ArcNews Esri | Summer 2012 | Vol. 34, No. 2 Strengthening the GIS Profession Using Web Maps to Tell Your Story David DiBiase, Director of Education, Industry Solutions, Esri For centuries, maps have been telling stories—chronicling discovery and conquest, documenting an understanding of the patterns and interrelationships that underlie human and natural systems. Is GIS a profession? If so, what’s its relationship to other professions in the geo- But only in the past few years have new technologies and new media vastly expanded the potential spatial fi eld? How can you tell if someone who calls herself a GIS profession- of maps to weave narratives. al—or a GIS educator for that matter—knows what she’s doing? You might be Maps are now interactive. Th ey enable and refl ect data analysis; they’re constantly updated; and surprised to learn that these are contentious questions in the United States and they’re enriched with multimedia content. Maps are newly supercharged by digital technologies: other parts of the world. Th ey’re contentious because the demand for GIS work GIS, the web, the cloud, and mobile communications. Now, maps can take users from globe to continued on page 4 street corner in seconds; they can dynamically show change over time; they can organize and pres- ent charts, graphs, photos, and video. With the swipe of a fi ngertip across a tablet, map users can compare one theme with another, ask questions of maps, add their own information to maps, and cast votes on maps. ArcGIS Online Will Change How continued on page 22 You Think About Mapping and GIS Th is month, Esri offi cially released ArcGIS Online for organizations. Th rough the purchase of an annual subscription, an organization gets a private instance of Esri’s secure, multitenant cloud that’s scalable and ready to use. No addi- tional hardware or software has to be purchased or installed. It also gives users in the organiza- tion access to tools, basemaps, and other con- tent to make and share maps and applications. City of Charlotte ArcGIS Online home continued on page 15 page to match its own brand. Study Ranks Esri US Demographic Data Most Accurate Many people assume that using accurate data is not a particularly important element of an overall project; however, incorrect data can negatively impact the results of any analysis and have dramatic consequences for aff ected populations. Data inaccuracies may occur either by overestimating or The swipe tool helps users quickly compare different maps—in this case, obesity and diabetes rates. Also, see the dramatic poster in the center of this magazine. underestimating populations or households. continued on page 20 $776 Million Saved During 18 Years King County Documents ROI of GIS Home to Microsoft, Amazon.com, and Starbucks, King County, Washington, has a population close to two million people. GIS is critical to serving these citizens. Today, King County’s GIS program supports an estimated 1,000 county employees in 42 agencies who use GIS data and applications in their daily work. An economist at the University of Washington recently conducted a study measuring the re- turn on investment (ROI) of the enterprise GIS program, which the county has operated for the past two decades. Th e study indicated that the county has accrued net benefi ts between $776 million and $1.7 billion during an 18-year King County’s My Commute map keeps period, with costs of about $200 million. citizens up-to-date on road closures and GIS applications help staff improve opera- traffi c conditions. tions in a wide range of departments, including the Department of Natural Resources and Parks almost 15 million hits a month from 150,000 (DNRP) and the Department of Community user sessions. and Human Services. Citizens also use GIS In addition to traditional GIS applications, frequently through public-facing maps like My the county uses GIS to support key campaigns Commute, which shows road closures and traf- like the Equity and Social Justice initiative. fi c conditions. Th e county estimates that its Th is agenda aims to ensure that the county popular iMap, which allows users to create cus- This simulated aerial view over Seattle can provide King County planners with an eye in tomized views of spatial information, receives the sky wherever they need one. (Created by Victor High, senior GIS analyst) continued on page 3 More ArcNews— GIS Education Made Easy Online-Only Articles The Summer 2012 issue of ArcNews Online Amica Mutual Insurance Maps Real- (esri.com/arcnews) presents the following Time Data, Providing Better Service to special online-only articles: Policyholders Florida’s Department of Transportation— Project Atlas Promotes Transparency and District 4 Turns to GIS for Better Project Progress for Puget Sound Restoration Management A Conversation with Carl Steinitz Charlotte Fire Department Links Live These days, conference travel and expenses are being slashed from budgets. Data, Multiple Systems Don’t fall behind on technology – attend our free webinars! Upcoming Topics Include: » What Would Steve Jobs Think About GIS Mapping Applications in the Mainstream? » Top 10 Ways to Streamline the User Experience for Your Geospatial Application » GIS-based Asset Management – From Citizen Request to Completed Work Order Featured in This Issue » GIS Program Maturity – Knock Down the Silos and Get to the Enterprise! » Ensuring High-quality GIS Data and Workflow Standardization 1 Strengthening the 34 Geodesign in Practice » So Many Choices, So Little Time – Developing a Mobile Framework for Your Organization GIS Profession » Cradle to Grave – Keeping your GIS and Spatial Applications Rock Solid by David DiBiase Visit webinars.timmonsgis.com to learn more. 24 Storytelling with Maps— Poster Regular Columns and Departments 866.635.6951 | [email protected] | www.timmonsgis.com 6 More Top News 42 “Geo Learning” from Daniel C. Edelson 10 GIS Hero—Beth Timmons 42 Esri Partner Solutions 13 GIS Product News 43 “Managing GIS” from 26 GIS in Action URISA 40 Community News 44 New Training and Certification Offerings 41 “Crossing Borders” by from Esri Doug Richardson 45 Esri T-shirts Worldwide 41 URISA Announces 46 Career Opportunities 41 Esri Server Technology ARE YOU USING LAST CENTURY’S TECHNOLOGY TO MEET 21ST CENTURY NEEDS? ArcNews Subscription Additions or Deletions and Changes of Address Editor in Chief To subscribe to Esri publications, visit esri.com/subscribe. To unsubscribe from Esri ® publications, visit esri.com/unsubscribe. Requests for back issues, missed issues, MAYBE IT’S TIME YOU LOOKED INTO GRM . Thomas K. Miller and other circulation services may also be sent via [email protected]; 909-793-2853, extension 1-2778; or faxed to 909-798-0560. To update your mailing address, visit Graphic Designer esri.com/coa or use any of these e-mail, phone, or fax options. 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ArcNews is written for the Esri user community as well as others interested in mapping and geographic information system (GIS) technology. ® It contains material of interest to planners, foresters, scientists, cartographers, geographers, engineers, business professionals, and others who use spatial information. 2 ArcNews Summer 2012 esri.com/arcnews $776 Million Saved During 18 Years King County Documents ROI of GIS continued from cover distributes services equitably and that all citi- versus without” approach. While costs for all zens experience fairness and equal opportunity. years were available, estimating benefi ts for the For example, GIS services help county leaders 18-year period was challenging. How opportuni- determine whether communities have enough ty cost was calculated had a substantial eff ect on parks and if social services are distributed the resultant ROI value. In addition, benefi ts are fairly to all neighborhoods. GIS is also used to GIS ROI Versus Cost for 2010 measured in outputs that are quantitatively and site waste transfer stations to ensure equity for qualitatively better with GIS, leading to increased county areas by not overloading them with cer- For the year 2010 alone, GIS cost demand for these outputs. Assigning a dollar val- tain types of facilities. the county $14.6 million, yet its ue to these more useful outputs is diffi cult. Th ese “Waste transfer station siting and disaster de- factors were expressed in the three estimates in bris planning are important,” says Gary Hocking, ROI was nearly $180 million. As net benefi ts between 1992 and 2010: a conser- King County Information Technology service de- many as 1,000 county employees vative estimate of net benefi t of approximately livery manager, who oversees GIS for the county. $776 million, a less conservative benefi t level of Like Hocking, Greg Babinski, King County use GIS data and applications in $1.76 billion, and the least conservative estimate GIS Center fi nance and marketing manager, their daily work. (Source: An of almost $5 billion. (See the original report for knows the GIS program provides value to users, a complete description of the methodology used: the county government, and citizens, but he Analysis of Benet from Use of esriurl.com/KCROI.) wanted to see numbers.