Refer to 5 GIS Software Ranging From Freely Available to Commercial Ones and Highlight the Main Positive and Negative Features of Each to Advise Potential Buyers

8/3/2019 Refer to 5 GIS Software Ranging From Freely Available to Commercial Ones and Highlight the Main Positive and Ne

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Ghanisha JUTTUN 0812567

Refer to 5 GIS software ranging from freely available to commercial ones

and highlight the main positive and negative features of each to advise

potential buyers.

1. MapInfo

Positive features

1. MapInfo is regarded as one of the most usable GIS software providing XP/Vista style interface.

2. The software offers extensive demographic analysis & editting tools.

3. Also it supports the latest database formats like MS SQL 2008 Spatial.

4. MapInfo contains automatic feature options like labelling.

5. Its moderate price is preferred to ESRI products.

Negative features

1. MapInfo data format

2. More attribute data focus than spatial

3. Price is US$ 3000 approx. per license. No

2. ArcEditor

Positive features

1. Interface provides tools that are still intuitive to use

2. Extensive analytical functionality

3. Supports multi-user editing

4. Limited degree of appearance customizing using ArcReader wizards

Negative features

1. Windows 2000 style interfaces look dated.2. Locked into complex ESRI Object Model

3. Frequent wholesale changes to Object Model creates version incompatabilities

4. US$7000 per licensing plus maintenance costs. This excludes any ArcInfo functionality which is

an additional US$14,000.


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3. IntelliGis

Positive features1. Windows XP & Vista Style interface provides familiarity with intuitive visual tools & wizards.

2. Store Data in any RDBMS using the full-wealth of database functionality available - like ArcSDE

at no cost.

3. Best value for money given scope of functionality, openGIS, RDBMS use and data formats

supported.

IntelliGIS Script Environment allows users to develop extended functionality.

4. Create custom maps & reports.

5.

Personal service & per request customisation.

Negative features

1. Relative smaller vendor than competitors like ESRI.

2. High-end analytical tools not included.

4. Autodesk MapGuide

Positive features

1. Free viewer plug-in for end users

2. Supports many formats without data conversion

3. Can use compact SDF (spatial data file) to deliver data and mapping to the end user,

which allows for faster delivery than most other formats

4. Enables users of mobile and handheld devices (using Win CE) to access interactive maps

and other data.

Negative features

1. Requires development skills to implement anything but the most basic application.

2. There is no built in data editing; a toolkit is needed.

3. The developer must be familiar with HTML web design.

4. No easy setup wizard for beginning users


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5. ESRI ArcIMS

Positive features

1. Out-of-the box direct data editing.

2. Wizards and templates guide you through tasks for authoring and publishing maps.

3. ArcIMS Data Delivery extension enables users to easily select, export, and deliver vector

data in a

4. variety of formats and projections from a centralized Internet map server

5. JavaScript code, The JavaVM, which provides the basic application programming

interface (API) for customizing these applications.

6. A servlet engine is an extension to the JavaVM and provides support for servlets through

a servelet API

Negative features

.

1. Requires development skills to implement anything but the most basic application

2. Standard template and functionality provided will likely not meet the needs of an

organization.

3. A developer must be available to customize the reports, interface, and functionality

4. Application development and customization of ArcIMS is done through ArcXML or by

translating

from another language to ArcXML

5. Although different connectors allows for a diverse customization environment, each

connector has different restrictions on what the developer cando.


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References

Web GIS Software Comparison Framework October 2005 [Online]

Available at: http://www.webgisdev.com/webgis_framework.pdf[accessed 01.09.2010]

What is GIS: GIS software comparison 2008 [Online]

Available at: http://www.whatisgis.com/gissoftware_comparison.htm [accessed 01.09.2010]

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Refer to 5 GIS Software Ranging From Freely Available to Commercial Ones and Highlight the Main Positive and Negative Features of Each to Advise Potential Buyers