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Data Synchronization Project

Welcome to the wiki for the Data Synchronization project! Feel free to navigate through the wiki to help answer any and all questions you may have concerning the included script, configuration file, and documentation.

What is the goal of the Data Synchronization Project?

The intent of the project is to provide the user with the ability to synchronize data tables between an MS SQL Server database and an ArcGIS Online feature layer while maintaining end-user security via a configuration file.

Why is this project important?

As the need for spatial data to be more accessible increases, the need for cloud-based architecture to house the spatial data has also increased. Many institutions and departments may not have the capital (financial or otherwise) to commit to a complete overhaul and move of in situ data infrastructure to a cloud-based architecture.

These advances will allow even the smallest town to become what is referred to in the industry as a "smart city": a town or city that utilizes different types of Internet of Things (IoT) electronics, including mobile devices, to collect data which can be used to manage the various needs of the town/city. Smart cities allow citizens to become active participants in the design and facilitation of their town's needs.

Most city departments (especially any that deal directly with spatial data) will likely choose to slowly adopt these clearly beneficial accessibility upgrades over time; however, these newer solutions need to be able to work with established/older technologies.

That is where this project comes in.

Background information

The idea for this project was brought to the University of West Florida's GeoData Center (UWF GDC) by the IT department and GIS department of the Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners (SRC BOCC). The UWF GDC accepted this project and enlisted the assistance of graduate student Jeremy Mullins. Using the project as the subject of his thesis, along with the guidance of his mentor and fellow GDC staff member Derek Morgan, Ph.D., the team put together the script, configuration file, and instructional documents from April to June of 2019.

Feel free to explore more about the UWF GDC here. Learn more about the Santa Rosa County Mapping/GIS Department here.