GIS and Location Technology

This presentation from CalGIS 2007 highlights the advantage of using enterprise GIS to support critical decisions about resource allocation for asset management by demonstrating Farallon's "Project Selection" pavement management application. This application offers a simple interface that enables GIS novices to import pavement "what if" scenarios from a pavement management program, view them on a map, and then analyze various pavement treatment decisions against budget scenarios.

This presentation from CalGIS 2007 explores innovative strategies and technologies that will enhance the value of investment in GIS. It discusses how forward-looking strategies such as decentralized databases, open source components and non-traditional visualization tools can optimize the value of GIS.

This presentation from CalGIS 2007 explores how Google Maps, Google Earth, MS Virtual Earth and other emerging technologies can be integrated with traditional GIS tools such as geodatabases and ArcGIS server to deliver useful applications to broad user communities. These "enterprise mashups" promise to dramatically improve the dissemination of GIS data and analyses to people while significantly reducing the cost of deploying and maintaining GIS.

IT professionals have long recognized that geodata (geographically referenced information such as parcels, streets, addresses, and aerial photographs) represent a common information asset needed across departmental and agency boundaries. Unfortunately, managing, analyzing, and publishing geodata have often required expensive and complex GIS software solutions. However, new and emerging low-cost and no-cost IT technologies now promise to take GIS out of the back-office and unlock new potential from your geodata investment. Using familiar IT tools and strategies such as databases, web services, and XML, organizations can deploy GIS solutions that leverage spatially aware relational database management systems like Oracle Express, free SOA-based mapping API's like Google Maps and Google Earth, and open source software like Autodesk Mapguide to manage data, integrate systems, and deliver compelling geospatial applications for a fraction of the cost of traditional GIS.

With the release of the latest version of Microsoft Virtual Earth, it is more apparent than ever, that open mapping technology can offer competitive tools for GIS professionals. We discuss when you should consider using one of these public mapping solutions, and how they can be integrated with in-house GIS data.

Everyone seems to be taking an interest in mashups. Although the uses are diverse, the common thread is that they use location and maps as a theme, and they provide a simple visual interface for decision support. From a GIS perspective, when would it be desirable to use a mashup? We give an example of landslide hazard analysis in the Bay Area.

At Farallon we receive a lot of questions about geodatabases, spatially aware databases, and in particular, about Oracle Spatial. In this episode we look at what it means for a database to be spatially-aware, and how this translates to enhanced data validity, finer control over user permissions, and easier access for web developers.

There is a lot of buzz around geospatial 3D right now. This is most recently highlighted by all of the news and speculation surrounding the combination of Google Earth and their free Sketchup 3D modeling software. The expanding interest in 3D and its relevance to GIS may reflect a growing fundamental change in how we work with geospatial information.

ArcWeb Services offers on demand geospatial capabilities to businesses. ArcWeb Explorer goes beyond Google Earth with backend geoprocessing, easier mashups, Flash and SVG graphics. GIS in the future will be less about mapping and more about background geoprocessing that uses SOA to integrate into business analysis.

Autodesk GIS Web mapping server goes open source - what this means and what is their motivation. GIS vs Spatial Information Management (SIM) - how are they different. Google Earth - why is it cool and how is it transforming GIS from the realm of specialists to mainstream IT.