This document discusses two ArcGIS applications deployed in the cloud by the Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team (FHTET). A public Forest Pest Conditions Viewer application allows users to explore forest pest impact data. A secured Disturbance Mapper application uses remote sensing data to identify disturbed forest areas and enable analysis of the causes and effects of disturbances. Both applications were built with ArcGIS Server 10 and deployed to Amazon Web Services, demonstrating how custom ArcGIS applications can be quickly deployed to the cloud.
Cloud-based systems have brought a new, scalable application
delivery service model to the market. They can help clients
save both capital and operational costs, and further shift capital
expenses (CAPEX) to operational expenses (OPEX) while
providing increased flexibility for their organizations. However,
a key aspect of any type of Cloud deployment is reliable service
delivery, on which ready access to the digital information (data)
in the Cloud is foundational requirement.
Ctrls delineates how organizations are moving towards Virtualization and Cloud Computing to optimize their IT Infrastructure needs. Benefits such as cost effectiveness, scalability on demand, moving from a CAPEX to OPEX model and increased returns on investments have made virtualization a lucrative datacenter option.
Cloud-based systems have brought a new, scalable application
delivery service model to the market. They can help clients
save both capital and operational costs, and further shift capital
expenses (CAPEX) to operational expenses (OPEX) while
providing increased flexibility for their organizations. However,
a key aspect of any type of Cloud deployment is reliable service
delivery, on which ready access to the digital information (data)
in the Cloud is foundational requirement.
Ctrls delineates how organizations are moving towards Virtualization and Cloud Computing to optimize their IT Infrastructure needs. Benefits such as cost effectiveness, scalability on demand, moving from a CAPEX to OPEX model and increased returns on investments have made virtualization a lucrative datacenter option.
Cloud 9: Nine Reasons to Take the Cloud Seriously_White PaperNewton Day Uploads
Private sector businesses and Government departments around the world are under pressure to achieve the improbable - deliver improvements in the quality of services to citizens while finding sizeable cashable efficiency savings. Cloud computing is a paradigm shift in the way information management systems are architected and is heralded as the saviour of IT budgets. So what are the practical operational advantages of Cloud technology?
This paper examines nine very good reasons why it makes sense to take cloud computing seriously.
Open Data Center Alliance Solution Provider Panel Discussion at 2011 Intel Developer Forum
Panel: Marvin Wheeler, ODCA Chair; Winston Bumpus, VMware; Brent Schroeder, Dell; Shannon Williams, Citrix; Gordon Haff, Red Hat; Sanjog Gad, EMC
There are many misconceptions surrounding Cloud Computing and what it has to offer.
Tell apart the facts from the myths with Cloud Computing Myth Busters and develop a deeper understanding of the Cloud.
Download Myth Busters >>
Businesses are increasingly turning to hybrid cloud solutions to reduce costs and enable more scalable and flexible business processes. A hybrid cloud is a seamless and transparent combination of public and private clouds that uses a highly virtualized, on-premise infrastructure and merges with public cloud resources to increase efficiency, scalability and dependability. This seamless integration also helps extend security, control and transparency to all IT assets and environments regardless of their physical location.
Introduction to Cloud
Cloud Types
Cloud Deployment Models
Cloud Service Model
Cloud architecture
Challenges and Risks in cloud Computing
Cloud Features, Characteristics and Applications
Cloud 9: Nine Reasons to Take the Cloud Seriously_White PaperNewton Day Uploads
Private sector businesses and Government departments around the world are under pressure to achieve the improbable - deliver improvements in the quality of services to citizens while finding sizeable cashable efficiency savings. Cloud computing is a paradigm shift in the way information management systems are architected and is heralded as the saviour of IT budgets. So what are the practical operational advantages of Cloud technology?
This paper examines nine very good reasons why it makes sense to take cloud computing seriously.
Open Data Center Alliance Solution Provider Panel Discussion at 2011 Intel Developer Forum
Panel: Marvin Wheeler, ODCA Chair; Winston Bumpus, VMware; Brent Schroeder, Dell; Shannon Williams, Citrix; Gordon Haff, Red Hat; Sanjog Gad, EMC
There are many misconceptions surrounding Cloud Computing and what it has to offer.
Tell apart the facts from the myths with Cloud Computing Myth Busters and develop a deeper understanding of the Cloud.
Download Myth Busters >>
Businesses are increasingly turning to hybrid cloud solutions to reduce costs and enable more scalable and flexible business processes. A hybrid cloud is a seamless and transparent combination of public and private clouds that uses a highly virtualized, on-premise infrastructure and merges with public cloud resources to increase efficiency, scalability and dependability. This seamless integration also helps extend security, control and transparency to all IT assets and environments regardless of their physical location.
Introduction to Cloud
Cloud Types
Cloud Deployment Models
Cloud Service Model
Cloud architecture
Challenges and Risks in cloud Computing
Cloud Features, Characteristics and Applications
Intro to cloud computing. Answering the question what, how and why. The components used in it. The tech formed from what. who give the cloud computing services for now.
Explore the symbiotic alliance of AI and Cloud Computing, delivering unparalleled computational power, cost-efficiency, and transformative applications. Unleash innovation, scalability, and efficiency with this dynamic technological fusion.
DevOps and Testing slides at DASA ConnectKari Kakkonen
My and Rik Marselis slides at 30.5.2024 DASA Connect conference. We discuss about what is testing, then what is agile testing and finally what is Testing in DevOps. Finally we had lovely workshop with the participants trying to find out different ways to think about quality and testing in different parts of the DevOps infinity loop.
Accelerate your Kubernetes clusters with Varnish CachingThijs Feryn
A presentation about the usage and availability of Varnish on Kubernetes. This talk explores the capabilities of Varnish caching and shows how to use the Varnish Helm chart to deploy it to Kubernetes.
This presentation was delivered at K8SUG Singapore. See https://feryn.eu/presentations/accelerate-your-kubernetes-clusters-with-varnish-caching-k8sug-singapore-28-2024 for more details.
Let's dive deeper into the world of ODC! Ricardo Alves (OutSystems) will join us to tell all about the new Data Fabric. After that, Sezen de Bruijn (OutSystems) will get into the details on how to best design a sturdy architecture within ODC.
GDG Cloud Southlake #33: Boule & Rebala: Effective AppSec in SDLC using Deplo...James Anderson
Effective Application Security in Software Delivery lifecycle using Deployment Firewall and DBOM
The modern software delivery process (or the CI/CD process) includes many tools, distributed teams, open-source code, and cloud platforms. Constant focus on speed to release software to market, along with the traditional slow and manual security checks has caused gaps in continuous security as an important piece in the software supply chain. Today organizations feel more susceptible to external and internal cyber threats due to the vast attack surface in their applications supply chain and the lack of end-to-end governance and risk management.
The software team must secure its software delivery process to avoid vulnerability and security breaches. This needs to be achieved with existing tool chains and without extensive rework of the delivery processes. This talk will present strategies and techniques for providing visibility into the true risk of the existing vulnerabilities, preventing the introduction of security issues in the software, resolving vulnerabilities in production environments quickly, and capturing the deployment bill of materials (DBOM).
Speakers:
Bob Boule
Robert Boule is a technology enthusiast with PASSION for technology and making things work along with a knack for helping others understand how things work. He comes with around 20 years of solution engineering experience in application security, software continuous delivery, and SaaS platforms. He is known for his dynamic presentations in CI/CD and application security integrated in software delivery lifecycle.
Gopinath Rebala
Gopinath Rebala is the CTO of OpsMx, where he has overall responsibility for the machine learning and data processing architectures for Secure Software Delivery. Gopi also has a strong connection with our customers, leading design and architecture for strategic implementations. Gopi is a frequent speaker and well-known leader in continuous delivery and integrating security into software delivery.
UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series, part 4DianaGray10
Welcome to UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series part 4. In this session, we will cover Test Manager overview along with SAP heatmap.
The UiPath Test Manager overview with SAP heatmap webinar offers a concise yet comprehensive exploration of the role of a Test Manager within SAP environments, coupled with the utilization of heatmaps for effective testing strategies.
Participants will gain insights into the responsibilities, challenges, and best practices associated with test management in SAP projects. Additionally, the webinar delves into the significance of heatmaps as a visual aid for identifying testing priorities, areas of risk, and resource allocation within SAP landscapes. Through this session, attendees can expect to enhance their understanding of test management principles while learning practical approaches to optimize testing processes in SAP environments using heatmap visualization techniques
What will you get from this session?
1. Insights into SAP testing best practices
2. Heatmap utilization for testing
3. Optimization of testing processes
4. Demo
Topics covered:
Execution from the test manager
Orchestrator execution result
Defect reporting
SAP heatmap example with demo
Speaker:
Deepak Rai, Automation Practice Lead, Boundaryless Group and UiPath MVP
Key Trends Shaping the Future of Infrastructure.pdfCheryl Hung
Keynote at DIGIT West Expo, Glasgow on 29 May 2024.
Cheryl Hung, ochery.com
Sr Director, Infrastructure Ecosystem, Arm.
The key trends across hardware, cloud and open-source; exploring how these areas are likely to mature and develop over the short and long-term, and then considering how organisations can position themselves to adapt and thrive.
Essentials of Automations: Optimizing FME Workflows with ParametersSafe Software
Are you looking to streamline your workflows and boost your projects’ efficiency? Do you find yourself searching for ways to add flexibility and control over your FME workflows? If so, you’re in the right place.
Join us for an insightful dive into the world of FME parameters, a critical element in optimizing workflow efficiency. This webinar marks the beginning of our three-part “Essentials of Automation” series. This first webinar is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills to utilize parameters effectively: enhancing the flexibility, maintainability, and user control of your FME projects.
Here’s what you’ll gain:
- Essentials of FME Parameters: Understand the pivotal role of parameters, including Reader/Writer, Transformer, User, and FME Flow categories. Discover how they are the key to unlocking automation and optimization within your workflows.
- Practical Applications in FME Form: Delve into key user parameter types including choice, connections, and file URLs. Allow users to control how a workflow runs, making your workflows more reusable. Learn to import values and deliver the best user experience for your workflows while enhancing accuracy.
- Optimization Strategies in FME Flow: Explore the creation and strategic deployment of parameters in FME Flow, including the use of deployment and geometry parameters, to maximize workflow efficiency.
- Pro Tips for Success: Gain insights on parameterizing connections and leveraging new features like Conditional Visibility for clarity and simplicity.
We’ll wrap up with a glimpse into future webinars, followed by a Q&A session to address your specific questions surrounding this topic.
Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your FME expertise and drive your projects to new heights of efficiency.
"Impact of front-end architecture on development cost", Viktor TurskyiFwdays
I have heard many times that architecture is not important for the front-end. Also, many times I have seen how developers implement features on the front-end just following the standard rules for a framework and think that this is enough to successfully launch the project, and then the project fails. How to prevent this and what approach to choose? I have launched dozens of complex projects and during the talk we will analyze which approaches have worked for me and which have not.
Slack (or Teams) Automation for Bonterra Impact Management (fka Social Soluti...Jeffrey Haguewood
Sidekick Solutions uses Bonterra Impact Management (fka Social Solutions Apricot) and automation solutions to integrate data for business workflows.
We believe integration and automation are essential to user experience and the promise of efficient work through technology. Automation is the critical ingredient to realizing that full vision. We develop integration products and services for Bonterra Case Management software to support the deployment of automations for a variety of use cases.
This video focuses on the notifications, alerts, and approval requests using Slack for Bonterra Impact Management. The solutions covered in this webinar can also be deployed for Microsoft Teams.
Interested in deploying notification automations for Bonterra Impact Management? Contact us at sales@sidekicksolutionsllc.com to discuss next steps.
JMeter webinar - integration with InfluxDB and GrafanaRTTS
Watch this recorded webinar about real-time monitoring of application performance. See how to integrate Apache JMeter, the open-source leader in performance testing, with InfluxDB, the open-source time-series database, and Grafana, the open-source analytics and visualization application.
In this webinar, we will review the benefits of leveraging InfluxDB and Grafana when executing load tests and demonstrate how these tools are used to visualize performance metrics.
Length: 30 minutes
Session Overview
-------------------------------------------
During this webinar, we will cover the following topics while demonstrating the integrations of JMeter, InfluxDB and Grafana:
- What out-of-the-box solutions are available for real-time monitoring JMeter tests?
- What are the benefits of integrating InfluxDB and Grafana into the load testing stack?
- Which features are provided by Grafana?
- Demonstration of InfluxDB and Grafana using a practice web application
To view the webinar recording, go to:
https://www.rttsweb.com/jmeter-integration-webinar
To Graph or Not to Graph Knowledge Graph Architectures and LLMs
Gis In The Cloud
1. technology Online
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2. Table of Contents
Introduction 1
What Is Cloud Computing? 3
Cloud Service Models 5
Cloud Benefits 7
Public versus Private Cloud 9
Risks in the Cloud 11
ArcGIS and the Cloud 13
Case Study: From Design to Deployment 17
Case Study: Cloud-Based Routing Software
Is What the Doctor Ordered 27
i
3. Introduction
Cloud computing is rapidly emerging as a technology trend that almost every
industry that provides or consumes software, hardware, and infrastructure can
leverage. The technology and architecture that cloud service and deployment
models offer are key areas of research and development for geographic
information system (GIS) technology.
GIS in the Cloud 1 esri.com/cloud
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4. What Is Cloud Computing?
Although there are several variations on the definition of cloud computing,
some basic tenets characterize this emerging environment. Cloud
computing furnishes technological capabilities—commonly maintained off
premises—that are delivered on demand as a service via standard Internet
protocols. For public cloud services, since a third party provides access
to the applications and infrastructure, consumers of public cloud services
do not own the assets in this cloud model but instead pay for them on a
per-use basis. In essence, they are renting the physical infrastructure and
applications within a shared architecture. Cloud offerings can range from
data storage to end-user web applications to other focused computing
services.
One critical difference between traditional and cloud computing is the
scalable and elastic nature cloud computing provides. Instead of a static
system architecture, cloud computing supports the ability to dynamically
scale up and quickly scale down, offering cloud consumers high reliability,
quick response times, and the flexibility to handle unpredictable traffic
fluctuations and sporadic demand. Cloud computing also supports
multitenancy, providing systems configured in such a way that they can
be pooled and shared by many organizations or individuals. Virtualization
technology allows cloud vendors to convert one server into many virtual
machines, thereby eliminating client-server computing with single-purpose
systems. This maximizes hardware capacity and allows customers to
leverage economies of scale.
GIS in the Cloud 3 esri.com/cloud
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5. Cloud Service Models
Three core options compose the service models within the cloud computing
environment.
Each service category can be leveraged independently or consumed
in combination with other service tiers.
Software as a Service (SaaS) comprises end-user applications delivered as a
service rather than as traditionally installed, on-premises software. The most
commonly referenced example of SaaS is Salesforce.com, which provides
GIS in the Cloud 5 esri.com/cloud
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6. a customer relationship management (CRM) system accessible via the
Internet.
Platform as a Service (PaaS) provides an application platform, or
middleware, as a service on which developers can build and deploy custom
applications. Common solutions provided in this tier range from APIs and
tools to database and business process management systems to security
integration, allowing developers to build applications and run them on
the infrastructure that the cloud vendor owns and maintains. Microsoft's
Windows Azure platform services are often referenced as PaaS solutions at
this middleware tier.
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) primarily encompasses the hardware
and technology for computing power, storage, operating systems, or
other infrastructure, delivered as off-premises, on-demand services rather
than as dedicated, on-site resources. Examples include Amazon Elastic
Compute Cloud (EC2) and Rackspace, among many others.
June 2011 6 GIS in the Cloud
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7. Cloud Benefits
Cloud computing provides opportunities for organizations to become more
cost-effective, productive, and flexible to rapidly deliver new capabilities.
The pay-as-you-go pricing model is often quite flexible when renting cloud
applications or infrastructure, allowing prospective cloud clients to "try
before they buy," while existing cloud consumers can pay in advance to take
advantage of volume discounts and satisfy budget forecasting requirements.
Renting assets shifts the duty of maintaining on-premises data centers to
the cloud vendor, alleviating the customer's responsibility for software and
hardware maintenance, ongoing operation, and support.
GIS in the Cloud 7 esri.com/cloud
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8. Ideally, cloud adopters should be confident that they are consuming state-
of-the-art systems that are highly reliable and flexible enough to handle
large traffic fluctuations. The burden, then, is on the vendor to scale and
continually reinvest in the on-demand IT architecture and service so that
consumers are consistently provided with a robust, updated solution.
Moving parts of the corporate data and computing center to the cloud also
reduces the amount of fragmented infrastructure, driving down
up-front capital spending. As monies are reallocated to be invested in
core business, other initiatives could be launched to provide direct value
to customers and employees, giving the organization a competitive
advantage.
With increasing outsourcing and offshoring, leading to the creation of a
global workforce, team productivity depends on the power of networks and
the Internet as a common platform. As such, cloud services are available
24/7, accessible from any browser on any device regardless of time zone.
This provides faster, easier access for workers to do their jobs, allowing
competitive differentiation for the organization and, likewise, retaining and
attracting valuable and talented staff.
June 2011 8 GIS in the Cloud
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9. Public versus Private Cloud
There are several types of cloud computing deployment scenarios. The
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is emerging as the
preferred provider of the de facto definition of cloud computing and the
distribution models, seen here with some Esri examples.
Some organizations, concerned about security, may opt for a private cloud
or a hybrid deployment model.
GIS in the Cloud 9 esri.com/cloud
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10. Public Cloud The public cloud is what is most commonly being referred to when
discussing cloud computing, where the infrastructure and applications are
owned by the organization selling cloud services.
Private Cloud Since many traditional vendors and users are not quite ready to jump
into public cloud computing or are restricted from doing so, the cloud
service tiers are replicated within a private cloud environment, behind the
firewall, on-premises, and maintained within the parameters of the host
organization.
Hybrid Cloud Many believe that the sweet spot for cost optimization in an organization
will be found in a delicate balance of public, or community, and private
clouds.
June 2011 10 GIS in the Cloud
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11. Risks in the Cloud
Despite cloud computing's many benefits, it's important to be aware of the
risks and concerns when doing business in a cloud architecture.
Security and privacy are two of IT professionals' top concerns when
considering moving to the cloud as either a vendor, broker, or consumer.
Typical security and privacy examples include data storage and transfer
protection; vulnerability management and remediation; personnel, physical,
and application security; data privacy; and identity management.
Depending on your industry, customer base, or public or private organization,
compliance requirements must be met and secured. Some compliance
concerns include business continuity and disaster recovery; security standards
(ISO 27001); logs and audit trails (eDiscovery); and specific standards and
governmental compliance requirements such as Sarbanes Oxley, Payment
Card Industry (PCI), and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
Act (HIPAA).
There are specific legal concerns when providing cloud services and,
subsequently, consuming them. These revolve around liability and recourse,
intellectual property issues and terms, as well as vendor transparency
regarding location of recovery data centers. When relying on an Internet
service, there is always a question of availability and the peak-load capacity
that the vendor can carry. For example, current and prospective customers
can scrutinize the uptime (and downtime) of Amazon Web Services and
Google App Engine through CloudStatus.com to determine how healthy the
services have been, monitoring their track record of service failures, latency,
and throughput. There have been instances of outages, for instance, with
GIS in the Cloud 11 esri.com/cloud
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12. Amazon Web Services and Google, and they should serve as reminders to
be vigilant and cautious in the on-demand marketplace.
Finally, as of yet, there are no standards to ensure interoperability or free
movement between cloud providers. As such, cloud consumers should also
be aware of vendor lock-in when moving forward in the cloud ecosystem.
When consuming cloud services, clearly it's important to recognize
the potential hazards and risks ahead, as with any new or existing IT
investment. Concerns about security, inquiries around the provider's
maturation in an incubating industry, reliability, and regulatory issues are
all topics for discussion and clarification in a service-level agreement
(SLA). Although they are not a guarantee, to better ensure delivery of
best practices in the cloud, SLAs with the cloud vendor are recommended
when consuming cloud services. Realistically, these concerns are not
too different from those that one would have choosing any third-party
provider or service. As barriers to entry into cloud computing continue to
fall away, confidence in cloud vendors will be established through repeated
successful experiences, testimonials, and proven reliability with respect to
operating procedures and performance.
June 2011 12 GIS in the Cloud
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13. ArcGIS and the Cloud
Esri considers cloud computing and technology important in the development
and vision of the ArcGIS platform. Several options are available for companies
that want to improve productivity and efficiency while reducing expenses and
freeing up valuable IT resources to concentrate on newer business initiatives.
Cloud-based content, servers, and applications provide cost-effective and flexible
opportunities for organizations to deliver and consume GIS content and services.
GIS services are available in the cloud so that ArcGIS users and developers
can access ready-to-use maps including imagery, topography maps, and
street basemaps as well as task services such as routing and geocoding
GIS in the Cloud 13 esri.com/cloud
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14. services for North America and Europe. For more information, visit ArcGIS
Online.
ArcGIS Server can be deployed in the cloud via the Amazon EC2 so that
organizations and developers can publish and quickly deploy custom GIS
mapping applications within minutes. For more information, visit ArcGIS
Server in the Cloud.
GIS Software as a Service provides focused, cloud-based clients and
applications that easily solve complex business problems using GIS tools
and data but don't require GIS expertise to use. For more information, visit
ArcLogistics, Business Analyst Online (BAO), or Community Analyst.
More mobile GIS services are coming to the cloud soon so that an
organization's field staff, business professionals, and consumers can
access GIS capabilities and data using nearly any mobile device. For more
information, visit ArcGIS Mobile.
With ArcPad, users can take advantage of the ArcGIS Server ArcPad
extension to send edits back to the enterprise geodatabase directly from
the field. Edits from ArcPad can be enabled on top of the ArcGIS Server on
Amazon EC2 Amazon Machine Image (AMI), which is preconfigured with
SQL Server Express. Optionally, if more space for your editable features is
needed, ArcPad edits can be synchronized to the Enterprise Geodatabase
AMI, also available with ArcGIS Server on Amazon EC2.
Esri has been providing Software plus Services (S+S) for some time,
allowing customers to leverage their on-premises solutions with on-demand
services. Esri's ArcGIS Online map and GIS services provide S+S users
with immediate access to cartographically designed, seamless basemaps
June 2011 14 GIS in the Cloud
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15. to which they can easily add their own data in an Esri on-premises product.
As a community cloud, the ArcGIS Online Content Sharing Program
enables users and organizations to contribute geographic data content.
Leveraging Amazon's EC2 and Simple Storage Service (S3) compute and
storage services allows Esri to host the content and provide access 24/7.
ArcGIS Explorer users can consume ready-to-use basemaps and layers
from ArcGIS Online services in the S+S model. Also, ArcLogistics provides
software and access to online services that help you create optimal vehicle
routes and schedules.
As cloud computing continues to move farther into mainstream IT to
become a convention in business, Esri will continue to offer solutions to
allow customers and prospects success in the cloud.
GIS in the Cloud 15 esri.com/cloud
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16. Case Study
From Design to Deployment
ArcGIS 10 Apps in the Cloud
By Brian Noyle and Dave Bouwman, DTSAgile
Historically, the Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team (FHTET) has
collected and analyzed data describing the effects of major forest pests on
the landscape and disseminated this information through an annual hard-copy
report. This article describes a custom application the team deployed to the
cloud to make this information available to a wider audience.
While GIS and hard-copy maps play a role in the preparation of the FHTET
report on the effects of major forest pests, this static report does not fully
leverage the data exploration and analysis tools available from today's
GeoWeb applications. A current software development initiative is using
ArcGIS Server 10 and the Flex API to create a series of rich Internet
applications (RIAs) facilitating the distribution of information on forest health
to a variety of audiences. In addition, the FHTET team elected to use this
initiative as a test bed for assessing the ease and speed with which custom
applications can be deployed to the Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud with
ArcGIS 10 for greater scalability and convenience.
Given the richness of the FHTET data and the desire for novel user
experience (UX) elements in the applications, FHTET has elected to
pursue a fully custom web implementation based on Esri ArcGIS Server
10 and the Flex API with many custom widgets and extensions of the
DynamicMapServiceLayer. We have based our implementation on our
GIS in the Cloud 17 esri.com/cloud
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17. considerable experience in customizing Esri's Flex Starter Kit to produce
a template that will now serve as the starting point for many Flex-based
applications leveraging ArcGIS Server 10.
Bar charts prominently displayed across the bottom of the map show the acreage
and number of counties affected by each pest.
The Forest Pest A FHTET Forest Pest Conditions Viewer public application
Conditions (fhtet.dtsagile.com/fhtet/Flex/FPC#) was first developed to help public
Viewer users explore the impact of many forest pests for different forest service
regions. The quantities and types of pests displayed in the Flex application
can be configured by each forest service region so that users can see the
"top" pests for a given region, based on the decisions and experience of
forest health professionals.
June 2011 18 GIS in the Cloud
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18. Because the application is designed primarily as a data exploration tool,
only minimal interaction is required of the user. Once a region, state, or
county is selected, the application makes a service call to get updated data
as JSON and renders the results for the user. Region and county selection
can be done on the map or from pick lists in the search pane located on the
left side of the page. Bar charts prominently displayed across the bottom of
the map show the acreage and number of counties affected by each pest.
Data summaries and links to external information are also provided in the
dockable left pane. A function that generates a chart showing pest damage
trends for all years in the system is included in the tabular data summaries.
Users can also view information on specific pests, generate preformatted
pest reports, and export raw data in CSV format.
The Disturbance In addition to the public data explorer, FHTET has deployed a secured
Mapper Disturbance Mapper Application designed to use remotely sensed data
for detecting the presence of pests in the landscape. The application is
targeted at individuals who perform statewide and regional flight planning
for aerial pest surveys. Its goal is optimizing flight planning and reducing
total costs for aerial pest surveys by allowing planners to target areas of
interest through map exploration in a web browser.
GIS in the Cloud 19 esri.com/cloud
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19. Pest incidence trend charts and information on individual pests are available from widgets in the FHTET public viewer.
Areas of interest for pest surveys are identified based on change detection
data from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)
preprocessed imagery. Custom map layer extensions for extending
the DynamicMapServiceLayer have been implemented that allow flight
planners to adjust threshold settings on the change detection imagery
to view differences in forest green-up and senescence that signal the
presence of tree stressors.
June 2011 20 GIS in the Cloud
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20. Migrating to the As this article was being written, Esri announced the availability of a cloud-
Cloud: It's as based solution for ArcGIS Server. Based in the AWS cloud, this deployment
Easy as . . . option provides Amazon Machine Images (AMIs) preloaded with
ArcGIS Server for Esri customers who want quick deployment, scalability,
and flexibility in their GIS infrastructure.
What do we—as architects and developers—need to know to be ready
to deploy our custom ArcGIS Server apps to the cloud? The first thing
you need to know is that the process is just plain easy and will require
just a few tweaks of your normal deployment patterns for custom apps
built against ArcGIS Server. The accompanying diagram maps major
system components in a typical example of an ArcGIS Server solution
to major system components used in an ArcGIS Server 10/AWS cloud
implementation.
GIS in the Cloud 21 esri.com/cloud
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21. Migration of an On-Premises Application to the Cloud
Once an ArcGIS Server 10 AMI has been launched in the Amazon
cloud and sufficient storage space has been purchased and configured,
the deployment of an on-premises application to the cloud is very
straightforward. After RDP-ing [i.e., using remote desktop protocol] to the
June 2011 22 GIS in the Cloud
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22. running AMI, the developer simply pulls in the deployed application (via
FTP or using copy/paste for small items) and updates any configuration
settings.
The DBMS instance (Microsoft SQL Server in our example) supporting the
application is detached from the on-premises deployment database server,
copied to the AMI, and reattached as a SQL Server Express instance (still
well under the 4 GB size limit).
In our deployment of this application, we split our geodatabase into
operational and base layers. Base layers that do not get edited are stored
in a file geodatabase on the AMI, guaranteeing acceptable performance,
while operational layers that are editable are stored in an instance of
ArcSDE Workgroup on SQL Server Express.
Forest Disturbance Mapping Using Custom Map Layer Implementations
GIS in the Cloud 23 esri.com/cloud
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23. Finally, any map documents required to support the ArcGIS Server map
services are copied to the AMI, and the data sources are reset to reflect the
new data locations. It is really just that easy and straightforward.
What about That Some readers may be asking themselves why our migration story splits a
Data Thing? perfectly good enterprise geodatabase running against SQL Server into a
file geodatabase and workgroup instance of ArcSDE. The answer is that
enterprise geodatabases are supported by another type of AMI in the cloud.
For our test bed project, another AMI meant more money. In addition, the
enterprise geodatabase AMI is PostgreSQL based. While the migration
process does not involve any magic, it would have required a little more
time and effort to get our tabular data in there, so we elected to store static
layers in a file geodatabase to guarantee acceptable performance and
store editable layers in a workgroup ArcSDE instance running against
SQL Server Express on our existing AMI, which was safely under the 4 GB
file size limit. There are no tile caches used in this test bed deployment.
Conclusion The cloud-based deployment available under ArcGIS 10 is sure to present
an excellent option to organizations that have wished for more scalability
and flexibility in their existing ArcGIS Server infrastructure. Our experience
to date has shown us that, for organizations where rapid deployment is
critical, ArcGIS Server AMIs can be deployed in approximately
20 minutes (exclusive of the time needed for data and application loading
and configuration). The ability to create additional AMIs from an already
configured instance, when coupled with the Amazon Load Balancer, means
that gaining capacity rapidly when necessary is a real benefit of this new
development in the Esri product stack.
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24. This scalability on demand, when viewed against the backdrop of the
typical software and hardware procurement process in many organizations,
is a very real benefit. Furthermore, the flexibility this provides to
organizations, through the capability to deploy this additional capacity on
demand—rather than having multiple ArcGIS Servers sit idle awaiting the
next emergency response event or natural disaster—reinforces this benefit.
About the Authors Brian Noyle, originally trained as a global change biologist and tundra
botanist, has nearly 10 years of experience as a GIS software developer
and architect. His professional and technical interests are primarily focused
on moving clients toward more standard architecture and development
practices and patterns to facilitate a closer integration of GIS with the
standard IT enterprise. Noyle has extensive experience in full software
life cycle management with a focus on delivering through Agile project
management methods.
Dave Bouwman has been designing and developing GIS software for
the last 12 years, with projects ranging from small websites to statewide
enterprise forest management systems. Over the last few years, he has
been leading a team of developers in the pursuit of great software built
in a sane manner. The combination of an Agile process with pragmatic
development practices taken from extreme programming has led to a highly
optimized methodology of creating solid software.
(Reprinted from the Fall 2010 issue of ArcUser magazine)
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25. Case Study
Cloud-Based Routing Software Is What the Doctor
Ordered
Home Medical Equipment Company Saves Time and Fuel, Improves
Scheduling and Customer Windows
Based in Sunnyvale, Texas, Shalem Medical Supply services a multitude of
health care patients, including those who are on hospice and home health,
as well as several medical facilities. The company provides durable medical
equipment and supplies, with delivery trucks running 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week. Shalem employs around 25 people and has three locations: Sunnyvale,
Fort Worth, and Houston.
As the company grew and took on new patients, the complexity of getting
equipment and supplies delivered in a timely manner had grown next to
impossible.
"We were lackluster in efficiency, and it was difficult to maintain accountability,"
says Zach Paton, operations manager with Shalem. "We had no time frames
whatsoever. It presented some very serious challenges."
Shalem realized that it needed to find a vehicle routing and scheduling
solution that would help manage daily deliveries.
"We were looking for a software system that you could manipulate in real
time and update during the day, and a lot of the systems just didn't offer that,"
Paton adds.
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26. After a review of several vendors, Shalem chose ArcLogistics, thanks to the
solution's cloud-based deployment model, cost, and ability to interface with
the inventory management software.
A Competitive Depending on the day, each Shalem
Industry office could have up to 10 vehicles in
the field, making anywhere from 15
to 25 deliveries. In a business that is
growing due to aging baby boomers
and the social acceptance of health
care taking place in the home, Shalem
realized that its outdated procedures
would cost it in the long run if the
Patients waiting for vital medical aids from Shalem
booming industry continues to see are now provided with tighter time windows.
consolidation of smaller home medical
equipment providers.
"In this industry, everybody is looking to get it quick, because we're
dealing with a multitude of illnesses and disabilities," says Dennis Morgan,
operations manager.
Morgan works with the Shalem dispatchers, monitoring where the drivers
are; where they're headed; and the amount of stops and deliveries they
have to make that day, including any last-minute additions.
"We may start our day with each driver having 12 stops," he says, "but
by the end of the day, there may be 10 to 12 more tickets added to our
routes."
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27. Prior to acquiring ArcLogistics, Morgan says
the company was constantly rearranging
routes and providing very large time windows
to customers, which was hurting Shalem
competitively. Shalem employees would joke
about their time windows being in the realm
of, "We'll be there sometime between noon
and 7:00 p.m." Since the implementation of
ArcLogistics, the routing software has helped
reduce time windows to two hours.
Did the Drivers A concern many have when considering At each stop, ArcLogistics Navigator helps
Revolt? routing and scheduling software is whether drivers reach their destinations according to the
streets selected and sequence established in the
or not dispatchers and drivers will accept route plan.
the software. In many cases, these are
professionals who have spent years learning their local street networks and
customer needs and establishing processes to help get the job done.
Morgan said initially his drivers were against following the plan established
by the software. At first, early routes were suggested, then drivers were
able to run their routes according to their old ways and compare the two
when they got back.
"They were out there three hours longer [with the older routes]. And you
can track them and see," Morgan says. He explains that eventually, the
drivers came around when they realized the route plans created with
ArcLogistics would get them back to base sooner. There were a few drivers
who had issues, especially when it came to the touchy subject of overtime.
However, Morgan and Shalem came up with a bonus system. The drivers
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28. realized they were driving around 50 fewer miles per day, which began to
add up dramatically, resulting in significant cost savings for the company.
Morgan would reiterate to the drivers that if they saved on fuel and
maintenance, that meant the potential for more money in the employees'
pockets, not to mention job security in an unstable economy.
"We've got some mature drivers who have been in the business for a
while," says Morgan. "And once you sit down and explain to them, yeah,
maybe you're not getting 10 hours overtime, but with the time we're saving,
it's going to allow the company to put more money in your pocket and give
you a bigger hourly raise or be able to give bonuses."
Route solvers, street data, and imagery are now all accessed via the cloud, making the solution
affordable for midsize operations like Shalem.
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29. Immediate ROI "Our overtime costs dropped by at least 20 or 25 percent. It's decreased
our fuel consumption and maintenance costs on the vehicles at least 10 or
15 percent, if not more than that," says Paton, who runs a daily report for
the stops made, which includes the mileage that's driven and the fuel costs.
Since using ArcLogistics, the first thing he noticed was the big drop in total
mileage driven. He estimates a mileage decrease of around 10 percent just
in the first week the solution was put in use.
"You will see your money is being recouped right away in maintenance,
gas, [employee] hours, and the whole ball of wax. It's something that I
would advise anyone that's going into a business where you're going to
have multiple vehicles to look into it," Morgan says.
For more information, contact Zach Paton, Shalem Medical Supply (Web:
www.shalemmedical.com).
(Reprinted from the Fall 2010 issue of ArcNews magazine)
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31. About the Author
Victoria Kouyoumjian is an IT Strate-
gies Architect at Esri focusing on
emerging technologies and trends,
such as open source, social media,
and cloud computing, to name a few.
For questions or comments, contact
her at vkouyoumjian@esri.com and
follow her on Twitter @VKouyoumjian.
Since 1969, Esri has been giving customers around the world
the power to think and plan geographically. The market leader in
geographic information system (GIS) solutions, Esri software is used
Contact Esri
in more than 300,000 organizations worldwide including each of the
200 largest cities in the United States, most national governments, 1-800-GIS-XPRT (1-800-447-9778)
more than two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies, and more than 5,000 Phone: 909-793-2853
colleges and universities. Fax: 909-793-5953
info@esri.com
Esri applications, running on more than one million desktops and
esri.com
thousands of Web and enterprise servers, provide the backbone for
the world’s mapping and spatial analysis. Esri is the only vendor that 380 New York Street
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Internet platforms. Visit us at esri.com.
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