Discussion Questions
  1. What is a GIS program versus GIS software?
  2. Describe the evolution of GIS software from the early days through today.  Include a description of key developments that made the software more generic in the later years.
  3. What is application specific GIS and what are some examples?
  4. What is the difference between project, departmental, enterprise, and societal GIS architecture?
  5. Explain the 3 tiers of GIS architecture.
  6. What is client-server architecture?
  7. For what is GIS software customization used?
  8. Customization of GIS software in the late 1980s included the use of proprietary systems such as ESRI's Avenue.  Can you think of any problems with this?
  9. What is a visual programming language?
  10. Presently, GIS software systems include an integrated development environment (IDE) that can access components.  How is this different and better than customization in the past?
  11. What is the difference between a think and thin server?
  12. Compare desktop and internet GIS based on client size, client platform, server size, and network.
  13. ESRI does more than just produce software.  What else to they do that makes them the big bucks?
  14. There are three types of components in a GIS software system including user interface applications, geographic tools, and data access applications.  What are the data access components?
  15. GIS software packages sometimes include proprietary DBMS software including 3rd party packages such as MS Access.  How else do GIS packages access database management routines?
  16. What is a professional GIS?
  17. Describe the major milestones of the evolution of ArcInfo and describe the qualities of the lates iteration?
  18. What ia a desktop GIS and what are some examples?
  19. What qualities does MapInfo have that make it a desktop GIS package?
  20. For what can hand-held GIS software systems such as ArcPad be used?
  21. What is component GIS and for what are packages such as MapObjects used?
  22. For what can GIS viewers such as ArcExplorer be used?
  23. For what can internet GIS software such as ArcIMS be used?
  24. Why are internet GIS packages such as MapGuide cost effective tools?
  25. What is the primary purpose of raster-based GIS?
  26. What is CAD-based GIS?
  27. What is a GIS data application server such as ArcSDE?
  28. Describe the ESRI GIS product family.













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