The major cost required for a GIS project is classified into three categories as follows.
Cost for Hardware and Software
PC based GIS system will range from 10,000 to 30,000 US dollars for a PC, a CD ROM driver, a digitizer (A3 size), a color ink jet recorder and a public domain software or discounted software for educational purpose.
UNIX workstation based system will range from 50,000 to 300,000 US dollars for an UNIX workstation, input/output devices and comercialized GIS software.
Cost for Establishment of Database
Map digitization, scanning, error check, updating and database management are the most expensive, with a share of about 60~80 percent of the total cost.
Cost of Mainteneance and Daily Operation
Personnel, material, electric power, training and so on are necessary.
The question is how to demonstrate to the decision maker or financial administrator the possibility of cost saving if GIS is imlemented instead of the conventional analog system.
The justification to promote a GIS project is to emphasize the following three point ;
- Much better decisions can be made with the help of more information provided by GIS, which will save the unnecessary costs due to mismanagement.
- Higher productivity can be expected because of implementation of a more systematized and standardized management of geospatial datra and information.
- More saving of personnel cost will be achieved as the total productivity will raise under a restructured scheme.
Table 6.1 shows approximate prices of hardware, software and input/output devices.
Figure 6.6 shows the balance between the cost and saving, which implies that the total cost will be compensated in about ten years.