GEO World articles from August 2003

GEO World archives from August 2003

Defining the geosemantic web.(Position)
August 1, 2003... The Semantic Web is the vision of Tim Berners-Lee, founder of the Web and director of the World Wide Web Consortium. Such an extension of the current Web gives information meaning, better enabling computers and people to work in cooperation....

OrbView-3 successfully launched.(Newslink)
August 1, 2003... The third commercial, high-resolution Earth-imaging satellite was successfully launched June 26, 2003, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. Orbital Imaging Corp. (ORBIMAGE), Dulles, Va., announced that its OrbView-3 satellite separated as...

Trimble acquires Applanix.(Newslink)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Trimble Navigation Ltd., Sunnyvale, Calif., entered into a definitive agreement to acquire privately held Applanix Corp., Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada, in a stock transaction valued at $18.6 million. Applanix develops systems that integrate...

School uses GPS tracker on student field trip.(Newslink)
August 1, 2003... Christ Lutheran School, Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., recently sent approximately 35 students on an annual field trip to the Washington, D.C., area. Despite a tradition of approximately 20 years, the apparent rise in violence against school...

ASPRS approves LIDAR Data Exchange Standard.(Newslink)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Bethesda, Md.-based American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) approved and released the ASPRS Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) Data Exchange Format Standard. The new binary data exchange format is intended to serve as an...

AED-SICAD, Munich: http://www.sicad.com.(Online Update)
August 1, 2003... In the second stage of a property registry information system, Berlin implemented an integrated information system for the data in its Automated Property Map and Book. Berlin districts can access information about properties and owners via the...

BLUE8, Nottingham, United Kingdom: http://www.blue8.uk.com.(Online Update)
August 1, 2003... blue 8 launched blue 8 xi, an Internet-based data publication and collection tool that delivers professional map manipulation and interrogation capabilities to users via standard Web browsers. Results can be exported in standard formats for...

ESRI, Redlands, Calif.: http://www.esri.com.(Online Update)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... ESRI's Internet mapping solutions are powering a new customer service hotline at The Kowloon Motor Bus Co. Ltd., Hong Kong's largest bus company. Since it started operating, overall call center capacity has increased by about 30 percent, and...

ESRI Business Information Solutions (BIS), Vienna, VA.: http://www.esribis.com.(Online Update)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... ESRI BIS launched the first phase of private labeling and hosting functions of its Web site. New features provide clients and partners with flexible options for increased accessibility to demographics and spending pattern data, reports and maps...

Generation5, Toronto: http://www.demographicsCANADA.ca.(Online Update)
August 1, 2003... Generation5 introduced www.demographicsCANADA.ca, a subscription-based Internet service that provides demographic reporting, interactive mapping and geocoding for Canadian geography. With a national license, users can access thousands of...

Intergraph Mapping and Geospatial Solutions, Huntsville, ALA: http://www.intergraph.com.(Online Update)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... At the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association Ontario Chapter Annual General Meeting, the city of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Web site (http://map.hamilton.ca) was honored with two awards recognizing excellence in the use of...

Kinetic Solutions, ST. Louis: http://www.kineticsolutions.net.(Online Update)
August 1, 2003... The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department won a 2003 St. Louis Technology Award for its SafeCity Web site. Developed and hosted by Kinetic Solutions, SafeCity is a publicly accessible crime analysis GIS.

MapQuest, Denver: http://www.mapquest.com.(Online Update)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... MapQuest and Amtrak integrated MapQuest Business Solutions software on Amtrak's Web site at http://www.amtrak.com. Amtrak passengers and others can find the location of or directions to more than 500 railroad stations across the country.

Povertymap.net: http://povertymap.net.(Internet Resource Of The Month)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Povertymap.net is a "clearinghouse" Web site for poverty mapping resources. It has been set up as part of a joint initiative by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and Environmental Programme as well as the Consultative Group...

DigitalGlobe, Longmont, Colo: http://www.digitalglobe.com.(People Link)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... DigitalGlobe opened an office in Washington, D.C., to better serve the company's U.S. government customers. The office will be led by Dawn Sienicki, who joined DigitalGlobe as director of Washington, D.C., operations to serve as government...

Intermap Technologies Corp., Denver: http://www.intermaptechnologies.com.(People Link)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Intermap Technologies appointed Richard Mohr as senior vice president and chief financial officer.

JumpStart GIS Inc., Richmond, Va.: http://www.jumpstartgis.com.(People Link)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Mark Miller was named director of Geographic Information Technology, responsible for managing all aspects of the company's data conversion process, including project design, quality assurance, project tracking and data distribution.

KHEOPS Technologies, Montreal: http://www.kheops-tech.com.(People Link)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... KHEOPS Technologies named Francois Blanc director of marketing. He also will head the new KHEOPS office in Toronto.

MDSI Mobile Data Solutions Inc., Richmond, British Columbia, Canada: http://www.mdsi-advantex.com.(People Link)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... MDSI announced that Tommy Lee, senior vice president of Product Development, and Randy Roesler, system architect, were named among consulting company RaderEnergy's "50 Key Information Technology Players in Energy."

Space Imaging, Denver: http://www.spaceimaging.com.(People Link)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Space Imaging appointed Charles (Chuck) S. Stees to the position of chief financial officer, responsible for the overall management and direction of Space Imaging's long-term financial plan, including the economic analysis of business...

Woolpert LLP, Chicago: http://www.woolpert.com.(People Link)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Woolpert hired Steve Kreger to serve as group manager for the firm's Chicago surveying group, responsible for managing resources to meet project goals and client needs.

Geospatial One-Stop moves forward.(Government Connection)
August 1, 2003... With the Bush Administration's June 30, 2003, release of an Internet-based "Geospatial One-Stop" portal for government geographic information, federal information managers are increasing the public's expectations for data. But Congress is...

Landsat 7 glitch disrupts availability.(Government Connection)
August 1, 2003... The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has been working to fix serious anomalies in data collected by the Landsat 7 satellite. The satellite, launched in 1999, serves as a key tool for gathering imagery and information used in a variety of...

Artificial intelligence meets navigation at NOAA.(Government Connection)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... The Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) at the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) turned to artificial intelligence to improve a quality-control monitoring system. The system,...

Summit explores Spatial Web Services.(Conference Connection)
August 1, 2003... The second in a series of Emerging Technology Summits sponsored by Denver-based Geospatial Information & Technology Association (GITA) and Wayland, Mass.-based Open GIS Consortium (OGC) was held June 4-5, 2003, at the Sheraton Premiere Tysons...

ASPRS Alaska event a success.(Conference Connection)
August 1, 2003... More than 1,200 attendees met in Anchorage, Alaska, for the 69th Annual ASPRS Conference and Exhibition held May 5-9, 2003. The conference sessions were held in the William A. Egan Civic and Convention Center in downtown Anchorage. ...

2004 GeoTec event announces call for papers.(geotec event)
August 1, 2003... GeoTec Media issued a call for papers for its 2004 GeoTec Event to be held March 28-31, 2004, in Toronto. Sponsored by GeoTec Media, publisher of GeoWorld magazine and developer of the Web portal http://www.GeoPlace.com, the event (formerly...

Consider multiple criteria when routing.(Beyond Mapping)
August 1, 2003... Last month's "Beyond Mapping" column described a procedure for identifying the preferred route for an electric transmission line that minimizes visual exposure to houses. The process involves three generalized steps: discrete cost, accumulated...

Examine the factors in tablet vs. handheld selection.(Mobile GIS)
August 1, 2003... Early adopters of mobile GIS had few choices beyond .laptop and pen-based computers to take GIS activities into [he field. Although such devices weren't designed specifically for the rigors of GIS fieldwork, they did succeed in getting GIS out...

Ensure scalability and database fit.(Enterprise Integration)
August 1, 2003... To successfully integrate GIS within an enterprise, you must be able to convince the information technology (IT) department that what you are installing meets a minimal set of conditions (see "Remember IT Requirements for Enterprise GIS...

Nation's capital puts GIS in the hands of the people.(E-Government)
August 1, 2003... IN JUNE 2002, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA'S OFFICE OF THE Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) launched the DC Atlas, the district's first and only standardized resource for mapping and location-based information. The DC Atlas is a Web-based intranet...

GIS programming: prepare for the gathering storm.(GIS Development)
August 1, 2003... THE EVOLUTION OF GIS PRODUCTS, AND THE ROLE of GIS as an "appliance," has given rise to unique software challenges. Providers of GIS-related technologies can't ignore the cost factor associated with product delivery, maintenance and...

Canada goes online: the building of an interoperable spatial data clearinghouse.(Data Access)
August 1, 2003... AS CANADA'S NATIONAL TOPOGRAPHIC MAPPING agency, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) provides maps and data for government, businesses and citizens. NRCan's flagship offering is the National Topographic Data Base (NTDB), an extremely rich vector...

Range finders make spatial data collection more accurate and efficient.(Data Collection)
August 1, 2003... PRECISION INSTRUMENTS FOR COLLECTING SPATIAL data are becoming more accessible and affordable. When deciding whether to invest in a precision instrument, an organization needs to consider a variety of factors, including instrument usability,...

3D nature, Arvada, Colo: http://www.3dnature.com.(Data)
August 1, 2003... The Ultimate Earth Content DVD-ROM provides one-kilometer landmass terrain data, 10-kilometer bathymetry, one-kilometer color imagery and five-kilometer cloud map data for the entire globe. Included are more than 939 million digital elevation...

DMTI Spatial, Markham, Ontario, Canada: http://www.dmtispatial.com.(Data)
August 1, 2003... DMTI Spatial released CanMap Water V1.0, Canada's first detailed hydrography file complete with naming for major water features. Also, DMTI Spatial expanded its topographic and land-use classification file, extending its coverage from 157 to...

Earthstar Geographics, San Diego: http://www.terracolor.net.(Data)
August 1, 2003... Earthstar Geographies released TerraColor World version 2.0 with special introductory pricing. In addition to color-shaded terrain and bathymetry images, version 2.0 includes a version of the NASA/GSFC Blue Marble world satellite mosaic image...

Navigation Technologies, Chicago: http://www.navtech.com.(Data)
August 1, 2003... Navigation Technologies introduced digital map coverage in Singapore and neighboring Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The offering represents one of the first comprehensive navigable digital maps of Singapore and its surrounding suburbs Also, Navigation...

Spatial Insights Inc. Falls Church, Va: http://www.spatialinsights.com.(Data)
August 1, 2003... Spatial Insights released Proximity Demographics data for market studies. Unlike traditional demographic data, which provide individual counts and tabulations for each specific unit of geography, ProximityDemographics provides cumulative...

Blue Marble Geographics, Gardiner, Maine: http://www.bluemarblegeo.com.(Software)
August 1, 2003... Blue Marble Geographics released GeoCalc 5.2, a dynamic link library for Microsoft Windows programmers that's used to embed real-time coordinate conversion. GeoCalc users can match custom coordinate systems to a known geodetic coordinate system...

Cadcorp, Stevenage, United Kingdom: http://www.cadcorp.com.(Software)
August 1, 2003... Cadcorp integrated support for Safe Software's Feature Manipulation Engine (FME) Objects within its Cadcorp SIS V6.0 product. Users in possession of a valid FME license can access all FME data readers in Cadcorp SIS desktop, developer and...

CARIS, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada: http://www.caris.com.(Software)
August 1, 2003... CARIS released Spatial Fusion version 3.1, which integrates distributed data sources into a Web-based mapping service, regardless of data format, location or platform. Highlights include "out-of-the-box" support for version 1.1.1 of the OpenGIS...

Cimmetry Systems, Paris: http://www.cimmetry.com.(Software)
August 1, 2003... Cimmetry Systems' AutoVue product now integrates seamlessly with Open Text's Livelink CADManager to provide integrated collaboration and knowledge management to computer-aided design applications.

Collins Software, Houston: http://www.coIIinssoftware.com.(Software)
August 1, 2003... Collins Software released MaverickPro version 6.0, which can read/write more than 40 common database formats and includes List, View and Translate capabilities. New in version 6.0 is a COM automation interface so developers can read and write...

Conclusive Strategies, Dripping Springs, Texas: http://www.conclusivestrategies.com.(Software)
August 1, 2003... Conclusive Strategies released its market analysis/site-selection tool, Speed, which is designed to help retailers make fast decisions about where to open, close and move sites.

Corporate Montage Inc., Perth, Australia: http://www.corporatemontage.com.(Software)
August 1, 2003... Corporate Montage released MAPscript version 4, a publishing and plotting solution for output of computer-aided design drawings, mapping publications, engineering documents, Windows printouts and more. MAPscript provides cross-media publishing,...

DM Solutions Group Inc., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: http://www.dmsolutions.on.ca.(Software)
August 1, 2003... DM Solutions released Chameleon, which creates customizable Web mapping applications and allows an organization's information technology Web infrastructure to integrate mapping content with standard Web development tools.

ESRI, Redlands, Calif: http://www.esri.com.(Software)
August 1, 2003... ESRI is shipping its PLTS Defense Solution, which was developed to meet the specialized mapping needs of defense users and includes data loading, single-click editing, extraction and quality-control production tools as well as product-specific...

ESRI Business Information Solutions (BIS), Vienna, Va: http://www.esribis.com.(Software)
August 1, 2003... ESRI BIS released the 17th edition of The Sourcebook of ZIP Code Demographics, the 15th edition of The Sourcebook of County Demographics and the 2003 edition of Sourcebook. America with ArcReader. The ESRI BIS sourcebooks provide current...

Generation5, Toronto: http://www.generation5.net.(Software)
August 1, 2003... Generations partnered with Geographic Data Technology Canada to release a new geodemographic application, G5 Geocoder, which attaches latitude and longitude coordinates to a street address or postal code by matching the address fields in a...

Geo-3D Inc., Montreal: http://www.geo-3d.com.(Software)
August 1, 2003... Geo-3D released Trident-3D Analyst 2.0, which features ODBC connectivity; DBF or GPS input file formats; SHP, DBF, L3D and JPG output file formats; and new BMP input layer formats for overview maps Trident-3D Analyst performs inventories of...

IDEAL.COM, Rockville, Md: http://www.ideal.com.(Software)
August 1, 2003... IDEAL.com launched WiseImage 5.5 for AutoCAD/AutoCAD LT. WiseImage is an ObjectARX application that transforms AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT into raster editors.

Leica Geosystems, Heerbrugg, Switzerland: http://www.leica-geosystems.com.(Software)
August 1, 2003... Leica Geosystems introduced Spider software for controlling and operating Global Positioning System (GPS) reference stations and networks Spider can control single reference stations providing GPS data to local areas as well as complete...

Lizardtech software, Seattle: http://www.lizardtech.com.(Software)
August 1, 2003... Lizardtech released Express Server 4.5, which is designed to enable fast, high-quality Internet viewing of images and documents of any size. Express Server 4.5 includes support for streaming MrSID Generation 3 lossless and lossy image types and...

MapInfo Corp., Troy, N.Y.: http://www.mapinfo.com.(Software)
August 1, 2003... MapInfo released its Insurance Decision Solution Suite, which enables insurance companies to visually look across all lines of business to better manage risk and operate more effectively.

PCI Geomatics, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada: http://www.pcigeomatics.com.(Software)
August 1, 2003... GIS capabilities, hyperspectral tools and an exclusive new hyperspectral data compression technology are improvements and additions in PCI Geomatics' Geomatica 9, which provides geomatics capabilities and productivity-enhancing features within...

Positive Systems Inc., Whitefish, Mont: http://www.possys.com.(Software)
August 1, 2003... Positive Systems launched version 3.0 of its Digital Images Made Easy (DIME) software, an alternative to traditional photogrammetric methods for imagery preparation. The latest version includes enhancements that integrate new technologies as...

Ravtek Inc., Pleasanton, Calif: http://www.ravtek.com.(Software)
August 1, 2003... Ravtek developed a new raster-to-vector conversion product that can convert raster documents to AutoCAD DWG, vector-based PDF or hybrid PDF files, and CGM. Other formats can be made available on request, and elevations on contour maps can be...

Spatial Insights Inc., Falls Church, Va: http://spatialinsights.com.(Software)
August 1, 2003... Spatial Insights added MapBridge to its data and software product offerings. MapBridge, developed by Mapping Analytics, is an add-on to Microsoft's MapPoint 2002 and allows MapPoint users to generate demographic reports based on radii,...

Telcontar, San Jose, Calif: http://www.telcontar.com.(Software)
August 1, 2003... Telcontar released Drill Down Server version 3.0, which provides enhanced capabilities for fleet tracking, trip planning, real-time traffic information, emergency roadside assistance and concierge services.

TerraSeer, Ann Arbor, Mich: http://www.terraseer.com.(Software)
August 1, 2003... TerraSeer released its free Cancer Atlas Viewer software, which will help interested parties, from citizens to health practitioners, better understand the data in the online Atlas of Cancer Mortality in the United States. TerraSeer's Cancer...

Tripod Data Systems (TDS), Corvallis, Ore: http://www.tdsway.com.(Software)
August 1, 2003... TDS released version 4.1.5 of its operating system for the TDS Recon handheld. Simultaneously, TDS released version 3.7.2 of its Survey Pro software. The new combination increases performance and adds a new layer of Global Positioning System...

Visual Learning Systems (VLS), Missoula, Mont: http://www.featureanaiyst.com.(Software)
August 1, 2003... VLS released Feature Analyst for ERDAS IMAGINE 8.x in Standard and Professional versions, integrating image processing and feature extraction capabilities.

Rogers Industries, Olathe, Kan: http://www.rogers-ind.com.(Hardware)
August 1, 2003... Rogers Industries introduced the GPS16R, a compact, 16-channel Global Positioning System receiver with embedded antenna. Designed for OEM applications as well as consumer use, the GPS16R is available in a variety of configurations, including...

Septentrio satellite navigation, Leuven, Belgium: http://www.septentrio.com.(Hardware)
August 1, 2003... Septentrio introduced PolaRx2@, the latest version of its dual-frequency GNSS satellite positioning receiver platform. PolaRx2 @ is a single-board receiver that can be connected to up to three antennas and will allow new attitude and other...

ESRI, Redlands, Calif: http://www.esri.com.(Miscellaneous)
August 1, 2003... ESRI introduced a new version of its ArcWeb Services for developers that can be published and accessed via the Web, allowing users to include geographic functionality in their applications without having to host data or develop GIS...

GeoLytics Inc., East Brunswick, N.J.: http://www.us-census.biz.(Miscellaneous)
August 1, 2003... GeoLytics released its Geocoders, which match street addresses to latitude/longitude coordinates and then U.S. Census designations. This can be done for an individual address (manual mode) or for a list of thousands or millions of addresses.

Metropolis New Media Inc., San Jose, Calif: http://www.metropolisnewmedia.com.(Miscellaneous)
August 1, 2003... Metropolis New Media, a provider of hosting services for ESRI products, enhanced its Managed Security service with proprietary Intrusion Prevention technology, which scans all traffic on the Metropolis network at wire speed and eliminates...

Numerical Algorithms Group (NAG), Oxford, United Kingdom: http://www.nag.com.(Miscellaneous)
August 1, 2003... At the AMD Opteron processor launch, NAG announced the availability of the NAG f95 Compiler for AMD64 and Linux.

Open GIS Consortium Inc. (OGC), Wayland, Mass: http://www.opengis.org.(Miscellaneous)
August 1, 2003... OGC introduced OGC User Magazine, a free quarterly e-mail publication that highlights the use of OpenGIS Specifications in building interoperable solutions for spatial and related technologies. The first issue is currently online at...

South Pacific Science Press Intl Pty Ltd., Alexandria, Australia: http://www.asmmag.com.(Miscellaneous)
August 1, 2003... South Pacific Science Press, the publishers of Position Magazine, launched Asian Surveying and Mapping, a new magazine for the Asian spatial industry. It will address issues of interest to professionals in the fields of surveying, mapping, GIS,...

Thales Navigation, Santa Clara, Calif: http://www.thalesnavigation.com.(Miscellaneous)
August 1, 2003... Thales Navigation's ProMark2 with kinematic capabilities now offers multiple-language support, with all screens displayable in French, German and Spanish in addition to English. The company also will add French, German and Spanish as language...

3DI Technologies Inc., Easton, Md: http://www.3dicorp.com.(Business News)
August 1, 2003... 3Di Technologies won a contract from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs to provide light detection and ranging (LIDAR) and 3-D city modeling services for the greater Boston metropolitan area. Also, the company entered...

AND Products B.V., Rotterdam, The Netherlands: http://www.amd.com.(Business News)
August 1, 2003... AND Products commissioned Perfect for People Business Solutions to develop an interface that will enable SAP users to access Clavis Address Query, one of AND's address management products. Also, Garmin International extended its value-added...

BAE Systems, Hampshire, United Kingdom: http://www.baesystems.com.(Business News)
August 1, 2003... BAE Systems and eSpatial partnered to develop and supply 4-D secure imagery solutions based on eSpatial's commercial off-the-shelf technologies.

Bentley Systems Inc., Exton, Pa: http://www.bentley.com.(Business News)
August 1, 2003... Frankfurt Airport standardized on Bentley building information modeling (BIM) for operations and facilities management information technology. Bentley BIM allows Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide to integrate and visualize large,...

Corbley Communications Inc., Fort Collins, Colo.(Business News)
August 1, 2003... Corbley Communications, a public-relations and advertising firm serving the international geotechnologies industry, opened its new headquarters office in Fort Collins. The ribbon cutting coincided with the company's 10th anniversary.

Definiens Imaging Gmbh, Munich: http://www.definiens-imaging.com.(Business News)
August 1, 2003... Definiens Imaging and DigitalGlobe became software partners. Under the agreement, Definiens can access the latest QuickBird geometric sensor models and technical product information to optimize the performance of its eCognition product.

DigitalGlobe, Longmont, Colo: http://www.digitalglobe.com.(Business News)
August 1, 2003... DigitalGlobe opened an office in Washington, D.C., to better serve the company's U.S. government customers. Also, DigitalGlobe announced that Bowles Farming, an agriculture customer in Los Banos, Calif., is using 30-foot-resolution SPOT...

Earth Resource Mapping, San Diego: http://www.ermapper.com.(Business News)
August 1, 2003... Earth Resource Mapping announced that 3D Nature's Visual Nature Studio 2 supports its open-standard Enhanced Compression Wavelet technology.

Earth Satellite Corp., Rockville, Md: http://www.earthsat.com.(Business News)
August 1, 2003... Earth Satellite was recognized by IDG's Computerworld, in partnership with the Storage Networking Industry Association, as a winner of the "Best Practices in Storage" Awards Program. The award honors organizations that have applied unique...

EI Technologies LLC, Parker Colo: http://www.eitek.com.(Business News)
August 1, 2003... EI Technologies won a contract to develop a GIS plan for the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. The objective is to review the existing GIS program to build a strong foundation of GIS technology at the tribe and derive tangible benefits.

Ekahau Inc., Saratoga, Calif: http://www.ekahau.com.(Business News)
August 1, 2003... Ekahau and Multichannel Retail Ltd. (MCRL) launched the first European customer trials of MCRL's Personal Shopping Assistant using Ekahau's Positioning Engine to provide accurate shopper location information in the Metro Future Store.

ESRI, Redlands, Calif: http://www.esri.com.(Business News)
August 1, 2003... ESRI China (Beijing) Ltd. was selected to provide the GIS component for the Beijing Cadastral Investigation and Land Registration Office's cadastral information management system, which will be deployed in the 18 districts of Beijing and...