Abstract: Traditional implementations of systems
for the management of geographic data in municipal Utilities (water,
sanitary, drainage) have evolved over the years with the introduction
of new and more capable technologies to support the business needs
of the Utility. While initially these systems were manual, hardcopy-based
systems, they have now evolved to include automated systems. As
a result of how these systems have been developed however, the
data and systems environments are typically segregated into discrete
“islands of automation” without a well-defined and
-implemented overall information systems architecture. Given recent
improvements in interoperability between GIS and network modeling
systems, and improvements in the area of 3-dimensional data management
in GISs, it is now relevant to review municipal Utility geospatial
information systems implementations with the view to determining
if it is possible to rationalize these various disparate data
and systems environments into a more cohesive and holistic information
systems architecture. In order to do this an information systems
design methodology will be used to assist in the specification
of the data and systems architecture in a manner that enhances
the integration of the geospatial information systems that must
utilize that data. Specific focus of this data and systems design
activity will concentrate on the management of the 3-dimensional
aspect of utility data. It will be shown that this is one of the
major data and system components for which there is a great potential
for advancement.
The information system environment developed
within the context of this research will be defined in terms of
the data and systems requirements of a typical municipal Utility
organization. In order to evaluate the newly designed environment,
it, and a case study environment will be compared to the data
and systems requirements of a typical municipal Utility. The case
study environment will be that of the City of Kamloops, located
in British Columbia, Canada. It is felt, based on the writer’s
experience, that this environment is quite comparable to other
similar sized municipal Utility environments.
An Investigation of Research to Determine
the Feasibility of an In-Vehicle Navigation Network Algorithm
for Sudden Cardiac Arrest Emergency Response
Abstract: For year’s government studies
have voiced concerns over the inabilities of medical services
to respond to primary emergencies like sudden cardiac arrests.
Survivability studies have shown that most victims of sudden cardiac
arrest have minimal survival rates eight minutes after the onset
of an attack, times many medical services are not meeting. Some
policy makers are convinced only improvements in technology may
reduce response times enough to make a difference and save lives.
In response, mathematical and geographical researchers have devoted
an abundance of time and money into researching the improvement
of medical response times. Most of this research has been focused
upon resource allocation models that strategically place medical
services, such as ambulances and fire houses, into better positions
of response. Navigation patterns predicted by these allocation
models are not, however, being executed in the field by way of
in-vehicle navigation. Without simulation of these algorithms
within an in-vehicle navigation system, medical response services
will continue to drive routes not designated by allocation models,
become lost, have to significantly slow down, and often pass their
final destination, all ensuring increased response times.
Previous research algorithms are significantly close to actual
drive times within a mid-sized city, during its most congested
scenario; within the central business district during PM traffic
hours. Mathematical algorithms, although have difficulty predicting
the best route without real-time traffic data, can consistently
determine routes for single and multiple vehicles and display
accurate drive times for these routes. It is more than feasible
that either one or a combination of algorithms, if used within
a GIS base vehicle navigation system, would not only help improve
medical responses to sudden cardiac arrest victims, but ensure
paths taken by medical vehicles would be known to dispatchers
before the selection of response vehicles
The success of GIS projects depends
not only on successful implementation of functional requirements,
but also on data quality. Generally, utility asset databases are
built by converting the spatial and attribute information from
existing documents such as maps and as-built drawings. The data
quality in a database thus constructed is therefore dependent
on the quality of the source documents. Should the asset location
and attributes information in the source as-built drawings be
erroneous, these errors will be reflected in the resulting GIS
database, thus defeating the main purpose of engaging in a GIS
project.
The focus of this case study will be on verifying
and improving the asset data quality at the Sewerage Directorate
of the Abu Dhabi Municipality and proposing a system of field
verification to safeguard data quality.
The review of the asset data quality consisted
of a thorough study of the source of asset data - the Sewerage
Directorate’s as-built drawings.
This thesis will evaluate the types of
asset data errors and anomalies in the as-built drawings and will
propose a solution to remedy, secure and safeguard a higher asset
data quality.
Abstract: The purpose of this dissertation is
to define the optimal environment in which to operate a GIS for
emergency response in a local government. While many of the principles
are applicable to general emergency usage, the focus is on the
reaction stage of a large emergency event.
To this end, the author breaks GIS down into
its five components (People, Software, Hardware, Data and Methods)
and reviews available literature to identify common practices
and ideas for each element that could contribute to the optimal
environment. Conventions and processes identified in this fashion
become the standard against which the surveyed organisations are
compared.
Twelve agencies that use GIS in an emergency
response capacit
y were surveyed, and questions were asked relating
to aspects of each of the five elements. Findings from the survey
were combined with those derived from the literature to produce
the final model environment.
The final model recommends several characteristics
or conditions that should be present to enhance the performance
of each element within the optimal environment. While the author
offers this framework as a guideline for the establishment of
an emergency GIS, he forewarns that individual circumstances will
dictate that adjustments be made according to the requirements
placed on the system.
Ethics is one of the emerging
issues in the development of the GI professionals and is the focus
of considerable contemporary research.
Current literature on ethics and GI highlights
issues that are directly related to the strengths of GI in data
correlation, visualisation and analysis. These strengths increasingly
bring the GI professional to the fore in decision-making. This
is particularly so in the context of public participation on decisions
relating to the allocation and use of natural resources and the
corresponding environmental impacts. In turn, this is a healthy
indication of GI as an emerging profession and has brought new
ethical considerations that the GI professional needs to be aware
of.
The research identifies the importance of values
as an underpinning factor in the development of ethical codes
of practice. Quantitative analysis of questionnaires distributed
to international recipients confirms that professional development
is a key factor in ethical awareness. This is substantiated by
other qualitative research.
Data protection issues are also related to sound
ethical conduct and the evolution of ethical use of GI must be
considered in the context of legal provisions related to data
protection and ethical behaviour as well as emerging public concerns
and best practices. The research compares international and Maltese
practice through structured questionnaires distributed to international
and Maltese recipients.
The findings highlight a range of issues, including
the approach to dealing with ethical dilemmas, training and awareness,
as well as the general view on enforcing ethical codes of conduct.
A comparison of international bet practice with prevailing practices
and perception in Malta is complemented by a case study on the
Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA), the largest GI
“key player” in Malta. This is used to provide a sound
background for the development of a Geo-ethical code of conduct
for organisations with a high level of GI business.
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