Going Mobile with your GIS
Hardware Technology
Workstation processor speeds have grown tremendously. Disk units are still increasing in
density. Communications options continue to get better. In addition to higher-speed dial-up
capabilities, cellular modems, satellite connections and other capabilities are being
created. Units can be ruggedized or standard usage.
What do you choose? For a fully mobile GIS, you will chose the maximum speed
processor, lots of memory, and the largest available disk unit. You will need to decide if
the system units will be banged up. If so, you need to also find a mobile system that can
be ruggedized. Ruggedizing units are better protected from spills, drops, bumps, cold,
heat, and general grime than a non-ruggedized unit. Communication support will also
need to be maximized. The best current technology should be purchased to improved
data transfer times.
For a limited mobile GIS, you will chose a slower processor speed. You’ll still pack in
all the system memory and disk that you can. A limited mobility unit is going to be
focused on data transfer and compression. It will have to be able to move data up and
down quickly. So, limited mobile units will be equipped with high-speed communication
support cards.
Software Technology
GIS applications and “helper” applications are stepping up to replication, data reduction,
and GIS data management. The interest and need for these applications to go mobile is
obvious. GIS and software companies are pretty focused on getting their application
mobile. Replication and data reduction are the key software technology areas that need
additional focus.
Replication means creating and managing information in a more local form. The GIS
application must be able to know when the data was taken out and what changes have
been made to both copies. The GIS application and “helper” applications must work
together to make this synchronization work. Integrating changes from the field along
with changes (if allowed) from the main application has to be done to keep the mobile
application in synch with the main application.
Data reduction is a way to reduce the size of your replicated data sets and databases.
Most GIS systems have built-in compression – that’s not what this is. Data reduction is a
way to eliminate bringing over excess data for a specific area. The smaller the data
amount that has to be moved, the better.
What do you chose? You choose a solution that you can get supported. Minimize the
number of software companies involved. Lashing together a solution from multiple
software companies creates complexity that is tough to manage.
Because of the UtiliCorp United mobility heritage, a limited mobility option must also be
deployed as well as a fully mobile option.
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