Top Stories
USDA signs department-wide site license for ESRI GIS Products
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and ESRI, the world's leading provider of geographic information system (GIS) software, signed a sweeping purchase agreement Monday, Aug. 27, for a department-wide site license for ESRI software. The Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) was negotiated from ESRI's General Service Administration Schedule Contract and will enable USDA to embark on an ambitious and far-reaching program and strengthen program delivery by extending the functionality of ESRI GIS throughout the entire organization. The BPA sets in motion a five-year effort that will expand the use of GIS technology throughout the USDA by providing a complete enterprise suite of ESRI's GIS software to all USDA agencies. The $32 million agreement includes the roll-in of legacy software currently within the U.S. Forest Service and other USDA agencies. GIS software applications and extensions from ESRI include ArcInfo, ArcEditor, ArcView, and ArcIMS, which features an array of Internet-aware solutions, browsers, and mobile devices.
Visit:-
http://www.esri.com,
http://www.usda.gov
AUSLIG releases Free Global Map data
AUSLIG has released Global Map Data Australia 1M as one of the first fundamental datasets to be provided free online by AUSLIG under the new Government spatial data pricing and access policy, announced by the Minister for Industry, Science and Resources, Senator Nick Minchin, on 25 September 2001. Under the new policy, a range of fundamental spatial datasets produced by the Commonwealth will become available on the Internet for free. This move aims to maximise the benefits to the community from the government's investment in spatial data. The policy aims to stimulate development of a viable private sector spatial information industry in Australia and provide a consistent, whole-of-government approach to the distribution of fundamental spatial data.
Under the new policy, free online access will be provided progressively to specified spatial data, as the necessary technology becomes available within the custodian agencies. The policy will be phased in over a six-month period, allowing time for existing value-added resellers of government data to adjust to the new arrangements. While some data will be available under the new policy immediately, by February 2002 there will be a much more extensive range of data available.
Visit:-
www.auslig.gov.au/new.htm#access
Corrpro Companies introduces Allegro Field Computer
Corrpro Companies Inc., a provider of corrosion control engineering services, systems and equipment recently introduced the Allegro Field Computer (tm), a rugged hand held field computer designed for corrosion control applications. The Allegro Field Computer is ideal for the corrosion industry. Historically handheld field devices have always been dedicated dataloggers. The Allegro Field Computer is a true computer that has datalogging capabilities. It has been designed to measure, record, and integrate information needed to manage corrosion control systems and compliance activities. In addition to a built-in digital voltmeter, an optional integrated GPS system can facilitate GPS and GIS reference of data Software incorporated with the Allegro includes Periodic/Annual Survey software that provides a seamless transfer of data from the hand-held unit to Bass-Trigon's CPDM(tm) pipeline compliance software and can be used in conjunction with home grown and other standard CP data management programs. The Allegro utilizes a Windows CE Operating System and hosts familiar applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel and Access. Company specific software applications can also be run on this powerful Field computer.
Visit:-
www.corrpro.com
Maporama the worldıs no.1 online mapping provider
Maporama, European leader in online mapping and geocentric information services, now provides the worldıs most comprehensive coverage in the online mapping market, the company stated. Maporama holds records on 635,000 world cities, including comprehensive street level maps for locations in Europe, North and South America, Asia and Australia. Detailed city maps available from Maporama cover a total of one billion people living in developed countries. For most of these cities, Maporama alone provides highly practical and original services, such as comprehensive door-to-door itineraries giving exact, clear instructions for travelling from one city to another, with calculation of journey time as well as real time weather reports. Users can also obtain information on all services and businesses in the environs of a designated address, such as local hotels, restaurants, theatres and garages. These useful, accurate services rely on regularly updated mapping databases and are the basis of Maporamaıs leading worldwide Internet coverage.
Visit:-
www.maporama.com
UN Endorses Emergency Management Agency
The National Emergencv Management Agency (NEMA) has been designated as the Nigerian contact on Disaster Management by the Vienna based office for Outer Space Affairs, an affiliate of the United Nations(UN). This was revealed by the Director-General of NEMA, Chief Mrs. Remi Olowu, while delivering a lecture at a workshop organised by the African Regional Centre for Space, Science and Technology Education - English, an affiliate of the UN. With this development, the D.G. said that a staff of the agency is one of the 20-member nations of Expert Group on Disaster Management. According to her, COSPASS-SARSAT is a satellite system designed to provide distress alert and location data to assist Search and Rescue (SAR) operations, using spacecraft and ground facilities to detect and locate the signals of distress beacons, operating on 406MHz or 121 MHz. According to her, remote sensing can help in locating and tracking of hurricanes and oil spillages, weather forecasting for civil aviation, early warning against flood and drought. Others include fire fighting and monitoring of forest fires and location of air and sea disasters. "Satellites remote sensing is indispensable for disaster mitigation work. Information provided by satellite is critical for decision making",she added.Speaking further, she said that remote sensing and GIS have been applied in other parts of the world to manage disasters. She therefore challenged participants at the week long workshop to set in motion the application of this modern technology for the benefit of the country. Read the complete story at
Visit:-
http://allafrica.com/stories/200110040448.html
Asia News
Internet Site On Rural Markets of India
Integrated Digital Systems (IDS), Kolkata has launched an Internet-based subscription service that provides interactive reports and maps on important haats of India. The site called www.ruralsupermarketsofindia.com.It is the first comprehensive, credible and primary study on rural
haats of India. The study was conducted by Mart, New Delhi led by Mr. Pradeep Kashyap and features over 1000 multi-dimensional & dynamic reports.It has flexible and dynamic query based site with wizards for numerous personalized settings and includes capabilities that will allow user to plan, access and service the haats. The site also offers Mela database of the entire country free to all the
subscribed users. The site also features a number of rural reports and study
Source:
http://www.ruralsupermarketsofindia.com
ASEM e-Commerce Seminar Begins Oct. 25
The First ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) e-Commerce Seminar opens for a two-day run at the Convention & Exhibition Center (COEX) in southern Seoul on Oct. 25.
Organized by the Korea Institute for Electronic Commerce (KIEC) and sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy and the Federation of Korean Industries, the event is designed to identify regulations and standards hindering the growth of e-commerce transactions between Europe and Asia.
An estimated 300 experts from government and the private sector representing the 26 ASEM member countries will be participating in the seminar which covers a range of issues concerning e-commerce, including taxation, consumer protection, authentication, certification and privacy protection.
Source:
http://www.korea.net/kwnews/Content/News.asp?Number=20011004004
