Ensuring AM/FM/GIS Data Accessibility For Everyone
David A. Sweet
Director of Project Implementation ids 930 North Meridian Street Indianapolis, IN 46204
Abstract
Typically, mapping information has taken the form of paper plots and drawings for the vast
majority of an organization’s map users. Due to the high cost of workstations, software and
training, only a few job fictions could justifi digital access to an organization’s AM/FM/GIS
data.
Now is the opportune time to provide wider digital map access to all of those who need it. PCs
now offer the power to run map viewing applications and at a reasonable cost. More people are
“computer literate” than ever and software vendors have responded to the viewing market’s
needs with a number of solutions. Accurately assessing users’ needs and applying the
appropriate technologies to satisfy them makes an organization’s or AM/FM/GIS
implementation even more successful.
This paper focuses on the process of evaluating users’ needs with emphasis on map viewing
solutions and the emerging Digital Map Publishing technology.
Introduction
Today, utilities and municipalities are maintaining vast amounts of AM/FM/GIS data. Studies
show that over half of all electric and gas utilities have converted or are currently converting
mapping data to digital format. Municipalities are not far behind. Most of the organizations
with established AMIFM/GIS are evaluating various ways to maximize the return on their digital
mapping investment. Empowering users by providing digital access to the mapping data is one
way of accomplishing this.
Software and system vendors have recently recognized the “user paradigm shift” (Intergraph
Corporation, 1996) a shifl in the model of the conventional users, occurred as organizations’ systems
progressed fr~m design to conversion to filly operational. The demand for desktop GIS and
digital map viewing increases as the number of systems go on-line. One study put the shift in
perspective: “For every 10 doers there are 100 users and 1000 viewers of the mapping
data. (htergraph Corporation,1996)
Another key factor affecting the demand for map viewers is the PC becoming an established
element of the office environment. Typically, the standard office and laptop PC being used
today for word processing and other general office applications can be used to view map data and
communicate with Interrtet servers. Perhaps more importantly, an increasing number of people
are experienced with the graphical user interfaces used by PC applications and browsers.
Organizations are now faced with making decisions as to how to most effectively provide map
access to everyone who needs it. This can be a difficult decision because the map users have a
wide range of needs, there are a number of new products, and new technologies have been
introduced.
Collecting the Facts
The best decisions are typically made by informed parties. Before an organization can make a
decision concerning the distribution of its spatially related data, it is necessary to answer the
following questions:
- who are the organization’s map users?
- What are the users’ needs?
- What efficiencies can be gained by providing digital map access instead of paper
access?
- Which technologies can provide appropriate solutions for the organization?
Let’s discuss how to collect information to help answer these questions.
1. Who are the Organization’s Map Users?
Utility companies have defined a need for map access within the company and outside the
organization to users such as contractors. Many Municipalities are extending data access to the
public as well. With deregulation and competition, utility companies obviously do not want their
competition to have access to proprietary information. As a result, public access to utility map
data is frequently restricted.
Determining the users who will benefit from digital map access begins with assessing the needs
of the people already accessing the AM/FM/GIS map data. The access may be electronic or in
paper or film form. It is the needs of these map users which usually justifies providing increased
digital map access. However there may bean untapped segment of users who currently don’t
appreciate the benefit of map data.
Many map users have already been identified and are receiving data in the form of plots, map
books or microfilm. These users might be found near the print room waiting for up-to-date paper
plots. They could be camped outside the assessors or the permit office or wherever map books
are centrally located. These users are easy to identi~.
It is interesting to note that after mass distribution is implemented, many organizations are
discovering additional benefits of a widely accessible and low-cost viewing solution. Map users
who were not identified initially are benefiting significantly from accessibility. This can be
attributed to the fact that the concept of digital map distribution is a relatively new one. As such,
all the benefits have not been fully measured, documented or recognized.
For example, some utility companies have found that publishing their digital map data has helped
their emergency management processes. When a decision maker receives an early morning call
regarding a main break, being able to access the map data from home can allow the process of
making key decisions to begin much sooner. An independent viewing system is critical when
server-based GIS is down. The emergency management fi.mctions were not included in the
original justification for implementing the publishing solution.
For municipalities possessing planimetric or orthophotographic base data, the list of map users is
almost endless, from land developers and bankers to asphalt pavers and commercial landscapers.
2. What are the Map Users’ Needs?
After the users have been identified, the next step is determining their needs. A great place to
start is evaluating the paper map products. How often are map products updated? How are map
products distributed? What problems do paper cause?
Paper and microfilm have been the main source of information for decades. Through an iterative
process of creation and user feedback, an organization’s plot products have evolved into a
product which provides the information that map users need to perform their job responsibilities.
As such, paper map products area great source of information for anyone trying to determine
users’ needs.
Because the collective needs of the users are typically diverse, categorizing their needs will help
determine which type of applications will best satisfy their needs. Answering the following
questions for each type of user will help with the process:
- Is an individual going to use the data to perform analysis or design? Or to simply
reference existing locations and data values?
- What level of computer and GIS skills does the user possess?
- Is the user mobile? Remote? or Local?
- Is the user an employee, contractor, or a member of the general public?
- How often does the user access the maps?
- What are the implications of using map data if it is up to one month old? Three
months? Six months?
