Geography 38/42:376
GIS II
Topic 10:
GIS Implementation and
Management
DeMers: Chapter 15
GIS Implementation &Mgmt
 Implementation
– conversion of daily activities
– new workflow processes/protocols
 Management
– maintenance of facilities/geospatial databases
– coordination of personnel and projects
User-Centred Approach
 Consultative approach to implementation
 Advantages:
1. Evaluate user needs
2. Specify required functionality
3. Raise level of GIS awareness
4. Identify problems/issues in advance
5. Establish a shared vision
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GIS Implementation
1) Identify Users and Affected Personnel
–
Typically three groups of users in any organization:
•
Decision Makers/Management
•
GIS Analysts/Skilled Professionals
•
Data Producers/Labour
GIS Implementation
2) Hardware/Software Selection
GIS Implementation
3) Evaluating Cost:
– Cost is often a limiting/determining factor
– Startup costs are very high
• Hardware
• Software
• Geospatial data
– Cost-benefit analysis often used
• Est. time till benefits exceed costs (e.g. 5-7 yrs)
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GIS Implementation
4) Select Deployment/Conversion Strategy
– Direct Conversion
• Rapid, (re)trained staff, low success
– Parallel Conversion
• Simultaneous, steep learning curve, more costly, mod.
success
– Phased Conversion
• Stepwise, mult. training sessions, much slower, even more
costly, mod. To high success
– Trial and Dissemination
• Test, perfect, train, then deploy, slowest, costliest, greatest
success
GIS Project Management
 Strategy for conducting/coordinating a spatial
analysis project using geomatics tech.
 Perspective of a project manager or consultant
 Outlines steps that should be considered
1. Define/Identify Problem
 Clearly state problem/issue as a question
 Define overall goals of the project
 Employ user-centred approach for project
management
 Formulate hypothesis, purpose, objectives
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2. Deconstructing the Problem
 Define specific steps to achieve objectives
– Revisit step 1 is necessary
 Identify/define study area(s)
– With consideration of:
• Data availability
• Costs (travel, labour, data)
• Other resources
2. Deconstructing the Problem
 Identify data requirements including:
– Type and geometry of data layers
– Attribute data requirements
• Select required attributes
• Determine how they will be represented
• Decide how attribute info will be collected and measured
– e.g. nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio
– Accuracy and precision of attributes
– Scale of analysis/level of detail required
• Determines spatial accuracy and precision of data
– Availability
– Cost
2. Deconstructing the Problem
 Identify project requirements with regard to:
– Time
– Budget
– Facilities
– Expertise
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3. Create Cartographic Model
 Cartographic Model
– the process of combining various spatial analysis
techniques and operations in an ordered manner to
solve a particular problem
 Typically presented in the form of an annotated
flow chart
– used to design, edit and refine the model prior to
implementation
Might Look Something Like This
4. Build Geospatial Database
 Acquire/assemble data sources
 Integrate disparate data sources
 Manipulate/create attributes
 And always maintain metadata
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5. Conduct Analysis
 Implement cartographic model
 Replace pseudo-code with software specific
operations/functions
 May be conducted stepwise process or as a model
6. Verifying the Model
 Evaluate/test model results
 Conduct an accuracy assessment if applicable
 Refine, edit model
 Repeat as necessary
7. Present/Implement Results
 Present results as one or more of the following:
– Cartographic Product
– Technical report
– Methodology
– Metadata
– Geospatial Database
– Model, Decision Support, Expert System
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