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Geographic Information Systems
Imtiaz Ahmed
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Unfortunately, most of these systems failed. Some didn't work at all as analytical tools, others produced faulty results and there were also those which tended to stop functioning altogether, leaving computers to try and figure out what to do next.

These systems did not survive because they were poorly designed as software systems. Today, there are more and more successful implementations of geographic information systems, which perform their tasks relatively efficiently and at reasonable cost. So, when we talk about GIS design, we are not necessarily talking about the actual software design, although this is an important part of the process. When implementing GISs into organisations, designers have many non-technical issues to consider as well as some broader technical issues.

The first issue and possibly the most important one for a successful GIS implementation is to consider the users needs carefully and accurately. This issue itself has much subdivision as users needs cover a broad range of things. Designers will need all information on user requirements if the system is to be successful.

The most productive way for designers to get information is by interviewing the organisations personnel involved with the GIS. By interviewing the personnel, the designer should obtain at least the following information. Firstly, all the present production processes within the organisation must be identified along with a


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