GPS World

Author: Tracy Cozzens

  • INTERGEO Conference in Stuttgart Looks to Future

     

    InterGeo-logo

    The conference program and registration for INTERGEO 2015 are now live. Register before July 31 to benefit from the early-bird booking rate.

    The conference will be open with keynote speeches by Chris Cappelli (Esri Inc.) on “The Age of the Location Platform: How Mapping and GIS are Transforming the Work Environment” and Prof. Georg Gartner (TU Wien, Vienna University of Applied Sciences), president of the International Cartographic Association, on “The Future of the Map – the Map of the Future.” 

    “The agenda for the INTERGEO conference in Stuttgart is packed with exciting topics that are the focus of ongoing political debate on the digital world and will play a key role in shaping the way we work in future,” reads a statement by INTERGEO. “With keynote speeches and plenary talks delivered in English and simultaneous interpreting provided for one strand of the conference on the second day, it is clear that INTERGEO is also becoming increasingly significant on an international scale.” 

    The major topic of discussion at 2014’s INTERGEO remains a key part of the conference this year — INSPIRE examines geo-issues from a European perspective, providing practical examples and focusing on further development of the European directive. Other central themes include geodata as a basis for construction management and land development, a major concern for future development at regional and local level, as well as issues relating to property markets and valuation. These subjects are all crucial when it comes to discussing the “smart cities” and “smart villages” of the future, according to INTERGEO.

    Another highlight of INTERGEO in Stuttgart this year will be the panel discussion on the second day on “Geospatial Information – A Key Element for Emerging Markets.” The high-profile panel of speakers include Bengt Kjellson (UN-GGIM Europe), Ola Rollen (Hexagon), Steve Berglund (Trimble) and Chris Cappelli (Esri Inc.).

    A further key topic at the conference that is set to have a profound effect on the working world is geoinformation and mobility. DDGI and DVW will be addressing this together and discussing practical examples in two event strands.

    The contributions on big data will focus on the rapid development of data capture, processing and presentation as well as the direct integration of data into business processes. Geoinformation as an element of networked processes is a subject of major international significance, as evidenced by the conference’s high-profile speakers. “In terms of digitization, the conference will be key to paving the path to Geospatial 4.0 and the networking of digital geodata,” said Prof. Karl-Friedrich Thöne, president of the event’s host, DVW, adding, “INTERGEO is the ideal forum for creating processes that could eventually benefit the entire value-added chain.”

    As important as data may be in the digital world, it is also crucial to have the right visualization concepts in place. This will be demonstrated through presentations on the German Cartographers’ Day, which will form part of INTERGEO this year.

  • Pictometry to Capture Digital Terrain Data of Los Angeles County

    Pictometry International Corp. has secured an order from the Los Angeles Region – Imagery Acquisition Consortium (LARIAC) to provide digital terrain datasets through LiDAR capture of the 4,000+ square mile area that makes up Los Angeles County. Pictometry is a subsidiary of EagleView Technology, a provider of aerial imagery, data analytics and GIS solutions.

    The LiDAR project will allow consortium members access to the digital data and imagery for use in 3D modeling, floodplain and watershed mapping, disaster management, land-use planning, transportation planning, volumetric studies, solar modeling, vegetation analysis, sustainability planning, and more.  

    Slated to begin later this year, the project will capture and deliver LiDAR in accordance with USGS Quality Level 2 specifications. At two points per square meter, this will equate to more than 21 billion individual measurements of elevation across the county.

    Pictometry will also provide the consortium with a number of derivative digital terrain datasets, including a digital terrain model, digital elevation model, digital surface model as well as one and two foot contours of the project areas. “We are looking forward to the LiDAR capture which will be the final phase of the LARIAC4 imagery and mapping project,” said Mark Greninger, geographic information officer, County of Los Angeles. “The digital datasets when combined with Pictometry aerial imagery and our geographic data will provide powerful intelligence and information for all the members of LARIAC.”

    “The elevation data will provide the county and consortium members a core of authoritative, high quality data that will be critical for mapping, analysis and support of the county’s mission,” explained Greninger. “These datasets will be included in our enterprise GIS system, available both internally and externally to allow for more cost-efficient operations.”

    Robert Locke, Pictometry president of Government Solutions, said that the project represents a natural progression in the long-term business relationship that the company has with the consortium. “We are pleased that the County of Los Angeles recognizes Pictometry’s expertise and ability to provide LiDAR and digital models,” Locke said. “While known as the leader in aerial image capture, Pictometry is also extremely qualified and experienced in LiDAR capture and delivery.”

    Pictometry completed most of the LARIAC4 mapping and image acquisition project during 2014, with the remainder to be completed in 2015. 

  • USGS Provides Higher Level Landsat Data

    USGS-logoThe U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has begun production of higher level (more highly processed) Landsat data products to help advance land surface change studies. One such product is Landsat surface-reflectance data. Landsat satellite data have been produced, archived, and distributed by the U.S. Geological Survey since 1972.

    Surface reflectance data products approximate what a sensor held just above the Earth’s surface would measure, if conditions were ideal without any intervening artifacts (interference or changing conditions) that may come from the Earth’s atmosphere, different levels of illumination, and the changing geometry of the view by the sensor from hundreds of miles above the Earth. The precise removal of atmospheric artifacts increases the consistency and comparability between images of the Earth’s surface taken at different times of the year and different times of the day.

    Surface reflectance and other high-level data products can be requested through the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center by accessing the EROS Science Processing Architecture (ESPA) interface. Surface reflectance data are also available using the USGS EarthExplorer; select “Landsat CDR” under the tab for datasets. More information on Landsat surface reflectance data is available at the USGS Landsat website and in an updated USGS Fact Sheet.

    Data users in many different fields depend on basic Earth observation information from the USGS to conduct broad investigations of historical land surface change that cross large regions of the globe and span many years. Accordingly, this community of users requires consistently calibrated radiometric data that are processed to the highest standards.

  • Esri Launches Climate and Human Health App Challenge

    Esri has unveiled a Human Health and Climate Change App Challenge, calling on the worldwide GIS community to create apps that help communities visualize, understand and combat the health impacts of climate change. Esri will award three winners more than $15,000 in cash prizes or the equivalent in software. The deadline to enter is August 14.

    The app challenge is part of Esri’s comprehensive effort in support of the White House Climate Data Initiative under President Obama’s Climate Action Plan. “Esri is committed to helping communities work smarter and more efficiently to become more livable and, as a result, more resilient to climate change,” said Esri president Jack Dangermond.

    Participants are encouraged to create apps using Esri’s ArcGIS platform that provide decision-making support for health professionals and empower the public to take action. Apps should help private and public organizations combine open data to gain new insights into the impacts of climate change on health.

    “Understanding the geography of climate change is critical to mitigating its health effects and creating a vibrant and sustainable future,” said Este Geraghty, Esri chief medical officer.

    The app challenge is open to everyone — including developers, start-ups, governments, academics and nongovernmental organizations. Participants are encouraged to use the growing pool of open data and Esri apps, maps, services and APIs to develop their app.

    Judges will select the top three apps to be highlighted at the Esri Health and Human Services GIS Conference in September. In addition to awarding prizes, Esri will feature the winning apps on its collaborative resource portal.

  • USGIF Hosts First GEOINT Hackathon June 12-14

    Hackathons have captured the imagination and participation of coders around the world. But there has yet to be a geospatial intelligence-focused hackathon. The United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF), along with its partners and sponsors, will offer coders, data scientists and thought leaders the first-ever GEOINT Hackathon Friday, June 12, through Sunday, June 14, at its offices in Herndon, Va. Individuals and teams will partner, program and pitch solutions as they compete for a $15,000 prize.

    There is no cost to register for the GEOINT Hackathon. Just visit connect.usgif.org, create an account, and select “Upcoming Events” from the sidebar menu. The “USGIF Hackathon” is listed at the bottom of this page. Full details are available here.

    GEOINT Hackathon participants will be challenged to create an open-source solution within a roughly 40-hour timeframe of Friday evening to Sunday afternoon. This is a GEOINT hack, so location matters. The geography of interest and specific hack goal will be announced Friday evening during the 6 p.m. kick-off briefing.

    USGIF provides this hint: “We are more interested in fostering collaboration than creating apps. All collaboration-centric coders are encouraged to sign up. The winning team will not only receive the cash prize but also passes to attend GEOINT Foreword and the GEOINT Symposium, where they will have the opportunity to meet and mingle with industry, government, and academic leaders.”

    “This is a fabulous opportunity for our global GEOINT Community to continue the ongoing process of reinventing itself and opening its doors to collaboration and transparency,” said Darryl Murdock, USGIF vice president of professional development. “It is also a super venue for trying things we never before thought possible.”

    USGIF, OGSystems, DigitalGlobe, Esri and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) are sponsoring and supporting the event through donations, infrastructure support and judges.

    This is intended to be the first in a series of GEOINT-focused hackathons. USGIF plans to hold another hackathon during GEOINT Community Week in November.

  • Intergraph Unveils ArcGIS Editor, Establishes User Experience Lab

    Intergraph Security, Government and Infrastructure (SG&I) has unveiled I/Map Editor for ArcGIS, a product that works directly with Esri’s ArcGIS Platform to migrate geospatial data into Intergraph’s Computer-Aided Dispatch software (I/CAD), creating greater efficiencies for users of both systems.

    Also, SG&I has established Studio One, a user experience design and development lab that provides space for multi-disciplinary teams to collaborate on innovative, user-centered products and solutions.

    I/Map Editor for ArcGIS brings advanced mapping features to Intergraph’s map build environment, automating and streamlining map creation in I/CAD. I/Map Editor for ArcGIS is designed to minimize the number of different systems and steps required for ArcGIS users, offering them a one-stop shop for uploading data into their I/CAD system.

    ‘I/Map Editor for ArcGIS enables ArcGIS users to more efficiently get their GIS data into I/CAD using tools familiar to them,” said Kalyn Sims, chief technology officer, Intergraph SG&I. “It also provides them with the ability to more frequently update their data, which benefits agencies and the public they serve. Our goal is to provide public safety organizations with the most up-to-date geospatial data possible within their first responder systems.”

    Intergraph’s industry-leading I/CAD system is critical to public safety operations, enabling agencies to quickly answer emergency and non-emergency calls, create and update incidents and manage multiple resources in real time. Intergraph’s I/Map Editor products facilitate the use of GIS data as the source of mapping information in I/CAD.

    Built on Intergraph’s GeoMedia, I/Map Editor permits the use of GIS data from third-party systems as the source of map graphics in I/CAD. Built on ArcGIS, the new I/Map Editor for ArcGIS enables I/CAD map production within ArcGIS. An extension hosted in ArcMap, it natively connects to Esri data sources.

    In March, Intergraph and Esri announced collaborative efforts to enhance geospatial capabilities for public safety and security agencies. Through the collaboration, the companies have been working together to more tightly align Intergraph’s I/CAD software and Esri’s ArcGIS Platform.

    Studio One. Located at Intergraph SG&I’s headquarters, Studio One is an extension of the company’s strategic efforts to ensure its products are built to meet the needs of users, some of whom are in high-pressure environments.

    “The methodologies and technologies of UX (user experience) are maturing very quickly. For example, now we can accurately assess whether software raises or lowers stress,” said Amy Hawkins, UX team manager, Intergraph SG&I. “As we move information technology closer and closer to users, in the form of mobile and wearable devices, we need to be very sure that we are making people’s jobs easier, not harder. That’s why we established Studio One.”

    Comprised of a distributed group of user researchers, designers, technical architects and functional designers, Intergraph SG&I’s UX team conducts customer site visits, ethnographic observation, interviews and surveys to understand customer workflows and environments. The UX team has traveled to multiple cities across the U.S., visiting a dozen different public safety agencies in four different metropolitan areas. In the Denver area, the team conducted approximately 47 ride-alongs with police, firefighters and emergency medical services personnel.

    The UX team works with product development teams to build usage metrics collection into Intergraph SG&I’s products so that strategists and design and development teams have the best possible data on which to base product direction decisions. The team also works with research groups at universities such as Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt and the University of Alabama in Huntsville to get independent perspectives on user mental models and emerging technologies.

    “By working directly with users, we get a clear understanding of how to meet customer needs now and in the future as new technologies and challenges emerge,” Hawkins said. “Our customers are in the business of providing important public services. Studio One is all about, helping people help people.”

    Intergraph SG&I’s UX team will meet with customers for UX assessments during HxGN LIVE, Hexagon’s annual international user conference, in Las Vegas from June 1-4.

  • SimActive Provides Integrated Lidar and Photo Software to Altoa

    SimActive Inc., developer of photogrammetry software, has purchased the Correlator3D software by Altoa from French Guiana. The software will be used to process images and lidar data for the production of orthomosaics.

    “Following our recent acquisition of two digital cameras including the Phase One color and infrared, we needed precise, powerful, and versatile photogrammetric software,” said Walid Mostafa, manager of Altoa. “After analyzing the available tools, we decided to choose Correlator3D.”

    “We are pleased to see an important company in South America such as Altoa adopt Correlator3D,” said Philippe Simard, president of SimActive. “Their use of Correlator3D demonstrates the software’s ability to adapt to different production environments and to integrate a lidar sensor with a camera.”

    For a live demonstration at Commercial Unmanned Show Asia 2015 (June 30-July 1, Singapore), visit booth B10 or send an email to [email protected].

     

     

  • DigitalGlobe, Saab Join on Vricon to Create the Globe in 3D

    Defense and security company Saab and DigitalGlobe Inc., a global provider of high-resolution earth imagery solutions, have created the joint venture Vricon Inc. to produce photo-realistic 3D products and digital elevation models for enterprise and government geospatial markets.

    Vricon combines Saab’s 3D technology and know-how with DigitalGlobe’s archive, which contains billions of square kilometers of high-quality commercial satellite imagery. Together, the Vricon joint venture will establish high-scale production capabilities that will make highly accurate photo-realistic 3D products and elevation data of the earth accessible via its visualization platform and standard- based data formats.

    Vricon serves the entire professional geospatial market, with an initial focus on defense, security, and infrastructure. Vricon’s technology enables imagery content to accurately represent all visible objects on the earth in 3D, and its products provide customers with value and utility, superior coverage relative to aerial-derived elevation models, and superior fidelity and availability relative to other satellite-derived models.

    DigitalGlobe and Saab will combine their strengths to both support and own Vricon. Under the agreement, Vricon will be headquartered in Reston, Va., with ownership set up as 50 percent DigitalGlobe and 50 percent Saab. “Our customers will benefit from global access to geospatial data of unprecedented quality. It is a win-win situation with long-term value creation for both parent companies, which will give us a market position ahead of competition,” said Magnus Brege, Vricon CEO.

    “By combining DigitalGlobe’s unrivaled imagery archive with Saab’s leading edge technology, we will deliver the globe in 3D at a scale never before possible,” said Jeffrey R. Tarr, DigitalGlobe President and Chief Executive Officer. “By delivering this breakthrough product to our customers, this collaboration will drive growth and shareowner value creation.”

    “The establishment of Vricon is another great example of Saab’s ability to leverage innovation and transform it into business value,” said Dan Jangblad, head of Saab business area Industrial Products and Services. “Together with DigitalGlobe, we are taking our revolutionary new 3D technology and applying it to benefit our global customer base. At the same time, we also take another step forward on our long-term path for growth in the United States.”

  • Clapper, Cardillo to Speak at GEOINT 2015

    NGA Director Robert Cardillo.
    NGA Director Robert Cardillo.

    Top national security officials and authors will be delivering keynote addresses at the GEOINT 2015 Symposium, sponsored by the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF).

    USGIF’s GEOINT Symposium is the largest intelligence event in the U.S., uniting the defense, intelligence, and homeland security communities for a week of knowledge sharing, discussion, training and education, technology demonstrations, business opportunities and networking. The GEOINT 2015 Symposium will be held June 22-25 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.

    Confirmed keynotes for GEOINT 2015 include:

    • Robert Cardillo, director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, became the sixth NGA Director in October 2014. He leads the agency under the authorities of the Secretary of Defense and ODNI. He was previously the first Deputy Director for Intelligence Integration at ODNI, working alongside Clapper.
    • James R. Clapper, director of National Intelligence, was sworn in as the fourth Director of National Intelligence (DNI) in August 2010. As DNI, Clapper leads the Intelligence Community and serves as the principal intelligence advisor to the president.
    • Robert D. Kaplan is a bestselling author of 15 books on foreign affairs and travel. He is currently a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security and a contributing editor at The Atlantic. One of his most well-known books is “The Revenge of Geography: What the Map Tells Us About Coming Conflicts and the Battle Against Fate.”
    • Marcel Lettre was recently named Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, serving as the principal intelligence advisor to the Secretary of Defense. He previously served as Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence.
    • Michael D. Lumpkin is the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict. He has more than 20 years of active duty military service as a U.S. Navy SEAL as well as significant experience in the private sector.
    • Gen. Stan McChrystal, a retired four-star general, was commander of the U.S. and International Security Assistance Forces in Afghanistan as well as former commander of the Joint Special Operations Command. He is also co-founder of the McChrystal Group and recently published the book “Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World.
    • Adam Schiff represents California’s 28th Congressional District and is the ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. He is also a member of the Benghazi Select Committee.

    Kaplan and McChrystal’s books will be on sale throughout the week at GEOINT 2015. Both authors will sign copies of their books directly following their respective keynote addresses.

    Both Cardillo and Clapper have spoken at past GEOINT Symposia, while this is Kaplan, Lettre, Lumpkin, McChrystal and Schiff’s first speaking engagement with USGIF. Visit GEOINTv.com to view videos from the GEOINT 2013* Symposium, including keynote addresses by Clapper and Cardillo.

    More keynotes are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. To learn more about GEOINT 2015, view the agenda, or to register for the event, visit geoint2015.com.

  • USGS Tests QuakeAlert App with 60-Second Warning

    Earthquake Alert ScreenSixty seconds may not sound like much, but if given advance warning of an earthquake, people could take cover, trains could stop, and oil rigs could be shut down before the shaking hits.

    The earthquake early warning app QuakeAlert, by Early Warning Labs, aims to provide that extra time. The app, with new technology developed in partnership the United States Geological Survey (USGS), will be tested by the USGS, the California Institute of Technology and other university researchers.

    QuakeAlert is designed to alert users with a countdown to when shaking will strike their exact location, and tell the user how severe the intensity is expected in their location. The app simultaneously delivers important safety instructions to the user on how to respond if indoors, outside or in a moving vehicle. QuakeAlert will be provided to users free of charge.

    The QuakeAlert app uses USGS seismic sensor network data, an Esri GIS backend and the Microsoft Azure cloud to deliver earthquake early warnings. The app is currently in private beta testing with university researchers at CalTech and USGS scientists, and will be available to the public for free once the USGS receives full funding of its early warning program and approves the technology for the public.

    Early Warning Labs (EWL) is an Earthquake Early Warning technology developer and integrator in Santa Monica, Calif., and an official research and development partner with the USGS. Early Warning Labs is collaborating with university partners including Caltech, Berkeley and the University of Washington, as well as Esri.

  • Esri Offers U.S. Flooding Map Following Texas Floods

    Esri-texas-flooding-O

    More than 11 inches of rain fell in areas of Texas and other nearby states on May 25-26, inundating homes and highways and bringing the southeast Texas city of Houston to a standstill.

    Esri’s U.S. Flooding Public Information Map provides continuously updated information from the National Weather Service showing:

    • Observed flooding locations
    • Current and forecasted precipitation
    • Flood warning areas

    Specific information provided includes flooding height and severity, and features can be identified with the stream gauge and weather watch layers.

     

  • Scene Sharp Unveils Fuze Go Integration with Spatial Modeler

    Scene Sharp USA has integrated its Fuze Go MS Sharp image fusion tool into the ERDAS IMAGINE Spatial Modeler software. Exhibiting at HxGN LIVE Las Vegas 2015, Scene Sharp will demonstrate how Fuze Go MS Sharp enhances the analytical recipes scripted in Spatial Modeler for automated applications such as Change Detection.

    “Scene Sharp is honored to be selected as partner, building upon IMAGINE Spatial Modeler,” said Kevin Marasch, Director of Business Development of Scene Sharp USA. “Our Fuze Go MS Sharp functionality can now be used as a key ingredient in the analytical recipes within Spatial Modeler.”

    The Fuze Go MS Sharp “lossless” satellite image-processing tool fuses visible and near-infrared multispectral data with high-resolution panchromatic data to produce images with unparalleled visual quality, sharpness and fidelity. MS Sharp pansharpens up to 30 bands of satellite image data consistently and accurately without losing spectral information.

    Part of the Hexagon Geospatial Power Portfolio, ERDAS IMAGINE is a full-feature raster image processing package, Scene Sharp said. The IMAGINE Spatial Modeler provides users with the tools — or ingredients — to build functions and create geospatial workflows — or analytical recipes — to extract information from raster image data. Spatial Modeler users may integrate Fuze Go MS Sharp into any custom analytical recipe built with the software.

    “We are impressed with the advanced image science Scene Sharp brings to our customers.” said Steve du Plessis, director of Remote Sensing at Hexagon Geospatial. “The IMAGINE Spatial Modeler provides the perfect vehicle to incorporate the algorithms into value-added workflows. The resulting enhanced images provide the best of both the spectral and spatial information contained in the data, improving interpretation, classification, change detection and many other analyses.”

    With version 2.2, Scene Sharp enhanced MS Sharp to improve the overall visual quality of the resulting imagery products even beyond their already impressive standards. In addition, Scene Sharp tweaked the many capabilities within MS Sharp that make it the most accurate and one of the fastest automated image fusion packages on the market today.

    Scene Sharp will be demonstrating Fuze Go software features within the IMAGINE Spatial Modeler in booth #213 at HxGN LIVE, the Hexagon International user conference being held June 1-4 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.