Taxonomy and Application of EM for Functional Design of Web Map Applications

Abstract Design and development of a Web map application as part of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a complex activity because of specific areas and stakeholders that are involved in this process. The quality aspect of the requirement definition process is important for application functionality. The complexity of web applications has increased in the last few years and web map applications have made great progress from simple map portrayal to complex applications with a large number of functions. Enterprise modelling (EM) can be used for a multitude of different purposes, like visualization of the current situation, analysis of the reasons for shortcomings or problems, development of strategies for business or IT, optimization of processes, or establishment of new cooperation with other enterprises, as well adapted to the versatile purpose in the design of an information system. The aim of this paper is to discuss opportunities and a new approach supported by enterprise models for designing web map applications. The outcomes of this paper are: (1) taxonomy of a web map application and support of enterprise modelling for functionality analysis; (2) extension of EM to specify requirements for web map application; (3) description of practical applications of the findings.