In News 
Intergraph Selected by LGCSB in Ireland for National Internet GIS Initiative
Intergraph Mapping and GIS Solutions has announced the Local Government Computer Services Board (LGCSB) in Dublin, Republic of Ireland, has chosen GeoMedia WebMap for its National Internet GIS (IGIS) initiative after a comprehensive evaluation of Web-based GIS software from leading vendors. The Intergraph Ireland team demonstrated that the GeoMedia WebMap solution was the right choice to support the board's GIS requirements. The solution will benefit 30 local authorities within the Republic of Ireland including the city corporations of Dublin, Cork, Limerick, and Galway, and the rural local authorities of Meath, Kildare, Waterford, and Donegal County Councils.
Visit: www.lgcsb.ie , www.intergraph.com/imgs
|
Top Stories
|
Laser-Scan provides maps on the web for UK Universities
EDINA, a UK national datacentre for Higher and Further Education, chose Laser-Scan  software because of its superior performance in serving large volumes of data to many users simultaneously. It will give students and teachers at universities across the UK improved access to map services and geospatial data over the Internet. The EDINA Digimap service is the largest online repository of vector map data on the UK Web, providing unrivalled access to digital mapping for staff and students throughout UK Higher Education. The services are available through standard HTML pages or a Java applet. This means that even users with older browsers are able to experience the benefits of this highly interoperable geospatial Web software.
Visit: www.laser-scan.com , http://edina.ac.uk/digimap/about/index.html
North America's First Digital Travel Guide Product
Fodor's and Navigation Technologies Corp. (NTC) have recently introduced the first digital travel guide product for in-vehicle navigation systems in North America. BMW owners who have
vehicles equipped with the On-Board Navigation System will enjoy the highly innovative combination of NAVTECH(R) digital map data - known for its unrivaled accuracy, depth, and reliability. Whether vacationing or simply traveling around one's hometown, this new database feature offers a complete range of travel guide information such as tourist attractions, museums, hotels and restaurants on their system. This new combined content is provided in addition to the NAVTECH map database, which enables accurate routing and turn-by-turn driving directions. The new in-vehicle navigation database enables motorists to customize their travel plans by selecting from various destinations (within the U.S. and Canada).
Visit: http://www.fodors.com/ , http://www.navtech.com/
ISMAP to Deliver Industry's First Mapping Engine Based on TI's OMAP Architecture
ISMAP,  a leader in the development of technology and systems for the emerging location-based services marketplace, announced it will use Texas Instruments Incorporated's fully-open, digital signal processor (DSP)-based OMAP architecture to develop a real-time mapping solution for 2.5 and 3G mobile phones and wireless Internet appliances, by the end of the third quarter of
2001.
ISMAP is a leading developer of map-based applications and provides technology on a broad range of mobile computing and communications end equipments. By developing a map-based search engine specifically designed to correlate search inquiries to location-based data, ISMAP has created a search engine with spatial awareness that can provide the answers to real-world questions such as "Where can I rent a car?" and "Where is the nearest hotel?" ISMAP's search engine enables mobile users to explore the environment around them, using fast-changing, dynamic data relevant to their location, enabling consumers to obtain answers to their questions wherever they are, whenever they want.
Visit: http://www.ti.com/sc/omap
Reliant Energy Awards ASI Data Maintenance Contract
Analytical Surveys, Inc. a premier provider of technology-enabled solutions and expert services for geospatial data management has announced that Houston, TX-based Reliant Energy has contracted with the Company for geospatial data maintenance services. Under this contract, ASI is developing and deploying a customized data maintenance solution for Reliant Energy's geospatial information system. The Reliant Energy contract will be performed under the direction of ASI's Data Solutions organization. In recognizing and anticipating the changing needs of the utility marketplace, ASI's maintenance program is a logical extension and strong complement to the company's data conversion and related services.
Visit: http://www.anlt.com/
GDT and RESPONSE Create Business Alliance to Develop Wireless Application Services
Geographic Data Technology, Inc. (GDT) and RESPONSE Services Center, LLC has announced a business alliance to support delivery of telematics services to virtually any device that can communicate data and provide location, including smart phones, wireless personal digital assistants and vehicle-installed telematics units. GDT, a developer of map databases, will be the map data supplier for the telematics services provided by RESPONSE. RESPONSE will incorporate GDT's Dynamap(R)/Transportation database into its next-generation telematics and location-based service infrastructure. This information will be used to help the RESPONSE system provide asset management, emergency response, roadside assistance and other location-sensitive services to customers across the United States. The Dynamap database will be integrated into RESPONSE's Columbia, Maryland facility. GDT and RESPONSE will work jointly to further refine data specifications based on the needs of RESPONSE and its customers.
Visit: http://www.aaaresponse.com/ , http://www.geographic.com/
|
Asia News
|
Nepal Prepares to Institutionalize Urban Disaster Mitigation Course
The National Society for Earthquake Technology-Nepal (NSET-Nepal) and the Institute of Engineering, Pulchowk Campus in collaboration with the Training and Education Division of ADPC have successfully organizing the first national course on Urban Disaster Mitigation (UDM) from 21 to 30 May 2001. This couse will serve as a pilot initiative in Nepal towards institution alizing the regional course on UDM conducted by ADPC at the national level.
UDM has successfully been institutionalized in India and Sri Lanka.
Earthquake strategy
Union urban development minister Jagmohan strongly emphasized the need to adopt a four-pronged strategy to enforce implementation of design codes, keep out unscrupulous elements and ensure that constructions are earthquake resistant.
Jagmohan was inaugurating a two-day seminar on Earthquakes in Built Environment recently. The number of disasters have increased three times in the last 10 years and the economic losses due to them have increased nine times.
These disasters are likely to increase further as urbanization continues. Jagmohan said a strict enforcement of a firm techno-legal regime, techno-financial regime, techno-management regime and creation of public awareness in a systematic scientific manner was needed.
"We have to make sure that in earthquake-prone areas, all new constructions are built with the required resistant structural features and the existing buildings are appraised and strengthened wherever required," said P Krishan, convenor of the technical committee.
"Comprehensive post-quake action plans have to be prepared, particularly for areas with large populations or sensitive areas like schools and hospitalos, so that at the time of an earthquake there is no time lost in taking appropriate rescue, relief and rehabilitation measures," he added.
S C Gupta, advisor, Indian Building Congress, said: "No building can be completely quake-resistant. But according to the philosophy of the earthquake engineering design, small quakes need not be harmful."
|
|
|
|
