Comparison of Visual Languages in Geographic Information Systems Ing. Zdena Dobesova, Ph.D., Petr Dobes Department of Geoinformatics, Faculty of Science Palacký University Olomouc, Czech Republic zdena.dobesova@upol.cz, dob.petr@seznam.cz Abstract—Contemporary Geographic Information Systems (GIS software) are, in some cases, extended by components for visual programming. These components are used to design a dataflow process. In this poster two examples of components are assessed. These are ModelBuilder in ArcGIS Desktop 10 and the Workflow Designer in AutoCAD Map 3D 2012. In both components for visual programming users are offered a possibility to graphically design steps for spatial data processing. The interfaces, graphic elements and a functionality scope vary greatly between these two components. An assessment is presented from both cognitive as well as usability point of view. AutoCAD Map is based on ideas of Windows Workflow Foundation. ModelBuilder is the solution by Esri Company. Moreover, an output model from ModelBuilder can be converted from graphical sketch to textual scripting language Python. The output Python script can also be used as the starting point for novice programmers. A practical application of a model for batch processing is presented as an example that demonstrates the cartographic generalization-smoothing of vector data for the smaller map scale in ArcGIS ModelBuilder. The following example demonstrates workflow for the spatial function Create Buffer of data in AutoCAD Map Workflow Designer. The presented experiences are based on several years of lecturing at the university. Both visual components are taught within the study program “Geoinformatics” at Palacký University. Index Terms— geoinformatics, visual programming, spatial data, cartography. I. INTRODUCTION Geographic Information Systems are aimed to handle advanced spatial analyses of data. Spatial analyses predict the evolution of land use, help to protect the environment, compare various situations in a city development, cartographically express spatial statistics, etc. Advanced analyses consist of various steps and combine many spatial layers in vector or raster format. The steps can be called interactively from a central software interface. Storing the order of all steps, so that the procedure can be re-used, might be beneficial for territorial organizations and other experts. The same analysis can then be repeated and applied over another area or new data from different time period. II. BASIC CHARACTERISTICS OF MODELBUILDER ModelBuilder creates models; a model represents a batch of processes for spatial analysing. Several graphic elements are used. Basic graphic elements are ovals for data. Rectangle expresses mainly functions that change data (tools). The additional hammer icon signifies a process tool. Tools are selected from the huge collection of spatial tools that are organised in ArcToolBox window (more than 500). Output data very often form an input data for the next tool (operation). An orange hexagonal symbol is an iterator. Iterators are used for repetition of operations. Arrows link elements together. It is, however, not possible to join two yellow rectangular tools without inserting an oval that expresses data. The whole procedure is designed as a chain of tools that sequentially processes data. The orientation of a graph can be from top to bottom. The other possible orientation is from left to right (preferred in auto aligning mode). Orientation can be chosen by users. Nevertheless, the rules for graph orientation are not strictly given, which can sometimes make it confusing for another user that receives the final model for utilization. The variability in orientation results into setup which is more difficult to read in some cases. In addition, there is no explicit sign for the initial starting and end point of the whole workflow. Graphic editor has an “Auto Layout” function for automatic aligning of graphic elements. The distances between elements are automatically set to the same length, and the orientation is changed to the left – right flow. Figure 1. Interface of ModelBuilder with example model A graphic interface of ModelBuilder also offers other helpful functions. Text labels can be put to the layout of the model. These can contain explanations, notices or titles. They have no Dobesova, Z.(2012): Comparison of Visual Languages in Geographic Information Systems. Eds.: Erwing, M., Stapleton, G,. Costagliola, G., Proceedings of IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages and Human Centric Computing, VL/HCC 2012 IEEE, Innsbruck, Austria, , pp. 245-24s.ISBN 978-1-4673-0850-2, ISSN 1943-6092