GIS in Education

Free Geography Tools posted the latest update of the Portable GIS. The site confirmed the released of the free downloadable Portable GIS 2.0 by Jo Cook of Oxford Archaeology. "GIS on a USB Stick" is a suite of portable GIS programs that could be installed on a thumb drive and run from any computer.

Features:

* gvSIG (1.1.2)
* Quantum GIS (1.02)
* Grass (accessed through Quantum GIS)
* PostgreSQL (8.4.01)
* PostGIS (1.4.0)
* Xampplite: PHP, MySQL, Apache (1.6.2)
* Geoserver (1.7.6)
* FWTools: ogr, gdal, python, mapserver, openEV (2.4.2)

Plus a bunch of new apps for 2.0:

* Tilecache (2.10)
* Featureserver (1.12)
* PgAdmin III (1.10)
* OpenLayers (2.8)
* uDig (1.1.1)
* SqlSync (cross-platform database synchronization)
* Shp2Text (converts shapefiles into csv, with coordinate columns)
* Ogr2Gui (GUI for OGR toolkit)
* ShapeChecker (Checks and fixes corrupt shape files)
* GeoMetadataExtractor (extracts metadata from georeferenced images)
* libgeoGUI (extracts and embeds worldfiles and metadata to/from GeoTiffs)

Check it out. Download for free Portable GIS version 2!

ESRI's Jesse Theodore describes the role geographic information systems (GIS) played in managing security at the USA's biggest and most famous American football game.

One of the world's biggest football games — attended by tens of thousands of fans and watched by millions around the globe — involves much more than three-plus hours of competition.

For two weeks before the Super Bowl, the host city becomes a sports mecca. Dozens of pregame events occur in multiple locations, including TV shows, media events, National Football League (NFL)-hosted activities, fan celebrations, and parties. With all these high-profile gatherings under way, the community can become a target for all kinds of disruptive and destructive activities. Multiple law enforcement organizations and other government agencies must plan far in advance to provide the security that makes such a major sporting event a safe and enjoyable experience for fans.

To prepare for last February's Super Bowl, the City of Tampa, Florida, including the city's police department, spent years laying the groundwork for a security information system that would give officials up-to-the-minute situational awareness.
Geographic information system (GIS) software —specifically, ArcGIS from ESRI—played a winning role in that system.

The software was fully integrated with ESRI business partner Digital Sandbox, Inc.'s Risk Analysis Center (RAC) software, a primary security information system that linked the Emergency Command Center and more than 10 command posts located throughout Tampa with real-time data and analysis about security threats.

The two systems worked seamlessly to supply the Tampa Unified Incident Command staff, manned primarily by Tampa police, with a map-based common operating picture (COP) and enhanced situational awareness for monitoring events on the ground as they happened. What once involved many systems working independently became a seamless platform of intelligence and analytic tools.

"The ability to integrate GIS with our risk management solution supplied a unique situational awareness capability," said Anthony F. Beverina, president and cofounder, Digital Sandbox. "Instead of pockets of knowledge or separate information flows, there was one complete framework benefiting the many different agencies managing security. The speed of information capture and exchange was many times faster than what was previously available."

The geographic information system in tourism will be put into operation by mid-2010, said Director of Business Development of Sinam company, Islam Ahmadov, told Trend Capital.

According to Ahamadov, currently the company works on data collection of tourist accommodation facilities, which will be reflected on an Azerbaijani electronic map. Virtual base, which will combine operations while working with databases, will be created with the benefits of a full-fledged visualization.

The project will be employed via the GPS (Global Position System). The entire tourist sites will be equipped with the GPS terminals that will accurately determine the coordinates and the location of tourist facilities.

The project on the geographic information system (GIS system) will allow users of search system to receive more detailed information about tourist sites via the Internet. The system will be based on a special Internet portal.

The project will be realized upon the order of the Culture and Tourism Ministry.

According to 3 news, the murky issue of recreational access to public and privately owned land is about to become much clearer with the creation of an extensive online mapping system.

The new scheme was outlined in a draft strategy out today and aims to stop meandering hunters, fishers and walkers from going where they are not welcome.

“This walking access proposal will be about clearly marking where people have every right to be,” says Agriculture Minister David Carter.

The extensive map will include contact details for all land owners with the aim of making it much easier to seek permission for access.

“The farmers have said all along they wanted to be asked for permission, but it’s damn hard often to find out who the owner is,” says Bryce Johnson.

Farmers say if they know who is on the property, they can better protect their business and the visitors.

“If the farmer doesn't know they're there, or he's let a mate go hunting, it can lead to accidents and death and a very expensive Search and Rescue operation,” says Chris Sundstrum from Federated Farmers.

The new strategy won't be much help to those heading to the outdoors this summer though. The commission will spend the rest of the year in consultation and hopes to have a pilot scheme for the new mapping system in place sometime next year.

China has completed a high-resolution, 3D map of the entire surface of the moon, in an important step towards a future lunar landing, an expert involved in the project said Tuesday.

After putting its first man into space in 2003 -- only the third nation to do so -- China is aiming to launch an unmanned rover on the moon's surface by 2012 and a manned mission to the moon by around 2020.

The map was made using image data obtained by a camera on Chang'e 1, China's first lunar probe, Liu Xianlin of the Chinese Academy of Surveying and Mapping, who headed the project review panel, told AFP.

Liu called the achievement an important step for China along the path towards a future lunar landing.

China plans to launch a second lunar probe in October 2010, which will generate a map of an even higher resolution, according to Liu.

The October 6 launch of DigitalGlobe Inc.'s WorldView-2 satellite has been rescheduled for October 8. The launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base near Lompoc, Calif. was delayed two days because of delays incurred for the Delta II launch vehicle that will carry the satellite.

WorldView-2 is the third satellite Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., a subsidiary of Broomfield-based Ball Corp. (NYSE: BLL), built for Longmont-based DigitalGlobe. DigitalGlobe provides high-resolution imagery satellites for commercial, defense and intelligence uses.

The imagery satellite should allow DigitalGlobe provide more-accurate images faster while more-frequently refreshing the images.

Longmont-based DigitalGlobe is provider of commercial, high-resolution, world-imagery products and services for defense and intelligence, government and commercial clients.

Intermap Technologies today announced at INTERGEO 2009 the release of the Company’s new elevation shaded image (ESI) product for Germany. Intermap has partnered with GeoContent GmbH, a provider in Germany of aerial photography and geospatial information, to create the high-resolution ESI product.

The Company said the ESI product for Germany combines the characteristics of GeoContent’s optical images with the high-resolution shaded relief of Intermap’s NEXTMap digital elevation data. The result is a topographic visualization that's ideal for manufacturers of personal navigation devices, in-dash navigation systems, and other applications benefiting from advanced visualization images.

“Users of navigation devices and systems employing our ESI product will be able to identify their current location and how to get to their desired destination much more quickly, reliably, and intuitively than with traditional maps or shaded relief products,” said Tony Brown, vice president of data products for Intermap Technologies. “The 1-meter vertical accuracy of our underlying NEXTMap elevation data enables an extraordinary experience – whether it’s a hike in the Bavarian Alps or a drive on the Autobahn – that can’t be duplicated with less-precise map data.”

The Company stated that ESIs will ultimately be created for every NEXTMap coverage area, including all of Western Europe and the United States.

The world's first commercial, high-resolution, Earth imaging satellite, IKONOS, achieved its 10th year of operation on Sept. 24. Built by Lockheed Martin, the satellite continues to provide high-resolution imagery of the Earth to commercial and government customers around the world. IKONOS is owned and operated by GeoEye of Dulles, VA

The spacecraft collects 0.82-meter resolution black-and-white imagery while simultaneously collecting four-meter resolution multispectral data. These map-accurate images are used for applications in land management, environmental monitoring, local and regional government, national security, disaster relief, and many other geospatial applications.

The 2009 "cool schools" ranking listed 135 colleges and universities across the U.S. that are considered "Greenest Universities." judged to be doing the most to help the planet. The judging was based from efficiency, energy, food usage, academics, purchasing, transportation, waste, and administration.

ESRI GIS Education has come up with the "Greenest Universities" database that you can download for free and map patterns that you want to see and study yourself.

File details:

Topic: Life/Environ Sciences
GIS Level: Beginning
Target Audience: University Undergraduate
Geographic Scale: National
Location: USA
File Size: 10.58 MB
File Type: ZIP (compressed file)

Download the zipped database from ESRI.

Using concept3d, Boston University made a 3D models of the entire campus with a custom informational Google Map.

Video: Monopoly City Streets + Google Earth + EtreProprio.com

Check this out! Google Earth launches climate simulator tool! Former U.S. Vice Pres. Al Gore is now promoting a video for new emissions scenario features that is developed by Google Earth. The video promo coincides with Copenhagen climate conference.

According to Google official blog:

In collaboration with the Danish government and others, we are launching a series of Google Earth layers and tours to allow you to explore the potential impacts of climate change on our planet and the solutions for managing it. Working with data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), we show on Google Earth the range of expected temperature and precipitation changes under different global emissions scenarios that could occur throughout the century. Today we are unveiling our first climate tour on Google Earth: "Confronting Climate Change," with narration by Al Gore. Stay tuned for more tours in the coming weeks!

Together with the Danish government, we're also launching our YouTube COP15 channel. On the channel, you can submit your thoughts and questions on climate change to decision-makers and the world through an initiative called "Raise Your Voice." These videos will be broadcast on screens around the conference in December and rated by viewers of the channel. The top-rated contributions will be aired globally during the COP15 CNN/YouTube debate on December 15th, and the top two submissions will win a trip to Copenhagen. We look forward to seeing your videos!

SuperField 3 is designed for lightweight field-workers who require basic GIS tools to proceed with the basic data collection, measurement, GPS position, and etc. in the field.

SuperField 3 provides various basic and necessary GIS tools as well as the easy, intuitive and human manipulation mode. The advantages mentioned above not only simplify the operation actions and shorten the time of being familiar with the system but also satisfy your needs. In addition, SuperField 3 with stylish interface can display numerous buttons and toolbars without possessing much map display space. Therefore, you can have an easy-to-use operation environment to significantly improve the work efficiency.

SuperField 3 also provides various GPS tools to assist you in handling the current coordinate position, and theses tools can be the base of editing and survey as well.

Due to the user-friendly operation environment and out-of-the-box tools, SuperField 3 is the most appropriate mobile GIS software for the users who do not have the demands of updating data immediately and only need basic survey tools.

Main Features
Designed to be easy to use, SuperField 3 is provided with many features for basic field-based work.

Easy-to-Use User Interface
SuperField 3 has the easy-to-use user interface, enabling users to shorten the time of being familiar with the interface to manipulate proficiently. Besides, the human interface design efficiently uses the limited screen space of mobile devices and facilitates users to switch tool buttons among the different toolbar button groups.

Out-of-the-box GIS tools
Numerous out-of-the-box GIS tools can provide you with basic GIS capabilities in the field, such as map navigation, feature editing, measurement, attribute query etc. For those who only need some basic GIS functionalist, SuperField 3, the cost-effective and practical Mobile GIS software, can totally fit the needs at work.

Various GPS Tools
As for the field-based personnel, nowadays, GPS has been one of the necessary equipments. SuperField 3 provides diversified GPS tools to be the assistance for GPS positioning, creating waypoints etc. Field-workers, therefore, are able to have current positions to provide the accurate navigation or to add new features by GPS.

Seamlessly Install into Mobile Devices Supporting .NET CF
SuperField 3 is based on SuperGIS Mobile Engine 3 so that SuperField 3 can be implemented in all of mobile devices supporting .NET CF 2.0 SP2 and higher. This advantage can effectively avoid the incompatibilities between software and hardware and increase the extensibility of operating platforms.

The Most Competitive Price
SuperField 3 will be offered at the most competitive price to the users who only demand basic tools and do not need to update the data immediately or use the advanced tools. Users can use cost-effective way to purchase the most appropriate mobile GIS software instead of the full-function software.

Download the free 30-day trial version.

The US National Aeronautical Space Agency (NASA) has said that a mapping sensor aboard India's Chandrayaan satellite has found water on the Lunar surface.

The Chandrayaan Moon mission detecting evidence of water on the lunar surface could lead to new questions on the origins of life.

The data sources by the Chandrayaan show water may be actively moving around on the surface of the moon. Carle Pieters of Brown University in Rhode Island and his colleagues reviewed data from India's Chandrayaan 1 mission -- India's first mission to the moon -- and found some evidence of water.

Two NASA probes called Deep Impact and Cassini also found evidence of water, according to experts. This find will prompt a reexamination of the moon and its origins as well.

Next month, NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite or LCROSS mission will try to detect water by deliberately crashing a large spacecraft onto the moon.

Amitabha Ghosh, a NASA scientist involved in studying Mars, said, "It is a very significant finding if we ever are to venture out to set up a base anywhere in the solar system, moon is the nearest destination."

"We just hope that the water is plenty enough and easily extractable so that you can have purification process for human use. This is potentially a very big discovery for this country," Ghosh said.

Former ISRO Chairman and member Planning Commission K Kasturirangan said the discovery was very significant.

"Water is very important, ultimately in the long run if humankind has to go and habitate the moon, one of the important requirements is that you should have adequate water for survival," said Kasturirangan, under whose leadership the Chandrayaan mission was conceived in 2003.

The Rs 386-crore craft was launched on October 22 last year and terminated on August 30 following a communication failure. One of the mission’s main goals was to sniff for water.

What does this discovery mean?

Firstly, it shows that the moon is hydrated .also water could have come from water-bearing comets striking the surface. Water may also have come from the interaction of the solar wind with moon rocks and soils. This solar wind is made of mostly protons, or positively charged hydrogen atoms which hit the lunar surface and break apart oxygen bonds in soil materials.

What next?

This find could also spark research into colonization of the moon. It could spark quest to find life on the moon and NASA is slated to deliberately crash a large spacecraft onto the moon to check for life.

Weeks after the ambitious Chandrayaan moon mission was called off, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Wednesday (September 23) successfully launched seven satellites in 1200 seconds with clockwork precision. ISRO placed in orbit seven satellites including Oceansat-2 within a span of 20 minutes, its first successful mission after the abrupt end of the ambitious Chandrayaan-I project.

t the end of the 51-hour countdown, the 44.4 meter tall four-stage PSLV-C14 blasted off from the first launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre here with ignition of the core first stage and put the satellites in orbit one after another.

Scientists cheered as ISRO's workhorse, PSLV soared majestically into clear skies at 11.51 AM from the spaceport in the East Coast in Andhra Pradesh, about 100 km north of Chennai, with the launch watched by Vice President Hamid Ansari.

Oceansat-2, the country's 16th remote sensing satellite, will identify potential fishing zones, sea state forecasting and coastal zone studies, besides providing inputs on weather forecasting and climate studies. A set of six nano satellites rode piggyback accompanying Oceansat-2 on its trip to orbit.

Ansari and senior scientist M G K Menon, who were present in the mission centre, congratulated ISRO scientists soon after the successful launch.

Besides two German Rubin nano satellites, other Oceansat-2 co-passengers are four cubesats: Beesat, built by Technical University Berlin, UWE-2 (University of Wuerzburg Germany), ITU-pSat(Istanbul Technical University Turkey) and SwissCube-1 (Ecole Polytechnique Federal de Lausanne, Switzerland).

ISRO Chairman G Madhavan Nair, addressing scientists, described it as "a perfect and precise launch." Congratulating space scientists for the fantastic achievement, Nair said, “The Oceansat-2 reached the orbit at the exact time and the mission has been successfully carried out. I am proud of my entire team and this would not have been possible without them. Through this mission the maturity of the PSLV has been demonstrated once again. The satellite launched today is a great boon to ocean community and fishermen in our country. The PM too has conveyed his appreciation and congratulations on to all the ISRO members.”

An in-orbit replacement to Oceansat-1, which was used to study physical and biological aspects of oceanography, Oceansat-2 will have a mission life of five years. Oceansat-1 has completed 10 years of space odyssey.

The nano satellites, in the two-eight kg range, are educational spacecraft from European Universities intended to test new technologies. Oceansat-2 was injected into space first and the remaining were placed in orbit one after another, officials said.

The eight band Ocean Colour Monitor carried by Oceansat-2 images a swath (strip of land or ocean) of 1,420 km with a resolution of 360 metres and works in the visible and Near infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The Scatterometer covers a swath of 1,400 km and operates continuously.

Oceansat-2, India's second satellite will study oceans as well as interaction of oceans and atmosphere and is the 16th remote sensing satellite of India. It is in the shape of a cuboid with two solar panels projecting from its sides. The satellite will map fishing zones around India, measure ocean surface wind speeds as well as atmospheric temperature and humidity.

This was PSLV's 16th mission. From September 1993 to April 2009, PSLV has been launched 15 times. Fourteen launches have been successful continuously while only one has failed so far.

[via] Thanks to a Geographic Information System recently installed on the town's website, town officials, land use boards, residents and others can readily access maps and other information about local properties.

In fact, they can tap into information about properties in other towns as well.

A GIS integrates, stores, edits, analyzes, shares and displays geographic information.

It is a vehicle for organizing a town's inventory and allows people to visualize the assets of the town.

The town acquired the program via a Federal Transportation Fund grant obtained by the Council of Governments of the Central Naugatuck Valley.

Oxford is one of eight towns in the 13-town region that now has the system.

The database contains 5,704 maps with information that can be updated, reproduced and distributed.

The aerial maps were provided to the company by AT&T.

The work cost COG $36,000.

To access the information, residents need only visit the town's website, www.oxford-ct.gov, and tap into the appropriate link. Or residents can visit www.cogcnvgis.com and click on "Oxford."

The GIS industry worldwide growth may slow down in 2009, but it will grow over next 5 years.

The worldwide market for Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) is forecast to grow 50% over the next five years, representing a compound annual growth rate of 9.3%, according to a new ARC Advisory Group study. GIS market revenues will be driven in the near future by continued worldwide spending in non-cyclical industries such as electric power, oil and gas distribution, and divisions of federal governments. Growth in the mid to latter years of the forecast period will be driven by increased adoption of GIS in emerging markets such as Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East; and a return to spending in North America and Europe by industries hardest hit by the global economic downturn.

GeospatialMany publicly traded enterprise software suppliers external to the GIS market have already reported substantial reductions in 2009 revenues. “However, GIS software differs from other enterprise software markets due to the extensive sales to businesses in non-cyclical sectors such as utilities and government. Therefore, the economic downturn’s effect on the GIS market is expected to be subdued in comparison to the downturn’s effect on other enterprise software markets,” according to Clint Reiser, Enterprise Software Analyst, and the principal author of ARC’s “Geospatial Information Systems Worldwide Outlook”.

Electric Power Adopts GIS as Smart Grid Platform
The transmission and distribution operations of the electric power industry have adopted GIS solutions as the standard platform technology for the management of their networks. GIS sales to this vital industry are predicted to experience above average growth due to the expansion and ongoing management of electric power infrastructure in emerging economies and increased investment resulting from the Smart Grid initiative in the United States. The Smart Grid initiative will introduce distributed generation and new devices into the electric power grid. This will require substantial network reengineering. GIS is the likely technology to be used for the design, analysis, and ongoing management of the new network configuration. These evolving requirements are expected to increase the level of GIS adoption, upgrade, and modification within the electric power industry.

Emerging Technologies Reshape the GIS Market
The deployment of GIS server solutions, or “Enterprise GIS”, has grown considerably over the last decade. As a result, GIS has become accessible to numerous employees across an organization in sectors such as government and utilities. Over the same period, mobile GIS has become more prevalent and shows promise for increased adoption in network design and maintenance functions. More recently, the use of web services and cloud computing have become emerging trends within the industry. Spatial analysis capabilities in conjunction with customer demographic data and other general data sets are already being delivered to the market through the software-as-a-service (SaaS) model. The continuing adoption of mobile GIS, the SaaS delivery model, and other forms of cloud computing have great potential to transform and expand segments of the GIS market in the near future.

For more information on this study, please visit the Market Research Section.

Fife Council has launched an online mapping tool aimed at providing better information to the public about local services.

Following a pilot scheme, the tool went live earlier this month. Its initial function is to provide information about the draft consultative Fife Core Paths Plan.

Ken Campbell, from Fife's corporate geographic information systems (GIS) team, said: "This kind of interactive mapping provides users with much more detailed information than they are able to see in the overview maps that we used before.

"The tool has already helped us to improve the consultation processes for core paths. It shows detailed plans for the current proposals for core paths and provides a direct link into the online consultation forms with a precise location that helped us to respond to the consultation more effectively."

He added: "More generally, the new mapping tool means we can now publish many other different kinds of information online, such as helping with reporting faults, or checking school catchments."

The cost of the tool was kept to a minimum as the council adopted open source software to develop it.

Intermap Technologies, a global digital mapping company, today announced the availability of its AccuTerra App on the App Store. The AccuTerra App offers iPhone users the ability to purchase and download detailed map bundles covering millions of square miles of the contiguous United States and Hawaii, including special national and state parks. AccuTerra by Intermap was named best iPhone OS 3.0 Beta App by Apple at its 2009 World Wide Developer Conference.

The AccuTerra App is a robust GPS navigation app that fully leverages the In-App purchase functionality of iPhone OS 3.1 to allow users to purchase additional map content on the fly. The app uses Wi-Fi connectivity to load highly detailed map content directly on the device and leverages the iPhone’s GPS capabilities to allow outdoor enthusiasts to use the app anywhere – even where there is no network coverage available.

“The NEXTMap database created by Intermap coupled with our extensive experience with enterprise and government mapping and the revolutionary power of the iPhone OS allows us to best serve recreational outdoor enthusiasts who want to make the most out of their adventures,” said Michael Bullock, vice president, Intermap Consumer Electronics. “We're proud to have developed a superior app that loads maps for millions of square miles of America’s national and state parks, monuments, forests, and many other recreation areas, while also providing the user with the ability to easily capture and share their experiences in the great outdoors."

The AccuTerra App allows hikers, bikers, sportsmen, climbers, and casual outdoor enthusiasts who own an iPhone to view their topographic surroundings with a degree of detail previously unavailable, while allowing them to track their adventures and share with friends and family. The app tags photos and the location they were taken during an adventure and easily stores and shares the entire experience via email or posting directly to Facebook. Additionally, once the adventure is over, the AccuTerra Walking Tour feature lets the user replay the entire adventure directly from their iPhone.

The AccuTerra GPS App is available for $0.99 from the App Store on iPhone or at www.itunes.com/appstore/. Using the In-App Purchasing feature, users can access a Map Store to download map data bundled in a variety of packages; state bundles, state and national park bundles, and special interest areas across the country. Map bundle prices range from $.99 to $2.99 and are automatically integrated with neighboring areas as additional bundles are purchased.

Team Earth is a worldwide sustainability movement that unites businesses, non-profit organizations, and individuals to address five critical environmental issues: climate change, water, health, waste and food. The initiative urges individual actions and presents easy solutions to ensure a more sustainable world.

Team Earth is represented by three non-profit organizations: Conservation International, Rocky Mountain Institute and Prince's Rainforest Project. Founding companies include Dell, Harrah's, SC Johnson, Starbucks, and Wrigley, and PepsiCo China, ePals and Marriott International are also participating.

Team Earth is committed to recruiting individuals to save the world's forests, a vital element in preventing climate change, by signing up for the Prince's Rainforest Project campaign at the Team Earth beta site, www.teamearth.com. The Prince's Rainforest Project, established by The Prince of Wales, calls for emergency action and funding in order to achieve a fast and significant reduction in tropical deforestation by helping rainforest nations to focus instead on alternative, more environmentally friendly (low carbon) economic development activities. By signing up, Team Earth members add their voice to the many calling for urgent action to fight climate change by saving forests.

The official Team Earth web site will launch in November 2009 and will include social networking functionalities, educational content, environmental impact measuring tools and more.

Join Team Earth - Are you in?

Connect with peers. Learn from MATLAB experts. Online.

Join MATLAB product experts and fellow users to see the latest features in the MATLAB product family, learn how to solve your current engineering challenges, and network with colleagues from around the globe—all without leaving your desk.

The MATLAB Virtual Conference 2009 will offer sessions for users with any level of MATLAB expertise. Attendees can select from four concurrent conference tracks:

• Do You Speak MATLAB? is for new or inexperienced MATLAB users

• So You Think You Know MATLAB? is for experienced users looking to learn more about the MATLAB product family

• How Far Can You Take MATLAB? is for anyone interested in seeing how to use MATLAB in innovative ways as part of the design and development process

• MATLAB Enabled Campus is for professors and researchers who want to learn more about integrating MATLAB across their institution

Date: October 14, 2009
Time: 7:00 a.m. EDT

Note: Each live presentation will include 15 minutes for Q&A. Register here.

Integrity Logic released of Geology WA, the latest version of the GIS (Geographic Information System) for the iPhone/iPod platform, covering Washington state and Oregon. This release focuses on the physical geography and geology of the Pacific Northwest states, and contains 25 layers of information, which can be superimposed, mixed and rearranged in any desired combination.

Like its sister applications Geology CA, Geology TX, Geology NY and Geology FL, Geology WA contains a wide array of data layers which can be combined and moved in any desired way:

- geological map from the U.S. Geological Service
- public land ownership (local, state, federal)
- states outlines
- all 1,930 earthquakes in recorded history with a magnitude of 3.0 or above
- seismic hazard
- land elevation from NASA
- ocean bathymetry from NOAA
- hydrologic units
- county lines, USGS quadrangles
- UTM zones, state plane zones
- township and range
- urban areas, hydrological features
- cities, roads and railroad tracks
- active mines and quarries
- all available potassium/argon dates
- main aquifers
- old faults and active faults
- plate boundaries
- volcanoes and volcanic features

Geology WA 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. It 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.

SumbandilaSat was successfully launched on 17 September at 17:55:09 CAT (Central African Time) after the launch had to be postponed twice, once due to heavy winds and the second attempt due to the fuel pressure in the feed line which was four times too low and thus caused the fueling process to take too long to be completed in time for launch.

The satellite was released from the rocket while over the Antarctic and accessed by the ground station at the Stellenbosch University ten minutes later when the first command was sent to 'wake up' the satellites. Despite the low elevation orbit of less than 10 degrees SumbandilaSat responded well with its first telemetry.

Earlier in September a team of SunSpace Engineers unpacked the satellite at the Baikonur launch facility in Kazakhstan and carried out a full systems test. All systems performed to specification. The amateur radio payload was tested from a little distance to check radio signal levels. All three systems, the voice beacon, the parrot repeater and the VHF/UHF FM repeater performed flawlessly.

Next SumbandilaSat was integrated on the launch platform and made ready for launch. Prior to the assembly being transported to the launch platform, the batteries were given their last top-up.

An intensive period of payload qualification will now follow during which each system will be tested. This is expected to take up to 3 months after which the command will shift to the CSIR’s Satellite Application Centre at Hartebeeshoek, north of Pretoria.

Southern African Amateur Radio Satellite Association (SA AMSAT).

Join the 4th International Conference "Earth from Space – the Most Effective Solutions" and learn more on the space technology development trends based on space imaging. The conference will be in Moscow, Russia on December 1 - 3, 2009.

Topics: Plenary sessions and poster presentations are to be held highlighting the following topics:

1 - Russian and foreign remote sensing programs

* Satellite system operators:

- Optical scanner (panchromatic, multispectral and hyperspectral);
- Radar data;
* Data access:
- Near-real time access to current data.
- Access to archived data

2 - Satellite-based remote sensing for region development management and decision-making support

* Urban planning
* Land cadastre and land cover changes
* Agriculture and precision farming
(including land degradation and desertification)
* Forestry
* Satellite monitoring for oil, gas and metallurgical industries
* Ice monitoring for navigation
* Remotely sensed data for illegal fishery control

3 - Remote sensing for disaster mitigation and assessment of environmental consequences of natural and technological disasters.

* Flood monitoring
* Wildfires
* Early detection and monitoring of water, land and air pollution

4 - Technologies and software for data processing

* 3-D modelling
* Thematic interpretation of remotely sensed data
* Radar data processing techniques
* Practical applications of SAR interferometry

5 - Nature protection

* Protection and efficient management of Protected Natural Areas
* Improving forestry operations efficiency
* Environmental impact assessment during project engineering
* Environmental monitoring and management

6 - Internet and Earth remote sensing

7 - Education, Science & Business Integration for sustainable development

Important Conference Dates

September 20, 2009 - End of Early-bird registration
September 20, 2009 - Deadline for abstracts submission
October 10, 2009 - Notification of acceptance for publication
December 1-3, 2009 - Conference

Registration is still open.

Space technology and satellite-based products may help reconstructing a virtual model of the Valley of Geysers – the unique scientific and tourist attraction. Multi-temporal detailed images, including GeoEye-1 (0.5 m resolution) images of the Valley territory, acquired on September 6, 2009, are to be used in modeling. ScanEx specialists armed with ScanEx Image Processor software have already developed a 3D model of the Valley of Geysers based on SPOT2 and IRS-P5 imagery.

The prospects of development and application of the model will be discussed within the frames of the International conference "Methods of neogeography and virtual environment in visualization of geo-data" (GeyserValley2009, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky).

— The Valley of Geysers in Kamchatka is the unique natural site, known worldwide. The Valley is permanently changing and such charges are sometimes irreversible. Creation of its virtual model will allow demonstrating more visibly the perspectives of application of different modern neogeography methods in the Earth sciences, including space imaging data, - says Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology Assistant Professor Andrei Leonov, Chairman of «GeyserValley2009» Organizing Committee.

ScanEx General Director Vladimir Gershenzon will speak about Earth remote sensing technology innovations, service solutions and web-technologies based on satellite images.

— Information received from space has been increasingly used to resolve both day-to-day and long-range tasks, - said the expert, member of the Organizing Committee of the Conference Evgeniy Eremchenko. ScanEx RDC, being the sponsor of the GeyserValley2009 conference, has profound experience in sphere of development and introduction of technology using satellite data and this experience may and should be used to create geographic models based on a principally new method – neogeography.

Vietnamese engineers have completed the technical model of the country's first remote sensing satellite, a local newswire reported. The Pico-Dragon satellite is expected to be launched between 2010 and 2011 along with other countries, Pham Anh Tuan – deputy head of Space Technology Institute (STI) told Vietnamnet.

The launching of the satellite, whose functions include taking high-resolution photographs of natural resources, aiding weather forecasts and monitoring phenomenon like storms, will be a test of Vietnam’s ability to make its own satellites, Tuan said.

Made by STI in cooperation with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Pico-Dragon weighs less than two kilograms with 10x10x10 centimeter dimensions and will have a life expectancy of around six months old.

Infoterra Ltd, a leader in the provision of geographic information products and services, is to launch in the United Kingdom a brand new 3D city mapping service later this year which it says “will have to be seen to be believed”.

Named Skape, its applications are diverse, but architects, planners, surveyors, local authorities and property management companies will be among the first to seize its commercial potential. Skape will provide B2B professionals with presentational 3D city and mapping data as well as high accuracy building information of the UK’s major cities, all captured by the company’s own dedicated fleet of aircrafts and sensors.

Infoterra specialises in the capture and processing of airborne data, producing nationwide, map accurate aerial photo mosaics and Digital Terrain Models (DTM). With more than 25 years of expertise, the company is using its extensive data and skill set to create an easily accessible, photo-realistic, online mapping and modeling tool.

Anthony Denniss, COO at Infoterra Ltd explains: “The idea for Skape was born out of a desire to channel the extensive mapping information and technical skills that Infoterra has into an innovative, easy-to-use, online service that would add value to design, planning, and 3D visualisation.

“When we researched the B2B market about the concept of Skape and what we could deliver, 84% of those taking part in the research signed up to trial Skape at testing phase. This response overwhelmingly confirmed the need and appetite for a new generation of virtual 3D city imagery.”

Using its own fleet of aircraft, the company captured high resolution LiDAR, airborne oblique images of buildings’ roofs, and also the facades from many different angles to give a complete picture. Complex algorithms were used that maximise the image coverage by picking and utilising all lines of sight to give as comprehensive a texture as possible.

Jamie Ritchie, head of marketing at Infoterra Ltd and responsible for the launch of Skape, says: “Skape is going to break new ground, combining data accuracy, realism, and functionality not currently available in these markets. Users will be able to view and download highly realistic 3D environments for visual concepts online and interact with building information from unlimited vantage points. The ability to assess the impact of a scheme and resolve issues early in the development lifecycle, will save valuable time and cost. In the current climate, the art of balancing these savings whilst maintaining quality is particularly important.”

At launch Skape’s functionality will also allow interactive analysis for sunshadowing, asset management, infrastructure design, planning consultation, verified views and commercial occupier details. Buildings will be added and removed at will for a full range of design purposes and high levels of detail will make it possible to see individual doors, windows and even street furniture – without having to visit the location.

Explaining the background of Skape, Ritchie continues: “Uniquely, and perhaps most importantly, our ethos has been to develop a service in close conjunction with our user base – architects, planners, surveyors, facilities managers and local authorities. So we commissioned a series of over 80 in-depth interviews with potential Skape users, and used their feedback in the development stage of our service. Many are now participating in the testing phase, which has just begun.”
Ritchie concludes: “We want the Skape service to develop with, and for, our customers, based on a partnership approach. Owning 99% of our own data gives us greater control and means we can listen to what our customers want and then act immediately.”

Skape will be launched to the market later this year. To register interest and to receive updates prior to launch, please visit www.skapeworld.com.

Web 3D GIS Framework with a "Mini Google Earth"-like 3D Web Control and 2D Map.

gViewTek announces the availability of Web 3D GIS framework with a "mini Google Earth"-like web control and 2D map. The framework provides a powerful customized 3D terrain web control/plugin, which is able to integrate with 2D map through OpenLayers, MapFish, and ExtJS. The customized 3D terrain web control/plugin makes it possible to load user own DEM data along with specific resolution, image texture, and objects. Like a "mini-Google Earth", it provides properties and methods to realize 3D features, supports Javascript script to set the properties and call the methods. Along with 2D map API OpenLayers, MapFish, and user interface API ExtJS, the framework provides a powerful 3D and 2D GIS solution.

The source code of the 3D web control and project demonstrations are available. They allow users and developers to easily revise the code and extend features in their own 3D GIS projects. See the details here.

About gViewTek: gViewTek specializes in 3D graphics, visualization, imaging, and GIS technologies that enable users to realize relevant applications. gViewTek provides customers with comprehensive project solutions, systems integration, and support services as well as software products.

GeoEye, Inc., a provider of satellite and aerial-based geospatial information and services, marked the one-year launch anniversary of GeoEye-1, the world's highest resolution commercial Earth-imaging satellite. The satellite was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California on September 6, 2008.

In celebration of the anniversary, GeoEye tasked the GeoEye-1 satellite to collect a half-meter resolution image of Madrid, Spain. The full high-resolution satellite image is featured on GeoEye's corporate home page.

GeoEye began delivering GeoEye-1 imagery to Google Inc. for both the Google Earth and Google Maps services in March. A sample of images from GeoEye-1, including the Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt; Borneo, Indonesia; Cabo Polonio, Uruguay; and British Columbia, Canada can be seen at http://earth.google.com/geoeye/.

Plans are in development for GeoEye-2, another high-resolution satellite. GeoEye has contracted with ITT Corporation to build the GeoEye-2 high-resolution camera and electronics.

Google selected Intelematics Australia to provide current traffic information from its SUNA Traffic Channel service to show congestion levels on Australia’s east coast roads on Google Maps, according to a report.

"We developed a traffic data feed for the Google Maps platform that enables us to report congestion levels in major regional centres. This means that in addition to covering Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Google Maps can now incorporate information on congestion levels in Wollongong, the Central Coast, Geelong and the Sunshine Coast," said Adam Game, Chief Executive Officer, Intelematics Australia.

SUNA evaluates traffic information from a wide range of sources including in-road sensors and cameras located throughout covered cities. In particular, SUNA leverages real-time data extracted from the traffic light control infrastructure in each state.

In the navigation market Intelematics supplies RDS-TMC traffic data to ECLIPSE, Garmin, Mio, Navman, Navway, Pioneer, TomTom, Uniden, and Ford Motor Company.

Cadapult Software Solutions, Inc., an Autodesk authorized publisher, announces the release of their newest training book: Digging Into AutoCAD Map 3D 2010. This is an update of their very popular Map 3D books for versions 2005 through 2009, revised to incorporate the changes in the current release of Map 3D.

This edition introduces the most important features of this powerful Autodesk software, including the completely new ribbon-based interface. It is 341 pages long, organized into 14 chapters by topic.

Updated for the New Ribbon Interface

"One of the biggest challenges for any user migrating to the Map 3D 2010 release is learning the completely redesigned ribbon interface," according to Rick Ellis, co-author and President of Cadapult Software. He added: "To be productive in this version you will need to be able to find familiar commands, as well learn new ones. We've rewritten exercises, with all new screen captures to guide you through the latest ribbon interface. Our book will help you build the comfort level you need to be more productive, more competitive and more valuable."
New Exercises Featuring FDO Connectivity and

Thematic Mapping

You will also learn about connecting to GIS data in real-time, using FDO technology, in addition to directly importing data. Other topical chapters include tutorials on cleaning and correcting sloppy geometry, overlaying raster images, working with multiple mapping coordinate systems, and automatically labeling objects.
Of course, it covers the basics of thematic mapping and linking your geometry to data, as well. You will learn many different ways to utilize the most popular tools available in Map 3D.

Since AutoCAD Map 3D is part of Civil 3D, this book is a valuable resource to more than just those who have purchased the stand-alone Map 3D product, says Russell Martin, the book's co-author and technical editor. Mr. Martin, who has over 23 years experience with AutoCAD and mapping/GIS software, added that "anyone using Civil 3D can benefit from these powerful, yet often overlooked tools already installed on their computer".

Earlier Editions Also Available

Cadapult offers Map 3D training books appropriate for software versions back to 2004. All of Cadapult Software Solution's training books are exercise based, providing step-by-step procedures for many common tasks, while defining terms and explaining concepts. The authors are seasoned professionals with direct industry experience, and the tutorials have been refined through classroom testing with a wide cross-section of students. A CD with real world datasets for all exercises is included with each book, available directly from their web site: http://www.cadapult-software.com/books (503) 829-8929

About Cadapult Software Solutions

Founded in 2002, Cadapult Software Solutions, Inc. is dedicated to providing the highest quality products and services for CAD systems with a focus on the Civil/Survey/GIS industry. Located near Portland, Oregon they provide training, consulting services, technical support, and training material to clients throughout the Pacific Northwest and around the country. Their books are used by thousands of colleges, training centers organizations and individuals worldwide. Cadapult Software Solutions helps clients maximize the return on their software investment through training classes, consulting services, and support. Support options ranging from telephone support to on-site visits help to ensure the continued success of their clients.

GIS software developer ESRI released a collection of Geography and GIS essays written by many of the top academics in the fields of geography and GIS technology. The good thing is, they are free!

Previously published individually in the company's ArcNews magazine, the collection of articles provides insight into the power of spatial thinking.

The 12 articles in Essays on Geography and GIS, Vol. 2, include

* "GIS: Designing Our Future" by Jack Dangermond
* "Implementing Geographic Information Technologies Ethically" by Harlan J. Onsrud
* "GIScience for Human Rights" by Doug Richardson
* "Transport 2.0: Meeting Grand Challenges with GIScience" by Harvey J. Miller
* "Geography Education and GIS Professional Development" by Doug Richardson
* "Changing the Face of Geography: GIS and the IGU" by Roger F. Tomlinson
* "Process Models and Next-Generation Geographic Information Technology" by Paul M. Torrens
* "Geographic Literacy in U.S. by 2025" by Daniel C. Edelson
* "Geography, GIS, and Mental Health" by Doug Richardson
* "The National Geospatial Advisory Committee: An Action Agenda" by Anne Hale Miglarese
* "Global Dialogues: GIScience and Sustainable Development in Africa" by Doug Richardson
* "Get Involved with Geo-Education Reform" by Daniel C. Edelson

Essays on Geography and GIS, Vol. 2 is available for download at no cost.

Bob Dechert, Member of Parliament for Mississauga–Erindale, on behalf of the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Industry, confirmed $200 million in funding for the Strategic Aerospace and Defence Initiative (SADI) and announced a $7.6-million repayable investment in support of a research and development (R&D) project being undertaken by PCI Geomatics to develop next-generation earth observation technologies.

The R&D project at PCI Geomatics will involve developing a high-speed computing framework and software suite that will make it possible to process large amounts of raw satellite image data faster and more cost-effectively, with an emphasis on increasing the automation of image processing. The resulting data are essential for decision making in many fields, including environmental monitoring, agriculture, security and intelligence, aerospace and defense, and wide-area surveillance.

SADI supports strategic industrial research and pre-competitive development projects in the aerospace, defense, space and security industries. SADI is managed by the Industrial Technologies Office, a special operating agency of Industry Canada with a mandate to advance leading-edge research and development by Canadian industries.

Come explore your community, region, and world using GIS in a series of hands-on workshops at the upcoming annual National Conference on Geography Education (www.ncge.org). The setting of this year’s conference—San Juan Puerto Rico—is the perfect place to analyze the climate, economics, natural hazards, and demographics of the Caribbean region. The workshops will also illustrate how GIS can be incorporated into geography instruction across all levels of formal education, in informal educational settings, and in all regions.

Series of workshops include: Mapping History Using GIS, Exploring the Caribbean With GIS, Gathering GPS Coordinates and Field Data and Modeling It Within A GIS Environment, A Birds Eye View, GeoTagging Ground Photographs, Mapping Patterns in ArcGIS Explorer, Remote Sensing Applications, Seeking and Finding Spatial Data, Analyzing Ocean Surface Temperatures, and Making GIS Accessible to All Using PDF Maps.

These workshops are part of a larger geospatial strand organized by Lyn Malone and Anita Palmer, which includes papers and posters on geospatial technologies of all kinds. Nearly 500 people will be gathering at this year’s NCGE conference and I hope you will take advantage of the field trips, exhibits, and networking opportunities there. The NCGE has been enhancing and supporting geography education since 1915, and its members include an international group of professors, teachers, students, businesses, and others who support and believe in geography education.

This year, NCGE members have been involved in creating the geography map for the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, updating the national geography standards, publishing journals including the Journal of Geography and the Geography Teacher, creating curricular materials, and a variety of other exciting projects.

For more information, visit http://www.ncge.org and navigate to the 2009 annual meeting.
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There is now a new version of Google Earth -- the Google Earth 5.1 is released. According to Google Earth Blog:

"They have improved memory utilization, graphics performance, and even bandwidth related enhancements. They also reduced the start-up time by 25% in most cases. For the Windows version they have included the Google Earth plugin as part of the installation so most users will automatically have the plugin ready when they visit a web site requiring the plugin."

Visit Google Earth and download the latest version.

Softelec has released a new version of its VPHybridCAD and VPmap Series software for editing and conversion of scanned technical and geographical documents. All products now support all AutoCAD platforms from 2004 to 2010. However, users will have a free choice of stand-alone Windows or AutoCAD-based operation during installation.

While complying with AutoCAD's "ribbon style" interface VPHybridCAD and VPmap Series users can also make use of the CUI file support in former AutoCAD versions, allowing for seamless toolbar handling inside AutoCAD. Entirely functional VP software demo versions are available for free testing at www.softelec.com.

Softelec, based in Munich, Germany, is a leading software supplier providing solutions for scanned technical documents and maps, explicitly for large formats. Since 1990, VP software products serve to optimize, revise, and convert scanned documents. Mainly for its unique direct raster editing “hybrid” technology the software contributes to improve on productivity considerably.

With thousands of installed license seats a great variety of industrial and governmental organizations rely on VP software in the fields of mechanical design, plant engineering, building construction, facility management, civil engineering, energy supplies, natural resource exploration, mining and many more. An extensive list of user references and more company or product information is available at www.softelec.com.

ESRI is pleased to make available GIS in Africa, an easy-to-access, no-cost booklet featuring recent articles dealing with GIS applications across the continent of Africa, from sustainable development to rural education. Find GIS in Africa at www.esri.com/bestpractices—a new, exciting addition to our no-cost Best Practices series.

Many ESRI GIS Best Practices e-books are available on a variety of topics—at no cost. Published as PDFs with color illustrations, these e-books can be read online at the ESRI Web site or downloaded and printed.

Find the free GIS ebook here (pdf).

Geospatial Information Center, launched!

To celebrate the launch, anyone who joins GITA till 31st December 2009, will receive a special discounted rate of $99 (normally $125). GITA members will have exclusive access to two of the center's most exciting features, a year-round online community coming in October 2009 and a GIT4Infrastructure Information Feed, launching in November 2009.

GIT4Infrastructure.org is the Geospatial Information & Technology Association's (GITA’s) online, interactive information center for geospatial solutions that enable the infrastructure. This constantly evolving site gives GITA constituents day-to-day information you need to do your jobs most efficiently.

GITA is the professional association and leading advocate for anyone using geospatial technology to help operate, maintain, and protect the infrastructure, which includes organizations such as utilities, telecommunication companies, and the public sector. Through industry leading conferences—along with research initiatives, chapters, membership, and other programs—GITA provides education and professional best practices.

Visit the site.

What: Intergeo 2009 Conference
When: 22 - 24 September, 2009
Where: Karlsruhe, Germany

September 22nd to 24th, 2009 the technology region Karlsruhe becomes a first focal point of the international geo-professional world: Over 15,000 experts from all five continents visit the world leading trade fair for geodesy, geoinformation and land management in the fair halls. On 25,000 square meters of exhibition space around 450 exhibitors convince with the quality and the large variety of products and technologies.

For more info on conference program, online registration, and exhibitors and products, click here.

Intergraph awarded Drs. Devrim Akca and Michael Cramer the Carl Pulfrich Award, which recognises significant design and manufacturing contributions to the photogrammetry, remote sensing and earth imaging industries.

The Intergraph award is dedicated in memory of Dr. Carl Pulfrich, a key member of the scientific team at Carl Zeiss, who from 1890 to 1927 oversaw the design of the company's first stereo photogrammetric and surveying instruments.

Carl Pulfrich Award Council considered nominees on the basis of experience, activities in photogrammetry and remote sensing and contributions to the advancement of all aspects of the earth imaging fields. Applied work involving hardware systems, software solutions or innovative service activities were also considered by the award council. During Photogrammetric Week, Drs. Akca and Cramer were presented with 2009 Carl Pulfrich Award plaques and a monetary prize of $3,750 USD each.

Dr. Akca is a member of several industry associations including ISPRS and ASPRS, and is co-founder of a geospatial software company in Zurich.

Dr. Cramer is a leading researcher and senior lecturer with tenure at the Institute for Photogrammetry at Stuttgart University in Germany.

San Diego State University’s Homeland Security program has developed a system to make up-to-date geographic information on wildfire conditions available to firefighters in the field, even when they are cut off from terrestrial wireline and wireless networks.

The system combines satellite and aerial imagery, weather radar and topographical data in a format optimized for delivery over the Inmarsat Plc. Broadband Global Area Network.

The “Viz Lab” has been making Geographic Information System data available online for years, but the marriage of data sets specifically for firefighters formatted for satellite delivery is a new service. Because it is new, Southern California firefighters do not yet have the Inmarsat terminals needed to access it. It is a live production system, but also a demonstration project that could be duplicated by organizations elsewhere in the world.

The satellite imagery that underlies the system is global, but the Viz Lab data sets combine more detailed topographical data for Southern California area. The data is tuned using software from GeoFusion Inc. to deliver GIS data in a satellite-friendly format over the BGAN satellite link, which can deliver speeds of up to 500 Kbps to mobile terminals.

The Viz Lab gathers tens of terabytes of data from NASA’s Terra and Aqua Earth Observation Satellites. The satellites, which circle the Earth in polar orbits, use the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) to gather data in 36 spectral bands from the entire globe every one or two days. They provide images of the United States twice a day. This imagery is combined with other topographical data to create GIS data. [via]

A new iPhone application, created by researchers at Children's Hospital Boston in collaboration with the MIT Media Lab, enables users to track and report outbreaks of infectious diseases, such as H1N1 virus (swine flu), on the ground in real time. The application, "Outbreaks Near Me," builds upon the mission and proven capability of HealthMap, an online resource that collects, filters, maps and disseminates information about emerging infectious diseases, and provides a new, contextualized view of a user's specific location - pinpointing outbreaks that have been reported in the vicinity of the user and offering the opportunity to search for additional outbreak information by location or disease.

Additional functionality of Outbreaks Near Me is the ability to set alerts that will notify a user on their device or by e-mail when new outbreaks are reported in their proximity, or if a user enters a new area of activity.

"We hope individuals will find the new app to be a useful source of outbreak information - locally, nationally, and globally," says HealthMap co-founder John Brownstein, PhD, assistant professor in the Children's Hospital Informatics Program (CHIP). "As people are equipped with more knowledge and awareness of infectious disease, the hope is that they will become more involved and proactive about public health."

The new iPhone application also features an option for users to submit an outbreak report. This will enable individuals in cities and countries around the world to interact with the HealthMap team and participate in the public health surveillance process. Users may take photos - of situations and scenarios of, and/or leading to, disease - with their iPhone and submit them to the HealthMap system for review and eventual posting as an alert on the worldwide map.

"This is grassroots, participatory epidemiology," says HealthMap co-founder Clark Freifeld, a PhD student at the MIT Media Lab and research software developer at CHIP. "In releasing this app we aim to empower citizens in the cause of public health, not only by providing ready access to real-time information, but also by encouraging them to contribute their own knowledge, expertise, and observations. In enabling participation in surveillance, we also expect to increase global coverage and identify outbreaks earlier."

HealthMap was founded in 2006 and mines the Internet - searching disparate data sources such as news reports, curated personal accounts, official alerts, blogs and chat rooms - to track and map infectious disease outbreaks. While the data have been shown to provide early information on new outbreaks, users are encouraged to interpret the data appropriately as it is drawn from both official and unofficial sources.

The HealthMap Web site (www.healthmap.org) averages 10,000 unique visits a day, including regular users from the World Health Organization, the CDC, and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. During the peak of H1N1 swine flu this spring, visits to the site rose substantially, with as many as 150,000 visitors coming to the Web site to search for information.

Outbreaks Near Me was developed with support from Google.org and is available at no cost for download in the iTunes App Store. For more information on Outbreaks Near Me, visit: http://healthmap.org/iphone.php.

SatNav Technologies, pioneers in GPS Navigation in India since 2005, today launched a navigation product that will work all over the world, with current map options of India, USA, Canada, Eastern and Western Europe. This is the first time an Indian GPS service provider has launched a single product that empowers the buyer for all multiple regions. Consumers traveling to these regions will now have access to a detailed road network across more than 250 provinces in USA and Canada and 21 countries in Europe in addition to India maps with 404 cities and more than 16 lakh destinations (points of interest) on SatGuide P360 PDA (Personal Digital Assistant).

Indian outbound travel market has grown tremendously over the last decade. North America, Canada and Europe remain their top destinations of travel. The World Tourism Organization of the United ‎Nations (UNWTO) predicts that India will account for 50 million outbound tourists by 2020. SatNav aims at targeting this customer base with its innovative range of navigation devices.

In addition, India is becoming immensely popular as both a tourism and business destination with over 5 million people visiting annually, a number expected to grow over the coming years. A Navigation system that works for them at home as well as in India will be a boon to these travelers who are used to getting to their places of interest with ease.

“With the rising number of Indian citizens visiting US and European countries each year, as well as the inbound visitors increasing, the need for navigational devices that offer detailed road maps of these regions also increases. SatGuide PDA is an indispensable travel tool for international travelers which they can immensely benefit from”, said Amit Prasad, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, SatNav Technologies. “Our philosophy has always been to provide our consumers with the best products at a reasonable price. This product takes it a step further in that direction empowering consumers with a fully loaded device enriched with both national and international road maps, at a very reasonable price”, he added.

The comprehensive navigational maps, sourced from a global partner, which SatGuide PDA buyers can now navigate from, include detailed road network of New York, Washington, Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles, California, Florida, Philadelphia, Chicago, Seattle, Ohio, Oklahoma and many more cities in US. It also covers Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Balkan countries, Baltic States, Scandinavian Countries, France, Hungary, Slovakia and UK in Europe.

These maps are compatible with all other PNDs (Personal Navigation Devices) and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) operating on Windows CE, WinMobile and Symbian platforms. The maps for US/ Canada and European countries are priced at INR 2,999 (two thousand nine hundred ninety nine only) and INR 3,999 (three thousand nine hundred and ninety nine only) respectively and are available exclusively at www.satguide.in.

SatGuide P360 (PDA) offers high quality satellite navigation with full PDA capability. It’s a great looking device, doing far more than just navigation. Installed with cutting edge technology, it comes with a windshield suction cup holder and all accessories to charge it in your car or in the office. SatGuide PDA is a trendy gadget option for all your Pocket PC and Navigation requirements too.

The device is priced at INR. 19,999 (nineteen thousand nine hundred and ninety nine only) for an international region plus India maps, making it an eye-catcher for anyone who is looking at purchasing a stylish yet affordable PDA. The product is available across all major Large Format Retailers (LFRs) across the country, including Ezone, Croma, Reliance Digital, HCL Digilife, XCite, Gizmos, Hypercity, Jumbo, Staples, Landmark and leading shopping portals like Indiatimes.com, HomeShop18, Gadgets.in and Items of Desire or on the company website www.satguide.in

GfK GeoMarketing has released updated digital maps for Japan that reflect the boundaries of the country’s postcode. The 18 maps included in the collection are part of the company’s comprehensive Asia Map Edition.

GfK GeoMarketing's Japan Map Edition includes a range of administrative, postcode and topographic maps. Regions and map elements are labeled with the international place-names and, in many cases, the native language place-names as well. All map layers and objects fit together seamlessly and provide gapless, overlap-free coverage.

The digitization of postcode areas and administrative units such as municipalities or Japan's prefectures requires significant expertise, reliable data sources and perfected quality-control standards.

The Japan Map Edition includes 18 thematically distinctive maps. Political boundaries are provided down to the most detailed regional level. The maps include a large amount of supplementary information, such as a classification of the country's cities according to number of inhabitants and map object labels in both the native language (and associated character font) and the international standard.

GfK GeoMarketing's maps for Japan are vector-based, offering users unlimited zoom capability and editing possibilities as well as the ability to create their own custom-tailored map projects. All maps are available in the standard data formats – *.shp (ESRI), *.tab (MapInfo) and *.lay (RegioGraph – GfK GeoMarketing's own business mapping solution).

SuperGeo Technologies announces the availability of the "GIS Learning CD".

"GIS Learning CD" is created and edited by SuperGeo Technologies. The CD contains abundant and complete GIS knowledge, including the basic and important concepts and some GIS theories which have not been introduced in other same kinds of CDs, such as several types of map projections, data analysis, etc. Accompanied with Flash animation, some GIS concepts, which are hard to explain in books, now can be presented dynamically in 3D. Therefore, beginners can effectively build up the complete GIS basic knowledge in the planned and vivid learning environment.

Due to plenty of teaching samples in “GIS Learning CD”, provided for GIS teachers in colleges and universities as the teaching supplements, the CD effectively reduces the GIS teachers’ time for collecting GIS related materials and also avoids the mistakes caused by inaccurate internet resources. Consequently, the CD can be seen as the best teaching supplement.

Besides GIS teachers, the learning CD is also suitable for the staffs in GIS and in other natural related fields. With the various samples, abundant contents, and easy-to-understand explanations, beginners can easily obtain the GIS knowledge and basic concepts by self-study.

GIS Learning CD Contents

GIS Learning CD introduces the basic concepts and applications of Geographic Information System (GIS). From the origin of GIS, the types and framework of geographic data to the output and layout of the GIS data, beginners can acquire the basic concepts step by step. GIS Learning CD contains 7 chapters, they are:

Chapter 1 - GIS Concepts
Chapter 2 - Geographic Data
Chapter 3 - Data Input
Chapter 4 - Data Display
Chapter 5 - Data Query
Chapter 6 - Data Processing and Analysis
Chapter 7 - Data Output


GIS Learning CD is supported on Windows 2000/2003/XP/Vista or Mac OS.

Following on from the launch of 1:50k mapping RouteBuddy and Ordnance Survey have now announced the availability of UK National Park maps at 1:25,000 scale.

The maps cover all fifteen national parks and work in conjunction with RouteBuddy's free iPhone app RouteBuddy Atlas or RouteBuddy's desktop application.

Retailing from £19.99 these maps offer a significant saving on similar national park maps available on other platforms. For more information visit RouteBuddy's Map Store here.

RouteBuddy Atlas is a great app and works well on the iPhone platform with full use of the GPS on iPhone 3G and 3GS models. Apps are installed to the iPhone using a novel system which turns the iPhone into a server.

Switch it on in Atlas settings and you are given a URL . Map files purchased and downloaded from RouteBuddy's map store can be easily copied to the iPhone via this feature using Explorer or Finder (this solution is 100% OS indpendent) and then activated by entering the unique Licence Key provided at purchase.

Some sample images of the Snowdonia National Park Ordnance Survey map are provided below:

SuperGIS Desktop and several SuperGIS Desktop Extensions are selected by Geomatica College of Technology (Geomatika College) for GIS training program announced SuperGeo.

Established in 2002, Geomatika College is a famous training institute of geospatial technologies, mainly focusing on Geomatics Engineering, Remote Sensing, and Geographic Information. The Faculty of Geospatial & Land Development at Geomatika College procures SuperGIS Desktop plus several extensions, such as 3D, Network, and Spatial Analysts, as the GIS software in the training program.

Geomatika College has trained and awarded a good number of diplomas in the aforementioned fields. The students are mainly from the government, universities, and related companies. With the constant use of SuperGIS software in the institute, SuperGeo products are expected to receive greater exposure and product awareness in Malaysia market.

Mayrise Systems has announced the latest version of its mapping software MapNow. The integrated mapping solution adds an important capability to service management software, enabling users to instantly locate assets and view detailed service information on Ordnance Survey maps or aerial photographs. The latest release offers an improved, more intuitive user interface, configurable views and advanced visualisation options for the co-ordination of street works.

MapNow software is already used widely by UK local authorities and their contractors in areas such as highways, street lighting and waste management and it is hoped the latest release will build on this existing success. A new look set of a screen navigation tools offers easy mouse navigation and layer configurable ‘flyover’ hints. The upgraded software also offers interruptible map drawing to allow navigation while the map window is redrawing and user configurable views for specific tasks.

In addition to the advances in the look and usability of the software the upgraded MapNow offers advanced visual representation of ASD records (Associated Street Data; which forms part of the National Street Gazetteer (NSG) and contains a wealth of additional information relating to streets and highways). This includes, for example, traffic sensitivity, height, width and weight restrictions, protected streets, strategic routes, reinstatement designations and principal noticing authority boundaries.

Motorway Junction Objects are now available for 10 countries in Europe announced NAVTEQ. It enables navigation systems to flexibly generate 3D junction animations and help guide drivers through decision points at complex intersections on roads such as the Peripherique in Paris.

Motorway Junction Objects has been designed using technology developed by combining NAVTEQ's own expertise in navigation with user interface insights and advanced technology. Built from key attributes and geometry of the highly accurate NAVTEQ map, Motorway Junction Objects enables situation specific 3D context at major decision points in complex junctions, so that intuitive visual guidance from the approach through the entire maneuver can be created in real-time.

3D animation of each junction can be generated so drivers can instantly recognize visual cues in complicated situations. The data is also designed to work seamlessly with NAVTEQ's other visual content such as Sign-As-Real, 3D City Models and 3D Landmarks. By more closely matching what is outside the windshield, drivers are better informed and prepared to avoid last minute lane changes.

Autodesk LandXplorer will be launched in Northern Europe during the AGI agiCommunity’09 Conference on 23 – 24 September 2009.

Autodesk LandXplorer 3D city model software provides realistic tools that allow stakeholders to visualize finite physical and operational details of entire city and infrastructure projects before they are built, facilitating informed design decisions throughout the urban design lifecycle.

The AGI conference is themed, realizing the value of place, the 2009 conference will address the issues surrounding GIS and its impact on planning for government, utilities, infrastructure, marketing, insurance, business intelligence and consumer applications and the consequences for the geo community.

It will present a collaborative project between Autodesk and Ordnance Survey which has created a 3D digital model of the City of Liverpool and considers the impact and response to a number of operational and emergency scenarios.

Trimble announced the launch of a new Webinar series for the Global Positioning System (GPS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) professional.

These instructive sessions are live, interactive, online events that cover a range of topics including new product introductions, industry solutions for the field worker, business partner offerings, and education on Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technology in mapping and GIS. To be offered every 4-6 weeks, the Webinars provide a forum for learning about new technology developments from Trimble as well as keeping up with the latest trends in geo-enabling the mobile workforce.

"The GPS and GIS knowledge within Trimble represents a valuable resource for our customers and potential users," said Robert Laudati, director of marketing for the Mapping & GIS Division. "The Webinars provide an interactive environment for learning about positioning and geospatial technology while networking with Trimble staff, industry experts, and online participants."

The first session, held on July 2, 2009, focused on the new Trimble Professional Services (TPS) group. TPS offers software development for field data capture and mobile GIS solutions using Trimbler FastmapT technology, including back office integration and system implementation. TPS services are currently available in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and have been deployed in a broad range of industries including utilities, agriculture, public works, emergency management, and environmental management. The August 19, 2009 session focused on new solutions from Trimble's Utility Field Solutions (TUFS) group, which included the Trimble UtilityCenterr Field Inspector and Maintenance-2 Software

The schedule for upcoming Webinars includes: an introduction to the new Trimble YumaT rugged tablet computer, Virtual Reference Station (VRST) applications for real-time data corrections, and industry solutions from Trimble business partners.

To learn more about the new Mapping & GIS Webinar series, register for upcoming sessions, or download past recordings, visit: www.trimble.com/mgis/webinars.shtml

The GPS 2R-21 M satellite, the last in the series of eight U.S. military GPS-2R satellites, has been declared operational for military and civilian users, the U.S. Air Force announced Aug. 27.

The satellite, built by Lockheed Martin, was launched Aug. 17 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Base, Fla. GPS 2R-21 M joins a constellation of 30 operational satellites on orbit providing global military and commercial GPS coverage.

“The 50th Space Wing is extremely proud of adding this new satellite to the operational constellation. … The improved signals provided by the GPS satellites will continue to provide services any time, any place, right time and right place supporting both the warfighter and the growing needs of our global economy," Air Force Col. Wayne Monteith said in a statement.