GEO World articles from May 2004

GEO World archives from May 2004

Geographic challenges abound.(Position)
May 1, 2004... The first Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Grand Challenge put the importance of navigation in perspective. DARPA teams were tasked with guiding unmanned robots from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. In an attempt to navigate the...

Public geospatial information of little use to terrorists.(NewsLink)
May 1, 2004... Less than 1 percent of publicly available federal Web sites and databases contain geospatial information not readily available elsewhere that could help terrorists and other hostile forces mount attacks in the United States, according to a...

DigitalGlobe unveils plans for new satellite.(NewsLink)
May 1, 2004... Longmont, Colo.-based DigitalGlobe unveiled details of its "next-generation" imaging satellite, WorldView, which is set to launch no later than 2006 and will be the world's highest-resolution commercial imaging satellite. [ILLUSTRATION...

NGA contract eludes Space Imaging.(NewsLink)
May 1, 2004... The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) terminated negotiations with Thornton, Colo.-based Space Imaging on a NextView contract that could have been worth $500 million. Space Imaging and NGA had been in contract negotiations since...

National Park Service maps underwater battleship.(NewsLink)
May 1, 2004... Among the most enduring images of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor is a photograph of the USS Arizona engulfed in smoke as it sinks on Dec. 7, 1941. Today, the Arizona lies in exactly the same position after the attack more than 60 years...

Earth Resource Mapping, Perth, Australia.(Online Update)
May 1, 2004... http://www.ermapper.com Powered by Earth Resource Mapping's Image Web Server, InfoMapper from WebBased provides a way to view large images online as well as a mechanism whereby InfoMapper users can create Web sites linked to digital maps...

Esri Canada, Toronto.(Online Update)
May 1, 2004... http://www.esricanada.com Several layers of GeoBase data now are available on the Geography Network Canada portal, where users have access to geospatial information at no cost and with unrestricted use.

Geodecisions, Harrisburg, Pa.(Online Update)
May 1, 2004... http://www.geodecisions.com The American Council of Engineering Companies of Pennsylvania presented GeoDecisions and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PENNDOT) with a 2004 Diamond Honor Award for Engineering Excellence for the...

Intergraph mapping and geospatial solutions, Huntsville, Ala.(Online Update)
May 1, 2004... http://imgs.intergraph.com Intergraph opened registration for its "Introduction to GIS" online education program. Participants can gain GeoMedia Professional Certified User status as well as earm points toward GIS Professional recognition...

NAC Geographic Products Inc. (NACGEO), Toronto.(Online Update)
May 1, 2004... http://www.nacgeo.com Metamend will optimize "meta tags" and add a new meta tag to every Web page of its clients as well as submit them to the database of NACGEO's Mobile Location Based Services Network.

Ordnance Survey, Southampton, United Kingdom.(Online Update)
May 1, 2004... http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk Ordnance Survey improved its OS MasterMap online service. Changes enable customers to view aerial photographic imagery on the same screen as backdrop mapping so they can compare product coverage and different...

New York Public Interest Research Group.(Internet Resource of the Month)
May 1, 2004... http://www.MyGovernmentNYC.org The New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) "Who Represents Me?" Web site was enhanced with a new feature that allows New York City residents to find community board members by entering street...

American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS), Washington, D.C.(People Link)
May 1, 2004... http://www.asprs.org Michael S. Renslow was named technical editor for Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing, the journal of ASPRS. Renslow succeeds James Case, who served as technical editor for more than 30 years.

Analytical Graphics Inc. (AGI), Colorado Springs, Colo.(People Link)
May 1, 2004... http://www.agi.com David Finkleman joined AGI's Center for Space Standards and Innovation as senior scientist, where he will evaluate and design orbit estimation and space system simulation techniques while expanding the use of AGI's STK...

ANDREGG GEOMATICS, Auburn, Calif.(People Link)
May 1, 2004... http://andregg.com ANDREGG GEOMATICS hired Alan Buzzurro and Mark Riley for mapping and modeling services, including GIS and construction surveying.

BAE Systems, San Diego.(People Link)
May 1, 2004... http://www.baesystems.com BAE Systems' new sales office in Tampa, Fla., is staffed by Travis Ritter, formerly of Intergraph's Z/I Imaging, and David Reed, formerly of USSOCOM.

Broadband Services Inc. (BSI), Highlands Ranch, Colo.(People Link)
May 1, 2004... http://www.broadbandsvc.com BSI created a dedicated sales force for its Map Vantage intelligent mapping unit. John Meredith and Bart Moyka joined BSI as vice presidents, national accounts, MapVantage Operations, responsible for working...

DAT/EM Systems International, Anchorage, Alaska.(People Link)
May 1, 2004... http://www.datem.com DAT/EM Systems promoted Jerry Shively from technical support engineer to international sales director.

Dewberry, Fairfax, Va.(People Link)
May 1, 2004... http://www.dewberry.com Phillip J. Thiel, a senior associate in the Fairfax office, was named vice president; Michael T. Wiley, a senior associate in the Winchester, Va., office, was named vice president; and Karen Brill, director of...

har*GIS LLC, Centennial, Colo.(People Link)
May 1, 2004... http://www.har-gis.com The company named Mark Vollinger director of sales, Ron Bereit director of industry applications, and Consultant Harold Schuch director of project fulfillment.

MapMart, Englewood, Colo.(People Link)
May 1, 2004... http://www.mapmart.com MapMart, a subsidiary of IntraSearch Inc., promoted Terry Ryan to director of sales.

ObjectFX, Minneapolis.(People Link)
May 1, 2004... http://www.objectfx.com ObjectFX added Timothy P. Coffin as director of business development and Ronald R. Fresne as a senior systems engineer, contributing to ObjectFX's Government Division. In addition, Kevin Crothers joined the company...

QinetiQ Survey, Hampshire, United Kingdom.(People Link)
May 1, 2004... http://www.qinetiq.com/survey QinetiQ Survey named Jonathan Martin service manager for its ATLAS LiDAR Team, and Jonathan Roberts was appointed sales manager, responsible for LiDAR service sales.

TVGA Consultants, Elma, N.Y.(People Link)
May 1, 2004... http://www.tvga.com TVGA hired Donald Kruszka as a senior engineer within the Engineering Division as well as Scott F. Williams as a senior photogrammetrist and Christopher Nash as a photogrammetrist within its Geospatial Services Group....

Watson named VP for Leica Geosystems.(People Link)
May 1, 2004... Leica Geosystems GIS & Mapping, Heerbrugg, Switzerland, appointed Wendy Watson as vice president of product management and marketing, responsible for providing strategic leadership and continuing the company's position in the GIS marketplace....

Sensor network guards against major threats.(Government Connection)
May 1, 2004... The Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) SensorNet project deployed sensors in several Tennessee and national locations as part of a program to develop an expansive network for alerting emergency responders and the public about dangers such as...

NGA taps ORBIMAGE for ClearView.(Government Connection)
May 1, 2004... The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) awarded a multiyear contract to Dulles, Va.-based ORBIMAGE Inc. under the agency's ClearView program, which previously included Longmont, Colo.-based DigitalGlobe and Denver-based Space Imaging....

Agency makes oil and gas database public.(Government Connection)
May 1, 2004... The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) unveiled a public database that includes more than 65,000 records on samples of crude oil, natural gas and rock taken from thousands of points worldwide. Public availability of the database should allow...

CALIPSO project eyes clouds from space.(Government Connection)
May 1, 2004... A joint U.S./French payload that includes NASA satellite instruments is part of an upcoming project that will examine how airborne particles and clouds affect the atmosphere. Instruments for the project, the Cloud-Aerosol LIDAR and Infrared...

Association of American Geographers celebrates centennial.(Conference Connection)
May 1, 2004... The 100th Association of American Geographers (AAG) annual meeting returned to Philadelphia, where the organization originated, from March 14-19, 2004. The annual gathering of academic geographers attracted more than 5,000 professors, graduate...

Integration explored at GeoTec Event.(Conference Connection)
May 1, 2004... The 18th annual GeoTec Event was held March 28-31, 2004, in Toronto. The international gathering of geotechnology vendors, integrators, academics and practitioners has evolved into a preeminent technology-centric industry event. The conference...

Overlay operations feature a variety of options.(Beyond Mapping)
May 1, 2004... The general class of overlay operations can be characterized as "light-table gymnastics" that create new maps in which the value assigned to every point--or set of points--is a function of the independent values associated with that location on...

Moving from photogrammetry to "pixelgrammetry".(Digital Photogrammetry)
May 1, 2004... Maps model geographic reality. For a GIS to be taken seriously, the data need to be derived from good mapping. Among other technical knowledge, GIS professionals should understand how modern maps are made. This new GeoWorld column hopes to...

Field test confirms WAAS provides sub-meter accuracy.(Mobile GIS)
May 1, 2004... In operation for more than three years, the Wide-Area Augmentation System (WAAS) is gaining a reputation as a reliable and accurate source of free Global Positioning System (GPS) differential correction data. Recent field tests of the system,...

Toronto realizes the future of digital photogrammetry.(Base Map Enhancement)(Cover Story)
May 1, 2004... Digital photogrammetry's potential as an emerging technology of the future has been much publicized. The city of Toronto first realized this potential in 1999 with the design and implementation of its Enterprise Stereoscopic Model (ESM), which...

Accelerating imagery access: Kansas Department Implements file-sharing technology.(Asset Management)
May 1, 2004... In 2002, the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) invested $650,000 in a $1.137 million digital orthophoto quarter quadrangle (DOQQ) project covering the entire state of Kansas. KDOT partnered with other state and federal funding sources...

USDA program goes digital over Nebraska.(Data Acquisition)
May 1, 2004... The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) took a major step in fulfilling its goal of obtaining digital (instead of analog) content for its National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP). In 2003, NAIP hired a team of...

The future of interoperability.(Industry Trends)
May 1, 2004... The need for geographic information can be seen in many circumstances: terrorist attacks, floods, earthquakes, highway planning, supporting policy decisions for wetlands or natural-gas pipelines, protecting critical assets, etc. Such...

DMTI Spatial, Markham, Ontario, Canada.(Data)
May 1, 2004... http://www.dmtispatial.com DMTI Spatial released CanMap 8.0, CanMap Parks & Recreation 2.0 and Enhanced Points of Interest 3.1 as well as updates to other products in the CanMap product line. To submit information for "Product News"...

Getmapping, Hampshire, United Kingdom.(Data)
May 1, 2004... http://www.getmapping.com/usa High-resolution aerial imagery of New York City is available, including the five boroughs of Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, The Bronx and Manhattan as well as parts of Hudson, Westchester and Nassau. ...

Mapinfo, Troy, N.Y.(Data)
May 1, 2004... http://www.mapinfo.com MapInfo released 2001 Expenditure Estimates, a marketing dataset that provides retail, property and telecommunications sectors with information regarding consumer and business spending in the United Kingdom. The...

Maporama International, Paris.(Data)
May 1, 2004... http://www.maporama.com Maporama enhanced its cartographic coverage for Canada with more than 15 million kilometers of roads and more than 20,000 populated place-names localized.

Maptech, Amesbury, Mass.(Data)
May 1, 2004... http://www.maptech.com Maptech and LeadDog Consulting introduced Baghdad City Streets, featuring detailed street maps for Baghdad as well as major roads and highways for the entire country, including the 17 major cities.

McElhanney Consulting Services Ltd., Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.(Data)
May 1, 2004... http://www.mcelhanney.com McElhanney Consulting introduced Tarin Resource Services' digital orthophotos over northeast British Columbia and parts of Alberta.

NAVTEQ, Chicago.(Data)
May 1, 2004... http://www.navteq.com NAVTEQ released a map of the Spanish island of Mallorca, including approximately 2,486 miles of roadways, more than 160,000 private addresses and 36 local authorities. In addition, NAVTEQ introduced a map of Mexico...

Algo Vision LuraTech, Berlin.(Software)
May 1, 2004... http://www.algovision-luratech.com Algo Vision LuraTech released PdfCompressor Medium software for archiving medium-sized document volumes in compressed PDF format.

CORDA Technologies Inc., Lindon, Utah.(Software)
May 1, 2004... http://www.corda.com CORDA Technologies launched Highwire, a server-based HTML-to-PDF product that allows companies to convert HTML or XHTML Web pages into PDF documents that retain onscreen formatting.

DeLorme, Yarmouth, Maine.(Software)
May 1, 2004... http://www.delorme.com DeLorme introduced XMap/GIS Editor, which builds on the geospatial functions of DeLorme's basic XMap software products to create, analyze, edit and share a GIS enterprisewide. Also, DeLorme released its GPS PostPro...

ESRI, Redlands, Calif.(Software)
May 1, 2004... http://www.esri.com ESRI's ArcWeb for Developers now includes Geographic Data Technology North American street data, allowing users to find routes within the United States and Canada as well as between the two countries.

GBA Master Series Inc., Overland Park, Kan.(Software)
May 1, 2004... http://www.gbamasterseries.com GBA Master Series and Engineering Mapping Solutions collaborated to develop an interface called GBA GIS Viewer, a low-cost GIS alternative.

Geo-3D, Montreal.(Software)
May 1, 2004... http://www.geo-3d.com Geo-3D released Kronos version 2.1, which features integration of higher-resolution cameras, improved timing accuracy, embedded servers and additional real-time information monitoring.

Group 1 Software, Lanham, MD.(Software)
May 1, 2004... http://www.g1.com Group 1 Software's Centrus business geographics product now outputs Core-Based Statistical Areas information in support of federal government regulations pertaining to Home Mortgage Disclosure Act and Community...

Hitachi Software Global Technology (HSGT), Westminster, Colo.(Software)
May 1, 2004... http://www.hsgt.com HSGT released Any*GIS 3.5, which includes a document-management extension, GPS support on the Any*GIS mobile client, and several new functions within spatial and network information modules.

ideal.com, Orlando, Fla.(Software)
May 1, 2004... http://www.ideal.com IDEAL released new versions of ScanOS and ScanDEX Pro software. ScanOS is a multi-function scanner operating system that enables users to scan, store and index images with a single field. ScanDEX Pro has all the...

LizardTech, Seattle.(Software)
May 1, 2004... http://www.lizardtech.com LizardTech introduced a new ArcIMS Integration Toolkit that increases the speed of streaming MrSID images over the Internet. The company also released its Express Server plug-in for ArcGIS, which allows users to...

PCI Geomatics, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada.(Software)
May 1, 2004... http://www.pcigeomatics.com PCI Geomatics released Geomatica 9 version 9.1 for Linux users, which was tested on SuSE and other Linux adaptations.

Uismedia, Freising, Germany.(Software)
May 1, 2004... http://www.uismedia.de Uismedia released MapViewSVG, which allows users to convert maps to Scalable Vector Graphics format to publish maps as vector data via Internet/intranet or CDROM. MapViewSVG supports vector and raster data as well as...

SkillCrest LLC, Tucson, Ariz.(Software)
May 1, 2004... http://www.skillcrest.com SkillCrest released VistaMetrix, which provides tools for extracting quantitative data from graphical images. VistaMetrix lets users place a transparent overlay with measurement tools on top of an image to measure...

DIMAC Systems, Bergem, Luxemburg.(Hardware)
May 1, 2004... http://www.dimac-camera.com DIMAC Systems introduced the DIMAC large-format Digital Modular Aerial Camera designed to replace film-based aerial cameras, enabling small-, medium- or large-scale mapping. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Leica Geosystems, Heerbrugg, Switzerland.(Hardware)
May 1, 2004... http://www.leica-geosystems.com Leica Geosystems' released its DISTO Plus measuring device featuring Bluetooth wireless technology. Also, Leica Geosystems introduced its Leica System 1200 universal survey system, which enables the combined...

ESRI, Redlands, Calif.(Miscellaneous)
May 1, 2004... http://www.esri.com ESRI Press introduced Making Community Connections: The Orton Family Foundation Community Mapping Program, a new book designed to bring teachers and students together with community members to study problems, resources,...

Applanix, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada.(Business News)
May 1, 2004... http://www.applanix.com Applanix's airborne Digital Sensor System Mission Calculator software was made available free to professionals and other interested individuals within the aerial survey/remote-sensing industry. To submit...

Atlantis Scientific Inc. (ASI), Ottawa.(Business News)
May 1, 2004... http://www.atlantis-scientific.com ASI won a contract for "Small Water Body Detection and Delineation in the Prairies using Simulated RADARSAT-2 Data" from the Canadian Space Agency. The contract was awarded under the Earth Observation...

BAE Systems, San Diego.(Business News)
May 1, 2004... http://www.haesystems.com BAE Systems opened a new sales office in Tampa, Fla., to support expanding sales in the commercial and government mapping and geospatial intelligence markets in the southeastern United States.

BioMedware, Ann Arbor, Mich.(Business News)
May 1, 2004... http://www.biomedware.com BioMedware received $100,000 from the National Cancer Institute for a pilot project grant for new approaches to health analysis using geostatistical techniques. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Carmenta AB, Gothenburg, Sweden.(Business News)
May 1, 2004... http://www.carmenta.se The Swedish EOD IS system, which is primarily focused on helping personnel locate, identify, disarm or dispose unexploded ordnance, will be upgraded using Carmenta's SpatialAce GIS software.

ESRI, Redlands, Calif.(Business News)
May 1, 2004... http://www.esri.com ESRI, along with several partners, is supporting dozens of agencies responding to the hazardous potential fire conditions in the San Bernardino and Riverside County, Calif., mountains. Also, 100 4-H clubs will receive...

ESRI (UK) Ltd., Aylesbury, United Kingdom.(Business News)
May 1, 2004... http://www.esriuk.com The Irish Defence Forces implemented a new GIS from ESRI Ireland, which enables them to create customized mapping for ground forces to carry out maneuvers, tactical training exercises and reconnaissance. The ESRI...

GeoAnalytics Inc., Chicago.(Business News)
May 1, 2004... http://www.geoanalytics.com The city of University City, Mo., chose Varion Systems, the software development and value-added reseller division of GeoAnalytics, to implement Govern Software's land-management products.

GeoGraphs Corp., Vancouver, Brmsh Columbia, Canada.(Business News)
May 1, 2004... http://www.geographs.com GeoGraphs is contributing its GeoFlash software to Pronatura Noroeste for its conservation and wildlife programs. Pronatura Noroeste is the northwestern chapter of Pronatura AC, the oldest and largest nonprofit...

Geospatial Information & Technology Association (GITA), Aurora, Colo.(Business News)
May 1, 2004... http://www.gita.org GITA signed a strategic alliance agreement with the Karakawa Foundation, Tokyo, to strengthen the role of crisis/emergency and risk management in their respective countries. The Karakawa Foundation, formed in 1700, is a...

Geotechnologies Inc., Castle Rock, Colo.(Business News)
May 1, 2004... http://www.geotechnologiesinc.com Geotechnologies completed a contract with Pueblo County, Colo., for parcel data in ESRI/Geodatabase format. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

GIS Certification Institute, Park Ridge, Ill.(Business News)
May 1, 2004... http://www.gisci.org At the close of its second month of operation, the GIS Certification Institute announced that a total of 120 individuals are Certified GIS Professionals.

Haestad Methods, Waterbury, Conn.(Business News)
May 1, 2004... http://www.haestad.com Two of Venezuela's largest utilities, Hidrolara and Hidrocapital, selected Haestad Methods' WaterCAD, WaterGEMS and SewerCAD water resources modeling software to help meet and comply with regulatory requirements.

Harris Corp., Melbourne, Fla.(Business News)
May 1, 2004... http://www.harris.com Harris Corp. acquired ImageLinks, which specializes in geospatial datasets for visualization and simulation markets.

Hitachi Software Global Technology (HSGT), Westminster, Colo.(Business News)
May 1, 2004... http://www.hsgt.com Forest Technology Group selected HSGT and its Any*GIS solution to extend its webFRIS service for forest managers, planners and administrators.

Idevio, Gothenburg, Sweden.(Business News)
May 1, 2004... http://www.idevio.com SaabTech purchased licenses of Idevio's RaveGeo map-compression software for evaluation in the Mission Management System for the new Nordic multi-role helicopter, NH90. The deal also includes an option for additional...

Innovative Mapping Solutions, Indianapolis.(Business News)
May 1, 2004... http://www.inn-map.com Innovative Mapping Solutions, in partnership with PEN Products, will create the land parcel data layer of the LaPorte County GIS project. Innovative Mapping will be a sub-contractor to Paul I. Cripe Inc. and use the...

Intergraph Mapping and Geospatial Solutions, Huntsville, Ala.(Business News)
May 1, 2004... http://www.intergraph.com/gis Intergraph introduced a second Intergraph research grant for members of the Association of Geographic Information Laboratories for Europe. The grant is open to any member using or intending to use Intergraph's...

IONIC Enterprise, Alexandria, VA.(Business News)
May 1, 2004... http://www.ionicenterprise.com IONIC Enterprise and MCH won a contract from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) to supply geospatially enabled data on critical facilities and captive population nodes, including hospitals,...

Itron Inc., Spokane, Wash.(Business News)
May 1, 2004... http://www.itron.com Itron won a contract from Origin GeoSystems and Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative to provide AM/FM/GIS and automated staking solutions for the Dade City, Fla., cooperative.

James W. Sewall Co., Old Town, Maine.(Business News)
May 1, 2004... http://www.jws.com The Boston Parks and Recreation Department hired Judith Nitsch Engineering Inc. and James W. Sewall to develop a digital topographic base map of the Boston Common and Public Garden. The effort initiates a 10-year plan to...

KEMA Inc., Burlington, Mass.(Business News)
May 1, 2004... http://www.kemainc.com UGI Utilities selected KEMA to manage the implementation of the utility's Field Level Asset Management Environment. KEMA will serve as project system integrator, providing project management services to augment and...

Leica Geosystems, Heerbrugg, Switzerland.(Business News)
May 1, 2004... http://gis.leica-geosystems.com Loafer Creek purchased a Leica Geosystems ALS50 Airborne Laser Scanner to help it manage and monitor natural resources. The monitoring effort includes the Dove Ridge Conservation Bank, a 2,400-acre...