I have little doubt that there are useful data that can be worked and interpreted to aid the entire process from course conception to fruition and growing good turf. But, I also believe the linked article is more of a marketing taut of an oversold marketing campaign for 'cloud' computing and services than it is just techno-geek babble.
For instance, human nature and knowing the human/political/social aspect of Rio and the prospects of long term viability of a golf course there, after all the Olympic stimulus goes away, or how the social political atmosphere and human mindsets there barely allowed the darn project to get done. I don't think all that data was able to put that in proper perspective.
Perhaps Gil should put all the data points into the cloud to give a more long term picture of his project at Doral.... I mean, was he paid?