GEO World articles from July 2004

GEO World archives from July 2004

Is GIS dead?(Position)(Geographic Information Systems)(Editorial)
July 1, 2004... The gaining momentum for the move to loosely coupled, federated systems with a spatial database at the core has many analysts proclaiming that "GIS is dead." Web services are seen as barrier-breaking technologies that deliver spatial data and...

Geospatial technology labeled high-growth job sector.(NewsLink)
July 1, 2004... The U.S. Department of Labor identified the geospatial technology industry as one of 12 sectors that will have significant effects on the U.S. economy. The 12 sectors identified included information technology (IT), biotechnology, energy and...

NAVTEQ and Tele Atlas developing standard traffic codes.(NewsLink)(NAVTEQ)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Chicago-based NAVTEQ and Menlo Park, Calif.-based Tele Atlas formed a consortium to standardize traffic codes, enabling traffic information links to digital maps of the United States. The new set of traffic codes will become available on Tele...

"The day after tomorrow" uses 3-D urban models.(NewsLink)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Twentieth Century Fox used 3-D city models of Manhattan and Los Angeles in its big-budget film "The Day After Tomorrow." The models, highly detailed and accurate to within one meter of each city's actual physical dimensions, were originally...

QuickBird Chronicles Construction of Olympic Village.(NewsLink)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... On Aug. 13-29, 2004, the Olympic Games return to its ancient birthplace and the city of its revival, Athens, Greece, and athletes from all nations will unite in Greece to engage in sport. The competition includes 28 Olympic events that will be...

Bob Plumb Inc., Dubuque, Iowa.(Online Update)(Bob Plumb )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.bobplumb.com The Bob Plumb Web site enables land surveyors and related professionals to exchange dialog and stay informed of current information, providing a meeting place for land surveyors and those interested in land...

ESRI, Redlands, Calif.(Online Update)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.esri.com Jameson Inns launched a new Web service called the Hotel Locator (http://www.jamesoninns.com), developed with ESRI's ArcWeb Services by Dymapic Technologies, that enables travelers to locate company inns along an...

Intergraph mapping and geospatial solutions, Huntsville, ALA.(Online Update)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://imgs.intergraph.com Northern Illinois University (NIU) implemented an interactive Web map (http://www.niu.edu/maps.shtml) that enables users to locate sites and resources on the NIU campus. An Intergraph Registered Research...

Mapinfo Corp., Troy, NY.(Online Update)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.mapinfo.com The Atlanta Police Department selected MapInfo technology to create an interactive, Internet-based crime information source for its citizens. The new system uses MapInfo MapXtreme to enable Atlanta-area residents to...

Maporama International, Paris.(Online Update)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.maporama.com Credit Mutuel Arkea selected Maporama Web Services 2004 to develop location-based I-Mode services. The objective is to facilitate the access to more than 3,000 locations in its distribution network.

Pacific Alliance technologies, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.(Online Update)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.pat.ca Pacific Alliance will design, implement and host a MapGuide application for the corporation of Delta, providing custom applications for the public viewing, searching and updating of Delta's mapping data.

FGDC Subcommittee for Cadastral Data.(Internet Resource of the Month)(Federal Geographic Data Committee)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.nationalcad.org The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) launched the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) Subcommittee for Cadastral Data Web site, which provides data standards for land-records information and the Cadastral...

ESRI/GIS spokesperson receives Technology Champion Award.(People Link)(Environmental Systems Research Institute Inc's Jim Geringer wins National Association of State Chief Information Officers award)
July 1, 2004... The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) awarded former Wyoming Governor Jim Geringer its 2004 National Technology Champion Award. Geringer, now with Redlands, Calif.-based ESRI, received the honor during NASCIO's...

Aurora, Colo.(People Link)(Geospatial Information & Technology Association (GITA))(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.gita.org Jack Dangermond, founder and president of ESRI, and Richard Newell, advisor at Ten Sails, were named recipients of GITA's 2004 Lifetime Achievement Award. The award, presented for the first time this year, recognizes an...

Horizons Inc., Rapid City, S.D.(People Link)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.horizonsinc.com Horizons appointed Becky Morton to director of business development and Renee Vevea to director of marketing.

Intermap Technologies, Englewood, Colo.(People Link)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.intermaptechnologies.com Intermap Technologies hired David Hisdal as director, Southeast Asia sales; Carol Thorpe as director, NEXTMap product promotion; and Monica Moore as director of marketing.

International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS), London.(People Link)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.isprs.org Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan won the ISPRS Brock Gold Medal for "an outstanding landmark in the evolution of the photogrammetry, remote sensing and spatial information sciences."

PBS & J, Orlando, Fla.(People Link)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.pbsj.com Senior Project Manager Keith B. High successfully met the requirements for Certified Mapping Scientist--GIS/LIS through the American Society for photogrammetry & Remote Sensing.

R.A. Smith & Associates Inc., Brookfield, Wis.(People Link)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.rasmith.com Alissa Bails, GIS division manager, met the standards and requirements established by the GIS Certification Institute to become a certified GIS professional in the state of Wisconsin.

Rolta International, Atlanta.(People Link)(Rolta International)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.rolta.com Dave Ridderikhoff joined Rolta International's Geospatial Information Technology Division as a senior project manager.

Space Imaging, Denver.(People Link)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.spaceimaging.com Space Imaging appointed Mark A. Kling vice president, general counsel and secretary.

Woolpert LLP, Dayton, Ohio.(People Link)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.woolpert.com Stephen L. Root joined Woolpert as a photogrammetry project director, responsible for managing photogrammetry and GIS projects for local governments and state agencies in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

NOAA readies new satellites.(Government Connection)
July 1, 2004... The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is planning a December 2004 launch for the first satellite in its next series of Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) spacecraft, which gather data used for...

Geospatial-Intelligence community builds strategy.(Government Connection)(National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency)
July 1, 2004... Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. James R. Clapper Jr., head of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), issued a statement that lays out broad strategy and goals for the geospatial-intelligence community. The statement, called "the...

USGS taps two for contract.(Government Connection)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) awarded multiyear contracts to Thornton, Colo.-based Space Imaging and Dulles, Va.-based ORBIMAGE Inc. The contracts, which cover the acquisition of high-resolution satellite imagery, come with an estimated...

NASA scores hat trick with Aura satellite.(Government Connection)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... In summer 2004, NASA begins using a new satellite, Aura, that will supply "the best information yet about the health of Earth's atmosphere." Aura should provide insights into how atmospheric composition affects and responds to Earth's...

ASPRS celebrates 70th anniversary, record attendance.(Conference Connection)(American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing)
July 1, 2004... The American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) celebrated its 70th anniversary at the 2004 Annual Conference held May 23-28 in Denver with a record attendance of nearly 1,900, reflecting a 65-percent increase from the...

Bentley empowers users at Annual Conference.(Conference Connection)(Bentley Systems Inc.)
July 1, 2004... A commitment to empower users to improve the world's infrastructure was a key message at the 2004 Bentley Empowered (BE) Conference held at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel in Orlando, Fla., from May 23-27, 2004. Anthony Flynn,...

Intergraph GeoSpatial World focuses on integration.(Conference Connection)
July 1, 2004... A record gathering of GIS, mapping and information technology professionals convened in Miami for Intergraph's GeoSpatial World international management and training conference from May 12-14, 2004. The conference drew participants from 56...

ESRI, San Diego to hear the "Language of Geography".(Conference Connection)(Environmental Systems Research Institute)
July 1, 2004... The largest gathering of GIS professionals will again convene at the 24th Annual ESRI User Conference, themed "GIS--The Language of Geography." More than 12,000 GIS professionals are expected to attend the conference held Aug. 9-13, 2004, at...

Suitability models find the good, the bad and the Hugag.(Beyond Mapping)(binary habitat model)
July 1, 2004... A simple habitat model can be developed using only reclassify and overlay operations. For example, a Hugag is a curious mythical beast (see Figure 1) with strong preferences for the following terrain configurations: * Prefers low...

GIS needs to be part of the solution.(Critical GIS)
July 1, 2004... Following my "Critical GIS" column in GeoWorld's April 2004 issue (see "Rethinking GIS and [Homeland] Security," page 22), I received many letters supporting and challenging my thoughts on the subject. In the column, I suggested that the GIS...

And the survey says ...(Surveying/GIS Integration)
July 1, 2004... After a four-year hiatus, I recently returned to land surveying. I was previously a product manager, and people had a tangible concept of hardware and software creation. But when I tell them that I'm a land surveyor, they quickly identify me as...

Web services provide a path for enterprise integration.(Industry Outlook)(Cover Story)
July 1, 2004... Although different organizations or departments may apply spatial data and functionality for countless different purposes, the same data and tools are used. Schools, emergency services, utility companies, urban planners, businesses, commuters,...

Critical technology.(Geographic information systems)
July 1, 2004... Why should any agency involved in public safety, law enforcement or homeland security consider investing in GIS technology? GIS is a knowledge system that enables people to create, view, analyze and share location-based information on PCs and...

Planning and process: getting ready for emergencies.(California Mountain Area Safety Taskforce)
July 1, 2004... The California Mountain Area Safety Taskforce (MAST) was thinking ahead when it launched its public-information Web site. That vision made a difference in the 2003 wildfire season. In September 2003, a ridge of high pressure over the...

A framework for IT.(District of columbia)
July 1, 2004... In the District of Columbia, the Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) serves as the comprehensive, central information technology (IT) resource for district agencies, helping to leverage IT to enhance public safety and emergency...

To protect and serve.(Deployment Operations Center)(Chicago Police Department)
July 1, 2004... As virtually every operational activity in law enforcement includes spatial relationships, using GIS to illuminate interactions and patterns buried in the data is critical. Serving these capabilities to an intranet adds even more power,...

Putting the Web to work.(Regional Crime Analysis Program )
July 1, 2004... Growing or extending GIS capabilities beyond individual departments is a valuable strategy for agencies and organizations that work together. ESRI GIS software provides the means to serve data among and across departments and to intranet-and...

Focused solutions.
July 1, 2004... Many public-safety professionals use specialized GIS applications built on ESRI technology. Solutions include geographic profiling, gunshot location identification, roadblock/perimeter response, emergency notification to households, case...

GIS resources.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Collaboration and coordination among agencies and organizations contributes to mission effectiveness and fact-based decision making. Online resources help to connect people with geospatial data, initiatives and working partnerships. ...

Proactive problem solving improves land-management decisions.(Environmental Management)(Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)(National Land and Water Information Service)
July 1, 2004... The agricultural sector is becoming increasingly technical and knowledge based, and it's becoming more intensive and diverse as a result of globalization. Livestock numbers are increasing dramatically, and managing a more diversified crop mix...

Raster resurgence: collection flexibility and data management enhance enterprise adoption.(Imagery Management)
July 1, 2004... The use of raster data evolved from classified applications in defense and intelligence agencies during the last 50 years to become a common tool in a wide range of applications. The following cases underscore the potential for raster imagery...

NAVTEQ, Chicago.(Data)(NAVTEQ )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.navteq.com NAVTEQ is offering sample map data in Oracle Database 10g format to all Oracle customers and prospects. Sample NAVTEQ maps are available for San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Munich and can be downloaded through...

Tele Atlas, Atlanta.(Data)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.na.teleatlas.com Tele Atlas and ProMiles Software Development Corp. will offer updated North American fuel-price data for location-based services, wireless applications and Internet services for more than 72,000 fuel stations in...

Vexcel Corp., Boulder, Colo.(Data)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.vexcel.com Vexcel is using its remote-sensing and close-range photogrammetry technologies to provide geospecific 3-D urban authoring capabilities, merging data collected by satellite or aerial sensors with images captured by...

Bentley Systems, Exton, PA.(Software)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.bentley.com Bentley Systems released MicroStation V8 2004 Edition. Driven by 10 core technologies, the new release includes support for Adobe PDF, enhanced DWG interoperability and digital security.

Blue Marble Geographics, Gardiner, Maine.(Software)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.bluemarblegeo.com Blue Marble Geographics released its GeoTransform 5.0 software developer toolkit, the image transformation library behind its Geographic Transformer. The toolkit allows developers to embed image re-projection...

Cadcorp, Stevenage, United Kingdom.(Software)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.cadcorp.com Cadcorp released Cadcorp SIS Map Browser, a free OpenGIS data viewer for the Web that works only in conjunction with OpenGIS Web services. The software was developed to enable viewing and querying of data served...

Definiens Imaging GmbH, Munich.(Software)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.definiens-imaging.com Definiens Imaging released eCognition Professional 4.0 software for object-oriented image classification. Highlights include large data handling; improved manual editing of objects; additional object...

Earth Resource Mapping (ERM), San Diego.(Software)(Image Web Server 2.0)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.ermapper.com ERM released Image Web Server 2.0, which provides image serving that enhances existing ESRI map-serving infrastructure. New capabilities include multiple-protocol image serving. Also, ERM released its ECW JPEG 2000...

Forest Technology Group (FTG), North Charleston, S.C.(Software)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.ftgrp.com FTG released webFRIS 2.5, an enter-prisewide forest information system. Added functionality includes a new "Higher and Better Use" land-sales planning and management module as well as advanced forest-inventory...

GeoGraphs Systems Corp., Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.(Software)(GeoFlash Pro 2004)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.geographs.com GeoGraphs Systems released GeoFlash Pro 2004, which incorporates open-source technology such as PHP, MySQL, Apache Server and Macromedia FlashMX 2004. GeoFlash Pro uses the latest version of MySQL 4.1, which...

Group 1 Software, Lanham, MD.(Software)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.g1.com Group 1 Software released Centrus GeoCoder for ESRI ArcGIS, a geocoding solution for users of ESRI's ArcGIS software. Centrus GeoCoder provides integrated address validation and geographic analysis and enhancement.

Har*GIS LLC, Centennial, Colo.(Software)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.har-gis.com har*GIS introduced TruckMap* 4.1, which provides a complete set of vendor-independent tools designed to improve workflow processes of organizations with mobile field crews that maintain distributed assets such as...

IONIC Software, Alexandria, VA.(Software)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.ionicsoft.com IONIC Software released RedSpider Enterprise 3, a geospatial Java toolkit and component library available for geospatially enabled enterprise application integration. Natively based on ISO211 and OpenGIS standards,...

Layton Graphics Inc., Marietta, GA.(Software)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.layton-graphics.com Layton Graphics introduced MAP2PDF for Adobe Acrobat, which enables the georegistration of PDF maps and converts them into GIS documents. Users can embed and display latitude and longitude in PDF maps,...

LizardTech Inc., Seattle.(Software)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.lizardtech.com LizardTech released MrSID Software Development Kit (SDK) 4.0 with JPEG 2000, which enables software developers to include JPEG 2000 as well as MrSID wavelet imagery into applications using a single SDK.

MapInfo Corp., Troy, N.Y.(Software)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.mapinfo.com MapInfo released RiskReview, a new exposure-tracking solution for insurers that uses location information to improve risk assessment and enhance underwriting business decisions. Using RiskReview, insurers,...

Maporama International, Paris.(Software)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.maporama.com Maporama International released Maporama Web Services 2004 version 1.2, including two new services: Check Address and POI Look Up. In addition, Maporama introduced Maporama Dealer Locator Premium Edition and...

MetaCarta, Houston.(Software)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.metacarta.com MetaCarta introduced MetaCarta geOdrive, a geographic text-search solution that helps upstream and downstream knowledge workers locate unstructured text documents and place them on a map according to geographic...

Miner & Miner (M & M), Fort Collins, Colo.(Software)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.miner.com M & M released Responder 8.3.2, a GIS-hosted, distributed outage-management system, as part of its ArcFM Solution. Featuring an analysis engine that receives and analyzes trouble calls, Responder uses an iterative...

Safe Software Inc., Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.(Software)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.safe.com Safe Software's FME spatial data translator now reads several new Extensible Markup Language (XML)-based formats: Geodatabase XML for ArcGIS 9.0, Landonline (LandXML), GPX and IUF. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Spatial Business Systems, Lakewood, Colo.(Software)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.spatialbiz.com Spatial Business Systems extended its Smallworld GIS spatial interoperability tools to support the ESRI ArcGIS Data Interoperability extension and Safe Software's Feature Manipulation Engine, enabling users of...

Taylor Technologies Inc., Kingsford, Mich.(Software)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.taylor-tech.com Taylor Technologies introduced Rapid Integration Toolkit 4.0.4. New features include an interface that allows users to copy and paste SQL statements, a cleaner table structure and faster query display.

TerraSeer, Ann Arbor, Mich.(Software)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.terraseer.com TerraSeer released Space-Time Intelligence System (STIS) software to help researchers, analysts and business managers view, interact with and understand geographic and temporal data. STIS provides seamless...

Thales Navigation, Santa Clara, Calif.(Software)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.thalesnavigation.com Thales Navigation introduced a post-processing differential-correction option that delivers sub-meter accuracy to its MobileMapper handheld GPS-based GIS data collector. The new software delivers...

Contex Scanning Technology, Miami.(Hardware)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.contex.com Contex Scanning Technology introduced its CHROMA XL 42-inch color scanner that incorporates Contex Tx technology for enhanced scan speed and image quality for scan-to-print applications. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Earthmate.com, Yarmouth, Maine.(Hardware)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.earthmate.com Earthmate.com released its Blue Logger GPS, which is packaged with DeLorme GPS mapping software. Blue Logger GPS has onboard storage for more than 50,000 location points, and the location point collection variables...

Leica Geosystems, Heerbrugg, Switzerland.(Hardware)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.leica-geosystems.com The new Leica System 1200 integrates GPS and total-station technologies with standardized operating and data concepts, making it possible for surveyors to use terrestrial and satellite sensors with...

Navman, Foothill Ranch, Calif.(Hardware)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.navman.com Navman released its Navman GPS 4410, which is designed for use with Bluetooth-enabled Pocket PCs. Also, Navman released a GPS 4100 hardware-only solution for consumers looking to use other navigation software with...

Red Planet Consulting Inc., Boulder, Colo.(Hardware)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.redplanetconsulting.com Red Planet Consulting introduced FieldStorm, a truck-mounted wireless field solution for electric utilities. FieldStorm increases productivity of electric utility trouble crews by improving restoration...

Strata, Bradford, United Kingdom.(Hardware)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.penmap.com Strata launched its new PenmapGPS rugged TabletPCs for field surveyors and engineers. PenmapGPS contains an integrated RTK GPS receiver that can deliver accuracies of five millimeters and provides full SVGA graphics...

Symmetricom, San Jose, Calif.(Hardware)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.symmttm.com Symmetricom introduced three new options for its XLi high-precision GPS-synchronized time and frequency receivers, which allow customers to make measurements of external timing signals relative to the XLi.

CARIS, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.(Miscellaneous)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.caris.com CARIS released its Notebook, a digital alternative to the traditional paper field book. The application includes tools for adding new georeferenced field-survey objects, field notes and observations as well as data...

ESRI, Redlands, Calif.(Miscellaneous)(Environmental Systems Research Institute Inc)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.esri.com ESRI announced several additions to the services and data included in its ArcWeb Services. Subscribers now can perform batch geocoding, obtain demographic reports for specified regions, and access new data that include...

Haestad Methods, Waterbury, Conn.(Miscellaneous)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.haestad.com Haestad Press released Wastewater Collection Systems Modeling and Design.

Red Hen Systems Inc., Fort Collins, Colo.(Miscellaneous)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.redhensystems.com Red Hen Systems released VMS-X, which integrates GPS technology with digital video cameras. Using a Sony video camera equipped with an "intelligent accessory shoe," a Garmin Geko GPS receiver and miniaturized...

Z/I Imaging Corp., Huntsville, ALA.(Miscellaneous)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.ziimaging.com Z/I Imaging, an Intergraph company, extended its ImageStation photogrammetry applications to include support for imagery from the STARIMAGER Photographic System, a helicopter-borne, three-line scanner system.

Correction.(Correction Notice)
July 1, 2004... In the May 2004 "Quick-Take Review" of the Leica Photogrammetry Suite (LPS) (see GeoWorld, page 50), the following sentence appeared: "Overall, LPS Core is an excellent choice for processing small to medium blocks of imagery, but I suspect...

American Digital Cartography Inc. (ADCI), Appleton, Wis.(Business News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.adcworldmap.com ADCi partnered with Maporama International as a new data supplier. Maporama integrated ADC WorldMap cartographic data, featuring 429,000 cities and 9.9 million kilometers of roads worldwide. To submit...

Analytical Graphics Inc. (AGI), Malvern, PA.(Business News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.stk.com The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued AGI its ninth patent. Based on an invention by James R. Wright, senior engineer, the patent, "Method and Apparatus for Orbit Determination," includes technology embedded within...

Applanix, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada.(Business News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.applanix.com Geokosmos will act as exclusive distributor of the Applanix line of Position and Orientation systems in Russia, the Baltic States and the Commonwealth of Independent States.

BAE Systems, San Diego.(Business News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... http://www.baesystems.com Cardinal Systems integrated its VrOne 3-D graphic system with SOCET SET, BAE Systems' digital photogrammetry application. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]