The internet advantage in facilities management
System components
System Overview
Currently, UDS does not intend for its GIS to be published on the Internet. It
will be
available only on the company’s Intranet. The components of the system include Internet
server software, a map authoring software tool, a browser as the user interface, a plug-in
as the map display engine, another plug-into view CAD drawings, application web
pages, databases, and pipeline data in a web compatible format. UDS is using MapGuide
from Autodesk as its Internet-based GIS software.
The Server
MapGuide Server is Internet server software that runs in the Windows NT environment.
MapGuide Server also requires Internet server software (such as Microsoft’s Internet
Information Server) to be running as well. The Windows NT and Internet server
expertise required for MapGuide is beyond that of most CAD operators. For most
installations a combined effort of CAD/GIS and IS/IT is required. The web-site
application development side of an Internet-based GIS project can be challenging.
UDS’S GIS is currently running on a dedicated server. The server is running Windows
NT, Microsoft’s Internet Information Server, and MapGuide Server. The project data
files reside on this server as well. The GIS server is being maintained and updated
locally by UDS IT staff.
The Mau Authoring Tool
The MapGuide system of software includes a map-authoring tool called MapGuide
Author. This software allows the GIS administrator to define map layers and layer
characteristics and to define the connections of the layer definitions to the various data
files. MapGuide Author is a standard Windows program.
Application Web Pages
MapGuide out of the box does nothing. A MapGuide frame must be embedded in a web
page before it can run. HTML code on the web page must call MapGuide where it will
then display the MapGuide map. In seeing a demonstration of MapGuide it is difficult
for the casual observer to understand what MapGuide is doing and what web application
programming is doing. The Topographic pipeline application makes use of extensive
web programming. However, it is possible to develop applications that use very little
web programming.
Web development tools are very powerful. Java or Active-X programming environments
can be used in conjunction with MapGuide. Much of UDS’s pipeline application has
been developed externally to MapGuide with Active-X. Its menu system, database
queries, database reports, links from the alignment sheet web page, base map printing, hypertext from the database,
lat/long locate, one-call capabilities, etc. are programs
external to MapGuide. To make best use of the resources available to the developer of an
Internet-based GIS, the development of HTML and web programming skills should be
encouraged.
Databases
MapGuide can link to any ODBC compliant database. The UDS pipeline application
uses Microsoft’s Access database program. The pipeline application primarily links to a
right-of-way database that has been developed for the project.
Map Data
New file types have been created by Autodesk for MapGuide. These files contain the
graphic information (points, lines, and polygons) that is displayed on the MapGuide map.
These file formats have been created in such a way that very large amounts of data can
reside in the data file. The server software can quickly locate the graphic data needed for
the display disregarding all of the other graphic data.
The process of creating the graphic data files can be confusing. A stand-alone program
called the SDF Loader can be used. This program in some cases is the best way to
convert GIS data from non-Autodesk systems. For map data in AutoCAD format,
conversion to MapGuide can best be performed with another product from Autodesk
called AutoCAD Map. AutoCAD Map has the ability to export the file types used by
MapGuide. When graphic elements in the AutoCAD Map drawing are to be linked to
database records, special techniques are required. These techniques are not easily
discovered or well documented.
Conclusion
Internet technology is changing GIS and will continue to change GIS dramatically over
the next few years. Internet GIS software is now available from most of the GIS software
vendors. The decreased cost of hardware, software, training, and support that results
from the Internet approach will enable more organizations to build GIS applications.
These factors and others such as shorter implementation cycles will help organizations
justify their expenditures for these systems. Users no longer need to be intimidated by
GIS. Maps and related documents no longer need to be plotted, copied, and
express mailed
in order to get information to users. A pipeline GIS does not have to cost a lot of
money and take a long time. Results can come quickly. Users can come on line quickly.
The advances that have come with Internet technology are significant and should be
seriously investigated by those considering GIS.
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