The New GIS Users

Last year I met with a product manager of an online housing rental search company. This company is the perfect example of a venture capitalist’s dream, in which they had already received money to expand the company. I walked in knowing these guys not only have the cash for GIS analytics, but just by browsing their website, they also needed online mapping for their clients. I walked in with the thought, maybe I could convince them a web map application is a good start for them.

I actually walked out with my tail between my legs. Web map applications are not for private business. These guys utilize the power of Web 2.0 and the service capabilities of mash-ups. In fact, being in GIS for 13 years, these guys schooled me on what is really important with GIS. There are two customers GIS serves – government employees and "everyone-else". With the new online mapping companies' influence, I believe GIS companies should look toward "everyone-else" for the next big client.

The everyone-else users of the future require just a little more than the visualization of internet mapping today. They want simple analysis tools – to be able to view their business data on a map, drill down, or select several areas to pass back to analytic engines for further analysis. Very simple and Web 2.0 ”ish”. The deep analytics that come from GIS will have to be built into an analytics platform and offer access as a service, which means the power of in-database processing, http://www.sas.com/technologies/architecture/in-databaseprocessing/index.html, a concept SAS has been working on recently.

What this means for GIS - no longer are graphics the content for the engine. Topology and geoprocessing happens within the database, and visual reports are generated only by request. Also, the Web 1.0 GIS application, which involves heavy user interaction for analysis, such as: 1)make the zoning layer active, 2)select the parcel layer, and 3)ask GIS to show you how many parcels are within the code “R1a” is gone. Analysis must now be a simple query of the Web 2.0 command line.

Providing tools for only the government space dampens innovation. Henry Ford, concerned with the danger of listening too closely to customers, once said "If I had asked my customers what they wanted," Ford said, "they would have said a faster horse”, meaning customers don't envision the future, they inform the present.

So my feeling is yes, we should look at web application companies and point out the leaders, and develop on top of their new "standards". Not only will government benefit with their technology, I believe their is more to provide in the new arena of the private sector. Let’s all collaborate and make sure we are ahead of tradition. That seems to be making a lot of money in my region.

Where are Maps taking us?

I have recently researched 2 mapping technologies. 1)The internet maps (such as Google and Yahoo maps) and 2)web map applications for organizations (companies that sell an application to place internal data on the web with desktop “ish” GIS functionality). I am struggling with comparing the two, with the reservation of knowing web map applications still have not moved into the new arena of internet maps' popularity, and provide so many tools so few use.

The web has changed drastically within the past year. I live in an influential region of the country, sometimes referred to as the “second silicon valley”. I have many friends that work in tech start-ups and all have received investment funding. These companies were born with a mindset that Web 2.0 is the only future in which to make money. I am constantly amazed by their marketing, PR capabilities, and how well they sell product. Surrounded by these mindsets can be overwhelming. GIS, as cool as it is, has a long way to catch up.

What is Web 2.0? It's many things to different people. But the gist is:
• The end user does not see an application
• New, simpler, intuitive interfaces (UI) – very ergonomically friendly
• User generated content and visualization
• Mash-up is imperative. Mash-up is loosely spoken of, but it comes down to the integration of content and functionality from multiple sources; and coupling those into the visibility of one application. Sources can be from anywhere, anyone, multiple vendors, or even a government provider.
• SaaS – software as a service – like all the internet maps now.
• Services added as functionality by requirements of the end user – a pick list of functions only needed by the individual user
• Search (SEO), and the search input as the “new” command line. Anything you want to do is typed into one line, i.e.… geocode an address- then search for all pizza locations within view. This functionality has the chance to provide the ultimate end-user power - to simply add in GIS layers by keywords.

In contrast, to understand what above means, recall what Web 1.0 was:
• An application controls the user experience
• Applications that provide every tool imaginable but:
o UI not intuitive, exposing hundreds of buttons and tools – limited to what the manufacturer of the application wanted to provide
o Functions and tools that require a manual to use
• Content and services are provided by the end-user or its organization only
• Additional functionality has to be programmed, which breaks code and in turn provides maintenance nightmares.

From my research I saw lots of Web 1.0 and very limited Web 2.0. Technology needs to have that “ah-ha!” factor that gives consumers the “got to have it” feel. This also sparks the interests of investment bankers. So, where do we place priorities on new mapping technology? I believe it comes down to:
A) What is best for the organization
B) What will the masses want next

I did not see any benefits for the current users of web map applications. The only thing I could see is they can mash-up some internet map content (centerline, images) with their own data. But is that really a benefit? I believe anyone who has a web map application already serves that content, and it is more current than the internet maps’ data.

What will the masses want next? Competition of internet mapping will be fierce in the future. How do we compete with the next round of programmers that do not create applications, but consume content and services from around the globe, creating a single viewpoint for the user with more information than ever? In many government organizations, it is easier to consume Yahoo’s traffic service than to go across the hall and ask for street closure data.

Mapping companies need to think of who they are serving. Currently their web apps serve a minority within an organization:
1. Those who do not want to learn desktop GIS
2. Those who need access to secured data
The struggling economy today has proved the challenge of companies to make a profit by serving government GIS clients, which is generally web map applications’ focus. We need to think about the private sector.

GIS as the enemy

Often I see GIS (and other enterprise systems) putting the brakes on a project or even complicating it. Consultants are asking their clients for full documented requirements, understanding what they must support, and wanting to create full planning documentation. Planning is the best way to start a project, but tell me who has time for this anymore, and where is it being done? Consumers are asking for services and needing results now. GIS has been in the pc and web world for over 15 years, if you have not figured out what users want or how they would use it by now, you will be pushed aside.

My girlfriend runs her own web design business. She is successful because of turn around. Companies flock to her because she does what they ask, and does what they don't know to ask, then creates a design by the next day. I have yet to see someone inside of a company have the same output. Have you heard this conservation before:

co-worker - I need this designed and functional by tomorrow.
designer - I can't I need more time, I have other projects.
co-worker - This is more important.
designer - Well, do you know what you want it to do, what colors it should display, and how long it will be used?
co-worker - No, I just need it done.
designer - Well I can't help you without knowing your requirements.

How team oriented and socially gratifying is that conversation? What happens? The person in need (co-worker) moves on to someone else who can do it, and never asks that designer again for help, or speaking to the person becomes a pet peeve. Unfortunately, that dialogue means businesses must go outside their own company to produce results. Fortunately, it makes my girlfriend a lot of money.

This happens in all industries, but don't let it happen to GIS. If a young whipper-snapper from another department says "I need data in XML to create a mash-up", give it to him. Let him know you support his needs and can offer more.

The more you give, the more he is going to need you. The less you give, the less he is going to need you. If you give a stray dog food, he will come back for more. If you kick him in the ribs, he will stay off your property, but probably poop on your doorstep.

Which answer will produce more for you, your staff, your IT infrastructure, and your budget in the long run?

Map Mash-up for Everyone!

Well I am amazed. I spent several hours of research, application trial, and even blogging how to create the perfect map mash-up (See previous posts), which required several steps. Even though my efforts are within the past couple of months, they are old news. Google has finally made my dreams of easy map mash-ups come true.

Within Google docs, a user can utilize the spreadsheet app to both serve their data over the web, and also create a web served map mash-up. The map is added as a Gadget, and can be published to a web website or added as a Gadget to iGoogle. The entire process is a UI without programming. The user does not have to add the latitude or longitude (XY) to their data. Within the spreadsheet, add the address in a single field and Google automatically geocodes the correct points, or places a dot for every address on the map.

As someone who has worked in technology for 13 years, I have only dreamed of this functionality. Of course, when I mention anything Google, it means free! Playing around more with both maps and spreadsheets this week, I found some other interesting functions. A user can create their own map, load XML based mapping polygons (KML or geo:rss) from their local drive, and actually edit the shape, change color, or line widths. This technology previously was only available on desktop mapping applications as complicated and non-intuitive tools.

Google is definitely heading in the right direction with their mapping technology. They are years ahead of traditional GIS and mapping companies. Soon Google mash-ups will be a common everyday occurrence.