[OKGIS] Questions about ArcGIS Server

[dlowther at coordinatesolutions.com]

Matthew,

I think the biggest thing that ArcGIS Server brings to the table is
analysis. Not like basic point in poly or buffering, but modeling.  My
experience has shown that most people aren't really looking for that in a
GIS Server product. Why? Because most of the users of a server based GIS
(usually an internet data viewer of some sort) aren't looking for those
kinds of answers. Also, if you really want to run that complex of an
analysis in real time (meaning when a user requests the data) you are likely
talking about a load of server horsepower. 

So, for the projects that require some complex analysis, is ArcGIS Server
sensible? Well, maybe. The first thing I would consider is can you
preprocess the analysis and just serve the results? Maybe you want to show
all the areas in OK that are suitable for wind power. Could you run that
analysis and save the results as a simple polygon or raster layer for
display?  Obviously, this is an assessment that needs to be made on a
project by project basis.

The other thing to consider is that ESRI is promising simple features SQL
for MS SQL Server ArcSDE at version 9.2 - slated for Q4 release.  This means
you could execute a good bit of complex analysis directly via SQL.

If you want to throw out some scenarios or project ideas maybe the list
could provide some possible solutions using various products /
architectures.

David Lowther
 
Coordinate Solutions, Inc.
501 N.E. 15th Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73104
405.246.9396 (Voice)
405.227.0781 (Fax)
www.coordinatesolutions.com

 
-----Original Message-----
From: okgis-bounces at gis.gis.ou.edu [mailto:okgis-bounces at gis.gis.ou.edu] On
Behalf Of mwc at ou.edu
Sent: Thursday, June 22, 2006 2:02 PM
To: okgis at gis.gis.ou.edu
Subject: [OKGIS] Questions about ArcGIS Server

Hello,

Our group has some questions about ArcGIS Server...

1)  Does anyone out there know of a working ArcGIS Server that is publicly
available as a functional demonstration?
2)  If you have thought about using it yourself, why or perhaps more
importantly,  ***why didn't *** you install it?  We know it's
expensive, but what other reasons are out there?  Why should we install it?
Why should we not?

Matthew Collier
Center for Spatial Analysis
University of Oklahoma