A location-aware mobile system for on-site mapping and geographic data management

  • Authors:

  • L. Donnell Payne;Dimitar T. Zlatkov;Jasmine M. Jernigan;Joshua M. Scarbrough

  • Affiliations:

  • Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX, USA;Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX, USA;Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX, USA;Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX, USA

  • Venue:
  • Proceedings of the 10th ACM conference on SIG-information technology education
  • Year:
  • 2009

Quantified Score

Hi-index 0.00

Visualization

Abstract

Many industries utilize location-sensitive data and require customized maps with correlated information. Further, the on-site creation of custom maps and collection of associated data with editing and presentation capability is ideal. Recent advances in mobile, handheld device technologies have lead to the enhancement of enterprise level geographic information systems (GIS) to provide these capabilities, e.g., ESRI's vast GIS software system with the mobile ArcPad application. However, the various packages comprising these systems are costly and not developed for those untrained in GIS or computer technology. This paper describes a mobile application, BEST (Boundary Establishing System for Topology), developed as an undergraduate capstone course team project, that provides a more usable, general-purpose alternative to the enterprise systems. The system developed is a mobile GIS application that provides mapping, tracking, and geographic data collection and presentation in the field. The BEST system was developed for use by an external client and incorporates several technologies that were new and exciting to the students. These two project requirements were observed to greatly increase student interest and motivation and, it is believed, should be incorporated in the capstone experience whenever possible.