Transcript Role of GIS in the Transport Sector

Role of GIS in the
Transport Sector
BBL, Jannuary 24th, 2005
Why GIS?

Transport Managers/Administrators face
a number of challenges
Allocating Capital Investment Budgets.
 Managing and Maintenance of Existing
Network Infrastructure.
 Negotiating with/ Educating decision
makers.

GIS Can Help!!!
Outline

Capital Investments
Example:
1. Railroad branch closure
2. Essential road network

Maintenance
Examples:
1. Building a bridge maintenance
system

Educating Decision Makers
Examples:
1. Put in a description of chems
example here

What is GIS?
1. Components of a GIS system
2. Technical Expertise
3. Costs
Railroad Branch Closure
Impact on People
 Impact on Industry

Essential Road Network

Minimum overall road network size to
connect all towns.


Minimizing maintenance costs
Minimizing travel distance between
towns
Components of GIS System
Interface Layer
Database Layer
Mapping Layer
Manages the Data:
The core of system:
•Shape of a road
• Maps the selected
queries
•Size of a bridge etc
•Population data
•Etc…
•Processes the data
•Define queries for the
database layer
•Create Interfaces for the
user
Database Layer
Example Software:
1. Pay
• Oracle
• Microsoft SQL
• Arcview/ArcInfo
2. Open Source
• MySQL
• Postgres SQL
• Firebird
Mapping Layer
Example Software:
1. Pay
• Arcview/ArcInfo
2. Open Source
• Grass
• Quantum GIS
Application Layer
Presents non technical users with a simple
interface to display and edit data in the
database and mapping layers.
1. Benefits
• Easy to use
• Accessible to a large number of user
(e.g. through a web interface)
• Control, data can only be viewed and
modified in certain ways.
2. Limitations
• Data can only be viewed and modified in
predetermined ways.
• Small overhead in developing the user
interface.
Example Software to
develop
applications:
1. Pay
• ArcIMS
• ArcScript
• ASP
2. Open Source
• MapServer
• PHP
• Perl
Example applications:
• Mapquest
• Store Locators
• …
Technical Capacity
Interface Layer
Database Layer
Mapping Layer
To use
To Implement
No technical expertise
required. Simple training
with a specific application.
Expertise required in GIS
concept, database
maintenance, GIS software
packages and other
middleware.
Expertise required in GIS
concepts and database
maintenance.
Expertise required in GIS
concepts and database
maintenance.
Expertise required in
GIS concepts and
specific GIS software
package.
Expertise required in
GIS concepts and
specific GIS software
package.
Bridge Maintenance
Anatomy of an open source GIS System
Database Layer
1. Application:
• Postgres SQL
2. Functions:
• Stores all the
data about the
bridges and the
underlying road
network, as well
as maintenance
schedules and
inspection
reports
3. Cost Implications:
• Free Software
• Reusable
Design
Application Layer
1. Application:
• Grass
2. Functions:
• Draw all the
maps and link
objects on the
map to the
underlying
database.
3. Cost Implications:
• Free Software
• Reusable
Design
Interface Layer
1. Application:
• Mapserver
• PHP
• Apache
2. Functions:
• Present the user
with the forms
and maps
necessary to
use the
application
3. Cost Implications:
• Free Software
• Reusable
Design
A cost effective, GIS system?
Use open source software
1.


Software is free
Exploit scale since there are no licensing fee
Only let users interact at the Interface Level
2.


Reduce technical expertise requirements from client countries.
(development work can be done by the bank)
Maximize reusability benefits. (a given application can easily be
replicated to numerous countries)
Use a Client-Server Architecture (Web Based)
3.


Ensure maximum penetration (Simple web based interface
ensures that low powered computers and multiple users can use
the system).
Server resources are pooled to exploit economies of scale