=Paper=
{{Paper
|id=Vol-2047/BENEVOL_2017_paper_6
|storemode=property
|title=GIS SDKs Dynamics Echoed by Social Requirements Transformations
|pdfUrl=https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-2047/BENEVOL_2017_paper_6.pdf
|volume=Vol-2047
|authors=Cosmin Tomozei,Iulian Furdu,Simona-Elena Vârlan
|dblpUrl=https://dblp.org/rec/conf/benevol/TomozeiFV17
}}
==GIS SDKs Dynamics Echoed by Social Requirements Transformations==
https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-2047/BENEVOL_2017_paper_6.pdf
GIS SDKs dynamics echoed by social
requirements transformations
Cosmin Tomozei Iulian Furdu Simona-Elena Vârlan
Faculty of Science, Department of Faculty of Science, Department of Faculty of Computer Science
Mathematics and Computer Science Mathematics and Computer Science Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of
Vasile Alecsandri University of Vasile Alecsandri University of Iași,
Bacău, Romania Bacău, Romania Romania
cosmin.tomozei@ub.ro ifurdu@ub.ro simona.varlan@info.uaic.ro
Abstract—The aim of this paper is to describe the evolution of the .NET Framework extensions for ArcGIS, as well as various
GIS applications development process, based on the SDKs APIs and services, included in many types of applications.
transformations, especially by considering the ESRI ArcGIS According to [1] ArcObjects are a set of C++ based
development platform. On the one hand, this study relies on our components that were platform independent. They provided to
previous experience in GIS software engineering; on the other developers the possibilities of working with thin and thick
hand, it reflects the features and particularities of the projects we clients and on the Web, for creating software that uses maps
conducted within the bachelor and master’s theses of our students. presentation, geographic and spatial data analysis. As
Further comments are being made, regarding the transformation
professors, we became interested about these technologies and
of traditional desktop applications to gain contextual
our students in Computer Science have chosen GIS based
recommendation functionalities as well as their reengineering
towards mobility. We furthermore intend to determine whether
applications as subjects for their graduation projects. A set of
the integration of Virtual and Mixed Reality in this typology of theses and projects have been built by taking into consideration
applications is feasible and to anticipate the usefulness for the evolution in time of different types of application platforms,
communities of users grouped either by their geographical the dynamics of knowledge to which the development
location or by their common interests. technologies correspond.
In these types of projects, the ArcObjects APIs for C++,
Keywords— GIS; Virtual reality; Mixed Reality; Software .NET and JAVA have been used within both the teaching and
Engineering the project development processes. Over time, both GIS
application development and the platforms, which host them,
I. INTRODUCTION have evolved and radically transformed, so that in about 10
The process of GIS applications development has been years’ time applications became widespread on virtually
committed at first to desktop users, interacting with rigid and unlimited number of mobile devices and unlimited possibilities
inflexible applications, with some basic functionalities and at the of further developments.
same time demanding higher computing resources for basic The ArcObjects have been greatly used in our projects, at
operations. As time passed by, the need for more advanced first for the construction of traditional desktop applications,
features, such as in-place editing, georeferencing, addition of which were further transformed through reengineering to obtain
new layers in a more dynamic way as well as the elaboration of novel and dependable web and mobile applications with higher
more complex operation needed in the decision-making process level of accuracy, correctness and portability. For each of these
significantly contributed to the appearance and further to the quality characteristics, metrics have been defined and
evolution of software development platforms such as implemented. The process of testing as well as the processes of
ArcObjects. At the same time, documentation has become more adaptive and corrective maintenance restructured and improved
and more relevant and accessible to the GIS applications the quality of the GIS applications. The existing software
developer community. This led to the large-scale distribution of libraries proved to be reliable for further developments with
mapping application with geo referencing functionalities and minimal effort of transformation and maintenance. However, the
many programmers have begun to be interested about the GIS transition from desktop mapping applications to mobile-enabled
applications development. context aware recommender systems presumed large efforts of
development and consequently the only dependable and
While desktop GIS remained as a solid foundation for future efficient solution has been identified as reengineering.
transformations and updates in functionalities, developers
started focusing on adapting the applications to Web and
distributed environments, especially by considering the N-tier
architecture. These premises considerably contributed to the
creation of dependable SDKs, among which we may mention
1 22
II. CONTEXT-AWARE RISK AVOIDANCE RECOMMENDER categories of actors about the specificity of any risk event, a
SYSTEMS BASED ON GIS INFORMATION PROCESSING natural disaster or an anthropic risk in a precise geographical
location and with prediction facilities for any further resource
Given our experience with the .NET platform and the Visual
allocation to minimize the risks effects.
C # .NET programming language, as well as the outstanding
quality and stability in time of the C# applications, we developed One of the most important and dependable source of
apps for smart devices in a very straightforward way, by means information consisted of the actors from the field, belonging to
of ArcGIS SDKs and development libraries. The examples the local authorities. With their help, the information provided
delivered were very informative and trustworthy serving for the by the citizens could be verified and subjected to collaborative
advancing in the engineering of new apps. We extended our area filtering, as shown in [3],[4], and then sent by social media
of knowledge by developing applications based on JAVA channels on the mobile devices of the users.
programming language and on the corresponding ArcGIS The data obtained from the field have been included on the
Android SDK. geospatial databases, with dedicated layers for each typology of
In [2] we provided a general framework for the development risks. The geospatial databases had the possibility of being
of risk management through mobile GIS recommender queried and filtered in correspondence with the users’ need of
applications. An important purpose of the paper was the information related to specific areas of interest. The
improvement of the process of natural and anthropic risks administration of these type of databases was challenging from
awareness for the identified Romanian communities. The both computing resources and the need of specialized personnel,
software application prototype informs the communities because of their size complexity and also because of the
exposed to natural, environmental and social risks in well- measures taken under the supervision of authorities and under
defined geographic areas. In this way, we have modelled the authorization.
requirements and went forward with the engineering process Harmonizing the evolution SDKs to the dynamics of GIS
based on models and patterns, on which the documentation applications requirements was accelerated by the social demand.
libraries proved to be very helpful for the construction of GIS Applications became more flexible, mobile, user friendly and
apps. The aim was to obtain context-based recommendations, backing the process of automatic decisions making.
based on collaborative filtering, and these recommendations to The dynamics of knowledge and software have placed
be further tested on specific categories of users. various types of actors and actions in very complex scenarios. In
Based on ESRI ArcGIS framework a mobile recommender such contexts, collaboration was greatly reflected by specialized
GIS application was developed by means of ArcObjects, Web modelling languages, such as UML and presumed the use of the
GIS and ArcGIS extensions for Silverlight. subsequent object modelling methodologies.
Owing to the evolution in requirements and in technologies We obtained the model that has further been transformed
and to the retreat of the Silverlight extensions of ArcGIS, the into classes of objects and relational databases, included AI and
following version of the application has been developed in the use of sensors. Adding the mobility characteristic has proved
JAVA, for Android achieving the mobility feature [18]. In to be quite straightforward, based on the libraries and APIs that
parallel, a C# application has been developed based on XAML have been provided by ArcGIS SDKs.
and ArcGIS.NET SDK [5]. Nowadays, the development effort Creating contextual recommendations presumed the deep
is significantly reduced because of Xamarin and the study of the behaviour of each actor, and the way it got
Xamarin.Android, Xamarin.iOS, and Xamarin.Forms cross- information from the system as well as the steps needed to be
platform applications, which also implement the ArcGIS taken for achieving its specific objective. This approach
functionalities. generated complex use cases for each role, which further needed
The functional specifications were defined by means of to be simplified and reduced to essential. The architecture
specialized modelling languages, which integrate patterns, prototype of the context aware GIS based risk recommender had
templates and diagrams for the functional analysis process. It is finally become fair in terms of size and computing capabilities.
very important to make the distinction between the different Geolocation and georeferencing were implemented using
categories of actors involved [2] in the use of mobile GIS risk mapping engines, mobile devices and tracking devices.
recommender system. For each categories of users, specific roles A particularly important topic in the development of GIS
have been defined. These roles clearly separate the actions that applications is represented using mobile device sensors.
users might take for the notification or distribution of Usually, GPS or A-GPS, cameras, accelerometers and
information related to the identified risks. gyroscopes are needed for positioning the device within the
The local community members have been identified as the geographical area. The functionalities of the sensors are usually
most important category of users, which were directly exposed implemented by corresponding classes and objects provided by
to the risks and simultaneously the ones which have the ArcGIS SDK for mobile devices and for the web. The
possibility of offering help to the authorities in case of natural manufacturers of the devices also provide dependable classes
disasters in certain exposed areas within a specific region. and objects for working with the sensors, meaning that the
Consequently, the local authorities were in the position to developer could decide on which objects to use. Xamarin
collect information from the citizens by means of mobile devices environment, which allows the development of cross-platform
and specialized software and to send them elaborated applications development on C# and Visual Studio, as well as
recommendations based on contextual information and the previous mobile apps SDKs discussed in [2], [5] and [6] offer
collaborative filtering. The regional institutions were also specialized classes, objects and functionalities for working with
identified as important actors in the analysis. In case of the georeferencing and routing processes by means of the device
necessity, they had the possibility to get informed by the other sensors.
2 23
Fig. 1. Android and Windows Phone GIS applications for risk recommandations
Figure 1 shows the user interface of two applications for risk sent to the specific VRML based browser to be displayed for
awareness and recommendations, for Android and Windows navigation.
Phone. The users may search for information specific to certain By using a specific method, the authors have shown that the
geographic areas and act accordingly. 2D GIS data can be automatically transformed into a VRML
model. They also proved that 3D GIS can be enabled for web
They receive notification from the authorities and in case of browsers. By these means, the geoscientists will have the
risk occurrence, such as flooding, landslides, fire or any other
opportunity to build applications that combine virtual reality and
accident they may either avoid or offer their help if need be. spatial data, gathered by 2D GIS tools.
Further processing implies data filtering and it ensures that Three types of visualizations have been created in earlier times,
the appropriate information is given to a community of users according to [9], to support 3D GIS interaction with the
who have common characteristics and should get informed environment of virtual reality. These types are the plan view, the
about a common phenomenon, which applies to them. In this model view and the worldview. These kinds of functions
situation, the recommendations appear as objects generated by implemented in order to manipulate, model and analyse the 2D
means of the SDK taking the shape of particular messages sent data.
to the users. Novel approaches gained the power to build user immersive
experiences. They offer the possibility of using computer vision
III. FURTHER ADVANCES IN GIS SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT – by dedicated devices and headsets to get in a transformed 3D
VIRTUAL, AUGMENTED AND MIXED REALITY INTEGRATION environment.
A variety of strategies may be used for integrating GIS with
virtual, augmented, or mixed reality. These strategies can be B. User's perspective
viewed from several perspectives: A. the technical or Users explore the virtual environment and ask for
programmer's perspective; B. the functional or user's information according to their objectives and the existing points
perspective, and C. the conceptual perspective. of interest from the GIS database. The possibilities to run queries
to the GIS database in a more intelligent way and to access the
A. Technical perspective more advanced GIS functionalities. The possibilities have been
In literature, we can find two methods to get 3D virtual limited, until the new AR/VR devices and headsets entered the
reality in the area of GIS. One approach is to use 2D professional market.
platform in which we may consider as an example the ArcGIS The immersive technologies adapt the environment to the
software, used to obtain virtual reality. The other approach is to actual physical space, transforming it into a virtual environment.
use a 3D or 2.5D software as a platform for development, such The users have to easily understand and navigate in the 3D
as the Skyline software and Unity3D platform [7]. setting, by intuitive interfaces and simple gestures and motions
In [8] an application called GeoVR was developed, using the controlled by sensors. In [10] well-known GIS functionalities
client - server architecture, that successfully created interactive have been analysed, such as the 3D real-time simulations and
3D scene and virtual reality modelling language - VRML. This remote sensing. Perhaps in industries such as the automotive
model started from 2D spatial data by use of GIS and HTML certain benefits should be obtained by using this technology.
programming.
In order to create the 3D scenes the users have to provide a C. The conceptual perspective of integrating GIS with VR/AR
set of properties and through Avenue programming and the use The answer seems to depend on the domain of activity, in
of ArcView Internet Map Server and ArcView 3D Analyst relation to the objectives defined. In activities such as
software. These properties are processed in order to generate the environmental modelling, the analysis and manipulation of the
3D scene. Based on the scene the VRML model is created and virtual reality data is displayed in an exploratory way. The GIS
3 24
has the main role in this situation. For architectural modelling REFERENCES
and urban planning virtual reality plays the main role, as [1] ESRI ArcGIS Desktop Development Guide, 2004.
enriched visual communication is usually involved in such [2] N. Vercruyssen, C. Tomozei, I. Furdu, S. Varlan, C. Amancei,
applications [11]. “Collaborative Recommender System Development with Ubiquitous
Computing Capability for Risk Awareness”, Studies in Informatics and
Integrating virtual environment and GIS for 3D virtual city Control, Vol. 24, No. 1, pp. 91-100, ISSN 1220-1766, 2015.
development and urban planning is analysed in [12]. A GIS- [3] Y. Wan-Shou, S.-Y. Hwang, “iTravel: A recommender system in mobile
based 4D visualization and simulation system with military peer-to-peer environment”, The Journal of Systems and Software, vol. 86,
applications [13] provide a virtual environment for predicting p.12-20, 2013.
and tracking moving targets. It also envisages the probable [4] M. Kompan, M Bielikova., “Personalized Recommendation for
future movement of multiple ground targets based on the Individual Users Based on the Group Recommendation Principles”,
comprehensive analysis of geographical location, terrain, Studies in Informatics and Control, vol. 22 (3), pp. 331-342, ISSN 1220-
1766, 2013.
weather, vehicle movement characteristics and vehicle tactics.
[5] C. Tomozei, “Nouveaux aspects concernant la programmation des
The integration of 3D Visualization and GIS in Education is dispositifs mobiles”, Proceedings of Quatrieme Colloque francophone
tackled in [14] while application of augmented reality GIS in PLUridisciplinaire sur les Matériaux, l’Environnement et l’Electronique
architecture is discussed in [15]. PLUMEE 2015, XLIM Research Institute, Limoges, France, pp. 138 -
Nowadays, it seems that the IT&C sector is about to bring 140, ISSN 2343–9092.
new opportunities regarding the perspectives discussed in this [6] C. Tomozei, C. Amancei, “Social Sustainability Achievement through
section. With the release of mainstream immersive VR hardware Mobile GIS Applications”, Development and Audit, Informatica
Economică Journal, Vol. 19 No. 4, pp. 90-99, ISSN 1453-1305, 2015.
gear by major players, covering a wide range of prices, levels of
[7] S. Wang, Z. Mao et al., “A new method of virtual reality based on
complexity and functionalities. More mature and accessible Unity3D”, 18th International Conference on Geoinformatics, p.1-5, 2015,
mobile and non-mobile VR/AR+GIS applications and devices http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/5567608
will enter the market [16]. [8] B. Huang, H. Lin, “GeoVR: a web-based tool for virtual reality
Microsoft launched the Windows Mixed Reality platform at presentation from 2D GIS data”, Computers & Geosciences, vol. 25, Issue
the IGNITE 2017 event [17], which we believe that could 10, p. 1167-1175, 1999,
transfer the technology to a new generation of recommender http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0098300499000734
systems. Users are included in virtual reality scenarios in which [9] G. van Maren, R. Germs, F. Jansen, “Integrating 3D-GIS and Virtual
Reality Design and implementation of the Karma VI system”,
they directly interact with the environment and get real-time Proceedings of the Spatial Information Research Centre’s 10th
information, so as to be able to make the best decisions, to act Colloquium, 1998.
effectively, and to elaborate activities by modelling the [10] J. Rossmann, M. Schluse, M. Hoppen, R. Waspe, “Integrating semantic
environment according to their objectives. world modeling, 3D-simulation, Virtual Reality and remote sensing
techniques for a new class of interactive GIS-based simulation system”,
17th International Conference on Geoinformatics, p.1-6, 2009,
IV. CONCLUSIONS shttp://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/5293523/?reload=true.
This paper briefly describes the results we obtained in the [11] M. E. Haklay, “Virtual Reality and GIS: applications, trends and
development of GIS applications while at the same time the directions”, Virtual Reality in Geography, p.47-57, Taylor & Francis,
2002
platforms and the SDKs on which the applications have been
developed continuously evolved along with the social and [12] B. Chen, F. Huang, Y. Fang, “Integrating virtual environment and GIS for
3D virtual city development and urban planning”, Geoscience and
economic requirements. In the first stage, we described the Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS), p.4200-4203, 2011.
origin of ArcObjects and the features and functionalities that [13] https://www.google.com/patents/US8229163
ArcObjects offered for traditional desktop applications. Further [14] L. Yin, “Integrating 3D Visualization and GIS in Planning Education”,
transformations were applied to the applications in order to Journal of Geography in Higher Education Vol. 34 (3), 2010,
evolve to mobile and distributed environments and to become http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03098260903556030
available for larger categories of users. The GIS applications [15] Y.Guo, O. Du, W. Zhang, L. Xu, “Application of augmented realyti GIS
have been enriched with collaborative and context aware in architecture ”, The International Archives of the Photogrammetry,
recommendations functionalities, reflecting their dynamics Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences. Vol. XXXVII. Part
B5, Beijing 2008,
along with the evolution of the social requirements. Finally, we http://www.isprs.org/proceedings/XXXVII/congress/5_pdf/58.pdf
tackled the future advances of GIS applications and the
[16] M. N. K. Boulos, Z. Lu, et al., “From urban planning and emergency
possibility of integrating virtual and mixed reality from three training to Pokémon Go: applications of virtual reality GIS (VRGIS) and
perspectives, the perspective of software developers, the augmented reality GIS (ARGIS) in personal, public and environmental
functional perspective and the conceptual perspective. This health”, International Journal of Health Geographics, 2017, 16:7,
approach could become efficient and productive in the software https://ij-healthgeographics.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12942-
017-0081-0
engineering process and could lead to the construction of higher
quality and accuracy in the elaboration of recommendations and [17] Microsoft Ignite, https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/ignite/
the making of dependable decisions. [18] Mihai A. Oprea – “GIS mobile client application with automatic data
synchronization for multicriterial decision taking” - Bachelor thesis,
under the scientific supervision of professor Cosmin Tomozei, Vasile
ACKNOWLEDGMENT Alecsandri University of Bacău, Romania, 2014.
This work was supported by a grant of the Romanian
National Authority for Scientific Research and Innovation,
CCCDI – UEFISCDI, project number 115BM/2017”.
4 25