-Controller, which manages security of application and database.
Table 1. Standard configuration of server.
| Item | Standard configuration of server. |
|---|
| CPU | Pentium-2 processer 300MHz |
| RAM | SDRAM with ECC, 256MB |
| Hard disk | Ultra wide SCSI, 20GB |
| Network card | 100BaseTX |
| Others | CD-ROM, DAT, UPS, Display, Keyboard, Mouse |
| OS | MS-Windows NT4.0 Server |
| RDBMS | MS-SQL Server6.5 |
Client Configuration
The important factors to decide a client model are processing speed and resolution of screen. High quality of display is required in GIS, the products, which support 1280 X 1024 dots, perpendicular frequency of 85 kHz or more, will be recommended. Recently, personal computers have come to demonstrate equal performance to EWS, and to be obtained at low price. Introduction of client computers will not be so difficult now.
Table 2. Standard configuration of client.
| Item | Standard configuration of client. |
|---|
| CPU | Pentium-2 processer 300MHz |
| RAM | SDRAM, 64-128MB |
| Hard disk | E-IDE(Ultra ATA), 4GB |
| Video card | 1280x1024 Full color, 85Hz(Vertical) |
| Network card | 10BaseT or 100BaseTX |
| Others | CD-ROM, Display, Keyboard, Mouse |
| OS | MS-Windows NT4.0 Workstation |
| Middle ware | Map-Objects(Client license), MS-SQL ODBC driver |
SOFTWARE
The enterprise GIS is 32-bits application, developed in platform of Visual-Basic, making use of Map-Objects and some custom controlls provided by third vendors. Entire configuration necessary for applications is memorized in registry. Users can perform the environmental configuration he likes at every user account.
The access to geography database is in file sharing style. Therefore, security of database is influenced by access right of Windows NT. To say concretely, preparing local and global group in each post, each user sets up to access to shared folders at server. Remote-Data-Object(RDO) realizes the access in Client-Server style to attribute database perfectly.
DBMS of SQL-server assures careful access to data, security configuration in integrated environment of Windows NT brings less maintenance of DBMS.
We have made up some component in order to increase the efficiency of development of application. Visual-Basic ver5.0 enabled creation of Active-X module, and easy conversion to Active-X module from class module made up in Visual-Basic. Let us explain some typical components below.
Map Management Object
This is the runtime library for simplify programming to indicate map, supports library of ArcInfo and image catalog. This manages Layer-Collection of tiled layers and information of symbols and renderers together as a high-order object of Map-Control.
Figure 4. Structure of map management object.
Plot Management Object
This runtime library allow programmers simple programming for plotting maps, enables printing and preview of maps, cooperating with Map-Control and printer controllers (of third vendors).
Figure 5. Sample output by plot management object.
Layer Property Dialog
This is the custom control to establish way of display of layer. Property of symbol, and renderer object, excluded Chart-Renderer and Group-Renderer, can be set up on GUI basis.
Figure 6. Sample of layer property dialog.
FUNCTIONS
The enterprise GIS is classified roughly into general purpose and individual purpose system, and both of then consist of plural applications. Individual purpose system is build in each post of fixed assets, city planning, road, water and sewage.
GENERAL PURPOSE SYSTEM
This is placed as the core of system, and is package application with same GUI for all use. The objective of system is to provide in low cost many integrated functions of displaying and referring, editing, printing maps.
This brings advantage of that a certain user can learn how to use it easily, even if he is transferred to other department.
Common View System
This enables to look up, display and print geography information stored in agencies, and the attribute information related to it. It is possible to overlay the map utilized at other posts on map in post, which a user belongs to, and to present the attribute information, too. However, security is protected because the account at login restricts reference to data.
Figure 7. Sample of common view system.
Plotting System in Fixed Form
This allows anyone to print a map in fixed form with easy manipulation. A poor director at computer may utilize this system many times. Or it will be useful when users must output a chunk of map in a short time. Users have only to set up only three things, area and theme, scale of map, in order to print a map. Moreover, configuration of output device and the preview can be performed, too.
Common Editing System
This is the application for adding, removing, or changing features toward any layers. The unique component was prepared because Map-Objects doesn't have ability to change features.
Development of this system is at present on the way to complement in about the end in 1998.
Map and Layer Control System
In this system, relationship between map and layer are expressed hierarchically, and users can perform diagram configuration about both of them. This GUI looks like Windows-Explorer.
INDIVIDUAL PURPOSE SYSTEM
Individual purpose system is composed of applications related to service that it is difficult for general purpose system to cope with, and related to batch processing of a chunk of data.
Most of this system is Add-In application called from general purpose system. Advance of Add-In is that applications can be developed with special design in individual business logic without programming about the basic function of display, reference of maps, etc.
Fixed Assets Management
This system is useful for dairy office work such as a change and counter business, with managing untidily taxation ledger and maps about taxation applicable stuff or evaluation of fixed assets. Information on parcel boundaries in this system is make use of in the wide field such as civil engineering, sewage, agriculture, city planning.
Figure 8. Calculation of land prices.
City Planning
Unifying the information on the maps and sheets about the city planning, this system supports the dairy work synthetically with efficient counter service and compiling statistics, investigation. The whole information concerned with the city planning can be provided, and the control of the attribute can be performed in the system.
Road Maintenance
This system manages untidily the information on drawings and sheets about roads, enables to increase in efficiency of updating data and compiling statistics, supports dairy maintenance of roads establishment and counter work and so on. Information on road works inputted in this system can be inquired at sections of water supply, sewage and so on.
Figure 9. Road datum points management.
Water Supply
This system manages untidily the information on drawings and sheets about water pipes, enables to increase in efficiency of updating data and compiling statistics, supports dairy maintenance of water supply establishment and counter work and so on. Information on water works inputted in this system can be inquired at sections of sewage, road and so on.
Sewage Management
This system manages untidily the information on drawings and sheets about drain pipes, enables to increase in efficiency of updating data and compiling statistics, supports dairy maintenance of sewage establishment and counter work and so on. Information on sewage works inputted in this system can be inquired at sections of water supply, road and so on.
CONCLUSION
In this paper, the enterprise GIS application package for japanese local government with Map-Objects and MS-SQL Server are introduced.
The system development was started in 1996. We could get a few documents about Map-Objects, Visual-Basic, Windows NT, and development of client server system with SQL. We took great pain of many trials and many failures. During a year, many books have been published, we have learned finally to advance development with less trouble.
Recently tackling GIS, for example servicing of territory spatial data, is activating, in local governments in Japan, some needs for GIS have been conspicuous as a link of high quality information. The government is coming to grips with the problems in the field of institutions such as employment rules and related laws, and in the field of techniques such as construction of system infrastructure, data servicing.
In local governments, unless the enterprise GIS is introduced or development to entire agency system is took in consideration, the introduction of GIS system has been difficult. We are going to supplement more functions in the future.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I hereby thank Mr. Kohei Yamamoto and Mr. Takanori Nyuuta for their helpful advice and encouragement to present myself at Esri User Conference.
REFERENCES
Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. Building Applications with Map-Objects. Redlands, CA: 1987, 1988, 1989
Hiroshi Mizuno, Engineer
PASCO Corporation
1-2 1-Chome Higashiyama Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153 JAPAN
TEL: +81 3 3715 1221
FAX: +81 3 3792 1421