Application Development utilizing Open Source GIS

Experience...
Patrick Way and his team have been working with environmental regulators in California's Sacramento Valley for many years. This seven-plus year committment has generated several software products and the release of AgGIS version 3. Our team has grown in size in order to deploy, support and continue development of AgGIS and related software tools.

Technology...

Pat has developed software in several languages over the years and has decidely committed to the open source software development model. He has been intimately involved in the evolution of GIS software development, often deploying new technologies as soon as they are available (ArcObjects, Java-based spatial tools).

Geospatial software capabilities have migrated from solely proprietary software applications, such as ESRI's Arcview and ArcGIS, Foxbase database programs, to more integrated and customizable open source packages.

Our AgGIS Software...
Pat Way created early versions of AgGIS with the same, consistent goal: track and regulate the use of restricted materials in a better way. Through its evolution, AgGIS has moved from various platforms; some requiring extensive licensing and others with database limitations.

The current Java based version, AgGIS version 3, is well regarded for its improvement in the efficiency and accuracy of the Restricted Materials permitting process.

With this version, Patrick Way Consulting has transformed the existing restricted materials permitting program (Permit6) from a basic permit data collection utility to a permit data analysis and environmental risk mitigation system. For the first time County Agricultural Departments have the ability and tools to analyze, in real time, GIS- based data including: soil surveys, surface water (e.g., lakes, rivers, streams, drains), estuaries, reservoirs, ground water, water quality, hospitals, schools, playgrounds, parks, wildlife management areas, livestock, sensitive crops, sensitive species habitats, and populated (e.g., residential areas, labor camps) or other sensitive areas.

The database is time-aware (temporal) so material usage or permit history can be reviewed and analyzed through time. This database sets the stage for powerful GIS analysis and greater accuracy in general. AgGIS version 3 is compatible with other GIS software and can import any standard shape file or aerial imagery and can export data to various standard GIS formats.