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Internet-based GIS
F. Recommendations
The objective of this project was to develop a preliminary assessment of the use of WebGIS within the Forest Service. The current literature was reviewed, and the opinions of key personnel in the Forest Service and other organizations were compiled, summarized and analyzed to develop the recommendations contained within this section.
- Provide for high performance online interactive maps
Use highly attributed geospatial data sets at various scales, and programming methods that process web page information on the server and not in the client browser (see section C.2).
- Provide a server dedicated to WebGIS
Concerns over maintaining a secure network while providing information to and receiving information from the public can be circumvented with a dedicated server for WebGIS that does not have the security precautions that the Forest Service network requires.
A dedicated server could also allow most or all data sets that can be obtained through the FOIA process to be shared on the Internet. This will result in less staff time wasted gathering, processing and distributing FOIA requests.
- Clearly define workflow and business requirements
The agency should define its workflow and business requirements, and adopt a corporate approach that employs consistent standards and protocols. This approach should include a plan with protocols for developing consistent, quality data, and implementing WebGIS sites.
- Develop tools that support the development of standard data sets
The agency should further develop support for standard data development by building tools to display the status of mission critical data holdings. Possibly a focus should be placed on tools that support the development of standard data sets. If the public is to help develop databases over the Internet, tools will need to be developed to facilitate public data input, and to guarantee that this input complies with established Forest Service GIS data protocols, standards, and levels of quality. A data steward should be used as a QC step before data from the public can be added to enterprise data sets.
- Promote geospatial-related self-awareness/self-education to stay abreast of technology
The agency should strive to keep abreast of WebGIS technology or risk becoming further and further behind. One solution is for the Forest Service geospatial leadership, such as the regional GIS coordinators, and the GIS practitioners to keep researching and assessing new technology that may increase efficiency in the long run, and to advance the technology by leveraging all of the available geospatial technology pieces available to them.
- Develop self-awareness/self-education regarding WebGIS utility and existing uses of WebGIS
The agency should consider making staff aware of WebGIS sites and their utility. A good place to start the education process is the existing Forest Service WebGIS sites, taking the training and awareness of these sites on the road, teaching and marketing to Forest leadership teams, staff groups, and public affairs officers with live demos about the benefits of the sites and how to use them. An important key to the success of WebGIS in the Forest Service is to make the use of this technology clear to the non-computer user.
- Develop standardized cartographic elements and viewer components
Reduce the costs of implementing WebGIS by carefully designing and developing standardized cartographic elements and viewer components that can he used repeatedly in different projects.
- Thoroughly test WebGIS solutions at all levels
Whatever technological solutions are developed for WebGIS need to be tested at all levels of the organization, from the front lines in Ft. Collins, to remote locations in Alaska. WebGIS has a real future, but the agency shouldn't ignore other short-term ways to solve the challenge of sharing information, like shipping hard drives full of geospatial data.
- Conduct further research
- The research conducted for this report was not exhaustive. Therefore, our foremost recommendation is that further research should be conducted to d iscover all that is known regarding the status of WebGIS in the Forest Service, its potential use and application, and how to address the barriers to expanding the implementation and use of WebGIS throughout the agency.
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