ArcGIS Online: A Rough Review

As discussed in the previous blog entry, ESRI has now introduced a new product, ArcGIS Online.
I have now registered for the free trial and started to explore the different options that this new online software has to offer.  I assume that many of you are also doing the same.

ArcGIS Online is a map server for companies, government agencies, educational institutions and consultants that wish to share their maps on the Internet.  In essence, ArcGIS Online is an upgrade/hybrid of their free software program ArcExplorer without embedded analysis tools.

ArcGIS is not full-blown cloud oriented GIS. Therefore, its name is somewhat deceiving.  I was expecting a a fully functional online GIS, but was disappointed.  The name of the product should be termed ArcGIS Online Map Server.

Although, It is being widely promoted by ESRI and others in the industry, I found it lackluster, clunky and does not ‘wow’ the user.  Don’t get me wrong, I think it has promise and the sharing feature is intriguing.  However,  it not a ‘revolution’ in the field of Geographic Information Science as ‘spun’ by ESRI.

There are several specific problems with this software:
-there is no freedom to change the colors in the maps
-the applications and tools seem to be difficult to access and install
-there is no ability to see the databases supporting the maps
-the user cannot make new thematic maps from the one served
-metadata is not easily accessible
-other usability issues (to be discussed in a forthcoming blog entry)

On a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being the lowest to 10 being the highest, I rank ArcGIS Online, a 6.

I would appreciate any comments from those that have used the trial version or the full-blown version of ArcGIS Online or on spatial technologies and cloud computing. I will post all comments and then summarize and analyze them.   

I must remind my readers that this is merely one evaluation of ArcGIS Online from one who is associated with the field of spatial technology.  You may have completely different and valid opinions concerning  some of issues raised here.   

 The ultimate purpose of this blog entry and other posted on this blog is to create a dialog that will progress Geographic Information Science to better serve the needs of the GIS community and the society at large.  

If you have not tried ArcGIS Online, go to http://www.esri.com/landing-pages/software/agol/email.html?page=cloud&utm_source=google&utm_medium=remarketing&utm_content=728x90_Cloud&utm_campaign=arcgis-online&gclid=CIrNr9qI8rECFULktgoduwEANg .

ArcGIS in the Clouds

ESRI has now introduced a new product, ArcGIS  Online.  I will be evaluating the program and will report back soon on my findings.  I would appreciate any comments’ from those who are also evaluating the trial version of this software.  I will post all comments, except spam.

If you have not tried ArcGIS Online, go to http://www.esri.com/landing-pages/software/agol/email.html?page=cloud&utm_source=google&utm_medium=remarketing&utm_content=728x90_Cloud&utm_campaign=arcgis-online&gclid=CIrNr9qI8rECFULktgoduwEANg .

Occupy the Internet! Oppose SOPA and PIPA

Millions of Americans oppose SOPA and PIPA because these bills would censor the Internet and slow economic growth in the U.S.

Two bills before Congress, known as the Protect IP Act (PIPA) in the Senate and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the House, would censor the Web and impose harmful regulations on American business. Millions of Internet users and entrepreneurs already oppose SOPA and PIPA.

The Senate will begin voting on January 24th. Please let them know how you feel. Sign this petition urging Congress to vote NO on PIPA and SOPA before it is too late.

Go to:https://www.google.com/landing/takeaction/

Public Participation and GiS

Many local governments around the world have put GIS portals available for citizens and non-citizens of their jurisdiction. You can explore many cities by going on their on-line GIS pages. The flexibility of these on-line GIS sites are getting more powerful. What needs to be done is to make them interactive vehicles for citizens to see such items as rezoning requests, new subdivision applications, abandoned properties, planned roads and other public facilities. This may be being done by some GIS departments, but I am not aware of it. This would give the public the chance to review possible changes that may negatively affect their cities or their neighborhood such as environmental problems, traffic problems, lack of pedestrian facilities for new developments, etc. Along with this should be classes and online tutorials provided by the GIS department to help citizens how to use these enhanced applications. It should be further noted that they should be made portable so that they can be used on mobile devises such as cell phones, Ipad’s etc., not just on a lap top or desk top. I would apprecitate any comments on this topic.. I will be doing further research on how cities are trying to engage citizens through their on line GIS applications.

Development of a Geographic Information Science Undergraduate Curriculum, Part I

During the last twenty years, the concurrent development of technology and greater access to information could only be called a revolution. It has transformed almost every spectrum of activities in the developed and to a lesser extent in the developing countries. The development and the increase sophistication, availability and usability of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing, and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) is intrinsically linked with the technological changes that occurred in the last twenty years. A large amount of literature and applications are found related to spatial technologies. Its development is dynamic and the blurring of lines the GIS and the related technologies gets hazier as it becomes easier to integrate them into cell phones, mobile GIS units, the Internet etc. They are now becoming essential to the study of any spatial phenomena. Environmentalism because of its inherent spatial nature is finding spatial technologies indispensable for inventory, planning/management and environmental emergency management. Despite the promise, there is a real need for properly trained environmental analysts with expert skills in spatial technologies.

When GIS and Remote Sensing were first being taught in institutions of higher education, teaching these technologies were considered as ‘addons’ and specialties and not part of the basic courses of the different departments. At this time, if one took a couple of courses in GIS then you were considered by many to be a GIS professional. Since this time, instruction in spatial technologies has grown due to the great demand for those that are suitably trained in the spatial technologies either as a specialist in GIS, Remote Sensing and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) or as an expert user who will use it as a tool in various in various disciplines such as urban planning, environmental analysis or geographic education.

What should be the recommended undergraduate curriculum for education in Geographic Information Science?

In the upcoming blog entries, I would like to introduce a discussion on the continuing development of a Geographic Information Science undergraduate curriculum.

Comments and guest blog entries are welcome on this topic.

Cloud Computing and Spatial Technologies within Geographic Information Science

The advancement of computing directly affects the development of spatial technologies such as GIS, Remote Sensing and GPS. Within this context, there must be some thought given to how this affects the science, ethics, and philosophy behind the transmittal, referencing and manipulation of geographic information which are the concerns of Geographic Information Science. Those employed by firms or public agencies which have a major spatial technology component of their work are often ‘blinded’ by developments in technology. Although these are emerging relationships, it is an appropriate time to contemplate the meaning of the fast developing world of spatial technologies.

Cloud computing potentially is a revolutionary development in technology. The ability to easily access information and programs/applications within the Internet or ‘the cloud.’, presents a situation which is changing the existing relationship between hardware and software. With the rapidly developing industry of technological devises that preform many of the tasks that were formally done by laptops or desktop computers, such as the iphone, ipad and other similar devises and their integration with the communication web and the Internet, the notion of cloud computing is not just a promise, it is here. Data within spatial technologies such as GIS, Remote Sensing, and GPS increasingly flows seamlessly from one program to another often integrated with the Internet. It is natural that these programs are being linked to cloud computing. However, geographic information has some distinct characteristics which make it different from other data. Hence, the combination of cloud computing with spatial technologies should make those whose profession is related to spatial technologies to stand back and contemplate the creation, transferal manipulation, ethics, science and philosophy of geographic data.

In the next blog entry, I would like to explore the developing field of cloud computing. Followed with other entries on the relationship and emerging nature of spatial technologies integrated with cloud computing. Finally, I will conclude this ‘thread’ by summarizing the findings and contemplating the future of cloud computing and spatial technologies within the context of geographic information science. Comments are always welcome.

Spatial Technologies "in the Clouds"

Cloud computing could probably be one of most potentially ground-breaking innovations that has emerged in computing over its short history. But, is it just a bunch of hype? Since spatial technologies are inexplicitly tied to the growth of computer and communication technologies, there could be a major impact on them.

In the following blog entries, I would like to explore some the aspects of cloud computing and spatial technologies. In the meantime, if the readers of this blog have any comments on this subject, please post any comments to this entry.