Mobile geographic information systems (MGIS): Fundamental conceps and applications

Mobile Geographic Information Systems: Fundamental Concepts and Applications Geographic Information Systems (GIS) was started to be used in the late 1960s. Since then, GIS has changed dramatically, basically parallel with the growth of the computer industry. In its early days, applications were implemented only by specialist persons on strong hardware and in a static environment. Improvements in software and hardware technologies have made it possible to perform these applications dynamically. Nowadays, with the improvements in informatics technology, arising mobile computers such as Tablet PC, Pocket PC which have similar properties with a desktop computer, also developing new software's by GIS software producers which have the ability to run this type of mobile computers, have allowed to carry geographic data to field in digital form. Especially, with the integrated structure provided by GPS, the term of Mobile Geographic Information Systems (MGIS) was introduced as an alternative method to classical GIS. MGIS is an effective tool that can be an alternative to traditional methods for acquiring data needed especially by GIS projects. Therefore, with this study, it was aimed to develop a MGIS that can be used for data collection. First, capacities of MGIS hardware and software were searched and selected the suitable ones for applications. In the next stage, user interfaces were developed to minimize errors and speed up data collection process. The data used in background to guide user was obtained and prepared for applications. Setting the integration between ArcPad and handheld GPS receiver, the system was tested on various case studies. Results taken from applications were compared to existing methods in terms of cost and time. Advantages of MGIS were determined. Keywords: Geographic Information Systems, Mobile Geographic Information Systems, Data Acquisition, ArcPad, GPS VI