ArcGIS Explorer BPC 2006

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Implementing Successful Geospatial Portals
Bern Szukalski Director, Technology
Strategies ESRI, Redlands, CA
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A GIS Portal is Not a Karst Information Portal
But GIS Portals

• Include karst data and information
• GIS datasets and published documents
• Serve as a focal point for communities
• Define procedures and methods for submission,
  storage, discovery, and retrieval of content

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A GIS Portal is Not a Karst Information Portal
But

• Challenges may be similar
• Technology, Standards, Procedures,Human factors
• Geographic context is important
• A map-centric approach and geographic search for
  content may be of interest
• May include geospatial content

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What Is A GIS Portal?

• A collaborative, multi-participant web site for
  publishing, sharing, discovering, viewing, and
  using geospatial information.

• Provides a Gateway for access
• Implements a published catalog (discovery)
• Formalizes processes
• Serves communities of Content Users and Content
  Providers

Not Just a Web Site A Framework for a Community
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GIS Information

• Analysis and research requires external data
• Is distributed
• Information exists at a variety of
  scalesNational, Regional, Local, Domain
• Users need to find dataMaps, documents, data
  models, models, tools
• Users need information about the dataDate
  created, accuracy, scale, author/contact, etc.
• Users need to share/publish data

Portals Provide The Framework
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Why GIS Portals?

• Create community of stakeholders
• Organize contents
• Formalize processes of contribution,
  participation, and access
• Archive information about the dataFormalized
  searchable metadata
• Offer search and discovery tools
• Offer access and use tools
• Quality and assuranceReview processes, use of
  established standards

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Portal Stakeholder Benefits

• Increases organization profile
• Increases visibility and value of projects
• Validates funding and support
• Fosters agency stewardship and sharing
• Participation in a collaborative framework
• Cost effective
• Promotes participation through benefits

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GIS Portals Organize Geographic Knowledge
A Framework for Geospatial Discovery
Portal

• Data
• Data models
• Methods
• Maps
• Services

Metadata
Standards and Interoperability Support
Participation and Use
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GeospatialInformationPortals

• GOS
• India
• EU-Inspire
• GMSDI
• Delaware
• Texas
• Shell Oil
• Kentucky
• Many more

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www.geodata.gov
Table of Contents
Tutorial
Categories
Map Viewer
Search
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Geodata.gov

• A destination
• Organization
• Community info
• Standards
• Best Practices
• Tools
• Data models
• Whats New
• Marketplace
• Current Events

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Key Portal Elements

• Data/information holdings
• Web site and Admin framework
• Metadata Catalog (documentation)
• Formalized processes and procedures
• Content and Documentation Standards
• Search and Discovery tools
• Delivery and Viewing capabilities
• Focus areas for special interests
• Publisher / Community Commitment

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GIS Portals
Users
GIS CatalogPortal
GIS Dataand ServiceAuthors
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Portal Key Concepts

• Not a warehouse, a catalog to content
• Where it is current, updated, maintained
• More than just GIS data
• Maps, Live content (web services)
• Templates for schemas and rule bases
• Data Models, Workflow and Task Models
• Documents, photos, videos, blogs, podcasts
• Provides a formalized framework
• Standard procedures, Metadata templates
• Establishes a community (is a destination)

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Content DocumentationMetadata is Important
Search
Create
Serve
Manage
Using Standards (CEN, FGDC, ISO)
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Collecting Metadata
Metadata Document in XML
Portal provides facility to upload metadata XML
document
Users having access to ArcCatalog can publish
directly from ArcCatalog
Administrators use Administration Tool to
review/approve published metadata
Metadata Repository
Portal provides facility to fill out an online
form containing FGDC or ISO metadata
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Metadata Administration
Formal Standards, Review Process, Methods
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Metadata Harvesting
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ContentDiscovery

• Spatial
• Keywords
• Category
• Rating
• Provider level
• Scale / Coverage
• Type / Format
• Time period
• Updated

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Content Search - Examples

• Hydrologic data for Texas
• Geologic data for the Gulf Coast
• Petroleum well lease information for the Middle
  East
• Landuse polygon data within 5 miles of the
  Sacramento River that exists at a scale of
  124,000 and has been updated since 1995.

The questions to be asked will determine the
metadata to collect, and how search interfaces
are implemented
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Content Viewingand Access

• Maps, documents (PDF)
• Data Models
• Procedures (task and workflow models)
• Data download
• Online GIS Services

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GIS Portals Evolve

• Technology GIS, IT, Network, Web Servers,
  Platforms
• StandardsGIS, IT, OGC, etc.
• GIS CommunitiesContent, Collaboration,
  Sophistication
• Problems to be solved9/11, Katrina

Based on Evolution of Foundational Elements
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Successful GIS Portals Are

• Standards-based GIS, IT, ISO, OGC, etc.
• Built using COTS softwareSustainable,
  maintainable, deliverable
• Common architecture to support many usesPublic,
  secure, commerce
• Open / InteroperableChoice of databases,
  hardware, software
• Self-sustaining Encourages participation and
  growth

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Successful GIS Portals Are

• Extensible and ScalableSupports a growing
  community and uses
• Formally ImplementedMetadata, Procedures, Rules
  of engagement
• Supported by a communityMultiple participants,
  contributors, shared burdens
• Owned by the communityLeading organization, or
  consortium - not branded
• Has obvious value and benefits

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• Geospatial One-Stophttp//www.geodata.gov2006
  Excellence.Gov award
• USA - Arkansas http//www.geostor.arkansas.gov/Por
  tal/index.jsp
• USA Alabamahttp//portal.gsa.state.al.us/Portal
  /index.jsp
• Europe INSPIREhttp//geoportal.jrc.it/Portal/
• Europe Irelandhttp//www.geoportalni.com
• Europe Norwayhttp//www.geonorge.noEurope
  Netherlandshttp//www.natuurgegevens.nl/Portal/
• Europe Italyhttp//www.pcn.minambiente.it/pcn/d
  efault.htm (click Cartografia gt Click Nuova
  Versione) - Ministry of the environment
• India - NSDI Portalhttp//gisserver.nic.in/nsdipo
  rtal/gotogos.jsp
• United Arab Emirates - AGEDI Portalhttp//www.age
  di.info/gosportal/gotogos.jsp

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Thank You
Bern Szukalskibszukalski_at_esri.com