"Choose any specific IS products sold on the market or developed in-house. Then describe its value for the coompany and describe what parts/processes constitute main systems components."
I am working for an environmental company as a Geographic Information System Technician (GIS), and at my job I am constantly exposed to use of new and updated software. My company doesn’t own this software but New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) does. This is fairly large transaction processing system from which all GIS technicians gather their data. This data can be anywhere from simple numbers of random household and its owners to the most accurate position of contaminants in the soil at any given moment. It all depends if I have to create a map representing geological or geographical content of the soil.
This information has to be verifiable, accurate and complete in order for me to produce secure maps representing a safe environment in which constriction workers may complete their work. The program that I use is called ArcMap 9.3.1 which enables me to download the data from NJDEP website, and Auto Computer Aided Design (CAD).
CAD is used by architects, drafters, engineers, and artists to create plans and construction drawings. This program is very useful when I have to create diagrams in 2D or 3D dimension, representing the entire supporting structure for some house or above ground objects. Before people had to draw diagrams on the flat paper which created more room for mistake and would take extra time if mistake had to be corrected. Nowadays this extremely precise program allows me to create entire diagram in matter of days. Before computers drawings and blueprints were created by hand, which is long and less accurate process than now. CAD is more efficient because the software records lines as vectors based on mathematical equations, which are very precise. Some parts of a drawing can be twisted, stretched, or moved which would otherwise be impossible without this program. The picture as a whole will automatically adjust, which makes more room form human error but at the same time program will correct that mistake instantly.
On the other side ArcMap program is specific because it uses already prepared data from the software and enables you to use that data and manipulate with it so you can create something new. You can think about this as DJ using some song to create new ones. GIS uses hardware, software, and other data for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying all forms of geographical and geological information.
GIS allows us to view, understand, question, interpret, and visualize data in many ways that reveal relationships, patterns, and trends in the form of maps, globes, reports, and charts, which are very useful for simplifying complex data so common people can easily understand the importance of the possible contamination treat, or on other hand benefits that their households may have. A GIS helps me answer questions and solve problems by looking at my data in a way that is easy to understand. GIS technology can be included into any enterprise information system framework.
Collecting the date through using the ArcMap is a classical example of Input where raw data is almost useless on its own, but once captured and processed has a whole new meaning which is somewhat definition of Processing of the data itself. Once a map or a diagram are crated and submitted to project manager or civil engineer for review the process of feedback starts. Then the map can go back because of the incorrect data or the error that happen somewhere in processing the data in the first place.
The combination of these software and programs enabled me and my company to create more accurate maps and reports for much shorter time. The fun part about all this is that all software are being updated constantly based on customer (GIS and CAD technicians) reviews. Without this software and programs creating highly complicated diagrams with minimal errors on the blueprint would be almost impossible.
