New GIS solutions offer increased flexibility

For example, Esri has developed a subscription-based GIS service, ArcGIS Online. “This allows GIS users to host, manage, analyse, and distribute their spatial information assets from a Cloud-based central location,” explains Frank Orr, transportation industry manager of Critigen.

“This negates the need to invest in costly server hardware and server-based software packages. Ports are now able to make a modest investment in server-based GIS, experiment with different delivery models, demonstrate some initial return on investment, and then make informed technology investment decisions based on an enhanced understanding of business need.”

“Recent advances in Esri GIS include the extension of the platform to include SaaS and Cloud based software,” says Graham Wallace, senior business strategist for Esri UK. “Enabling users to test GIS in a simple to use and cost-effective environment, enabling geographic data to be shared by multiple users regulated by agreed permission settings. This development makes it easier to validate planning assumptions, to test and share plans and to enhance the quality of feedback used to update the central databases used to control projects, to derive costings and to determine asset replacement cycles.”

Meanwhile, NorthSouth GIS, has released a ‘bundled’ version of its NSG Port Solution, making it simpler for ports with limited or no GIS capabilities to take advantage of the benefits experienced by larger ports. “The NSG Port Solution can be deployed on-premise or in the cloud,” says Daniel Elroi, president of NorthSouth GIS LLC. “It provides software, a standardised data model, apps, and enough services to get a port meaningfully on its way: and offer an annual maintenance program to ensure sustainability and continued ROI from the investment.”