Page 113 - DCAP208_Management Support Systems

Management Support Systems

Notes Unfortunately, GIS is often developed in the wrong order and more attention is given to the
dazzling hardware and software, rather than trying to fit the data to the computer technology.
The statement ‘garbage in; garbage out’ can be applied to the data collection process for the
organization and the people who utilize and implement that data. The greatest piece of software,
and the computers with the greatest amount of memory and speed, will not improve the
information from data that is poorly gathered and inputted into the system.

7.3.3 Types of GIS

The following GIS types are not necessarily mutually exclusive and a GIS application can be
always classified under more than one type.

Four-dimensional GIS

While spatio-temporal geo-representations can handle two dimensions of space and one of
time, four-dimensional GIS are designed for three dimensions of space and one of time.

Multimedia/Hypermedia GIS

Multimedia/hypermedia GIS allow the user to access a wide range of geo-referenced multimedia
data (e.g., simulations, sounds and videos) by selecting resources from a geo-referenced image
map base. A map serving as the primary index to multimedia data in a multimedia geo-
representation is termed a hypermap. Multimedia and virtual geo-representations can be stored
either in extended relational databases, object databases or in application-specific data stores.
GIS systems are dynamic and permit rapid updating, analysis, and display. They use data from
many diverse sources such as satellite imagery, aerial photos, maps, ground surveys, and Global
Positioning Systems (GPS).

Web GIS

Widespread access to the Internet, the ubiquity of browsers and the explosion of commodified
geographic information has made it possible to develop new forms of multimedia
geo-representations on the Web. Many current geomatics solutions are Web-based overtaking
the traditional Desktop environment and most future ones are expected to follow the same
direction.

Virtual Reality GIS

Virtual Reality GIS have been developed to allow the creation, manipulation and exploration of
geo-referenced virtual environments, e.g., using VRML modelling (Virtual Reality Modelling
Language). Virtual Reality GIS can be also Web-based. Applications include 3D simulation for
planning (to experiment with different scenarios).

Task Make distinction between Four-dimensional GIS and Multimedia/hypermedia
GIS.

7.3.4 Multimedia and Geographical Information System (GIS)

Multimedia is a technology that encompasses various types of data and presents them in an
integrated form. There are several types of data that are used by the technology, including text,

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