Geographic Information System
The National Spatial Data Infrastructure Center of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) will embark on research and development of a Geographic Information System (GIS) engine that can compete with the ArcGIS engine by letting local GIS engine developers participate in its efforts, starting this month.
As a tool aimed at managing spatial information on a computer, a GIS engine is software that allows people to see high-capacity map data. To see map data on V-World or portal sites, it is necessary to install a GIS engine on the server. To manage high-capacity map data, it is also essential to set up a database management system (DBMS) that effectively supports it.
In 2004, the MOLIT built the Korea Land Information System (KLIS) by combining the Parcel Based Land Information System (PBLIS), which is the nation's representative spatial information system, and the Land Management Information System (LMIS). At that time, the ministry constructed the KLIS based on three engines – Laser-Scan's Gothic, TmaxSoft's Jeus, and ArcGIS – in order to prevent any company from dominating the field. Since Laser-Scan and TmaxSoft have discontinued their businesses in the area, 245 local governments nationwide are now using ArcGIS to utilize the KLIS. Most of them are using a DBMS made by Oracle, and so foreign software is virtually dominating the market.
The MOLIT is going to start research on technology for GIS engines and DBMS that can be used in the KLIS by inviting small and mid-sized companies, schools, and research institutes to participate. First, the government agency will select a business operator that studies tech for GIS engines in Oct. Then, it will test the possibility of replacing foreign products by June of next year, using locally-made and open-source software. The MOLIT is also planning to develop software that combines a GIS engine and DBMS to target export markets. It will work on developing a solution based on this strategy.