If concurrent users are at the same or lower levels in the tree, the index must be copied to allow concurrent access, consuming huge amounts of disk space unless an efficient data compilation and update process is employed. Oracle has established relationships with most technology vendors, believing that the solutions are too complex for any one vendor. Other companies have selected specific GIS vendors with whom to build applications-ESRI and MapInfo have relationships with all database vendors. Some users may need to consider the availability of temporal operators and data types. If existing databases are to be transferred to the new environment, the available data loading tools will be a consideration.
All vendors offer tools as part of their database package or in conjunction with a third party.
Enterprise geospatial data management is an emerging technology. Key development areas are being supported by international standards efforts that will result in more advanced extensions, new implementations of object-oriented technology and transition of current middleware capabilities to the database. These developments will be particularly significant in light of Internet application growth. The Internet lets individuals collaborate across great distances and provides access to thousands of online databases. Browser plug ins, working with standardised feature definitions and using geospatially extended standard SQL, will insulate users from current GIS complexity and provide open access to geospatial data.