The World in a Database: Advanced Geographic Information Systems

A Geographic Information System (GIS) is, fundamentally, a computer system for capturing, storing, checking, integrating, manipulating, analyzing and displaying data which is then related to geographical positions on the Earth`s surface. Geographic Information Systems are an extremely flexible technology representing one of the most innovative and beneficial uses of advanced technology to generate real-world results. The enrichment of a database with spatial information creates a very broad range of new and exciting possibilities; our track record of GIS development includes such projects as water demand modeling Decision Support Systems (DSS), web-based national early warning systems, census support, OpenGIS Location Service systems, and knowledge visualization systems, and many more diverse and fascinating applications. With the extreme capability of a GIS come some daunting challenges. It has been typical for a GIS to come with an extreme price tag. Similarly and owing to the complexity of the technology, GIS initiatives are few and successful ones even fewer; the intersection of technological acumen, geographical experience, and high-level project management and formulation capabilities is rare. Even rarer is the ability to see beyond the technology: to visualize how it might be placed in service for the improvement of lives; technology for development, not for itself. IT Synergy has consistently worked to effect its belief in development of new technologies with the aim of lowering barriers to access. Out of our many years of experience with GIS we have arrived at four key factors for success to manage the classical challenges associated with GIS: make it more cost-effective, make it sustainable, make it transparent, and make it accessible.

The Cost Advantage

Traditionally, GIS projects have been characterized by very high hardware, software, and development costs; it is not uncommon for such projects to invest so heavily in software and hardware that progress stalls after procurement lacking funds. The solution we have found to be extremely effective in this regard involves the employment of open source software components performing as a development base for our GIS solutions. Open source software carries no licensing costs; additionally, open source software is commonly written with commodity hardware in mind as a target platform and is overwhelmingly much more efficient in terms of hardware requirements. IT Synergy believes in complementing open source software components with implementation of open protocols and standards in addition to development on open interfaces and tools. Costs associated with this approach are typically far lower than that of a comparable proprietary solution; to further simplify the development work and thereby reduce costs, stringent componentization is employed as a core software design philosophy. IT Synergy is a consultant with development capability, we are not a traditional vendor. The distinction is critical; we deliver sustainable systems instead of selling software licenses. It is typical of our solutions to reinvest savings generated by better technology selection in capacity building and into developing the human resources of the recipient organization. All of our projects contain integral capacity-building components, including training the technology beneficiaries not only in how to use the system but in how to actually take charge and ownership. We build better lives through technology; the technology does nothing without capable owners and users. Unlike traditional consultants, we will also provide the source code and training for developers, administrators, users, and caretakers upon project delivery. We make our living by creating sustainability; the only way to do this is through rigorous technology transfer as a core project philosophy. Our overall experience of complex technology deploys indicates the success of the formula which we as IT Synergy promote and believe in; cost savings on the hardware and software component are reflected in a greater focus on technology transfer and capacity-building on behalf of the recipient organization through training and human development.

The Open Geographic Information System

Our GIS systems implement fully the specifications set forth by the OpenGeospatial Consortium, our system components communicate over open protocols such as TCP/IP, our interfaces can be presented through simple web mechanisms, and individual components are modularized to make them separately replaceable and upgradeable with no risk of compromise to system integrity. Such a modular and transparent system invariably results not only in dramatically reduced development costs but also in greater long-term efficiency.

The Conciliation of Extreme Complexity with System Friendliness

Extreme complexity of underlying technology is not incompatible with the presentation of sophisticated yet friendly interfaces. The degree of complexity of the UI corresponds to the level of investment necessary to train system users which traditionally constitutes a significant cost component. IT Synergy has found the development of user-driven UI's accessed through simple (often web-based) interfaces to be a positive factor of cost reduction. With web browsers performing as GIS interfaces, the visual cues and operational semantics are already almost second nature to most users. The line between web page and GIS interface blurs, and incidental benefits are realized such as the ability to access the system through regular internet connections.

The GIS Consultant on the Cutting Edge

The pace of development associated with open source is very rapid; software improves in quality, capability, and efficiency almost continuously. IT Synergy has a long tradition of integration with the open source development community and takes pride in implementing advances as they are made, eliminating the possibility of obsolescence. Critical to complex projects such as GIS systems is the aptitude for project formulation, execution, and monitoring. Our track record contains partners at levels which attest to our capability; we have worked with governments in Latin America as well as the Middle East, and we have participated as technology consultants and project specialists with the UNDP and the Italian Cooperation to name a few. Our operations span several continents. In the Middle East, we developed a functional prototype GIS providing DSS facilities for working with water demand models for the Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation; as a result of the prototype's success, we are now developing a full scale deploy. In Latin America, we have developed for the Peruvian national telecom a GIS for the definition of priorities for installing telephony in villages and rural areas considering proximity to served areas, road network, markets, point of interest (touristic, archeological, etc.) and other elements; a perfect example of the kind of highly complicated, specialized, and beneficial task which is not possible without GIS technology. The Peruvian Ministry of Education uses a GIS system developed by IT Synergy providing planning support for the delivery of educational materials in terms of optimal routes, logistical constraints, and other factors. Also the Peruvian Civil Defense employs GIS-enabled Early Warning Systems providing sophisticated disaster aversion and recovery ability. An AVL system we developed in Latin America monitors vessel location and tracks routes through a GIS. There really isn't much a GIS cannot do. We possess not only the characteristics vital to a large scale GIS project but also the drive and the organizational capability to bring such projects to successful and immediately beneficial delivery.