Organizations require effective and reliable access to appropriate information at various stages in their business processes.  The primary aim of this is to streamline these business processes and thus effect cost savings. For organizations that have a geographic component to their operations, which refers to an extensive number of industries and businesses, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) offers a sound method of storing this data and making it efficiently and effectively available to appropriate people as and when required.

GIS incorporates traditional database information storage linked to interactive maps or spatial datasets. The resulting visual and geographic nature of GIS interfaces creates a powerful and comfortable portal to database information.

Aspire Solutions (Pty) Ltd and E-Technik Development Services have developed a suite of web-based software designed to effectively implement a powerful yet simple-to-use web based GIS system that can be applied within a vast range of organizations of varying sizes and natures. In particular medium to small-sized businesses, who  to date have not been able to afford many of the current GIS systems available, could benefit from implementing this software.

System components
The suite consists of four core components interacting with a central geodatabase store.

The central geodatabase
The central geodatabase is developed for a Microsoft Windows environment using MS SQL Server. Alternatively, the database can be deployed on MSDE or MSSQL Lite, which are available free of charge. This is ideal for smaller to medium-sized clients for whom the price of MS SQL Server may be prohibitive.

The geodatabase format/structure is based on the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) standard. This standard, which has been adopted worldwide as a common GIS data interchange format, ensures that the database is designed within a standard which is endorsed by all other major GIS vendors, including ESRI, Bentley and Autodesk.

The web mapper portal
The web mapper portal provides access to information stored in the geodatabase across any wide or local area network, or across the internet. It is designed to be an effective GIS information distribution tool to multiple users at multiple centers.

The portal incorporates all standard GIS functions, including zoom, pan, query, measure and search functions. The layout of the portal presents a comfortable and consistent interface environment to the user.

The map component of the portal is based on Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) technology and utilizes the SVG plug-in supported by Adobe. The benefits of using SVG include a more reactive client-side experience during GIS operations and a richer graphic feel to the map.

The portal supports raster images, including aerial photography, electronic ortho-maps and other images.

Bandwidth and line speed issues were carefully considered and addressed during the design of the portal. This is particularly relevant in the South African context where these issues continue to restrict the successful development of such systems.

The administrative backend
Administrative settings for the system includes the ability to set user settings that, amongst other items, restrict access to portions of data and the ability to set the logical categorization of data within a multiple level structure. This allows freedom and flexibility in data delivery.

The system has various graphic settings for map layers including colour and line settings, transparency settings and labelling.

The system is designed to upload data from various GIS data formats, especially ESRI Personal Geodatabases, which is a format widely used in the South African GIS industry.

The data maintenance module
One of the major challenges facing successful GIS implementations, especially with a distributed GIS, is the ability to keep data updated. It is the intention that users will be able to identify areas requiring updates.

Currently under development, this module will create a feedback loop from users to ensure that data within the system is continuously updated. The module will include tools for the submission of new or updated information to administrators of the system, annotation tools for marking and submitting changes and will provide sound tracking and versioning of these data changes.

The document management module
Currently under development, this module integrates with the core GIS components by creating a spatial link between the GIS data and electronic documents within a robust document store.

Aside from the traditional folder structure navigation and text searches, this allows an alternative and powerful means of searching and retrieval of relevant documents through the map portal. Examples of the power of this include linking shop leases to shop maps, linking maintenance manuals to equipment maps etc.