New Self-Service System to provide Faster Access to Up-to-Date Spatial Data
Vancouver, BC, October 27, 2008 – Safe Software, the leaders in spatial ETL (extract, transform and load), announced today that Switzerland’s largest canton, Graubünden, has implemented a new data accessibility and sharing system that uses FME Server as its translation and distribution backbone. The new system replaces a paper-based method, dramatically decreasing wait times for data users from three days down to just three minutes.
Commissioned by GeoGR Inc, the public-private partnership of the Graubünden region’s surveyors, developers, and cantonal authorities, the data access system not only makes the Region’s spatial data more accessible to users, but also benefits data authors by eliminating the need for them to manually process user requests. Instead, the data they create within their existing infrastructure is automatically gathered through scheduled batch updates and stored in a central database for access by users via the system’s self-service web user interface.
"The biggest fear of the data authors in our area was that our new system would force them to change their spatial data storage infrastructures," says Peter Huser, CEO of GeoGR Inc. "Using FME Server, we were able to centralize our area’s geo-related data and make it accessible to users while leaving our existing databases intact."
Using GeoGR’s application, data users can access the Region’s spatial data using a free online viewer and then select the specific data they wish to purchase. When a purchase request is placed, FME Server translates and restructures the selected data on-the-fly into the user’s required format and data model, and makes the output dataset available for download in the web interface. Alternatively, users can select an "off the shelf" dataset which has been pre-processed by FME Server in a variety of formats that GeoGR has identified as being commonly requested.
"GeoGR needed a single system that could provide users with immediate access to all of the Region’s geographic data. FME Server has made this possible, and even enabled system users to get the data exactly how they want it," says Flavio Hendry, CEO of TYDAC Inc., the Safe Software reseller in Switzerland who developed the GeoGR data access system. TYDAC based the system on its own solution, Neapoljs Mercato, which combines several products’ capabilities to deliver customized data access systems for TYDAC’s customers.
Moving forward, GeoGR will be able to continue supporting users’ data accessibility needs as they change. FME Server can be scaled to meet increasing demands during peak times by simply adding engines as required, without needing to interrupt the system with a restart. Additionally, as new requirements are identified for the data users, system managers can quickly create new "off-the-shelf" datasets and add new formats to the system’s output options list from FME Server’s growing list of over 200 supported formats.
"During implementation we were impressed by FME Server’s surprisingly fast performance and how easy it was to use for remodeling data structures," says Huser. "We’re also pleased to know that when we’re ready to expand the system, we will be able to adapt accordingly with zero interruption to our existing processes."
The TYDAC-built Neapoljs Mercato system that GeoGR’s data access system is based on can be experienced first-hand by visiting mercato.mapserver.ch. For a more in-depth look at the GeoGR project’s use of FME Server in a case study, visit www.safe.com/GeoGR. To learn more about how FME Server can help organizations efficiently share their spatial data, please visit www.safe.com/FMEServer.
About GeoGR
GeoGR is an organization with the objective to centrally store and distribute geo-information services within the Graubünden region. GeoGR represents the cooperation of the private sector with cantonal authorities in the field of digital geographic information. For more information, visit www.geogr.ch.
About TYDAC
TYDAC specializes in geographic information and spatial analysis applications for any industry. With over 600 customers to date, TYDAC has developed a broad client base and expertise in GIS applications for forestry, engineering, telecommunications, utilities, market analysis, banking, insurance, administration, education, and much more. TYDAC is a Safe Software Reseller, MapInfo Business Partner for Switzerland, ESRI EDN Member and Autodesk ADN member. For more information, visit www.tydac.ch.
About Safe Software and FME
Safe Software powers the flow of spatial data with its software platform, FME. The recognized standard in spatial ETL (extract, transform and load), FME is the only complete solution for data conversion. It delivers the most extensive format support for data translation and integration, and provides unlimited flexibility in data model transformation and data distribution. FME is used by thousands of customers worldwide in a variety of industries including government, utilities, and petroleum. Its powerful data access technology also makes FME the choice of leading GIS, CAD, and database vendors for integration into their own solutions. Designed for true data interoperability, FME unleashes spatial data so people can use it where, when, and how they want to. For more information, visit www.safe.com.
