A GIS audit framework is necessary considering the diverse nature of GIS with regard to components, applications and industry. In practice, checklists are generated during the audit process based on specific objective...A GIS audit framework is necessary considering the diverse nature of GIS with regard to components, applications and industry. In practice, checklists are generated during the audit process based on specific objectives. There is no standardized list of items that can be used as a reference. The purpose of this study was to develop a GIS audit framework as a foundation for GIS audits. The framework provides that comprehensive approach to various GIS aspects during the audit process. The design builds on a developed conceptual framework where most significant categories of GIS audit parameters namely data quality, software utilization, GIS competency and procedures (work flows) were identified. The study adopted a reductive model approach to simplify the complexity associated with each category of GIS audit parameter. The resultant audit elements for each category are organized in a matrix that forms an integral part of the framework. The columns comprise audit goal, audit questions and audit subjects as indicators which are qualitatively measured. The rows comprise the parameters (data quality, software utilization, personnel competency and procedure (workflows)). To use the framework, an auditor only needs to create an audit checklist that consists of particular parameters and indicators from the framework depending on audit objective. As part of an on-going research, the next step will involve validating the framework through a mock testing process.展开更多
GIS plays an important role in an organization by ensuring efficiency, effectiveness and better spatial data management. It is used by a wide range of organizations that leverage location data for informed decision ma...GIS plays an important role in an organization by ensuring efficiency, effectiveness and better spatial data management. It is used by a wide range of organizations that leverage location data for informed decision making. The extent to which GIS is utilized in an organization should be audited to ensure monitoring and evaluation. This provides information that allows the organization to access and improve overall GIS performance. Existing applications like Slim GIM, URISA GIS CMM and PSD GMI are used to assess GIS maturity capability in an organization. While auditing is centered on a complete monitoring and evaluation of entire GIS system establishment, maturity capability applications are designed to assess organization’s ability to carry out specific GIS operations. These tools can however be time consuming and need to be calibrated for meaningful result and customized for different domains in order to meet user’s need. The focus of this paper is to develop a conceptual model for GIS audit. Through review of literature, four main categories of parameters that can be used for GIS audit were identified namely: Data quality, Software utilization, GIS competencies and Procedures. The parameters generally relate to the basic GIS components. For each of the category, a number of minor parameters have been identified. The conceptual framework will be a good basis for developing a GIS audit checklist.展开更多
This research focused on integrating GIS into energy alternatives for climate change mitigation by creating a GIS-based hydrologic model that can be used to identify sites that have significant potential for micro hyd...This research focused on integrating GIS into energy alternatives for climate change mitigation by creating a GIS-based hydrologic model that can be used to identify sites that have significant potential for micro hydropower development within the River Perkerra catchment area. Hydropower is a clean and renewable energy source that remains largely untapped in the country and its development can be used to mitigate anthropogenic climate change by reducing reliance on fossil or biomass derived fuels. This research established the extent of this resource and whether the available sites with significant micro hydropower potential within the study area were amply copious to warrant further development. Currently, such identification is done physically using means that are menial, costly and significantly time consuming. A 90-metre resolution Digital Terrain Model (DTM) data obtained from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission and various GIS tools were used to create a hydrologic framework which was used to identify potential sites along River Perkerra that suited any desired head requirement for the purposes of locating micro hydropower plants. The derived model demonstrated that it was possible to identify sites at discrete geographic locations along any stream drainage network using GIS. In addition, the model also provides a decision support system that integrates a powerful graphical user interface, spatial database management system and a generalized river basin network flow model for the purposes of exploiting and developing micro hydropower. With sufficient data on catchment discharge and use of higher resolution DTM, the model can be further enhanced to accurately obtain the total microhydro potential of River Perkerra by aggregating the respective potentials of every steam segment.展开更多
文摘A GIS audit framework is necessary considering the diverse nature of GIS with regard to components, applications and industry. In practice, checklists are generated during the audit process based on specific objectives. There is no standardized list of items that can be used as a reference. The purpose of this study was to develop a GIS audit framework as a foundation for GIS audits. The framework provides that comprehensive approach to various GIS aspects during the audit process. The design builds on a developed conceptual framework where most significant categories of GIS audit parameters namely data quality, software utilization, GIS competency and procedures (work flows) were identified. The study adopted a reductive model approach to simplify the complexity associated with each category of GIS audit parameter. The resultant audit elements for each category are organized in a matrix that forms an integral part of the framework. The columns comprise audit goal, audit questions and audit subjects as indicators which are qualitatively measured. The rows comprise the parameters (data quality, software utilization, personnel competency and procedure (workflows)). To use the framework, an auditor only needs to create an audit checklist that consists of particular parameters and indicators from the framework depending on audit objective. As part of an on-going research, the next step will involve validating the framework through a mock testing process.
文摘GIS plays an important role in an organization by ensuring efficiency, effectiveness and better spatial data management. It is used by a wide range of organizations that leverage location data for informed decision making. The extent to which GIS is utilized in an organization should be audited to ensure monitoring and evaluation. This provides information that allows the organization to access and improve overall GIS performance. Existing applications like Slim GIM, URISA GIS CMM and PSD GMI are used to assess GIS maturity capability in an organization. While auditing is centered on a complete monitoring and evaluation of entire GIS system establishment, maturity capability applications are designed to assess organization’s ability to carry out specific GIS operations. These tools can however be time consuming and need to be calibrated for meaningful result and customized for different domains in order to meet user’s need. The focus of this paper is to develop a conceptual model for GIS audit. Through review of literature, four main categories of parameters that can be used for GIS audit were identified namely: Data quality, Software utilization, GIS competencies and Procedures. The parameters generally relate to the basic GIS components. For each of the category, a number of minor parameters have been identified. The conceptual framework will be a good basis for developing a GIS audit checklist.
文摘This research focused on integrating GIS into energy alternatives for climate change mitigation by creating a GIS-based hydrologic model that can be used to identify sites that have significant potential for micro hydropower development within the River Perkerra catchment area. Hydropower is a clean and renewable energy source that remains largely untapped in the country and its development can be used to mitigate anthropogenic climate change by reducing reliance on fossil or biomass derived fuels. This research established the extent of this resource and whether the available sites with significant micro hydropower potential within the study area were amply copious to warrant further development. Currently, such identification is done physically using means that are menial, costly and significantly time consuming. A 90-metre resolution Digital Terrain Model (DTM) data obtained from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission and various GIS tools were used to create a hydrologic framework which was used to identify potential sites along River Perkerra that suited any desired head requirement for the purposes of locating micro hydropower plants. The derived model demonstrated that it was possible to identify sites at discrete geographic locations along any stream drainage network using GIS. In addition, the model also provides a decision support system that integrates a powerful graphical user interface, spatial database management system and a generalized river basin network flow model for the purposes of exploiting and developing micro hydropower. With sufficient data on catchment discharge and use of higher resolution DTM, the model can be further enhanced to accurately obtain the total microhydro potential of River Perkerra by aggregating the respective potentials of every steam segment.
