Small Packages for Big Data: Putting GIS in Your Pocket

You may already own a big part of the future of GIS—your smartphone. Here’s how it can transform the way you work.

It’s no secret that geographic information systems have big appetites for data. The demand isn’t slowing. Industry segments including government, utilities, transportation, energy and their mobile workforces are discovering the value of spatial information to managing resources and activities. The trend has produced growing demands for tools to manage and use geospatial data.

In addition to gathering data to create new databases and GIS layers, significant resources are devoted to maintaining spatial data. Once a GIS is populated, its information must be continually refreshed as growth and change affects natural and built environments. Incomplete or out-of-date data can reduce confidence in the accuracy of the GIS, potentially drawing down the value of the information and services it provides. It’s a risk that GIS professionals can’t afford to take.

To address the need for timely, comprehensive information, organizations are putting a new spin on widely accepted technologies.

The Need for Customized Data

Whether for initial database development or ongoing data collection and maintenance, data capture is an essential component for any GIS. It’s also a major component in GIS operating costs. As a result, any gains in productivity and efficiency during data collection can deliver significant dividends to downstream users and processes.

The largest improvements in data collection efficiency can be achieved by blending software, hardware and domain expertise to provide the best fit for a particular application. For example, consider utility technicians collecting information on wastewater collection systems. The technicians capture location data as well as information on the depth, materials and conditions of manholes, drains and pipes. Often working in urban settings, they typically need decimeter-accuracy positioning, rugged field devices and guidance in safety and measurement procedures. In addition, wireless Internet technologies enable field workers to access rich datasets for information on adjacent utilities and structures.

By contrast, wetlands specialists collect information on riparian boundaries and plant life over large regions. They may also measure water depths and collect and document samples. These applications can function with meter-level positioning, but require technicians to capture extensive attribute data and images. Their field equipment needs to be compact, waterproof and capable of operating in remote locations where wireless Internet connections may not be available.

Commercial solutions providers face significant challenges in meeting the needs of such disparate applications. The concept of “One Size Fits All” is ancient history. Rather than asking users to adapt to specific field software and hardware, Trimble is taking a more proactive and flexible approach. The company provides solutions that enable users to optimize specific workflows and manage data—in both the field and office. The customized solutions deliver increased efficiency and streamlined processes for analysis, visualization and decision making.

Customized Software Meets BYOD

In a 2014 analysis, Gartner Inc. reported that electronics manufacturers shipped roughly 2.1 billion mobile smart devices, mainly smartphones and tablets. Market estimates for 2015 grew to 2.3 billion units. While many of these devices (especially tablets) are purchased by businesses, a sizeable portion of smartphones used for work purposes are owned by individual employees. This approach, often referred to as “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD), provides a cost-effective platform for gathering and sharing information throughout an enterprise. In many applications, smartphones or tablets can replace dedicated, purpose-built mobile computers. A recent study published by McKinsey revealed that more than 30 percent of tablet owners used their devices for work-related tasks beyond basic communications, including content creation, review and data analysis.

Simply putting smartphones and tablets into the hands of large numbers of people is not enough. The devices must be adapted to operate as an integral part of a company’s workflow. By using Trimble^® TerraFlex™ software, an organization can create workflows and data forms tailored to its needs. The customized solutions operate on consumer-grade, BYOD smartphones and tablets or on rugged commercial devices running popular operating systems such as Android, Windows Mobile and iOS.

The McKinsey report also noted that 29 percent of BYOD tablets and 14 percent of smartphones are connected to external business hardware. In geospatial applications, external devices such as cameras, bar-code and meter readers, environmental sensors and distance measurement devices are common. By automating the interaction with external sensors, field data collection becomes faster and carries less chance of inaccurate (or forgotten) entry of external data. For positioning, customized systems can use a smartphone’s internal GPS capability or link to external, precise sensors including the Trimble R1 and R2 GNSS receivers.

In addition to using tailored data collection, organizations need to distribute information to users in multiple locations and disciplines. TerraFlex enables crews to store information to the cloud for real-time access in the field and office. Data checking and analysis can be completed quickly and the resulting information sent to other systems such as Esri ArcGIS. To add background data and context, companies can use Trimble cloud-based services to acquire additional geospatial data including aerial and satellite imagery, government maps and cadastral data. The information can be delivered directly to the BYOD device, where it can be used immediately or stored for access when working in areas with no cellular or wireless Internet connections.

The Future in Your Pocket

The revolution in mobile computing will continue to accelerate. Improvements in hardware and software will bring new efficiency and capability to data collection while shrinking the time and distance between field, office and stakeholders.

Customized solutions, built around flexible devices and cloud services, will enable GIS professionals to deliver higher-quality information in less time. Take your smartphone out of your pocket. It’s time to release its full potential.

Tags: Android, BYOD, Data Collection, GIS, iOS, Mobile, R1 GNSS, R2 GNSS, Receivers, Smartphones, TerraFlex, Windows

This entry was posted on Monday, March 14th, 2016 at 10:50 am. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.