Top 10 Design Rules for the Third Wave of Online GISHow to Bridge the Gap between Professional GIS and your Community

Rule No 1: Less is More

Jakob’s LawUsers spend most of their time on other sitesRule No. 2

Rule No 3: Be Relevant not Generic

Rule No 4: GIS Base MapsUse cached Base Maps Delivers performance and appealing mapsBase Map now organised by a set of map scales One group layer for each map scaleEach group layer contains the organised map layers for use at that map scale range

Rule No. 5: CartographyCartography the forgotten Art of CommunicationMap Cache allows for full Cartographic expression

Rule No 6: Operational Map LayersWorking Layers (e.g., target layers for editing or identify) Sensor Feeds and Observations Query Results Results of Analytical Models (Geoprocessing, etc.)Operational layers include tools for working with the contents in map layers

No 7: Be brutalMonitor usage of tools and Maps and those that aren’t being used, dump.

No. 8 Build Your CommunityContinuous participation the key to wide spread uptakeKeep a dialogue with your usersHighlight changes, updates & new features……… evolveMulti-channelTarget users that can generate a critical mass of participationE.g. Tech savvy, Opinion leaders, Executive leaders, ScientistBuild Curiosity - Otaku

Include Multiple Feeds and Media SourcesRSS, GeoRSS, Photos, Video, DocumentsTwitter/CommentsBlogsSocial Bookmarking

ESRI Resource Centre SamplesAdd a Share Widget

No. 9 Usability trumps featuresThink of a shovel with a short handle. Lots of great work building the blade (data/science) but if the handle is too short you can’t leverage the blade."Every time you make the user make a decision they don't care about, you have failed as a designer.” AzaRaskin

Rule 10. Role of GIS professionals will evolveHow?Exploit your high quality, authoritative information (the work you already do)Make it ‘consumable’ by publishing it to the web as traditional web maps and services (internally and externally)

Rule 10. Role of GIS professionals will evolveNew opportunities:Use Web maps to provide key information viewsUse analytical models and queries to provide information focused on each user’s needs / missions / goalsUse Web apps to mash up your content with GIS and other web servicesProvide a richer experience for your Community

Thank You