Abstract
Many organizations in environmental fields stand to benefit from the use of a geographic information system (GIS). Selecting a GIS to implement within an organization can be a difficult task that is often required of people with little experience using a GIS. A framework for evaluating competing GIS considers cost, functionality, ease of use, future stability, development potential, support availability, and maintenance costs. Initial cost involves more than the actual purchase price of hardware and software; it includes the cost of building the data base and training users within the organization. Functionality refers to the depth and breadth of capabilities of a GIS. Issues involved in evaluating functionality include the appropriateness of raster vs vector processing and the ability to add your own software. Ease of use is important, but there is generally a trade-off with functionality. The degree of centralization of use of the GIS within the organization affects requirements for ease of use. GIS are rapidly evolving, and as a result it is important to select a system with high potential for future development. With the proliferation of companies offering GIS it is important to select one that is likely to survive and prosper. Similarly, the ability to find support in the forms of technical help, advice, and possibly even skilled employees can be significant.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature Cited
Band, L. E. 1990. Extraction of channel networks and topographic parameters from digital elevation data.In M. J. Kirkby and K. Beven (eds.),Channel network function. New York (in press).
Burrough, P. A. 1986.Principles of geographic information systems for land resources assessment. Oxford University Press, New York. 194 pp.
Cibula, W. G., and M. O. Nyquist. 1987. Use of topographic and climatological models in a geographical data base to improve Landsat MSS classification for Olympic National Park.Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing 53(1):67–75.
Cowen, D. J. 1987. GIS vs. CAD vs. DBMS: what are the differences.Proceedings GIS '87. American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. San Francisco, California. pp. 46–56.
Dalsted, K. J. 1988. The use of a Landsat-based soil and vegetation survey and graphic information system to evaluate sites for monitoring desertification.Desertification Control Bulletin. 7 pp.
Dangermond, J. 1988. Trends in GIS and comments.Computers, Environment, and Urban Systems 12:137–159.
Dozier, J. E. 1980. A clear-sky solar radiation model for snow-covered mountainous terrain.Water Resources Research 16:709–718.
Dueker, K. A. 1987. Geographic information systems and computer aided mapping.Journal of the American Planning Association 53(3):383–390.
Fleming, M. D. 1988. An integrated approach for automated cover-type mapping of large inaccessible areas in Alaska.Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing 54(3):357–362.
Goodchild, M. F., and B. R. Rizzo. 1987. Performance evaluation and work-load estimation for geographic information systems.International Journal of Geographical Information Systems 1(1):67–76.
Guptil, S. C. 1989. Evaluating geographic information systems technology.Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing 55(11):1583–1587.
Harris, B. 1989. Beyond geographic information systems. Computers and the planning professional.Journal of the American Planning Association. Winter 1989:85–90.
Hill, J. M., V. P. Singh, and H. Aminian. 1987. A computerized data base for flood prediction modeling.Water Resources Bulletin 23(1):21–27.
Jenson, J. R. 1986.Introductory digital image processing: A remote sensing perspective. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 379 pp.
Johnson, C. A., N. E. Detenbeck, J. P. Bonde, and G. J. Niemi. 1988. Geographic information systems for cumulative impact assessment.Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing 54(11):1609–1615.
Lyon, J. G., A. M. Asce, J. T. Heinen, R. A. Mead, and N. E. G. Roller, 1987. Spatial data for modeling wildlife habitat.Journal of Surveying Engineering 113(2):88–100.
Maffini, G. 1987. Raster verses vector data encoding and handling: a commentary.Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing 53(10):1391–1398.
Parent, P., and R. Church. 1987. Evolution of geographic information systems as decision making tools.Proceedings GIS '87. American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Francisco, California. pp. 63–71.
Peuquet, D. J. 1984. A conceptual framework and comparison of spatial data models.Cartographica 21(4):66–113.
Scepan, J., F. Davis, and L. L. Blum. 1987. A geographic information system for managing California condor habitat.Proceedings GIS '87. American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. San Francisco, California. pp. 476–486.
Sham, C. H., C. E. Woodcock, and R. G. Zeroka. 1988. Development of a prototype geographic information system design for North Atlantic Regional Parks. Center for Remote Sensing, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts. 35 pp.
Smith, T. R., S. Menon, J. L. Star, and J. E. Estes. 1987. Requirements and principles for the implementation and construction of large-scale geographic information systems.International Journal of Geographical Information Systems 1(1):13–31.
Star, J., and J. E. Estes. 1990.Geographic Information Systems: An Introduction. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. 303 pp.
Strahler, A. H. 1981. Stratification of natural vegetation for forest and rangeland inventory using Landsat digital imagery and collateral data.International Journal of Remote Sensing 2:15–41.
US Army Corps of Engineers Construction Engineering Research Laboratory. 1988.GRASS 3.0 Users' Manual. Champaign, Illinois.
Wadge, G. 1988. The potential of GIS modeling of gravity flows and slope instabilities.International Journal of Geographical Information Systems 2(2):143–152.
Waggoner, G. S. 1988. Analysis of alternative road alignments using GRASS 3.0. Presented at theGRASS 3.0 Users Group Meeting. October 1988, Champaign, Illinois. 5 pp.
Wiltshire, S. E., D. G. Morris, and M. A. Beran. 1986. Digital data capture and the automated overlay analysis.Cartographic Journal 23(1):60–65.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Woodcock, C.E., Sham, C.H. & Shaw, B. Comments on selecting a geographic information system for environmental management. Environmental Management 14, 307–315 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02394198
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02394198