Introducing Groupware to Distributed Geomatics Production Environments

Abstract

Geomatics firms are under competitive pressure to bring their products to market more quickly. Increasingly, production contracts involve multiparticipant, distributed project teams. This paper discusses the potential to apply computer-supported cooperative work concepts and groupware tools to multiparticipant, distributed geomatics projects. Groupware tools are categorized into an application-based computer-supported cooperative work framework. Current collaboration models, including proprietary and Internet-based models (intranets and extranets), are discussed in terms of their relative strengths and weaknesses. An extranet-based collaboration model is suggested as an appropriate model for current multiparticipant, distributed geomatics projects. Design considerations for an extranet-based collaboration model are given and the shortcomings of such a model are reviewed. The paper concludes by pointing to future research, which will include incorporating new and evolving groupware and collaborative strategies, and performance testing of a collaborative workspace in specific production scenarios.