OpenSource & Geospatial Intelligence System (GIS)

GIS is not just maps and visulaization. It has left the geography train much before. Lets not dilute it by using its old definiation which centred around it and kept it at the periphery of overall IT infrastructure. Lets call it "Geospatial Intelligence System" (GIS).

Geospatial Intelligence System (GIS) is now at the core of many consumer applications. We all know it is more about the integration of locational intelligence with the existing IT setup so users can take the advantage of this powerful tool. With the addition of an integration platform, which may include an enterprise service bus, GIS services can be fused with the other shared services of complementary enterprise systems (CRM, ERP, CIS, etc.) to provide a more complete business picture. Along with the proliferation of consumer mapping and Free and Open Source (FOS) platforms, GIS integration has grown over the past five years, so has the overall interest of developers and new breed of GISers. Use of Open Source technology enriches service offerings and provides value in overall efficiency, accuracy, and accessibility to organizational business processes with lesser limitations due to sw specific requirements and architecture. For example, compare Microsft MSN with Google products. All google products are open source, youtube, orkut, g-maps, g-earth ocean etc. You can't fix many problems in the popular GIS softwares. You are always limited with ArcGIS, Mapinfo or Autocad or any other, but with open source there is no such limitations. In most of the audio video web applications, open source has given a new concept for web that is known as web 2.0 technology where these sites Google, eBay etc are launched. Very soon web 3.0 technology is about to come.

Scapability, Customisation, Compatibility and even performance is beyond desire in open source eg like WMS, WFS, Open Jump, GRASS, Postgre SQL, Web 2.0 etc. The core programming is back with bang and now even microsfot is afraid after the recent success of Google products. All the big co. have setup R&D div. for this and even smaller enterpreneur are happy as all they need now is buch of capable and motivated people only. EU has already taken the lead and soon when Indian and Chinese talent pool will also become familliar with this advantage then Microsoft and ESRI, MapInfo, AutocAD etc will face a tough challenge in market

Tool to Technology: Time to move From CAD++ to GIS

GIS is a wonderful tool, the problem is that it is used for cartographic reasons mainly. After seeing the growth of GIS and its utilization It looks like GIS itself is in crisis. There are many issues with GIS. Biggest problem is too much technology and not enough thinking about what it should be used for.

It seems engineer’s dont want to use GIS and the obvious reason is that GIS is not an engineering tool. It lacks many basic requirements of their engineering operations that these enggs tackle using their own methods in traditional ways. There are activities centered on viewing the territory, and generally speaking a huge percentage of these teams do not have access to GIS tools. I'm thinking of utilities/environmental studies/planning/assessment/monitoring as an example. Engineers in this area keep working in a manual fashion - they would benefit enormously just by having a simple and accessible spatial view of their object of study. Also, difficulties inherent to GIS should be ironed out - data and analysis tools should be streamlined to be effectively used on a daily basis. Once you give tools like these to a team, you'll see a huge gain in productiveness. That's what GIS should be selling today. In fact GIS should be sold as component of overall "IT infrastructure" with proper integration tools. Alone it becomes CAD++ (GIS used for the tasks that can be done with any CAD) and people usually use it to take colorful printouts and slides for presentations.

I think real profitability of GIS comes after integrating it with other real-time analysis software. Though, in itself, GIS softwares are a huge advantage for any utility company but that basically involves data processing capabilities, reports and some advanced analysis. Unless we will be able to let GIS softwares seamlessley talk with other softwares, its capabilities would be limited. Apart from ESRI, Intergaraph GE Smallworld provides wonderful solutions for Utility companies. But real challenge is to make it talk with other analysis s/ws or ERP s/ws with which can provide real-time Fault management system, Load analysis, Designing capabilities and so many other exciting features.

The real power of GIS is as a tool to increase operational efficiencies. I come at it from a more engineering-centric view and therefore not one of absolutes. When an engineer is looking to design a network, dam, or building for that matter, it is important that they know what the conditions are at the site. GIS allows them to understand a number of conditional attributes and onsite conditions (to a number of things). At this scoping or pre-feasibility phase, the level of accuracy required is really quite small. That is the reason utility co.s and engg. applcations dont require precision of coordinates. Engineers typically go through a series of phases (scoping, pre-feasibility, feasibility and design) which allow them to start at a very small scale and narrow the choices for the ultimate purpose. The power of GIS for these engineers is in avoiding costly and time consuming field visits and some level of simulation in the office.

So what does all this have to do with increased profitability for the typical business? I believe that, just as with engineering where you have to align the use of GIS with your objectives, in business you must also keep clearly defined 'business goals' in mind. Before diving into GIS analysis ask the question, how will GIS help this process and will it make it more efficient. In most cases the answers you get from using GIS are not as accurate as physical field work; however, using GIS to narrow the choices for fieldwork can be a very efficient and cost effective solution? In some cases GIS can also accomplish certain tasks in a fraction of the time it would take to accomplish using more traditional methods.

Anyway, GIS is a tool like any other IT application. It relies on skilled use to create a desired result by manipulating your database. The skill not only comes from knowing what buttons to push but also knowing what the appropriate processes as well as understanding the desired result. For ex. many orhanisations have realised now that GIS is a wasteful expenditure with no justification for RoI. Its time to correct the expectations and contain the hype created by sales and marketing persons that "GIS is the answer to their all kinds of problems" if you buy their boxes. GIS is nothing more than a location based "Asset Management System" that can be integrated with some other non-GIS applications. Most of the co.s fail to do that and they end up with CAD++ with all the expensive sw's instead of a real enterprise GIS due to lack of vision and expertise at right level. Use it as an enabling technology to improve your efficiency and not as a tool to print drawings, reports and posters.

As Joel Barker says;

Vision without Action is just a dream.
Action without Vision just passes the time.
Vision with Action can change the world.

Utility GIS: Are you Running with Horse on your Back?

GIS is a mature technology that is well understood by GIS practitioners, but, paradoxically, many utilities struggle to implement an enterprise-wide GIS. Instead, they rely on workflow and build applications with little regard for data-sharing among users and standardization.

Through the appropriate use of geospatial or related technologies, a utility can build an end-to-end, return-on-investment (ROI) driven enterprise GIS strategy that improves operational effectiveness, safety, and environmental and financial performance across a number of business processes.

Traditionally, utilities have engaged GIS vendors or consultants to undertake “needs analysis” that were meant to identify opportunities within the business where GIS technology could help drive down cost, as well as improve efficiencies. In many cases, however, these studies were carried out using a bottom-up approach that focused on the technology (features, functionality) rather than on the business outcome. They resulted in application focused approaches that neither broke down organizational barriers nor bought any tangible benefits in their work flow. Unfortunately, they often hampered the operations that utilities practiced for years without improving the bottom line. Result was that these utility co.s were disappointed after some time without any ROI justification. Most of the utility co.s have realised by now that GIS is a wasteful expenditure with no justification for RoI. Its time to correct the client expectations and contain the hype created by sales and marketing persons that GIS is the answer to their all kinds of problems. GIS is nothing more than a location based "Asset Management System" that can be integrated with some other non-GIS applications. Most of the co.s fail to do that and they end up with CAD++ with all the expensive sw's instead of a real enterprise GIS due to lack of vision and expertise at right level.

A common misconception exists about business case development being a means to an end (to obtain budget). However, developing a business case in isolation of the business is a recipe for disaster and that is the reason for many co. feeling the burden of carrying GIS. Without a proper road map sometimes they move in the wrong direction without prioritizing their needs and thus waste of time, effort and money. Although funding could be obtained by building a business case with assumptions and unchecked facts, the subsequent delivery of the expected benefit almost always fails to meet expectations. As a result, subsequent results for funding may be met with skepticism, delay and a lack of commitment or buy-in. If GIS is not improving the efficiency of your orgnisation then you are running with horse on your back and definately you can not go long like this. Need is to have relook at your plans and also at those who are responsible for execution as they may not be knowing what they are doing due to lack of clarity about the technology and the business needs.

A better approach exists, an approach that must be business-led (not technology-led); benefits-focused (not functionality or application focused); highly-participative (top-down) backed by a strong technical team; and must use proven ROI methods for quantifying and proving the value of the investment. On the spot brain storming sessions should not be used to resolve the important issues and fix the business needs due to the obvious differences in the understanding of GIS, perceptions of problems resulting in impractical expectations from these projects. The outcome of the approach that follows these principles should provide a powerful and robust business case that is supported by senior stakeholders, quantifies the required investment (human, capital and operational), defines the benefits delivery roadmap and delivers realistic ROI justification.

Global Economic Crisis: It’s a Leadership Crisis

In 340 B.C. Aristotle began describing a series of principles that have been embraced in both western and eastern cultures. A thorough understanding of these ideas enables a leader to think and act with greater clarity and effectiveness causing people to voluntarily follow the leader’s direction and example. Basics never change and they are same across all the business & co.s. A leader can never achieve greatness and success on the outside unless he or she has developed fundamental qualities on the inside and he has followers who also understand and follow his way. Behavior decisions and choices are all a reflection of our inner world and the way you chosse to live & survive here. Unfortunately managers can unintentionally get caught in the competitive "win at any cost” mentality or the greedy "more for me” line of thinking. This can derail the careers of most intelligent people. We read all about it every day, manager who abused their trust of the community, customers, regulators or employees. It happens in the sales, research, or in operations from the executive suites to the front lines. Successful business thrives on sound character, values, and principles more than laws, regulations and fines.

There are basically three kinds of leaders in organizations today: unsuccessful ones, those who are occasionally successful, and those who consistently maintain the commitment of followers on a long term basis. No need to waste time on the first two categories. The third type requires an understanding of the finer qualities of leadership, character, intellect, and values. Character based leadership cannot be achieved by arrogant or power-hungry managers who choose to intimidate others. Sometimes those in authority feel driven to be overly aggressive, take short cuts, and do what is expedient versus doing what is right. They failed to realize the long-term impact of these practices and depend too much on no. & statistics (which are mainly used to mislead management & people both. Ex. failed big banks did in US & EU) without understanding the sustainability of the plan.

I have long felt that decision makers now give too much emphasis to numbers because of wrong type of education (courses for degrees and certificates). I dont want to name but you know the trend for getting some management related certificates because co.s give weightage to it. These are acquired by usually bogus candidates to pad up their week CVs. Management education is veering more and more towards becoming quantitative-oriented. This is emanating from a belief that whatever one can measure (& plot in xls for reports & presentations) one can manage. The irony is that human nature ( and so market) is highly complex and the complexity of the human personality and its interaction with others is only glimpsed at through a habit of observation and learning and this has been proved by many business leaders of past & present. One can only vitiate the understanding of human nature by trying to reduce it singularly to something which can be measured or captured in various metrics.

A true leader makes plans to benefit everyone and not just for his salary & commission. They don't rely on no.s alone to take decisions and plan strategies. Sensex is not the only driving force behind them. Wall street is not the only road to walk. They don't make plans that can not be converted to reality (profit). Knowledge base and understanding is must for anyone who is taking decisions that can make or break any organization. Second hand knowledge increases dependability on others ( usually a coterie with third hand ie GK type unusable knowledge) and risk of failures in an environment of aggressive marketing. Most leaders would never plunder their company, misguide the management & board members, rip off investors, cook the books, or ride on the safety of others by taking short cuts. They dont indulge in activities or initiatives that don't ultimately dont add value to clients bottom line.

Leaders who earn the respect and commitment of their followers demonstrate qualities and characteristics that run deeper than leadership skills, techniques, and knowledge alone. Effective leaders lead by example and exhibit their true character consistently. This in turn causes people to voluntarily support an organization’s mission and purpose. They know that leadership is a privilege. It means you have to consistently do the right thing for the right reasons. Good leadership is an inner choice. It is character based. Good leaders will give your organization a competitive edge; bogus leadership, on the other hand, will cost you in critical times when you need the support of followers the most.

"People ask the difference between a leader and a boss. . . . The leader works in the open, and the boss in covert. The leader leads, and the boss drives." - Theodore Roosevelt

10 people most responsible for the recession http://www.webinfoathome.com/articles/read.php?article_id=145

http://kafila.org/2009/02/13/the-caste-of-a-scam-a-thousand-satyams-in-the-making/#comment-4830

Governance of Indian Universities: Deemed to Decay

India with a current student population of around 4 million in its universities and colleges is the third largest system in the world after USA and USSR. The unprecedented expansion of higher education in India, which took place in the last four decades, has, however, been extremely uneven and resulted in the neglect of quality, research and management aspects. The universities and colleges function much below their optimal levels and fail even to fulfill their minimum and basic tasks such as making admissions, completing teaching, conducting examinations, declaring results and awarding degrees on time. The very credibility of the higher education system stands eroded.

Warning Bells

Departments have faculty members that do not hold advanced degrees and very few hold doctorates from reputed institutions. Those who hold Ph.Ds have no publications as first author in reputed International Journals. Too may non-serious actors have intruded into academics. Who will expose them. Almost 70 % of the faculties in every department in Universities (including the Cental Univ.) have never published papers in Int Journals or presented papers since last decade. This is the group that becomes biggest hindrance to growth of the department & spoils the environment in the department by creating obstacles to their colleagues who can produce good work and make them irrelevant. Such unwanted persons in acadmeics have made a nexus to manipulate things to their advantage.

Promotions of faculties should be on the basis of publications and research only. Requirement of recommendations and refernaces is the biggest catalyst in the decay and destruction of higher educationa d research in India. More than 70 % Ph.Ds and promotions in universities are bogus due to this loophole and no one is talking about this menace as all the unwanted ones are breathing through this hole only.

A survey of employers shows that only a handful of the 1400 engineering schools in India are recognized as providing world-class education with graduates worthy of consideration for employment (Globalization of Engineering Services, 2006). AICTE and UGC have failed beyond doubt in controlling the quality of staff and institutes. Grants are given to private institutions on the basis of their political affiliations who in turn encourage internal groupings within the department in promotions etc. Situation is going to become worse after the implementation of 6th pay commission as everyone wants to be promoted to the highest pay scale by manipulating the system.

Many Engineering colleges do not appear to meet the NBA standards, and yet they are NBA accredited, it does not appear that the NBA criterion on faculty and staff for accreditation is being applied in any meaningful manner, suggesting another level of institutional failure.

http://www.topuniversities.com/worlduniversityrankings/asianuniversityrankings/asian_university_rankings_top_200_universities/

Time to expose the Rajus in Universities and Higher Education

The National Policy on Education-1986 was introduced to reorganize and strengthen the higher education through multi-pronged strategies and programmes and structural reforms. Policy interventions have, however, failed to create much impact. There is a need to revamp the governance framework of the universities and bring in place a rigorous system of performance audit to stem the rot into the system.

Institutions are not serious about maintaining the standards and quality of teaching and research. Thats is the reasons for finding so many manipulators we see everywhere eincluding your dept to the corridors of UGC and AICTE. You can get any accrdiation if you can manage a few babus there. Univ. cant attract talented persons because they are not interested and dont want them. It has become the fiedom of "Idalist and Incomptents". Even senior professors are afraid of any bright knowledgable person around. Its not going to happen even after the 10th Pay revision if we dont the impression that teaching is not for idalists and incompetents. Lot of people are responsible for this and its not due to few black sheeps as talked by many whenever any scam is exposed. We have to admit theat there are many black sheeps in the education sector also. In fact there are 'very few white sheeps and too many white collar bandits' n the education sector throughout the world like U.K. and Aussies Univ..

There is a need for an independent evaluating agency like USA and many other countries to check the bogus rating bodies working under the control of UGC and AICTE. It should be made mandatory to all Univ. to have a sepaarte section on their websites where professors, departments and institutions can be rated and evalauated by the students after they pass out only. This can be done by a separate national level site also to avoid any disagrremenet about the artings. These ratings should be given a good weightage during the promotions, evaluations and ratings by the authorised gov. agencies as interview and inspections have been proved ineffective and helping only in promoting the incompetencies. This will definately help in checking the groupings and manipullations happening in education.

How many of our respected professors and institutions will agree to this kind of evaluation by their ex-students? Hmmmmmmmmm.

I posted this suggestion in one of the yahoo groups who talk too much about higher education and morality but my comments were never posted.

http://www.careers360.in/cover-story/iipm---best-only-in-claims.php

Satyam Fiasco and Corporate Culture: Tip of the Iceberg

'The scintillating performance of white collars are now showing up patches of darkness in the private sector also. The hollowness of money spinning generation has been opening up. The charisma of Business school theories and their products are now no more a spell bounding. The fort of globalsiation has been collapsing. The series of "economic and systematic scam" is gruelling the murkier scenario of "Global depression". The Satyam episode is not a earthquake. The epicentre of the Satyam (and many more to come in future) shake is well known , but we all had closed our eyes (and ears) when many among us were feelings the tremors in the past. We have never released ourselves from the lust of money and machoism. This global economic crisis is the result of misplaced priporities and short sighted business plans. (Dont blame oil prices alone.) Unlimited greed to capture the global market ( without any long term vision and ethics) made way for unsustainable and impractical plans (expansion, over-production resulting in over-employment with high bonus for sales persons & managers for showing projected profit with wrong assumptions) that were not feasible in any sense. Everything was justified in the name of aggressive marketing. (Remember those lectures from your colleagues for raising these ethical issues during lunch break discussions. "In fact there is nothing that can be called right or wrong in this world. It’s all a matter of our perception and personal preferences". You were told). These are the only two unsocial product of Global economy that was in hands of over ambitious marketing persons who believed that anything is good that helps in getting the business. There was no difference between temporary and long term goals due to lack of vision. The illusion (Professionalism & Cheating as two sides of a coin) is created by these so-called elite managers and we are mortgaging the existence of reality. Profit projection is the only way to justify their positions (and year end appraisals), though most of them have brilliant CV but usually without basic understanding of that field. The unsocial marriage of profit making plans and market opportunities has given the birth of unsocial child of "Unfaithful" corporate culture and capital. Who will cherish this unsocial child? The egoistic rhythm of big B - Schools (and E-Schools also) is now jarring the world civilization. Let us hold them now and teach them to respect the basic ethos of society where at present honesty and transparency are noticed as sign of unprofessionalism.

In fact the way to deter others from such manipulations, and even to get at others is to expeditiosly put Raju and his Accountants/ Auditors/ Directors behind bars. This may give those who know about misdeeds of others to come forward and expose them. Also an enquiry should be set up to know the utilization of all the top B- school products hired on multi-million packages by these co.s. Were they just used to mainly mislead clients, balance sheet manipulations and shield the manipulators at higher management level? I am sure that these B-school products contributed enough to the downfall of the USA financial sector also. All the co.s that gone bust (or got bail out) are those who were too generous in recruiting from top B-Schools and giving commission based bonus to their managers. A make-believe fantasy world was created by these people where they tried to hijack the basics theories of good business practices, sustainable growth, parameters of professionalism & socio-economic realities.

The fantasy created for the elite service providers has been evaporated in the heat of Global Depression, Ethical Terrorism and Global Machosim. The hammer of TIME has been bolting on the face of these hollow technocrats and managers. The sin of indecent sleepless nights in front of workstations are now coming to reality. We need to say no to this brutal community of so-called professionals. Let us bridge the respectful and dignified economy and work culture where the breads and pride of 70% marginalised population will be weaving the theory of Management and Policies. This is the basic ethics of Social Capitalism. Otherwise there are numerous balance sheets are ready to mortgage the dignity of humanity on this Globe.

Kosi River Shifting: Sediments or Tectonics or Both

Recent abnormal tectonic acitity and subsequent earthquakes (12 May'08, 26 Aug'08) in China, Nepal & Tibet support my hypothesis that ongoing tectonic activities influenced the path of Kosi and its divergence point near supoil. River is under the influence of Malda Kishenganj fault on the eastern margin of Monghyr-sharasa ridge. It seems this fault is influenced by the recent China and Tibet earthquakes.

Although water level in the barrgae and rainfall is the cause for floods but rivers tendency yo erode its embankments has been influenced by other factors also. The reason for the sudden changes may be related to the the recent increased tectonic activities in Nepal & China Himalays. Frequency of earthauakes (more than 5 intensity) is observed highest in the last few dwcades.
In that paper i had identified the zones showing diffrent levels of tectonic influence on kosi River shifting. Geophysical data and GIS modeling using and RS images of different years proved that it is shifting its path under the influence of tectonic movements in its catchment area in Himalayas twoards China and Nepal side.

Kosi River changed its path in three main phases due to changes in the spatial position and orientation of its diversion points ( meeting point of three main basement faults). This is the fourth such phase and river will keep on gradually changing its position after that also. The diversion point of Kosi near Birpur has shifted north-eastward and it caused breaches in the East Kosi river south east of Chtara.

There are many ways to control the situation for temporary respite but the fact is that it is a problem that needs long term carefull micro level study study of the factors causing this shift since thousnad of years and then remedial planning by the India and Nepal. Its not that if you can fill the breach in the dam and the problem will be solved forever. The barrage's estimated lifespan of 30 years expired in 1986 but the river's morphology — it was showing a reverse tendency to shift eastward — began changing even earlier. Read the paper for more details.

http://www.gisdevelopment.net/application/geology/geomorphology/geom0002b.htm
In this paper i had identified the zones showing diffrent levels of tectonic influence on kosi River shifting. Geophysical data and GIS modeling using and RS images of different years proved that it is shifting its path under the influence of tectonic movements in its catchment area in Himalayas twoards China and Nepal side.