Complex, Intelligent Landbases: Essential for Enterprise Geo-Spatial Solutions

Introduction
“Enterprise GIS (EGIS).” How many times in the last few years have you heard that “so and so” company is going to expand their AM/FM system to an Enterprise GIS? How many utility companies are currently engaged in studies to identifi the costs and benefits of transforming their current AM/FM system to an Enterprise GIS? How many computer hardware and sofiware vendors are currently touting their products as the “ideal solution for your EGIS needs?” How many AM/FM/GIS consultants are offering their expertise to help you effect the transition from your “application challenged” AM/FM system to a fully functional Enterprise GIS system with all the attendant tangible, intangible and strategic benefits?

The current interest in EGIS solutions is very high, and rightfully so. There are significant potential advantages to integrating all of a corporation’s gee-spatial data analysis and management systems into one homogeneous and application rich facility that is readily accessible to all levels of stakeholders. The fundamental factor that is going to facilitate this is not just new hardware or software or common data formats, or any of the other issues that are typically thought (or advertised) to be the key to your EGIS solution. Certainly these will help, but generally speaking these issues have already been (or are in the process of being) well addressed through conformity to different hardware and software standards and the availability of a number of data conversionhranslation software products.

The two absolutely fimdamental issues that must be addressed before an effective Enterprise GIS can be implemented are:

Development of, and full conformity to a set of corporate gee-spatial data standards that will provide a common Enterprise landbase that fully satisfies the requirements of all EGIS applications and,
Development of an EGIS data model that provides all of the requisite gee-spatial data structures, relationships and behaviors that are required to satisfy the full suite of EGIS applications.