Design of a geographical information system for a heterogeneous scientific community

Abstract

This paper is based upon a study of user needs for a geographical information system (GIS) within the community of scientists in the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) in Great Britain, together with those in the universities and polytechnics whose research is funded by the Council. This community is diverse in terms of the geographical dispersion of users, the variety of computing skills which exist, the characteristics of the data held in each institute of NERC and the scientific and contract research being undertaken. A description of the user needs study is followed by a discussion of the relevant characteristics of spatial data structures and how these match the functionality identified as needed, and of the form of the ideal user interface and the need for GIS training facilities. Based upon this analysis, a conceptual design for a NERC GIS is described, together with a review of the commercial GIS on offer and of the literature, and a consideration of both the rapid evolution of technology and those constraints imposed by-other decisions by the Council.