Geographic system services open up

       The world of Geographic Information System (GIS) is promisingly opening up so users can enjoy using a range of software products, as ESRI has announced free web service of ArcGIS.
       It is somewhat a new dimension in the industry, with ArcGIS offering the web service opening as an alternative for GIS professionals so they can create programs and develop add-ons for existing data and applications, according to ESRI (Thailand) general manager Krairop Luanguthai.
       Speaking at Thai GIS User Conference 2009 last week, Krairop said rich Internet applications are going to be a new trend. Platforms like Javascript and Silverlight are new technologies for creating these interesting mashups; intuitive lightweight applications. These rich Internet applications are also going to be free for non-commercial users, NGOs,education and government agencies.
       This will boost the GIS society and encourage a number of users to further develop and share applications. The Thai version of ArcGis Online is scheduled to launch in October.
       "This offers many opportunities for creativity with this new media environment, with creative carto-graphy, spreading geographic knowledge everywhere," said Krairop.
       "Many creative people can take those APIs and create interesting new approaches to create maps that are prolific on the Web."
       He added that the result of Web APIs in Thailand would be more apparent a year from now.
       ArcGIS Online, which is so far known only for content services, introduced a facility to have users share their layer packages and services in an integrated,free, online storage site in the cloud.They can take their data and define how it belongs to their group. Or they can choose to share it over the open Internet.
       Krairop added that the ArcGIS online will probably not affect Google Earth because the user groups are distinct.Google does not concentrate GIS and users just view the map, while GIS online will evolve the GIS society leading the users and professionals to be GIS creators as they can thoroughly deal with the data. Those professionals can develop such programs as land management, natural resource management, goods delivery, and so forth, for free on the Web.
       Krairop added that the GIS market continues to expand, with 20 percent growth this year. The company has a target this year of 12 billion baht, with GIS database system services being the major revenue generator. So far ESRI Thailand has developed GIS database for the public sector. Most customers -70 percent - are government agencies.
       Having dealt with GIS systems in the public sector for 20 years, Krairop noted that they are often "on and off",leading to a problem of data accuracy.The policy has always changed in accordance with the shift of heads of organisations. Consequently, the operation lacks continuity."Databases are the most important of GIS systems and they need to be updated all the time so that data remains accurate,"he said.
       ESRI Thailand, meanwhile, will file a lawsuit against two companies at MBK shopping centre who violated the company's software copyright.