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KOREM launches mapWORKSPACE.com for MapInfo Professional users
KOREM announces the launch of mapWORKSPACE.com, the first ASP solution powered by Push'n'See for the broadcasting of MapInfo© WORKSPACES on the Web. With mapWORKSPACE.com KOREM goes one step further in the Web mapping industry becoming an Application Service Provider. After the release of Push'n'See software, the ideal MapXtreme companion for fast and simple network-wide WORKSPACE deployment, KOREM offers now a ready to use on-line Push'n'See solution without the worry of technological infrastructure. This service is intended for businesses who do not wish to acquire Push'n'See software but yet, need a Web mapping solution in order to broadcast their geographical information in-house or with the general public.
Visit : http://www.mapworkspace.com/
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GPS Golf Management System Sends Life-Saving Tornado Warning
Inforetech Wireless Technology Inc. and its golf division ProShot Golf Networks, the developer of handheld and cart-mounted Global Positioning Systems (GPS) Golf management systems are being credited with saving lives when a tornado struck the busy Majestic at Lake Walden Golf Course in Hartland, Mich. Monday afternoon. Majestic's Pro Steve Tannar used ProShot Golf's T-1800 to notify golfers of an approaching tornado in time for about 120 of the 150 golfers to reach shelter in the clubhouse basement and the others to take cover on the course before the tornado hit. Proshot Golf's T-1800 product delivers text and graphics on a display screen detailing each hole-layout, distance to the center of green and key hazards. It also provides information on yardage, food and beverage ordering, and text messaging.
Visit : http://www.inforetech.com/ & http://www.proshot.com/
Phillip J. Thiel Joins Dewberry & Davis LLC as Director of Geographic and Information Services
Phillip J. Thiel joins Dewberry & Davis LLC as the Director of Geographic & Information Services (GIS). Mr. Thiel has over 15 years of experience in the information technology industry. He most recently served as Regional Manager for GIS/Trans Ltd. where he oversaw operations in the southeastern United States. His experience includes, but is not limited to, system design and implementation, assessing user needs, business process reengineering, data and system modeling, system optimisation, web, and system life-cycle management. Additionally, Mr. Thiel has managed two statewide GIS systems that have served as models for many other states.
Quake jolts northern Japanese island, SW China and Indonesia.
TOKYO: A powerful earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale was recorded in the Pacific Ocean off Japan's northen island of Hokkaido on Friday, Japan's Meteorological Agency said. The intensity of the quake was put at 7.0 on the Richter scale by China's earthquake monitoring network, according to the country's state Xinhua news agency. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. The epicentre of the quake, which occurred at 9:41 a.m. (0041 GMT), was located some 100 km south-east of Etorofu Island, one of the four Russian-held islands claimed by Japan, the agency said. There was no tsunami warning. "But the surface of the sea may rise by some 20 cm," an agency official said. (AFP)
In China an earthquake, measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale, occurred in southwest Yunnan Province at 5: 10 a.m. Thursday, killing one person and injuring 566. The epicenter was located in Yongning Village, Ninglang Yi Autonomous County in the province, at 27.38 degrees north latitude and 100.48 degrees east longitude, it was reported. Ninglang is about 600 kilometers away from Kunming, capital of Yunnan Province. More than 600 head of livestock were killed and large housing areas of homes, 40 schools, 11 reservoirs, four power plants and six bridges were also damaged by the earthquake, local sources reported. Preliminary investigations indicate that the economic loss due to the earthquake has amounted to over 100 million yuan (12 million U.S. dollars). Emergency teams providing medical services, civil administration and construction have arrived in earthquake jolted areas to rescue those injured and restore order. An earlier earthquake forecast along with the local administrations' experiences in rescue work jointly contributed to reduce casualties in the disaster, a local official said.
An earthquake rocked Jawa (Indonesia) at 05:05:59 UTC on Friday , May 25,2001.
The epicenter was located at latitude 7.91 S and longitude 110.26 E.
The focus was located 33 kms below the surface. Magnitude recorded by USGS was 5.9.
No damage to life and property is reported as yet.
Database for dangerous chemicals in Bangkok
About six million Bangkok residents might be living in a danger zone. Nine districts have been recorded as having some 200 plants at which dangerous chemical are used and stored, the city administration said yesterday. Sompote Sripamai, deputy city clerk, said some 6.2 million people could be endangered if accidents occur at the nearby factories. He identified the danger-prone areas as those sprawling with factories: Bang Khae, Bang Bon, Bang Khunthien, Khlong San, Bang Kho Leam, Wang Thonglang, Suan Luang, Khlong Toel and Phra Khanong districts.
Sompote said chemicals stockpiled at the plants included concentrated acid, sulphur and several kinds of inflammable gases.
The details of the chemicals used and stockpiled at the plants have been recorded in a computer database so that information on how to manage the chemicals could be quickly located in the event of an accident, he said. Sompote said all district offices have been ordered to conduct regular surveys of the plants to keep the database updated. Kittinan Khaosut, director of the BMA’s Civilian Disaster Prevention Centre, said the centre is working with the Pollution Control Department to set up five emergency units for the danger-prone areas.
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Asia News
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Cyclone threaten Indian West coast
The cyclone, which is headed towards the Gujarat coast, has further intensified with a slight change in its direction since Thursday, but there has not been much change in its location, Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) Director Dr A B Mazumdar said on Friday.
The evacuation of people from low lying areas was in full swing since Thursday night even as the Gujarat government took every precaution to minimise the damage if the cyclone actually hits the state. It is expected to cross the coast on Saturday morning. On Thursday night, the cyclone was 500 kms south of the Veraval coast and with its movement being very slow, it is still located somewhere in the same range, Mazumdar said. The state administration is taking no chances as the IMD has warned that the cyclone could trigger strong winds reaching 220 kmph where ever it strikes, he added.
"Residents of Dandi, Pinjarat, Bhatni, Hazira, Dumas, Bhimpur, Sultanabad villages were evacuated even though some resisted the move," said Surat District Collector Sangeeta Singh. In Morbhagva, 600 salt worker have been evacuated. Non-Gujaratis were seen leaving Surat for their native places. In Hazira, industrial installations of Reliance, Essar and the Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) are in danger of being hit by the cyclone."Alang, the ship breaking yard, has been shut down as a precautionary measure and the workers evacuated. Salt land owners have been told to shut down their business temporarily," Bhavnagar Collector A K Patel told rediff.com. Signal No. 10 has been hoisted at Daman, Valsad, Maroli and Umargaon signifying high level of danger. Signal No. 9 had been flashed at Surat, Khambat, Dahej and Bharuch, while Signal No. 8 was hoisted at Veraval, Diu, Navabandar, Pipava and Bhavnagar. Gujarat Meteorological Department chief Dr R K Kankene said, "A similar scenario was witnessed in 1976. However, the cyclone had struck only Bhavnagar."
Meanwhile, seven State Reserve Police Force, four Rapid Action Force and six Border Security Force companies have been deployed in Kutch and about 90 mechanical boats and 588 other boats have been placed on stand-by in different areas around the Gulf of Cambay.
With inputs from PTI
Colombo Municipal Council soon to have Flood Maps
Under Sri Lanka Urban Multi-Hazard Disaster Mitigation Project (SLUMDMP’s) replication phase, support is given to the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) to carry out flood mapping. CMC faces the challenge of integrating physical information available from different departments that are not compatible in scale and often not in the form to be digitized.
CMC is in the process of collecting data from different departments and agencies, for example, the Electricity Board for location of electricity lines, the water Board for sewerage lines and drainage, the Meteorological Department for weather information, the Irrigation Department for flood level forecast, and the Telecommunications Department for location of service lines, junctions and transformers. CMC has started digitizing data collected but for those that cannot be digitized, they will be inpuyt manually. Upon completion of these flood hazard maps, CMC intends to use them to: predict flooding in low lying areas of CMC; emphasize the importance of present flood protection schemes; and help future planners in selecting development sites that are not or less vulnerable to flooding.
Mars at nearest point to Earth in 15 yrs
The Thai Astronomy Association yesterday urged the pubic to keep a lookout for the planet Mars, which is at its nearest point to the Earth in 15 years and can be seen relatively clearly with the naked eye. The association’s Worawit Tanwutbanthit said the red planet was already visible in the night sky from anywhere in the country, but would be clearest on the night of June 21, Mars, which can be seen in the southeastern skies after 9pm, is close enough to be distinctly red in colour with no star-like twinkle. On its next orbit of the Sun, Mars’ closest brush with Earth will occur in August 2003.
Source: The Nation. 23 May, 2001
Ho Chi Minh’s trailleads to faux pas
Officials from the Hanoi Tourism Department have admitted their mistake in producing a tourist map that labeled Vietnamese revolutionary hero Ho Chi Minih’s mausoleum as a zoo, an official said yesterday. We held a self-criticism session in which the department leadership took responsibility for the mistake, said an official from the department’s inspection unit. The official said 16,000 copies of the tourist map were printed, but not distributed, before the mistake was discovered. The maps were to be given to local tourist agencies and foreign travel companies as part of Vietnam’s tourist promotion campaign, he said.
Officials made the mistake when they removed a poor quality photo of the mausoleum and placed a number under the mausoleum, which corresponded to the zoo in the legend. The mausoleum is several kilometers from the zoo.
Source: Associated Press.
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