GIS Software Hardware Overview POEC 6383 GIS

GIS Software & Hardware Overview POEC 6383 GIS Implementation & Management Ronald Briggs University of Texas at Dallas 1

Introduction • From the discussion of Fundamental GIS Concepts we noted: – two types of data: spatial data (where) and attribute data (what) – two models for data representation: raster model and vector model – two computing environments: traditional relational data base model and object-oriented model • as we search for software for our GIS project, ideally we seek implementations which: – handle both spatial and attribute data, and pay commensurate attention to each – support vector and raster formats, including • conversion between the two • analytic capabilities for both – utilize relational data base or object-oriented computing models • how do software vendors in the market place meet these needs? 2

Software Categorization • Professional/industrial – capable of supporting on-going operational processes and management needs of the enterprise – permits programming of business processes and geospatial applications • Desktop/Presentation – support the analytical needs of professionals processing geospatial data • Business and other Niche Applications: targeted toward specific subsets of applications – to business for site selection and market area analysis – to specific industries e. g. transportation, telecomm, oil & gas exploration, – to specific applications e. g. rectification, thematic mapping • Mass Market – general public & personal productivity applications Ron Briggs UT-Dallas 3

Software for GIS: Mass Market differences (based on Thrall and Thrall, 1998) Least Complex Most Users • Digital atlas – e. g Rand Mc. Nally New Millenium, MS Encarta, National Geographic Picture Atlas • Interactive street display & route planning • Internet Mapping: geocoding and routing – urban yellow pages • Spreadsheet and Database Mapping Mass Market – e. g. De Lorme, MS Streets 98, AAA – Lotus Ver. 5 (Atlas Mapmaker) – Excel for Windows 95/97 (Mapinfo) Most Complex Least Users • • Clip Art and ready-made maps Thematic Mapping Desktop GIS & Business/Niche Applications Prof. /Industrial: Geographically-enabled programming Ron Briggs UT-Dallas

Professional Desktop versus Mass Market The capabilities of mass market (display, single-point geocoding, thematic mapping) plus • • support for raster as well as vector data (and perhaps also images) user-selected (rather than proprietary) spatial data input • – – – digital format (shape files, TIGER files, etc) – geographic format (datum, projection) • • variety of standard attribute data input formats (spreedsheets, comma delimited text, d. Base, etc. ) external data base access/connectivity via SQL, ODBC, etc. internal data customization and query (e. g calculating new variables and querying all) selective overlay of input spatial data Ron Briggs comprehensive support for spatial query and logic • polygon joins and overlay point in polygon intersection of lines and polygons buffering around points, lines and polygons batch geocoding with variety of userselectable options • topological editing of input (or new) spatial data • customization of maps and graphics for display and hardcopy • variety of digital data output formats for graphic (e. g. gif, tif, jpeg) and nongraphic data • macro, scripting or programming UT-Dallas capability

Software for GIS: professional/industrial The Industry Leaders • ARC/INFO (ESRI, Inc. , Redlands, CA) – privately owned by Jack Dangermond, a legend in the field and former Harvard prof. – originated commercial GIS – still clear market leader with about a third of the market • Intergraph (Huntsville, AL) – origins in proprietary CAD hardware/software – strong in design and FM (facilities mapping), and running hard to match ESRI in GIS – its UNIX-based MGE (Modular GIS Environment) product evolved from its older CAD products – after split with Bentley, courageously committed to NT and object technology in 1995 and first released “new generation” Geo. Media product in March 1997 • Bentley Systems (Exton, PA) – Bentley brothers (Barry & Ray) originally developed the PC-based Micro-Station product under contract with Intergraph, but split in 1995 – have very successfully continued to develop and sell Micro. Station Geo. Graphics since then. 6

Software for GIS: professional/industrial The Also-Rans and Wannabes • Smallworld Systems (Englewood, CO) • – origins in Oxford, England – emphasis on FM & utilities – The first to use OO (in early 1990 s) but can it now compete as established vendors do the same? • Autodesk’s Auto. CAD Map – dominant CAD supplier and world’s 4 th largest software company – fully topological Auto. CAD Map introduced in 1996 (but no raster) – illustrates convergence of CAD/GIS. – possible industry leader since many places already use standard Auto. Cad for mapping • • GDS (Graphic Data Systems, Englewood CO) – originated as Mc. Donnel Douglas in-house system – owned now by Convergent Group and EDS – closure in 1997 left its customers in the lurch (e. g. City of Irving) ERDAS/Imagine, ER MAPPER, PCI, Envi, Genasys II, – origins in remote sensing thus raster oriented but now include vector support – ERDAS long established leader – ER MAPPER very agressive newcomer originating in Australia – Envi, another relative newcomer – PCI long-term Canadian player – Genasys II older and fading US player – new satellite data products enhance their attractiveness GRASS (Rutgers Univ. ) – raster oriented, but some vector routines – originally developed by US Army Construction Engineering Research Lab(CERL) in Champaign, IL; – army ended dev. & support in 1996 but assumed by Baylor University. 7

Software for GIS: Desktop/Presentation • ARCVIEW from ESRI – stand-alone GIS, or user front-end to ARC/INFO – strong customization (via AVENUE language) • Mapinfo (Troy, NY) – very aggressive and successful newcomer • Atlas/GIS (from Strategic Mapping, Santa Clara, CA) – one of the originators of PC-based mapping – purchased by ESRI in 1996 • Other Commercial Entrants – Maptitude (Caliper Corp, Newton, MA): cheap--one of the best deals around – Win. GIS (Progis Corp, Austria): European entry – SAS/GIS (at last, SAS tries to catch up) • IDRSI (Clark Univ) – one of the pioneering, university developed packages, but limited commercial penetration altho trying hard – raster orientation with some vector capabilities 8

Software for GIS: Business & Niche • Business. MAP (from ESRI): $99 choropleth and pin mapping (originally Maplinx) • Tactician: specialist product for market analysis, site selection, etc. • NDS (National Decision Systems): marketing data supplier released IMark software in 1999, combining older Infomark Express (reporting) and I-Map (maps) products • Geo. Query (Naperville, IL): a mapping product based on Intergraph Geo. Media • • Surfer (Golden Software): contour creation & spatial interpolation Map Viewer (Golden Software): thematic map creation Blue Marble Geographic Calculator: projections, conversions, etc. EDX, Planet (from MSI), Cell CAD II: wireless telephony planning

Software for GIS: Leading Vendor’s Products • Autodesk World www. autodesk. com Autodesk Map. Guide Auto. CAD Map Arc. View (AV) Arc/Info • ESRI AV Business Analyst www. esri. com AV Internet Map Server Business. Map Pro Geo. Media Geomedia Pro • Intergraph Geomedia Web Map www. intergraph. com Geomedia Network Map. Info Pro Mapinfo Map. Xtreme • Map. Info Map. Xtreme Java www. mapinfo. com Map. Info. Data Target Pro Desktop GIS Web-based GIS CAD mapping Desktop GIS Prof. /Indus. GIS Business GIS Web GIS Entry business maps Desktop GIS Prof. /Indus. GIS Web-based GIS Networking modules Desktop GIS apps. Server Web-based Server GIS for marketing Ron Briggs UT-Dallas $1, 995 $9, 990 $4, 250 $1, 195 $10, 000 $11, 995 $10, 500 $149 $1, 500 $7, 500 $10, 000 $2, 000 $1, 295 $24, 495 $695 Source: PC Week 1/4/99

GIS Market Share (%) **GIS World, July ‘ 97, p. 12 quoting Daratech 11

Software Selection: Considerations and Trade-offs • Price ($) • Future needs – you generally pay for capability, but do you need it? – cost doesn’t always equate to capability, but there’s usually some catch – analytic capabilities – data types – conversion expensive • retraining • data conversion • application conversion • Learning curve – simplicity of use for limited function • products – consistency of interface for multifunction products Organizational needs – consistent software • info sharing • lower support & training costs • lower costs via mass licenses • Market share – will it be around in the future? – experienced workers available – third party services: add-ons, training, consultants, etc. – targeted software • lower train/support via simpler interface • lower cost via targeted function – best of both via add-ins or object orientation. Ron Briggs UT-Dallas 12

ESRI Product Line-up (main products) • Arc. View (multiple operating systems: PC, UNIX, VMS, MAC) – desktop GIS for end-user visualization, analysis and query – GUI driven, with extensive customization capability via AVENUE scripting – generally presumes inputted data developed elsewhere e. g with ARC/Info (Data Automation Kit released 1996; essentially a subset of PC/ARCINFO) • ARC/INFO (workstation operating systems: UNIX, NT) • • – comprehensive tool kit for geographic data input, analysis and management – A/I Version 8 Workstation same as A/I v. 7 & earlier: command driven, with GUI dev. capability via AML (ARC Macro Language); both NT and UNIX – A/I Version 8 Desktop is complete re-write with GUI interface using MS COM objects: only runs on NT, not available under UNIX – PC ARC/INFO is a DOS/Windows subset of workstation ARC/INFO (dieing) Map. Objects (PC only) – set of OLE automation objects for mapping and GIS to incorporate into OO application development environments such as VB, Powerbuilder and Composer SDE (Spatial Database Engine) – extensions to ORACLE (and other) to support spatial data and geographical analysis • Arc. CAD (PC operating system only) – bridges CAD and GIS, thus useful for integrating data between the two 13

Arc. Info Version 8 • With Version 8, now have two flavors: Workstation: – classic, command-line Arc. Info – same as version 7 and earlier, with minor enhancements – the only option for UNIX, but also on NT Desktop: – Largest Microsoft COM/Active. X application to date – Full GUI interface – Customization via Visual Basic for Applications (altho’ must have Arc. Info to run custom apps) – New data base concepts: Geodatabase – Available on NT only; no UNIX version Ron Briggs UT-Dallas 14

Arc. Info Desktop Arc. Catalog (schema editor, with VISIO generation) • The base application for Arc. Info Desk • Windows Explorer-like interface • for organizing access to data and metadata • For launching other Desktop apps: MAP and TOOLBOX Arc. Map (object editor) • Powerful GUI for spatial data editing and map viewing • Arc. Plot/Arc. Edit & Arc. View/Layout combined • Map projections on the fly (not via conversion as in AV) Arc. Toolbox • GUI interface to GIS tools via wizards • Classic Arc. Info runs underneath • Supports execution on remote machines • v. 8. 0 does not support Geodatabases, Image. Cats, Map librarian, Ron Briggs UT-Dallas or GRID data 15

ARC/INFO Workstation Line-up: Base Components • ARC – entry point to ARC/INFO, and ARCEDIT and ARCPLOT in particular – geographic data maintenance and processing • INFO – the relational data base system (RDBMS) foundation for ARC/INFO • ARCEDIT – for editing geographic data – supports input from wide variety of sources including keyboard, mouse, digitizer, other GIS databases • ARCPLOT – graphic subsystem for database display and map production 16

ARC/INFO Workstation Line-up: Other Components ARC/EDIT/PLOT Extensions Semi & Independent Modules • COGO (Coordinate Geometry) • GRID – supports surveying data, plat preparation, etc. for suveyors and civil engineers • TIN (Triangulated Irregular Network) – vector-based surface modelling • NETWORK – network analysis, such as shortest route • Arc. Scan – raster to vector conversion • Arc. Express (optional product) – analysis of raster data – includes vector/raster & raster/vector conversion • Arc. Press – enhances printing on raster devices • Arc. Storm (storage management) – geog. data manager for large data systems – graphic display optimization 17

Choices, Choices!! • Where is my bus? DART service manager. Want application to display real time location of buses on touch-screen terminal to passengers waiting at Richardson Transit Center – use MAP Objects incorporated into Visual Basic app. • Council, get off my back! Planner for Plano. Need faster, easier, jazzier way of answering council member queries. – use Arc. View, since city has extensive Arc. Info coverages; write Avenue scripts to automate most common queries • Keep the water flowing. Manager for North Texas Municipal Water Supply District. Swamped by growth. Needs help to manage his infrastructure. – select Arc/Info 8 • Keep the Taxes Coming In. Director of IS for Big City. Must tie all my data together--land ownership, tax rolls, utility lines, roads, 911 calls etc. Needs enterprise solution. – SDE with ORACLE data base, accessed with Arc. Explorer (free), Arc. View, and Arc. Info 8

Hardware and Platforms for GIS • • CPU (Pentium or RISC): powerful with lots of memory (128 MB min for AI 8) Disk storage: lots--especially for images Input devices: Digitizer, Scanner, CD-ROM/DVD, network/Internet Output devices: – Large, high-res. display (relatively expensive) – Wide-bed color plotter (now usually inkjet, and affordable) • Operating System: – NT is eclipsing UNIX on the Desktop – MAC and UNIX supported by fewer and fewer vendors • Platforms: – – PC or RISC Workstation Mainframe--gone Minicomputer—now also gone Networks and Distributed Systems now the norm 19

The Religious Tenets of GIS • Arc. Info is the only true GIS • Intergraph is the only used GIS • MAPINFO is the only useable GIS Ron Briggs UT-Dallas 20

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The GIS Market In 1992, according to Dataquest, GIS growth rate estimated at 35% per year • GIS related hardware $0. 5 Billion • GIS related software $1. 1 Billion • GIS Consulting services $2. 4 Billion The big money is in consulting, not software or hardware (although much consulting is software related). 23