Web-based Spatial Decision Support Systems (WebSDSS): Evolution, Architecture, Examples and Challenges

Spatial Decision Support Systems (SDSS), which support spatial analysis and decision making, are currently receiving much attention. Research on SDSS originated from two distinct sources, namely, the GIS community and the DSS community. The synergy between these two research groups has lead to the adoption of state of the art technical solutions and the development of sophisticated SDSS that satisfy the needs of geographers and top-level decision makers. Recently, the Web has added a new dimension to SDSS and Web-based SDSS (WebSDSS) that are being developed in a number of application domains. This article provides an overview of the emergence of SDSS, its architecture and applications, and discusses some of the enabling technologies and research challenges for future SDSS development and deployment

A Distributed Intelligent Agent-Based Spatial Decision Support System

GIS usage has resulted in large volumes of spatial data, and organizations see the need for incorporating this data into their analysis and decision making. Managers are beginning to understand the potential of using DSS and EIS that are enhanced with spatial and temporal capabilities in addressing issues related to marketing, demographics, routing, etc. Traditional GIS have lagged behind in providing tools that support upper management in decision making and cooperative problem solving. As pointed out by Keenan (1997), and Mennecke (1997), there are ample opportunities for cross fertilization of ideas from IS and GIS research in this regard

Experiences with Implementing a Spatial Decision Support System for Planning Snow Removal Operations

This paper discusses the development of a Web-based Intelligent Spatial Decision Support system that helps efficiently plan snow removal operations. The system is designed to integrate Web and geospatial analytical techniques for asset management, routing procedures and weather information to assist effective snow removal procedures. The system includes the knowledge from snow removal experts from Blackhawk County in Iowa and the cities of Cedar Falls and Waterloo, Iowa. It manages various resources efficiently by providing expert advice to assist complex decision making for efficient routing, optimal resource allocation, while monitoring live weather information. The system has been developed as a Web-based system to facilitate ubiquitous access and ease of use

Generating target system specifications from a domain model using CLIPS

The quest for reuse in software engineering is still being pursued and researchers are actively investigating the domain modeling approach to software construction. There are several domain modeling efforts reported in the literature and they all agree that the components that are generated from domain modeling are more conducive to reuse. Once a domain model is created, several target systems can be generated by tailoring the domain model or by evolving the domain model and then tailoring it according to the specified requirements. This paper presents the Evolutionary Domain Life Cycle (EDLC) paradigm in which a domain model is created using multiple views, namely, aggregation hierarchy, generalization/specialization hierarchies, object communication diagrams and state transition diagrams. The architecture of the Knowledge Based Requirements Elicitation Tool (KBRET) which is used to generate target system specifications is also presented. The preliminary version of KBRET is implemented in the C Language Integrated Production System (CLIPS)

Examination of Software Reuse in Information Systems Projects

We examine software reuse by individuals in information systems (IS) projects. We draw on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and DOI literatures to inform out theoretical framework. We propose to use a survey methodology to collect data and LISREL to analyze our data

An Approach to Intelligent Query and Component Retrieval for Web-Based Repositories

With the increasing amount of commerce performed over the Internet, there has been an expansion in the creation and use of web databases. From this, two trends have emerged. First, databases are developed “from scratch,” even though it is well known that the development and employment of reusable artifacts is the most efficient way to approach the development process. Second, after a database has been developed, retrieval problems often exist, because there might be related information the user does not know about, or the user cannot express his or her requirements in natural language. The objectives for this research are (1) to develop an approach to obtaining intelligent results from a query to a web database and (2) to develop a procedure for defining and reusing domain models to assist in the development of web applications

Ontology-Based Information Integration and Decision Making in Prefabricated Construction Component Supply Chain

With rapid developments in cloud computing, the creation of a cloud based prefabricated component supply chain platform marks an important initiative signifying an industry breakthrough and innovation. The application of this cloud platform will effectively integrate the social resources of the prefabricated components supply chain and realize the reconfiguration of distributed resources. In order to facilitate this, much research is needed to develop a flexible prefabricated component data integration model using ontologies and semantics. Such a model can support adaptive heterogeneous system integration and interaction based on dynamic process optimization. In addition, this cloud platform can be used to support coordination within the supply chain using ontology rules. This can greatly enhance managerial decision support. This paper proposes a flexible distributed information integration mechanism and develops an ontology-based management support application, which will play an important role in resource integration and the optimal allocation of prefabricated components within the supply chain

A Case of Business Reengineering Failure: Looking for Traditional Management Philosophy

Business process reengineering (BPR) is the latest process oriented technique, presumed to radically improve business performance (Davenport, 1993; Hammer, 1990). Since the seminal article of Hammer (1990) in the Harvard Business Review, BPR has gained prominence among the widely used management techniques for improving business performance. However, there is evidence that a majority of BPR projects end in failure. Some of the reasons include complexity of operationalizing BPR techniques, tools and practices, as well as underestimating the need for management support, task restructuring, people management, and information technology (IT) (Chung et al. 1997). This paper begins with a description of ALPHA Bank, and its strategies in emerging financial competitive environments. Next, we describe ALPHA Bank’s BPR efforts and finally, conclusions and implications for managers follow