
Cue-X Case Study: Department of Defence GIS
Web-Based Advanced Geospatial Information System
Overview
The Cue-X People team were tasked to help develop and implement a web based advanced Geospatial Information System (GIS) using an open-source digital map as a base map that can add layers and features from external digital map databases, such as those from Geoscience Australia and local governments. It is used for querying features at each location and displaying the feature data in a graphical and visual format.
The Department of Defence required development capability for the implementation and development of a Geospatial Information System.
Task
Key Accountabilities
When developing and implementing this project,
We defined the scope and objectives of the project by understanding the main purpose users want to use the GIS project for, issues and challenges in other systems which provide similar GIS functions to this project and the overall expected outcome of the implementation of this project.
We conducted a feasibility study of the overall project and of the tasks in each quarterly release of the system software. For example, tasks scheduled for each quarterly release, were assessed as to whether a task was technically viable. This included the assessment of resources we had and the time required to implement it.
We collected requirements from users and other stakeholders, defining these requirements and discussing with the team to determine and implement the technical solution. For example, users wanted to add some features onto a map, and these features could be provided by layers from a local government’s open database. Some level of customisation was needed to access the opensource data.
We conducted detailed analysis of the requirements in the planning phase, including the requirements on the web client side, the backend server and the network. Next, we did system design, including user interface design to allow users to provide inputs, API design to interact with the backend GIS server, and modelling of data.
We developed the system by using various programming languages and software tools, such as Angular framework, TypeScript, HTML, CSS, Go Lang, SQL, Python. We developed web pages to display the GIS data and allow users to input parameters. We implemented cyber security controls into the system, such as, sanitising user's inputs at the frontend and the backend, user authentication and authorisation and data encryption.
To control the quality of the project, we performed unit testing, system testing, load testing and invited users to test the system before the formal release. For example, after we developed a distance measurement function on the digital map, we wrote test cases to test the function by different use cases. We tested the impact of this function to the whole system. We also created a testing environment for actual users to use this measurement tool, so that they can provide feedback to improve the tool before the formal release.
We documented technical design and implementations for the whole system and each module in the system. We provided help documentation to guide users to use the system and developed version release scripts and documentations to smooth the release process.
Outcome
The system built and developed is far superior to the current systems being used today. The next steps will be implementing the new system and convincing users to take up the new tool. There are significant benefits however there will be work required to manage the change and make further improvements and updates to increase utilisation.
About CUE-X
CUE-X has a team of experienced consultants and contractors that work across many of the major federal government agencies. CUE-X specialises in the advice, delivery, management, recruitment, training and development of ICT programmes, voice of customer, customer data, business transformation, programme management and organisational change. Dan Marks is the Chief Executive Officer of CUE-X and has more than 20 years experience across government, Australian and global organisations. Dan is based in Canberra and works in government across major ICT program delivery. For more information go to www.cue-x.co