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.

Challenge 2:

Maintaining multiple

web mapping applications.

Challenge 3:

Technology changes quickly.

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

Maximum simplicity… with power & versatility

Pushing for Intuitive, Targeted Apps

“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

Beginners ExpertsPerpetual

Intermediates

GISP’s as Web GIS Developers

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

‘configure’ wherever

possible….

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)

Build Application Using Geocortex Manager

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

Leverage Workflow Technology

Drawbacks of Configurable

Software

May not have 100% of the look,

feel, function you are looking for.

Might require compromise.

Advantages of Configurable

Software

Faster development/deployment

Easier maintenance/upgrades

Advantages of Configurable

Software

Less $$

(both immediate and long-term)

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

Demonstration

Thank you

ssv@latitudegeo.com