CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3.1 INTRODUCTION The research methodology plays an important role in implementing the research and validating the results. Therefore, this research methodology is derived from the methodologies being used in similar studies. This chapter entails the details of the methodology used for this research work. The research methodology is divided into several sections, this include research methodology description, data description, system design and development methodologies, and a final summary of the methodology. The description of the methodology consists of literature review related to methodologies, data collection, data analysis, system analysis, system design, system implementation, system testing, and conclusions and recommendations. Data description section contains data collection and data preprocessing. The system design and development section presents designing of interactive Spatial Decision Support System (ISDSS) to identity the Zinc deficiency zones in the soil, a Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS) for land management, and an integration of multi criteria decision making (MCDM) techniques into GIS, and finally, its uses for land management. 136
3.2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY DESCRIPTION An adequate description of the problem may form a strong foundation for the model or system development process. Defining a problem is a hierarchical process, where the problem is identified from a general to specific description. The precision in defining a problem with adequate clarity provides a strong base for other phases of system development. During this phase, the researcher intended to identify the target problem to address in this study. In this phase, we identified that the existing systems in the resource management areas have some drawbacks. As discussed in previous chapters that these systems do not adequately support decision making, because they lack in analytical modeling capabilities and do not easily accommodate variations in either the context or the process of spatial decision making. The development of Spatial Decision Support Systems (SDSS) explicitly addresses complex spatial problems and overcome shortcomings of a GIS. The research methodology involved several stages to ensure the achievement of the research objectives as discussed in chapter 1. These stages are: (1) Literature Review, (2) Data Collection, (3) Data Analysis, (4) System analysis, (5) System design, (6) System implementation, (7) System testing and (8) Conclusions and Recommendation. Figure 3.1 illustrates the flow of research methodology of this study. The different phases of this process are briefly discussed as follows: 137
Literature Review Data Collection Data Analysis System Analysis System Design System Implementation System Testing Conclusions & Recommendations Figure 3.1: Research Methodology. 3.2.1 Literature Review After the problem has been identified, the researcher conducted the literature review to discover previous research work in this area to identify the challenges and opportunities for my contribution to be undertaken to address the issues. Specifically, the researcher reviewed the research work on Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Spatial 138
Decision Support Systems (SDSSs), and Multi-Criteria Spatial Decision Support Systems (MCSDSSs), which are the main components in the proposed approach. The researcher reviewed the literature, collected from the various sources including peer reviewed research journals, conference proceedings, and other published research work. o The literature for the review is collected using on-line search via the Internet specifically on the following website. However, only appropriate published journals, proceedings and newsletter, were considered for review. o Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Digital library at http://dl.acm.org/dl.cfm. o Science Direct at http://www.sciencedirect.com/. The appropriate published journal articles and book chapters are reviewed. o Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Online publication at http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xplore/. o Online reference thesis of Degree of Software Engineering, Master of Computer Science and Doctorate of Computer Science from other universities. Referrals are made to the downloadable financial solution automated tool such as Excel spreadsheet and forms. 3.2.2 Data Collection Data used to develop the Interactive Spatial Decision Support System (ISDSS) to identity the Zinc deficiency zones in the soil was collected from Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal for the selected study area of Hooghly District of West Bengal. The area is bounded between the latitude 23 0 15 ' (N) to 22 0 37 ' (S) and longitude 88 0 33 ' (E) to 87 0 32 ' (W). The concept has been applied to 1000 Mouza of 139
Hoogly District and the objectives to attain this include preparation of inventories are (1) Preparation of cadastral map, (2) Retrieval of individual Record of Rights (ROR) information in respect of each plot. These two inventories will help to attain the objectives set for the national interest and a pictorial representation has been presented in chapter 4. Also, data used to develop a Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS) for land management and an integration of multi criteria decision making (MCDM) techniques into GIS and its uses for land management was collected from the Directorate of Land Records & Surveys, Government of West Bengal, India. The details of data are discussed in the chapters 5 and 6. 3.2.3 Data Analysis The data collected from the available sources is not always complete and accurate. Often, the data collected from the web is incomplete and corrupted due to the unavailability of the data, data updating issues and others. Such problems with the data could badly affect the accuracy of the analysis. Data was scaned manually to check for any incompleteness or error before running the analysis, to address such problems. For example, in the case of incomplete record or error in a record value, the researcher corrected the issue of missing data issue by patching the erroneous record with an estimated value based on the observed trends. For designing and developing the ISDSS to identity the Zinc deficiency zones in the soil, the data was prepared for the use of GIS. A large scale (1:100,000) GIS database was developed for studying the West Bengal state. The state map was divided into a grid of 10 meter squares, on the ground, for collecting sample soil data from the probable centroid of each grid. Each grid was identified so that quantity of zinc (in parts per 140
million) contained in the soil can be attached to it. The collected data was then analyzed in different soil testing Laboratories under Hindustan Fertilizer Corporation Limited. The soil series data was analyzed for the availability of zinc in the soil and the mount of zinc to be added, if required. These are the input to Interactive Spatial Decision Support System (ISDSS) along with the administrative boundaries of Block, District and State of West Bengal available in the spatial database. The ISDSS evaluates the process and displays the contour map of required areas showing the status of zinc in the soil and the amount of zinc to be added for a particular crop. The details of data analysis for each system are discussed in the chapters 4, 5 and 6. 3.2.4 System Analysis After all requirements of the system have been identified, we constructed the system-level architecture as a blue print for the system realization. Previous studies or researches associated to resource management are analyzed together with their implemented techniques. Besides performing investigation on the resource management problem, the analysis stage is achieved only when the system can support some analysis activities and it ends when the system achieves a substantial level of effectiveness. The stage includes a two-dimensional spatial analysis of the existing data, complex linkages of information and multiple databases, and the use of modeling techniques, all of which depend upon deriving more information, than previously feasible, from the same data. Specific examples may include spatial analysis for proposed land use sections, route analysis for scheduling rapid transit, etc. Such a different form of analysis enables government agencies to complete their increasingly complex assigned mandates more successfully. Thus the analysis is associated with the delivery of a 141
substantial level of benefits at an increased level of effectiveness. In addition to that, some past research methodologies that lead to a better result are taken into consideration in this project. The thorough review on domain and problem description can be referred in chapter 2. 3.2.5 System Design According to the defined architecture in the previous phase, the researcher defined the component-level requirements and their interfaces which are needed for all components to function internally and together as a system. The design stage defines how the system will implement its task so as to meet the new system requirement. The design is divided into two portions of an iteractive process in the proposed study. A conceptual design enlightens the user on how the system will function while the technical design translates from the conceptual design and provides a more complete description in supporting a system developer to understand the actual hardware and programming language needed to solve the problem. This study focuses on conceptual design with an attention to the system functions whereas the technical design expresses the form of the system including the hardware and software aspects. GIS is used for developing menu-based user interfaces for tools designed using standard functions. SPANS (Spatial Analysis System) includes a Custom Development Environment (CDE) which, tied with the Engineering Analysis Scientific Interface (EASI) scripting language, facilitates developing user interfaces that encompasses the functionalities of both the simulator and the GIS. The system can accept necessary data from the end-user interactively, finally producing the map. 142
The user interface has been developed under ArcView for simultaneous viewing of ROR information and map for which the spatial database prepared under SPANS has been transferred into ArcView. The scripting language, AVENUE of ArcView 3.2a and Visual Basic (VB) 6.0 have been used for the interface. Here the VB has been used to view plot detail whereas AVENUE has been used to link between the map under ArcView environment and VB. The interface has the provision of selecting the desire mouza (village) interactively and by clicking on any particular plot; the detail of the plot will be displayed on the VB form. The proposed system is based on the guidelines provided by the existing models (Tulloh, 1999). The stages/phases are definable and integral in nature. The outlines of the stages are: 1. No modernization stage is the initial phase, where growing awareness of the technology may exist. It may be characterized by events like loss of land records, difficulties in accessing records, and the like. 2. System initiation is the first active developmental phase; it includes necessity assessment, system design and budgetary allocations, and so on. 3. Database development stage involves activities such as collection of data and organization, and conversion of data into compatible digital format. 4. Quality-checking stage involves the acceptance of accurate digital data. 5. Record-keeping stage includes keeping the improved or automated land records or databases that are used to respond to routine queries and data retrieval. 6. Analysis stage includes two-dimensional spatial analyses of the existing data. Complex linkages of information and multiple databases. Various modeling 143
techniques may also be used as a DSS at this stage. This stage is associated with the delivery of a substantial level of benefits at an increased level of effectiveness. 7. Democratizations stage begins when the system produces outcomes of improved equity. This stage would be characterized by improved access to land records and information, better understanding of previous/planned government actions, reduced conflict over decisions, and the like. 3.2.6 System Implementation System implementation will expedite the construction of the design and translate it into the system form, to be used on a computer system. During this phase, the researcher selected a suitable software platform that has all needed capabilities without the need for third parties or any external development and integration to keep the system as independent as possible and to exploit rapid software development. The implementation of proposed three SDSS for resource management problems are described below: (1) SDSS For Zinc Content in Soil The proposed research methodology is implemented after exploring previous research work related to the topic and the latest GIS tools and quantitative techniques for zinc content in soil, land allocation and management problems. The systems were developed using various tools including the scripting language Engineering Analysis and Scientific Interface (EASI) under the GIS software tool, SPANS (Spatial Analysis System), Visual Basic, and Oracle database. The design of the systems is accomplished through the detailed design analysis and planning. The proposed systems performances were tested by various data sets to achieve optimal solutions. 144
(2) SDSS for Land Management The second system was implemented in the selected study region of Hooghly District of West Bengal. The system was developed using the scripting language Engineering Analysis and Scientific Interface (EASI) under the GIS software tool, SPANS (Spatial Analysis System), and is running under Microsoft Windows operating system. The chapter also discusses the difficulties encountered at various stages of the system design. Its strength and weakness has been successfully evaluated and scope for further improvement has been ascertained. (3) MCDM based SDSS for Land Allocation The third system was implemented in the chosen study area of a region of the Balagarh Block of Hooghly District, West Bengal, India is considered for land allocation. In the process of land allocation it is essential to know social and availability characteristics which are available from the Government s land records. A query, following the guidelines set by the Government, is then run using SPANS 7.2 (http://www.pcigeomatics.com) to demarcate the land available for allocation among the landless. 3.2.7 System Testing System testing task is conducted by performing a validation of the implementation, for demonstrating the compliance with the original requirements, specifications and design. This is a critical component of the SDSS and no application software should be implemented in the production environment without undergoing all 145
the necessary tests. The system developed here used the SPANS GIS tool and all necessary tests as mentioned below: (i) Unit Test: It emphases on the smallest unit of software construction. Using the system design specifications input/output parameters and error handling mechanism of the application are tested to uncover possible errors in individual units/ modules. (ii) Integration Test: It aims at uncovering errors associated with the interfacing between different modules during the building of a complete project. (iii) System Testing: It is performed when the application development process of the entire system is complete. It contains recovery testing, security testing, stress testing, and performance testing. In this phase, the first developed system was intensively tested using real world data of the system provides the information about the quantity of zinc required to correct the soil, where the zinc level is not sufficient for a particular crop. The non-spatial data is collected from Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal. After completion of all testing phases the second developed system was implemented in small study area by taking 1000 mauzas (villages) of Hooghly District of West Bengal (India). The success of the pilot project will support the user department to implement the system for the State. The third system was implemented in a region of the Balagarh Block of Hooghly District, West Bengal, India is considered for land allocation. The Government 146
has the objective to allocate 4.17 acres of land among 15 landless persons. The land is not continuous but scattered. 3.2.8 Conclusions and Recommendations Thus, the methodology described in the section included the steps: (1) Literature Review, (2) Data Collection, (3) Data Analysis, (4) System analysis, (5) System design, (6) System implementation, and (7) System testing. Additionally, the conclusive ideas generated from the literature review, will help to progress the performance of the proposed systems. 3.3 SYSTEM DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT METHODOLOGY The system development research methodology can be categorized as applied science and belongs to developmental or formulate research. Software engineering and operations research is the specialty of system research with a focus on the design, development, analysis, measurement, and improvement of software systems (Nunamaker et al., 1991). The proposed research methodology is implemented after exploring previous research work related to the topic and the latest GIS tools and quantitative techniques for zinc content in soil, land allocation and management problems. The systems were developed using various tools including the scripting language Engineering Analysis and Scientific Interface (EASI) under the GIS software tool, SPANS (Spatial Analysis System), Visual Basic, and Oracle database. The design of the systems is accomplished through the detailed design analysis and planning. The proposed systems performances were tested by various data sets to achieve optimal solutions. The design of the systems was accomplished through the detailed design analysis and planning, as discussed in the 147
following chapters. The study comprises of three spatial decision support systems for resource management problems, which are described below: Chapter 4 discusses ISDSS that is contains of a non-spatial database management system and conforming spatial database, a modelbase management system, and a user interface. The ISDSS is developed using the scripting language Engineering Analysis and Scientific Interface (EASI) under the GIS software tool, Spatial Analysis System (SPANS). The system runs using the Microsoft Windows operating system. Chapter 5 proposes a SDSS for community wide enterprises. The system was developed using the scripting language Engineering Analysis and Scientific Interface (EASI) under the GIS software tool, Spatial Analysis System (SPANS), and is running under Microsoft Windows operating system. The system has been implemented effectively in the selected study area of Hooghly District of West Bengal (India). Chapter 6 presents a methodology used to integrate MCDM techniques with GIS for the allocation of available land based on a range of different choice criteria and on the importance (weight) attached to these by decision makers. As a case example, the technique has been applied for allocating total vested land (land owned by the local Government) among the landless in Hooghly District, West Bengal, India. 3.4 SUMMARY This chapter presents main components of the research methodology used in completing this study. The research methodology is divided into several sections including research methodology description, data description, system design and development and implementation planning. The details of system designing and implementations are discussed in the following chapters. 148
Chapter 4 presents an interactive spatial decision support system (ISDSS), identifying the zinc deficiency zone(s), thus supporting the decision-maker to take appropriate measures for correcting zinc deficiencies in soil. Chapter 5 presents a spatial decision support system (SDSS) for community wide enterprises is designed considering the difficulties encountered at various stages of the system design. The strength and weaknesses has been successfully evaluated to ascertain the further scope of further development. The system has been implemented successfully in the selected study area of Hooghly District of West Bengal (India). Chapter 6 describes the integration of multi criteria decision making (MCDM) techniques into GIS and its uses for land management. The objective of this chapter is to present a model used to integrate MCDM techniques with GIS for the allocation of available land based on a variety of different choice criteria and on the significance (weight) attached to these by decision makers. As a case example, the technique has been applied for allocating total vested land (land owned by the local Government) among the landless in Hooghly District, West Bengal, India. 149