Geographic Information Systems: An Introduction, 3rd Edition

8.8 User Requirements

GIS users may be divided into groups according to their functions and needs:

• End users, who seek problem solutions and see final products only in the form of maps and reports
• GIS specialists, who advise and solve problems for end users, GIS operators, and data compilers
• GIS operators, who understand the functions of a specific system so as to manipulate the data
• Data compilers, who understand the data but not the system

The value of GIS depends on how well users state the problems and how well GIS specialists provide solutions. End users frequently need only a limited knowledge of GIS. However, GIS specialists must be familiar with the general principles of GIS, data and data compilation, cartographic facilities, and, not least, with the potentials and limitations of the system employed. In other words, a specialist must be able to sketch alternative production routes.

A GIS specialist has to be expert in several fields, although not everyone in a GIS organization will need to have the same capabilities. Outside consultants may also be engaged. Normally, it will take about a year for an operator to become thoroughly familiar with a larger system. However, he or she can be productive long before that. In many cases, it is possible to complete a task without specific knowledge of all the available functions. The initial training of operators preparing to work on larger systems usually lasts 14 days and is followed by additional training for specific parts of ...