GIS has not changed since 1995

Recently at a conference I was thumbing through the program pamphlet, searching for thought provoking presentations. I just about tossed it in the trash and walked out. There was only 1 topic different than other presentations I have seen in the last 13 years. What has happened to GIS being the new and exciting solution? Why do we still have presentations with the topic…”Data Aggregation: Combining sewer information across county and city lines”. Who cares? GIS is stuck in the year 1995, back when the craze was moving data from paper maps to the digital world.

When are we going to start USING our data? We are stuck in a technological time warp in which GIS software is no longer seen as a tool for analytics, but for transactions. Remember the days when people went to school to study geography, which explained the “reasons” places and cultures are located where they are? Who has ever studied geography to maintain data?

I found it very interesting at this conference, I was engaged in an argument with a federal government worker about the use of metadata. Really? Tell me what GIS people use metadata for. Business Intelligence (BI) systems have taught us a lot about the need for metadata. It is used to automate business transactions, functionality, and analytics. In other words, the system uses metadata. GIS needs to enact metadata in the same manner – it should not be a bunch of facts that .005% of the users just read about.

We need a shake-up in GIS. Come on people, let’s solve business problems. Give questions and answers to executives that were once considered too complicated to resolve.

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.

Does User Generated Content mean Cash?

You bet it does. Look at how you shop online: You heard about a book that will make your job easier. But are you willing to pay full price plus shipping? What would make you 100% confident of your purchase? Feedback. Many times I read 25 comments from owners before I read the store's listing. It's funny that I trust 25 strangers opinions, and also that I trust the comments are not from the author logging in 25 times with different names!

But that is how society has always worked- word of mouth. It can drive sales and it can find that perfect employer. Place word of mouth on the internet and you have communication between users across the country like they are next door neighbors.

Technology companies have created applications for content, feedback, and context, simply known as user generated content (UGC). UGC with the power of search provides specific information and product based solely on feedback. Companies that use this technology for revenue call it social commerce.

The next wave for UGC will be the mash-up of location. How powerful is it to know where feedback is generated? Persuasion is definitely greater if content comes from someone close to home rather than many states away. Or how about the use of location analytics to see what region has the most purchases of your product or leaves the most feedback?

Who uses analytics?

Analytics have been around for many years with a stigma of overwhelming and hard to create. That stigma will be crushed in the future, and mash-up technology is going to make analytics the next technology wave.

Analytics have such a vast amount of purpose, from key metric or performance measurement to predicting future trends. Within business or enterprise organizations, analytics are created within Business Intelligence (BI) software. However for BI software to work effectively, it relies on data warehousing and ETL procedures. Some of the BI software vendors are moving into the mash-up world, but still require expensive software licensing.

Analytics are best viewed within a dashboard as a widget or gauge. These widgets display graphs, charts, maps, or any type of graphic of information about your data. My favorite metric to show performance is simply the 3 category traffic light which simply displays good (green), bad (yellow), and ugly (red). Microsoft Excel provides some of the easiest analytic widgets with its charting wizard.

Well, as you may have guessed, I am searching for the perfect analytic mash-up service. I am looking for a graphing service that allows mash-ups to personal data without programming and for free. I have found websites (I will post them at a later time) that speak of this service, calling it mashboards. The closest free service I have found so far is a company called http://www.swivel.com/. This is a neat sight, mainly as a social community site (which I will discuss later), that allows uploading data to feed automatically into charts. At this time, they do not allow RSS feeds, or mash-ups; but their site includes hints mash-up may be in the future. If you know of any other sites, please leave a comment with an URL. I will create a mash-up for the blog with my Work Request system.

An analytic application I am gaga about is Google Analytics. This is an incredible application. I can't believe how easy it is. I have seen applications such as this cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and here it is free. All the user has to do is add about 7 lines of code to each of their web pages, and instantly this SaaS program tracks:

• who is visiting your site
• where they are coming from (location!)
• how long they where on your site
• what pages are most visited
• which links are most clicked
• how they got to your site - directly, search engine, or link
• the search words used to get to your site
• the search engine, operating system, connection speed, screen resolution

All with a dashboard and widget interface. Just an amazing application. It does allow drill down to gain more facts, however, it does not allow drill down by using the graphics. The user must click the "reports" link underneath each graphic.

I have no complaints considering the price. The perfect analytics application is Google Analytics and the sourced data of your choice. Hence, a mash-up of your data to this service.

Analytics will definitely be the next wave of "must have" features for the online user to the enterprise. People are really catching on to using data to drive decisions (d3), and mash-up technology is only going to make analytics much more prominent.

Mash-up is Disruptive Technology

Mash-ups allow the integration of multiple data feeds or services to interact together. The most popular mash-ups are utilizing mapping technology and databases such as Google Maps or Microsoft Virtual Earth. Many technologist believe mash-ups are hobby or hacker technologies. Didn't they believe Napster was as well? Napster was the reason iTunes today is the number 1 site for downloading music.

The vast popularity of mash-up technology will come with applications that allow users to create their own through drag and drop technology. For example, if Google Maps API will ever entail a graphical user interface (GUI), or create a service over the web with simple user interface (UI), the multitude of map mash-ups will require search to provide the right information to the right user.

I have been searching for these applications for quite awhile; I refuse to deal with programming.
The other day, I found my "almost" perfect map mash-up. I say almost because it still requires extra steps and programming understanding, but is very simple to use. It is through the utilization of Yahoo Pipes (http://pipes.yahoo.com) to create a continuous really simple syndication (RSS) feed of data to a map. Simply put, RSS is a continuous stream of information from any data or user generated source, such as news. I was able to use my Zoho Creator table, run it through Yahoo Pipes, and create a link that is copied and pasted into Google. I just can't believe how simple this is. I love it! Now my HOA can actually view which building has a work request, and its free!

Mash-ups only work with data that has an open application programming interface (API). An API allows other applications access to data or services by connections. The future for mash-ups is a simple search for the data you want, then drag and drop on top of the services required. Vendors that create their software systems without an API are writing themselves out of business. In fact, if they are not moving their code into SaaS systems, they are really falling behind. Users no longer want to have systems that are disparate or just stored information silos.

So who is going to be the iTunes of mash-up?

The Power of SEO

Search engine optimization, or simply "search," has more power over our future than we realize. Think about the power Google has over our entrance onto the internet. What is usually the first page you use to access another site? What is your homepage URL? That little search bar has so much power, users are able to type any subject or reference they choose, and instantly return related information. No programming, no understanding SQL!

Why is this important? Think about the database your search is queried upon, the network the search is using, and the number of records returned. The speed is incredible. Now, try to create the same type of query for data within your organization's databases. How long does it take you to generate the code? How long does it take to return thousands of records?

In the future, Search will be the best entry to gain access to all data within your organization. The days of expensive, complicated, and exclusive data warehousing, extract-transform-load (ETL) procedures will fade. A simple search will not only access all databases in your organizations, it will also cross multiple databases with mash-up technology.

Why is SaaS important to me?

Software as a service, also referred to as cloud computing, will be the most important manner to purchase software in the future. Gone will be the days when enterprise solutions require teams of technologists to implement and maintain software for their organization.

To understand where this technology is already affecting our lives, it is as simple as understanding how you utilize Google's or Yahoo's email. Google has even gone forward with their Docs software which allows a user to never need to purchase office software again.

One mind-blowing trend of ease and functionality is http://www.zoho.com/. They have a SaaS application called Creator that is a simple drag and drop developer application to provide input and storage on your website. And its free! It allows you to view the data in spreadsheet format and also edit. I am particularly interested because the technology of the past required servers, server software, deep programming, domain name, etc ... hours to create one input box. Now, you can have it in less than one minute. I used this service to create a web Work Request System for my HOA.

Future Technologies

I have decided to add more technology speak to this blog. As I account for more research in understanding today's trends, I notice more and more the future of technology. I have in particular noticed the importance of these technologies in our future:

• user generated content (UGC)
• software as a service (SaaS)
• mash-up
• social networking or social communities
• virtual world
• search engine optimization (SEO)
• analytics (BI)
• location (GIS)

These technologies are inherently disparate, but because of mash-ups they are becoming more integrated and the demand to put their functionality together is great. In the future I will blog about the importance of each one. It is inherently important for companies to make money to include these technologies in their products.

GIS is not…

Perhaps a simplistic method to create an explanation of GIS is to first understand what it is not. For instance:

GIS is NOT a map. A map is a 2D or 3D representation of an area on paper or computer. It is a visual report. Calling GIS a map would be equivalent to calling a pie graph “statistics.” A map is a report that displays information that is produced by any graphic editor, be it some type of technology, cartography, or simply hand-drawn on a bar napkin. I don’t know how many times I have heard the term “GIS map.” I know what the person is referring to (a map that comes from a GIS technology), but that term is being used incorrectly.

GIS is NOT data. Data is facts that can provide descriptive attributes. Those descriptors can be text, images, or again, information written on a bar napkin. Data is usually stored digitally on a computer within a database. A GIS uses data to create analysis. Graphic editors or a cartographer can use data to create a map. I have heard the term “GIS data” often as well. Again, what the person is generally referring to is graphic or pictorial data that is compiled with graphic software to create a map or some type of visual display. However, GIS relies on text data as much as pictorial data.

GIS is NOT GPS (global positioning system). GPS is a device that receives satellite information to use as a location identifier on the earth. This information is best displayed to the common user on a map.

GIS is NOT a single software company. GIS technology has been created by various companies worldwide. They each have a specialization in certain types of analysis. If a company proclaims they have a specialization in maps, then they are a graphic editing company, or should call themselves cartographic (from cartography – the production of maps - http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cartography ).

GIS is NOT a satellite image. A view of the world from above, sometimes referred as “birds eye view” can be created by satellite or airplane snapshots and processed into images. These are also referred as “aerial images” or “orthophotography.” This is just another form of data that displays “real life” (not drawn) pictures on a map.

GIS is missing its true meaning

Explaining GIS is tough. The reason is, depending on your level of use with GIS from beginner, developer, or professional, each has a varied definition. What I have noticed when trying to sell GIS to “C” level executives, or to 99.9% of the world who does not claim GIS as their profession, you can not give a standard answer, and no there is no such thing as “the answer.” In fact I have not quite figured out the perfect answer yet, but that is another reason for this blog – try to figure out the best manner to deliver the GIS message.

This blog should be able to provide “the answer” that GIS professionals will use from now on, and the rest of the population as well. The answer should be just as easy as saying “I am a doctor.” Everyone knows what that means, and also the next question, “what do you practice?” To find the true meaning of GIS (I will try not to compare that statement to Christmas!) it will take several posts to explain the background terminology I use, spreading over several dimensions. I will bold words that deserve a future post.

GIS is very often confused with mapping, or map feature drawing. Though these are two of the 4 principles of GIS, it should not be considered the primary purpose. Both these principles create a visual aspect. The visual is actually being separated from GIS, the future holds mapping as service based. In fact, the visual does have a definition that seems to be lost in the human language, cartography. I am not sure why this term and profession has gone away, but it should be brought back. It seems as soon as drawing maps went digital, the term cartography went out as well…can you say "the baby with the bath water?" The loss of cartography as a profession is confusing, because as soon as a graphic artists went digital, their title did not change to “PhotoShop Analyst.”

Mapping is most synonymous with GIS because it is what makes the most sense. It is easy to describe because of pictures…remember "a picture is worth a thousand words." The visual is so much easier to sell- its “the sizzle.” However, the sizzle is not going to sell a true analytical system. The sizzle is now a commodity due to Google.

The analytics, the 3rd of 4 principles of GIS, is the transparency for integration into other technology systems. GIS analytics are rarely known except by GIS professionals. You may even find that daily GIS users don’t even know of the analytics. Again, this is where the perception of map creation and data become more apparent to GIS. Analytics will play a huge part for the future of GIS. So what everyone should know, and “the answer” should present, is that GIS provides analytics.

How do you provide the perfect description? Well that is one of the reasons why I choose to call this blog “What’s Ur 20”. GIS professionals need to think in current technology terms that influence the majority of the population. Guess what, everyone knows what the title of this blog means from playing with walkie talkies as a kid. We should be able to describe GIS as easy as the blog’s question. In fact I once read that USA Today is such a popular newspaper because it is written at a 6th grade reading level. Another thing I have heard, and I can’t remember where, but the statement was “if you can’t describe what you do in one sentence, you need to find another profession.” We need to consider these two statements when creating “the answer.” As you can see this post has created “a can of worms” for many more posts to come.

Why a blog about GIS?

As technology is moving forward, GIS is becoming more functional and more of a necessity. However, there is a disconnect between those who consider themselves GIS professionals and developers who are making this technology easier to use and more mainstream. This blog is an attempt to place a "human" description to what GIS is...meaning give it a definition that everyone who is not a GIS professional can understand its purpose, and to assist those who are the "professionals" to understand how technology is making GIS more and more transparent. This blog should be a good read for those who have never heard of GIS as well as those who can claim GIS as their profession of choice. It will be interesting to see if I can blog and define GIS without having to post a visual display....Is this possible?....We'll see....

Blog Introduction

I will be periodically adding thoughts to this post to introduce GIS concepts and to generate discussions of how GIS can and is changing technology. My thoughts come from background experience, perceived future, and research. If my thoughts do change, I will keep the original blog so that the evolution and migration of ideas can be displayed.