Reality check

Abstract

Some of the real obstacles to success in GIS are critically examined. The article covers issues such as the complexity of learning new technology; the perceived division between the managers and the technologists; the existence of 'bluffers' who think only they know the buzzwords and therefore are best suited to overseeing GIS implementation; the costs of creating and maintaining digital spatial databases; and the reluctance of the public (despite new Web access tools) to interact with map-based systems.