GIS in Education

The Survey Summit is a new conference co-hosted by Esri and the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping (ACSM). It is designed for surveyors who are interested in geospatial technologies to explore the newest technology trends, workflows, equipment, and business opportunities in surveying and related fields. The Summit will also provide unparalleled training and networking opportunities.

The inaugural Survey Summit will take place next summer, July 9–12, 2011, concurrently with the Esri International User Conference (Esri UC). It will serve as the ideal forum for anyone interested in geographic information system (GIS) technology, as well as emerging technologies such as lidar, and 3D scanning, to better equip their organizations to serve emerging markets. The education-rich agenda will also include ways for participants to interact and collaborate at the summit.

“ACSM has served as a voice of land surveyors and mappers for over 70 years,” says Brent Jones, Esri’s surveying, cadastral, and land records industry manager. “As the surveying and geospatial industries continue to make technological advances together, it makes sense that the professionals of these related fields join together at one premier conference. We’re excited to have ACSM as part of the Survey Summit. It’s a must-attend event for the surveying community, as it provides access to the pinnacle of technology available to surveyors and mappers.”

Summit participants will

* See how to solve business problems and increase their bottom line using new surveying technologies and practices.
* Learn about current technology challenges and developments, such as lidar, 3D scanning, and building information modeling (BIM), during workshops and demonstrations—all while receiving continuing education units (CEU).
* Network with colleagues; geospatial professionals; and other users of surveying, GPS, and GIS technology.
* Identify new solutions and return to work knowing how to implement them.

The new summit, to be held at the San Diego Convention Center in California, will replace the Esri Survey & Engineering GIS Summit. Abstract submissions for user paper presentations will open this month and online registration soon thereafter. The abstract submission deadline is December 6, 2010.

China's first high resolution, stereoscopic mapping satellite for civilian use will be launched during the second half of 2011, the State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping said Thursday.

The bureau said the ZY-3 will be sent into space by the Long March-4B carrier rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China.

The satellite is expected to "provide steady and reliable data sources for surveying and mapping on the scale of 1:50,000."

ZY-3 is to provide mapping to be used in wide-ranging sectors such as disaster prevention and reduction, water conservancy, agriculture, forestry, environmental protection, urban construction and planning, communications and national defense.

The bureau is also working with the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation on the research and development of the next generation of satellites after the ZY-3.

The ZY-3 project was kicked off in March 2008. Three ground stations in Beijing, Kashgar in far west Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Sanya in the southernmost island province of Hainan, will receive and transmit satellite data.

The 2010 1:1 million scale Surface Geology of Australia dataset is now available through Geoscience Australia's MapConnect online mapping application.

The new edition of the national geology combines the previous seven state and territory based datasets into a single, seamless, national digital dataset.

The 2010 edition can now be viewed, queried, and downloaded along with Geoscience Australia's topographic map data. Up to one-third of the entire continent's geology can be downloaded from this online mapping tool in one session.

It also updates the stratigraphic and descriptive geological information from the previous 2007 and 2008 editions, and is now available in ESRI Geodatabase, Shapefile and Mapinfo formats.

The entire seamless 1:1 million scale dataset is too large for one single download, but can be ordered on DVD from the Geoscience Australia Sales Centre.

Skape, a 3D city mapping online service provided by Astrium Services subsidiary Infoterra, launched a 3D flythrough proposals service to ensure that the 'Localism' planning agenda proposed by the UK Government is achievable.

Skape undertook a survey which has highlighted that more than 76 per cent of the public struggle to interpret and understand architects' plans. Following a survey of more than 3,000 residents in Manchester, Birmingham, London and Leicester, an overwhelming 90 per cent felt the Government's plan to give people more power over local planning decisions was the right move.

However, 63 per cent were concerned about how developers would help them to properly understand the implications of the proposals, and many believed that - due to their lack of understanding - the localism planning agenda would fail.

Paul Fearn, business manager at Skape, commented: "Following the Government's announcement that it plans to introduce a Decentralisation and Localism Bill giving local communities more power in planning decisions, we conducted research into residents' understanding of the processes involved."

"We found that a staggering number struggled to grasp the process. So, using our knowledge and expertise, we've developed the new Skape 3D flythrough proposal service. This allows residents to truly see exactly what a proposed development will look like and how it will integrate with the local area. These may be viewed online or within the local authority offices for example."

"This is a speedy and cost-effective process which will ensure that both developers and architects have the tools needed to ensure that residents can view the proposals within the local setting."

"Never before has this technology been available, and it means that now there is no excuse for not fully engaging with the local community, using everything from 3D images on screens and plans to hologramatic models. In fact, forward-thinking councils, such as Sheffield, are already starting to demand this level of detail for pre-application public consultations."

The new U.K. minister in charge of space, David Willets, says he will study the feasibility of providing Britain with an independent remote sensing capability.

Aviation Week reports, the remote sensing system would likely be patterned after EADS’ Paradigm’s Skynet 5 satellite telecom system, which provides secure communications to British armed forces on a private funding basis, with the defense ministry as anchor tenant. However, a public-private partnership similar to Germany’s TerraSAR-X/Tandem-X system, in which the government funds a portion of the capability directly, also could be considered, Willets says.

The U.K. government so far has funded an experimental optical spacecraft, Topsat, and two small payloads for Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd.’s Disaster Monitoring Constellation, but so far, unlike other leading European countries, has no full-fledged operational Earth observation capability of its own.

According to Paul Brooks, Surrey director of business development and sales, which would have a lead role in the remote sensing initiative, the remote sensing system likely would consist of a constellation of small, 1-meter resolution wide-swath optical imaging satellites, with maximum reuse of existing subsystems, suited for the low-cost, rapid-revisit and high-data-capacity requirements of most users.

A synthetic aperture radar capability could be added later for all-weather or maritime surveillance needs. Later this year, SSTL will roll out a breadboard model of a radar, developed with parent company Astrium, that Brooks says will cut SAR costs by an order of magnitude. The partners hope to convince the U.K. government to help fund a demonstration mission to show the feasibility of the concept, which could be available around 2013.

The Bicentennial Map launched by the Niagara 1812 Bicentennial Legacy Council won first prize in the Map Gallery for Best Cartographic Design at the 2010 ESRI International User Conference held recently in San Diego. The map was designed by John Docker, GIS analyst with the Niagara Region, as well as a number of contributors, Niagara Gazette reported.

The ESRI International User Conference is an annual event produced by the Environmental Systems Research Institute. It is the largest geographic information system event in the world. This year’s conference attracted 15,000 attendees and featured works from over 100 countries. In addition to this award, the Bicentennial Map received previous recognition from ESRI Canada as it will be featured in the organization’s 2010 Calendar for the month of October.

Officially unveiled this past February, the Bicentennial Map includes 125 points of interest organized along six trails that guide visitors through Niagara. Each trail is associated with a narrative that tells the history of the War of 1812.

The map is used as an educational tool highlighting the significant role that the Niagara region played in the War of 1812.

The map can be found in schools, local museums, historical attractions and tourism outlets throughout Ontario and Western New York. The featured points of interest on the map can also be found online at www.discover1812.com.

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GIS in Philippines. The Korean Overseas International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) is set to release the amount of $50,000 for the National Economic Development Authority’s (NEDA) project on the institutionalization of Regional Geographic Information System Network (RGISN) in the Caraga Region, says report.

The Region 13 office here of NEDA said the fund will be downloaded anytime as the RGISN project is ready for implementation.

This developed after a meeting between KOICA’s Resident Representative Jinoh Kim and NEDA Regional Director Carmencita S. Cochingco was held last month.

In the meeting, the project was presented by Eun Sun Jang, a Korean Overseas Volunteer (KOV) specializing in Geographic Information System (GIS) assigned to NEDA Caraga since November 2008.

Kim expressed KOICA's interest in establishing a direct and substantial collaboration with NEDA since Korea is one of those countries consistently providing aid to the Philippines, Cochingco said.

She said the Caraga Region is also the focus of KOICA assistance, where 14 KOVs are currently deployed.

“This program is a big help to Caraganons,” Cochingco said.

As socio-economic planning agency of the region and the secretariat of the Regional Development Council (RDC), the NEDA Caraga will be spearheading the institutionalization of a geographic information system (GIS) in the region as support mechanism for effective planning and resource allocation and management, policy making, decision making, investment programming and monitoring and evaluation of socio-economic and environmental initiatives, programs and projects, she said.

Lasers will be used as part of a 12-month study of the Mary River aimed at generating a clearer understanding of how rising sea levels will affect the catchment, according to a report.

Civil engineers from Charles Darwin University are leading the $200,000 project on behalf of the Territory Government to assess the effectiveness of several man-made barrages.

Professor Eric Valentine says the study will use the latest technology to track the movement of water around the barrages and across the floodplain.

"We'll be surveying the floodplain in various ways and we're hoping to use a lidar technique," he said.

"This is an aerial-borne laser measurement technique to discover the topography of the land and that information will be used in our numerical models to monitor the flows in the system."

The Northern Territory Environment Centre says studies are not enough to stop saltwater intruding into the Mary River.

The centre's Stuart Blanch says the barrages have helped to rehabilitate several thousand hectares of dead tea trees on the floodplain.

"But there's still around 15,000 hectares of dead tea trees, which is a bit of a biological desert.

"That's about 7,000 times the size of the MCG, so there's a lot of rehab work that needs to be done."

The Amateur Fishermen's Association has welcomed the study, providing it is backed up by action.

The association's Chris Makepeace says the Government needs to maintain the barrages to stop saltwater moving further upstream.

"The result of that could well be saltwater in Corroboree which is ... something that we're not at all happy about.

"The second thing is that right now we also have problems with siltation in the lower part of the river so it's really difficult to get boats down from Shady Camp except on high tide."

Russian engineers from Krasnoyarsk have successfully tested a model of a new remote sensing satellite “Cosmos SX”.

Tests confirmed strength characteristics of the satellite. Engineers plant to continue introduction of newest technological solutions to the satellite – making solar battery panels weigh less, for instance, which makes technical characteristics of the vehicle much better.

“Cosmos SX” remote sensing satellites will provide high-accuracy data on farming lands state, as well as predict and estimate cropping capacity. Moreover, new space vehicles will allows predicting draughts, floods and other natural disasters.

The number of mobile phones with built in global positioning systems (GPS) is growing so fast that they'll become more popular than dedicated portable navigation devices by 2014, research firm iSuppli says in a report out today.

The firm predicts that, as Internet-connected smartphones become more popular, about 80% of all phones shipped at the end of 2011 will include GPS capabilities. That's up from 57.8% in the second quarter of 2010.

In addition, iSuppli says that 18% of all laptop computers and 42% of portable game players will come with GPS in 2014.

Apple, Google, and countless advertisers are betting big that people will glom on to applications that pinpoint where they are and tell them about nearby products, services, and attractions.

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Apple has acquired Poly9, a Canadian online mapping, according to a report published in a French-Canadian news portal cyberpresse.ca. The website reports that majority of Poly9 staffs left Quebec to settle in the Apple’s office located in California. However, official confirmation has not been given. It was said that the Cupertino, California, company asked Poly9 employees to not discuss the matter.

If the report is true, it would be second acquisition by Apple. Last summer, the company quietly purchased PlaceBase, a company that produced the kind of digital maps that are similar to Google Maps, used by many for street directions.

Poly9 also makes 3-D mapping software that produces a programme akin to Google Earth, which uses satellite imagery, aerial photography and geographic information systems to create a life-like virtual atlas. Poly9, based in Canada, has worked with Apple in the past, as well as Yahoo, NORAD, Microsoft and MSNBC.

Trimble introduced MX8 Mobile Spatial Imaging System, an advanced mobile data capture system that combines imaging and laser scanning capabilities to measure objects in 3D to produce 3D, 4D and 5D data sets for spatial imaging projects. The Trimble MX8 Mobile Spatial Imaging System is expected to be available in the third quarter of 2010 through Trimble's GeoSpatial sales channels.

The new Trimble MX8 Mobile Spatial Imaging System expands the scope of services that surveyors, engineers, mapping and geospatial professionals can offer to enhance their business. The system is ideal for as-built modelling, inventory, inspection, encroachment analysis and asset management for roadways, bridges, railways, utilities and other infrastructure.

With recent advances in the geospatial information industry, more opportunities and applications for spatial imaging data are being identified for industries such as transport and civil engineering, utilities and communications, natural resources management and government. Many of these applications use airborne information, but would also benefit from ground-based positioning and imaging. While satellite and aerial imaging provide exceptional overhead views and long-range details, the only way to capture comprehensive eye-level views is from the ground.

"Mobile mapping users are seeking answers to the persistent problems of under-utilised systems and low productivity," said Ken Spratlin, general manager of Trimble's GeoSpatial Division. "Trimble continues to listen to customers' feedback to introduce dynamic solutions that answer real-world needs today while also equipping them for tomorrow's challenges. In combination with Trimble's software workflows, the Trimble MX8 allows users to better leverage their existing workforce and pursue new business opportunities while realising reduced total cost of ownership."

Fast and Accurate Spatial Data
Integrating imaging and laser scanning with advanced Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) plus Inertial positioning, the Trimble MX8 collects 3D data fast and accurately. Featuring a pod-type design, it is easily redeployed and installed on a variety of vehicles as project demands change. A scalable system configuration and sensor upgrade options allow owners to address their evolving needs.

Affordable Change Detection
Operating at highway speeds, the Trimble MX8 allows users to capture more frequent updates of 3D datasets for roadway and right-of-way infrastructure. Combined with Trimble Trident Analyst for Spatial Imaging software, automated extraction of road signs, road geometry, break lines and lane markings reduces manual labour and provides answers earlier in the project. Change detection between current and past datasets allows monitoring of project progress throughout the plan, design, build and maintain phases.

Nature Geoscience journal has received its first Impact Factor of 8.108, placing it first among all journals in the Geoscience, Multidisciplinary category of the Science Edition of the 2009 Journal Citation Report (JCR).

This strong debut Impact Factor reflects the high quality content published in the journal. Launched in 2008, Nature Geoscience has published original research papers, overview articles and opinion pieces across a diverse range of areas in the Earth and planetary sciences. The journal includes studies based on a variety of methods used by geoscientists, ranging from field work and numerical modelling on regional and global scales to theoretical studies.

Subscribe now and receive 3 months FREE!

Take out a personal subscription today to receive 3 issues free. This personal subscription provides you with 15 print issues and 15 months online access to Nature Geoscience for the price of 12 issues, as well as access to papers online ahead of print (Advance Online Publication).

Since April 1, 2010 (launch of OS OpenData), the most downloaded product is Ordnance Survey (OS) Street View, with OS Vector Map District (which was released in May) swiftly catching up. Spatial Geographic Services and Applications Limited (SGSA Ltd) is using OS Street View as a base before adding road routing information, which could be vitally important to our emergency services.

Ron Linton from SGSA said, “What I am doing is incorporating all the road routing information: not only traffic-calming data but also information on one‑way streets, steep hills, gates, fords, no entries and so on; which will help when planning the best routes, whether it is for the emergency services, delivery companies or someone using their satnav on holiday.”

The huge variety of applications of OS OpenData have seen the locations of pharmacies and train stations across Great Britain being mapped – using 1:250 000 Scale Colour Raster and Code-Point Open – and can be seen at data.gov.uk. Meanwhile, councils are using the datasets to show residents the nearest recycling facilities or latest planning applications. One of the more unusual uses has been to map the position of 250 brightly painted elephants across central London this summer.

Peter ter Haar, Ordnance Survey’s Director of Products, said, “We’ve been really excited watching the success of OS OpenData over the last three months and listening to the buzz it’s created in the geographic information world and beyond. Now we’re actually seeing our data being used in a myriad of new ways and benefitting charities, businesses and individuals.”

Contex Americas will host daily GIS workshops at the ESRI User Conference at Contex's booth #513. They will be held at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on July 12-14, and at 11 a.m. on July 15. The free workshops will teach how to digitally convert maps to SHP files and to print in large format. Seating is limited. Interested parties should register at www.contex.com/esri2010. One-to-one sessions are also available upon request. Contact Contex at 877-226-6839.

Contex is also giving away an Apple iPad to a lucky booth visitor. The winner will be announced by July 22, 2010.

What: Contex Americas Free GIS Workshops at the ERSI International User Convention 2010

Where: Contex Americas booth #513, San Diego Convention Center

When: 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on July 12-14, 11 a.m. on July 15

Register at www.contex.com/esri2010.

DigitalGlobe, a leading global content provider of high-resolution earth imagery solutions, today announced the collection of the first imagery from the company's Advanced Ortho Aerial Program. Through a special agreement with Microsoft announced in October 2009, the Advanced Ortho Aerial Program will provide wall-to-wall 30 cm aerial coverage of the contiguous United States and Western Europe that DigitalGlobe has the exclusive rights to distribute beyond Bing Maps. The program's first orthophoto mosaics are of Augusta, GA, San Diego, CA and Tampa, FL, and can be viewed on DigitalGlobe's website.

"The Advanced Ortho Aerial Program enhances our ability to provide comprehensive coverage with unmatched accuracy, quality and aesthetics. With these areas available off-the-shelf through our Ortho Vision Premium -- Precision product, we offer high-quality, highly accurate imagery faster than ever," said John Oechsle, vice president of strategy and product at DigitalGlobe. "The locations we've captured today are just the beginning. We will continue to enhance our offerings to deliver comprehensive imagery solutions to our customers and strengthen our commitment to increasing the value and availability of high-resolution digital imagery."

To collect the first-ever multicontinental aerial imagery from 30 cm, DigitalGlobe and Microsoft Corp. use the UltraCamG, a large format digital aerial camera manufactured by Vexcel Imaging GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft, which is based on Vexcel's UltraCam large format camera systems, the top-selling large format aerial sensors internationally.

Imagery collected through the Advanced Ortho Aerial Program will provide content for the Advanced Ortho Vision Premium -- Precision product, the highest quality product from DigitalGlobe's Advanced Ortho Series, also announced today and available for customers in Q3 2010. For more information, please visit DigitalGlobe's website.

The Advanced Ortho Aerial Program further expands DigitalGlobe's industry-leading ImageLibrary and, combined with DigitalGlobe's high-resolution satellite constellation, provides customers with more than 500 million square kilometers annually of highly current, accurate imagery that can reveal revolutionary information and insight.

Cutting Edge Networked Storage and Esri are pleased to announce the new ArcGIS Data Appliance for Linux. This soon to be available enterprise geographic information systems (GIS) solution, allows organizations to access terabytes of worldwide reference data behind their firewall.

ArcGIS Data Appliance is a unique combination of data and tasks delivered on a ready-to-use solution that fits right into an organization’s internal network. In response to market requests, Esri has collaborated with Cutting Edge Networked Storage to manufacture a Linux version of the appliance. ArcGIS Data Appliance for Linux includes the same data (imagery, streets, and topography) and task offerings (geocoding and routing) as the successful ArcGIS Data Appliance, only packaged for the Linux environment.

Dean Garner, Esri’s hardware solution sales manager commented —“The same optimized, pre-loaded ArcGIS Data Appliance that our clients are accustomed to, will soon be available in a Linux version. This new appliance will seamlessly integrate into users’ Linux computing environments, providing them reliable access to the critical data and tasks they need.”

The ArcGIS Data Appliance for Linux will be showcased at the Esri International User Conference at the San Diego Convention Center July 12-16, 2010. Visit Cutting Edge in booth #625 for a demonstration.

For additional information please contact Cutting Edge at (800) 257-1666 x 210 or visit the website.

Esri's new ArcGIS Viewer for Flex 2.0 (beta) can now be downloaded for free on the ArcGIS Viewer for Flex Resource Center Web page.

The ArcGIS Viewer for Flex is a ready-to-use, configurable Web mapping application built on the ArcGIS API for Flex 2.0. Users can easily customize the look and feel of the viewer, add their own logo and branding, and extend functionality with downloadable widgets—all without the need for any programming knowledge or skills.

"The ArcGIS Viewer for Flex allows nondevelopers to set up and deploy a fast, modern-looking Web mapping application very quickly," says Derek Law, product manager for the viewer. "Mapping content from ArcGIS Online is already preloaded in the application, including worldwide street, imagery, and topographic maps, as well as a set of sample ArcGIS Server map services, a traffic camera feed, and a time slider widget to help you understand how you might customize your application."

To customize the viewer, users simply edit XML files in a text editor to change the appearance, functionality, and map content. Advanced users can develop custom functionality via widgets on top of the core viewer framework.

The ArcGIS Viewer for Flex is a client-side application designed to support existing business workflows that require mapping visualization, editing, and analysis. The viewer simplifies access to ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Server services and accelerates Web mapping application deployment.

Free Download ArcGIS Viewer for Flex 2.0 here.

Testing of the operational ScanEx Fire Monitoring Service (SFMS) has been started. The service has been developed at the ScanEx Research and Development Center and unlike similar systems (e.g., NASA Rapid Fire, AFIS, etc.) offers access to data of several satellites of low, middle and high resolution.

For the purpose of the project daily satellite imagery of the Russian territory is carried out with the data received at UniScan ground complexes, deployed in Moscow, Irkutsk and Magadan. At the first stage of the service testing in July data of only the European part of Russia will be used (within the footprint of the UniScan station, installed in Moscow).

ScanEx Fire Monitoring Service web-service is intended for operational reception of satellite data about the fire areas location on the Russian territory and about the assessment of burnt area and the damage incurred. In SFMS web-service the data over the past four days is displayed with daily data updating as appropriate.

Fire areas are detected based on the MODIS sensor data which is the key instrument onboard the American Terra and Aqua satellites. The sensors’ sensibility enable to detect forest and steppe fires of 1 ha and more in size. As a result of processing geolocated images one may delineate burning areas within a region of 1x1 km in size. The SFMS service ensures the possibility to view raster images in Google Earth, synthesized in natural colors from optical MODIS bands, which enables to assess the location of the cloud cover and the possibility to detect fires in the AOIs being monitored.

To expand the monitoring possibilities the project applies detailed multispectral images from SPOT 4 satellite (resolution of 20 m/pixel) and Landsat-5 (30 m/pixel), which enable to monitor the aftermath of fires and to plot the burnt areas. Detailed information on SFMS service is displayed in form of quicklooks of all SPOT 4 and Landsat-5 passes, received by UniScan ground stations of the ScanEx’s network. Using service tools the user may select and order low-cloud detailed images of the monitoring areas, where MODIS sensors detected fire areas.

SFMS service data can be used not only for fire detection and monitoring, but for monitoring of other “hot targets” as well, for example, flares on oil and gas fields.

Popular Google Earth web-mapping service is used to get access to the service. Any one may connect to the fire information service by adding http://catalog.scanex.ru/sfms.kml link to the Google Earth application. When this link is updated, the latest information is loaded into Google Earth application – data about the location and properties of the detected fire areas, wide FOV MODIS images and quicklooks of more detailed SPOT 4 and Landsat-5 images. Data is grouped into sections sorted out by four last monitoring days, which enables tracking both operational situation for current day and do the retrospective analysis of the situation changes for the past three days. In addition, the users can add own data, integrating them with the existing information about fires for joint analysis and decision-making.

For the registered users a number of additional options is offered on displayed data control:

- to define own areas of interest and to select fire data only within its limits;
- to change “hot targets” detection thresholds;
- to define own criteria of fire selection based on the detection authenticity degree, to perform classification and scrapping of “hot targets”.

Access to MODIS data, SPOT 4 quicklooks and Landsat-5 data on SFMS service is free and open. The users who register will get an opportunity to set up threshold values of the “hot targets” detection program and will be able to order SPOT 4 and Landsat-5 images on-line at special prices.

Concerned agencies, departments, organizations and private persons may get access to ScanEx Fire Monitoring resource. Should you have any questions (including registration), please contact by phone +7(495)739-73-85 or by e-mail disaster@scanex.ru (subject:”Fires”).

ERDAS announces the release of ERDAS APOLLO on the Cloud, a new cloud-based data management and delivery solution. ERDAS APOLLO on the Cloud provides a simple entry point into the geospatial server world.

Available immediately to customers in the USA, this solution is ideal for GIS users that want a quick server implementation with elasticity. ERDAS APOLLO on the Cloud is ideal for organizations that have limited IT infrastructure and expertise, yet still want to web-enable their large volumes of geospatial data. This solution is also a good alternative for users requiring a geospatial server solution on an intermittent basis or for a one-time project.

This offering provides all of the power of ERDAS APOLLO Professional as an affordable monthly subscription service. This package includes everything you need to run your solution on the cloud, including your software license, infrastructure, storage and bandwidth.

Organizations can maintain their entire geospatial serving operation in a highly secure, scalable environment, eliminating the need for in-house hardware, IT head count and expertise. The shared infrastructure costs and low management overhead available in this offering translate into quantifiable savings for the customer.

“Many GIS users do not have the capability or infrastructure to support a geospatial server. We are excited that this cloud-based solution opens this opportunity to a new group of customers,” said Joel Campbell, President, ERDAS. “ERDAS APOLLO is the best solution on the market for managing and delivering geospatial data. ERDAS APOLLO on the Cloud is a unique implementation offered on a monthly basis, providing organizations with a well supported and flexible offering.”

With the ERDAS APOLLO suite of products, organizations can securely catalog and make sense of rich, geospatial data and metadata, and deliver these assets with unprecedented variability and performance. ERDAS APOLLO implements an out-of-the box Service Oriented Architecture (SOA). On top of handling terabytes of images, ERDAS APOLLO easily delivers feature data, terrain and virtually any geospatial data object.

ERDAS APOLLO on the Cloud is available in a secure, off-site environment that customers can access on demand. Hosting services are facilitated by Skygone Cloud, experienced GIS professionals strictly focused on cloud-based GIS solutions and implementations.

This all-inclusive, pay-as-you-go subscription makes it easy to understand your total cost of ownership. To purchase, or learn more about ERDAS APOLLO on the Cloud, please visit www.erdas.com/apollocloud. ERDAS is also hosting a webinar on ERDAS APOLLO on the Cloud on Tuesday, July 27 at 11 a.m. To register for this webinar, please visit www.erdas.com.

This is the first ERDAS product available on the cloud, with plans for other offerings to be available in this environment in the future. To learn more about ERDAS, please call +1 770 776 3400, toll free +1 877 GO ERDAS.

The Global Spatial Data Infrastructure (GSDI) Association together with the manpower and financial support of the US Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) is dedicated to international cooperation and collaboration in support of local, national, and international spatial data infrastructure developments that would allow nations to better address social, economic, and environmental issues of pressing importance. In addition, the GISCorps of The Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA) is an important partner in this endeavor by providing manpower contributions to worthy proposals. This partnership is committed to bringing about an infrastructure that will allow users globally to access spatial data at a variety of scales from multiple sources that ultimately will appear seamless to all users through adoption of common, international standards, key architecture principles, and approaches for capacity building in developing countries. The GSDI initiatives also link national SDI efforts with the vision and goals of the Group on Earth Observation (GEO) and its Global Earth Observations System of Systems (GEOSS).

The 2009-10 GSDI Small Grants call for proposals was issued in August of 2009 resulting in 52 proposals -- of which, 32 were accepted and referred to regional review committees for their evaluation and recommendations.

It is with pleasure that the GSDI announces the following winners of the 2009-10 GSDI Small Grants. Additionally the GISCorps is providing time and services support to Nigeria and is continuing to evaluate others for potential support.

AFRICA:

ο Africa - Spatial data taxonomy and metadata management for climate change policy development
Primary Contact: Geoinformation Systems Section of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa

ο Malawi - Addressing the needs in terms of geographic information and GIS capacities to support HIV/AIDS monitoring, evaluation and response in Malawi
Primary Contact: National Spatial Data Centre (NSDC) under the umbrella of the Malawi Geographic Information Council (MAGIC

ο Rwanda - Development of a Spatial Data Sharing Policy Document
Primary Contact: Centre for GIS and Remote Sensing, The National University of Rwanda

ο West Africa - GIS and Spatial Data Infrastructure - Capacity Building for Professionals for Disaster Management in West Africa
Primary Contact: Regional Centre for Training in Aerospace Surveys (RECTAS)

ο Botswana - Integrating cultural heritage in the National Spatial Data Infrastructure of Botswana
Primary Contact: Archaeology Unit, History Department, University of Botswana

ο South Africa - The Cape Urban Observatory Geo-Portal
Primary Contact: School of Architecture, Planning and Geomatics, University of Cape Town:

ο Tanzania - Assessment of SDI Readiness Index: A Case Study of Dar Es Salaam City
Primary Contact: School of Geospatial Sciences and Technology, Department of Geoinformatics, Ardhi University, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

ASIA/PACIFIC:

ο Philippines - Assessing the SDI needs of NGOs in the Philippines: Non-profit groups as stakeholders in spatial data infrastructure
Primary Contact: TAO-Pilipinas, Inc, Quezon City, Philippines

ο Timor Leste - Build the future of Timor-Leste with Maps
Primary Contact: National Directorate of Land and Property and Cadastral Services, Ministry of Justice, Timor-Leste

AMERICAS:

ο Colombia - Developing and Presenting a Course in Spatial Data Infrastructure
Primary Contact: Research and Development for Geographic Information Centre, Geographic Institute Agustín Codazzi, Bogota, Colombia

ο Ecuador (Amazon GISNET)- SDI First Results Dissemination of the Atlas Project of 10 Indigenous Nationalities of the Amazonian Lowlands of Ecuador (AmazonGISnet)
Primary Contact: The University San Francisco de Quito, Campus Cumbaya, Ecuador

EUROPE:

ο Serbia - Fostering the Use of Spatial Data among Small and Medium Enterprises
Primary Contact:- Republic Geodetic Authority (SME), Republic of Serbia; Luka Jovi_i_,

URISA GISCORPS:

The GISCorps of URISA is providing time and services to Nigeria and is continuing to evaluate others for potential support.
ο Nigeria - Creation of an Online Geo Information Portal and Clearinghouse Node
Primary Contact: Geographical Resources for Development Centre, Lagos, Nigeria

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
The Program appreciates the contributions of the regional review committees and their chairs:
ο Africa - EIS Africa, Sives Govender, Executive Secretary
ο Americas - PAIGH, Santiago Borrero, Executive Secretary
ο Asia/Pacific - University of Melbourne and Abbas Rajabifard, President GSDI
ο Europe - EUROGI; Mauro Salvemini , President

Contact Info: astevens@gsdi.org
http://www.gsdi.org