GEOG 583
Geospatial System Analysis and Design

Term Project: Evaluation

Term Project: Evaluation

Once you have created a GISystem, it is time to evaluate the effectiveness of the system and how well it meets user needs. You have several evaluation methods depending on your GISystem Design, your users, and the needs requirements. It is important to frequently evaluate your system as an iterative approach to GISystem maintenance. 

A critical decision point occurs after a conceptual design has been created, and before detailed design is initiated. Here, supervisor or client approval are required for a commitment in money, staff, effort, and potential business disruption. All organizations will make such commitments when expecting payoff to justify the effort. Such justification begins with assigning a value to the benefits and the costs of acquiring the capability. This often leads to what has become known as a benefit–cost analysis or economic analysis.

The Future Work section summarizes principal technical and non-technical features of the product. Unresolved issues should be highlighted at this time. Future work is outlined in an anticipated work schedule with milestones for the next phase of the project. Here is where you ask for approvals or authorizations for project continuation.

This week, you will be justifying your cost/benefit analysis, elucidating future work, and discussing your evaluation methods with the following:

  1. Develop and describe heuristic evaluation methods that will be implemented for usability testing
  2. Develop a table outlining the monetary costs and benefits the geospatial design
  3. Describe and justify the costs, including why they are necessary for the final geospatial output
  4. Create a Gantt chart showing the timeline for development, implementation, maintenance, and evaluation.

Once you are ready, move on to the  Lesson 7 Term Project: Evaluation