Login Register Cart 0
Generic placeholder image

Recent Advances in Computer Science and Communications

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 2666-2558
ISSN (Online): 2666-2566

Back
Journal Home About Journal Editorial Board Current Issue Volumes/Issues
Subscribe
Systematic Review Article

Free Mobile Geographic Information Apps Functionalities: A Systematic Review

Author(s): Badr El Fhel, Ali Idri* and Lamyae Sardi

Volume 16, Issue 3, 2023

Published on: 13 October, 2022

Article ID: e200722206911 Pages: 25

DOI: 10.2174/2666255816666220720113157

Price: $65

Abstract

Background and Objectives: A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a system designed to capture, store, analyze, and manage all types of geographical data. Mobile GIS has the ability to deliver functionalities, data and services without necessarily requiring a fixed location or wired connection. This paper analyzes the functionalities and potential of free mobile GIS applications available in Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Methods: A well-known Systematic Literature Review (SLR) protocol was carried out to study free mobile GIS apps functionalities. A quality assessment questionnaire was developed for this purpose to be applied to the selected mobile GIS apps.

Results: A total of 42 mobile GIS apps were selected from Apple App Store and Google Play Store. The results showed that the majority of mobile GIS apps support Global Positioning System (GPS) and were designed to be mainly used in geography, topography, Geo-Positioning, and transport domains. The search also showed that the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) protocols for web services remain less integrated in the apps.

Conclusion: The features of mobile GIS were discussed and a set of recommendations to improve the development of mobile GIS applications was proposed.

Keywords: Geographic Information System, mobile GIS functionalities, Geoinformation, support Global Positioning System (GPS), Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC), SLR.

Graphical Abstract

[1]
R. Chen, "Ubiquitous positioning and mobile location-based services in smart phones", IGI Global, 30 Jun, 2012, 2012.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4018/978-1-4666-1827-5]
[2]
A. Hunter, "Mobile GIS as if field users mattered [microform]: Small is ubiquitous but can speech be recognized", Graduate Studies, 2019.
[3]
J. Drummond, Dynamic and Mobile GIS: Investigating changes in space and time., CRC Press, 2007.
[4]
M. Zhizhong, Q. Yuansong, B. Lee, and E. Fallon, Experimental evaluation of mobile phone sensors. 24th IET Irish Signals and Systems Conference (ISSC 2013), 10-15 Apr, 2016, Davos, Switzerland, 2013, pp. 1-8.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1049/ic.2013.0047]
[5]
R.G. Ruizhi Chen, Geospatial computing in mobile devices (Geospatial Computing in Mobile Devices)., Artech House, 2014.
[6]
Statista. Forecast number of mobile users worldwide from 2020 to 2025 (in billions). Available from: https://www.statista.com/statistics/218984/number-of-global-mobile-users-since-2010/ [Accessed 11 May 2018].
[7]
Comscore.The State of the U.S. Mobile Market. Available from: https://www.comscore.com/Insights/Presentationsand-Whitepapers/2016/The-State-of-the-U.S.-Mobile-Market [Accessed May 12, 2018]
[8]
C. Li, "User preferences, information transactions and location-based services: A study of urban pedestrian wayfinding", Comput. Environ. Urban Syst., vol. 30, no. 6, pp. 726-740, 2006.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compenvurbsys.2006.02.008]
[9]
A. Jayasinghe, N. Sanjaya, and Y. Chemin, Application of mobile GIS for mobility mapping. Int. Conf. Commun. (ICC), 2014, pp. 91-100.
[10]
M.F. Goodchild, "Citizens as sensors: The world of volunteered geography", GeoJournal, vol. 69, pp. 211-221, 2007.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10708-007-9111-y]
[11]
M.A. Brovelli, M. Minghini, and G. Zamboni, "Public participation in GIS via mobile applications", ISPRS J. Photogramm. Remote Sens., vol. 114, pp. 306-315, 2016.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.isprsjprs.2015.04.002]
[12]
H. Elsidani Elariss, and S. Khaddaj, "A time cost optimization for similar scenarios mobile GIS queries", J. Vis. Lang. Comput., vol. 23, no. 5, pp. 249-266, 2012.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jvlc.2012.05.001]
[13]
W. Shi, K. Kwan, G. Shea, and J. Cao, "A dynamic data model for mobile GIS", Comput. Geosci., vol. 35, no. 11, pp. 2210-2221, 2009.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cageo.2009.03.002]
[14]
S. Steiniger, and R. Weibel, "GIS Software - A description in 1000 whords",
[15]
J.C. Miguel Montesinos, A comparison of Mobile GIS applications.. Available from: https://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/GIS_Mobile_Comparison [Accessed May 14, 2018]
[16]
D. Moher, A. Liberati, J. Tetzlaff, and D.G. Altman, "Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: The PRISMA statement", BMJ, vol. 339, no. 1, p. b2535, 2009.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.b2535]
[17]
B.C. Zapata, A.H. Niñirola, A. Idri, J.L. Alemán, and A. Toval, "Mobile PHRs compliance with android and ios usability guidelines", J. Med. Syst., vol. 38, no. 8, p. 81, 2014.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10916-014-0081-6]
[18]
M. Bachiri, A. Idri, J.L. Alemán, and A. Toval, "Mobile personal health records for pregnancy monitoring functionalities: Analysis and potential", Comput. Methods Programs Biomed., vol. 134, pp. 121-135, 2016.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cmpb.2016.06.008]
[19]
H. Crompton, and D. Burke, "The use of mobile learning in higher education: A systematic review", Comput. Educ., vol. 123, pp. 53-64, 2018.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2018.04.007]
[20]
H. Kharrazi, R. Chisholm, D. VanNasdale, and B. Thompson, "Mobile personal health records: An evaluation of features and functionality", Int. J. Med. Inform., vol. 81, no. 9, pp. 579-593, 2012.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2012.04.007]
[21]
S. Ouhbi, J.L. Alemán, J.R. Pozo, M.E. Bajta, A. Toval, and A. Idri, "Compliance of blood donation apps with mobile os usability guidelines", J. Med. Syst., vol. 39, no. 6, p. 63, 2015.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10916-015-0243-1]
[22]
S. Ouhbi, J.L. Alemán, A. Toval, A. Idri, and J.R. Pozo, "Free Blood Donation Mobile Applications", J. Med. Syst., vol. 39, no. 5, p. 52, 2015.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10916-015-0228-0]
[23]
E.C.A. Nordbø, H. Nordh, R.K. Raanaas, and G. Aamodt, "GIS-derived measures of the built environment determinants of mental health and activity participation in childhood and adolescence: A systematic review", Landsc. Urban Plan., vol. 177, pp. 19-37, 2018.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2018.04.009]
[24]
Available from: https://www.statista.com/statistics/276623/number-of-apps-available-in-leading-app-stores/ [Accessed Nov 12, 2018]
[25]
P.W. Stone, Popping the (PICO) question in research and evidence-based practice., 2002.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1053/apnr.2002.34181]
[26]
F. Döner, and Yomralıoğlu,, "Examination and comparison of mobile GIS technology for real time Geo-data acquisition in the field", Surv. Rev., vol. 40, no. 309, pp. 221-234, 2008.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1179/003962608X291013]
[27]
M. Baldauf, P. Fröhlich, K. Masuch, and T. Grechenig, "Comparing viewing and filtering techniques for mobile urban exploration", J. Locat. Based Serv., vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 38-57, 2011.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17489725.2010.541161]
[28]
S. Aronoff, Geographic information systems: A management perspective., WDL Publications: Ottawa, Ont., 1989.
[29]
J. Star, and J. Estes, "Geographic information systems: An introduction", Geocarto Int., vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 46-46, 1991.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10106049109354297]
[30]
Z. Lu, Y. Qu, and S. Qiao, “Reference Ellipsoid and the Geodetic Coordinate System,” in Geodesy: Introduction to Geodetic Datum and Geodetic Systems., Springer: Berlin, Heidelberg, 2014, pp. 165-263.
[31]
O.G. Consortium, "OGC Standardizes Digital Map Coordinate Transformations", Available from: http://www.opengeospatial.org/pressroom/pressreleases/255 [Accessed May 12, 2018]
[32]
S.G.G. Mai, "Mobile GIS and Location-Based Services", In: Comprehensive Geographic Information Systems., GIS methods and techniques, 2018, p. 384-397.
[33]
X. Pons, and J. Masó, "A comprehensive open package format for preservation and distribution of geospatial data and metadata", Comput. Geosci., vol. 97, pp. 89-97, 2016.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cageo.2016.09.001]
[34]
U.R. Island, Available from: http://www.edc.uri.edu/nrs/classes/nrs522/tools/formats.htm [Accessed Octobre 20, 2018]
[35]
O.G.C. Inc, "OGC Web Services Common Standard", Available from: https://portal.opengeospatial.org/files/?artifact_id=38867 [Accessed Dec 30, 2018]
[36]
C.E.d.A. Freire, and M. Painho, "Development of a mobile mapping solution for spatial data collection using open-source technologies", Procedia Technol., vol. 16, pp. 481-490, 2014.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.protcy.2014.10.115]
[37]
E. Poorazizi, A.A. Alesheikh, and S. Behzadi, "Developing a mobile GIS for field geospatial data acquisition", J. Appl. Sci., vol. 8, no. 18, pp. 3279-3283, 2008.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3923/jas.2008.3279.3283]
[38]
T. Chu, M. Lin, C. Chang, and C. Chen, "Developing a tour guiding information system for tourism service using mobile GIS and GPS techniques", AISS, vol. 3, no. 6, p. 49-58, 20112011, .
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4156/aiss.vol3.issue6.6]
[39]
H. Pundt, and K. Brinkkötter-Runde, "Visualization of spatial data for field based GIS", Comput. Geosci., vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 51-56, 2000.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0098-3004(99)00033-3]
[40]
W. Wei, "Research on the application of geographic information system in tourism management", Procedia Environ. Sci., vol. 12, pp. 1104-1109, 2012.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.proenv.2012.01.394]
[41]
M.Z.Q. Pan, Z. Huang, and X. Liu, "Transit GIS", In: Comprehensive Geographic Information Systems., 2018, p. 381-400.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-409548-9.10028-4]
[42]
H. Gong, C. Chen, E. Bialostozky, and C.T. Lawson, "A GPS/GIS method for travel mode detection in New York city", Comput. Environ. Urban Syst., vol. 36, no. 2, pp. 131-139, 2012.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compenvurbsys.2011.05.003]
[43]
J.M. Noguera, M.J. Barranco, R.J. Segura, and L. Martínez, "A mobile 3D-GIS hybrid recommender system for tourism", Inf. Sci., vol. 215, pp. 37-52, 2012.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ins.2012.05.010]
[44]
G. Ruiz Díaz, "The influence of satisfaction on customer retention in mobile phone market", J. Retailing Consum. Serv., vol. 36, pp. 75-85, 2017.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2017.01.003]
[45]
"Satellite and Terrestrial Radio Positioning Techniques", In: A signal processing perspective., 2012, p. 25-74.
[46]
"NASA. Global Change Master Directory", Available from: https://gcmd.nasa.gov [Accessed May 20, 2018]
[47]
"OepnStreetMap", Available from: https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Main_Page [Accessed May 20, 2018]
[48]
"(IETF). The GeoJSON Format", Available from: https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc7946 [Accessed Aug Nov, 2019]

Rights & Permissions Print Cite
© 2024 Bentham Science Publishers | Privacy Policy