Mobile GIS
Definition
Mobile Geographic Information System, abbreviated as Mobile GIS, is a geographic information system that is capable of capturing, storing, analyzing, processing, and presenting geospatial data and information which can be accessed on handheld mobile devices. It is an extension of traditional GIS that leverages mobile technology to enable field personnel to receive, collect, analyze, and update geographical information on the go.
Unlike traditional GIS, Mobile GIS operations are not restricted to a single location. Instead, they can be carried out wherever the end user is located thanks to the global positioning and wireless network capabilities. This mobility facilitates field-based decision making, increases efficiency, improves operational coordination, and enhances data collection.
What is Mobile GIS?
Mobile GIS integrates GIS, GPS (Global Positioning System), and BDS (BeiDou Navigation Satellite System), wirelessly connected to the world of GIS databases and maps. It is a tool that displays, edits, captures, and stores geospatial information on mobile devices for fieldworkers, allowing them to perform and manage their tasks more efficiently and effectively.
Mobile GIS technology is mainly used for data collection, field inspection, asset management, and emergency response operations. It links geographic data (location based) with asset or project information (attribute based) into a user-friendly system that enables field workers to easily access, analyze and update geospatial data.
For example, during a field inspection, field workers can use Mobile GIS to locate a specific asset on a map, view relevant details about that asset, edit the information, and send back these changes to the central database for real-time updating. As a result, Mobile GIS significantly improves the quality of the acquired data and shortens the response time, which is critical in many application scenarios.
