GPS World

Author: Tracy Cozzens

  • USGIF Partners with the Centre for Spatial Law and Policy

    The United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation and the Centre for Spatial Law and Policy have entered into a memorandum of agreement under which USGIF and the Centre will educate the geospatial community on the unique legal and policy issues that impact the collection, use, storage and distribution of geospatial information.

    Under the agreement, USGIF and the Centre have created a Geospatial and Remote Sensing Law Working Group. The group will develop training and education materials for GEOINT practitioners, host workshops, and further the GEOINT Community’s understanding of geospatial and remote sensing law.

    “The Centre is pleased to be working with USGIF to educate the geospatial community on these important issues,” said Kevin Pomfret, executive director of the Centre for Spatial Law and Policy. “This is also an opportunity for the geospatial community to educate lawyers on where GEOINT is taking the law.”

    “As we embark upon the GEOINT revolution, the myriad technological advances related to location and remote sensing are significantly outpacing the development of associated law and policy,” said USGIF CEO Keith Masback. “Decisions are being made daily at all levels of government — in the U.S. and abroad — as courts set precedents gavel drop by gavel drop. This partnership will play a crucial role in organizing a more coherent way forward.”

    Next month, the Geospatial and Remote Sensing Law Working Group will host a half-day workshop on legal matters critical to the GEOINT Community as part of USGIF’s 2015 GEOINT Community Week.

    The program will include three panels: Government Contracts and Organizational Conflicts of Interest: Conflicts in an Increasingly Conflicted World; Government Contracts and Intellectual Property: Playing a Critical Role in Geospatial Contracting; and Developments in Licensing of Commercial Remote Sensing Satellites. The event will take place Nov. 18 at General Dynamics Information Technology in Springfield, Va. Click here for more information or to register.

  • Moving from 2D to 3D GIS Elevates Planning for Fayetteville

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    CyberCity 3D and Fayetteville, N.C., are moving the city from 2D to 3D GIS mapping, a transformation focused on interoperability, high scalability and wide reach. The result is a more engaging and detailed 3D streaming map that’s elevated the city’s planning and development capabilities.

    The City of Fayetteville’s GIS Manager, Richard Tuinstra, spearheaded the plan to design a mapping system that used three-dimensional mapping and web-based architecture while getting a high rate of return on the investment.  Tuinstra took an approach outside the traditional GIS “box,” seeking content that could run on scalable web architecture. He found CyberCity 3D, a geospatial city modeling company near Los Angeles.

    “The City of Fayetteville has always understood the great benefits of using 3D GIS for its daily operations, from public safety, parks and recreation to urban design and planning, but has found it difficult to get a good start,” said Tuinstra. “Partnering with CyberCity has made our first steps in 3D GIS a quick and easy process. The result so far has been well received by our city manager’s office and the city staff members. Some of the great advantages of this mapping system are that it only requires a simple web browser and is very user friendly. We can’t wait to expand geographically and thematically on what we have achieved right now.”

    According to the city’s information technology director, Dwayne Campbell, the plan had to include three requirements.  “First, it had to avoid costly, time-consuming training and software licensing. Second, the solution needed to be delivered as a software service in an open environment capable of running on all mobile devices. Finally, the City needed a strategy that enabled it to continue to leverage our existing investment in Esri’s ArcGIS software.”

    The city ultimately chose the combination of CyberCity 3D buildings for their accuracy and interoperability, while looking to CesiumJS.org for its open source 3D globe mapping. CyberCity 3D created more than 550 buildings for the project, from best-in-practices photogrammetry, to insure GIS integrity and flexibility. CyberCity 3D also provided imagery and street names via its streaming images services on the Cesium 3D Globe; as a government institution, the City of Fayetteville pays no streaming fees for the 3D Globe and image layers. In addition, the city requested a tree layer; the existing GIS zoning and district mapping data the city generated with Arc GIS software was also seamlessly included.

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    “The unique combination of CyberCity 3D’s buildings, the Cesium 3D Globe, and ArcGIS software create an unsurpassed mapping system for the City of Fayetteville,” said CyberCity 3D CEO Kevin DeVito. “This dynamic move to 3D will enable the city to best plan for its future while engaging its employees, stakeholders and the community at large in an immersive manner.”

    As an early adopter, the City of Fayetteville has gone from using 2D PDF maps to owning cutting-edge 3D GIS content on a platform that reaches not only city employees and stakeholders, but every citizen. This dynamic solution vastly increases their understanding of the geospatial elements of the city. Its deployment also allows for the easy addition of other GIS layers such as business points of interest or FEMA poly-layers for environmental planning and sustainability, expanding the map’s usefulness, engagement and return on investment.

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  • GeoDecisions Helps PennDOT Handle Millions of Traffic Records

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    The PennDOT TDS developed by GeoDecisions enables collection and processing of millions of data points.

    GeoDecisions, an information technology company specializing in geospatial solutions, has developed a new traffic data system (TDS) that processes more than 20 million new records per month for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT).

    Built on the Esri platform, the TDS helps PennDOT’s Bureau of Planning and Research better manage the download of traffic data from collection sites throughout the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

    “Built to Federal Highway Administration standards, GeoDecisions’ redesign of our TDS provides us a method to seamlessly introduce new counting devices, more efficiently verify our raw traffic data, and speed up our process for creating yearly traffic volume maps,” said Andrea Bahoric, planning division manager with PennDOT.

    The new TDS improves PennDOT supervision of 45,000 short-term or portable counters that classify vehicles, record traffic volume and weight, and determine driving speed. The system’s mobile Field Operations Module (FOM) also streamlines in-pavement counter inventory and maintenance activities.

    “FOM enables PennDOT field technicians to use smartphones or tablets to perform site reviews and document issues,” said Greg Ulp, senior project manager with GeoDecisions. “Convenience and efficiency are critical factors when enhancing technology and managing assets.”

    PennDOT’s predecessor traffic data management system contained nine applications with dated technology requiring manual intervention to collect and verify information. GeoDecisions’ TDS redesign features five modules streamlined for better performance and usability. The new automated system includes remote user access and cutting-edge GIS mapping, web service, database and coding technologies.

    “Our transportation system solutions provide a proven business model for analytics, reporting, reliability, and technology workflow management,” said Tom Saltzer, vice president of government delivery with GeoDecisions. “PennDOT’s redesigned TDS is a long-term collection, verification, and geospatial solution that reflects their ongoing enterprise GIS investment strategy.”

  • New California Legislation Limits Paparazzi’s Use of Drones

    Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation Tuesday to expand privacy protections to prevent paparazzi from flying drones over private property, reports sUAS news.

    The bill, AB 856, changes the definition of a “physical invasion of privacy” to include sending a drone into the airspace above someone’s land to make a recording or take a photo.

    Brown previously vetoed in September a proposal that would have made flying a drone above someone’s property without permission a trespassing violation, writing in a veto message, “While well-intentioned, [the bill] could expose the occasional hobbyist and the FAA-approved commercial user alike to burdensome litigation and new causes of action.”

    The governor also rejected three bills that would have prohibited civilians from flying aerial drones over wildfires, schools, prisons and jails. Some of the proposals were intended to prevent interference with firefighting aircraft — a recurring problem, according to fire officials — and prevent inmates from receiving airborne contraband. Brown rejected the bills because they would create new crimes.

  • New Esri Book Guides Use of Lidar

    learn-to-make-decisions-using-lidar-data-and-gis-WA new book published by Esri teaches how to use GIS software to analyze and visualize lidar data. Lidar is an optical remote-sensing system that uses a laser to measure topography, vegetation, objects such as buildings, and the ocean floor at some depths. Data collected from lidar can be used to create highly accurate elevation and terrain models.

    Making Spatial Decisions Using GIS and Lidar: A Workbook presents problems that need to be solved using lidar data and the geospatial analysis tools in Esri’s GIS software, ArcGIS for Desktop. The book contains 10 learning modules that focus on how to use lidar data with GIS to answer questions and make informed decisions about real-world situations. Exercises include determining how much land to excavate for an underground parking garage, locating cell-phone towers for maximum signal coverage, placing solar panels based on the amount of solar radiation in an area; analyzing how a coastline has changed after a major hurricane; and making flood insurance rate maps based on hurricane inundation zones.

    The workbook covers basic lidar data analysis techniques, 2D and 3D modeling, volumetric analysis, shadow maps, forest vegetation height analysis, and other lidar-related analyses. The book is a college-level textbook for students and geospatial technology professionals and was written with the assumption that readers are familiar with lidar and have some experience using ArcGIS for Desktop software.

    Making Spatial Decisions Using GIS and Lidar: A Workbook is the third book in the Making Spatial Decisions series written by Kathryn Keranen and Robert Kolvoord. Keranen is an instructor at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Kolvoord is a professor of integrated science and technology at James Madison University. They wrote Making Spatial Decisions Using GIS and Remote Sensing: A Workbook and Making Spatial Decisions Using GIS: A Workbook, also published by Esri.

    Making Spatial Decisions Using GIS and Lidar: A Workbook is available in print (ISBN: 9781589484290; 264 pages, $79.99 or as an e-book (ISBN: 9781589484344). The book is available at online retailers worldwide, at esri.com/esripress, or by calling 1-800-447-9778. Outside the United States, visit esri.com/esripressorders for complete ordering options, or visit esri.com/distributors to contact a local Esri distributor.

  • Esri and Trimble Offer R1 GNSS Receiver for Field GIS Workflows

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    The Trimble R1 GNSS receiver is now available for collecting professional-grade GPS data with Esri’s Collector for ArcGIS. The GNSS receiver is rugged certified MIL-STD-810, IP65 rated, compact, and lightweight and provides professional-grade positioning information to iOS, Android or Windows mobile handhelds, smartphones and tablets using Bluetooth connectivity for Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) capabilities.

    “We’re very pleased that Esri will distribute the R1 GNSS receiver to its customers,” said Ron Bisio, general manager of Surveying and Geospatial at Trimble. “Offering a complete, integrated solution that provides accurate data collection enables Esri and Trimble’s joint customers to build a better and more reliable asset inventory.”

    Some users of Collector for ArcGIS on consumer-grade mobile devices might find their GPS to be less accurate than they need it to be. Now the locational precision of mobile devices can be enhanced via Bluetooth connected to the Trimble R1 GNSS receiver. The receiver is capable of supporting multiple global satellite constellation systems, including GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou, and delivers GNSS positions in real time without the need for postprocessing.

    “Collector for ArcGIS is used by organizations to collect and update GIS data in the field,” said Esri product manager Jeff Shaner. “Many of our customers like the ease of use of Collector for ArcGIS on consumer handheld devices. Paired with the Trimble R1 GNSS receiver, users can now capture GIS data on their smartphones and tablets that meets the more stringent spatial accuracy requirements of their organization.”

    Designed for GIS professionals in a variety of organizations, the stand-alone Bluetooth Trimble R1 GNSS receiver enables users to collect high-accuracy location data with Collector for ArcGIS on an existing device — whether it’s a modern smart device, such as a mobile phone or tablet, or a traditional integrated data collection handheld or tablet. The receiver can be pole mounted, carried in a vest pocket, or attached to a belt using the optional belt pouch for ease of use.

    The Trimble R1 GNSS receiver is available now through Esri. Learn more about Esri’s hardware solutions at esri.com/hardware.

  • FAA Seeks Penalty against SkyPan for Unauthorized UAS Operations

    The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced the largest civil penalty the FAA has proposed against a UAS operator for endangering the safety of the national airspace.

    The FAA proposes a $1.9 million civil penalty against SkyPan International Inc. of Chicago. Between March 21, 2012, and Dec. 15, 2014, SkyPan conducted 65 unauthorized operations in some of the most congested airspace and heavily populated cities, violating airspace regulations and various operating rules, the FAA alleges. These operations were illegal and not without risk.

    The FAA alleges that the company conducted 65 unauthorized commercial UAS flights over various locations in New York City and Chicago for aerial photography. Of those, 43 flew in the highly restricted New York Class B airspace.

    “Flying unmanned aircraft in violation of the Federal Aviation Regulations is illegal and can be dangerous,” said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. “We have the safest airspace in the world, and everyone who uses it must understand and observe our comprehensive set of rules and regulations.”

    SkyPan operated the 43 flights in the New York Class B airspace without receiving an air traffic control clearance to access it, the FAA alleges. Additionally, the agency alleges the aircraft was not equipped with a two-way radio, transponder and altitude-reporting equipment.

    The FAA further alleges that on all 65 flights, the aircraft lacked an airworthiness certificate and effective registration, and SkyPan did not have a Certificate of Waiver or Authorization for the operations.

    SkyPan operated the aircraft in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger lives or property, the FAA alleges.

    SkyPan has 30 days after receiving the FAA’s enforcement letter to respond to the agency.

  • Track Hurricane Joaquin with Maps, Social Media

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    Esri is providing a continuously updated hurricane map that shows the projected paths, storm surge, weather warnings and precipitation of Hurricane Joaquin. In addition, the real-time effects of the storm can be seen via social media posts. The website, Hurricanes & Cyclones, is part of the Esri Disaster Response Program.

    The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is offering updates through its National Hurricane Center.

    Hurricane Joaquin strengthened into a Category 4 storm on Thursday as it moved through the eastern Bahamas, and could grow more intense as it nears the U.S. East Coast.

  • MAPPS Offers Guidelines on Privacy and Geospatial Data

    MAPPS, the national association of private-sector geospatial firms, released a Best Practices Guideline for firms’ handling of geospatial data to protect individual citizen privacy.

    In an effort to establish best practices, principles and a self-regulatory framework for its member firms, a MAPPS task force led by MAPPS President Susan Marlow (Stantec, Nashville, Tenn.) drafted the guideline.

    The guideline was developed in response to a March 2012 report of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), report Protecting Consumer Privacy in an Era of Rapid Change, in which “the Commission calls on individual companies, trade associations, and self-regulatory bodies to adopt the principles contained in the final privacy framework.”

    The FTC sought to protect the privacy of individual citizens’ “sensitive” data, including “precise geolocation data” that included, for example, an address. However, FTC did not define the term “precise geolocation data” and recommended that before any firm could collect, store, or use such data, it would be required to “provide prominent disclosures and obtain affirmative express consent before using consumer data in a materially different manner than claimed when the data was collected…”

    The MAPPS guideline provides assistance to firms when determining when it should obtain individual consent for collection of geospatial data and when it is not needed to protect privacy. It was released at the association’s annual conference held in July in Sunriver, Ore.

    “Recent legislative and regulatory efforts to protect consumers and citizens in the name of privacy have cast a wide net, creating unintended consequences for mapping and geospatial firms,” said John Palatiello, MAPPS executive director. “Geospatial data is derived from images and data collected from a variety of airborne and space borne platforms, as well as other mobile and terrestrial-based acquisition systems. This imagery and data is collected, utilized and applied in geographic information systems (GIS) by companies operating within the safeguards, rights and framework established by the Fourth and 14th Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, and with government often the client.  This document helps engage in lawful, ethical and professional practice that is respectful of individual citizens.”

  • Air Line Pilots Association Joins Know Before You Fly Program

    Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) is the newest supporter of the Know Before You Fly campaign, an initiative to promote the safe and responsible use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).

    “Over the course of ALPA’s history, we have been a part of nearly every significant safety improvement in the airline industry, and have helped to make airline travel the safest mode of transportation in human history,” said Captain Tim Canoll, president of ALPA. “As a strong supporter of this UAS safety campaign, we will continue to promote and champion all aspects of aviation safety.”

    The Know Before You Fly campaign was created by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) and the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA). The campaign was launched in December 2014 in partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to provide UAS users with the information and guidance they need to fly safely and responsibly.

    “ALPA’s support is significant and demonstrates how the airline pilot and unmanned aviation communities can work together to make the airspace safer for all users,” said Brian Wynne, president and CEO of AUVSI. “AUVSI’s members and ALPA’s members share a common commitment to the principles of airmanship that help foster a culture of safety.”

    AMA President Bob Brown added, “The ties between model aviation and commercial aviation run deep. Model aviation has been a stepping stone to successful aviation careers. Many airline pilots report being influenced by model aviation early in life. Today, safety is a core principle shared within the aviation community.”

    ALPA joins 23 other organizations that support Know Before You Fly, which include retailers, manufacturers, and distributors of UAS as well as several organizations representing the manned aviation community. For information, visit KnowBeforeYouFly.org or follow @FlyResponsibly on Twitter.

  • Hexagon Geospatial Opens Early Access to Cloud Apps

    Hexagon Geospatial has introduced an early access program for technologies associated with the Hexagon Smart M.App experience. The two applications available in the early access program are M.App Chest and GeoApp.UAS.

    M.App Chest provides a simple means to quickly upload, organize, and share imagery and point cloud data in the cloud. M.App Chest also provides optional compression capabilities along with streaming and delivery via web services.

    “M.App Chest provides a better experience to easily upload, store and share geospatial data,” said Mladen Stojic, President of Hexagon Geospatial. “M.App Chest can standalone or compliment other Hexagon Smart M.Apps, providing a simple, cloud-based environment for managing imagery and point clouds.”

    GeoApp.UAS was built by Hexagon Geospatial’s partner, Geosystems GmbH. GeoApp.UAS enables rapid processing of UAS data at the speed it is captured. With an intuitive workflow, GeoApp.UAS enables robust photogrammetric processing of UAS data on the cloud.

    Interested individuals can register for the opportunity to participate in the early access program on the M.App Chest or GeoApp.UAS product pages. Hexagon Smart M.Apps will be launched at HxGN LIVE Hong Kong in November 2015.

  • Intergraph Government Solutions Wins USDA Contract Award

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    Intergraph Government Solutions (IGS) has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) U.S. Forest Service to provide image processing software across the U.S. Forest Service enterprise. IGS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Intergraph Corporation, a Hexagon company serving the U.S. federal market.

    IGS will provide capabilities for core image processing and photogrammetry through Hexagon Geospatial’s Power Portfolio, including ERDAS IMAGINE for remote sensing and IMAGINE Photogrammetry. Integration of these products into the organization allows the U.S. Forest Service to perform mission-critical image processing and analysis on nearly 200 million acres of land for objectives such as forest restoration and emergency response to wildfires.

    “The U.S. Forest Service is a long-standing customer of IGS and Hexagon software. This purchase provides the agency with the most advanced geospatial technology for monitoring and managing national forest resources,” said Joe Fehrenbach, CEO and president of IGS.

    The result of a competitive best-value procurement, the award includes a base contract period of one year and an additional four option years. As part of the selection process, the U.S. Forest Service required live demonstrations of the proposed workflow technologies with government-provided datasets and rigorous requirements related to multiple areas of need in their business mission.