Integrating Open and Closed Spatial Systems

It's increasingly noticable that the predominant proprietary spatial systems are now taking Open Source Spatial tools and solutions seriously.  Their newest offerings are often similar to or even built on existing Open Source alternatives - javascript libraries, extensive use of the key, open browser technologies HTML5, CSS3, SVG and Web/GL and open source spatial data stores such as PostGIS/PostgreSQL.

OpenEarth has quietly been ahead of the curve when it comes to Open Source Spatial Innovation.  From a Google Maps-like web mapping solution, SPLASH, implemented in NSW's Planning Department years before Google Maps itself to early adoption and adaption of many Open Source such as ome existing applications could benefit from being able to also present information graphically and geographically, on maps and diagrams, finding the closest service centres etc.

OpenEarth can access to your existing local or remote data, find the location of information with a spatial context such as addresses and then present the information as interactive maps or as beautiful high-resolution static maps ready for printing.

Dynamic  Design

Dynamic Design is an international company, with headquarters in Switzerland, providing a range of solutions for managing networks, especially in the telecoms market.

Their products are based totally on proprietary tools; database, middleware, spatial tools (GIS) and user interface.   While these tools were appropriate in 1993 when the company was founded, and have supported development through the years, the ever-growing issues of licensing costs and management requirements; version managment of multiple products; a lack of control over changes or improvements to these essential components and a growing international customer base meant that easier, simpler alternatives were being actively canvassed.

OpenEarth provided consultancy into Dynamic Design in its Melbourne offices to establish just what could be accomplished with Open Source alternatives to their existing proprietary tools.  After some initial familiarisation, OpenEarth was able to show how the Spatial Database, Spatial Server, User Interface and Data Import and Export tools could all be replaced or supplemented with Open Sources equivalents.  OpenEarth was also able to provide browser-based proof-of-concept vector graphics using Open Source graphics libraries essentially equivalent to, and as functional as, those of the existing Dynamic Design desktop solution.

The consultancy proved conclusively, that Open Source Spatial solutions could replace most if not all their existing proprietary tools and remove entirely, issues of licensing on customer systems.  Customer Support would also benefit as full control was available over all components of their solution, along with the active, vibrant world-wide support community that characterises the best Open Source solutions.

It showed that by adopting Open Source alternatives for some or all of its external tools, Dynamic Design would be able to provide its solutions without external and third-party licensing requirements, making the setting up of new clients considerably easier and cheaper.  In addition, by changing to a browser-based User Interface using Open Source graphics libraries, it became realistic to consider providing it products as Services delivered over the web.   Because Open Source Spatial solutions provided Dynamic Design developers full access to source, they could also optimise the tools themselves, enabling better control and so a better experience for their users.

Dynamic  Design

Dynamic Design is an international company, with headquarters in Switzerland, providing a range of solutions for managing networks, especially in the telecoms market.

Their products are based totally on proprietary tools; database, middleware, spatial tools (GIS) and user interface.   While these tools were appropriate in 1993 when the company was founded, and have supported development through the years, the ever-growing issues of licensing costs and management requirements; version managment of multiple products; a lack of control over changes or improvements to these essential components and a growing international customer base meant that easier, simpler alternatives were being actively canvassed.

OpenEarth provided consultancy into Dynamic Design in its Melbourne offices to establish just what could be accomplished with Open Source alternatives to their existing proprietary tools.  After some initial familiarisation, OpenEarth was able to show how the Spatial Database, Spatial Server, User Interface and Data Import and Export tools could all be replaced or supplemented with Open Sources equivalents.  OpenEarth was also able to provide browser-based proof-of-concept vector graphics using Open Source graphics libraries essentially equivalent to, and as functional as, those of the existing Dynamic Design desktop solution.

The consultancy proved conclusively, that Open Source Spatial solutions could replace most if not all their existing proprietary tools and remove entirely, issues of licensing on customer systems.  Customer Support would also benefit as full control was available over all components of their solution, along with the active, vibrant world-wide support community that characterises the best Open Source solutions.

It showed that by adopting Open Source alternatives for some or all of its external tools, Dynamic Design would be able to provide its solutions without external and third-party licensing requirements, making the setting up of new clients considerably easier and cheaper.  In addition, by changing to a browser-based User Interface using Open Source graphics libraries, it became realistic to consider providing it products as Services delivered over the web.   Because Open Source Spatial solutions provided Dynamic Design developers full access to source, they could also optimise the tools themselves, enabling better control and so a better experience for their users.

Virgin Mobile Location Services

OpenEarth was approached by an Australian Mobile Telecoms company, Virgin Mobile, with a spatial problem.  Virgin wished to sell a home broadband solution Virgin Broadband At Home which utilised their existing 4G network and included a home phone with an allocated land-line number.

Australia's Emergency Services conventions required that every Land-Line number (+61 x xxx xxxx) be spatially located and provided to a centralised database, the Integrated Public Number Database (IPND) from which emergency operators throughout the country could automatically identify a location simply from the telephone number from which a call was being made.  This meant that the At Home devices needed to remain at the location provided when the devices were purchased and that an subsequent changes of address were noted and the new address provided to the IPND. The problem was that the At Home devices were small and portable and would work anywhere.  The challenge was to identify when devices moved outside their approved location and communicate, as automatically as possible, with the device owners.

OpenEarth designed, built, tested and hosted a service which provided the exact service required to fulfil IPND requirements. The system

• Accessed Virgin Customer Management systems to extract a list of new, changed and dropped At Home devices.
• Use the provided address to geo-locate the device's authorised location for subsequent comparisons
• Updated its own Open Source PostgreSQL database so that customer details properly reflected Virgin's Customer Database.
• Nightly use Virgin's GSM Location Services API to interrogate the location of each At Home device.
• Determine, using a flexible set of algorithms, whether the device location was within a designated area.  This was based on distance of the device from cell towers, location accuracy, the device's history of previous movements, whether the device location crossed various administration boundaries and a number of other contributing factors.
• If the device was out-of-place, to issue SMS and/or Email messages requesting the device to be returned to its authorised location - a sequence of different messages were sent depending on whether the device was still out of place.
• Finally escalate issues, if necessary, to Virgin Customer Service from where staff then contacted the device owners
• Provide a Map-based tool for Virgin staff to monitor all devices
• Provide various reports in Excel, CSV and PDF formats for input into other Virgin Services

The system was successfully implemented and was hosted by OpenEarth.  It ran for approximately five years until the At Home product was replaced with new technologies that allowed handsets to become WiFi Points of Presence and use of landline numbers was no longer required.

Optus Reseller Location Services

Based on previous, successful services provided to Virgin Mobile, OpenEarth developed a similar device location and reporting service for Optus Networks.  The system provided comprehensive monitoring and reporting facilities customised to the Optus Customer model.

The Optus system performed a function similar to that developed for Virgin which was monitor, control and report on devices that were contractually required to remain in designated "Home Areas".

Optus Reseller Location Services

Based on previous, successful services provided to Virgin Mobile, and Optus, OpenEarth was further asked to develop and host a customisable device location and reporting service for Optus Networks Resellers. This allowed the service to be customised to the needs of each of the Optus Resellers.

The system provided comprehensive monitoring and reporting facilities customised to the Optus Customer model.  The Optus system performed a function similar to that developed for other products which was to monitor and control devices that were contractually required to remain in designated "Home Areas".

Nangi Health Database

Nangi ("to see" or "to look" in the language of the Ngunnawal people of Canberrra) was developed for the peak Aboriginal Health body, NACCHO to bring together a wide range of information on the Aboriginal peoples of Australia; to understand where they were physically placed and to identify the Health resources available to them.

OpenEarth consulted, designed, developed and hosted the Nangi Site allowing NACCHO member organisations an integrated, map-centric view of the state of the State of Australian Aboriginal Health.

Quality Use Of Medicines

QMAX represents a key factor in ensuring good health outcomes - ensuring a regime of proper and timely medication. QUMAX helps patients with complex medications using a number of simple measures along with careful monitoring and measurement.

A significant upgrade to the QUMAX system was designed and implemented by OpenEarth for NACCHO, the National body responsible for QUMAX Administration. It supports the development of Workplans covering the seven key QUMAX areas along with two Progress Reports each year which ensure the workpans are being effected.

Cadastral Convergence and Merging

OpenEarth consulted with Virgin Mobile, an Australian Cell Phone operator, to design, build, operate and provide reporting on the locations of some of its cellular devices. OpenEarth provided the service with daily movement reports and customer SMS messaging for 5 years until changes in the cell technology made the service no longer necessary

The OpenEarth Server regularly accessed Virgin's GMS cells to locate specific devices and analyse their location relative to allowed "Home Areas".

National Address Management Framework

OpenEarth provided consultancy to the Australia New Zealand Land Information Council (ANZLIC) to review all aspects of addressing in Australia, interview key participants and provide three deliverables:

• A Standard Address Data Model.
• A Standard Address Transfer Format.
• A Standard Address Web Services Interface.

OpenEarth researched and conducted interviews for all three deliverables but was most involved in designing, implementing and documenting the Web Services Interface which provided API access to NAMF-compliant Address Services.

Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services

There are approximately 150 ACCHS across Australia providing Primary Healthcare to Indigenous Australians.  OpenEarth developed a custom tool to allow the gathering, analysis and reporting of information on these organisations and on the communities within which their services were offered.  The ACCHS site locations themselves as well as the locations of outstations and clinics were mapped so that their potential population catchments could be estimated and reported on as an aid in planning future requirements.

The ACCHS Tool collated a large amount of previously-scattered data and so helped the organisations better understand their areas of responsibility (local, regional, state and national) and so imporove the coordination of their efforts, resulting in significant savings in both time and resources.