A Survey and Analysis of GIS Web Mapping Applications in Washington State

A Survey and Analysis of GIS Web Mapping Applications in Washington State

Greg Babinski, GISPKing County GIS CenterSeattle

Why Do Agencies Develop Web Mapping Applications?

Low-cost basic GIS capability

Alternate to expensive desktop GIS software

Provides GIS capability to the public

Low cost enhanced service for citizens

Reduces phone calls or visits for basic public services

Others?

Web Mapping Application Statistics

Extensive Published Statistics Specialized Web Application Performance Analysis Specialized Web Map Data Usage Analysis Simple High Level Usage Statistics:

Internal (agency) usage External (public) usage User sessions Length of sessions Hits or page views per session Total unique users Correlate internal I/P address ranges with specific users

Web Mapping Research Objectives

What is the potential for web mapping application usage within jurisdictions?

How can we know if external use of our applications has reached ‘market saturation’?

Does our ‘market-population’ adjusted usage differ from other jurisdictions, and if so, why?

KCGIS Center Web Mapping Applications

ParcelViewer

CensusViewer

iMap

http://www.metrokc.gov/gis/mapportal/index.htm

King County iMap

KCGIS Web Mapping Application User Statistics: 2002-Present

Total User Sessions

Total Map Page Hits

Internal Sessions & Hits

Public (External) Sessions & Hits

Average Length of User Session

KCGIS Web Mapping Application User Statistics: 2002-Present

KCGIS Web Mapping Application User Statistics: 2002-Present

KCGIS Web Mapping Application Internal User Statistics

County IT Division Correlates I/P Address Ranges with County Business Units

Used to Allocate Web Mapping Application Costs to Business Units (Babinski, 2005)

34 Work Units Identified

Individual Users can be Identified

KCGIS Web Mapping Application Internal User Statistics

KCGIS Web Mapping Application Internal User Statistics

External Web Mapping Usage Survey

Mid-2007 survey with 10 questions

Sent to 88 jurisdictions with public web mapping applications

Seven (7) cities in Washington State

Five (5) cities outside Washington State

30 counties in Washington State

39 counties outside Washington State

One (1) regional agency in Washington State

Six (6) regional agencies outside Washington State

External Web Mapping Usage Survey

Initial 2007 survey response disappointing

15 completed surveys returned (17%) and only eight (8) track usage statistics:

Four (4) counties in Washington

Three (3) counties outside Washington

One (1) regional agency outside Washington

Only five (5) agencies reported multi-year statistics

Three (3) agencies reported single-year statistics

External Web Mapping Survey Discoveries:Market Saturation Trends

External Web Mapping Survey Discoveries:Population Adjusted External Usage

External Web Mapping Survey Discoveries:Internal Agency Usage Comparisons

Washington State Web Mapping Survey

Washington State Web Mapping Survey

Washington State Web Mapping Survey

Washington State Web Mapping Survey

Washington State Web Mapping Survey

39 Counties:• 31 with Public Web Mapping • 8 without Public Web Mapping

• 15 ESRI ArcIMS• 6 TerraScan Map Sifter• 5 Misc. Platforms• 5 Unknown

12 Municipalities:• 31 with Public Web Mapping • 8 without Public Web Mapping

• 3 ESRI ArcIMS

Washington State Web Mapping Survey

Key Observations & Further Research Needs

Slowing growth in application use appears to be common Usage plateau reached in three to five years Variation in market penetration statistics warrants deeper

investigation Analysis of internal usage statistics sheds light on

anonymous GIS use Analysis of internal usage statistics provides insight into

agency business unit GIS needs

Broader base of relevant statistics needed from agencies Detailed internal statistics from other agencies

Questions and Follow-up Research Discussion

Questions? Suggestions? Research Directions?

Greg Babinski, GISPFinance & Marketing ManagerKing County GIS Center201 South Jackson Street, Suite 706Seattle, WA 98104206-263-3753greg.babinski@kingcounty.govwww.kingcounty.gov/gis