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Red Hen Systems Announces FarmHMS 2.0 for Yield Mapping

Dr. Carol Snyder, Red Hen Systems' president of sales and operations, announced today the much-anticipated release of the new FarmHMS 2.0. The excitement over the new version stems mainly from the fact that the harvest mapping system is now a stand-alone package that no longer requires MapInfo Professional. "We've successfully integrated the MapX mapping platform in the new version, creating a yield mapping package that is specific to precision agricultural applications," explained Snyder. "Now farmers can get just the functionality they want without purchasing a full-blown GIS system." FarmHMS 2.0 features a helpful "wizard" that walks farmers and consultants through the process of creating yield maps in just a few steps. Additionally, contour maps are now available as well as the traditional "swath element" detail maps. As in the original FarmHMS, a unique set of error corrections are included, which can repair data problems caused by GPS antenna offsets and transport delays (i.e., time difference between yield monitor data and GPS data). FarmHMS also accepts data formats from a wide variety of yield monitors, including all major manufacturers.

Visit : http://www.redhensystems.com.

Outdoor Intel & National Geographic Maps form strategic partnership

Outdoor Intel has announced a strategic partnership with National Geographic Maps to develop and market a number of consumer products that will combine Fishing Hot Spots (FHS) mapping data with National Geographic Maps' TOPO! Software platform. The alliance was formed to develop and market leading edge CD-ROMs for outdoor enthusiasts, as well as jointly explore other consumer products such as map-on-demand kiosks and Internet applications. As the exclusive source of FHS mapping data and fishing in digital form, Outdoor Intel (OI) will contribute data and product marketing and development assistance. National Geographic Maps (NG Maps), long known as one of the world's premier map makers, will develop co-branded applications using both existing and future software technologies, including their exclusive TOPO! Mapping technology. Together, the three companies will develop a cooperative sales, distribution and marketing plan for these CD-ROMs and other potential mapping products, the first of which are scheduled to be announced in early 2002.

Carmenta licenses GIS Technology to Ericsson

Ericsson Microwave Systems AB has signed an OEM Agreement with Carmenta about using Carmenta's GIS Technology - SpatialAce® - within products developed by Ericsson. The Software License Agreement applies to all companies in the Ericsson Group. In the initial stage SpatialAce® will be used for building demanding defence applications. SpatialAce® is an advanced toolkit for building interactive geographic applications. The SpatialAce® technology is designed to meet the exact requirements of high performance interactive real-time applications with 2D or 3D presentations; from simulators and command and control (C3I), to surveillance systems and more traditional GIS applications. "During the last months we have signed agreements with several industries and governments about using SpatialAce®. This agreement is a further example on that Carmenta and SpatialAce® meets requirements when building advanced GIS-applications" says Gunnar Storm, Managing Director of Carmenta.

Visit : www.carmenta.se & www.spatialace.com

Baker to Provide GIS Services to Virginia DOT

Michael Baker Jr., Inc., has been awarded a contract to provide GIS services to the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) in support of its Inventory and Condition Assessment System (ICAS). The value of the contract is approximately $2 million. Michael Baker Jr., Inc., is a unit of Michael Baker Corporation. Baker will provide, as a subconsultant to PB Facilities, Inc., Quality Control and Quality Assurance for over 50,000 miles of VDOT maintained roadway. In addition, Baker will be providing centerline development for certain urban areas as well as the centerline collection for ramps and loops associated with the Interstate system and primary routes.

Visit : www.mbakercorp.com/

GPS helps track stolen car

On Friday, August 10, 2001, a car equipped with a Global Positioning System was stolen from a dealership located at 230 Dundas Street East. A Mississauga man has been arrested and members of the Peel Regional Police 12 Division Criminal Investigation Bureau are seeking the public's assistance in locating his accomplices who are still outstanding. At around 9:42 p.m., two of the men attended at the dealership and removed a 1997 Acura Integra, from the lot. The car was driven to the third man's residence where they dismantled the vehicle. On Saturday, August 11, police located the stolen car by utilizing the GPS and arrested Justin MASCIANGELO, 20 years, of Tremaine Road, Mississauga. He is charged with Conspiracy to Commit Theft and Possession of Stolen Property Over $5,000.

Asia News

Right to info sets states' affairs right

Recently in Janawat village of Rajsamand district of Rajasthan, activists of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathna (MKSS) were able to expose a fraud in the use of development funds. Examination of only a part of the total development work undertaken in a single panchayat revealed misappropriation to the extent of Rs 40-45 lakh in six years. This is a drought-prone region where many people have to migrate for their survival. Such massive corruption in the use of development funds in such conditions clearly amounts to snatching food from the hungry.

This isn't the first time that MKSS exposed corruption in villages of Rajasthan, but this exposure had the maximum impact because of the sheer scale of the loot. This time, conditions were more favourable for activists to get to the roots of corruption. The reason is that Rajasthan had enacted right to information legislation last year. This enabled activists and villagers to get all relevant panchayat documents which were necessary to investigate the scam. As Nikhil Day, an MKSS activist who has been involved in all the 11 jan sunwais (public hearings) organised by it so far to expose irregularities, says: ''Even though the right to information law enacted in Rajasthan is weak and we would have liked to see a stronger law, this has considerably increased the effectiveness of our efforts to expose corruption.'' Chimanram, an elderly villager of Janavat Panchayat who played a crucial and courageous role in opposing corruption, agrees.

People's right to information is also very useful in strengthening grassroots democracy and letting people get involved in development activities which affect their lives. Costly mistakes can be avoided if people can raise the right questions at the right time, says Aruna Roy, a leading activist of the People's Right to Information movement.

Meanwhile, half a dozen states have enacted their own laws on right to information — Tamil Nadu, Goa, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Delhi. Madhya Pradesh has given wide-ranging administrative directives on this issue. The law in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra is too weak. In Delhi, it hasn't become effective yet, although it has some good features. In Goa, the legislation is already being used by some groups. In Karnataka, it has several good features but social activists complain they are still being denied information on important issues concerning the people's livelihood.

Both among politicians and bureaucrats there is a lot of resistance to legislations on right to information. That is why the Centre too has delayed actin on this front and some legislations have been made very weak and ineffective.

Source: Times of India, Government Business, 17 July

China's High-Tech Industries to Soar

BEIJING, August 15 (Xinhuanet) -- Twelve high-technology projects and 20 strategic high-tech fields have been set as the key of China's high-tech industry in the coming five years, sources with the State Development Planning Commission said Wednesday.

According to the commission's plan for the development of high- tech industries, China will construct 12 high-tech projects in the coming five years which involve technologies like broad-band information network, digital high-definition television, satellite broadcasting system, lateral aircraft, and coal liquefaction.

In addition, China will step up the development of 20 strategic key fields including software, digital electronic products, modern Chinese medicine and satellite application. By the year 2005, the value of the production of high-tech industries is expected to reach 6 percent of the gross domestic product value, up from the existing 4 percent; the high-tech industries product value will account for 16 percent of the total industrial production, up from the present 9 percent.

In the next five years, China will form some industrial groups of enterprises at the international level in some new industrial fields such as software, telecommunication equipment, electronic products, biomedicine, and biochips; and in some traditional fields like machinery building, textiles, petrochemistry, metallurgy, and energy.

China will step up efforts in introducing technological reforms and build the country into an important supply base for mechanical and electrical products. The country will also develop the high- tech service industry represented by the information network service.

To this end, China will form a group of large-scale enterprises with international influence and strong potential for development and competition, and cultivate some innovative mid-size and small scale groups of companies, so as to boost the country's high-tech industry to a high level.

Source: Xinhua News Agency.

Andhra's wired up offices set to go online

HYDERABAD: The computerisation of Multi-Purpose Household Survey (MPHS) data may begin shortly. Apart from information on habitation, personal details of more than 7.76 crore people in the state have been stored in the Param supercomputer acquired by the state government from C-DAC. Information on population growth and income generation is also stored in it.

The data is being used by the revenue department for online issuing of caste and other certificates, and efforts are underway to provide the information to other departments. Once integrated, each citizen will be given a 16-digit identification number.

''Efforts are underway to notify the data as it will be the only proof for offering services to any citizen in future,'' information and public relations department director G N Phani Kumar, who was project director of MPHS computerisation programme till recently, said. The data will be verified before the notification. Once notified, the use of MPHS data will be compulsory in all departments.

The government will also develop a comprehensive Land Information System database which will be integrated with the MPHS database to obtain the exact location of a house, he added. The project was launched in August 1998 but was delayed as mandal-level officials failed to furnish the required information in the specified format. The information sent from more than 300 mandals was rejected. While one reason for rejecting the data was missing details, another was the negligence of officials. But the mistakes have been rectified now.

Source: Times Of India, Government Business