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Data Sharing System for E-Government - IIMS Solution

1.6 GIS Data Interoperability
Interoperability is a big issue. Because different GIS systems may be connected to the network, the data resources may be in various formats and projections. Without data interoperability, on-line access is meaningless and on-line processing is impossible. Ideally, every GIS on the network will provide a unique interface for data access, as defined by OpenGIS specifications. Otherwise the data format/projection conversion services shall be provided by the data server, so the user or applications can get the data in its needed format.

IIMS provides a GIS format converter to provide GIS format and projection conversion services on the data server. Most popular GIS data formats, such as ArcView Shape, Arc/Info E00, MapInfo MIF, AutoCAD DXF, USGS, DLG, G-XML, and some native formats often used in Japan, are supported.

1.7 Networking GIS
A GIS system called GeoBasic®, which has been developed by Basic Engineering Co., Ltd. is integrated with IIMS to provide viewing and manipulating functions of distributive Geo-Spatial Data (Ren et al. 1998). Within GeoBasic, users can directly search digital maps and images registered to IIMS and stored in distributive data servers, and directly load the data into GeoBasic for viewing, analyzing or plotting. Users can also create or modify maps and register to an IIMS data server for real-time sharing with other users. Other GIS can be integrated with IIMS through IIMS API too. Figure 3 shows the concept of integrating distributive data from different departments through IIMS.


Figure 3 Integration of Distributive Spatial Data Through IIMS

1.8 Web Access
IIMS supports two client modes: Java Client and Web Client. Although IIMS Java Client can be used to access IIMS servers through either Intranet or Internet, but for assuring security or avoiding client installation, web client accessed can be supported. Web client is for external users to access the catalog services and Geo-Spatial data through Internet with a commercial web browser, such as IE or Netscape. Web Client or Web GIS can access the data servers through IIMS Web Server, so web user can use up-to-date data in real-time. All transmission for Web access is through XML. IIMS can be a backbone system of Web GIS to manage the server data and supply data in real-time from distributive data servers.

2. Application of IIMS in E-government Projects

2.1 Prefecture Networking GIS
Participating the national-wide e-government (e-Japan) movement, a pioneer Prefecture in Japan has recently acquired IIMS and GeoBasic and established a data sharing networking GIS for the government of the Prefecture. Leading by the Information System Department, totally twelve departments have participated the data sharing system, covering the data and management in construction, river, road, sanitation, environment, culture, natural resource, and disaster prevention. Each department creates and maintains data generated for its own business. All data are registered to an IIMS metadata server managed by the Information System Department for sharing with other departments. GeoBasic and IIMS Client are installed for individual users in each department. GIS data are registered and manipulated through GeoBasic, the integrated GIS tool for IIMS.

The scenarios of the prefecture GIS is shown in Figure 4.


Figure 4 Scenario of Japanese Prefecture GIS

2.2 River Information Management System
A major river management office in middle Japan has acquired IIMS and established a distributive river information management system. This management office, with 12 divisions, 9 filed brach offices, and around 150 staffs, has the responsibility to monitoring and manage 11 important rivers. Over 100 projects are implemented and over 1500 license applications are received in each yaer. Various types of data are gathered and shall be managed. Among them the most important are:
  • Project data
  • Construction data
  • Check porint data
  • License application data
  • Disaster information
The formats are diversified, such as documents, forms, CAD drawings, digital maps, and pictures. All those different types of data are now registered to a river information management system based-on IIMS (Figure 5). Staff from the different devisions in headquarter and geographically distributive brach offices can search and access the databases from anywhere through Intranet or Internet. More importatantly a knowledge database is also created on IIMS to share the intellenece information among staff in job training and solving problems. The work effiency and information management are greatly improved. In near future the system will be extended to include other kinds of data and support various business applications.


Figure 5 IIMS for River Information Management


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