The Environmental Management (EM) directorate at Robins Air Force Base has completed the first phase migration of its existing GIS implementation to an Esri enterprise GIS system. Previous GIS software architecture was complicated and convoluted, resulting in a lack of support for the GIS and creating data integrity issues. A strategic migration plan was generated to roll out the GIS implementation including short, medium, and long-term goals. The migration consolidates fragmented data into a centralized repository in ArcSDE; integration with external systems and work flow processes; and serving data to the enterprise using ArcIMS, MapObjects, and ArcView technologies. Geodatabase data model design and planning are under way. This migration success has propelled Robins AFB EM GIS to become an award-winning program. This paper will discuss the success and challenges of the migration strategies, Esri applications, and future directions.
An individual, a small organization, or a department in a larger organization might start with a single desktop mapping or desktop GIS system. As more people in an organization begin to see the benefits of organizing and managing information geographically, this single system could be increased to two, five, or twenty or more systems. For professional GIS capability, add other GIS utilities and extensions. To make GIS an enterprise technology, add a powerful GIS server and use your existing GIS systems to serve clients.
System architecture design is a process developed to promote successful
GIS implementations. This process supports existing infrastructure requirements and provides specific recommendations for hardware and network solutions based on existing and projected user needs. Application requirements, data resources, and people within an organization all are important in determining the optimum hardware solution.
A distributed computer environment must be designed properly to support user performance requirements. The weakest system component will limit performance.
The system architecture design process develops specifications for a balanced system.
Investment in hardware and network components based on a balanced system load model will provide the highest possible system performance at the lowest overall cost.
The GIS system design process includes an application needs assessment and a system architecture design review. The system design review is based on requirements identified in the user needs assessment. The GIS needs assessment includes a review of user work requirements and identifies where GIS applications can improve user productivity. This assessment identifies required applications and data requirements, and an implementation strategy for supporting GIS user needs. A GIS professional consultant familiar with current application solutions and customer business practices can facilitate this planning effort. The system architecture design assessment is based on the results of the GIS needs assessment. The customer must have a clear understanding of their GIS application and data requirements before they are ready to develop system design specifications. A GIS implementation strategy will provide timelines required for establishing recommended hardware procurement strategies.
The system architecture design assessment begins with a technology exchange. The technology exchange provides a foundation for customer support during the design process. Customer participation is a key ingredient in the design process. The design process includes a review of existing computer environment, GIS user requirements, and system design alternatives. System design component specifications are developed from hardware sizing tools maintained by the design team. An integrated implementation strategy is developed to support GIS application deployment milestones.
Distributed GIS solutions include integration of a variety of vendor products. Each product implements a component technology required to support the enterprise solution. Integration of this multi-vendor environment is made possible through voluntary compliance with generally accepted industry interface standards. A general understanding of the primary supporting technologies associated with a GIS enterprise solution provides a foundation for supporting the system design review process.
Network communications provide the connectivity for a powerful GIS enterprise business solution. A fundamental understanding of network communications helps users develop better applications and more efficient shared data resources. An enterprise GIS solution includes a variety of vendor products. These products must interface with one another to support an integrated GIS solution. A fundamental contribution provided by the system architecture design is the ability to translate user desktop application performance requirements to specific hardware and network specifications for an enterprise-wide design solution.
Once spatial data resources are established, additional users within the organization will require access to share these data resources. Data can initially be shared through tape exchanges among hardware platforms. Establishing a local area network (LAN) among workstations will support efficient data transfer. As the number of GIS users increases, shared GIS data libraries should be located on a dedicated GIS data server to improve access performance and simplify data administration. Standard network file-sharing protocol can be used to mount each user workstation with shared files on a central GIS file server. A networked GIS file server provides an environment for sharing common spatial data resources among department
System architecture design provides hardware and network solution that supports the performance and communication needs of GIS application users. Distributed computer environments are commonplace throughout the world, providing applications that support users where they work throughout the organization. GIS applications provide new and powerful ways to evaluate information. Application tools allow users to visually analyze large volumes of data. Access, retrieval, and display of these data place significant demands on the associated distributed computer environment. The GIS software supported by the distributed computer environment will establish primary requirements for the system design. Some user software requirements have a small impact on system design, and others require significant support from system resources. Understanding how GIS will be used in the workplace is important in order to develop a successful design solution.
People’s skills and experience in maintaining distributed computer system solutions are important considerations when selecting a system design. Maintenance of the distributed computer environment will be a critical consideration in selecting appropriate vendor solutions. Experience and training in maintaining specific computer environments may identify a particular design solution as the best fit for your organization.
The design consultant should review the current vendor platforms and network environments. These are the environments that are currently maintained by the organization. Hardware experience, maintenance relationships, and staff training represent a considerable amount of investment for any organization. Proposed GIS design solutions should take advantage of corporate experience gained from working with the established platform and network environment.
Organizations develop policies and standards that support their hardware investment decisions. Understanding management preferences and associated vendor relationships will provide insight into a design solution that can be supported best by the organization. Understanding the type of operations supported by the GIS solution will identify requirements for fault tolerance, security, application performance, and the type of client/server architecture that would be appropriate to support these operations.
The skills and experience of the systems support staff provide a foundation for supporting the final design solution. Understanding network administration and hardware support experience, in conjunction with support staff preference for future administration strategies, will help guide the consultant to compatible hardware vendor solutions.
The final solution must be affordable. An organization will not implement a solution that is beyond their available financial resources. With system design, cost is a function of performance and reliability. If cost is an issue, the system design must facilitate a compromise between user application performance, system reliability, and cost. The design consultant must identify a hardware solution that provides optimum performance and reliability within identified budget constraints.
Current technology supports distribution of GIS solutions to clients throughout an enterprise environment, but there are limitations that apply to any distributed computer system design. It is important to clearly understand real GIS user needs and discuss alternative options for meeting these needs with your systems support staff in order to identify the most cost-effective solution.