DeLorme has announced the immediate availability of XMap 3.0, an expandable geospatial software, with an Export module and Image Registration module designed for engineers, surveyors, and other land-use professionals. XMap 3.0 is a powerful map engine with easy-to-use drawing, measuring, and annotation tools. It is designed for use with 3-D TopoQuads(R), a library of 7.5-minute digital topographic maps for the entire U.S., as its base dataset. With the Export module, priced at $299, users can export custom-made base maps as GeoTiff images with optional World File for AutoCAD(R), ArcView(R), MicroStation(R), and other GIS or CAD systems. It can also be used to export images for PowerPoint(R) presentations or Word(R) documents. The Image Registration module allows any scanned image including tax maps, aerial photos, property plans, satellite images, and more to be fused onto a 3-D TopoQuads base map. The split-screen feature allows for easy selection of multiple common points for proper registration. The image and base map can then be superimposed, offering enhanced information about the location.
Visit:
www.delorme.com/XMap3
Top Stories
Canadian organizations win prestigious awards at the world's largest GIS Conference
Canadian organizations, Domtar Forest Products, City of Kitchener and Elections Canada each won prestigious awards from ESRI Inc., presented at the 21st Annual ESRI International User Conference in San Diego, California, held July 9-13, 2001. More than 10,000 people attended this year's conference, the largest gathering of GIS professionals in the world. Domtar Forest Products Inc. earned the ESRI Special Achievement in GIS award, chosen from more than 60,000 organizations worldwide in recognition for its accomplishments in GIS technology. ESRI's President and Founder, Jack Dangermond presents the award every year. Domtar is being honored for launching a powerful new interactive web based GIS application that provides valuable forest management information to the public. This new application is one of the first in the industry, and uses ESRI's Internet application, ArcIMS (Internet Map Server). ArcIMS is the foundation for distributing GIS data and applications on the Internet and it provides a standard platform to integrate, share, and exchange vital GIS data from other agencies and the public
Visit :
www.esricanada.com
Lat-Lon taps Aeris.net's MicroBurst network for low-cost GPS telemetry services
Aeris.net, the leading provider of web-to-wireless machine-to-machine communications services, and Lat-Lon, a provider of GPS tracking and event monitoring telemetry units, announced an agreement to service the railroad, trucking and heavy machinery industries. Under the agreement, Aeris will provide Lat-Lon customers with a complete wireless data communications service via its MicroBurst network, which spans North America. Lat-Lon telemetry units gather positioning and report data for a variety of railway and trucking applications, including hoppers, coil covers, boxcars, auto rack cars and trailer tracking. Aeris.net's patented MicroBurst technology, which is embedded in Lat-Lon telemetry units, transmits the data over the unused channels of existing cellular networks to Lat-Lon's Web server. Recorded data can be automatically sent to a customer's fleet management software or stored on-line at www.lat-lon.com where they can access location histories, current fleet reports, and an interactive map with colour-coded rail lines, towns and other features.
TENET Defence Ltd have been selected to further develop the 'HUGIN' system that was used extensively by the RN last year as a technology demonstrator to help visualise and produce the maritime Recognised Environmental Picture (REP). In order to improve image delivery and storage ECW format will be used in order to significantly improve raster handling for quick tactical analysis.
Visit :
www.lat-lon.com
GeoDecisions selected by ODOT
GeoDecisions, a leader in providing spatial solutions to the transport industry, has announced that it has been selected to provide Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) with a GIS-enabled Intranet application for accessing enterprise transportation information. This $1.9M Geographical resource Intranet Portal (GRIP) project will span the next three years and will phase in data from ODOT's many divisions. The GRIP application will utilize state-of-the-art technology to assist ODOT in Managing its current investments and in making more strategic decisions about the best ways to maintain and Improve Oklahoma's transport network. The application will utilize Intergraph's GIS web tool and Oracle database product
Visit :
www.geodecisions.com
OSIsoft and Coherent Networks team to optimise Utility Operations Support Systems
Coherent Networks, Inc., a provider of next generation gateway solutions for utility customers, has announced a partnership with OSIsoft, a global supplier of the PI System (PI) family of software products for managing real-time information in process manufacturing and utilities. Users of PI and FastGate will be able to integrate utility network facility mapping and equipment data with real-time and historical SCADA data. For example, FastGate functionality will enable PI-ProcessBook to display maps of electrical distribution networks and equipment that originate from GIS, CAD and other source systems, and tie in power flow and status information from the PI database. FastGate adds significantly to the power of ProcessBook, by providing network operations, engineering and personnel from other departments with access to mapping and GIS information previously separated from the real-time network status and performance data. For the first time, any graphics, real-time source, and network model information can be integrated at the desktop to enhance utility operations, extend the life of key assets and help prevent certain customer outages.
Visit :
www.coherentnetworks.com and
www.osisoft.com
PCI Geomatics Appoints Ian Suttie as New CEO
PCI Geomatics is pleased to announce the appointment of Ian Suttie as the company's new Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Suttie is joining the PCI Geomatics executive team during one of the largest growth cycles in company history. "In bringing Ian Suttie aboard, we are adding yet another first-rate member to our management team." declares Dr. Robert Moses, President and CEO of PCI Geomatics. "Ian's experience, resourcefulness, and effective executive ability genuinely compliments PCI Geomatics and our long term objectives." Mr. Suttie holds a Masters of Business Administration degree from Wilfrid Laurier University, a Bachelor of Engineering Science degree from the University of Western Ontario, and is a registered professional engineer
Visit :
www.pcigeomatics.com
ISTAR forms North American sales team
ISTAR has introduced the first members of its North American sales force. They will manage the sales of ISTAR true orthoimagery and 3D models to telecommunications and GIS markets in the United States and Canada. ISTAR has named Laurent Froin as Director of Sales. He is based in the ISTAR Americas Herndon, Va., office and has held several positions with ISTAR since joining the company's France headquarters in 1999. In this new position, he will oversee development of markets for ISTAR products and expansion of the ISTAR business partner network in North America. The position of Senior Account Manager for Telecommunications has been filled by Andrew Freckmann, who joined the company on August 7. Freckmann brings several years of telecommunications experience to ISTAR, including a standout career as National Account Manager at Northpoint Communications in Vienna, Va.
Visit :
www.istar.com
Asia News
Eicher Goodearth captures Chennai on map
CHENNAI, Aug. 13- AFTER four years of effort, Eicher Goodearth Ltd on Monday released the Eicher City Map, Chennai. This comprehensive map of Chennai covers an area of 600 sq km and provides detailed information on the newly-developed areas and suburbs around the City and adjoining areas of Tambaram, Ambattur and Ennore.
This is the second city map to be released by Eicher Goodearth. The first one on Delhi has sold over one lakh copies and is due for a second edition, company officials told a press conference here.
The maps take a long time from the conceptualisation stage till they are released. The main reason for such a long lead time is because various Government clearances, including the security nod from the Defence Ministry, have to be obtained, according to Mr S. Sandilya, Chairman and Chief Executive, Eicher group. For the Delhi map, Eicher Goodearth took three years. The company collected over 800 maps of Delhi and put them together after employing surveyors to get all the details right, he said.
Digital cartography and computer-controlled printing were employed in producing the maps, said Lt Gen S.M. Chadha, former Surveyor-General of India, who led the team of professional cartographers in generating, compiling, updating and validating the details for the map. Tata Consultancy Services did the digitising work on a contract basis, said Mr Vikram Lal, Member, Supervisory Board, the Eicher group.
The information provided in the Chennai map covers 39 categories, including hotels, restaurants, hospitals, educational institutions, banks, ATMs, roads, residential and institutional ares, places of interest, and markets and industries. The 208-page book, priced at Rs 200, contains 128 map pages and four key-to-map pages together with a folded route planner.
In producing the map, Eicher Goodearth used high resolution satellite imagery generated by the IRS-1C satellite and correlated the data with detailed colony and municipal plans. The whole exercise was validated by systematic and extensive ground surveys, Lt Gen Chadha said.
The cost of generating the map of Chennai was Rs 50 lakh, exclusive of the printing. The company has got security clearance for similar maps for Mumbai and Bangalore, and is awaiting the nod for the Kolkata map.
Source: The Hindu Business Line
Shanghai Hosts Cross-Straits Geography Conference
SHANGHAI, August 13 (Xinhuanet) -- A geography seminar involving scientists from the mainland, Taiwan and Hong Kong opened here Monday.
Jointly hosted by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and East China Normal University, the three-day conference has attracted more than 300 attendees.
Sources with the organizing committee said that academic exchanges have grown increasingly extensive among geography circles from the mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Hong Kong initiated the conference for Chinese all around the world in April of 1990 and hosted the second seminar with the theme of "China and the World in the 21st Century". In 1999, the conference was in Taiwan.
The above activities have not only provided a chance for all Chinese geography researchers to communicate and exchange but have also promoted the cooperation between them wherever they are, according to the sources.
The theme of this year's seminar is "A Century of Chinese Geography: Fundamental Research and Education Development", at which attendees will discuss Chinese achievements in the field and future development.
Source: Xinhua News Agency
Strong earthquake hits northern Japan
TOKYO (AP) - A powerful earthquake struck northern Japan early Tuesday, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries, officials said.
The temblor, with a preliminary magnitude of 6.2, struck at 5:19 a.m. It was centred off the eastern coast of Aomori Prefecture, the Meteorological Agency said.
The agency said there was no danger of tsunami, powerful tidal waves whipped up by seismic activity.
A magnitude 6 quake can cause damage to homes if it hits a residential area.
Source:
www.thestar.com
