LAND INFO International, a provider of worldwide digital geospatial information, has announced nationwide coverage of 1:50,000 and 1:250,000 scale topographic maps and 3 arc-second digital elevation models (DEM) for Mexico. The digital datasets are fully geo-referenced to accommodate use with GPS, GIS, and engineering applications. LAND INFO color scans the paper topographic maps to produce a high resolution, digital image. Latitude and longitude coordinates are then assigned to each map. This enables engineers; GIS project managers, and other end users, to overlay other geospatial data on top of the base topographic map. For example, oil & gas engineers may overlay satellite photos and proprietary pipeline data on top of the topographic map for analysis purposes. LAND INFO offers a variety of derivative products based on the Mexico topographic maps. The company specializes in creating digital elevation models (DEM), road layers, hydrology layers, and other value-added datasets from the original topographic maps. Through a series of proprietary processes, LAND INFO extracts the contour elevation data from the source map to create a 3D interpretation of the land area, and extract roads, waterways, buildings, and other features published on the map.
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www.LANDINFO.com
Top Stories
OGC seeks input on next web mapping specification
The WWW Mapping Special Interest Group of the Open GIS Consortium, Inc. (OGC) has released a Request for Comments (RFC) on the OpenGIS Web Feature Server (WFS) Implementation Specification. OGC is considering adoption of this draft specification, which proposes open interfaces for communicating data manipulation operations on vector features using HTTP as the distributed computing platform. Comments are sought from industry through December 1, 2001. The RFC for the OpenGIS Web Feature Server Implementation Specification documents an interface specification for vector data access and transaction manipulation on geographic features. A WFS request consists of a description of a query and/or of a set of data transaction operations that are to be applied to one or more features in a spatial data repository. A request is generated by a client and is posted to a Web Feature Server using HTTP. The WFS then reads and executes the request. It is possible to implement just a read-only (query) Web Feature Service or one that supports transactions. A read-only web feature server would implement the interface capabilities provided by the existing OpenGIS Web Map Server Specification: GetCapabilities, DescribeFeatureType and GetFeature operations.
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http://www.opengis.org/techno/rfc13info.htm
Avenza Systems announces the release of 'Major Cities USA'
Avenza Systems Inc. of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, the developer of MAPublisherâ, is pleased to announce the release of its new Major Cities USA product. Major Cities USA is a complete set of 44 ready-to-use and royalty-free Adobe Illustrator files of the 36 largest metropolitan areas in the United States. Macromedia FreeHand files will be available soon. All Major Cities USA files were created from US Census Bureau TIGER® 2000 data and form the perfect base for cartographic production of the largest US metropolitan areas - with or without MAPublisher. Each file has also been optimized for use with MAPublisher although they can be used without MAPublisher as well. Each Adobe Illustrator file contains separate layers for each map feature. Up to 12 different feature types are included for each area and for areas encompassing more than one county, individual county data files have been grouped to form a single Illustrator layer. Each layer also includes the complete table of attribute data identifying each feature according to its unique characteristics such as name and type.
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http://www.avenza.com
Woolpert to Provide Geodetic Control Densification Program Consulting for OGRIP
Woolpert LLP's surveying/global positioning system (GPS) group has signed a contract with the Ohio Geographically Referenced Information Program (OGRIP), a group within the Ohio Department of Administrative Services division. Woolpert will assist OGRIP in the identification, definition, and development of a statewide geodetic control densification program. The purpose of this program is to define the criteria for a statewide geodetic control densification program, which will ultimately aid in the development of a comprehensive, statewide GIS for Ohio. A geodetic control system is similar to a traditional benchmark network, but is better defined as a highly accurate, three-dimensional coordinate reference system that serves a very large area and supports a broad group of users. Woolpert will be developing user feedback questionnaires, which will be distributed to several states throughout the US who currently have similar programs in place as well as coordinating with states that are adjacent to the State of Ohio. Issues covering program administration, funding, legislation and standards will be included in this research. Final recommendations will be developed based on this research and presented to OGRIP for use in gaining statewide support of the proposed program.
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www.woolpert.com/news/pressrls/pr.html
Westvaco Launches Questerra -for Decision Support system using GIS
Westvaco Corporation has unveiled Questerra, a new wholly owned subsidiary, to provide the first online business decision support services that combine enterprise-wide computing, geographic information systems (GIS) data, imagery and applications. Questerra helps decision-makers within public as well as private enterprises derive knowledge and value from geographic data and imagery to accelerate and improve critical planning, policy and operational decisions. A one-stop source of spatial business solutions, Questerra offers a rich array of aerial photography, satellite imagery and GIS data overlays that are directly integrated into a flexible and robust mapping application.
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http://www.questerra.com/
Space Imaging names Joe Dodd as Vice President of Federal Sales
Space Imaging has announced the appointment of Joe Dodd to the position of vice president of Federal Sales. Dodd's appointment is effective immediately. Dodd is responsible for the overall management of the company's federal sales program including sales strategy and business development. Dodd's background has been primarily focused on management of remote sensing programs with emphasis on advanced special programs in space technology. Before joining Space Imaging, Dodd worked for Orbital Imaging Corporation, where he held various executive management positions including vice president of Government Programs and senior vice president of Worldwide Sales. Prior to that, Dodd was director of Business Development for Special Programs for Hughes Space & Communications (now Boeing Satellite Systems). Dodd holds a master's of science in satellite remote sensing from Penn State University.
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http://www.spaceimaging.com/newsroom/releases/2001/dodd.htm
Asia News
IT for control of filariasis and malaria
HYDERABAD, NOV. 8. Scientists at the bio-informatics division of Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, have developed a range of internet enabled software tools to help control the spread of the anopheles mosquito - the vector for malaria and filariasis.
Over 40 per cent of the global population infected with filariasis live in India making it one of the prime public health concerns. Of this large figure, estimated at over 42 million, an overwhelmingly large number live in the rural areas where the incidence of mosquitoes is higher and accessibility to public health centres is lower.
Dr. U. Suryanarayana Murty, scientist at the bio- informatics division, said that the user-friendly programmes developed by them will help forecast the onset of the disease and enable pro- active measures by public health officials based on the data collected and fed into the computer. Hosting this information on the internet will enable the users to exchange information and co-ordinate their efforts better.
The programmes include an open-ended database on the socio- economic profile of patients and epidemiological details, mosquito identification and flight path and flight range calculation software. Together these can provide precise, real time information to officials and health workers as to the area of infection, the likely spread over space and time and the `species-specific' public health measures to be adopted.
The database programme has been developed on the basis of pilot studies in East and West Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh, where the detailed profiles of 10,000 filaria affected persons from 45 villages were collected and tabulated.
This open ended programme enables the user to continuously add and modify the data collected. It is expected that over a period of time data will be added through actual use and become an epidemiological resource for both decision makers and field workers.
Software to calculate the flight range and path of different mosquito species has also been developed. Integrated with Geographical Information System (GIS) this can lead to real time monitoring of disease and its spread. Flight prediction software can also be used to study the range and direction of spread of other disease carrying insects, agricultural pests and veterinary pests, with minor modifications.
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http://www.hinduonnet.com/stories/0409201o.htm
Seoul, Hong Kong tie the IT knot
SEOUL - Korea and Hong Kong have agreed in a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen and enhance cooperative relations in the information technology (IT) and communications sectors, the Ministry of Information and Communication said on Thursday.
The MoU, signed by Yang Seung-taik, the information minister, and Carrie Yau, secretary of Hong Kong's Information Technology and Broadcasting Bureau, outlines the need for closer ties to further develop their respective IT and communication industries. It also stresses that both countries will encourage partnerships, investment, educational learning exchanges and advanced research and development in this field.
In addition, broad understanding was reached concerning the holding of investment seminars and fairs to promote products and services. They also identified areas of common interest that include the creation of online government services and multimedia content, broadband networks and applications and bridging the digital divide.
Government officials added that the two ministers exchanged views on code division multiple access (CDMA) mobile phone services and protective security measures related to the IT sector as well as the feasibility of setting up a joint venture firm.
Closer cooperative ties means that Korea, in particular, will be able to make better use of Hong Kong's worldwide distribution network to increase sales of its mobile telephones and personal digital assistants (PDAs).
As a follow-up measure to the MoU, the two sides will exchange a delegation of business leaders in the software and information security sector as soon as possible.
Read complete Article at:
http://atimes.com/china/CK09Ad08.html
