Thin-Client GIS Research for Resource Managers

Bill SlocumbGIS Specialist and Research Associate

North Carolina State UniversityRaleigh, NC

National Park ServiceNortheast Region

Research and Technical Support for GIS

Presentation Focus Areas

Enterprise Goal User Needs Deployment Options

Google Earth ArcIMS ArcGIS Server Virtual Computing

Laboratory (VCL) VCL System

GIS Enterprise Goal:

To rapidly deploy customized GIS applications using standard and project specific spatial and tabular data to parks and programs to enhance current capabilities.

Spatial Database Developmentand User Needs

Incorporate: Fire I&M Inventories Vegetation Cultural Resources Park Specific Data

Maintain relationships between spatial and tabular data

GEWA Fish Inventory

Incorporate different data sets

Create relationships to external databases

Allow for: Concurrent / Single editing Concurrent viewing User accounts (security)

Provide database for customized GIS applications and analysis

Spatial Database Development Objectives

Natural Resources Condition Assessmentand General Management Planning

NR Condition Assessments In Review:

ACAD, GATE, FIIS, SAHI

Starting: CACO, BOHA,

GEWA, MIMA, SAIR GMPs

BOHA, CEBE, FIIS, MORR, SARA 3-D rendering at Boston Harbor Islands NRA

Deployment Options

Google Earth Primarily viewing

ArcIMS Limited functionality

ArcGIS Server System resource intensive Not a mature environment

Virtual Computing Laboratory Thin client Full GIS functionality Quickly deploy customized

applications

Thin Client (Google Earth)

Storage Management System

(Spatial Data)

Google Earth Configuration

ArcGIS Desktop(Network Link: KML or KMZ)

Email(Network Link)

Web Server

Thin Client (Web Browser)

ArcIMS

ArcSDE MS SQL Server

ESRI Enterprise GIS Configurations

ArcGIS Server

Storage Management

System

DB Admin

Thin Client (Remote Desktop

Connection)

ArcSDE

MS SQL Server

Storage Management System(ESRI Map Documents)

(Enterprise and Personal Geodatabases)

VCL Enterprise GIS Configurations

“Blade”(ArcGIS Desktop)

DB Admin

Virtual Computing Lab (VCL)

Schedule reservation Remote desktop

connection Uses standard

windows OS and tools

Concurrent viewing Single edit session by

owner

No additional client software needed

Run current version of selected software

Publish customized ArcMap documents

Looks like your desktop!!

VCL

http://vcl.ncsu.eduhttp://www.cwhonors.org/viewCaseStudy.asp?NominationID=323

Identify areas and features of interest within a given radius or contained within a selected feature

Data Includes Natural Heritage Areas National Natural

Landmarks Major Federal Lands National Register

Properties National Historic

Landmarks

Interagency Environmental Review

Current Activities and Discussion VCL prototype applications: Interagency Review,

Fire, Interagency Trails and GEWA GMP; Test working with local data on VCL; Continue investigating ArcGIS Server; and Continued development of custom applications

with regional and park staff.