Term Project: System Architecture
At this point in the course project, the project’s goal has been expressed, turned into a preferred design concept as the basis for development, and transformed into a set of requirements. The next step is to develop an architecture (or an update to an existing architecture for fielded systems) to guide design and development. This architecture is the fundamental organization of the system. In a sense, the system architecture describes the potential to meet user expectations and how the major components satisfy important design requirements. It is also an opportunity to highlight novel features to show their potential to outperform competing products.
A system architecture concerns itself with the GIS software, the hardware, network resources, databases, and the people who build, maintain, and use these systems. An Enterprise GIS is the implementation of GIS infrastructure, processes and tools at scale within the context of an organization. This week, you will be describing the basic components of the system architecture and enterprise GIS framework of your GISystem Design, including the following:
- Architecture Components
- GIS software: Operating System (Mac, Windows, mobile devices); Internet browsers; server information (if applicable)
- GIS hardware: CPU speed; processor platform; RAM/memory; Storage; Screen resolution; Graphics
- Network Resources: WiFi speed; cellular connectivity speed; Network limitations
- Database Design and Requirements (data organization and storage, etc.): A table design of your database with pivot tables
- Enterprise GIS components
- Performance Considerations: Server storage space limitations (or cost for additional space); upload size limitations; download speed limitations
- Maintenance Considerations: A maintenance schedule (preferably as a table, by month).
- Security Considerations: cybersecurity options (login requirements, updates, username authentication, etc.)
Once you are ready, move onto the Lesson 5 Term Project: System Architecture.