Processes / Use Case Considerations Clause Samples

Processes / Use Case Considerations. Consideration of the nature of the analytical processes to be run and functional requirements stemming from the use case provides a clear distinction between the need for desktop GIS v. web GIS. A first question to ask is if the process or dependent application needs to be run off-line. In many emergency management applications, this is an important criterion, in which case desktop (or laptop) GIS is required. Another factor that quickly separates cases suited for desktop GIS v. SOA-base GIS is the duration of processing time. Although web processing service specifications do provide for status messaging, processes that take several hours or even days may be best left in the desktop arena, especially if the data is already on the local network. Likewise, if custom or complex operations are required, flexibility is best retained with desktop GIS. However, if only simple spatial analyses are required (e.g., buffer, distance calculation, intersection), then a WebGIS solution is possible, and is especially cost-effective if the task is highly repetitive...which brings us to considerations of the user.