GIS in Education

O'Reilly Media, Inc. and TechWeb, co-producers of the annual Web 2.0 Summit and Web 2.0 Expo events, today announce the list of speakers for the first Gov 2.0 Summit. Program Chair Tim O'Reilly and Co-Chair Richard P. O'Neill, Founder and President of The Highlands Group, bring together a select group to explore how technology can enable transparency, participation, collaboration, and efficiency at all levels of government. Gov 2.0 Summit will take place September 9-10, 2009 at the Grand Hyatt in Washington DC. Requests for an invitation can be made at www.gov2summit.com.

The list of speakers includes, but is not limited to, the following:

* Susie Adams, Federal Civilian Chief Technology Officer: Microsoft Corporation
* Jo Anderson, Jr. Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Education: U.S. Department of Education
* Linda Avey, Co-Founder: 23andMe
* Vinton Cerf, Co-Inventor of TCP/IP: Google
* Aneesh Chopra, Chief Technology Officer: Federal Office of Science and Technology Policy
* John Clippinger, Co-Director, Law Lab: Berkman Center Harvard University
* Alan Cohn, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy (Strategic Plans): U.S. Department of Homeland Security
* Casey Coleman, Chief Information Officer: U.S. General Services Administration
* John Culberson, U.S. Congressman: 7th District of Texas
* Jack Dangermond, Founder and President: ESRI
* Jack Dorsey, Creator, Chairman and Co-Founder: Twitter
* Carol Dumaine, Deputy Director of Energy and Environmental Security: Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence at the U.S. Department of Energy
* Elliott Fisher, Director Population Health and Policy: The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice
* Julius Genachowski, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
* Bev Godwin, Director, USA.gov and Web Best Practices, Office of Citizen Services: U.S. General Services Administration
* Monica Guzman, Newsgatherer: SeattlePI.com
* Carleen Hawn, Co-Founder & CEO: Healthspottr
* Adrian Holovaty, Founder: EveryBlock
* Steven Berlin Johnson, Executive Chairman: Outside.in
* Nikolas Justice, Program Executive Officer, Command, Control and Communications-Tactical: US Army
* Mitchell Kapor, Founder and Chair: Open Source Applications Foundation
* Vivek Kundra, Federal Chief Information Officer: Federal Office of Management and Budget
* Carl Malamud President and CEO: Public.Resource.Org, Inc.
* John Markoff, Reporter: New York Times
* Mikel Maron Human: OpenStreetMap
* Michael McDonald, President: Global Health Initiatives, Inc.
* Rt Honourable David Miliband, MP Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Her Majesty's Government, UK
* Ellen Miller, Co-Founder and Executive Director: Sunlight Foundation
* Craig Mundie, Chief Research and Strategy Officer: Microsoft Corporation
* Kojo Nnamdi: "The Kojo Nnamdi Show" & "Evening Exchange"
* Beth Noveck, Director: White House Open Government Initiative
* Alex "Sandy" Pentland, Toshiba Professor of Media and Arts, MIT
* Macon Phillips, Director of New Media: The White House
* John Podesta, President and CEO: Center for American Progress
* Michele Weslander Quaid, Office of the Director of National Intelligence
* Eric Rasmussen, CEO & Managing Director: InSTEDD
* Eric Ries, Venture Advisor: Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers
* Mary Ruddy, Founder: Meristic, Inc.
* Andrea Seabrook, Congressional Correspondent: NPR
* Clay Shirky, Writer and Consultant : shirky.com
* Jeffrey A. Sorenson, Chief Information Officer/G-6 : U.S. Army
* Judith Spencer, Chair, Federal Public Key Infrastructure Steering Committee: General Services Administration
* Tom Steinberg, Director: mySociety
* Michael Tiemann, President: Open Source Initiative
* Lena Trudeau, Vice President: National Academy of Public Administration
* Hal Varian, Chief Economist: Google
* Werner Vogels, Chief Technology Officer: Amazon.com
* Linton Wells, II Force Transformation Chair: National Defense University
* David Wennergren, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Information Management and Technology & DoD Deputy Chief Information Officer: Department of Defense

Gov 2.0 Summit will be limited in size, and focused on strategy and networking. The format will be a two-day executive-level conference featuring talk-show style interviews with senior officials and executives, ground-breaking case studies and networking events. Additional information on Gov 2.0 Summit content, registration information, and promotional opportunities available at www.gov2summit.com.

Sponsors of the Gov 2.0 Summit include Diamond Sponsors Booz Allen Hamilton, Microsoft; Platinum Sponsors ESRI, Google, HP, Intel, Palantir Technologies; Gold Sponsors EffectiveUI, ForeSee Results, SharedBook; Silver Sponsors Adobe Systems, Inc., Aquilent, JackBe, Sapient, IdeaScale Survey Analytics, Touchstone, and Supporting Sponsor Craig Newmark of cnewmark.com.

Radio contact with Chandrayaan-I spacecraft was abruptly lost at 0130 Hrs (IST) on August 29, 2009. Deep Space Network at Byalalu near Bangalore received the data from Chandrayaan-I during the previous orbit upto 0025 Hrs (IST).

Detailed review of the Telemetry data received from the spacecraft is in progress and health of the spacecraft subsystems is being analyzed.

It may be recalled that Chandrayaan-I spacecraft was launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre Sriharikota on October 22, 2008 .The Spacecraft has completed 312 days in orbit making more than 3400 orbits around the Moon and providing large volume of data from sophisticated sensors like Terrain Mapping Camera, Hyper-spectral Imager, Moon Mineralogy Mapper etc., meeting most of the scientific objectives of the mission. [via ISRO]

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is using geographic information system (GIS) technology to show how it is administering its $7.22 billion allotment from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. The ESRI ArcGIS Server software-based Web mapping application (click this link) shows total financial obligations and outlays by state. Once a state is selected, visitors can see how much money is going to State and Tribal Assistance Grants, Environmental Program and Management, the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund, and Hazardous Substance Superfund.

“Providing this rich set of information to the public in an easy-to-use mapping application is one important way that we are operating in an open and transparent way,” says Jerry Johnston, geospatial information officer, EPA. “By allowing the public to see exactly how EPA’s ARRA funds are being disbursed in their states and, ultimately, in their neighborhoods, this application and the ones that will follow will help ensure an unprecedented level of accountability and transparency in the execution of these programs.”

EPA has used ESRI GIS technology for years to manage its geographic data and deliver information to the public. The EnviroMapper portal, for example, provides access to GIS-based applications that map data related to air, water, and land issues across the United States including EnviroMapper for Environmental Justice and EnviroMapper for the Toxics Release Inventory Program. Most recently, EPA added MyEnvironment to its home page, which allows visitors to input a location and discover detailed information in the specified area such as air quality, cancer risk estimates, and water conditions. MyEnvironment is powered by ArcGIS Server and uses Microsoft Bing Maps.

“GIS supports EPA’s mission to safeguard human health and the environment,” says ESRI president Jack Dangermond. “Using GIS for research, reporting, and decision making has allowed the agency to quickly respond to environmental events and keep the public informed and protected.”

The latest Station Fire Map on the ongoing California fire was provided Sunday, August 30 at 2:16 am. The latest fire map covers five times the area shown on yesterday's map. I was watching the live newscast on TV and the scenes are horrible. The fire is spreading in all directions with flames as high as 80 feet.

Mandatory evacuations are in effect for areas in La Canada-Flintridge, Pasadena, La Crescenta, Altadena, Glendale, and Big Tujunga Canyon.

Station Fire Map -- California fire update

Mapdiva, a company in creative mapping software for Mac OS, has introduced Ortelius, new vector based map illustration software. Through its drag-and-drop interface, Ortelius offers a solution for floor plans, landscape plans, scaled drawings, and a wide variety of high quality custom maps insists Mapdiva.

Ortelius comes with dozens of fully editable map templates including roads, rivers, coastlines, buildings, symbols, and contours. Drawings feature supports map attribute information, such as those imported from geographic information system (GIS) map data, which can be referenced by the software intelligent text labelling system.

Ortelius offers the ability to create your own styles and symbols, trace and draw over scanned maps and images, import GIS data from shapefiles and make maps from included templates.

For a limited introductory time Ortelius costs $79, around £48.

Ortelius requires Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) or later, and an Intel processor.

A trail 31-day fully functional version comes with a watermark that can be removed with a valid license file.

Mapdiva adds that the versatile Ortelius can be used for design beyond map design and presentation.

Cities in China will complete digital surveying and mapping to facilitate planning and management by the end of 2015, the State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping said.

Information gathered will form an information database of urban geography covering objects ranging from utility manholes and street lamps to skyscrapers and rivers in each city.

The digital database will serve as the sole authoritative geographical information source for each city. All the databases will be nationally networked so governments at national, provincial and municipal levels can share information.

China launched pilot projects for digital surveying and mapping in 30 cities in 2006, which was extended to a further 60 cities this year. By 2015, 286 cities will have geographical information databases. [via]

Geographic Information Services, Inc. (GISi) is excited to announce the launch of its company blog. The blog, which can be found at http://blog.gis-services.com, was created as part of an effort to communicate with our clients, partners, and other GIS professionals in a more conversational and on-going basis.

The blog will feature more than company news. It will also offer industry insights, our views on current and emerging technologies, as well as news about our clients and projects. We view the blog as more than us telling you our thoughts on various topics; we view it as a way to exchange ideas. We encourage visitors to share their thoughts by commenting on the information that is posted regularly on the blog.

Contributors to the blog include members of GIS’s management team, such as: Dale Dunham, its founder; Lee Lichlyter, its CEO; Dan Levine, its Chief Technology Officer; and Sonny Beech, its National Sales Manager. Other talented members of the GISi team, from application developers to analysts, will also add their thoughts to the blog.

DigitalGlobe, a leading global provider of commercial high-resolution, world-imagery products and services for commercial, defense, and intelligence clients, today announced that the WorldView-2 remote-sensing satellite has arrived at Vandenberg Air Force Base in anticipation of its launch on October 6, 2009.

As one of the next generation of WorldView-class satellites, WorldView-2 features advanced agility and accuracy, industry-leading collection capacity, and eight-band multispectral imagery, The company’s sophisticated constellation enhances DigitalGlobe’s ability to rapidly collect and maintain up-to-date imagery of the areas of greatest interest to its defense, intelligence, government, and commercial clients. Furthermore, it accelerates the speed by which its leading ImageLibrary is refreshed and expands the ways in which the ImageLibrary can be used.

“With the addition of WorldView-2, an impressive third component of our constellation, DigitalGlobe will have increased capacity, which is expected to improve the speed with which we deliver our imagery products to our customers and provide more frequent refresh of our ImageLibrary to support a range of monitoring, analysis, and decision-making services,” said Jill Smith, chairman and chief executive officer of DigitalGlobe. “The combination of rapid, comprehensive imagery collection; an industry-leading ImageLibrary; and fast and flexible worldwide content delivery allow DigitalGlobe products to integrate seamlessly into any mapping or enterprise solution, including hosting services, Web services, and mobile applications.”

The launch of WorldView-2 will make DigitalGlobe the only commercial world-imagery provider with high-resolution, eight-band multispectral capability. The new bands support greater levels of feature identification and extraction, more accurate change detection, and a truer reflection of the world’s natural colors. With additional capacity and more frequent revisit rates, DigitalGlobe can provide the most accurate depiction of the world from space, supporting client initiatives that include digital map-making and location-based business decisions.

DigitalGlobe expects images and products from WorldView-2 to be available within 90 days of launch. The satellite was built by Ball Aerospace and the imaging sensor was provided by ITT Corporation’s Space Systems Division.

To learn more about DigitalGlobe’s advanced constellation of sub-meter satellites, please visit www.digitalglobe.com.

Travel grants are available for a limited number of students to attend the 2009 AGU Fall Meeting to be held 14–18 December 2009 in San Francisco, California, U.S.A. Meet and mingle with your colleagues, sharpen your networking skills with an international assembly of scientists, and visit the Career Center for current job opportunities.

Eligibility: Current AGU student members who are first authors presenting a paper or poster, and who have not attended a previous AGU-sponsored meeting are eligible to apply for funding of up to $1000 (USD).

The application is available on the AGU web site or by e-mailing Charles Dorch at: cdorch@agu.org

AGU Student Travel Grant Application Deadline Date: 3 September 2009

Do not wait for acceptance of your abstract to apply. Your letter of support may arrive after the grant application deadline has passed.

Undergraduate students are encouraged to apply.

For AGU Abstract submission, visit the previous post.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch Oceansat-2, a unique integrated satellite to track marine life and identify potential fishing zones in September, disclosed Y V N Krishnamurthy, Director of ISRO's Regional Remote Sensing Service Centre.

The integration of the satellite, designed to identify potential fishing zones, assists in forecasting marine trends and coastal zone studies will also provide inputs for weather forecasting and climate studies.

All pre-launch tests on the functional aspects of the satellite have been successfully completed.

Oceansat-2 would blast off on board India's indigenous workhorse, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) at Sriharikota located on the Indian east coast. The satellite will be an in-orbit replacement to Oceansat-1, which was launched by ISRO in May 1999 to study physical and biological aspects of oceanography.

Oceansat-2 would carry an Ocean Colour Monitor (OCM) and a Ku-band pencil beam Scatterometer - for the first time, besides a Radio Occultation Sounder for Atmospheric Studies (ROSA).

Fugro released a new on-line aerial image service for professional business users such as surveyors, engineers, architects, planners and developers.

Through this service, high resolution imagery of selected areas of Australia can be viewed and purchased via the website www.fugroworld.com and downloaded as a jpeg or ecw file to the desktop.

Images covering areas from 100m x 100m on the ground are being offered from as little as AUD$5 and are ideal for views of small sites. Larger image sizes are available up to 5km x 5km and are ready for download with same day delivery.

The Fugro World Portal service is able to provide aerial imagery by area, on-demand with payment and delivery online. The system includes enhanced features such as an advanced search facility to allow website visitors to quickly find an area through a street name or location coordinate.

Aerial images reveal much more information about an area than a map. The images, viewed on-screen or printed at any size in colour, greatly enhance presentations and allow more informed decisions to be made without needing to visit the site.

The aerial imagery can be loaded directly into electronic mapping systems and GIS. The high-resolution aerial images are ortho-rectified to enable customers to display added features like street names and mapped boundaries on-screen over the aerial imagery background.

Searching for oil, planting crops, and tracking environmental changes on earth should be much less costly and complex following today's announcement by Harris Corporation. The company's very high-resolution, global Digital Elevation Models are - for the first time - available to commercial users online via the MapMart web portal. The models are generated using a variety of geospatial imagery that is merged and enhanced using an automated, proprietary process developed by Harris, an international communications and information technology company.

"MapMart customers around the world have been eager to get access to 1-meter-spacing Digital Surface Models and 5-meter-spacing (manually edited) bare earth Digital Terrain Models. Partnering with Harris helps us deliver on our commitment to satisfy the growing needs of mapping professionals when they visit our website," said Mike Platt, president of MapMart. These very accurate, high-quality Digital Elevation Models, or DEMs, provide a foundation for three-dimensional modeling of large geographic areas and have the level of detail needed to identify roadways, rivers, buildings and numerous other features. Companies can use the models to significantly reduce the time and cost associated with dispatching crews to perform early manual surveys of geographic areas or features.

In addition, DEMs are not confined to locations that only can be reached by aircraft, a limitation of traditional models that utilize laser-based Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology. Harris processing tools include algorithms for quality control, as well as for interpolating and filling voids where data is not available or the imagery is obstructed.

"These models provide the most accurate data available for use in civil applications such as large infrastructure construction, planning associated with installing cell towers and repeaters, identifying areas that have the potential for flooding - virtually anywhere on the globe that someone has to understand details of the terrain," said Sheldon Fox, president, Harris National Intelligence Programs.

The MapMart division of IntraSearch offers an advanced e-commerce site, enabling users to search and purchase image, elevation, street, and demographic data as well as other geospatial products. MapMart has distribution arrangements for 11 domestic and international commercial satellites. IntraSearch, a Colorado-based corporation since 1951, is a fully integrated professional mapping service and product distribution company with three primary business lines: IntraSearch Mapping, MapMart(R), and SportsMapping(TM).

Harris National Intelligence Programs business is a major developer, supplier and integrator of communications and information processing products, systems, and networks for a diverse base of Intelligence Community programs. Harris supports the ongoing transformation of the Intelligence Community into a more collaborative enterprise.

Digital Quest congratulates Joppatowne High School of Harford County Maryland for their featured appearance at the 2009 ESRI International User Conference, held July 13-17, 2009, in San Diego, California. Teacher Jackie Smith, coordinator and mentor Eric Cromwell, along with students Joey Hightower and Matt Kelly were recognized during a session that focused on “strength through community” with an emphasis on geomentors.

The students are participants of Maryland’s signature program, “Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness”, the only one of its kind in the nation at the high school level. The program is dedicated to providing students with career skills and technological expertise by working through the GIS curriculum and STARS certification from Digital Quest, Inc.

“We are excited to have our GIS in Homeland Security course and the STARS Entry-Level GIS Technician Certification provide the foundation for this unique and innovative effort,” said Eddie Hanebuth, Founder and President of Digital Quest. “Our software and certification combined with the commitment from the teachers and talent of the students has resulted in quite a successful program.”

STARS (Spatial Technology and Remote Sensing) is a fully developed “turn-key” certification program for high schools, colleges, and universities as well as career professionals looking to integrate geospatial tools into their on-on-the job skill set. STARS is the first industry-recognized geospatial certification recognized by NASA and the U.S. Department of Labor.

“One of the reasons for the success of this one-of-a-kind program is our partnership with Digital Quest,” said Eric Cromwell, Coordinator of Accelerated Learning Programs for Harford County Public Schools. “The GIS in Homeland Security curriculum and the Geospatial Technologies Certification Program were a ready-made fit to get this program up and running.”

Digital Quest focuses on designing, developing, distributing, and supporting geospatial/remote sensing educational, classroom-based products including:

* STARS: A series of courses that prepare students to take the GIS certification test. STARS is the first and only competency based, industry recognized, entry-level, geospatial certification.
* SPACE: A series of courses, developed by the SPACESTARS partnership, designed to allow students to use GIS skills in the context of selected community based topics.
* AGIS Book Series: A Geospatial Industry Series that examines an entire industry/ career cluster to show how geospatial technology impacts and improves those industries. These courses feature detailed narratives about the relationship between the particular industry and geospatial technology. In addition, guided lessons and scenarios give students hands on experience with GIS Software.

The Joppatowne students and teachers were recognized by Jack Dangermond, president of ESRI and Martin O’Malley, Governor of Maryland.

Digital Quest, Inc. is a Mississippi-based development and training oriented company with a primary focus of enabling educational institutions to provide skill training in the new and ever-more vital field of Geospatial Technology. Digital Quest, an active member of the EIGS geospatial technology cluster of the University of Mississippi, operates the SPACESTARS Geospatial Training Laboratory at NASA’s Stennis Space Center. For more information, visit Digital Quest.

Vizrt announces that Viz Curious Maps 9.1 — the latest version of its branded mapping and geographic animation software for broadcast—will be introduced during the company’s invitation-only “Amsterdam Sessions,” from September 10th-15th in the Hotel Okura in Amsterdam. Version 9.1 represents a major upgrade to Curious Maps, which is considered the defacto standard for creating and animating electronic maps.

“At a time when breaking news can erupt in any corner of the world, it’s imperative for broadcast journalists to have sophisticated, intuitive map building software capable of integrating high-resolution global satellite imagery,” said Ran Yakir, Head of R&D Israel, Vizrt. “Curious Maps 9.1 is unrivaled in its ability to build, label, and animate all types of colorful, appealing maps so that broadcasters can effectively illustrate and convey the geographical locations and terrain impacting today’s news events.”

Viz Curious Maps 9.1 adds several essential features that make it easier to incorporate high-resolution global satellite imagery from several well-respected providers directly into the map building environment.

With Viz Curious Maps 9.1, users may now access digital satellite imagery from online services offered by Vizrt partner, DigitalGlobe. As a leading provider of high-res global imagery, Digital Globe offers an online library of tiled imagery that can now be accessed and downloaded from DigitalGlobe servers directly into Curious Maps 9.1.

This release also adds the ability to incorporate highly detailed 15 meters per pixel (m/pixel) resolution global and regional datasets—such as Western Europe—from PlanetObserver. Until now, Curious Maps customers have only been able to use PlanetObserver datasets at 150m/pixel resolution.

“Since the native 15m/pixel and 150m/pixel resolution datasets share the same natural color quality, it’s now possible to effect a dramatic, virtually seamless zoom from 150m/pixel images into closer, sharper 15m/pixel views of the same area,” said Yakir.

In addition, Viz Curious Maps 9.1 improves the system’s Curious Maps Editor (CME) by adding enhanced search capabilities and other usability updates. It also upgrades the map building process, extends support for 3rd party data and improves vector rendering performance.

By means of the Viz Curious Maps server edition, this solution provides realtime, branded map imagery to several clients embedded within Vizrt’s control applications. Templates created within Viz Curious Maps can be dynamically accessed through the Viz Trio character generator, Viz Content Pilot for template-based graphics, Viz Weather for the production and playout of advanced, realtime weather visualization , and Viz Artist for animation and visual effects creation. With this functionality, users can seamlessly create branded, animated TV maps and add them to graphics templates or insert them directly into 3D scenes.

GIS/Geospatial industry worldwide growth is forecast to slow to 1%, down from 11% in 2008 and a whopping 17.4% in 2007 according to a just released study by Daratech, Inc., a Cambridge, Massachusetts market research firm. However, industry CEOs interviewed by Daratech were unanimous in their belief that growth consistent with the robust 11% compound annual growth rate of past six years would return in 2010.

North America has not been as adversely affected by the downturn as the rest of the world due to the on-going needs of homeland security and continuing investment in GIS, by the public sector. Growth in North America is forecast by Daratech to top 2.1%, more than twice the growth in Asia Pacific and five times the growth in Europe where investment in GIS/Geospatial technology has been hurt more severely by the current downturn as many European governments have cut back their geospatial technology purchases in anticipation of lower tax collections.

The most dramatic slowdown in 2009 was in the private sector, which is forecast to shrink to $1.4 billion, down 0.7% from 2008. This downturn echoes the general pull back of the private sector from major additional investments in new IT technologies. At the same time public sector sales are expected to grow 4.1% to almost $957 million in 2009 reflecting this sectors continuing deployment of GIS technologies to all the services it offers.

In the Traditional GIS segment ESRI continues to have a dominant 30% market share, up from 29% in 2008 according to Daratech. Intergraph, the second largest player in the traditional segment is forecast by Daratech to have a 16% market share in 2009, up from 15% in 2008. Third ranked is GE Energy, which is the market leader in the utilities market where it is forecast to have a 24% market share.

In the larger GIS/Geospatial market that includes data, geo-enabled engineering, GPS, photogrammetry and remote sensing MDA has a leading 21.8% share of the market. The company's sales are mostly to the homeland security and defense markets. ESRI, is second with a 15.7% share and Bentley Systems, supplier of GIS/Geospatial AEC market software and services (where it has a 42.1% market share) is third. Bentley has frequently made the running in the geo-enabled engineering applications market and continues to demonstrate strong leadership in this area. However, Bentley can expect stronger competition from Autodesk, Intergraph and ESRI in the coming years, as this segment of the market may show greater than average growth, says Daratech.

In a sign that Russia might not take an aggressively autonomous approach to staking its claim of the Arctic’s riches, it has been announced that Russia and Norway will work together to map the floor of the Barents Sea. The joint mapping project will begin later this month, according to a report by DN Energi.

This is a positive sign, as the nations which border the Arctic need to reach a consensus at some point over how to divide the seabed. The Norway Post reports that Russia and Norway will map the uncharted underwater territory around the Svalbard archipelago as well as in the Barents Sea.

The Russian Geological Institute, the University of Oslo, and the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate will be participating in the mapping mission. A Russia research vessel, the Akademik Nikolay Strakhov, will conduct most of the geological surveying as the two nations look for gas and oil beneath the seabed.

Sissel Eriksen, the director of the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate, said that her agency has been working well with the Russians for some time now. The mapping venture is merely a continuation of their relationship. Eriksen emphasised that the primary task is charting the ocean floor, not just looking explicitly for oil and gas. However, her agency estimates that nearly 70 per cent of Norway’s undiscovered gas and oil resources are located in its far north.

Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), the official institute for the management and development of palm oil in Malaysia, selects SuperPad to be the assistance to manage palm oil resource announced SuperGeo.

Malaysia has the rich palm oil resources and it has brought great economic benefits for Malaysia. Established in 2000, MPOB is a government agency under the purview of the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities, managing and planning the related developing schemes and administrative affairs. Since the establishment, MPOB has been looking for technology and IT products to increase the value, quality, and sales of palm oil. SuperPad is thus procured by the GIS Department in MPOB for field work in palm oil groves.

Through the recommendation of Axis Commerce MPOB selects SuperPad for effective data collection and analysis. SuperPad, SuperGeo's Mobile GIS Software, provides user-friendly interface and powerful GIS along with GPS functions for the field staff to collect, and edit palm oil resource rapidly and efficiently. SuperPad also supports the administrative personnel for better palm oil grove management.

India and Russia have finished the design of a second unmanned lunar orbiter to be sent to the Moon in 2011-2012, quoted the Indian Express newspaper.

"Right now, the design has been completed. We had a joint review with Russian scientists here", said Madhavan Nair, chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in Bangalore.

Russia is responsible for the design and construction of a lander and a rover, which could collect samples of the lunar soil, analyze them and send the data back to Earth.

The ISRO and the Russian Federal Space Agency signed in November 2007 an agreement to work together on the Chandrayaan-2 project. The work started following the launch of India's first unmanned mission to the moon, the Chandrayaan-1, in October last year.

During the two-year mission, the remote-sensing satellite is expected to create a detailed three-dimensional map of the Moon's surface and investigate its chemical composition. The primary goal is the discovery of water, along with magnesium, aluminum, silicon and titanium, and the radioactive elements radon, uranium and thorium.

Here you can download for free WinSail: Prospect + Sail Model via the USDA website.

SAIL (Scattering from Arbitrarily Inclined Leaves), developed by Bunnik and Verhoef (1984), models the spectral directional reflectance of uniform homogeneous vegetation canopies. It represents an extension to an earlier model developed by Suits (1972) to allow for Scattering by Arbitrarily Inclined Leaves. In 1983, SAIL was implemented as a computer model by Lynn Alexander, a NASA contracter (see Alexander, L. (1983), SAIL Canopy Model Fortran Software, NASA, contract number NAS 9-15800). The Fortran SAIL model was later enhanced by Dr. Fred Huemmrich, Joint Center of Earth Systems Technology (JCET), University of Maryland Baltimore County.

The PC SAIL Model software was converted from Fortran to Basic by Dr. Moon Kim to calculate and display bi-directional spectral reflectance, and transmittance for a range of wavelengths for several different Leaf Area Indices (LAI). The program is menu driven with default values provided for most parameters for ease of operation. The Kim version of SAIL was written in Microsoft QuickBasic. It runs on the MS-DOS operating system (in MS-DOS windows on Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP operating systems).

This new version of the SAIL model, WinSAIL, was developed in June, 2003 at the USDA-ARS, Hydrology and Remote Sensing Laboratory, Beltsville, MD. WinSAIL is Kim’s PC SAIL model, rewritten using Microsoft Visual Basic for use on the Win95/98/ family of operating systems.

Model Overview
The implementation of the SAIL model presented here predicts the canopy reflectance at a number of different sensor view angles in a user-defined relative azimuth plane (i.e., in a given direction relative to that of the sun). The software also allows you to vary the solar zenith angle, the Leaf Area Index (the area of leaves per unit area of ground) and the reflectance and transmittance of the vegetation in four separate wavebands, as well as the reflectance of the soil substrate and the proportion of sky radiance in these bands. Finally, for advanced use, the software allows you to vary the leaf inclination angle distribution (i.e., the geometric structure of the vegetation canopy).

To download the WinSail: Prospect + Sail Model software for free, you need to fill up a form, submit it and you will be directed to the download page.

If you want to run the codes yourself, PROSPECT-SAIL model codes are available for free download from this website. You can find four WinZip files corresponding to the versions 4 and 5 of the PROSPECT model, both in Fortran 90 and Matlab 7.

Or you can also check the CSTARS Radiative Transfer Model Repository.

TerraGo Technologies, a leading provider of geospatial collaboration software solutions, announced today the general availability of its TerraGo Composer version 5 software. The new solution gives organizations the power to easily create, edit and dynamically update digital maps, images and map books leveraging Adobe Acrobat.

"As the demand for greater access to real-time geospatial intelligence continues to increase, organizations struggle to provide portable, actionable data that can serve as the basis for geospatial collaboration," said Chris Watson, VP of Marketing and Business Development for TerraGo Technologies. "Designed in conjunction with several of our strategic customers, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), this new release provides organizations the ability to dynamically and automatically update field resources with real-time geospatial intelligence to help improve decision making in the field."

Additional key enhancements available in the new version of TerraGo Composer include:

* More efficient map book updates: Users can now update single GeoPDF tiles in large digital map books without having to rebuild the entire map book, helping to improve the currency of their GIS data and giving users faster access to up-to-the-minute geospatial intelligence.

* Advanced geospatial data collection, editing and sharing: With the new GeoMark Editor feature, mobile/field workers can more easily make spatially tagged notes and comments or create links and attachments on a GeoPDF file. Within the GeoMark window, user attribute data can be included to assist GIS analysts in compliance and data management initiatives. When large volumes of field-collected data are sent in from multiple sources, GIS experts can use the new TerraGo Collaboration Package and TerraGo Composer to sort and present the data for sharing within Enterprise GIS systems.

* ISO/OGC support: Users can output both OGC and ISO 32000 geo-enabled PDFs, while maintaining the robust capabilities of the TerraGo GeoPDF. TerraGo version 5 solutions can now read and write GeoPDF files that adhere to either specification.

* Expanded coordinate system support: TerraGo now supports more than 3,200 coordinate systems and enables users to create custom coordinate systems to suite their specific needs.

TerraGo Composer is an enterprise software solution that enables customers to create unique geospatial applications, such as digital atlases and map books that integrate an organization's own business context and workflow. TerraGo Composer is currently being used by some of the world's leading organizations, including USDA Foreign Agricultural Services, FEMA, United States Army Geospatial Center, United States Army Corps of Engineers, Canadian Department of Defense, WBI Holdings, Lockheed Martin, FM Global Financial Services, and NE Utilities.

TerraGo Composer is also available for ESRI ArcGIS Server environments, as announced in February 2009. To learn more about TerraGo Composer, visit www.terragotech.com/composer.

Schoolchildren across Scotland have the chance to get their hands on free Ordnance Survey maps, as the national mapping agency launches the Free maps for 11-year-olds scheme today.

The initiative offers every Primary 7 pupil in Scotland a free OS Explorer Map and has been an overwhelming success since its launch in 2002, with the 5 millionth map given away last year.

The scheme not only supports learning about geography and the environment but also helps encourage children and their families to get out and about and explore their local area. It has been praised by teachers, pupils and parents alike.

"Being able to understand the information on a map, whether it’s on paper, the Internet or a hand-held gadget, and relate that to the world you see around you is a really important life skill," comments Elaine Owen, Ordnance Survey’s Corporate Responsibility Manager.

"The Free maps for 11-year-olds scheme is helping children learn these skills and is open to every Primary 7 pupil in Scotland. All your school has to do is place their order on our website."

As well as a free OS Explorer Map, pupils are also being given the chance to win an all‑expenses paid day out with the Field Studies Council in Exmoor National Park. The 12 winners that can correctly complete the answers to five questions will have the chance to put their map-reading skills into practice and enjoy the many activities planned for the day.

To take advantage of the scheme, teachers must place their order by 30 November 2009 on the Ordnance Survey free maps website: www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/freemapsfor11yearolds.

Twenty First Century Communications (TFCC) upgrades its GIS-mapping module within its Universal Communications System (UCS) to provide public safety organizations across the United States with faster response and a friendlier user experience. New, robust features will enhance UCS's GIS-based alerts to reach targeted areas in times of crisis.

The latest mapping module features sharp, clean graphics and fine detail, with the Google-style appearance, zooming and panning familiar to Internet users. TFCC increased the tool feature set, offering users a suite of sophisticated methods to identify specific target areas on the onscreen maps. Enhanced search capabilities include the ability to search based on latitude/longitude coordinates.

Users can now add "pins" to shapes on the maps to identify incident locations. UCS users can export defined areas as shape files which can be used in their other GIS-based software programs. In addition, maps can be exported as image files for numerous other uses. Also TFCC's powerful GIS-mapping engine has been upgraded for even faster telephone list generation.

UCS enables cities, counties, states, and companies across the United States to send voice, text, TTY/TDD and email messages to residents during emergencies using a combination of telephone database and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology.

About TFCC
Twenty First Century Communications celebrates twenty years in the emergency notification industry. Founded in 1989, TFCC is the leading provider of offsite, hosted telecommunications solutions. TFCC developed the first automated high volume call handling system to allow organizations to answer and place thousands of calls in just minutes. TFCC provides hundreds of organizations nationwide with mass public alert and emergency notification services. TFCC is committed to innovative communications solutions, relentless reliability and superior customer service. Please visit http://www.tfcci.com.

For more information please contact: sales@tfcci.com

Contact:
Ellen Grevey
Director of Corporate Communications
800-382-8356 ext. 262
614-442-4226 (fax)
ellen.grevey@tfcci.com
www.tfcci.com

SPIE - Defense, Security, and Sensing Conference
5 - 9 April 2010
Orlando World Center Marriott Resort & Convention Center
Orlando, Florida, USA

Abstract Due Date: 21 September 2009

Share your research at the leading meeting bringing together scientists and engineers doing cutting-edge work in materials, science, devices, and systems. Papers will be accepted in these areas:

Sensing Systems and Platforms
• IR, Radar, Passive Millimeter-wave, and Terahertz Imaging
• Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear and Explosives (CBRNE)
• Cyber Sensing
• Energy Harvesting
• Biometric
• Laser Sensors and Systems
• Nanosensors
• Biomimetics
• Unmanned, Robotic, and Layered Systems • Displays • Space Technologies and Operations • Sensing and Systems including Fiber Optics

Sensor and Data Analysis
• Image and Data Processing • Visual Analytics • Situation Management • Information Systems and Networks

Share your latest discoveries and get immediate face-to-face feedback from leading experts in industry, the military, government agencies, and academia.

Download the Call for Papers (PDF).

GITA's Geospatial Infrastructure Solutions Conference will be held from April 25-29, 2010, in Phoenix, Arizona. With billions being invested into infrastructure, now is the time to share your success stories.

The Conference is accepting submissions focusing on geospatial solutions and applications that reflect the leading edge of our industry. If you have solutions to share - this is your time.

You are encouraged to submit the solutions most important for infrastructure, including utilities, communications companies, public agencies, and other organizations that make up the infrastructure.

Suggested topics include, but are not limited to:

Smart Grid(s)
Asset Integrity
Regulatory Compliance
Emergency Response
Data Management
Field Automation
Geospatial Integration Infrastructure Reliability
Damage Prevention/CIP
Disaster Preparedness
Environmental/Sustainability
Collaborative Communications

Submit your abstract now at gita.org/cfp.

Share your knowledge, ideas and perspectives with your colleagues from across North America.

The Point Addressing and visual content products for the Venezuela map were released by NAVTEQ with several enhancements.

NAVTEQ's Point Addressing product will improve the navigation guidance experience with enhanced arrival accuracy in countries such as Venezuela where addressing does not follow a regular pattern, or in some cases where addressing is based simply on a set of building names.

In addition to the benefits enabled by Point Addressing, navigation devices including NAVTEQ's visual content can provide more intuitive guidance and orientation. When integrated into the NAVTEQ map, inclusion of NAVTEQ's 3D Landmarks and 3D City.

Both Point Addressing and visual content reflect NAVTEQ's strategy to design products that are both relevant and pragmatic. The products are geo-referenced to the NAVTEQ map enabling ease of integration into existing NAVTEQ-based applications and they maximize navigation device bandwidth opportunities.

In addition to the Venezuela map, NAVTEQ's South America coverage includes maps for Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Chile.

[report] The Government of Singapore will invest $27 million over the next five years to create a super-accurate interactive map of Singapore.

When complete, the SG-Space (Singapore Geospatial Collaborative Environment) project will provide authorised users with all kinds of geographical information, from weather forecasts to the location of underground utility pipes to building layouts, Senior Minister of State for Law and Home Affairs Assoc Prof Ho Peng Kee announced at the Map Asia conference.

While more than two dozen Government agencies, from the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) to the Housing Development Board, collect and use geospatial data, not all of this data is in the same format, scale or quality.

With SG-Space, users will be assured accurate and interoperable data, all easily accessible using a web browser and which come with all kinds of sorting and analytical tools so the user can find exactly what he wants. Currently, such information is not available this way, and users may have to go to different agencies to call up multiple blueprints and maps - which may not be to the same scale.

Consumers can also look forward to a new interactive online map by the SLA, to be launched within the next few months.

The TRMM satellite noticed a wide-eyed Hurricane Bill's rainfall is intensifying indicating he's getting stronger. Satellite images have also shown Bill's eye is widening.

NASA and the Japanese Space Agency's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite flew over the center of Hurricane Bill on August 18, 2009 at 0225 UTC (August 17 at 10:25 p.m. EDT) capturing rainfall data.

TRMM rainfall images are false-colored with yellow, green and red areas, which indicate rainfall between 20 and 40 millimeters (.78 to 1.57 inches) per hour. Red areas are considered moderate rainfall.

The TRMM rainfall analysis from the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) instruments reveal that hurricane Bill has an eye. This feature isn't apparent on the TRMM Infrared image (VIRS) but is evidence of Bill becoming a stronger category two hurricane with wind speeds increasing to about 85 knots (~98 miles per hour). In fact, satellite imagery shows that Bill's eye is quite large, between 35-45 nautical miles in diameter!

At 11 a.m. EDT, Hurricane Bill had maximum sustained winds near 105 mph, making him a Category Two on the Saffir-Simpson Scale. He is expected to strengthen into a Category Three hurricane, a major hurricane, with winds in excess of 110 mph. Bill was centered about 705 miles east of the Leeward Islands, near 15.9 north and 51.2 west. He was heading west-northwest near 16 mph with a minimum central pressure of 963 millibars.

Interests in the Leeward Islands should monitor Bill's progress, as his track is currently expected to remain at sea and sweep past them and head in a northwesterly direction over the next two days.

Source: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

Spatial Data Integrations, Inc. (SDI), a leader in utility mapping, software development and comprehensive GIS solutions, is pleased to announce the launch of its first online store at http://store.sdimaps.com.

In order to better serve clients, the store was developed to showcase custom tools, applications and solutions in a convenient and easy-to-use online interface. At the time of launch, the store features products that address the GIS needs of small to medium utilities throughout the United States to include SDI’s utility mapping solution, SDImaps. The store also includes MapSync’s next generation GIS deployment software, GeoSync XG and GPS2GIS, an integrated environment to manage all your GPS data collection needs from within ArcMap. In the coming months, additional solutions will be added to address a variety of common issues, such as SDE Maintenance Tools, Google Earth Interface, MapBook creation tools, and Geodatabase Data Loader.

In order to ensure clients have the most successful implementation possible, SDI offers dedicated technical support via a on-site visit, remote connection and/or telephone. Technical support for year one is included with the purchase and can be extended via a maintenance contract on an annual basis.

A Global Positioning System Block IIR (GPS IIR-M) satellite, designed and built by Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Air Force was successfully launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta II rocket.

Designated GPS IIR-21(M), the satellite is the final in a line of eight GPS IIR-M spacecraft that the Lockheed Martin Navigation Systems team in Newtown, modernised for Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif.

The Block IIR-M series includes features that enhance operations and navigation signal performance for military and civilian GPS users around the globe – specifically a modernised antenna panel that provides increased signal power to receivers on the ground, two new military signals for improved accuracy, enhanced encryption and anti-jamming capabilities, and a second civil signal, providing users with an open access signal on a different frequency.
Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Newtown, Pa., is the prime contractor for the GPS IIR program. The company designed and built 21 IIR spacecraft. ITT, Clifton, N.J. supplied all 21 navigation payloads for both the IIR and IIR-M spacecraft.

Satellite imagery from the recently launched UK-DMC2 satellite shows forest fires in the Los Padres National Forest east of Santa Maria at 11:10 local time on the 12th August.

California is currently experiencing widespread forest fires, which has lead to evacuations in two areas. Earlier today, Bloomberg reported that more than 1,900 fire fighters were battling the blaze that has burned at least 48,457 acres in the Los Padres National Forest area of Santa Barbara County.

The image was acquired by DMCii in Guildford, UK from the new UK-DMC2 earth observation satellite just 16 days after its launch into the Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC) on 29th July.

To the East of Santa Maria, an enormous cloud of smoke from the fire can be clearly seen extending to the West above the patchwork agricultural of farms that begins in the outskirts of Santa Maria. The artificial red indicates green vegetation and the dark patch indicates burned areas, revealing the damage that has been caused to the trees of the Los Padres National Forest from which the smoke plume is blowing. The characteristic shape of Lake Cachuma can be seen to the south of the image.

The UK-DMC2 satellite was launched into the DMC constellation of earth observation satellites with the Spanish owned satellite Deimos-1 satellite. Both satellites were built by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL), and are already acquiring impressive satellite images of natural disasters, agricultural land and familiar landmarks around the world during the first week of their commissioning.

To find out more about UK-DMC2, its future role in disaster relief and Earth observation visit www.sstl.co.uk/Missions/UK-DMC2

You have huge amount of data separated in different Excel files. You want to manipulate with the data by coming up with equations. The question is: Is it possible to link 2 or more Excel files in one equation? Yes it is. If you can link Excel sheets, you can also do it with the files.

You could do it by creating links between cells in the two files. Here is the step by step procedure on how to do it:

- Open both workbooks

- Activate the workbook you want automatically updated ie. the one that will not be edited by the operator

- Select a cell you want to link

- Type =

- Activate the other workbook

- Select the cell you want to link and hit "enter"

- You will return to the first workbook and the selected cell will contain the reference e.g. =[FirstBook.xls]Sheet1!$A$11

- Repeat for each cell you want to link

- If you want to, you could include references in formulae, say if you wanted half the value, you would do as above then add /2 to get =[FirstBook.xls]Sheet1!$A$11/2
or maybe multiply the vales of two cells e.g.

=[FirstBook.xls]Sheet1!$A$11* =[FirstBook.xls]Sheet1!$B$42

Attend the 2009 SPIE Europe Remote Sensing, the largest European meeting focused on cutting-edge remote sensing research. Participate and further your work by getting immediate access to the latest results.

Programme information is available in these technical areas:

* UV, VIS and IR cameras and imaging systems
* Lidar
* Database management
* Multi- and hyperspectral imaging
* Adaptive optics
* MEMS
* Image and signal processing

Details: SPIE Europe Remote Sensing 2009
bcc Berliner Congress Centre , Berlin , Germany
31August - 3September 2009
Organizer: SPIE
Contact:
SPIE Europe
2 Alexandra Gate
Ffordd Pengam, Cardiff, CF24 2SA
Phone: +44 (0)29 2089 4747
Fax: +44 29 2089 4750
Email: info@spieeurope.org
Website: http://spie.org/x6262.xml

With a unique natural geographic environment, there is rich flora and fauna in Taiwan and the abundant species and high density are renowned over the world. Influenced by long geographical isolation, the proportion of endemic species has increased. Whether for academic research, resource conservation and utilization or even international tourism, the abundant animal and plant resources as well as the high ratio of endemic species are all of very high value.

For a long time, there was an insufficient basic survey and research about the native creature, which might have caused a serious effect on studying flora and fauna distribution, group volume, living pressure, rehabilitation and native ecology education of Taiwan’s endemic and rare species. As a result, to systemically build up a survey database and an effective educational guidance, a project was drawn up by the Endemic Species Research Institute Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan.

The system is expected to effectively and accurately attain the local flora and fauna data and systematically create an Internet geographic database with surveyed samples and distribution data of wild flora and fauna through back-end data processing, so that it can satisfy the need of filing management and achieve the goal of integrating wild flora and fauna data. This system can make a solid foundation for the Endemic Species Research Institute’s data storage center and can benefit the institute’s future constructions, planning and managements.

System Function Development:
・ Query species：On the species query list, a query interface is added so that users can search the map for a specific town or country where the species is distributed.
・ Enhanced photography upload：When users upload photos, the system will record the photos’ information, such as photographer and the shooting time.
・ Statistics：A statistic table of the species distribution at a specific area can be displayed.
・ Presents species diversity analysis results of the surveyed data.

Data Integration:
・ Created a data integration mechanism for field survey units to upload data. This system is used as the entrance port for querying species query and integrating the survey data collected from units to extend the contents of this database.

WebGIS Enhancement:
・ Integrate related spatial data, such as satellite images and various kinds of vector maps.
・ Integrate aerial images：The system integrates the aerial images with the WebGIS query interface for users to have an overview about the species habitat.

Educational Training:
・ Course contents：Educational training and technology transfer are aimed at assisting users to manipulate the system easily. The user manual provided by this project allows the persons in charge to be familiar with the system quickly and can be used as a system guidance.

[via]

ThinkGeo has released an initial public beta of Map Suite Routing, a new extension for their Map Suite 3.0 family of GIS software developer components for .NET. Map Suite Routing makes it easy for developers to add routing features to their Map Suite applications, including turn-by-turn directions, waypoint support and area avoidance. Now, developers can deliver a whole new level of features and functionality to their customers through their Map Suite GIS projects.

Map Suite Routing can quickly and easily plot routes based on a number of factors, such as shortest distance vs. fastest travel time, and can utilise a variety of algorithms including Dijkstra, A* and Bidirectional. It supports adding stops or waypoints along the route, can avoid areas by routing around shapes, and can generate turn-by-turn directions for driving or even pedestrian travel. It can also calculate service areas based on an average speed and a maximum travel time.

Additionally, Map Suite Routing builds upon the extensibility and customisation offered in Map Suite's core products by giving developers the ability to implement their own routing algorithms and data sources as needed. Map Suite developers can also generate routes based on custom conditions, limited only by the detail available in their data source.

Map Suite Routing comes with a complete set of sample applications, each with full source code, that enable developers to start routing with ease. In addition, the bundled Routing Explorer tool makes it easy to visualize routes with no work up front. Sample applications include "Get Fastest Path," "Avoiding Areas," "Turn-By-Turn Directions," plus many more. An illustrated QuickStart Guide is also provided.

MapRelate is a complementary component for AutoCAD that allows users to gain instant and direct access to their local or corporately held spatial data from within their native AutoCAD environment. This means a user can combine or overlay their design accurately against detailed spatial data, improving design precision and providing a simple solution for architects, engineers and data administrators to meet legal and customer obligations.

MapRelate Version 1.7 is primarily focussed on supporting the AutoCAD 2010 series from Autodesk (in addition to the 2008 and 2009 versions). MapRelate now includes enhanced data support with direct GML and OS MasterMap reading and support for ESRI personal GeoDatabases. It also has a range of functionality updates including:

- Elevation from attribute support (for contours)

- MPolygon support (configuration and drawing)

- File-based configuration support

- Removed requirement for 'regedit' privileges

- TextAsLine positioning and optimisation fixes

- Text configuration editing fix

- Text layer name dropped suffix fix

- Initial authentication from CAD launch fix

- Editable data sources in configuration

- Identity management for de-duplication (Single Document Interface Mode only)

Duncan Guthrie, Head of Enterprise Information at 1Spatial said: "MapRelate continues to be one of the most cost-effective solutions for spatial information access and visualisation in the CAD environment. This additional platform support and new functionality means that AutoCAD users working on the latest release can benefit from the CAD/GIS capabilities of MapRelate. "

To find out more about MapRelate and see the online demonstrations, visit the site.

For more information please contact Hayley Merrill.

Tel: +44 (0)1223 420414
Fax : +44 (0)1223 420044
Email : press@1spatial.com

Geoimage, a pivately owned Australian company specialising in satellite imagery, image processing and geospatial services is currently offering a discounted rate on orders placed for Quickbird satellite imagery placed before September 30th this year. The discounts are 50% off Quickbird archive imagery and Select Plus tasking and 25% off the standard Select Tasking.

Geoimage is a processor of imagery obtained via QuickBird - a high-resolution commercial earth observation satellite, owned by DigitalGlobe and launched in 2001. QuickBird uses Ball Aerospace's Global Imaging System 2000 and collects the second highest resolution commercial imagery of Earth after WorldView-1, and boasts the largest image size and the greatest on-board storage capacity of any satellite. The satellite collects panchromatic (black & white) imagery at 60-70 centimetre resolution and multispectral imagery at 2.4- and 2.8-metre resolutions.

At this resolution, detail such as buildings and other infrastructure are easily visible. The imagery can be imported into remote sensing image processing software, as well as into GIS packages for analysis.

The last of the 8 modernized Global Positioning System Block IIR (GPS IIR-M) satellites built by GPS IIR Satellite Lockheed Martin is set to launch August 17 from Cape Canaveral, Florida the firm announced. The first of the Block IIR satellites was launched in 1997. Lockheed Martin along with ITT originally built 21 IIR satellites. Later 8 of the IIR vehicles were modernized and designated GPS IIR-M.

The IIR-M GPS satellites produces a stronger signal, broadcasts 2 additional military signals, features enhanced encryption and anti-jamming capabilities for the military. The satellites also broadcast a second civilian signal on a different frequency.

Lockheed Martin is leading a team developing the next generation of GPS satellites, designated GPS III. This program is designed to improve position, navigation and timing services for both military and civil users worldwide. GPS III is currently in the Critical Design Review phase of the program, with launch of the first GPS IIIA satellite scheduled for 2014.

I am just confused on what really this structure that I found while playfully browsing the updated Bing maps. I found what looks like an underwater structure near the Pont Pierre-Laporte bridge in Quebec, Canada.

Bing image of the location of the monstrous structure (encircled):
I tried to look for it using Google Earth but could not find it.
Can anyone shed a light on what this structure really is? Below is the zoomed image. What is that? That doesn't look like a shadow to me.

Microsoft introduced the second major update to Bing Maps since the Cloud mapping, search and location service was rebranded at the end of May 2009. The latest refresh to what used to be Live Search Maps (Virtual Earth) brings to the table no less than 41 Terabytes of new imagery and map data. Chris Pendleton, the Virtual Earth technical evangelist for Microsoft, revealed that the update extended the coverage of Bing Maps by almost 190,000 square kilometers, over 10,000 of which are just Bird's Eye imagery.

“We just deployed 41TB of new satellite imagery, aerial photography and vector data for Bing Maps covering 189,000+ square kilometers of Earth including 12,000+ square kilometers of Bird’s Eye photography. Did we get your town this time? Check out the Bing Maps World Tour to sit back, relax and watch the Bing Maps Silverlight Control take you through every new local with new data. Alternatively, you can immerse yourself into the application and explore for yourself,” Pendleton said.
The previous update for Bing Maps was introduced in May 2009 and offered users no less than 248,000 sq. kilometers of new imagery. At that time, Microsoft did not indicate the size, in TB, of the refresh that was announced after Live Search Maps and Virtual Earth were rebranded to Bing Maps and Bing Maps for Enterprise.

June 2009 was also the month when the Redmond company introduced Bing Maps World Tour. Hosted on Microsoft's Cloud platform, Windows Azure, and powered by Silverlight, Bing Maps World Tour is designed to allow users to easily navigate just the newly added content, delivered through the latest updates of the service.

“Each month the Bing Maps platform releases significant imagery from around the globe. This month's tour showcases the latest release including new imagery for 164 locations in 38 countries such as Australia, Canada, Spain, Mexico, India, Korea, China and the United States,” reads the welcome message for Bing Maps World Tour. Users have the option to either watch a slideshow and get familiar with the new content or explore all the new imagery added with the July 2009 update by themselves.

Bing Maps users will also be able to “check out the newly updated vector data information for Japan. All new roads throughout the entire country,” Pendleton added.

Telogis, the leading global platform for enterprise location based services today announced the launch of GeoZone, a free resource for GeoBase developers. GeoBase is the company’s market leading geospatial engine – enabling mapping, routing and navigation on platforms ranging from mobile to server. Registered members of GeoZone gain access to the latest releases of the GeoBase SDK, sample map data, sample code, tutorials and whitepapers. Additionally, Telogis has assembled a premier list of partners from the Location Based Services (LBS) ecosystem to provide additional technical resources and samples of their products.

GeoZone is designed to be the central resource for application developers using the GeoBase platform. Augmenting the main GeoBase Software Development Kit (SDK) resources, the GeoZone contains additional technical information, design notes, sample applications and white papers for the GeoBase platform. Premier content providers contribute sample map data, satellite imagery and real-time traffic feeds. Hardware providers and wireless carriers supply technical information on their technologies and go to market strategies.

“Through strong relationships with leading companies within the LBS ecosystem, the GeoZone will provide the tools, information and data needed to create powerfully differentiated location-enhanced products and services,” said Newth Morris, President of Telogis’ GeoBase group. “Telogis will continue to expand the geographic reach and technical depth of content contained in our portal. No other developer portal offers such a comprehensive resource.”

The GeoBase SDK enables organizations to add sophisticated location functionality to business applications. Designed to bridge the divide between consumer–grade mapping engines and legacy GIS tools, GeoBase combines the scalability and elegance of new location technologies with the flexibility required in the enterprise. GeoBase supports logistics data sets, custom GIS layers, sophisticated routing, scalable location rule processing and a unified API, creating a single platform for routing, mapping and navigation in the enterprise.

LBS developers can register and begin developing at geozone.geobase.info. The automated approval process provides instant access to the tools and information available on the GeoZone.

UK-DMC2 satellite delivers first images just one week after launch.

Just over one week after the launch of the UK-DMC2 satellite on 29th July, the first full resolution commercial grade image has been acquired and processed.

This first image shows the states of Texas and Oklahoma, USA. The DMC satellites are specifically designed to image very large areas with rapid response and at regular intervals, as shown in this first multi-state image. The new satellites can image much larger areas in a single pass than the previous DMC satellites due to advances in on-board storage and high speed satellite downlinks to the Earth.

The quality of images acquired by the two new DMC satellites (UK-DMC2 and Deimos-1) is a significant improvement over those possible using the previous DMC satellites. The increased detail can be seen in a small section taken from the main wide area image, showing the runways and taxiways of Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. This is made possible by new sensors that detect twice the number of pixels per hectare to give a pixel size of 22 metres compared to 32m in the earlier satellites. Advances in optics and sensor technology have also made the images sharper and increased the depth of information.

SSTL mission control in Guildford, UK established communication with UK-DMC2 during its first pass, less than 2 hours after the satellite’s launch from Baikonur. In-orbit tests commenced immediately as each of the operating systems were activated, including the deployment of UK-DMC2’s additional solar panel. Within just one week, all the primary avionics systems have been commissioned and the first commercial grade 22m image acquired.

SSTL’s Executive Chairman, Sir Martin Sweeting, commented: “Acquiring UK-DMC2’s first image just a week after launch is outstanding and a credit to the 300 people at SSTL, each of whom is dedicated to securing mission success. We employ the most experienced team of small satellite engineers and operators in the world, which has enabled us to grow our business worldwide.”

UK-DMC2 was built in just 18 months from mission concept to a fully tested spacecraft ready for launch.

Spanish company Deimos Space has also announced the first image from its Deimos-1 spacecraft which was launched together with UK-DMC2. Both satellites were built by SSTL and will join the international DMC constellation to contribute image to disaster relief and commercial imaging campaigns, which are coordinated by SSTL’s subsidiary DMCii.

Paul Stephens, DMCii Sales and Marketing Director, commented: “In modern times it is important that satellites provide an immediate return on investment, and to have acquired and processed commercial grade imagery from both our new satellites just a week after launch is an excellent result. These latest DMC satellites are able to provide continuous high resolution imaging of very large areas in one pass, and deliver crisper 20 metre-class imagery with a wide 600 km swath to build on the daily imaging capability established by the first generation 30 metre resolution DMC satellites.”

Over the coming weeks the imaging systems onboard UK-DMC2 and Deimos-1 will be fully tested and characterised to validate their capabilities. The new data is already in demand for deforestation monitoring and precision agriculture campaigns and is expected to begin contributing to these commercial campaigns and disaster relief operations as soon as the imaging systems are fully commissioned.

The owners of UK-DMC2 and Deimos-1 have also agreed to donate a proportion of their imagery to international environmental research chosen by a panel of leading scientists.

To find out more about UK-DMC2, its future role in disaster relief and Earth observation visit www.sstl.co.uk/Missions/UK-DMC2.

The UAE's first satellite has transmitted its first series of UAE images from orbit, including a snapshot of the Palm Jebel Ali, according to a report.

The Emirates Institution for Advanced Science & Technology (EIAST) received the images from DubaiSat-1 yesterday.

The satellite, which achieved optimal orbit earlier this week, orbits the earth four times a day, sending images of the UAE as often as possible.

His Excellency Ahmed Al Mansoori, Director General of EIAST, said: "These quality images of relevant phenomena such as the Palm Jebel Ali are the first fruits of DubaiSat-1. After processing and analysis, the satellite's images will provide information and data that serve the UAE's development and assist in decision-making. EIAST will work with various government authorities and establishments to deliver the needed imaging."

Images from DubaiSat-1 can be used for a variety of applications from urban development, scientific research, telecommunications, transportation to civil engineering and constructions, mapping and GIS.

The goofy-looking tricycle equipped with loads of high-tech equipment roaming the streets is not some mad scientist's invention on the rampage. The three-wheeler is quite a sight with its long pole holding nine cameras, a GPS, a computer and a generator. But the contraption tooling around the French capital needs all that gear to do its job — adding three-dimensional images to Google's Street View Maps.

The U.S. company has hired two young cyclists to ride through gardens, historical sites and other pedestrian-only areas to take thousands of digital photos. The riders, wearing Google tee-shirts and white helmets, are visiting well-known sites such as the Chateau de Versailles, west of Paris, the Jardin du Luxembourg on the city's Left Bank and Les Halles, in the busy center of the French capital.

The company plans to add new photos to their Street View option in all French cities with tourist areas. Similar tricycles already combed the streets of Britain and Italy in June and July. Google plans to make 3-D maps of streets in other European countries, but the schedule has not yet been set.

When the camera snaps a photo, everything — faces and license plates included_ is in focus. Special software then blurs the picture. Spotted Friday at La Defense, the tricycle looked decidedly out of place at the modern high-rise business center on Paris' western edge.

A clunky white pole in the back holds an octagonal platform with eight cameras on the sides and one on top. Every minute, the cameras take bursts of high-definition photos to allow online users to get a virtual tour of the area. The photos of Paris and other major French cities to follow were expected to be available online by the end of the year.

The latest update for DAT/EM Systems Summit Evolution is now available. Version 5.1 can now be downloaded from DAT/EM Systems' website at "www.datem.com". This latest release includes updates for Summit Evolution, Landscape, and CAPTURE for ArcGIS, AutoCAD, and MicroStation. In addition, Release 5.1 is fully compatible with Windows VISTA 32-bit and Microsoft Windows XP (latest service pack). Most CAD interfaces are also available on 64-bit XP and VISTA, with the exceptions noted below.

Contact DAT/EM Systems International for more information on Summit Evolution features.

CAD Versions:

Release 5.1 has interfaces to the following 32-bit CAD versions:

AutoCAD: AutoDesk 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 products
MicroStation: MicroStation V8 and 2004 Edition
ArcGIS: ArcMap 9.1, 9.2 and 9.3

Available in the next release: AutoCAD 2008 and 2009 64-bit operating system interface.

DAT/EM release 5.1 offers a beta interface for XM or V8i if it is installed on your computer. If you decide to use the beta interface, please report testing results to:

Tanya J. Ramsey
DAT/EM Systems International
Tel.:907-522-3681
Fax:907-522-3688
Web: www.datem.com

The Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) announces that it will hold a Spatial Law and Policy Summit at The Westin Washington, D.C. City Center on October 7, 2009. Professionals from the government and private sector whose work involves laws and policies related to geospatial technology are invited to register and attend.

This unprecedented event will feature talks and panel discussions by experts familiar with the wide range of legal and policy issues associated with growth in consumer and business applications of geospatial systems, software and services. The growing use of Earth browsers, satellite navigation devices in cars and PDA’s, location-based services associated with cell phones, business intelligence, social networking and satellite tracking of vehicles and equipment raises a number of issues concerning privacy, intellectual property rights, liability, and national security. As the speakers will explain, in many cases, the existing legal and policy framework is inadequate to provide governments, businesses and consumers clear guidance on these issues.

The Summit will be chaired by OGC director and Executive Committee member Kevin Pomfret, a Richmond, Virginia based attorney who has written and spoken extensively on spatial law and technology.

To learn more, visit the OGC Spatial Law and Policy Summit website at http://www.opengeospatial.org/event/091007ets.

IceWEB, Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of INLINE Corporation, has begun commercial shipping of their new MLP ManPac III portable Geospatial Information Server. The device, along with new optional expansion storage accessories is available to commercial and federal clients and Channel Partners immediately.

The “Modular Lightweight Portable” MLP ManPAC III is specifically designed for advanced Geospatial applications where organisations such as Utilities, Military, First Responders and Oil/Gas Exploration must have rapidly deployable “grab-and-fly” advanced Geospatial server/client capabilities. Organisations that must work with such data in geographically remote areas, or in mobile team environments benefit significantly from the flexibility and portability of the ManPac III.

The Company also announced that the new MLP supports modular external Raid canisters, a first to market feature which not only allows the storage on the ManPac III units to scale upwards of 50 Terabytes, but more importantly allows remote users to swap out / interchange multiple large GIS data sets to keep pace with changing ground situations and needs.

Integrity Logic announced the release of Geology TX, the Texas version of the GIS (Geographic Information System) for the iPhone platform. This initial release focuses on the physical geography and geology of Texas, and contains 21 layers of information, which can be superimposed, mixed and rearranged in any desired combination.

Like its sister application Geology CA, which covers California, Geology TX contains a number of data layers which can be combined and moved in any desired way:

• geological map from the U.S. Geological Service
• states outline of Texas and adjacent states
• land elevation from NASA
• ocean bathymetry from NOAA
• all 92 Texas earthquakes in recorded history with a magnitude of 3.0 or greater
• recent and ancient faults
• county lines, USGS quadrangles
• UTM zones, state plane zones
• urban areas, hydrological features
• cities, roads and railroad tracks
• active mines and quarries
• all available potassium/argon dates
• vegetation zones
• river basins
• main aquifers

Geology TX is a completely self-contained application, which does not require any Internet access. This is critical for anyone who needs access to this information when out of cellular range, in the field. Geology TX can use the iPhone's built-in GPS and the iPod's location service, and can also capture high-definitions maps, which can be retrieved from the device's photo album. The application is available immediately in the Apple App Store and is priced for a limited time at $4.99.

What is the LAS Format?

The LAS file format is a public file format for the interchange of 3-dimensional point cloud data data between data users. Although developed primarily for exchange of LIDAR point cloud data, this format supports the exchange of any 3-dimensional x,y,z tuplet. This binary file format is a alternative to proprietary systems or a generic ASCII file interchange system used by many companies. The problem with proprietary systems is obvious in that data cannot be easily taken from one system to another. There are two major problems with the ASCII file interchange. The first problem is performance because the reading and interpretation of ASCII elevation data can be very slow and the file size can be extremely large, even for small amounts of data. The second problem is that all information specific to the LIDAR data is lost. The LAS file format is a binary file format that maintains information specific to the LIDAR nature of the data while not being overly complex.

The LAS 1.3 Specification was approved by the ASPRS Board on July 14, 2009 and is the most recent version of the document. Work on LAS 2.0 was previously suspended but was restarted in August 2009. To download a copy of LAS 1.3, go to ASPRS LAS 1.3 Format Specification, July 14, 2009 (PDF-113K)

Go to www.lasformat.org to register for a unique key.

The State of Nevada is taking proactive steps to maximize broadband availability to Nevadans in its decision to use GIS technology to create detailed maps of state broadband coverage. The maps will be created by Connected Nation, a nonprofit organization, using ESRI GIS software, and will provide a platform for prioritising new broadband projects in the state.

Connected Nation has worked with Kentucky, Ohio, Minnesota, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, and—most recently—Texas to promote access to and use of high-speed Internet connections. The first step in its approach is to create a complete picture of a state's gaps in broadband coverage by way of intelligent map products that combine broadband service provider data with detailed, street-level maps and local demographics. Analysis using ESRI ArcGIS technology identifies optimum areas for development potential at the street, household, and census block levels.

ESRI's Web-enabled ArcGIS Server makes it possible to share these maps on the Internet with interactive capabilities, which gives service providers, businesses, and consumers a way to access the information and verify or challenge the reported coverage areas. Connected Nation also offers a toll-free telephone hotline for consumers without Internet access.

Avenza Systems Inc., producers of MAPublisher cartographic software for Adobe Illustrator and Geographic Imager spatial tools for Adobe Photoshop, is pleased to announce that the Civil Engineering and Geoinformation department at Beuth University of Berlin (Beuth Hochschule für Technik Berlin), formerly Technische Fachhochschule in Berlin Germany has deployed multiple licenses of both MAPublisher and Geographic software for use in their cartography and GIS labs.

"We are using both programs (MAPublisher & Geographic Imager) in the Bachelor degree courses for Cartography and Geomedia and in the Master degree course Acquisition and Visualization of Geodata. Both programs provide very valuable functions within the intersecting area of GIS, remote sensing and cartography", said Dr. Ursula Ripke of the university’s cartographic laboratory. "We have found that both programs are essential for our work especially for satellite image based cartography", she added.

Avenza’s products will be primarily used in the software lab by staff and students towards their degrees as well as in faculty-student collaborative research projects. All users will be able to take advantage of the graphics capabilities of MAPublisher, Geographic Imager and Adobe Creative Suite to produce high-quality maps and work with spatial imagery.

More about MAPublisher and Geographic Imager

MAPublisher is powerful map production software for creating cartographic-quality maps from GIS data. Developed as a suite of plug-ins for Adobe Illustrator, MAPublisher leverages the superior graphics capabilities of this graphics design software for working with GIS data and producing high-quality maps with efficiency. Full details and downloadable demo versions are available at www.avenza.com.

Geographic Imager is powerful software for working with spatial imagery in Adobe Photoshop that leverages the superior image editing capabilities of this powerful raster-based image-editing software.

Geoinformation Department at Beuth University
Tel: 49-030- 4504-2026
Email: Email Contact
Web: www.beuth-hochschule.de

The personal navigation market is growing rapidly and the downloadable applications for the top-rated Apple iPhone are creating a wide array of choices for the consumer. The XRoad G-Map, the first on-board navigation application that can locate the current position and navigate to a destination without Wi-Fi and internet connection, got a jump start when they launched the very first turn-by-turn GPS navigation system for the iPhone late in 2008 to excellent reviews.

The updated Version 1.3.1 G-Map for US West and East compatible with the iPhone 3.0 was released in July with new features and fixes, such as real-time turn-by-turn route guidance, pinch in/out function for map zoom in and out, and a list of exits and intersections to the destination.

Major Feature Summary:

-- Real 3D View of intricate major urban intersections and highway
junctions of 185 metro areas as shown at the WWDC 2009 presentation by
Apple
-- Point on Map: Point to any place on a map and detailed information
will appear. Whatever the destination, G-Map will find it and plot your
route on the map.
-- Powerful keyword search engine similar to Google search using keywords
-- Very intuitive & easy-to-use UI
-- Superb UI design perfectly matches iPhone style
-- Navteq Map Data
-- Diverse geographical options for customers' need (US East, US West,
single or two State version, and more)
-- Special cradle for iPhone that enhances iPhone's GPS reception and
charges the battery (will be coming within a few months)
-- AI (Artificial Intelligence) routing
-- Display your own favorites and POI icon on the View Map
-- POI editing and memo capability for personalized POI
-- Flexible trip planning by adding as many waypoints as possible when
creating route
-- Reverse routing function


G-Map has been available in the App Store for about six months and compares very favorably to some of the other systems recently brought to market. Comparison Chart of features in G-Map vs. AT&T vs. Navigon -- download the pdf.

G-Map US East and West are available for download from the iPhone App Store for a one-time cost of $34.95. The Canada version is $19.99.