As Aronoff said in his book, the GIS could be done either computer-based or manually. Of course each of the two has its own characteristic that suit it best.
I believe that the computer-based GIS, nowadays is the most advanced and used widely (of course with the pros and cons). While i also believe that the manual-based GIS (or manual system) is not dead. Meaning that there are people or institutions still using the manual method to overrun their GIS.
(Wait a minute, do you think a GIS could be done by person or people ? I mean, are there people or person who run GISes by himself or herself ?) For me, why not ? If a system (GIS) could be done manually, i could not find reasons why a GIS could not be done by people or person himself or herself.
Back to computer-based GIS and the manual one. Do you think, there is (are) GIS(es) done manually right now?
I believe there are some GIS done manually these days. Eventhough, the computer system so advanced, and almost hard to find any business not done by using computer, but still there are people or organizations doing GIS manually.
Please, don't forget that:
1. GIS range from swallow field to the most broadest field of work. What i mean is, look at the definition in Aronoff's book (1989:39). The most important things about GIS (and why a system is called GIS) are: the store, maintain, analyze, output (display) georeferenced data to become information. Tell me now, which part of these four element could not be done manually. All parts of GIS of course (still) could be done manually. What about analysis ? you think, it's hard to believe that analyzes could be done manually instead of using computer. Well, of course there is a simple answer to these. With the manual system, of course any data would be stored or kept manually also. The data (charts, table, graphic, map, symbols, etc) are stored manually on a paper basis. We all know that there is a transparent paper used widely in technical works. People will do the analysis using these transparent papers. They do overlays using theses transparent medium, they do the work count by using manual medium or using the calculator (instead of computer). What i'm trying to say is that there are ways and medium where manual system could be done on its best way.
2. the advanced system requires the advanced resources (although the advanced resources are also needed on manual system, especially the advance man power). The advanced system here, of course is the computer-based GIS. (Later, i will try to post some requirements needed to operate computer-based GIS). We can imagine, how many resources needed to conduct a computer-based GIS. The simplest one is, of course, the computer itself. How the computer works ? Well, the computer needs softwares (many softwares, including operating system, office suite, analysis software, outputting software, an so on). Could the computer (hardware) stand by itself ? Unfortunately, the answer is no. The computer can't stand by itself to perform computer-based GIS. The computer needs partner-hardwares, such as: printers, plotters, scanners, digitizers, and so on. So, we can imagine how much cost (initial cost) for hardware to buy those appliances.
3. Any GIS built seriously for years. Some of the GIS exists years ago. I believe, some (or may be most) of the most modern GIS built as manual system GIS. If so, it always pain to switch to other system (although the switch is to the more advance system like the computer-based system). Switching means go from the very comfort manners of doing things to the new system (either full / whole system or just part of it). Me and my organization (wait, i'm not the owner nor the leader, i'm just a staff), is doing this kind of switching, from manual system to computer-based system. I won't tell you about hardware nor software we use, but i can tell you that this switch needs more and more resources (energy, money, skill, etc), and courageous. It's a common that some people or organization feeling no comfort on this switching, and remain stay on current system, alhough most of them are on research for doing the switch.
I believe that the computer-based GIS, nowadays is the most advanced and used widely (of course with the pros and cons). While i also believe that the manual-based GIS (or manual system) is not dead. Meaning that there are people or institutions still using the manual method to overrun their GIS.
(Wait a minute, do you think a GIS could be done by person or people ? I mean, are there people or person who run GISes by himself or herself ?) For me, why not ? If a system (GIS) could be done manually, i could not find reasons why a GIS could not be done by people or person himself or herself.
Back to computer-based GIS and the manual one. Do you think, there is (are) GIS(es) done manually right now?
I believe there are some GIS done manually these days. Eventhough, the computer system so advanced, and almost hard to find any business not done by using computer, but still there are people or organizations doing GIS manually.
Please, don't forget that:
1. GIS range from swallow field to the most broadest field of work. What i mean is, look at the definition in Aronoff's book (1989:39). The most important things about GIS (and why a system is called GIS) are: the store, maintain, analyze, output (display) georeferenced data to become information. Tell me now, which part of these four element could not be done manually. All parts of GIS of course (still) could be done manually. What about analysis ? you think, it's hard to believe that analyzes could be done manually instead of using computer. Well, of course there is a simple answer to these. With the manual system, of course any data would be stored or kept manually also. The data (charts, table, graphic, map, symbols, etc) are stored manually on a paper basis. We all know that there is a transparent paper used widely in technical works. People will do the analysis using these transparent papers. They do overlays using theses transparent medium, they do the work count by using manual medium or using the calculator (instead of computer). What i'm trying to say is that there are ways and medium where manual system could be done on its best way.
2. the advanced system requires the advanced resources (although the advanced resources are also needed on manual system, especially the advance man power). The advanced system here, of course is the computer-based GIS. (Later, i will try to post some requirements needed to operate computer-based GIS). We can imagine, how many resources needed to conduct a computer-based GIS. The simplest one is, of course, the computer itself. How the computer works ? Well, the computer needs softwares (many softwares, including operating system, office suite, analysis software, outputting software, an so on). Could the computer (hardware) stand by itself ? Unfortunately, the answer is no. The computer can't stand by itself to perform computer-based GIS. The computer needs partner-hardwares, such as: printers, plotters, scanners, digitizers, and so on. So, we can imagine how much cost (initial cost) for hardware to buy those appliances.
3. Any GIS built seriously for years. Some of the GIS exists years ago. I believe, some (or may be most) of the most modern GIS built as manual system GIS. If so, it always pain to switch to other system (although the switch is to the more advance system like the computer-based system). Switching means go from the very comfort manners of doing things to the new system (either full / whole system or just part of it). Me and my organization (wait, i'm not the owner nor the leader, i'm just a staff), is doing this kind of switching, from manual system to computer-based system. I won't tell you about hardware nor software we use, but i can tell you that this switch needs more and more resources (energy, money, skill, etc), and courageous. It's a common that some people or organization feeling no comfort on this switching, and remain stay on current system, alhough most of them are on research for doing the switch.
1 komentar:
Well said.
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