Mobile GIS Improves Field Applications

By Martin Copping, ESRI

The convergence of easy-to-deploy GIS solutions and low-cost mobile computing devices with GPS functionality has created new opportunities for businesses and government agencies to leverage advanced mapping and location data in a number of applications. The market for GIS solutions is expected to grow 50% over the next five years, according to industry analyst ARC Advisory Group, and a significant amount of that growth has been spurred by new mobile GIS solutions, as well as cloud computing and SaaS (Software as a Service) delivery models that have made utilizing GIS in disparate locations easier and more cost-effective.