harnessing configuration for web gis application development
DESCRIPTION
Scott Stafford-VealeTRANSCRIPT
Scott Stafford-Veale
Harnessing Configuration
for Web GIS Application Development
September 25, 2014
• Server GIS software company – Customizable COTS
solutions
• Professional services, support, and training
• 1000+ clients worldwide
• 95+ staff – focus on ArcGIS Server / ArcGIS Online
• Esri Platinum Partner
• Located in Victoria BC, Waterloo ON, Cambridge, UK
We see common web mapping
challenges across hundreds of
organizations and departments
implementing GIS.
Challenge 1:
Solving business problems often
involves additional development
to meet functional requirements.
ArcIMS
Web ADF
Flex/Silverlight
ArcGIS Server
Organizations are re-creating the
same applications over and over…
Web ADF
REST + Flex/Silverlight
JavaScript/HTML5
ArcGIS Online/Portal for
ArcGIS
“I need many compelling and powerful applications to serve my end users.
The required technology is changing rapidly but I’m budget restrained and moderately qualified to deliver them
myself”
Anonymous, haggard GIS Manager
The Challenge
“To accelerate the adoption
and use of an application and
lower the cost of ownership.”
Application Development within the
Geocortex Spatial Application Infrastructure
Out of the Box Configuration Workflow Workflow/
REST API
Customization
Viewer API
Customization
Out of the
box
Configuration
& WorkflowCustomization
1. Easy to implement
and maintain
2. Doesn’t meet
functional
requirements
1. Easy to implement
and maintain
2. More up front
configuration than
OOTB
3. Doesn’t meet
functional
requirements
1. Code base needs to be
maintained and may
cause upgrade problems
2. More up front
development cost
3. Improved user
experience
Usability
Out of the
box
Configuration
& WorkflowCustomization
1. Majority of
application
leverages core
features.
1. Back-end configuration
and management
tools built using
Geocortex Workflow.
2. Custom tools built
using Geocortex
Workflow
1. Custom modules built on
Geocortex Silverlight or
JavaScript API.
2. May lead to upgrade
concerns .
Maintenance
Potential Producer Nightmare
Database Connections
Map Services
Security
Custom Tools
Integration
Reports
Search
Workflows
Custom
Code
ArcGIS Platform
Viewer Application
Multiply this stack by 12…
An Approach
Database Connections
Security
Configuration
Custom Tools
Integration
Reports
Search
Workflows
Map Server
Feature Server
Geocode Server
ArcGIS ServerArcGIS Online
Hosted Services
Hosted Data
Web Maps
Configurable Platform (COTS)
What about sophisticated user
interactions?
• Create Form Letters for a Proposed Zoning Change
• Investigate Emergency Response History
• Find documents associated with a parcel
• Investigate a Service Request
• Economic Development property searches
• Extract Spatial Data
• Detailed Parcel Report
Configuring Sophisticated User Interactions
Geoprocessing
Route
Query
Geocode Open Form
Intersection
SQL
Send Email
Get User
Capture Geometry
Get Extents
Zoom to extents
Show Selection
Print map
Server-Side Activities Client-Side Activities
Drawbacks of Configurable
Software
May not have 100% of the look,
feel, function you are looking for.
Might require compromise.
START
COTSEnterprise
App
T I M E & M O N E Y
CA
PA
BIL
ITIE
S
Workflow
FormsCharts
Security Search
Reports Data Links
Viewers
Out of the Box Configuration Workflow Workflow/
REST API
Customization
Viewer API
Customization
21 3
1. Leverage SAI Configuration:Common elements available in other applications, so why re-
invent the wheel?
2. Focus on Application Adoption:Wherever possible leverage out of the box Workflow activities
but be sure the solution closes the functionality gap
3. Be Smart about Customization:Although workflow can do most of the work, a few custom
REST API and Workflow
activities improved performance and maintainability.
Summary