accessing geospatial data to support research, …...accessing geospatial data to support research,...

Víctor M. Cuadrado Landrau

March 2002

Accessing geospatial data to support research, monitoring and environmental

management activities Case Study: Island Municipality of Vieques, Puerto Rico

Accessing geospatial data to support research, monitoring and environmental management activities

Case Study: Island Municipality of Vieques, Puerto Rico

By

Víctor M. Cuadrado Landrau

Thesis submitted to the International Institute for Geo-information Science and Earth Observation in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree in Master of Science in Geo-Information Management, Urban Specialisation. Degree Assessment Board Prof. Dr. Ian Masser Dr. Chris Paresi Karen Buchanan Prof. Dr. Henk Ottens

INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR GEO-INFORMATION SCIENCE AND EARTH OBSERVATION ENSCHEDE, THE NETHERLANDS

Disclaimer This document describes work undertaken as part of a programme of study at the Interna-tional Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation. All views and opin-ions expressed therein remain the sole responsibility of the author, and do not necessarily represent those of the institute.

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Acknowledgements

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Abstract

The need to develop environmental research to study the impact of contamination on the Island municipality of Vieques has become a priority to the Puerto Rican community. Many organiza-tions, are putting together their efforts to improve the ecological situation for the island. The use of maps, spatial data and geo-information system are useful tools in the assessment and monitor-ing of environmental problems. Organizations making use of Geographic Information Systems are confronted with a lack of data sources that meet their studies requirements.

Therefore, public access to spatial data and environmental information needs to be attended. Ac-cordingly, a primary research goal is to design a mechanism for accessing geospatial data to facili-tate the coordination of research, monitoring and environmental management activities in Vieques and to ensure that all interested parties have quick and easy access to Vieques geospatial data and information. To accomplish these tasks interview guided questionnaire was use to identify; data needs data sources, nature or characteristics of available data and how to make this data accessible. The result showed that access to spatial data is one of the major issues or concern raised by the users. The spatial data needs are mostly environmental in nature. The user’s preference in access-ing spatial data is through the World Wide Web.

To meet users requirement, Internet applications were developed. First, an Internet-enabled GIS application built on Manifold© Internet Map Server, Microsoft Internet Information Service 5.0 © and Active Server Pages (ASP) was designed. The first application is focusing on the requirements of Non GIS users; while the second application is a Web-based relational database application; providing more options to the GIS users based on their requirements for spatial data. The choice of System is based on a configuration of a server-side approach.

More than 40 spatial data sets have been collected, and are useful information for projects related to research and planning for Vieques Island. To make these data shareable, an application was designed to allow users to have access these spatial data. Relational Database technologies and the integration of Active Server Pages helped in designing the system and building the application that allows clients to search, explore and download datasets. The application is presented in an easy to manage, graphical user interface (GUI).

The Manifold software package and the Manifold Internet Map Server provided necessary func-tionality for Internet GIS. The integration of Manifold and Microsoft Frontpage© as the editor for Html language is capable of adding new tools to allow users to search, evaluate and download ex-isting data.

The Prototype offers not only provide information on the data but also allows the user to add in-formation and make comments on the data quality. This functionality had not been tested yet with the proposed user. However, this provides a more participatory approach to the Internet GIS that had been designed.

Both the GIS and non-GIS users were considered in building the prototype. However, the func-tionality may not yet fully respond to the GIS users. Thus, some improvements are recommended on the technical design of the System.

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Contents

Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................................................i Abstract ......................................................................................................................................................... ii Contents ....................................................................................................................................................... iii List of Figures.............................................................................................................................................. vi Chapter 1....................................................................................................................................................... 2 1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 2

1.1. Key problem................................................................................................................................. 2 1.2. Background................................................................................................................................... 2

1.2.1. Environmental Studies and projects ............................................................................... 3 1.3. Research Objectives .................................................................................................................... 4

1.3.1. Main objective..................................................................................................................... 4 1.3.2. Specific Objectives ............................................................................................................. 4 1.3.3. Research Questions............................................................................................................ 4

1.4. Methods ........................................................................................................................................ 4 Chapter 2....................................................................................................................................................... 6 2. Literature Review................................................................................................................................. 6

2.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 6 2.2. GIS for Environmental Studies in the Carribean................................................................... 6 2.3. User requirements and information needs .............................................................................. 8 2.4. Data sharing................................................................................................................................ 10

2.4.1. Communities sharing geographic data .......................................................................... 11 2.5. Public Access to spatial data.................................................................................................... 12 2.6. The Internet and the decision making process..................................................................... 14 2.7. Participation or non-participation .......................................................................................... 15

2.7.1. Advantages of Web-based public participatory GIS .................................................. 15 2.8. Conclusion.................................................................................................................................. 16

Chapter 3..................................................................................................................................................... 19 3. Island Municipality of Vieques........................................................................................................ 19

3.1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 19 3.2. Background................................................................................................................................. 19

3.2.1. Puerto Rican and the Sustainable Development of Vieques..................................... 21 3.2.2. Scientific works on the Island Municipality of Vieques............................................. 22

3.3. Conclusions ................................................................................................................................ 23 Chapter 4..................................................................................................................................................... 25 4. User requirements analysis and needs ............................................................................................ 25

4.1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 25 4.2. Vieques Spatial Data Services: A Survey of User Needs..................................................... 25

4.2.1. Designing a database for the survey.............................................................................. 27 4.3. Questionnaire Analysis ............................................................................................................. 28

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4.3.1. Respondents basic profile ............................................................................................... 28 4.4. GIS Users VS. Non GIS Users............................................................................................... 29 4.5. Use of spatial data ..................................................................................................................... 29

4.5.1. Data sources...................................................................................................................... 30 4.6. The Information needs............................................................................................................. 32

4.6.1. Application for the data .................................................................................................. 33 4.7. Data created by the users vs. data needs ............................................................................... 34 4.8. How many data sets exist? ....................................................................................................... 35 4.9. Perceived obstacles for accessing the data ............................................................................ 35 4.10. Where to access Vieques data.................................................................................................. 36 4.11. Conclusions ................................................................................................................................ 37 4.12. Findings....................................................................................................................................... 38 4.13. Recommendations for the Prototype..................................................................................... 38

Chapter 5..................................................................................................................................................... 40 5. The Design and Development of Spatial Data Access for Island of Vieques ......................... 40

5.1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 40 5.2. Benefits of Internet GIS .......................................................................................................... 40

5.2.1. System functionalities ...................................................................................................... 41 5.3. Conceptual Design .................................................................................................................... 42

5.3.1. Processes involved when accessing Geospatial data .................................................. 43 5.3.2. Processes involved when interacting with the maps .................................................... 45

5.4. System Implementation............................................................................................................ 46 5.4.1. Software ............................................................................................................................. 46 5.4.2. Hardware ............................................................................................................................ 47 5.4.3. Performance ...................................................................................................................... 47 5.4.4. Security ............................................................................................................................... 48 5.4.5. Other Issues ...................................................................................................................... 48

5.5. Recommendation for maintenance and management of the systems .............................. 48 5.5.1. Who will be the custodian?............................................................................................. 48 5.5.2. Implementation ................................................................................................................ 49 5.5.3. Conclusion......................................................................................................................... 49

Chapter 6..................................................................................................................................................... 50 6. Conclusions and recommendations................................................................................................ 50

6.1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 50 6.1.1. What spatial data are needed by the various organizations doing environmental research in Vieques? ........................................................................................................................... 50 6.1.2. What are the spatial data sets produced by the organizations .................................. 51 6.1.3. To what degree can the organizations share the geospatial data? ............................ 51 6.1.4. What should be the functionalities of a mechanism for accessing geospatial data?51 6.1.5. What are the appropriate technological solutions to implement a mechanism for easy access of geospatial data? .......................................................................................................... 51 6.1.6. Does the prototype support research monitoring and environmental management activities in the island municipality of Vieques? ............................................................................ 52

6.2. Recommendation....................................................................................................................... 52 6.2.1. Further Developments .................................................................................................... 52

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6.2.2. Further research................................................................................................................ 53 References................................................................................................................................................... 55 Appendix A ................................................................................................................................................ 57

Questionnaire........................................................................................................................................... 57 Appendix B................................................................................................................................................. 65

Questionnaires’ Database structure...................................................................................................... 65 Database Structure.............................................................................................................................. 65 Getting Information from the Database ........................................................................................ 69

Appendix C................................................................................................................................................. 70 Prototype Snapshots............................................................................................................................... 70

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List of Figures Figure 1-1 Island Municipality of Vieques................................................................................................. 2 Figure 2-1 Public Participation Ladder .................................................................................................... 15 Figure 3-1 Vieque’s Location Map............................................................................................................ 20 Figure 3-2 A practice bomb sitting on Vieque’s’ ground. ............................................................................ 23 Figure 4-1 Respondents Category and Organization Name................................................................. 26 Figure 4-2 Entity Relationship for the Survey database...................Error! Bookmark not defined. Figure 4-3 Question 1.2 of the survey...................................................................................................... 66 Figure 4-4 Example of relationship between to entities........................................................................ 67 Figure 4-5 Translation of question into entities relationships.............................................................. 68 Figure 4-6 SQL Select statement............................................................................................................... 69 Figure 4-7 Frequency of requierd information from differents fields of studies.............................. 28 Figure 4-8 Respondents Category............................................................................................................. 28 Figure 4-9 Spatial Data Requirement........................................................................................................ 30 Figure 4-10 Percentages of Unknown Sources of data by User Group ............................................. 31 Figure 4-11 Frequency of mentioned data sources ................................................................................32 Figure 4-12 Spatial Data Needs ................................................................................................................. 33 Figure 4-13 Applications for Vieques Data............................................................................................. 34 Figure 4-14 Available data sets .................................................................................................................. 35 Figure 4-15 Foresee Obstacles to Vieques Data..................................................................................... 36 Figure 4-16 Where to Access Vieques Data............................................................................................ 36 Figure 5-1 Users and Technical functionalities....................................................................................... 42 Figure 5-2 Conceptual System Architecture............................................................................................ 43 Figure 5-3 Result of a User request when accessing the geospatial data ............................................ 44 Figure 5-4 View of a sample map from the Intenet GIS application ................................................. 46


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Chapter 1

1. Introduction

1.1. Key problem Within the last two years, the need to develop environmental research to study the impact of contamination on the Island municipality of Vieques has become a priority to the Puerto Ri-can community. Many organizations, with professionals in different disciplines are joining ef-fort to improve the ecological quality of the island. Public access to spatial data and environ-mental information needs to be attended. Organizations making use of Geographic Informa-tion Systems (GIS) are confronted with a lack of data sources that meet their study require-ments and therefore they may end up unnecessary gathering data directly from the field.

Procedures for spatial data gathering involve many resources, and a lack of knowledge of avail-able data sets results in redundant collection of information. Emphasis needs to be given to improve the way spatial data are used and shared. This is specially so because the use of this information may influence decision making and thus have an impact on the environment and living conditions of the people on Vieques.

1.2. Background Vieques is located in the Caribbean to the east of the island of Puerto Rico. It has a population of 9,583 (Census 2000). At present, 12,740 of the Island’s 16,170 hectares are used for military practice and munitions storage (Figure 1-1)

Figure 1-1 Island Municipality of Vieques


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Over 60 years of military practice is said to have caused serious deterioration of the natural environment of the island. As identified by (Cruz Pérez 1998) the military activities pollute the environment in Vieques in four ways:

1. Chemicals in the missile’s explosive payloads 2. Dust and rock particles released into the air as a result of the impact and/or explosion

of missiles. 3. Metallic residues left by missiles after they detonate 4. The junk and scrap heap the military uses for target practice.

Scientific studies suggest that the activities related to the practices result in serious conse-quences to environmental quality and human health. The estimated end of the practices is May 2003. Nevertheless, techniques for investigation the effects of the practices associated to the ecological condition of the Island have been under discussion.

1.2.1. Environmental Studies and projects Decontamination and sustainable development of the Island are crucial demands (Siegal 1992) that need to be seriously addressed. For this, the scientific and professional community is de-veloping many initiatives. Specific examples are:

1. Decontamination of the Island 2. Search for toxic substances in the soil and vegetation

a) Assessment of poisoning from heavy metals such as arsenic, bismuth, cad-mium, and mercury. (EfE 2000)

b) The impact of the bombing on the coral reefs (Williams 1999) 3. Sustainable development of the Island (Siegal 1999)

Geospatial or spatial data include position in geographic space. Most of this research requires the use of data linked to geographic space. The need for specific spatial data detail varies ac-cording to the nature of studies employed. Though valuable information exists, data files are difficult to find, locate and retrieve. Organizations may end up unnecessarily spending re-sources in gathering data directly from the field but which already exits. Others that do not know where to get data or cannot afford data collection abandon utilizing spatial data and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to accomplish desired analyses.

Problems of data collection are difficult in Vieques due to limited access to the island and ex-isting restrictions established by the authorities. Confronted with these situations, it is impor-tant to know: what data are needed, what data exist, where, and their characteristics, who needs the data and for what purpose, what additional data are needed and, how to make exist-ing data accessible? Having this information organized, with data sharing, should prevent du-plication, and corresponding loss of resources. Knowing details about how data were collected and characteristics of the data such as scale and quality will reduce uncertainty in interpretation and assure higher quality analysis, investigations and recommendations. This information helps to determine the value of the data according to user’s specific needs.


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Geospatial data are needed for the recovery and sustainable development of Vieques. Key types of geospatial data can support a diversity of the studies needed for Vieques recovery and development. Having a mechanism for accessing these geospatial data on the World Wide Web (WWW) may at minimal cost make way for easy data accessibility, data exchanges and data updates.

1.3. Research Objectives

1.3.1. Main objective To design a mechanism for accessing geospatial data to support research, monitoring and en-vironmental management activities in the island municipality of Vieques and implementing a prototype of this mechanism.

1.3.2. Specific Objectives 1. To identify the geospatial data needed by the organizations and what are the require-

ments on these data. 2. To identify the geospatial data available for Vieques (datasets and metadata) 3. To identify organizations that possess or produce spatial data related to the island of

Vieques; 4. To design a mechanism for accessing geospatial data. 5. To select appropriate technological solutions to implement the proposed system. 6. To test the prototype in order to observe if it support researh main objective.

1.3.3. Research Questions 1. What spatial data are needed by the various organizations doing environmental re-

search in Vieques? 2. What are the spatial data sets produced by the organizations? 3. To what degree can the organizations share the geospatial data? 4. What should be the funcionalities of a mechanism for accessing geospatial data? 5. What are the approiate technological solutions to implement a mechanism for easy ac-

cess of geospatial data? 6. Does the prototype support research monitoring and environmental management ac-

tivities in the island municipality of Vieques?

1.4. Methods Methodology for the research follows the phases (see Figure 1-2):

• Literature Review: a) Identify relevant uses of spatial data applicable for Vieques’s sustainable de-

velopment. b) Study differents appproaches for conducting user requirement and informa-

tion needs analisys


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c) Study on differents mechanisms on how to share between and among organi-zations.

d) Approaches of spatial data sharing on the Internet and e) Study the advantages of Web-based GIS and Internet spatial data sharing to

improve public participationg and decision-making. • User needs

a) Developing a Questionnaire for surveying users information needs in order to identify: • Use of spatial data • Type of users • Spatial data needs • Preferences of accessibility

b) Questionnaire analysis • Systems requirements

a) Type of mechanism and b) List of functional rerquierements to make the geospatial data accessible

• Conceptual design of the systems a) Conceptual design

• Prototype • Physical design and implementation • Maintenance and management

b) Prototype testing • Research conclusions and recommendations

System Requirem ents:Functional requirem ents to m ake the geospatial data accessible

Prototype for accessing the geospatial data

Q uestionnaire

O rganizations, individuals or institutions concerned w ith relevant projects, research and other environmental activities on the Island.

• Use of spatial data • Type of users• Spatial data needs• Preferences of accessibility

Identification

• Use of spatial data • Type of users• Spatial data needs• Preferences of accessibility

IdentificationIdentification

Research Conclusions and recom m endations

Users N eeds

Analysis

Conceptual D esign

Testing

Literature Review

Figure 1-2 Research Methodology


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Chapter 2

2. Literature Review

2.1. Introduction This chapter presents work related to the use of the geographic information system (GIS) for environmental management. Some of the work that has been reviewed is related to the use of GIS for the planning and rehabilitation of a former naval base.

Literature on efforts in the archipelago (Lesser Antilles) to establish a center where one can seek or share geographic data was also looked into. Furthermore, the user requirement and information needs of communities working for environmental conservation are also treated in this chapter. Last but not least, literature on the mechanisms on how the data are shared be-tween and among organizations working in the same geographical area are also covered to get insights as to which mechanisms are most appropriate for the study area.

2.2. GIS for Environmental Studies in the Carribean An island-wide Geographic Information System (GIS) has been used as a key strategy to pro-mote environmental management and sustainable development on Bermuda Island (Meggs 1997). The GIS system was regarded as crucial for monitoring the island development plans and for managing the transition process for the 10% of Bermuda’s lands returned to their government after the closing of a Naval Air Station in 1995. A Military Base Transition Office (MBTO) was established in 1994 to oversee the handover of the former military bases and to manage the transition and development of land. There was a need to prepare a strategic plan to determine the future development of these areas. Topographic digital maps at a scale of 1: 2500 were prepared for design work by the planning consultant. Additional spatial data layers were prioritised and digitised. Examples of these datasets are:

• Administrative boundaries • Coastline • Elevation • Survey marks • Transportation • Utilities • Vegetated areas • Water features


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Meggs (1997), stated that once the data were prepared, a prototype application was developed using GIS software. On the prototype application users can select search and query features like property, land use polygons and others. The Bermuda Planning Department found that prototype application was a useful tool, so they decided to intensify the system with new data layers (e.g. digital elevation models (DEM), street center lines) and created a digital database of this information. Meggs (1997) emphasized that the systems had expedited the creation of de-velopments, thereby allowing more time to be given to other planning aspects. Meggs stated that GIS will enable the Department of Planning to monitor much more closely what is hap-pening on the entire 53 square kilometers of Bermuda, enhancing capacity to protect the envi-ronment and to develop a sound ecotourism industry on which many believe the country’s future should be built.

After acquiring a new computer, the process that was followd was to: prepare graphical user interfaces (GUI) embedding GIS functionalities into a day-to-day information tool accessible to all employees. Now the aim is to provide information and planning services to any inter-ested party through the Internet.

Similarly, the Eastern Caribbean (EC) experience in economic development, environmental protection, natural resources management, disaster recovery, hazard mitigation, and other re-source-constrained activities, emphasizes the need for a systematic process for mapping the condition of the region’s highly stressed resources. The costs of maintaining this capability on a national (or island-specific) basis are too big for most of the states and territories between Puerto Rico and Trinidad. There is a need and a market for mapping and GIS services on a regional basis Potter (1995).

The Foundation believes that the development imperatives and resource constraints within the small island states of the Eastern Caribbean create planning dilemmas, which require strong mapping capabilities and geographically referenced databases. Some of these identified con-straints include rugged topography, multiple natural hazards, problematic water resources, high population densities, land use conflicts, changing landforms, a historical pattern of dense set-tlements, and the need to maintain a high quality environment to support increased tourism and an acceptable quality of life for local inhabitants.

The Foundation also stated that GIS is an especially valuable technology for capturing and displaying large amounts of detailed information essential for informed development planning in the EC. Because of the limited land area and multiple user demands throughout the region, GIS is especially useful in highlighting and avoiding land use conflicts. GIS displays are also powerful public education tools, facilitating an understanding of alternative development costs and benefits and aiding the process of public decision making.

For the smaller states and territories of the Lesser Antilles, few island governments can hope to support an automated mapping or GIS program on a long-term basis. The reason is not the direct cost of hardware, software, or staffing. The main reason is because map production and GIS analysis demands are so small for any one island that technical staff cannot be occupied


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full-time, and island governments can seldom afford to pay the salaries necessary to retain the skilled technicians who can operate GIS effectively. These technologies are so complicated that unless a GIS specialist works with them continuously, skill levels become too low to be useful. Productivity stays low and the quality of products is so unreliable that they cannot be applied confidently to critical decision-making {IRF, 2000 #688}.

To draw conclusions on the use of GIS for environmental studies in the Caribbean, it could be said that he GIS system has been regarded as being crucial for monitoring the development plans and for managing the transition process of land. In the Caribbean, because of the limited land area in most of the islands and multiple user demands throughout the region, GIS is es-pecially useful in highlighting and avoiding land use conflicts

Although GIS is an especially valuable technology for capturing and displaying large amounts of detailed information essential for informed development planning, few island governments can hope to support an automated mapping or GIS program on a long-term basis. Therefore, although these small islands are the ones who can benefit the most out of the GIS System, there is a need to create a way to make the information user friendly through an accessible form (e.g. Internet).

2.3. User requirements and information needs GIS Internet technology allows the evaluation and dissemination of environmental informa-tion to anyone interested in several user levels and types of applications, (Schaller 1998) Ac-cording to the user requirement analysis of several environmental projects, there are three user levels. These are:

1. Low-End Public Users: (e.g. those looking at a predefined environmental condition display in an electronic panel)

2. Sophisticated Desktop Users: (e.g. Interest of the public with personal computers at homes or in schools)

3. High-End Data Providers and users: (e.g. Governmental or municipal departments, universities and research organizations)

In most cases, the users are interested in receiving Meta database information and sources of environmental data. The High-End Data Providers are characterized by having professional GIS and database software. The Sophisticated Desk Top user wants to work with the data and produce his/her own results, thus this requires downloading of the spatial data.

Although the Sophisticated Desktop User may visualize and interact with the data and tools available on the Internet site; downloading data is not always required. Low-End users need imbedded GIS and database functions to visualize predefined environmental conditions at specific locations in a selected area and displayed at an appropriate scale.

(Braun and Guertin 1997) explored the needs of communities when opportunities for public access to spatial data increased. Accessibility to public data increased with the use of public


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terminals, the Internet availability of easy to use interfaces. Brand and Guertin (1996) con-cluded that ideally a network should:

• Be easily accessible to all socio economic classes • Be simplistic to save time on slow public access modems or systems • Provide access to local, regional, national, and global information • Have a clearly organized interface • Be flexible enough to run on multiple platforms through multiple software products • Provide opportunities to for recording comments and opinions

Brand and Guertin (1996) explored what spatial data people want access to and what charac-teristics a public access system should have, thus surveying users information needs in order to meet public expectations. After determining the spatial data needs of four neighbourhood as-sociations in Tucson, Arizona, they develop a prototype. Access to spatial data was provided through the Public Access System (PAS) prototype.

In the methodology, members of four neighbourhood associations were asked to complete a questionnaire that addressed issues such as the relative importance and awareness of different types of spatial data, preferred data formats, metadata needs, and willingness to pay. A subset of association members interacted with the PAS prototype and completed a second question-naire. The second questionnaire determined whether exposure to the prototype changed their perceptions of the issues dealt with in the initial questionnaire. The characteristics of the pro-totype are:

1. The system interface had to be incredibly simplistic and intuitive (e.g., button icons should make sense),

2. Basic cartographic features such as street names and neighbourhood association boundaries should be present from the beginning to assist users in locating them-selves,

3. Metadata should be provided in a friendly manner so users understand what the theme is, where it comes from, and what attributes are affiliated with it, and

4. Tracking user actions during a session (i.e., what buttons they click and how often) would be a useful tool to record what users did as opposed to what they said they did.

Another study that is relevant to user’s requirements is that of Baptista and Kemp (Baptista 1999). They describe users perspectives on access to geospatial data storage in facilities acces-sible via the WWW, focusing on the importance of metadata. According to the Federal Geo-graphic Data Committee (FGDC), metadata concern the content, quality, condition, and other characteristics of data. Metadata describe them. Many people describe metadata simply by say-ing "they are data about data." In terms of a GIS, however, metadata are used to describe how the geospatial and attribute data were collected and processed into final form. Metadata help identify what spatial data are useful to meet user needs. According to Baptista and Kemp, there are two types of users:

• Users who search for information about a specific theme with reference to a specific part of the earth’s surface, and


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• Users who search for more detailed spatial data sets for their own spatial analysis.

In both of the cases, users will cluster into communities with shared interests and perspectives, but even when these user’s communities share a conceptual foundation some problems will arise due to organization and interoperability across heterogeneous multi-source, multi-platform and multi-standard computing environments (Lockemann et al., 1997 cited in (Baptista 1999).

In conclusion, it could be said that, when considering access to spatial data over the Internet there is a need to evaluate the user requirements of such information and their needs. Accessi-bility to public data has increased with the use of the Internet and easy to use interfaces. An ideal network should be easily accessible to all socio-economic classes, provide access to local, regional, national, and global information, have a clearly organized interface, flexible enough to run on multiple platforms through multiple software products, and provide opportunities to record comments and opinions. The system should provide data and tools available on the Internet site to help explore the available data. To enable the user for spatial resource discov-ery a “light weight” description of a data can be set, with options for query, data description and datasets downloading.

2.4. Data sharing GIS and related proliferation of spatial databases in digital form have prompted the practice of joint development and sharing of geographic databases. The ultimate benefit from the coordi-nated GIS development and databases sharing is reduced redundancy. Data sharing also leads to the establishment of data partnerships and networks, which are building blocks of the Na-tional Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI). However, multi-participant GIS activities are found to be much more challenging than the implementation of internal single agency systems and databases Nedovic-Budic and Pinto (1995). Sharing of geographic information is vital to avoid duplication of efforts and waste of resources invested in databases developed by many government and private sectors. The bottom line of spatial data sharing, however, is its prom-ise to increase the utility of the GIS datasets in providing better information base for man-agement, strategic planning, and policy decisions Nedovic-Budic and Pinto (1995).

One of the examples of using the Web-based tool for user’s participation in the system is Dooher‘s work, Dooher (1999). The System Geographical Environmental Information Man-agement System (GEIMS) dealt with a public domain database that has been designed for the State of California to track environmental data and water resource information to assess the vulnerability of aquifer systems from point and nonpoint sources. The GEIMS uses as its user interface a Web-based GIS tool called GeoTracker. With GeoTracker, public and private enti-ties can access environmental data quickly and easily from any computer platform. The user then has the option to download relevant data for more advanced analysis or use the online analysis tools for a rapid assessment. GEIMS and GeoTracker have the capabilities to dra-matically transform data analysis and to act as a focal point for the accumulation of environ-


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mental knowledge that will become increasingly necessary as water resources become scarcer in the future.

In terms of covering and servicing a larger number of users, Groot (1997) in his paper Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) for sustainable land management identified the increase in use of geo-information in the design of interdisciplinary geo-information systems and decision sup-port systems for realizing sustainable land management at different scales and for specific user groups. The realization of the potential of geo-information systems in supporting sustainable land management depends on a number of factors. Groot stated that efficient and reliable ac-cess to well-harmonized information is one of these important factors. In this respect, the literature also alludes to an emerging digital geo-information infrastructure and policy frame-work at global, regional, national and local levels. His work presents the concept of geo-information infrastructure (GII) or spatial data infrastructure (SDI) as a tool to facilitate access to, and responsible use of geo-information.

Related to Groot’s concepts, Stimson’s (1991) paper reported that the Montana Natural Re-source Information System, NRIS (http://nris.state.mt.us/) is a program created by the legis-lature to make sources of data and information on Montana’s natural resource easily and read-ily accessible. The System serves business and industry, state and federal agencies, and private citizens by providing a clearinghouse and referral service to link data users with sources of in-formation. In addition, NRIS helps coordinate among agencies and organizations that collect, manage, or use the same types of natural resource information to prevent duplication of effort and promote information sharing. One of the components provides technical assistance for statewide GIS projects and to agencies developing in-house GIS capability and coordinates GIS data standards and sharing throughout the state; and a Natural Resource Index, a geo-graphical and subject area indexing system for existing data sources.

2.4.1. Communities sharing geographic data A way to overcome government barriers for delivering data to the public is by taking advan-tages of geographic information systems, telecommunications technologies and by allowing ordinary citizens to participate in decisions that affect the geographies they live in and care about (Poore, Tribble et al. 1998). In this paper, the authors recognized that organizations could take advantage of data sharing to become more efficient and effective. There is some promise that these technologies will revitalize the concept of community. A panel discussion sponsored by the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) examined these premises re-lated to issues of citizen access to geographic information. Three systems were mentioned.

1. The Mountain Area Information Network, in partnership with the State of North Carolina, worked with public librarians and high school and community college teach-ers to provide citizen access to geographic data in hopes of overcoming barriers to civic participation, and promoting economic development.

2. The National Park Service and North Carolina State University examined the benefits of providing a wide range of environmental and economic data to community stake-


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holders to encourage citizen participation in designing an environmentally sustainable economic development plan for the Blue Ridge Parkway region.

3. The Medical University of South Carolina and the Environmental Protection Agency are using GIS to provide an accessible and ongoing source of information on envi-ronmental hazards and their effect on health to residents in disadvantaged and highly industrialized areas of Charleston. The panel focused on effective strategies for citizen participation, and stimulated audience discussion of the benefits and possible draw-backs of data sharing within communities.

To encourage public access and use of available on-line digital vector and raster data, the U.S. Federal Geographic Data Committee is working with the Open GIS Consortium (OGC) to implement a multiple testbed environment on the Internet called OpenGIS.net. This opera-tional testbed demonstrates a consolidated data discovery and rendering service that commu-nicates with data in multiple formats and projections from multiple sources and computing platforms to render custom maps. In this way, users unfamiliar with GIS software and data formats may visualise spatial data without data-specific or vendor-specific software solutions.

Another paper related to data access through the web and more focused on environmental studies is the work of Abbruzzi, Kunzmann, et.al (2000) A Digital ‘Living’ Library-A Prototype for Harvesting Ecological Data. They suggest that to increase the efficiency of data collection and subsequent environmental decision-making, the rate of data collection must be increased. In addition, the costs associated with managing the information and making the information available to the public in a user-friendly interface is an important goal for federal land manag-ing agencies. To facilitate these goals and the goals of the National Biological Information In-frastructure (NBII), a program there has been developed a digital ‘living’ library that promotes data distribution and contribution using a Web interface. They concluded that, by providing capability to share data and resources, important ecological data could be updated and distrib-uted more efficiently. In addition, landscape-level determinations derived from the digital li-brary can be more readily applied by management in day-to-day decision making processes and integrated with long-term land management policy development.

The digital library system not only allows users to search for and retrieve spatial data sets and other information, but its also able to grow dynamically through users’ contributions of data. To facilitate data discovery, numerous tools and data protocols had to be developed to in-crease the overall utility of the library and to assist with the identification of user needs and other data management issues such as security. The automated collection of natural and cul-tural resource information and associated metadata decreases maintenance requirements of a digital living library.

2.5. Public Access to spatial data There are some policy issues to consider when giving access to spatial data, especially if these data are from a government or federal agency. According to Wells (2000), two broad currents of opinions have been debated for over a decade within the GIS community. The first holds


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that governments should act like businesses and get maximum return on the taxpayers’ in-vestment by selling data for whatever the market will bear. The second current of opinion holds that the public interest is best served by putting the data in the public domain at minimal cost. Data collected for public purposes with public funds should be easily accessible to the public. The two currents of opinion differ in fundamental philosophy. Their differences will never be resolved definitively in favor of one view or the other.

Data are collected mainly for governmental, not commercial purposes, so public investment in GIS data should be justified by its benefits to the government, not by its private-sector profit-ability. User fees should cover only the cost of making the data publicly available; setting user fees to recover capital or government operating costs is inappropriate and misguided public policy (Epstein 1991 and 1995; Holland, 1995 in Wells 2000). Broad and inexpensive dissemi-nation of the data encourages its use and improvement, democratizes access, fosters citizen participation and open government, and stimulates businesses that add value to the data for non-governmental purposes (Onsrud 1995; Epstein 1995; Dangermond 1995; Lopez 1996 in Wells 2000). In addition:

• Lower prices increase demand and reduce entry barriers, allowing more firms to offer services. More firms means more competition, which further reduces prices and in-creases demand, at some point yielding economies of scale. Thus lower prices magnify the use of the data, with minimal effort on the part of the local government GIS staff.

• As a practical matter, few if any agencies have received significant funds from GIS data sales (Johnson and Onsrud 1995 in Wells 2000).

Wells (2000) discusses and presents a practical policy based on equal access and competitive services, in which local government provides basic, standard data products to all members of the public equally, while avoiding time-consuming custom services and data collection that is not needed for government purposes. In providing the data, local government should not try to distinguish personal from commercial use, nor restrict use or resale of the data (except by requiring attribution of source, acknowledgment of copyright, and possibly payment of royal-ties), nor limit the type or price of private-sector services.

This approach would let the government focus on what it does best (public administration) and private business focus on what it does best (marketing and customer service). It achieves the practical goals of maximizing data use while minimizing administrative overhead for the local government. An equal-access, competitive-services approach offers a flexible framework that allows for local resolution of the specific policy and legal issues summarized above. Single agency or consortia can use this approach. Government can sell its data cheap or expensive, and it can incorporate any state government mandates, privacy protections, liability disclaim-ers, copyright claims, royalty provisions, discounts for governments or non-profits, etc., deemed useful or necessary, so long as they focus the government primarily on public admini-stration rather than customer service, and do not favor one private-sector customer over an-other. The federal government has always used this approach; maximize use of the data at minimum cost to the public, while offering flexibility on various legal, policies and pricing is-


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sues that must be resolved locally. These principles, applied by the federal government, have benefited the government and the public by contributing significantly to the development of geospatial tools, services, and products within the United States. These principles use the strengths of the public and private sectors, thereby amplifying the benefits of local public in-vestments by putting the data to use.

For Puerto Rico, the policies are not an impediment for public data use. The problem arises in, where to find the data. Local agencies lack the resources and mechanisms for updating data and give accessibility options for the public. This creates a problem, especially when consider-ing getting data to help with a community problem.

2.6. The Internet and the decision making process After years of investment in automating information management processes, a common di-lemma is emerging. No matter how much technology is directed at decision-making, many determinations that shape the future of a community, municipality or region continue to ig-nore available data and information technology resources. There is no lack of top-down policy formation and implementation efforts to remedy this problem. On the other hand, there is very little bottom-up activity to remedy the factor that perhaps contributes the most to this abusive behavior: public apathy and cynicism Klein (1998). Prior to wide Internet use, there was little to discuss. There is no question that the Web offers the promise of public participa-tion broad enough to sustain more competent decision-making. What is missing is enough coherence in Web operations so that it can act as a local communications platform able to do this job. Klein (1998) suggested criteria for judging the effectiveness of such Internet system implementations are their contribution to:

1. Everyone being able to question the same information and share his or her informed opinions with others.

2. Make decisions that advance all or some at the expense of none. 3. Making the present make sense as a basis for making the future to turn out right.

Potter (1995) (Potter 1995) found out to serve decision-making; information needs to be tai-lored to the decision. This requires a degree of familiarity with:

1. The analytical tools (e.g., spatial statistical tools), 2. The application area (e.g., forestry), and 3. The immediate decision-making context (e.g., is the current concern of political lead-

ers to meet demands for public participation)

More analysis and program design are necessary to find ways to move the larger quantities of information becoming available into the decision environment. This is a complicated analytical problem for individual organizations (i.e., national governments) - it approaches art when the problem needs to be generalized across several different governments in the Wider Caribbean.


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2.7. Participation or non-participation Traditional practices of public participation in decision-making are constrained by the willing-ness of the public to be involved, to participate. Under the principle that an educated public is better than an ignorant one, and that effectiveness of policies and programs depends of peo-ple’s acceptance of the policies and decisions, there is a need to encourage the public to par-ticipate in the final decision (See Figure 2-1, below).

Public Participation Ladder

Public Participation in Final Decision

Public Participation in Assessing Risks and Recommending Solutions

Public Participation in Defining Interests Actors and Determining Agenda

Public Right to Object

Informing the Public

Public Right to Know

Source: (Carver, Evans et al. 1999) Figure 2-1 Public Participation Ladder

2.7.1. Advantages of Web-based public participatory GIS Web-based public participatory GIS creates virtual spaces that give the opportunity of interac-tion and enable the public to explore the decision problem, to experiment with the alternatives and to formulate one or more decision choices. The user can use data according to his/her needs, determine the various facets of specific problems through the spatial and supported text data, and explore other ideas and/or perspectives. (Carver, Evans et al. 1999) The main advantages of the web-based public participatory GIS over the traditional practices of public participation in decision-making are:

1. No restriction by location or time. The restricted time and also the present geo-graphical location of public meetings can further restrict the possibility of widespread attendance. Physical access to such meetings can lead to the exclusion of the disabled, elderly and/or some other groups.

2. Easier access to the information. Access to the information about the issues being dis-cussed is available from the web access at any time.

3. Equal participation. Decision making meetings often involve and atmosphere of con-frontation that can discourage participation by an often less vocal majority causing public meetings to be dominated by views that not necessarily represent the wider opinions of the local people.


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Two ways, data flows from the system to the public and from the public to the system, should encourage and support public participation. The web-based public participatory GIS should foster collaboration and participation between groups and individuals with an interest in the decision problem, and should generate consensus and/or comprise decision through shared responsibility in the decision making process. In order to achieve such participation and con-sensus the web-based participatory GIS should be:

• Accessible: Equal access to data and information for all sectors of the community should be provided. The challenges are the accessibility of all community to the web, and the addressing of the differences in computer skills.

• Problem specific: this allows the public to easily explore the decision space in an itera-tive and recursive style without requiring too much prior knowledge of the system be-ing used.

• User needs: once the specific problem is defined the data and functionalities of the web GIS application should be based in the needs of the community who are already participating or who are potential participants of the decision. Web applications with designs based in the user needs have a greater chance to be used in decision-making and have the capability to empower the community.

• Accountability: A high degree of trust and transparency needs to be established and maintained within the public realm to give the process legitimacy and accountability. This aspect deals with organization and helps avoid marginalisation of the minorities or the promotion of the interest on some groups over others. The challenge is to en-sure that those in power will act based on the outcomes from the web-based GIS par-ticipatory process.

• Trust: The public’s trust of the system, the data contained in it and the purpose of the exercise needs to be made extremely clear. There is the potential for (dis) information and abuse of the system by people who may have other motives. The Web is world-wide and thus accessible by anyone, which can lead to abuse.

• Spatial cognition/User friendly: Contrary to map representations, many aspects of everyday life involve fuzzy entities that have no boundaries, which, added to the fact that many people do not instantly recognise a location in the map, may decrease the spatial recognition of the features and the understanding of the map. Consequently, the system should provide for interaction. Zooms and centres on areas of interest, helping the user to become familiar with the map (Carver, Evans et al. 1999) and (Kingston, Carver et al. 1999).

2.8. Conclusion In conclusion, of this literature review in support of this study, it can be said that, The GIS system has been regarded as being crucial for monitoring the development plans and for man-aging the transition process of land. In the Caribbean, because of the limited land area in most of the island and multiple user demands throughout the region, GIS is especially useful in highlighting and avoiding land use conflicts.


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Although, GIS is an especially valuable technology for capturing and displaying large amounts of detailed information essential for informed development planning, few island governments can hope to support an automated mapping or GIS program on a long-term basis.

Web-based public participatory GIS, enhances public participation and can support decision-making when the system is designed in a specific problem, is based on the user needs, deals carefully with the administrative aspects behind the data handling and is user friendly. Accord-ingly GIS will enable monitoring much more closely what is happening on the 53 square kilo-metres that are Bermuda, enhancing its ability to protect the environment and to develop a sound ecotourism industry on which many believe its future can be built. The information provided by GIS can help to steer Bermuda into a more sustainable course for the 21st cen-tury.

When considering given access to spatial data over the Internet there is a need to evaluate the user requirements of such information and their needs. Users can be grouped according to criteria:

1. Users who search for information about a specific theme with reference to a specific part of the earth’s surface, and

2. Users who search for more detailed spatial data sets for in their own spatial analysis

Accessibility to public data has increased with the use of the Internet and easy to use inter-faces. An ideal network should be easily accessible to all socio-economic classes, provide ac-cess to local, regional, national, and global information, have a clearly organized interface, flexible enough to run on multiple platforms through multiple software products, and provide opportunities to record comments and opinions.

The system should provide data and tools available on the Internet site to help explore the available data. To enable the user for spatial resource discovery a “light weight” description of a data can be set, with option for query data description and datasets downloading.

Users will cluster into communities with shared interests and perspectives, but even when these user communities share a conceptual foundation some problems will arise according to organization and interoperability across heterogeneous multi-source, multi-platform and multi-standard computing environments.

GIS and related proliferation of spatial databases in digital form have prompted the practice of joint development and sharing of geographic databases. The ultimate benefit from the coordi-nated GIS development and databases sharing is reduced redundancy. Data sharing also leads to the establishment of data partnership and networks.

There are some policy issues to consider when giving access to spatial data, especially if this data is from a government or federal agency. Two broad currents of opinions have been in debate for over a decade within the GIS community. The first holds that governments should act like businesses and get maximum return on the taxpayers’ investment by selling data for whatever the market will bear. The second current of opinion holds that the public interest is


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best served by putting the data in the public domain at minimal cost. Data collected for public purposes with public funds should be easily accessible to the public.


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Chapter 3

3. Island Municipality of Vieques

3.1. Introduction Revising the Vieque’s Map is the title of the news that was published on 18th May 2001 in a newspaper of the island of Puerto Rico (PR). On the news, an urban planning specialist of the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) said that they are on the process of carrying out a study that will update or replace the information about the Island of Vieques, updating the information that is currently maintained by the Planning Department of Puerto Rico. It is in this news were all the academic reasons settles down and motivate the group in updating the spatial informa-tion. The Director of the Geography Department University of Puerto Rico represents the group. The professor expresses that "the information is not complete", referring to the spatial information on Vieques that is with the Planning Department. The academician pointed out: “existing topographic quadrangle goes back to the time of the fifties” and “It is hard to make development plans for Vieques without an accurate and updated cartographic data of the is-land municipality". It is the group’s objective of creating an inventory of the resources, quanti-fying the existing contamination and to study the possible alternatives of development for the island municipality of Vieques.

In addition to this group of academician, there also are various national and international level organizations, community action groups, professional, researchers and public all uniting ef-forts for resource rehabilitation and sustainable development of Vieques. To be able to under-stand the reasons and motivations of these groups it is essential to first look to the events with great historical meaning of Vieques and Puerto Rico in general is indispensable. These events have been influenced by a series of related external forces, political uncertainty, economic and social events that have shaped the changes in space.

3.2. Background Given its geographical position, Puerto Rico has always played a key strategic role in military manoeuvres in the Caribbean. The strategic location of Vieques within the centre of the Antil-les chain makes the island a sought after territory, since the early colonial period (Figure 3-1). Although claimed by Spanish conquistadors during the arrival of Columbus in 1542, the


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French, Danish and British also made several claims to Vieques, both on diplomatic and mili-tary grounds.

After 400 years of Spanish colonial rule, Puerto Rico became a colony of the United States (U.S.) as an outcome of the Spanish-American War in 1898. The U.S. established a military government, which lasted up to 1900; afterwards, the Foraker Act of 1900 authorized the President of the United States to appoint a civilian governor. In 1917, the Jones Act granted U.S. citizenship to all island residents. In 1938, the United States Navy (USN) began using the island-municipality of Vieques for military exercises.

In August 1941, the United States Congress approved Public Law 247, stipulating that the USN in Vieques takes possession of lands for the construction of the naval base. On April 26th 1942, the Puerto Rican legislature approved a law, ceding to the USN land areas situated on the east and southeast coasts of Vieques.

During the 1970’s, the fishermen in Vieques with the support of large sector of the people on the island as well as on the mainland mounted an offensive to end the bombing and began the movement of securing lands from the USN position. Protests against the Navy’s presence were organized both in water and in land between 1978 and 1980. The theme of Vieques was discussed in the premises and world press and was heard in the White House (in Washington and San Juan) as well as in the United Nations.

Figure 3-1 Vieque’s Location Map

In 1980 after a series of public hearings to investigate the military activities in Vieques the U.S. Congressional Committee delivered its opinion that the USN should abandon the island and


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look for another pleases to carry out its manoeuvres. During the last decades, base located on Vieques has offered support for the facilities of training required by the fleet of the Atlantic NATO and other small units of Great Britain and the National Guard of Puerto Rico. On 19 of April of 1999, a security guard die victim of the explosion that caused a missile shot by a battle airplane. This accident leads to a wave of protests against the military manoeuvres and kindled a general interest in Puerto Rico on the relation between the USN and Vieques. Vari-ous groups which included fishing residents, trading and social groups, academic, political, re-ligious groups get united in demanding a solution to the problems that continue to face the Island.

3.2.1. Puerto Rican and the Sustainable Development of Vieques On January 1st 1999, the Puerto Rican government through Executive order 1999-21, created a Special Commission for Vieques (CEV) to study the existing situation in the Island Municipal-ity relating to the activities of the USN. The main function of this Commission was to study the impacts of the activities of USN, and explore strategy alternatives that can be undertaken by Puerto Rico to stop the USN, and the recommendation on which must be the official posi-tion of the Puerto Rican government on this subject. Some of the recommendations made by the Special Commission are:

• Create a working committee that will spread the official position of the Government of Puerto Rico before the public opinion of the United States, the Congress, the White House and any other appropriate forum. The work group within the Govern-ment should specifically identify active groups that will rally the cause of Vieques in the Puerto Rican and Hispanic communities like environmental groups as well as the protection of the civil and human rights. In addition, it must have its disposition budgetary resources and human resources necessary, including specialists in this sub-ject who will continue the investigation that the Special Commission had initiated.

• In anticipation for the return of lands, the town of Vieques is to define its plan and the type of intensity of economic development that it wishes for the territory once re-posed from the USN. This plan should incorporate the use of the marine resources with special emphasis in the fishing industry and a plan for the conservation of the natural, archaeological and cultural resources;

• The return of the lands is to be for the use and enjoyment of the viequenses. Neces-sary measures should protect the citizens from residual explosive materials. Under the supervision of the Government of Puerto Rico, the USN should decontaminate all terrestrial and submerged lands and water bodies. Guard the lands against the illegal occupation and destruction of natural, historical and cultural resources.

• Have to realize a study on epidemiology with regards to the incidence of cancer in the populace of Vieques. Require for an inspection of all the Island Municipality, to de-termine the presence of archaeological deposits given the vast wealth of its archaeo-logical resources.


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• To promote the educational value of resources available in Vieques and take advantage of the opportunities that the island offers like for archaeology, beekeeping, agriculture, eco-tourism, nautical activities, marine biology, the aquaculture, the natural marine habitat, and the fishing industry.

• To order the state agencies and to manage with the federal and municipal agencies, the accomplishment of inclusive studies in the areas reviewed in this ECV Report.

• To draft a law creating the Office of Vieques Commissioner that is an inter-agency mechanism that will allow for an effective coordination among all agencies that are in-volved in the rehabilitation of Vieques.

On January 18th 2000, Law Number 34 was approved. Law 34 created the Office of the Spe-cial Commissioner for Vieques and stated the function to implement the strategies and rec-ommendations, which emanated from the report of the ECV. The Special Commissioner of Vieques shall serve as an inter-agency mechanism in coordinating public agencies and civilian employees of the Government of the United States in implementing the strategies and make linkage to all official development of Vieques. During this same month, a presidential agree-ment was signed transferring approximately 8.000 acres of land corresponding to the west area of Vieques, and a grant of 40 million dollar was given to the Puerto Rican Government. The estimated end of the practices is May 2003. Nevertheless, techniques for investigation the ef-fects of the practices associated with the ecological condition of the Island are still under dis-cussion

3.2.2. Scientific works on the Island Municipality of Vieques Over 60 years of military practice is said to have caused serious deterioration of the natural environment of the island. As identified by (Cruz Pérez 1998) the military activities pollute the environment in Vieques in four ways:

• Chemicals in the missile’s explosive payloads • Dust and rock particles released into the air as a result of the impact and/or explosion

of missiles. • Metallic residues left by missiles after they detonate • The junk and scrap heap the military uses for target practice.

During the investigation made by the Special Commission of Vieques in 1999, it was found that in the Island of Vieques ammunition with depleted uranium where tested. On February 19th, 1999, a document obtained by a non-profit organization through the Freedom of Infor-mation Act, revealed that the areas where that type of ammunition were used are Vieques and Japan. The uranium has radioactive material associated with different diseases, specifically can-cer (Commission of Vieques 1999). In addition to the possible exposure to uranium, the popu-lation of Vieques has been exposed to other substances or toxic compounds originating from the explosions (Special Commission of Vieques, 1999b).


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Figure 3-2 shows a practice bomb on Vieques’ ground. According to ECV this is an example of how the military activities pollute the environment. Photo was taken by the Special Com-mision for Vieques in 1999.

Figure 3-2 A practice bomb sitting on Vieque’s’ ground. (Source: CEV 1999)

According to United States Navy preliminary studies results conducted by them, show that there is no evidence that USN activities pose a risk to human health. As explained by the USN, a first study of Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA) was initiated; based upon techniques frequently used to determine risk to human health from environmental contamina-tion. This human health risk assessment relies upon laboratory analysis of soil and water sam-ples and geological, hydrological, and similar site-specific information. The human health risk assessment also determines the likelihood of people being exposed to the materials from the range activities, and if so, how this could occur. Although not all tests and analysis are com-plete, the preliminary results indicate that USN activities do not pose a health risk in the area where people live on Vieques. This is because there are limited or no means for explosives related residue from the impact area to migrate to the civilian community of Vieques

3.3. Conclusions There is very little information available on the contaminated area within Vieques. The reason is that it will be necessary to make different scientific studies before being able to determine a future use of lands. As expressed in the Vieques Territorial Ordinance Plan (2001) “is impor-tant to investigate the possible relation between the military presence and health status in Vieques Island. The first step must be to make studies that can possibly connect these points to know any previous sources of contamination. In addition, it is necessary to determine if the use of lands to be transferred to the Government of Puerto Rico, will not affect the health and public security of the inhabitants and visitors of the Island.”


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Those are the facts that have motivated many organizations and professionals groups from different discipline in conducting research and joining effort to improve the ecological quality of the island municipality of Vieques. Most of this research requires the use of data linked to geographic space. The need for specific spatial data detail varies according to the nature of the studies. Though valuable information exists, data files are difficult to find locate and retrieve.

Some of these organizations were involved in this research because they are the group who needs spatial information related to their research work for the decontamination and sustain-able development of Vieques.


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Chapter 4

4. User requirements analysis and needs

4.1. Introduction The use of maps, spatial data and GIS are useful tools in the assessment and monitoring of environmental problems. Accordingly, a primary research goal is to design a mechanism for accessing geospatial data to facilitate the coordination of research, monitoring and environ-mental management activities in Vieques and to ensure that all interested parties (scientists, students, resource managers, developers, and the public) have quick and easy access to Vieques geospatial data and information. This task should significantly contribute to the sus-tainable development effort of the Island.

To identify the potential users of such information and their needs, it was necessary to estab-lish contact with the organizations, individuals or institutions concerned with relevant projects, research and other environmental activities on the Island. The objective of the survey is to identify what data are needed, what data exist, where, and their characteristics, who needs the data and for what purpose, what additional data are needed and, how to make existing data accessible?

To accomplish these tasks interview guided questionnaire was use to identify the relevant in-formation needed. Some consideration where made when designing the questionnaire. The questionnaire was prepared to be use as the structured instruments to help identify the rele-vant information needed for the study. The data to be generated from the questionnaire was intended to be store on a database using a computer program. Section 4.2.1 elaborates the de-velopment process of the database for the Vieques Information’s and Needs Questionnaire. In this chapter the questionnaire, research design proceeds and outputs will be discussed.

4.2. Vieques Spatial Data Services: A Survey of User Needs Concerned organizations, individuals or institutions with relevant projects, research and other environmental activities on the island municipality of Vieques were defined as the target popu-lation of the study. The respondents are based in Puerto Rico and personal contact where


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made from the 18 of September through the 12 of October of 2001. Refer to Figure 4-1 for a list of respondents.

Two methods of sampling were applied. First, purposive sampling, employed to ensure reac-tions from governmental institutions, individuals and organizations whose work relates spatial data and Vieques. The second, snowball sampling, incorporated additional respondents ob-tained from information provided by the initials respondents.

Figure 4-1 Respondents Category and Organization Name

Personal interviews were made as a method to get in-depth and comprehensive information from each group. Interviews where employ to avoid low response rates and to ensure respon-dent’s representation of diverse study groups. Interview question’s where follow from a writ-ten questionnaire.

Questions were treated to be simple, short and on one dimension. Most of the question, a multiple-choice option was use because they are generally the easiest for a respondent to an-swer and the easiest to analyze. Questions were group by study specific objectives. The ques-tionnaire was divided in four sections:

• Use of digital spatial data • Involvement with Vieques


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• Access of digital/spatial data, and • Contact Information

The survey questionnaire was well package to capture interest on the study. A definition of terms and instructions for completing the questionnaire was included. Appointments where made and all question where answered in the presence of the interviewer. Assistance for com-pleting the questionnaire was given during the interview section. The responds represent 5 different groups; National Government, Academic Institutions, Individual Consultants, Pro-fessional group and Non-Government Organizing or NGO’s.

4.2.1. Designing a database for the survey For Vieques Information’s and User Needs Questionnaire an analytical database was developed. This database reflects a point in time (a snapshot) of the information gathered from the respon-dents. Structuring the database with option for recording a snapshot in time bring opportunity for comparing users requirement before and after the prototyping of the system, giving an op-tion for testing the system based on the changes the user may wants from the system. Some others reasons for developing a database are:

• To facilitate entry of data collected from questionnaire surveys • The database is efficient to use in handling large amount of data in a structured man-

ner (hundreds or perhaps thousand of survey respondents) • The way data is stored on a database make it easier to search for information made on

multiple criteria And for future scenarios;

• To eventually store survey data in a central location accessible to any interest party. • To broaden the study group

Typically, questionnaire surveys would use a statistical package such as SPSS or SAS to key in the data and carry out various analyses including generation of frequency tables and charts. Many of these statistical packages are very sophisticated and include elements of database management and facilities for data entry. However, they generally lack the strengths of a true relational database management system (RDMS) (IT Support Centre, 2000).

The way data is stored on a database make it easier to search for information made on multi-ple criteria. In adition, a well-structured RDMS will ensure data integrity and avoid redun-dancy. While RDMS are not designed for complex statistical analysis, they offer numerous reporting capabilities including simple tables, cross tabulations and numerous types of charts. RDBM software’s brings the ability to undertake complex and sophisticated queries using graphical interfaces. Results from queries were used to build up the different graph and tables used for the discussions of the questionnaire analysis. Details on how the database was struc-ture to measure and analyse the questionnaire could be found in Appendix B page 65.


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4.3. Questionnaire Analysis

4.3.1. Respondents basic profile Before progressing to the detailed analyses, it is helpful to get an overview of the backgrounds of the respondents involved in the survey and an indication of the facilities available to them for accessing and using digital information.

Figure 4-2 illustrates the frequency of respondents and their association with particular areas of environmental interest. Classification had been made on the respondents based on their partition on the work in Venues. There are users, whose works have the characteristics of be-longing to multidisciplinary organizations and their work are mainly related to studies of popu-lation, health and human development. Their works are indirectly related to environmental studies.

User's work requieres information from the following fileds of study:

30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

Atmosphere Archeology

Forest Coastal

Biodiversity Economic Agicultural Population

Figure 4-2 Frequency of requierd information from differents fields of studies.

There are four respondents from National Government and three on each one of the following categories; Academic Institution, Individual Consultants and Professional Group. Respondents from Non-Governmental Organizations are two (See Figure 4-3).

Category Total Academic Institution 3 Individual Consultants3 National Government 4 NGO 2 Professional Group 3 Total of responds 15

Figure 4-3 Respondents Category


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The total population of key respondents is fifteen. The study group are key informants of their respective institutions; organizations or groups with a broader coverage of influence and all of their work are focused to Vieques.

4.4. GIS Users VS. Non GIS Users The small numbers of respondents serve as barrier in making comparisons between these categories. Instead, the comparison was made between those who have the resources for managing spatial data using spatial data technologies and those who do not use these tech-nologies. I categorized them in two groups; GIS Users and Non GIS Users. This category is possible to establish according to outputs of question number 1.3, 1.5, 1.6 and 1.7. This ques-tions summaries respondent’s resources for spatial data management according to:

• Spatial data technology c) Geographic Information Systems GIS, d) Global Positioning Systems GPS e) Remote Sensing

• Software use to manage the data, and • Spatial data they have created

The categorization is based on the use of spatial technology and availability of software used by the respondents. The respondents can or cannot manage spatial data.

Accordingly, everyone using GIS is using GPS, they all have one GIS software in common (ArcView GIS). It is expected that every data collected with GPS is being prepared and man-aged with GIS technologies and may have in common the same digital data file format. If this is the case, the problem of interoperability is not an issue. These organizations can manage similar file format that can be shared among them.

The spatial technology more employed is Global Positioning Systems (GPS) used by ten of the respondents; nine of them have used it to collect data of Vieques. This suggests that spatial data of Vieques is either does not exist, is not sufficient; if it exists, it is difficult to find, or existing data does not meets the respondents’ requirements.

4.5. Use of spatial data Question 1.2 requests the respondents to states those spatial data require by their work and the corresponding data sources. The different options are:

• Topographic maps • Administrative boundaries • Cadastral data • Vegetation data • Soil data • Geological data


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• Population data, maps • Aerial photography • Satellite images

Data shows that spatial data is required in all works of the respondent. This requirement is both same between GIS USER and NON-GIS user. Spatial data is required in most of the works of organizations whose studies are related to Vieques.

Figure 4-4 shows the results for each one of the options. The histogram represents both cate-gories: GIS Users (light grey bars) and Non GIS users (black bars), vis-à-vis the grouping of spatial data type. The spatial data type mostly use is: topographic maps, aerial photography and population data. Cadastral data is the least used. This result is influence by the data sources availability. Were spatial data most use equals data sources most recognized by the users.

Use of Spatial Data

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Non GIs Users 33% 27% 20% 33% 33% 27% 33% 33% 27%

GIS Users 67% 33% 53% 47% 47% 53% 53% 60% 47%

Topographic Cadastral Administrative

boundariesVegetation Soil Geological Population Aerial Photos

Satellites Images

Figure 4-4 Spatial Data Requirement

4.5.1. Data sources The availability of data is one of the important considerations of the survey. This helps in identifying additional sources or repositories of data on Vieques. Users were asked to specify the sources of the data they used. As expected, GIS users were more aware of spatial data sources if compared against Non GIS users. However, as a group, they were able to identify data sources in 55% of the cases and Non GIS users identified 33%. For GIS user’s the fol-lowing sources of spatial data are easily to mention: topographic maps, administrative bounda-ries, vegetation data, aerial photos and satellite. Cadastral, geological, and soil data are the sources less recognized.


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Unknow Sources

0.00%

25.00%

50.00%

75.00%

100.00%

GIS Users 11.11% 60.00% 25.00% 28.57% 42.86% 50.00% 37.50% 22.22% 28.57%

Non Gis Users 60.00% 50.00% 100.00% 80.00% 100.00% 100.00% 40.00% 40.00% 75.00%

Topographic Cadastral Administrative

boundariesVegetation Soil Geological Population Aerial Photos

Satellites Images

Figure 4-5 Percentages of Unknown Sources of data by User Group

For Non GIS user’s sources of population, data and aerial photos are most recognized. They didn’t mention sources of the following data: Administrative boundaries, soil, geological, vege-tation data and satellites images. These results draw the attention on how spatial data seems to be used without giving too much attention on their sources and perhaps on characteristics of other data.

Figure 4-6 Summarizes the data sources mentioned by the respondents. It shows that the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and United States Bureau of Census are frequently mentioned. Theses sources match with two of the three spatial data commonly used: topog-raphic maps and population data. All existing topographic maps of Puerto Rico have been de-veloped by the USGS. Topographic maps were last updated in 1957. After these date topog-raphic maps have been revised using photogrametric techniques. The last revision was in 1982, but not other revisions have been schedule in the near future. This conforms with the discus-sion in section 3.1 were all the academician settles down and motivate a group of students and other professors in updating the spatial information of Vieques. According to this group: “It is hard to make development Plans for Vieques without an accurate and updated cartographic data of the island municipality". It is the group’s objective of creating an inventory of the re-sources, quantifying the existing contamination and to formulate alternatives of development scenario for the island municipality of Vieques.

The U.S. Census Bureau is the official source of demographic and economic indicators in United States and Puerto Rico. The U.S. Census is updated every 10 years. United States Cen-sus Bureau, part of the Department of Commerce and home of the TIGER data for computer mapping. All others data sources mentioned have valuable information applicable to Vieques. Figure shows that the users rarely recognize these data sources. Problems arise when users try to use data from the mentioned sources, because of the problem in accessibility of the data from these sources. As stated from the respondents the mayor’s complain are not having ac-


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cess to the Planning Board database, and that these database is not “completely” public and data is located in “too many places”.

The Puerto Rico Planning Board is maintaining more than 70 spatial data layers of the island (Puerto Rico) that are derivative from 20 to 30 agencies at national and/or federal level. These data are meant for public access. This means that spatial data do exist and there are only prob-lems in accessing the data and problems with data requirements.

4.6. The Information needs Generally, the data needed are mainly environmental in nature like: the Flora & Fauna, Con-tamination distribution, Coral reef, Pollution levels (air, water, soil). Others data needs are on Aerial photography, Cadastral, Geological, Ground water, Meteorological, and Health: Mor-bidity and Economic and Future development.

Figure 4-6 Frequency of mentioned data sources


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Figure 4-7 shows the spatial data needs by categories and the different between GIS users and Non GIS users. The spatial data needs are mainly environmental, related to environmental in relation with the effects of human activities in the environmentally critical land. GIS Users need more of Environmental data, forest and grasslands, and cadastral data. On the other hand, Non-GIS users needs data in relation with population, health, and human development specifically focused in environmental change and human health. Specific data is needed for quality of air and water.

Spatial Data Needs

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

Gis Users 22% 11% 11% 100% 22% 22% 22% 22%

Non Gis Users 17% 0% 17% 33% 17% 0% 17% 100%

Atmosphere Cadastral Coastal Env ironmental Geological LandUse Photos-Images Population

Figure 4-7 Spatial Data Needs

4.6.1. Application for the data When asked how digital/spatial data could be used for Vieques, there were 36 different spe-cific alternatives sketched. The ones mentioned more relates to:

• Study the effects of pollutants on air, water and land • Decontamination and recovery efforts • Health related studies • Education purposes and references • To created presentation and publications • Planning and land management • To facilitate data to legislator and national agencies • To create tourist maps • For resources management and conservation


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How could spatial data be use on Vieques?

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Gis Users 4% 42% 46% 8% Non Gis Users 58% 21% 11% 11%

Education Environmental Land Management Population

Figure 4-8 Applications for Vieques Data

Figure 4-8 shows the applications where the group needs the data. For Non GIS Users, they look at spatial data of Vieques as a means to promote education, research and for references. However, Non-GIS users foresee uses of Vieques data for Land Management, planning and development and for environmental application related to resource conservation, recovery and restoration.

4.7. Data created by the users vs. data needs There is a considerable amount of digital data being created by the organizations. There are many users actively producing digital datasets, who have the potential to add to digital archives but limited means of using the data by themselves.

According to Molenaar (2025) Geospatial data can be classified into three broad categories:

• Foundation data: data collected with broad data sharing in mind and serves as to-pographic/geometric framework within many domains of different specialists

• Framework data: data that is usually the broadly sharable data within a specific do-main

• Application specific data: data collected paying little attention to data sharing owing to its highly specialized context.

Digital data created as a result of the respondents work, studies or research is of relevance to the wider community. Figure 4-9 shows a detailed list of data they have created or digitized. Considering that the total of respondents, the amount of Vieques data created is relatively vo-luminous. Significantly, among the data created, most of it can be classified as topographic. Topographic data belongs to what is called “framework data”.


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4.8. How many data sets exist? There are more than 20 GIS datasets of Vieques created by these organizations and all of them are willing to share the data. Data they already possessed and data they have created were sup-plied during the fieldwork period. These are:

• 72 vector layers (ArcView shapefile format) • 47 Aerial photography of Vieques and surrounding areas collected during year 2000. • 10 Digital Orthophoto Quadrangles collected during year 1994, and • 3 Digital Elevation Models from topography maps revised in 1982

The aerial photographs, the orthophotos images and the elevation models have metadata re-cords. Nearly one third of the shapefiles has a metadata associated to them. The existence of the metadata record helps explore in more detail the current state of the digital datasets. With metadata, it is possible to classify the data by categories of foundation data, framework data and application specific data (see figure below).

Spatial Data Category Davailables Data Sets Spatial Data Category Davailables Data SetsAgicultural Agricultural inventory Military Maneuvers Bomb's landed trouht time

Archeology Archeological sites Photos-Images Aerial Photos

Atmosphere Air dispersion models Photos-ImagesNew Images (processed images from Landsat satellite)

Cadastral Cadastral Photos-Images PhotosCadastral Parcels Population Health dataCoastal Water bodies Population Incident of cancer on children

Coastal Coastal development Population Population

Coastal Hulls (ships) Population Population dataCoastal Basins Soil Sampling pointsEnvironmental Laboratory analysis Soil Soil clasification for protected areas planEnvironmental Modelling data Topographic Dotaciones

Environmental Ecological Assesment of Military Impacts TopographicGas Staion points for agricultural developments plans

Environmental Contaminated lands Topographic Infrastructure for Tourism

Geological Flow maps TopographicLocation and Market Area of shopping centers in Puerto Rico using Arcview

Geological Flooding areas Topographic MapsGeological Composite hazard maps for Puerto Rico Topographic New roads and routes

Geological Bunkers Topographic Revise elevationsLandUse Land use Topographic TransportationLandUse Land use plans Topographic Roads improvementsLandUse Landcover from Landsad sattellite Topographic RoadsLandUse Zoning Vegetation Flora and Fauna speciesLandUse Landuse Vegetation Green lands

Military ManeuversProportion of "Live Bomb's" vs. "Inert Bomb's" Vegetation Vegetation Census Vieques

Military Maneuvers Location of Bomb's impacts Vegetation Birds Census Vieques Figure 4-9 Available data sets

4.9. Perceived obstacles for accessing the data The mayors complain are not having access to the Planning Board database, and that these database is not “completely” public and data is located in “too many places”.


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The foreseen obstacles to data access of Vieques; are: one. Data they want is not available, two. Lack of interoperability-heterogeneity, three Lack of hardware software and four. Issue on quality of the data. Respondents are less worried about copyright, cost of data and data conversion.

Forseen Obstacles To Vieques Data AccessGis Users VS. Non GIS Users

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Gis Users 22% 33% 11% 33% 44% 44% 56% 22%

Non Gis Users 0% 17% 17% 33% 50% 50% 17% 50%

Copyrights Cost Difficult to convertHardware-software

Interoperability -heterogeneity

Is not available QualityTechnology

advise

Figure 4-10 Foresee Obstacles to Vieques Data

4.10. Where to access Vieques data Four options were offered to the respondents on how they preferred to access data about Vieques. However, the preferred options for accessing the data is on a public web page and secondly on CD-ROMs. The majority of the users have access to Internet.

Access Options

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

From CommercialNetw ork

From NationalNetw ork

CD-Rom

Dow nload frompublic w eb page

Figure 4-11 Where to Access Vieques Data


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4.11. Conclusions Users belonging to multidisciplinary organizations and their work are mainly related to studies of population, health and human development. Everyone using GIS are using GPS and have one software in common (ArcView GIS). It is expected that every data collected with GPS is being prepared and managed with GIS technologies and may have in common the same digital data file format. If this is true, the problem of interoperability is not an issue. These organiza-tions can manage similar file format that can be shared between them.

All respondent work, and data requirement is the same between group using and not using spatial technologies. Spatial data widely used are: topographic maps, aerial photography and population data. The spatial data mostly used by the group are the widely recognized data sets.

GIS users were more aware of spatial data sources if compared against Non GIS users. How-ever, as a group they were able to identified data sources in 55% of the cases and Non GIS users identified 33%. For GIS user’s the following sources of spatial-data are easily to men-tion: topographic maps, administrative boundaries, vegetation data, aerial photos and satellite. Cadastral, geological, and soil data are the sources less identified. For Non GIS user’s sources of data on population and aerial photos are mostly recognized. They didn’t mention sources of the following data: Administrative boundaries, soil, geological, vegetation data and satellites images. Spatial seems to be use without giving much attention on their sources.

Generally, the data needed are mainly environmental in nature like: the Flora & Fauna, Con-tamination distribution, Coral reef, Pollution levels (air, water, soil). Others data needs are on Aerial photography, Cadastral, Geological, Ground water, Meteorological, and Health: Mor-bidity and Economic and Future development.

GIS Users mostly need environmental data, forest and grasslands, and cadastral data. Non-GIS users need data in relation with population, health, and human development specially fo-cusing in environmental change and human health. Specific data needed by the Non-GIS users are on air and water quality. GIS Users look at spatial data of Vieques as one of the means to promote education, research and as references. Non-GIS users foresee Vieques data to be used for Land Management, planning and development and for environmental studies related to resource conservation, recovery and restoration.

There are data available for data sharing, because these metadata exist. The aerial photographs, the orthophoto images and the elevation models have metadata records. Nearly one third of the shapefiles has metadata associated to them.

The foreseen obstacles to data access of Vieques; first, data they want is not available, second lack of interoperability-heterogeneity, third lack of hardware software and fourth the issue on quality of the data. Respondents are less worried about copyright, cost of data and data con-version. In terms of preferred mode in accessing the data, the preferred option for accessing


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the data is firstly on a public web page and secondly on CD-ROMs since majority of the users have Internet, access.

GIS users are most worried about copyrights and quality of data sets, while Non GIS Users are most worried about cost of the data and Information Technology advice.

4.12. Findings With regard to Web Access, all the respondents have access to the Internet and in the same manner; all the collected spatial data can be made accessible through the Internet. The re-spondents find the Public Web Access advantageous because they have centralized access to existing spatial data. Through the Web, users can access the data in an easy and quick manner. However, some of the issues raised by the respondents are the cost in accessing the datasets. That there will be a clearly organized interface they can use in accessing the data and that they have the flexibility in what platforms or software they can manipulate the accessed data.

There is a considerable amount of available digital data and data that were created. Support documentation to enable re-users to evaluate content may be available for only 50% of data-sets. Most datasets can be made accessible to others, they have the same file format and is free or at minimal cost. The users want access to a lot of information. There is very strong support for centralized data access and the majority is willing to share their data.

4.13. Recommendations for the Prototype An on-line catalogue of digital data archive holdings, at least foundation and framework data accessible from any computer connected to the Internet, would greatly assist the users. The digital archiving of databases with GIS files is necessary to maintain their functionality and allow users to download data. Then, to stimulate the description of digital data sets, a metadata should be done in accordance with appropriate data standards. Detailed datasets should be made available in same file (ArcView shapefile) format to ensure access for the maximum number of users who are generally using the same software.

In order that digital data can be accessed by Non GIS Users, Integration of Internet Map Server Technology in Support to provide spatial and environmental information could be used for education and reference purposes.

Base on the discussion in section: 2.3 User requirements and information needs a simple graphical user interface should be prepared. It prefers interactive maps that allow queries; zooms and printing, especially for the users that have lack of software or can download data options, in the case for higher sophisticated users. Selection and retrieval of specific feature can be an option. In addition, provision of a set of tools to examine the retrieved information in a friendly user interface may be designed. This will enable users to view legends and keys that explain any symbols used on the map based indicators.


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In order to allow the user to extract as much information as possible from the database, a se-ries of tools must be developed that permit the user to interactively add or remove additional information and to query further the information that is presented. Furthermore, to provide the user with additional information (e.g. background to the project, information on GIS ap-plications, sustainable development, links to other resources) on the data and for what purpose it was created. The user interface should allow the user to make requests and to provide a mechanism for displaying the specified information is recommended.


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Chapter 5

5. The Design and Development of Spatial Data Access for Island of Vieques

5.1. Introduction In the users’ requirements and needs analysis survey, which was discussed in the previous chapter, the result showed that access to spatial data is one of the major issues or concern raised by organizations, individuals or institutions that are involved in relevant projects, re-search and other environmental management activities on the Island of Vieques. The spatial data needs are mostly environmental in nature. The user’s preference in accessing spatial data is through the World Wide Web.

To meet users requirement, Internet applications were developed. First, an Internet-enabled GIS application built on Manifold© Internet Map Server, Microsoft Internet Information Ser-vice 5.0 © and Active Server Pages (ASP) was designed. The first application is focusing on the requirements of Non GIS users; it allows the exploration of maps. The second application is a Web-based relational database application; providing more options to the GIS users based on their requirements for spatial data. This application enable users to view and print description of datasets, download available data and allow users add their own information. Each system can use any ODBC compliant database in the back-end.

The succeeding discussion is based on the system functionalities following the conceptual framework in Chapter 1. Towards the end, some reasons are included on the choice of the most appropriate architecture to build the mechanism for accessing the geospatial data of Vieques, focusing on the different approaches for developing Geographic Information Sys-tems (GIS) application over the Internet.

5.2. Benefits of Internet GIS As the key capabilities of the Prototype, the capability of the System ranges from the ability to view and analyse, spatial data, querying, and data retrieval. Thus, the integration of WWW and


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GIS technologies is relatively important. The integration of GIS and Internet will give the following benefits:

• Using the WWW as a user tool for formulating requests for the available data sets and using WWW servers for generating responses to such requests;

• It has become a standard format or language for Internet and World Wide Web appli-cations; HTML was adopted as a means to organize text, integrated with graphics and other features;

• GIS computation power residing at the server side can be brought to the user without the need of buying expensive GIS software and associated hardware;

• The WWW environment is a multimedia environment, allowing easy integration of many types of information, and one of its most essential features is the possibility to inter-link documents in a variety of ways;

• The internet is a cheap, (almost) device-independent standard user interface environ-ment;

• GIS development integrated with the WWW has the potential to reach many people who needs or share spatial data.

Many GIS and desktop mapping software companies have developed tools for Internet map-ping. These tools make use of standard data exchange protocols to establish a communication between the user and the System using the Internet environment. Internet users can have ac-cess to applications of GIS without having to buy proprietary logical software for GIS. Data that can be saved or manipulated with GIS software, like vector maps, raster images and tabu-lar data can be use for Internet mapping.

There are three main options for implementing Internet mapping: 1. The server-side strategies-this option allows the user to send a request for a map to

the server holding the database. The mapping software on the server, processes the request, produces a map and sends it back to the user.

2. The client-side strategies- in contrast, most of the processing tasks are performed on the user’s (client’s) computer locally.

3. Hybrid approaches-this third option, finally, combine server - and client-side ap-proaches.

5.2.1. System functionalities At the completion of the requirements gathering phase, the lists of functional requirements and the lists of required data are divided between Users' functionalities and Technical func-tionalities. See Figure 5-1.


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Users' functionalities Technical functionalities

Access to local metadataSearch, query, view and printable description of datasets

Access to Geospatial DataSearch, query and downloading of locadatasets

Online metadata postingSearch, query and upload description onew datasets

Online datasets posting Search, query and upload new datasets

Non GIS Users GIS functionalities

The presents of interactive maps that allow basic functions like: queries, zoomand printing,

Overall Provide opportunities to leave comments and opinions

Be flexible enough to run on multiple platform through multiple software products.

GIS Users

Figure 5-1 Users and Technical functionalities

Two types of requirements emerged from the users requirement analysis phase: functional requirements and technical requirements. The functional requirements were those that carried out the specific tasks that met the users' requirements, and the technical requirements were the functions that made up the applications (e.g. search, query, zoom, identify, etc.). The following discussion is base on the conceptual design of the system.

5.3. Conceptual Design The system was designed that conforms to a server-side Internet application to carry out tech-nical functionalities according to the users needs. Figure 5-2 shows the Conceptual System Architecture. It is make up of the following components:

• User: include the needs of GIS User and None GIS User. • Web Server: Is a layered system consisting of an Application Server and the Map Ap-

plication Server. The Web server is created within Microsoft's Internet Information Server (IIS). It receives requests from the user thought the GUI and then passed to the application or map server.

• Graphic User Interface GUI: the GUI contains communications protocols allowing in-teraction with the Web Server and the User’s Computer. The GUI is a set of ASP Pages and HTML Pages.

• Application Server: send and receive requests of data to the SQL complaint database via Open Database Connectivity ODBC.

• Map Application Server: request .map files objects when a request is receive from the GUI. It connects to the. maps file trough the Manifold Internet Map Server using GIS controls build on ActiveX Controls.

f) Map File (.map): is a Manifold project format file that can contain many dif-ferent types of information (e.g. Map legend, labels, north arrow, map attrib-utes etc.) use to build up the maps.


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• SQL Complaint Database: a data repository consisting of a relational SQL compliant database and local and global metadata files and datasets file.

g) Local Metadata: contains the detailed information about datasets stored on the Web Server.

h) Global Metadata: contains a short description of the datasets that are not stored on the local Web server.

i) Datasets: Vieques Spatial datasets store on the local Web server

These components interacts one to each other to satisfied process of spatial data accessing and users interaction with Web GIS application. The following two sections explain how the com-ponents of the proposed system architecture interact to satisfy both processes.

Web Server

ApplicationServer

Open Database Connectivity (ODBC)

Map ApplicationServer

Manifold Internet Map Server

ApplicationServer

Open Database Connectivity (ODBC)

Map ApplicationServer

Manifold Internet Map Server

Graphic User InterfaceHTML - Active Server Pages

GIS UserComputer

Web Browser HTTP

None GIS UserComputer

Web Browser HTTP

Request

SQL

Global MetadataLocal Metadata

Datasets.map files

ActiveX Controls

Microsoft Internet Information Service

ViequesGeospatial Web Base Service

Figure 5-2 Conceptual System Architecture

5.3.1. Processes involved when accessing Geospatial data With the given layout of the Webpage, the process for accessing geospatial data may follow the follow-ing steps,


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1. The Users generate the requests to the Application Server via HTTP on the Graphic User Interface.

2. The Web Server receives requests from the User, which are processed by the Applica-tion server.

3. The Application Server requests data via the Open Database Connectivity ODBC trough the SQL compliant database.

4. The SQL compliant database request the Metadata or Dataset file and send the results to the Application server.

5. The Application Server processes the data and generates HTML files, which are in turn served in the Graphic User Interface and

6. The result is display in the User computer in and HTML or ASP file format.

Finally, the user can have a look to the description of the data before deciding if the data is useful for his/her applications. If data is available, the user can download from the data server. If not, the description of the data sets provides contact information of the owner of the data.

Figure bellow shows a resulting of a request made by a user accessing spatial data. The middle section of the page contains the results as presented by the application server after the users was query it according to a spatial data classification

Figure 5-3 Result of a User request when accessing the geospatial data


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5.3.2. Processes involved when interacting with the maps

When the users wants to interact with the available maps, Manifold IMS opens the .map file and works with the component specified to generate a view of the component fitting the zoom and pan commands issued by the user. The map server reads the configuration .txt file in the same folder as the default .asp file to know how to configure the display. The final view is rendered as an image and served by the map server to the browser within the stream of HTML commands created by IIS's processing of the .asp pages. The list below shows the steps with more details;

7. A User sends a request to the Web Server by clicking hypertext link via HTTP on the Graphic User Interface

8. The Web server sends the request to the Map Application Server receives the request and loads the .map file.

9. The Map Application Server manipulates the .map file objects within the Manifold Internet Map server using ActiveX objects.

10. The Map Application Server reads the config.txt file in the same folder as the de-fault.asp file to know how to configure the display.

11. The final view is rendered as an image and served by the Map Application Server to the User computers trough the Graphic User Interface.

These sets of instructions are created and are executed by the Web Server build on IIS to call Manifold through the Map Application Server to use the published component and create web views of the data. Web sites created within Microsoft's Internet Information Server (IIS) can use .asp pages to dynamically create web pages served to browsers. The .asp pages provide a sequence of instructions in an SQL for the application server or with ActiveX ©scripting lan-guage for the Map Server Application. Both are used to dynamically create web pages pre-sented to the user. Based on the contents of the .asp page, IIS will create a stream of HTML content to feed to the requesting browser. Scripting commands embedded in the .asp file can be mixed with ordinary HTML tags to create exactly the page desired. Part of the code in the .asp files involves relatively simple HTML that is easily modified using and HTML Editor such as FrontPage©.


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Figure 5-4 View of a sample map from the Internet GIS application

5.4. System Implementation In the creation of the prototype, several issues need to be resolved. The example map applica-tion can only be considered as Internet mapping. There are basic functions for interactive map view such as zoom, pan, identify features and query. However, there is a lack of more ad-vanced GIS analysis functions such as measurements distances, buffering, and network analy-sis. In addition, the Map Application does not allow the users to customize the maps and the attributes variables. These functionalities are necessary, but are not identified by non-GIS us-ers in the survey. The tools were supposed to empower the application with more analysis function, and become an imminent challenge.

5.4.1. Software The Prototype aims to be publicly funded, thus, one of the important consideration is to pro-duce a "free" sharable product. This means maximizing the public domain portion of its con-tents. However, it was also important to consider on how to make the product as robust and as well supported as possible. This was the major consideration of compromising the desired benefits of free or publicly owned software to gain the robust performance and consistent support offered by some commercial software.

Both selected software (Microsoft FrontPage and Manifold system) are good enough to build the desired functionalities for accessing and exploring spatial data of Vieques. They are not free, but are affordable for the target population. If the prototype proved to be efficient and the user population grow considerably, software that is more robust can be used. So far, the


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current software’s used for the prototype are more than enough for a real case scenario. Since more than 40 spatial data sets have been collected, and can provide useful information for projects related to Vieques Island, to make this data useable, tools are needed that would allow users to access these spatial data. These tools needed to be presented in an easy graphical user interface (GUI). It also requires that this interface be customizable so that new tools could be created or modified to accommodate future changes. Microsoft FrontPage© and the integra-tion of Active Server Pages will help on carrying the task for designing the system and building an application that allow clients to search, explore and download datasets.

Manifold software provided necessary functionality for Internet GIS and the products of this software are ASP pages that can be easily integrated and customized using FrontPage. Mani-fold software package has a base capability to easily automate viewing, querying, and creating maps from the existing Vieques data layers. The integration of Manifold and FrontPage as the editor for Html language are capable of adding new tools to allow users to search, evaluate and download existing data.

5.4.2. Hardware Several hardware configurations can support this system design. The configurations are: single computer configuration, two-computer configuration, and multiple computer configurations. In the single computer configuration, the Web server, application server, and database server are installed on a single computer. In a two-computer configuration the Web server is installed on one machine, and the application server and map application server are installed on a sepa-rate machine. In the multiple computer configurations, each component is installed on a sepa-rate computer. The ideal configuration depends on the anticipated number of users visiting the site each day, and number of maps served. Recommendations for hardware system selection depending on the frequency of requests can be found in ESRI (Reference to Publication)

5.4.3. Performance GIS data, especially raster and image data, requires large volume of memory and it takes long time to transfer over the Internet. This poses big problem especially for slow Internet connec-tion like the Modem Type. A major drawback of the current application could be its slow per-formance. It may takes a long time to initially download the vector and image data, This will become especially a problem if more analysis functions are added to the systems with the use of plug-ins, controls and Java applets.

The Slow performance can be tackled in two ways: increasing the speed of Internet connection and developing efficient Internet GIS programs. The speed of Internet connection is improv-ing with faster modem and faster communication connections. According to (Shapley, 1997) at the higher education institutions, the next generation of Internet, Internet 2, will increase the Internet speed dramatically. Another author [Peng, 1997 #731] saids that fast Internet connection will make the current GIS data movement on the Internet a trivial task.


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5.4.4. Security Security is less an issue for server-side applications, because there are no program codes that are executed in the user’s local machine. It is, however, a concern for client-side applications, which are downloading from the network, often from machines over which the user have no control. According to Peng (1997), Internet security is not unique to Internet GIS. It applies to all Internet applications. As the overall Internet security improves, Internet GIS will be-come more secure and more flexible.

5.4.5. Other Issues In addition to the issues discussed above, there are other issues, which need to be tackled in the operationalization of the Prototype. These include the institutional issues and cost-recover issues. A sample of these issues are, what kind of information should be published on the Internet and be accessed by the public? Since Internet GIS can be accessed by anyone who has Internet access, who should pay for cost-recovery or who will gain the profit? Should the consumers be charged to access Internet GIS data and analysis tools? If so how to charge them and how much?

5.5. Recommendation for maintenance and management of the systems

5.5.1. Who will be the custodian? The identification of a custodianship for the management and effective operation of the sys-tem is and important task to be undertaken. The principle of custodianship is known within spatial data infrastructure organizations. Guidance has been discussed and established to assess the best possible solutions to improve good practice in spatial data management. Some of the basic guidance for managements of data thus they are of useful for figuring the future of what could be the Vieques Maps and Spatial Data. The extent in which this guidance can be adopted will depend on the particular circumstances of the organizations involved.

Among the organizations involved with Vieques, there are representative of national govern-ment, professional groups, educational institution, NGO’s and the public. Presenting the pro-totype of the systems to these organization and giving options to evaluate it will help identify the relevance of it. A custodian has various rights and responsibilities with respect to a particu-lar dataset, some of these responsibilities are: determine priority of data capture, management and operating the data acquisition, maintaining and revising the data, ensuring data security, facilitating data access, administering data distribution, and made consultation with users. If it can be found relevant then discussion on who should be the custodian is necessary. Ap-pedix_Custodian.


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5.5.2. Implementation For implementation of the systems, there is a need to establish a suite of technical standards, to facilitate the sharing of data and provide the necessary consistency and compatibility to enable the fundamental datasets to be combined with others types of data. This calls for an establishment of an effective arrangement between government, the private sector and com-munity organizations. Therefore, it is necessary to have Intergovernmental arrangements that shall facilitate the equitable sharing of data between users.

A lead agency based databases, which, collectively, satisfy the community's need for the data-sets, and a suite of administrative arrangements and policies that facilitate access to fundamen-tal data under conditions that promote better decision making based on good quality funda-mental spatial data is needed.

5.5.3. Conclusion Identification of users functionalities were used to design and build a systems that conforms to a server-side Internet application. The system is enabling the users to view and print descrip-tion of datasets, download available data or interact with existing maps. To implement easy access the system is Web Base allowing the user to quickly get a first hand notion of what data is available. Once the user has a good idea of what data/products are to be accessed, a second cycle can be followed to download data.

The identification of a custodianship for the management and effective operation of the sys-tem is and important task to be undertaken. Basics Responsibilities of a custodian are: deter-mine priority of data capture, management and operating the data acquisition, maintaining and revising the data. A lead agency based databases, which, collectively, satisfy the needs of the Vieques community's need for the datasets and a suite of administrative arrangements. Also, policies that facilitate access to fundamental data under conditions that promote better deci-sion-making based on good quality fundamental spatial data needs to be considered in imple-menting the Prototype.


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Chapter 6

6. Conclusions and recommendations

6.1. Introduction In the previus chapter it was discussed the use of geographic information system for environ-mental management and relevant uses of spatial data applicable for Vieques’ development pro-jects. In addition, approaches for spatial data sharing and the benefits of Internet for both, Web-based GIS application and data sharing applications were examined. The reasons and neccesities to make different scientific studies before being able to determine a future use of Vieque’s land were also discussed. In chapter 4, the user needs in term of spatial or non-spatial data were explored. The survey has included the preference of these users, in terms of the modality they want in accessing these data. Then, in chapter 5, the discussion tackles the design of the prototype as a response to the need discussed in chapter 4. Chapter 5‘s discus-sion covers the extent of how the system was designed, including the environment where the system can operate and some of the issues to be tackled in the course of its implementation. Having done these processes, this chapter will put together the recommendations made in the users’ analysis and be put in context if the research questions were answered and if not, what are the reasons and its implications for further studies.. These are the research questions, the researcher hopes to have answered:

6.1.1. What spatial data are needed by the various organizations doing envi-ronmental research in Vieques?

Users belonging to multidisciplinary organizations and their work are mainly related to studies of population, health and human development. All respondent work, and spatial data require-ments are the same between groups using and not using spatial technologies. Spatial data widely used are: topographic maps, aerial photography and population data. The spatial data mostly used by the groups are widely recognized data sets.

Generally, the data needed are mainly environmental in nature like: the Flora & Fauna, Con-tamination distribution, Coral reef, Pollution levels (air, water, soil). Others data needs are on Aerial photography, Cadastral, Geological, Ground water, Meteorological, and Health: Mor-bidity and Economic and Future development.


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6.1.2. What are the spatial data sets produced by the organizations There are more than 40 GIS datasets of Vieques created by these organizations. Data they al-ready possessed and data they have created were supplied during the fieldwork period and were used to build up the prototype application. The existence of the metadata record helps explore in more detail the current state of the digital datasets. With metadata, it was possible to classify the data by categories of foundation data, framework data and application specific data.

6.1.3. To what degree can the organizations share the geospatial data? All of the users are willing to share the data. Existing data and data created by the proposed user were shared for this study during the fieldwork period and were used to build up the pro-totype application. In the survey, these proposed users had indicated their willingness to share additional information needed by the system.

6.1.4. What should be the functionalities of a mechanism for accessing geo-spatial data?

The full analytical capabilities of the system are not tested within the users. This is partially due to the limited time of the thesis period. More capabilities could include analysing data themes to look for correlations between themes, joining databases either by attribute or by spatial lo-cation.

There are two types of functionalities identified, functional requirements and technical re-quirements. The functional requirements were those that carried out the specific tasks that met the users' requirements, and the technical requirements were the functions that made up the applications (e.g. search, query, zoom, identify, etc.).

In conclusion, the prospect for the delivery of spatial data across the web is possible and excellent option as selected by the expected user of the System. The approach of determining the users’ requirements was found useful in designing the web page for the intended user. In terms of a public participation, it will need greater public participation. Therefore, an Applica-tion was included in the Prototype to enable the System to accommodate more participation by the prospective users.

6.1.5. What are the appropriate technological solutions to implement a mechanism for easy access of geospatial data?

The choice of System is based on a configuration of a server-side approach. The data and the information will be saved, processed and released on a local server. Using a server side ap-proach gives opportunities to initiate the users’ basic capabilities of Internet GIS and once they are more used to the systems it can be upgraded according to their needs.

More than 40 spatial data sets have been collected, and can provide useful information for projects related to research and planning for Vieques Island. To make these data shareable,


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an application was designed to allow users to have access these spatial data. Relational Data-base technologies and the integration of Active Server Pages helped in designing the system and building the application that allows clients to search, explore and download datasets. The application is presented in an easy to manage, graphical user interface (GUI).

The Manifold software package and the Manifold Internet Map Server provided necessary functionality for Internet GIS. Manifold software package has a base capability to easily automate viewing, querying, and creating maps from the existing Vieques data layers. The in-tegration of Manifold and Microsoft FrontPage© as the editor for Html language is capable of adding new tools to allow users to search, evaluate and download existing data.

6.1.6. Does the prototype support research monitoring and environmental management activities in the island municipality of Vieques?

The proposed mechanism for accessing geospatial data to facilitate the coordination of re-search, monitoring and environmental management activities in Vieques helps to ensure that all interested parties (scientists, students, resource managers, developers, and the public) have quick and easy access to Vieques geospatial data and information.

Connections for them to obtain spatial data and GIS tools are possible. This combination re-sults in easily accessible interactive access to spatial data for the public. Providing access will not only assist in creating informed citizens, but also improve the data by having more people examine it and comment on it.

The need for sharing spatial data is agreed upon by both GIS users and non GIS users and is practiced in some form or another in a handful of organizations. However, the Systems are somewhat unevenly designed as they are based on few respondent outputs. These respondents are key informants but the small requirement of this small population may not be a solid basis for a full understanding of what spatial data the community requires in detail. However, op-tions for gathering this information in a systematic and efficient way are being developed in the prototype. This option is based on database technology of GIS and the web may help fo-cus on those spatial data themes required.

6.2. Recommendation

6.2.1. Further Developments Since one of the goals is to share geographic data the system will also need to enable the user to submit geospatial information he/she has gathered and share it with other users. Based on the standard set by the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC), the recommended for-mat for metadata files is to be shared is in XML (Extensible Markup Language ) format. Therefore, since much of the Study area is under federal state, the recommendation is to ex-plore and extend the system to manage XML file format that can meet the standards for a wider data sharing community. Other recommendations are:


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1. Create a post-prototype questionnaire to quantify changes in respondent answers from the pre-prototype questionnaire and attempt to determine what impact the prototype had on user perceptions of the system.

2. Modifying the questionnaire to look at: j) Importance of Datasets k) Identify public interest in becoming involved in the project, l) Acceptance of different financing concepts m) Suggestions for modifications in prototype design and n) The relevance of the mechanism (prototype) that was developed.

3. Create a “Workshop" that will be the main tool for launching the design effort. 4. To initiate the project, and to ensure that the activity is capable to take advantage of

the most current developments in both metadata applications and Internet technology In terms of institutional arrangements;

1. Establish effective arrangements between government, the private sector and commu-nity organisations providing leadership, consultation and coordination for the imple-mentation of the prototype, and

2. Identify a lead agency, which, collectively, satisfies the community's need for spatial data and spatial technologies to support the coordination of research and environ-mental management activities in the Island Municipality of Vieques.

6.2.2. Further research One of these study findings is that spatial data used by the respondent comes mostly from continental or developed country sources rather than local sources. This information seems to be independently used in all sectors of the community (National Government, public, private consultants etc.) without giving most attention to spatial details of the data. In addition, there is a great amount of spatial data being collected by a small number of users for a small area of Puerto Rico if Vieques is to be compared with the other 77 municipalities that comprise the country. Therefore, it is desirable to study similar studies focusing on questions like:

• Are spatial data users aware of local spatial data sources? • How communities within Puerto Rico are acquiring and utilizing spatial data? • What are the possibilities of creating a GIS community that strives to meet the spa-

tial data needs of Puerto Ricans? • Is there a need to have a National Mapping Agency? • Is there a possibility to establish partnership within the Governmental, public and pri-

vate sector to create a Geospatial Data Infrastructure to meets Puerto Rican needs? • Is there no need to increase the kinds of relevant ground truth that can be detected

spatially?

Is also recommended to study others methods to represent and manipulate geographic infor-mation in a structured manner like; Geographic Markup Language (GML) developed by the OpenGIS Consortium.


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Appendix A

Questionnaire Vieques Spatial Data Service: A Survey of User Needs


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Appendix B

Questionnaires’ Database structure

Commonly define; a database is an organized collection of data used to model some type of organization or organizational process. In general two types of databases are used in database management: Operational databases; used to collect, modify, and maintain data on a day-to-day basis, and Analytical database use to stores and tracks historical and time dependent data. For Vieques Information’s and User Needs Questionnaire an analytical database was developed. The following discussion details the developemt process of the database.

Database Structure There are different models, methods and techniques for database design. But, discussion on database models is not the intention of the research. For the discussion, a conceptual model knows as Entity Relationship Diagram1 was used to explain the database structure of the questionnaire.

An entity-relationship diagram is a snapshot of data structures. It is use to simplify the repre-sentation of large and complex data storage concepts. Figure 6-1 shows the conceptual model of the database.

1 The Entity-Relationship (ER) model was originally proposed by Peter P. Chen in 1976. Subsequently, dif-ferent versions of the ER model were used for a variety of database design methods and case tools. These versions consist of slightly different constructs and employ different diagrammatic notations.


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Figure 6-1 Entity Relationship for the Survey database

The figure is composed of entities (the rectangle that contains its name in upper case), and relationships (the diamonds that contains its name in lower case). The term entity is widely used in database design to mean any distinguishable object that is to be presented in a data-base. An entity is a relational abstraction of some real-world concept; it can be a person, place or thing. Relationship is a connection, association, or rule among entities.

Figure 6-2 Question 1.2 of the survey

Section I of the Questionnaire contains the questions that are related with the use of digital spatial data. Figure 6-2 shows a “snap-shot” of Question 1.2 as presented to the interviewer. It reads as follow: Does your work require data from these sources:? Here the users can select any of the options of the spatial data types presented on the list, add new options to the list or leave the question blank and continues with the following questions.


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Figure below (Figure 6-3) shows the translation of this question to the database structure. We have the entity USERS that is equal to the respondents of the questionnaire and the entity SPATIAL DATA equals the list of spatial data options presented in the question.

USERRequieres0..N 0..NSPATIAL

DATA

Figure 6-3 Example of relationship between to entities

The relationship can be readed as follows: USER may or may not Requires SPATIAL DATA .SPATIAL DATA maybe Requires by the USERS.

The numbers that appear above the lines are the Cardinalities Constrains and state the num-bers of occurrences between the relation and the entities. In this case, 0 (zero) means no oc-currences and N means many occurrences. Because the user can leave the question without any options selected, selects more than one option, or, the question can be answer many time by different respondents the relationship is of a many-to-many type. The numbers 0..N above the line in the SPATIAL DATA ENTITY side indicates that spatial data is requires 0 or N times by the users. Between the entity USER and the relationship “requires” means users may required 0 or N times spatial data listed from the questions. Therefore, based on the data col-lected and the nature of the questionnaire, relationships among entities became of many-to-many types and thus having is own table.

Following the explanation above (USER may or may not Requires SPATIAL DATA, and SPATIAL DATA maybe Requires by the USERS), A translation of some questions into enti-tiy relationships. are given in Figure 6-4 below:


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Figure 6-4 Translation of question into entities relationships

For every table a Primary Key, this is a record that uniquely identifies each of it records was assigned. Primary key and attributes (the basic unit of information about any entity occur-rence) became columns in database tables. Now translating the conceptual model into tables of the database we have a table for every entity, were the name of the entity became the name of the entity-table. For every many-to-many relation a table was created and the table name was created putting together the name of the entities in the relation. A description of the re-sulting tables from the conceptual diagram is shown below.

• USERS • SPATIALDATA • USER_SPATIALDATA

So far, the process of organizing data into tables is called normalization. Essentially, normalisa-tion seeks to eliminate redundancy and promotes data integrity. Finally, tables from the ques-tionnaire can be joined in a variety of ways to efficiently access the information.


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Getting Information from the Database When requesting information from the database, it is usually in the form of a question or a statement that implies the needed information. The information need is translated as a re-quest into a more formal statement using SQL language.

The basic form of the SELECT statements consist of the three clauses:

SELECT attribute list2 FROM table list3 WHERE condition4

The SELECT statement forms the basis of every question pose to the database. When creating and executing a SELECT statement the database will be queried. Many RDBMS programs allow saving SELECT Statements as a query, View, or stored procedure. Regardless of a person who will choose to define and execute it, the syntax of the SELECT statements is always the same. A select Statements is compose of several distinct keywords, know as clauses. A SELECT Statement is de-fined using various configurations of these clauses to retrieve the information required. Not all the clauses are needed and each clause has one or more keywords that represent required or optional values. These values are used by the clause to help retrieve the information requested by the SE-LECT Statement as a whole. Figure 6-5 shows a diagram of the SELECT Statements and its clauses.

Figure 6-5 SQL Select statement

Results from queries were used to build up the different graph and tables used for the discus-sions of the questionnaire analysis.

2 Attribute list: is a list of attributes names and expressions for which values are to be retrieve by the query 3 Table list: is a list of names of the relations required to process the query 4 Condition: is a condition (Boolean) selection condition that identifies which records are to be retrieved by the query.


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Appendix C

Prototype Snapshots

accessing geospatial data to support research, …...accessing geospatial data to support research,...

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