PrintThe design problem can be viewed as an active two-way interface between the client requiring the information and the geospatial analyst supplying it. The problem defines the geospatial functionality the designer is seeking. A question that leads to the GIS design process must meet three criteria of:
- At least one plausible design exists with some geospatial aspect.
- Counter-designs are possible.
- The outcomes can be defined sufficiently with respect to the geospatial aspects to allow gather requirements.
Before beginning, ask the following questions:
- Who is the key person for whom the design is being completed?
- Do I understand the problem? (If necessary, clarify this before proceeding)
- What is the most important information to give this client?
- How is the client expected to use this information?
- How much time does the client have?
- What means would convey the information most effectively?
- What is the client’s level of tolerance for technical geospatial specific language? How much detail and what geospatial accuracy does the client expect?
- Would the client expect the design to reach out to other entities within or outside the enterprise?
- To whom, or to what source, might the client turn for alternative views on this topic? What data or analysis might others provide that could influence how the client reacts to what is being designed?
The problem focuses the requirements analysis on the nature of the spatial and temporal patterns the designer is seeking to identify, understand, and/or communicate. Many new geospatial designers struggle to translate the problem into the context of spatial concepts. To overcome this, we stress the importance of understanding the problem and developing a spatial aspects.
What is a sufficient design problem? There are significant differences between a “problem of fact or factoid” and an “design problem.” A factoid seeks a piece of information that would be answered with a corresponding true statement.
In general, a factoid question usually has just one correct answer that can be easily judged for its truthfulness. Answers to factoid are important as elements of requirements but are not to be the focus of a design effort.
In general, a significant design problem has many possibly correct answers that cannot be easily judged for correctness. A design is generally quite flexible in the sense that there is always a strong possibility that we may not arrive at the "right" solution. Thus, a change of analytic strategy, and even the initial expectations of the design, may be warranted. This suggests a solution to a design problem must involve iterative information.
Geospatial Aspects
The Geospatial Aspects follow from the broader problem, and suggest a narrowly focused spectrum of issues. The geospatial requirements contributes to the larger body of requirements of the initial design problem; the spatial aspects might not be be as significant to the stakeholder as those of initial design problem. The development of this involves an active two-way discussion between the client requiring the information and the geospatial professional. The problem must be “analytic” which means four conditions are met:
- It must be at least one spatial quality or relationship to be expressed in the requirements;
- At least one plausible design must address the spatial requirement;
- Counter-designs are possible and the requirements analysis must include an investigation of alternative designs; and
- The requirements must be capable of being defined sufficiently to allow us to design the system.