RESPECTO A LA CARACTERIZACION DEL PAPEL DEL PROFESOR PARA INTRODUCIR A

Patrick Adda

Department of Geodesy and Geomatics Engineering , University of New Brunswick, 15 Dineen Drive Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3. Tel: 506-453-5058, Email: [email protected]

KEYWORDS:

Cloud GIS, internet/power availability, Cold GIS, Warm GIS, data integration and sharing

ABSTRACT

An open source approach for developing, deploying and managing a nation-wide GIS customized for tight budget economies is discussed based on a critical analyses of the impact of the so-called next generation GIS a.k.a cloud GIS, on national spatial data infrastructure for young economies. Although the ability to harness resources online via the World Wide Web on pay per use basis provides a window of opportunity for nations in transition, the technology is dependent to stable power supply and available internet connections. Failing the reliable availability of these two utilities, the author proposes a technique christened “cold GIS” which employs Open Street Map as an open source data source and takes advantages of Client-Side technologies and offline editing tools, for instance the JOSM (Java Open Street Map) editor, to author and publish data offline and upload the edits online when the resources are available. Additionally, the research contributes to how data sharing over the web could be augmented by using GeoPDF maps that could enable offline GIS planning and discussions within limited supporting resources. As opposed to the ultimate functionality of Cloud GIS, namely “warm GIS” a cold GIS approach may work better for developing nations with unstable power and internet services.

1 Introduction

Cloud Computing refer to consuming multiple computer resources (including software, data and processing capabilities), hosted by a server. It allows the client to view and sometimes test these resources without having to download or install them on their local computing devise as all data storage and computing is hosted on the server side. There are however some requirement on the client-side is to have an internet connection and an approved web access route (e.g. a web browser) to run the resources on the client’s device through the World Wide Web. Although few free cloud services exist, sometimes with limited resources, good cloud services are available for computation on pay per use basis. That is, the client only pay for the Time x Cost of resources used for a particular task. While big companies including Microsoft and ESRI see Cloud computing as a technological revolution (or rather a new business opportunity window), open source activists see it as a trap [12] to force users to use only commercial cloud technologies. However, a new interesting group of developments are arising in support for free cloud technologies. The trend stems from other open source initiatives. Open Source Geographic Information Systems (OSGIS) refer to the availability of GIS resources and source code for free use, distribution and re-distribution. In simpler terms, open source GIS provides GIS resources or tools for the development of GIS but in addition, also provides the source code of the resources, allowing users to customize the tools as deemed fit. In his paper in AGSE 2010 in Peru [11] outlined several resources and opportunities for GIS development using free and open source tools. The interest of this paper is to appraise both free and enterprise GIS Cloud resources for development and environmental applications. A typically free cloud GIS as of the time of publishing this paper is www.GISCLOUD.com. Although a much customable version exist for commercial purchase, GISCLOUD’s free Cloud GIS can host and support desktop GIS resources behind the users firewall. In the following discussions, this paper explores GIS Cloud’s documentation and its suitability for nations in transition. However, a starting point will be to explore the technology behind the Cloud. This will enable readers to decipher what it is and what it is not.

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2

What is GIS Cloud?

GIS Cloud employs web based geographic information system (GIS) to publish, edit and visualize data as maps [14]. The benefits are to help organizations and businesses improve decision making and optimize operations to save money by offering tools for the manipulation and analysis of spatial data, as well as enabling easy data sharing and collaboration within organizations. Running in the cloud, it can be integrated with other data formats and various external web applications. It provides significantly lower IT costs, and eliminates time maintaining, scaling and updating software and servers.

3

Traditional GIS software web technologies vs. GIS Cloud

GIS as an application of Cloud Computing service has three distinct characteristics that differentiate it from traditional web GIS hosting [4]:

1. GIS Cloud is sold on demand. To explain this is algebraic terms:

Cost of GIS Cloud = Unit Cost per user(s) x Time Used + Cost Subscription Renewal – Cost of Software – Hardware–IT Human Resources–Web Hosting Services Cost(if applicable) – IT Departmental Cost

The total cost for traditional GIS and web GIS will be:

Cost of GIS = Cost of Software + Licensing Cost per user(s) + Maintenance Cost + Hardware +IT Departmental Cost+ IT Human Resources+ Web Hosting Services Cost(if applicable)+ Licensing Renewal 2. It is elastic – a user can have as much or as little of a service as they want at any given time; and

3. The service is fully managed by the provider (the consumer needs nothing but a personal computer and Internet access). To use GIS Cloud there is no need to worry about hardware support. Everything is provided within the service

Cloud technology is applied in familiar application including Gmail, Facebook, Twitter, Flicker, Skype, Hi5 and LinkedIn [1]. As web platform, it has ability to supplement and perhaps one day completely replace expensive desktop software solutions. GIS cloud can be used in any aspect of public or private sector. It reduces software fragmentation, offers an affordable on-demand Web based GIS solution and simplifies exchange of geographically referenced information between users while enabling an easy way to analyze information independent of a user’s location. GIS Cloud platform can be based on open source technologies including C/C++, PHP, PostgreSQL Linux, Apache, JavaScript, Adobe Flash and XML. Web services are used as interface to access these resources / information through the web. In terms of programming Cloud can be thought of as the API's which support large-scale parallel computing and expansion of users without loss to service quality. It uses the Software as a Service or SaaS (pay per use software system running on a remote computer, i.e. not the local computer) provided through a web service such as a SOAP/WSDL system. In traditional web hosting, there is a need for the Client to monitor, install, upgrade and configure programs, add sites deal with potential hacks, and troubleshoot systems. This need is not required in Cloud GIS. For instance, the availability of Internet connection enables giscloud.com users to create projects, analyze data, develop own mapping applications or collect data off-site with smartphones. Some advantages and disadvantages include the following:

3.1 Advantages:

3.1.1 Saving Money and Resources

Since the client does no need to buy the software or host the service, using GIS Cloud reduces cost of software, tools and training. It is on pay per use basis – users can consume services and pay as they would do for utility bills.

3.1.2 Enabling data sharing and collaboration

Access to information online as a single user or be shared among a group of users. The web maps generated can also be embedded in websites and online reports. To further promote data interoperability, several data formats are supported which include ESRI Shapefile (.shp), Mapinfo File (.mif, .tab), JPEG, JFIF (.jpg), TIFF / BigTIFF / GeoTIFF (.tif), Multi-resolution Seamless Image Database (.sid), and KML

Patrick Adda

3.1.3 Availability

GIS Cloud computing companies including the open source ones boast of “excellent” Service Level Agreements (SLAs). This promises high performance and availability of software and network resources at an annual uptime (measured as a percentage of uptime availability per annum). A hundred percent annual uptime will represent an all year availability of agreed services at 100 performances. For instance, our study website, giscloud.com advertises 99.95% annual Uptime performance during a service year. In the event GIS Cloud does not meet the annual uptime percentage commitment, a client may be eligible to receive a refund (following some conditions in the Service Level Agreement). Cloud resources are distributed efficiently over the internet to allow for high demand and processing power. Its continual elasticity discards the possibility of a user using more than their budgeted data traffic/space.

3.1.4 Data Security and Backups

Most clouds are built on Transport Layer Security (TLS) and its predecessor, Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). These are cryptographic protocols for ensuring security and privacy when a user is online [1]. TLS and SSL work by encrypting network connection ahead of the transportation of information. However, 100% security cannot be guaranteed. User to may want to frequently vary login credentials to ensure privacy. In terms of data backups, public Cloud data centers backed-up data in multiple servers. Therefore, if a server fails, the user’s data and applications are served from another server without the user realizing that their initial server has failed [Primault, 2010].

3.1.5 Service Scalability

APIs and support for increase in number of users and request is important for Cloud GIS. Applied technologies including Data Pyramiding and Tiling allow large datasets to be broken-up into manageable segments that can be handled quickly (for requests and responses) by the server.

3.2 Disadvantages

3.2.1 Security risks

Limited functionality is available for free on Open Source and Free platforms. Alternatively, the Client might purchase enterprise editions of free Cloud GIS which may perform better, be more customized and provide better security. However, Cloud hosting has security risks and loss of control once applications and data are no longer within the control of clients. Clients may want consider a private Cloud where achieving compliance for data confidentiality and integrity is required [1].

3.2.2 Interoperability

The integration of public and private Clouds may result in some issues of pertaining to system interoperability and portability. Data perceived to be available for all clients may be available only to a few private users. 3.2.3 Customer service

Perhaps the most pressing issue, especially, when nonphysical contact is possible at all times (outside office hours, considering difference in time zones). It is important to prospect for providers who can provide 24 hour assistance when required. Also, such understanding must be stated in the Service Level Agreement (SLA). 3.2.4 Customized use and openness

Most applications are “generic” and allow for some API and customizations. However commercial applications are closed and may not allow specific customization to a GIS application.

3.2.5 Cost

The best GIS Cloud Technologies do not come free (see table below). However it is important to state that the cost of GIS Cloud Technologies is reducing as more companies compete for new clients.

3.2.6 Customer Satisfaction and Changing providers

Depending on the agreement reached, if a provider does not meet demand, it may be difficult to change to a new provider. Users should be able to manage their Cloud servers through a web-based interface that includes a full

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125 API access to guarantee a smooth transition. This enables transition between suppliers when clients are not satisfied with a service [1].^

Table 1: Catalogue of available GIS Cloud computing resources

NAME / Website SaaS Price Security Performance1 Availability2 REMARKS GISCLOUD www.giscloud.com Free / Commercial 100% 80% 99,95% new release more stable

eSpatial US$ 55 / per

user / per month 100% 80% 99,95% 99,95% CartoView-Cloud www.cartologic.com/- cartoview/cloud.aspx

Open source 70% 75% 75% Support a

number of data formats ESRI Business

Analyst Online $2,495 / year unknown Unknown Unknown no for author license ArcGIS Server

Geoportal Extension Unpublished Unknown Unknown unknown no license for author

1, 2 _{deduced by a randomly accessing the software and its resources online from April to July, 2011}

3.3 Power and Internet in Developing economies – performance, scalability, availability and security

The performance of internet technology to support Cloud resources is generally satisfactory considering the popularity of 3G and 4G networks around the globe.

However the real measure of suitability of deploying GIS using internet resources in developing countries is investigating the number of users in these parts of the world with stable internet (and power) resources per annum. Table 2 below from an online survey [16] estimates the following for developing countries:

1. Africa, with an estimated population of about one billion in 2011, only about one hundred and twenty million people use the internet [16]. This represents 11% percent of the population;

2. Asia has better internet availability. For a population of four billion, 24% have access the internet; 3. The middle east has a usage percentage of 32%; while

4. Latin America and the Caribbean have 36% of its population using the internet.

Currently only 30% of the world’s population have access to the internet. Internet use around the world is however on the increase [17]. This situation calls for further utility analysis before hosting internet based solutions online. It is deductable from the statistics above that reaching the audience with information through the internet have limitations in developing countries (Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean). In Kenya, for example, only 3.4% of the country’s population has access to internet access [16].

In terms of power availability, Kenya for instance provides 22.69% of its population with electrical power [18]. Nairobi, which hosts this year’s AGSE conference, has quite stable power availability at 72.37%. However, if a Cloud Technology were to be consumed, twelve out of the forty-seven Counties (including Bomet, Bungoma, Homa Bay, Mandera, Siya, Tana River, Tharaka Nithi, Turkana and West Pokot) will face challenges to support the power requirements for utilizing this technology. These twelve Counties have less than 5% of their population with power supply. County offices in these catchment areas will not benefit from the full capacity of the Cloud under these poor power conditions unless alternative (additional cost) power support is provided in County offices. These limitations are not limited to Kenya alone. The trend is quite familiar in most developing economies. While main cities may have over fifty percent power availability, towns and many villages may lack power supply. The tendency usually required to support such additional power demands is to provide alternative sources (Solar or Generators). This additional cost usually is not sustainable. And with time the implementation of the technology terminates.

Patrick Adda

WORLD INTERNET USAGE AND POPULATION STATISTICS (2011)

World Regions Population (P) Internet Users (I) (I/P)% Africa 1,037,524,058.00 118,609,620.00 11% Asia 3,879,740,877.00 922,329,554.00 24% Europe 816,426,346.00 476,213,935.00 58% Middle East 216,258,843.00 68,553,666.00 32% North America 347,394,870.00 272,066,000.00 78% Latin America and the Caribbean 597,283,165.00 215,939,400.00 36% Oceania / Australia 35,426,995.00 21,293,830.00 60% WORLD TOTAL 6,930,055,154.00 2,095,006,005.00 30%

Table 2: World population versus Internet Usage [16]

Marrying internet and power availability against the four important requirements to consider for a successful GIS implementation and sustenance, namely [10]; Performance – How fast (time) system responds to user request; Scalability – Able to support growing number of users; Availability – How often can a user access service (0%-100%) and Security – Authentication/confidentiality of requests, the structures supporting Cloud GIS (chiefly, power and internet availability) tend to fail for developing countries with unstable power and internet resources.

4

Dealing with data security

Using resources online come with its security issues. For instance, inputting national natural resources data and sensitive community assets in a kind of cloud computing raises the questions as to “who else will leak this information” after the client have leaked it on the cloud. Although complete security is impossible to guarantee, it is possible to provide first to third level security of open GIS projects. In line with this, this paper proposes a new term for a sub-group of OSGIS, namely, Citizens Open Source Geographic Information System (COSGIS). This concept involves sharing the GIS online with levels of administrative rights that can be accessed and administered by specific communities only via a user name and password. Currently Google API provides this functionality. The same customization is application in Open Street Map community program. However, large corporations are wary of cloud computing. There is a lack of trust between these corporations and storage providers. Even if some companies do trust their storage provider, they still have security concerns. Most big corporations are hesitant or unwilling to allow any of their sensitive data to be put in “the cloud.” There is always the possibility of hackers getting their hands on the data. In addition to that, users are not able to access the servers that have their stored data. Lastly, if the storage providers close up shop, it will be very hard to retrieve a company’s data.

5

Some alternative resources available to developing countries

Power and internet availability support for the four important factors, namely, Performance, Scalability, Availability and Security for GIS implementation have been discussed above. The following discussion analyses available technology, software and tools that support Cloud GIS. Considering the four requirements and the need for power and internet availability, alternative resources and tools are suggested. Cost and sustainability concerns are discussed in the spirit of provided a holistic approach at helping stakeholders make decision on the implementation of cloud GIS for development and environmental management.

5.1 Cold and Warm GIS editors

To discuss the proposed alternative concept on how to deal with GIS availability online and offline during internet connections, a discussion of two concepts is introduced. “Warm GIS” is used to describe the availability of Cloud GIS services at runtime while “Cold GIS” is used to describe the availability of GIS resources offline”.

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127 Cold GIS could be warmed into a Warm GIS. Opposed to Cold GIS, Warm GIS refers to the ability to stay online and download, edit, commit, upload and publish maps without a break in the web or cloud service. In order to continue to make a case on the direction of choice for Cold or Warm GIS for developing countries, it will be interesting to survey the some available resources supporting Cold or Warm GIS technologies. An example is the OSM (Open Street Map) Cold and Warm editors. This paper will only discuss one Cold and one Warm GIS editor in OSM. (Readers are encouraged to do a further reading on the OSM wiki page in the reference below).

5.2 OSM Editors

There are several cold GIS editing tools available for Cloud-like technologies in OSM [2]. For instance one example employing Warm GIS in OSM is Potlatch2 for OSM. Potlatch 2 is an OSM editor that for making edits directly to the OSM database. All edits are done online and uploaded at runtime. The data served and service interaction is therefore “warm” in this case.

On the other hand, editing tools in OSM like the java plug-in JOSM (Java Open Street Map) is cross-platform