Although the concept of enterprise GIS has developed quite a bit over the past 10 years, very few universities offer a specific course on the topic of enterprise GIS. As part of our online geospatial information master’s degree and certificate programs, we created a 3-credit course on Developing an Enterprise Level Geospatial Strategy. The goal of the course is to prepare students to address the real-world challenges of creating, operating, maintaining, and managing an enterprise GIS in the workplace. Students select an enterprise scenario and complete a broad series of activities, exercises, and reports to customize and document a multi-user geographic information system of their design. The purpose of this presentation is to highlight several of the course components, offer practical information regarding best practices for creating a common operational picture within an organization, and propose an enterprise GIS implementation roadmap that identifies useful steps for getting your project off the ground.
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1. Teaching Enterprise GIS: From Theory to Practice Stephen A.
McElroy, Ph.D., GISP GIS in the Rockies October 9, 2013
2. Presentation Outline Introduction Developing an Enterprise
Level Geospatial Strategy Enterprise Scenarios and Course
Components Best Practices to Create a Common Operational Platform
Enterprise GIS Implementation Roadmap Conclusion 2
3. Developing an Enterprise Level GIS Strategy Enterprise GIS
Scenarios City government County government Utility company Natural
resource management Small private business Non-profit health care
organization Military operations 3
4. Enterprise GIS Course Components Customize and document a
multi-user GIS Activities Reading assignments from two textbooks
Video lectures ESRI videos ESRI Virtual Campus training seminars
Discussion forums Mid-term and final exams GIS health check GIS
consultants database GIS challenges and solutions 4
5. Enterprise GIS Course Components Customize and document a
multi-user GIS Exercises Capacity Planning Tool System design
process, software technology Software performance, server
performance Data architecture, network communications Product
architecture, platform performance Information security,
performance fundamentals Quizzes GIS planning, error tolerance, map
scale Data models, cost-benefit analysis 5
6. Enterprise GIS Course Components Customize and document a
multi-user GIS Reports GIS strategic plan, GIS planning proposal,
GIS needs assessment Information Product Description (IPD) Master
Data Input List (MIDL) Data management, data design capabilities
Network communication protocols, system architecture Product
architecture, platform selection criteria Security risk management,
systems performance Platform sizing, benefit-cost analysis, risk
analysis Enterprise GIS implementation, GIS staffing and training
Final project report 6
7. Common Operational Platform Enterprise GIS definition The
complete organizational approach to sharing, using, and managing
geospatial information 7
8. Common Operational Platform Enterprise GIS characteristics
(based on Tomaselli 2004) Cooperation 8
9. Common Operational Platform Enterprise GIS characteristics
No Duplication of Effort 9
10. Common Operational Platform Enterprise GIS characteristics
Data Models 10
11. Common Operational Platform Enterprise GIS characteristics
Workflow Analysis 11
12. Common Operational Platform Enterprise GIS characteristics
Data Quality 12
13. Common Operational Platform Enterprise GIS characteristics
Compatibility 13
14. Common Operational Platform Enterprise GIS characteristics
Administrative structure and staffing 14
15. Seven Steps to Implement Enterprise GIS Step 1: Determine
user needs Identify and prioritize critical business functions,
responsibilities, and objectives Describe the information products
derived by GIS 15
16. Seven Steps to Implement Enterprise GIS Step 2: Assess GIS
architecture and system infrastructure Inventory existing GIS
configuration and related computer systems Determine which items
should be enhanced or replaced Determine new technology
alternatives for purchase 16
17. Seven Steps to Implement Enterprise GIS Step 3: Assess GIS
database readiness Inventory and document characteristics of
existing spatial and non-spatial datasets Identify missing
mission-critical GIS data 17
18. Seven Steps to Implement Enterprise GIS Step 4: Review
governance and management strategies for managing and maintaining
GIS Address organizational issues Perform risk analysis 18
19. Seven Steps to Implement Enterprise GIS Step 5: Identify
opportunities to reduce costs and improve efficiency Identify
duplication of effort, inefficiencies, and data bottlenecks Perform
benefit-cost analysis 19
20. Seven Steps to Implement Enterprise GIS Step 6: Plan
short-term GIS goals and objectives to improve operations and
workflow Written processes and procedures Establish clearly defined
roles and responsibilities 20
21. Seven Steps to Implement Enterprise GIS Step 7: Consider
implementation plan Standard enterprise IT architecture includes
web access tier, enterprise tier, component application tier, data
tier, and storage network 21
22. Additional Resources Online Resources Enterprise System
Design Planning Tools
http://wiki.gis.com/wiki/index.php/Enterprise_System_Design_Planning_Tools
Textbook Resources Thinking About GIS: Geographic Information
System Planning for Managers, 5th edition Roger Tomlinson Building
a GIS: System Architecture Design Strategies for Managers, 2nd
edition Dave Peters 22
23. What Can I Do This Week? Advocate and demystify the
complexity Develop a simple enterprise outline Seek buy-in from
senior leadership Identify preliminary team members Create a
step-by-step task plan Start small with a pilot project Target
solutions with significant impact / low level of effort 23
24. Stephen A. McElroy, Ph.D., GISP GIS Program Chair
[email protected] www.americansentinel.edu
800.729.2427
25. GIS520: Developing an Enterprise Level Geospatial Strategy
Course description Principles and methods for creating, operating,
maintaining, and managing data for multiuser geospatial information
systems are studied. Each student will customize and document a
multi-user geographic information system of their design. Course
will be offered in January 2014 Non-degree seeking students can
enroll in a single course No application fee 26
26. Currently Offer Four Online GIS Degrees Associate of
Science Geographic Information Systems (ASGIS) Bachelor of Science
Geographic Information System (BSGIS) Geospatial Information
Systems Graduate Certificate (GISGC) Master of Geospatial
Information Systems (MGIS) 27
27. MGIS Program Outcomes MGIS graduates will be able to: 1.
Develop an understanding of geospatial principles and practices. 2.
Develop a working knowledge of ArcGIS and other GIS related tools
used in developing and implementing geospatial strategies. 3.
Collect, store, access and use geospatial data across multiple
disciplines. 4. Develop an enterprise level geospatial strategy. 5.
Understand the ethical and legal issues associated with the use of
geospatial data. 6. Understand similarities and differences in
geospatial strategies among specific industries. 7. Design, develop
and complete a GIS project. 8. Present geospatial information in a
clear and professional manner. 9. Complete an e-Portfolio as
evidence of academic achievement. 28
28. American Sentinel Online Geospatial Learning Lab Available
to all students as a resource. Includes learning support, GIS
activities and other resources to promote geospatial principles and
practice across the curriculum. MGIS Program Details 29 Core
Courses (5 courses 15 credits) Geospatial Principles and Practice
Geospatial Practicum Using ArcGIS Geospatial Data Developing an
Enterprise Level Geospatial Strategy GIS Accuracy, Ethics & the
Law Course Track 6 Elective courses 18 credits + 1 Project course 3
credits Graduate Certificate Project Track 4 Elective courses 12
credits + 3 Project courses 9 credits Elective Courses (7 courses
21 credits) Web-based Applications and Resources for Geospatial
Analysis Emerging Topics, Trends and Technologies in Geospatial
Analysis GIS Applications in Health and Human Services GIS
Applications in Business GIS Applications in Government GIS
Applications in Defense, Intelligence and Public Safety GIS
Applications in Environment and Natural Resources Geospatial
Project Overview (required) Design and Development of a Geospatial
Project Geospatial Project and Presentation MGIS
