Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/43993
start-ups, nonprofits, local governments and natural- resource agencies with typically smaller or limited IT budgets also face these challenges. Why Use the Cloud? Building applications in the cloud doesn't have to be a singular strategic approach. In many cases, organiza- tions that have an existing enterprise infrastructure might want to consider use cases or opportunities for applications that could be "pushed" to the cloud. Software licensing, support and hardware upgrade costs typically are considerations when requirements for a new application are presented for funding. The "no-brainer" use cases involve organizations that don't have existing servers to host applications, licensed software necessary to run the applications or staff to support them. However, the decision between moving an application to the cloud, and building and supporting an application internally, has become increasingly difficult. The ubiquity of smartphones and tablets in the mar- ketplace made it easier for organizations that histori- cally have collected and viewed data via paper forms to automate their old work processes and see significant ROI. For example, a local government's gypsy-moth and mosquito-control board wanted to build a Web-based mobile application that will run on Android-based tablets and enable field staff to use GPS and collect A cloud-based Web map can be used to visualize field data as soon as they're collected and synchronized. data and photos of treatment areas, site visits and surveillance areas. When a citizen request is made, it will be entered into the Web application and be assigned in real time to a field staff member to investigate. The reality of using the cloud to host a Web-enabled mobile applica- tion allowed this department to quickly stand up an application to meet on-the-ground needs and report- ing requirements without having dedicated servers, licensed software or support staff. Cloud Patterns Two major trends in mobile cloud-based computing are capturing the attention of the public and deci- sion makers: • Do less. • Get more done. Field users want simple, intuitive, streamlined workflows to complete their jobs. The days of bloated mobile applications loaded with GIS tools, buttons, icons and GPS configurations are gone. The public and occupational workforce has become accustomed to simple applications and intuitive, easy methods of capturing information, pictures and media, and sharing them for others to see. Another major trend involves building applications Users can recommend treatments to landowners by sketching them and printing out maps. that work on multiple devices. Mobile-device technol- ogy is changing so fast that supporting multiple oper- ating systems and devices is important. Targeting an application to one device is risky, and standards and technologies such as HTML5, CSS 3 and Javascript SEPTEMBER 2O11 / WWW . GEOPLA CE . COM 23