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| Thread ID: 57836 | 2005-05-14 02:04:00 | ESRI ArcGIS | Mike (15) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 354894 | 2005-05-14 02:04:00 | Does anybody here use ESRI's ArcGIS? Am wondering whether it might be useful to post the odd question here :illogical Mike. |
Mike (15) | ||
| 354895 | 2005-05-14 02:07:00 | Probably this should have gone into the PressF1 forum instead of Chat, since it is (or could be) somewhat PC help related. Mike. |
Mike (15) | ||
| 354896 | 2005-05-14 02:11:00 | Never heard of it. And most probably never use it. Whatever it is. | Speedy Gonzales (78) | ||
| 354897 | 2005-05-14 02:28:00 | Had more exposure to Smallworld than ESRI. Both (or any GIS) can be a black hole that makes money disappear though. We appear to have too many GIS installations in companies in NZ, with each company basing their reasoning for installing greater GIS capability than they need as "offering the service to others, as a commercial business" Trouble is the "others" have all done the same thing. |
godfather (25) | ||
| 354898 | 2005-05-14 02:34:00 | We appear to have too many GIS installations in companies in NZ, with each company basing their reasoning for installing greater GIS capability than they need as "offering the service to others, as a commercial business" Trouble is the "others" have all done the same thing.Working for a local authority its more for internal use than external. However in my experience most of the external people I deal with don't use GIS and we typically have to convert everything into AutoCAD format when they want/need some data. Sometimes I wonder why those external organisations don't use GIS as to me it makes more sense for them to be using GIS than CAD (although CAD would be required, I'm sure, for some of their functions). Mike. |
Mike (15) | ||
| 354899 | 2005-05-14 02:47:00 | The cost per seat for GIS can be quite high, when all costs are correctly accounted. And as you say, many still need CAD for their operation as well. I have seen many $millions destroyed in GIS implementation based on unrealistic needs. I think a "bureau" based GIS possibly would be more cost effective, but the rationale of those involved in the companies wanting GIS never see it as an economic solution, and a long term view is seldom taken. The true costs are seldom recognised (accidentally or on purpose) at implementation time. The costs that seem to be ignored are the collation of the data, the training and the inevitable and frequent "upgrades". Local Authorities are no better, their internalised structure is just as (or more) wasteful in many cases. One good GIS platform would serve all NZ Local Authorities, but we seem to have each one replicating the entire structure. As a tool, GIS is very good, when used properly. |
godfather (25) | ||
| 354900 | 2005-05-14 04:15:00 | I wouldn't know too much about the costs (I don't have any money spending authority ;)), but I have heard that the cost per license is huge... However, from my point-of-view, the cost is justified in how we're distributing the GIS to the organisation (and externally in parts) via the web, which doesn't come down to a cost-per-seat, and gives GIS to everyone in the organisation where a lot of companies would have actually paid for GIS licenses to get all (or a lot of) these users using the GIS in a basic way. I believe that we have in the past even paid for additional GIS licenses for basic users to use GIS that probably shouldn't have actually required a GIS license - GIS via the web eliminates (mostly) the need for these extra unneeded licenses (in my view) and could save a lot of money - not only in the area of licenses, but also because the PCs don't need to be so powerful to run via the web. Boy that doesn't make much sense! :D Mike. |
Mike (15) | ||
| 354901 | 2005-05-14 04:59:00 | What on earth is it? | george12 (7) | ||
| 354902 | 2005-05-14 05:06:00 | What on earth is it?It is GIS (Geographic Information Systems) software. Put very very simply, its for making maps (of sorts) :) It's what I do all day. From Dictionary.com: geographic information system <application> (GIS) A computer system for capturing, storing, checking, integrating, manipulating, analysing and displaying data related to positions on the Earth's surface. Typically, a GIS is used for handling maps of one kind or another. These might be represented as several different layers where each layer holds data about a particular kind of feature (e.g. roads). Each feature is linked to a position on the graphical image of a map. Layers of data are organised to be studied and to perform statistical analysis (i.e. a layer of customer locations could include fields for Name, Address, Contact, Number, Area). Uses are primarily government related, town planning, local authority and public utility management, environmental, resource management, engineering, business, marketing, and distribution. Mike. |
Mike (15) | ||
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