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Take the GISQuest! - Interactive Web-Based GIS Game

This year, thousands of people worldwide will have the opportunity to experience firsthand the power of geographic information system (GIS) software and learn how GIS is making a difference in their communities.Sun Microsystems, Inc., a leading provider of hardware, software, and services that power the Internet, and ESRI, the world leader in GIS software, will host the first GISQuest, an interactive, multimedia mapping game where players will be instructed via a video-on-demand broadcast about solving geographic problems using Web sites powered by GIS technology. Participants will track forest fires, retrace explorers' trails, and route a VIP's tour while learning about the vital role GIS plays in everyday life. Contestants who complete the game will receive a personalized GISQuest certificate. Anyone above age 12 can play GISQuest. The Web site will launch on GIS Day, November 14, and will be accessible on-demand indefinitely, making it a valuable GIS teaching tool. GISQuest is part of GIS Day, an annual grassroots, global event designed to make people aware of mapping technology and the important role it plays in science, technology, information, and the humanities. On November 14, GIS users and vendors worldwide will open their doors and display real-world applications of GIS to schools, businesses, and the public.

Visit: www.gisquest.org & www.esri.com

Navitrak announces launch of Rugged Handheld GPS Unit

Navitrak International Corporation announces the launch of its newest product, the Digital Navigation Assistant(TM), a rugged handheld, GPS-based, moving map display unit. Designed for search and rescue, government and military, law enforcement, forestry and natural resources applications, the Digital Navigation Assistant raises the bar for handheld units with the combination of its rugged design, best-of-class feature set and data entry capabilities. It will be unveiled today at Fall COMDEX in Las Vegas. The Digital Navigation Assistant has been designed and tested to endure the demanding conditions faced by military, law enforcement, search and rescue and forestry service personnel. Its ruggedized design offers maximum protection against rain and extreme temperatures, continuous GPS reception under heavy cover, and combines with sunlight readability and water buoyancy. It also features an easy-to-use interface, industry-leading battery life, up to 128 MB of removable secure memory, and displays raster and vector data. Other unique features include a high-precision electronic compass, audible alarms and field data entry capability for geographic information system (GIS) applications. The unit is for sale directly from Navitrak.

Visit: http://www.navitrak.com/

AltaMap Server Maps Lucas County Elections in Real Time.

GeoMicro, a developer of premier Internet mapping applications, is proud to announce that Lucas County, Ohio, has provided real time election results over the Internet using GeoMicro's AltaMap Server software suite. The live election results can be viewed at http://www.co.lucas.oh.us/election. Larry A. Kaczala, Lucas County Auditor said, "the County received over 7,000 hits on our Election website on November 6th. Making this information available on the Internet improves voter understanding and confidence in the election process." Jerome C. German, Lucas County Director of Real Estate, added, "Incorporating GeoMicro's AltaMap Server enabled us to provide dynamic, shaded, precinct level maps as a tool for the constituents of Lucas County. This is the second year we have posted this site and we could not be more pleased with the results." AltaMap Server is a scalable solution for the delivery of maps across the Internet. It exposes the AltaMap object model within Microsoft Active Server Pages for simple, but extremely powerful server side application development. AltaMap Server is completely scalable, having been specifically designed for multithreaded processor utilization. AltaMap Server supports native HTML clients so there is no need for clients to download any plug-ins.

Visit: http://www.geomicro.com

Updated AMBIS 2001 now available

AUSLIG has released an updated and improved version of its Australian Maritime Boundaries Information System (AMBIS) 2001 data. AMBIS is a digital representation of the limits of Australia's maritime zones. These zones are defined under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and reflected in Australian domestic legislation including the Seas and Submerged Lands Act 1973. The updated AMBIS 2001 incorporates additional treaty information, additional data in the vicinity of Swains Reef in Queensland, several other minor corrections; a wider range of formats and simplified attribute tables. In line with the Government's new spatial data pricing and access policy, announced by the Minister for Industry, Science and Resources, Senator Nick Minchin, on 25 September 2001, it is intended that the AMBIS data will be available free online. Under the new policy, a range of fundamental spatial datasets produced by the Commonwealth will become available on the Internet for free.

Visit: http://www.auslig.gov.au/new.htm#ambis

Woolpert Initiates Design-Build Services

Woolpert LLP recently announced the creation of its new affiliate, Woolpert Design-Build LLC (WDB). This new company will incorporate Woolpert's design services and construction management with the construction capabilities of their strategic partners to offer an integrated design-build delivery system. To make life easier for clients, WDB packages all characteristics of the building process including planning, architecture, engineering, landscape architecture, construction management, and construction. This combination of resources under one umbrella provides creativity, productivity, and cost effectiveness for clients' projects. Specific services offered by WDB are: planning and conceptual design, cost analysis and construction feasibility; site selection and real estate assistance; engineering design; architecture and landscape architecture; construction estimating; construction management; and construction services through our strategic partners.

Visit: www.woolpert.com

KVH Launches New Web Site for Enhanced Customer, Dealer, and Investor Support

Reaffirming its commitment to providing world-class support, KVH Industries (Nasdaq: KVHI) has unveiled the completely revamped www.KVH.com. Offering enhanced product and technical information, expanded news and coverage of company projects, and a fully interactive customer support database, the new www.KVH.com has been designed to make information easily accessible for customers, dealers, investors, and the media, as well as showcase the company's new initiatives and award-winning products. To view KVH's new on-line presence, visit: http://www.KVH.com.

ESRI leading in marketshare

According to a press release from Daratech on marketshare ESRI leads with 36% with Intergraph second at 16%. ESRI was the number one GIS provider in the year 2000 with an estimated revenue of $336.7 million. Intergraph Corporation, the second largest software provider by a large margin over its nearest rivals has an estimated GIS software revenue of $146.8 million in 2000.

For more details visit: http://www.daratech.com/pressroom/releases/102401.pdf

Asia News

Showcase of Tata Infotech GIS Solutions on CNBC

The MIDC team is pleased to inform you that CNBC is featuring our 'GIS Solutions for Local Government' on their program 'Digital Revolution'. Discussion with Muslim Husami and Chandrakant Inamdar along with the solution demos will be telecasted on CNBC, tomorrow, Tuesday, November 13th, 2001 at 5:30p.m. as well at later at 10:30 p.m. Alternatively, the same program is expected to be aired on Sunday 18-November 2001 at 10:30 a.m. on the same channel. The solutions being discussed are identified as Tata Infotech's Replicable Solutions.

Visit: www.tatainfotech.com

China Launches Massive Program to Clean Bohai Sea

With billions of dollars of investment, China plans to gradually mend the Bohai Sea's ecological system that has been deteriorating due to pollution andirrational exploitation of ocean resources. State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) announced here Thursday that the "Blue Sea Action Program" has be launched in the Bohai rim area with the aim to halt discharge of industrial wastes, to monitor environmental pollution and to restore the damaged ecological system in the sea.

At least 55.5 billion yuan (6.7 billion U.S. dollars) in total investment will make the 15-year program the biggest ever effort of China to improve ocean environment, according to the SEPA. The Bohai Sea is off the coast in north China where is one of the country's most populous and developed areas. Fishery, salt production, transportation and oil and gas development have long been pillars of local economy in those areas.

In recent years, governments of Liaoning, Hebei and Shandong provinces and Tianjin Municipality around the rim have set ambitious goals on the development of the ocean-based economy.

However, economic growth has also produced side effects -- pollution of sea water became more and more serious, said Liu Xiuru, director of the SEPA's office of maritime environment protection.

The shape of the Bohai gulf limits the inflow and outflow of waters, which means the sea's self-clean ability is poor, and excessive discharge of pollutants makes the situation worse, she said. In addition, biological diversity has been damaged and some ocean resources are on the verge of exhaustion due to rampant fishing activities, she said.

The program has been jointly mapped out by the SEPA, the state departments of oceanology, transportation, and agriculture, and local governments around the Bohai rim. The State Council has approved the plan and required for full implementation by local governments.

Visit: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2001-11/09/content_106586.htm

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