GPS World

Category: Mapping

  • Blue Marble Releases Global Mapper 13.2

    Blue Marble Geographics announced the release of Global Mapper version 13.2. This release features updated DigitalGlobe premium imagery with improved access to new DigitalGlobe servers.

     

    According to the announcement, Global Mapper 13.2 includes updates to the DigitalGlobe premium imagery in both speed and coverage. This service will give users faster access to more up-to-date and higher resolution imagery in most locations. Using the Download Online imagery/Data menu, we have added built-in access to Geologic Map datasets for most of the world. This release also features access to Intermap NextMap web store 2.0 for rich, high precision elevation and expanded coverage data sets. Additionally, added to the imagery service is MapQuest OpenAerial Worldwide Imagery, now a built in source. There is also added support for specifying custom paper sizes for geospatial PDF support in version 13.2. This minor version release includes new format support for LogASCII, Norwegian SOSI export, PCI Geomatix PIX, NDVI in HDF5 format, EasyGPS .loc, and several other formats. There are noteworthy enhancements to the Digitizer tool as well as many other minor enhancements and updates throughout the software.
    “Global Mapper’s access to quality data sets is an important part of the power of this leading data conversion services,” stated Blue Marble’s President Patrick Cunningham. “We are pleased to work closely with data providers like Digital Globe, Intermap, and Spatial Energy to offer a premium variety of data sources that enhances our vast complementary data sources for our customers work.”

  • Indianapolis Awards Multi-Million Dollar Mapping Contract to Woolpert

    Woolpert announced its Indianapolis office has been awarded two contracts totaling approximately $2 million by the City of Indianapolis Department of Public Works (DPW) to survey pavements and develop a street sign inventory using mobile mapping technology.

    According to the announcement, the project requires collection of data across 3,200 miles of city streets, one of the single largest mobile light detection and ranging (LiDAR) collection efforts to date. LiDAR technology uses pulses from a laser to produce highly accurate measurements and map physical features.

    “We’re proud to be at the front of using this industry-leading technology for a cost-effective approach to collecting data and developing a 3D model of the city. This truly maximizes taxpayers’ dollars by reducing the cost of a data collection effort while also providing us with the data necessary to perform government functions more efficiently, such as street rehabilitation,” said Jeremy Jobe, Woolpert project manager in Indianapolis. “Further, the dataset can be used for safety improvements through viewshed or line-of-sight analysis to proactively identify potential traffic hazards caused by the surrounding environment.”

    Nearly half of the cost associated with the project is being covered through a federal grant, according to Woolpert. The city leveraged this grant to significantly reduce using local dollars for the project. Remaining funds were generated from the RebuildIndy program and other local funding sources.

    Woolpert will use its Optech LYNX M1 Mobile LiDAR system to collect the data and then use that data to develop a street sign database for compliance with Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) requirements for sign inventories. This manual provides the U.S. standard for signs, signals and pavement markings.

    “The benefit of using a high-accuracy mobile LiDAR system with survey-grade capabilities on such projects is the rich dataset that it captures from which assets can be extracted, in this case signage,” said Jobe. “The city will not only be able to use the data for its sign database, it will also be able to extract or call on the Woolpert team to extract additional features in the future without remobilizing the team and assuming associated costs or placing additional field crews in harm’s way, which provides the true value in this collection effort.”

    Woolpert will team with VS Engineering and DB Engineering on the sign inventory and Dynatest on the pavement analysis. Upon completion of the project, data will be integrated with the city’s existing computerized maintenance management system.

  • Independent Evaluation Demonstrates Benefits of SCALGO Flash Flood Mapping

    SCALGO announced that at the recent Florida Floodplain Managers Association Annual Conference, the engineering and environmental sciences consulting firm Jones Edmunds & Associates presented an evaluation of the SCALGO Flash Flood Mapping product.

     

     

    According to the announcement, using a detailed terrain model, SCALGO Flash Flood Mapping can be used to rapidly assess flood risk during extreme rain events on a local, regional or even national scale. Jones Edmunds compared SCALGO Flash Flood Mapping with the results of a recently completed Jones Edmunds flood study in Marion County, Florida, based on an advanced dynamic model (ICPR) used by the Florida authorities and listed by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as a nationally accepted hydraulic model. They found that despite a cost of under 5% and a significantly reduced production time, the Flash Flood Mapping results were close to the results of the advanced modelling and the same time significantly more detailed. Another main conclusion was that SCALGO Flash Flood Mapping is a very cost efficient way of screening large areas for high flood-risk areas where very detailed dynamic modelling is justified.

    SCALGO reports that its Flash Flood Mapping software can show how much rain has to fall during an extreme rain event before any given cell of a detailed (LiDAR based) raster terrain model is below water. Consequently, the mapping can be easily used to compute what part of each depression is below water after a given amount of rain, and thus effectively shows how water collects in depressions for all possible amounts of rain. The SCALGO Flash Flood Mapping product is being offered as a computation service. Based on the service and its national LIDAR-based terrain model, the major Danish engineering, environmental science and economics consulting company COWI has already successfully launched a new flash flood map product in Denmark, which is being used by several local governments as well as one of the five regional governments in Denmark (covering approximately 13.000 km²).

  • Thoughts on Mobile Devices, UAVs, and Cheap Data-Collection Software

    On the coattails of last week’s Geospatial Solutions newsletter outlining the United Nations’ five- to ten-year vision on geospatial information management, and my column on the mobile device operating system war, here are some more thoughts on those subjects.

    As the cost of GIS data collection devices (handheld, tablet) has plummeted in the past two years and smartphones have proliferated, the quest for inexpensive GIS data-collection software has intensified. It makes sense. When people were used to paying thousands of dollars for a GIS data-collection device, another US$800-$1,000 for GIS data collection software seemed reasonable. It might have added 15-25% to the total price of the system. With today’s inexpensive devices, sometimes data collection software ends up costing more than the device itself, thus pushing the demand for cheaper software. On top of that, as I discussed a couple of weeks ago, we are in the middle of a mobile device operating system war. Whereas it used to be a no-brainer that Windows Mobile (or some derivative of it) was going to be the dominant operating system and supported by software developers, that’s not the case any longer. Windows Embedded is going to be around, but it’s clearly not the dominant mobile device operating system it once was.

    Interestingly enough, GIS data collection software for iOS and Andoird have followed the iOS and Android price trends. The mobile devices running iOS and Android are inexpensive, sometimes free. You don’t see any iOS or Android GIS data collection software packages costing thousands of dollars. On the other hand, many Windows Mobile-based geospatial softwares cost upwards of US$2,000. Of course, you can make the argument that the Windows Mobile-based softwares are mature and feature rich. That’s true, as most of the iOS and Android-based softwares have a fraction of the capability, but I’d venture to say that most users don’t need many of the features they are paying for. I also agree with one of the trends outlined in the UN document in that I think open source might be where things are headed.

    • Free and open source software will continue to grow as viable alternatives both in terms of software, and potentially in analysis and processing.

    Ironically, open source GIS data collection software has been around for years. However, you probably don’t know about it because no organization is actively marketing it (if there’s no revenue, there’s no marketing budget). Software like gvSIG Mobile is a reasonably powerful GIS data collection product. A little quirky? Perhaps. But, if your budget is depleted and your requirements exceed the capabilities of the typical free or inexpensive software in the iTunes or Google Market, you might tolerate the quirkiness.

    gvSIG Mobile Open Source GIS Data Collection Software.
    gvSIG Mobile Open Source GIS Data Collection Software.

    The UN also predicts that geospatial data will trend toward open source.

    • Within five years the level of detail on transport systems within OpenStreetMap will exceed virtually all other data sources and will be respected and used by major organizations and governments across the globe.
    • Community-based mapping will continue to grow.
    • There is unlikely to be a market for datasets like those currently sold to power navigation and location-based services solutions in five years, as they will have been superseded by crowdsourced datasets from OpenStreetMaps or other comparable initiatives.|
    While I agree that the trend towards open source data is gaining traction, five years is a really aggressive timeline for phasing out the likes of TeleAtlas (owned by TomTom) and Navteq (owned by Nokia). These are the two major map database suppliers for virtually all GPS navigation devices used in vehicles around the world. I think there will be, for the forseeable future, a quanitifiable and valued difference between open source data and commercial geospatial data. Commercial users will pay for perceived quality and accountability, especially if the price differential is minimal. Consumer GPS users (vehicle navigation) might be a different story. A $30 difference in retail price can sway a consumer from one brand to another.
    More on UAVs for Mapping
    One of the first trends in the UN listed are:
    • There will be an increased demand for applications to be used with high-resolution imagery.
    • The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) as a tool for rapid geospatial data collection will increase.

    Trimble’s acquisition of Gatewing just last month supports this trend as well as the Obama administration’s accelerating the use of civilian UAVs back in February of this year via the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012.

    Cost-effective mapping UAVs are starting to emerge. In just this past week, Event 38 announced a small mapping UAV for under US$1,000.

    Low-cost E382 Mapping UAV from Event 38.
    Low-cost E382 Mapping UAV from Event 38.
    Augmented Reality

    As does the UN vision, I think augmented reality has a bright future for both commercial users and consumers.

    • Augmented reality applications will be pervasive, with the ability to view a whole range of data overlays on top of the real world.

    For professional geospatial users, the situational awareness possibilities are tremendous. Imagine the backhoe operator being able to “see” the underground infrastructure in order to avoid it. Imagine the park superintendent being able to “see” all of the underground irrigation and drainage lines by simply positioning a tablet computer towards the area of interest.

     

    Thanks, and see you next week.

    Follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/GPSGIS_Eric

  • Event 38 Announces UAV For Mapping

    Event 38 announced its first major product, model E382, a ready-to-fly mapping UAV. Based on the Ardupilot Mega 2.0 autopilot, the E382 is designed to take aerial photos quickly and easily.

     

     

    According to the announcement, equipped with a small point and shoot camera, the E382 can make five centimeter resolution maps from individual pictures stitched together. Digital elevation models and georeferenced orthorectified maps can be made using online services like DroneMapper.com.

    Event 38 reports that the E382 is capable of flying for just under an hour and can cover over 200 acres at a time on one charge. For larger areas, replacing the battery is quick and can be done in the field. Weighing in at under five pounds and made of soft, durable foam, the airframe is resistant to damage and can’t significantly damage anything on the ground. The 66″ wings come apart for easy transport to and from the job site.

    The basic kit consists of a ready to fly airframe with autopilot, motor and servos installed. Options are available to add on for those without any R/C gear like a controller, batteries and a suitable point and shoot camera. If you’re starting without any gear, a full system costs about $1,050. Training and on-site setup are available as well.

  • United Nations Five to Ten Year Vision on Geospatial Information Management

    This is an interesting look at the five and ten year vision of geospatial information management from the United Nations, a collection and summary of industry expert opinions. According to its website, “the UN initiative on Global Geospatial Information Management (GGIM) aims at playing a leading role in setting the agenda for the development of global geospatial information and to promote its use to address key global challenges. It provides a forum to liaise and coordinate among Member States, and between Member States and international organizations.”

    UN Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management
    Future trends in geospatial information management: the five to ten year vision
    Background
    At the inaugural meeting of the Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (GGIM), held in Korea in October 2011, it was decided that there was a need to document the thoughts of leaders in the geospatial world as to the future development of this world over the next 5 years and then looking further out, to thoughts as to its development over the next 10 years. In particular, the Committee was interested in how these developments will contribute to the local, national and global strategic agendas of economic growth, social cohesion and wellbeing, environmental sustainability, disaster management, public safety and good governance. A number of experts and visionaries across a wide range of aspects of the geospatial community – from data collection experts, academics and major users of geospatial information, through to leading figures from the private sector and the Volunteer Geographic Information (VGI) movement – have been invited to contribute their views on the emerging trends in the geospatial world. Responses have now been received from individuals across the broad spectrum of the geospatial community.
    This paper briefly summarises the main themes and trends identified in these responses. It is designed to inform further discussion to take place alongside the Geospatial World Forum in Amsterdam in April 2012. Output from that session will then be used to develop further iterations of the document to be presented to the Committee for review at its second formal meeting in New York in August (13-15th August 2012). Final editing will take place based on the content of the discussions at this meeting and a final paper will be presented at the Second High-Level Forum on GGIM in Qatar in 2013.
    Executive Summary
    The use of geospatial information is increasing rapidly. There is a growing recognition amongst both Governments and the private sector that an understanding of location and place is a vital component of effective decision making. Citizens with no recognised expertise in geospatial information and who are unlikely to even be familiar with the term are also increasingly using and interacting with geospatial information, indeed in many cases they are contributing to its collection.
    As with all technology-driven sectors, the future is difficult to predict. However, this paper takes the views of a recognised group of experts from a wide range of fields related to the geospatial world and attempts to offer some vision of how this is likely to develop over the next 5-10 years.
    This paper will look at a number of aspects of the geospatial world in order to attempt to provide a tangible vision of where this community, providers, practitioners, and users, are heading. Based on contributions received, these trends have been broken down into broad themes covering major aspects of the geospatial world, as follows: data creation, maintenance and management; uses of geospatial data; trends in technology; legal and policy developments; skills requirements and training mechanisms; the future role of National Mapping Agencies; and the role of the private sector and volunteer geographic information.
    Future direction of data creation, maintenance and management
    Contributors noted the exponential growth in capture methods – the volume of data that will flow in, the increased potential of “traditional” positioning and capture methods such as the use of Satellites, but also the introduction of new (to geospatial information) methods such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Social Media. The responses considered the challenges of bringing these datasets together into manageable environments, particularly as the capture, processing and distribution of this data becomes more “real-time”.
    Uses of geospatial data
    The experts’ view is that geographic information will become ubiquitous in almost every aspect of government and of citizens’ lives. In its most positive aspects, crisis response will be greatly enhanced through the wide availability of more accurate, timely and accessible data – satellite flight paths can be changed, UAVs launched, and crowdsourced data ingested in real-time. This data will not only assist immediate response but facilitate better planning and long-term recovery. The data will also facilitate better governance by providing citizens with richer information and will support economic growth through enhanced resource planning, and therefore improved decision-making. However, this does come with risks as the pervasive availability of information, especially where citizens act as passive and even unwitting data providers, does increase the potential for misuse by both state and private organisations. Hence there is a need for vigilance and appropriate ethical standards, and accountability in this area.
    Trends in technology (including future of delivery mechanisms for geospatial data)
    Responses received from contributors have emphasised that technological evolution will continue to accelerate, with a key trend being the way that previously niche geospatial information technologies will become mainstream, whilst at the same time mainstream technologies such as the Cloud and Software as a Service are absorbed into geospatial information. Data will be increasingly interconnected through the web via capabilities such as Linked Data and this will challenge current standards methods. Contributors highlighted that technology will enable rapid distribution and absorption of information, and also accelerate responses to that data to the extent that location devices will be pervasive – everything and everyone will be locatable. Alongside this, respondents noted the emerging trend towards the provision of 3D and even 4D geospatial information. Responses emphasised these major technological developments and considered how this potential can be exploited to
    meet global goals.

    Legal and policy developments

    There were a myriad of legal and policy issues highlighted by contributors that are likely to impact the geospatial world over the coming five to ten years. The trends identified include issues related to the increasing demand for free and open access to geospatial data; the privacy challenges related to the growing number of devices that act as geospatial sensors; the potential gap between legal and policy developments in the geospatial world, and developments in the legal and policy frameworks of interrelated issues such as privacy, national security, liability and intellectual property; the potential legal status of national spatial data infrastructures; and other governance roles expected to be required in relation to geospatial information.
    Skills requirements and training mechanisms
    Understanding what the skills requirements and necessary training will be in the next five to ten years will be an important component of ensuring the value of geospatial information is maximised. Responses discussed the likely changes that will take place as interaction, analysis and use of geospatial information continues its shift from the domain of a relatively small group of experts to the wider populace. Respondents also gave consideration to the likely impact of the transformations and intersections between geospatial information in what may be viewed as its traditional form and geospatial information as data, particularly in light of the expected proliferation of this data over the coming five to ten years.
    The future role of the National Mapping Agencies
    Contributions have highlighted that, as in the last five to ten years and the decades prior, the role of National Mapping Agencies will inevitably continue to evolve over the next five to ten years. Responses suggested that Governments are likely to continue to play a major role in securing and guaranteeing the quality of the fundamental geospatial information base, and in overseeing the principles and arrangements required to ensure authoritative frameworks are maintained. Contributors also highlighted the challenges and opportunities that will develop as a result of the increasing availability of crowdsourced data and the involvement of the private sector in the geospatial world, particularly in ‘competitive’ geographies. Consideration was given to how these trends will impact the role of National Mapping Agencies, and how these different data providers can complement each other.

    The role of the private sector and voluntary sector

    In addition to considering how the private and public sectors can work together to benefit the citizen, respondents explored a wide range of trends in the private sector and within the volunteer geographic community and discussed how these will evolve, Ten years ago few would have predicted that Google would be a large provider of location information to the citizen, or that most citizens would be buying location services and devices. Respondents noted that we have also seen the private sector begin to challenge the National Mapping Agencies in data collection and maintenance, especially for cross-border solutions, where the national remit of traditional providers is a barrier to users. Contributions also discussed the other extreme, where citizen and voluntary groups have seized the opportunity of new technology to develop initiatives such as Open Street Map and Map Action to complement and even challenge traditional data providers.
    Annex A: Future trends
    Key emerging trends identified as a result of the input received include:
    • The growing number of sensors in everyday devices, which collect and provide geospatial information, will increase and alter the dynamic of data collection. This will also increase the role of geospatial data creation and collection by citizens, both active and passive.
    • New data will be created on top of accurate geospatial data using real-time user information available through social media and other web uses.
    • There will be an increased demand for applications to be used with high-resolution imagery.
    • The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) as a tool for rapid geospatial data collection will increase.
    • 3D and even 4D geospatial information, incorporating time as the fourth dimension, will increase.
    • Developments in technology mean that collaboration on data collection and management will increase, with different aspects carried out in different parts of the globe.
    • The emergence of new independent Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) will require a concomitant system for unification.
    • Demand for geospatial data will increase, particularly in developing countries, as they look to develop different sectors of their economies.
    • Education and broader capacity building will play a vital role in this field, ensuring that both the skills required to make best use of spatial information are available and that key decision-makers are aware of the value of this information.
    • Citizens’ familiarity with information that has a spatial aspect to it, particularly through the use of Location Based Services, will continue to increase.
    • People will change and adapt as they become more familiar with technology and handling of data streams, and will become increasingly adept at recognising trends (spatial, temporal and causal) within the vast quantities of data that will likely be available.
    • Analysis and reasoning based on data may start to form part of Spatial Data Infrastructures, as the concepts of infrastructure as a service, IaaS, platform as a service, PaaS, and software as a service, SaaS, evolve further on to model as a service, MaaS.
    • The provision of data as Linked Data, similar to the www where documents are linked together, will increase and will be widely implemented within the next 5 years, replacing current exchange standards (e.g. GML).
    • There will be a dramatic push to give access to both imagery and applications to end‐users anytime, anywhere.
    • The cloud will become increasingly important as a delivery mechanism for geospatial data. It will also have a significant impact on current business models.
    • Technology will move faster than legal and governance structures.
    • Low-cost low tech sensors will proliferate.
    • Gaming may inspire new developments as opposed to traditional geospatial information.
    • The link between geospatial information and social media, plus other actor networks, will become more and more important.
    • Real-time information will enable more dynamic modelling and response to disasters.
    • Metadata and other ways of dealing with the increasing amounts of data that will be available will be increasingly important.
    • Free and open source software will continue to grow as viable alternatives both in terms of software, and potentially in analysis and processing.
    • Earth observations systems will be increasingly improved and make the satellite imagery of any place at any time available.
    • Geospatial computation will increasingly be non-human consumable in nature, with an increase in the number of fully-automated decision systems.
    • Businesses and Governments will increasingly invest in tools and resources to manage Big Data. The technologies required for this will enable greater use of raw data feeds from sensors and other sources of data.
    • Global demand for Location-Based Services will continue to rise and should lead to geospatial information achieving ubiquity.
    • The widespread use and creation of geospatial data will lead to the establishment of a geospatial infrastructure. Society will increasingly rely on this infrastructure, much as it has become dependent on other, more traditional forms of infrastructure, such as electrical grids or highway networks.
    • Within five years GNSS modernisation will have a significant effect on all classes of positioning – from high end, geodetic quality applications such as orbit determination of low earth orbiting satellites and warning systems for earthquakes and tsunamis, down to consumer grade devices in phones and PDAs. Positioning will be more accurate, with lower latency and greater integrity. Integration with other sensor sets (typically low cost MEMS devices and compasses) will also have developed significantly. Positioning devices will work reliably in far more places than they currently do, and because of this, applications enabled by the technology will spiral upwards in terms of volume and sophistication.
    • In ten years time it is likely that all smart phones (or whatever replaces them) will be able to film 360 degree 3D video at incredibly high resolution by today’s standards, and wirelessly stream it in real time. Such devices would likely be carried or worn by workers in situations where it would be useful for their colleagues (back at the office or in the field) to be able to see what they are seeing – for example police officers, firefighters, utility workers, etc. They would also be mounted in many vehicles, at street intersections, etc. This network of devices will provide data that can be merged in real time to give an immersive video view of the world.
    • Augmented reality applications will be pervasive, with the ability to view a whole range of data overlays on top of the real world.
    • We will see significantly more diversity in the geospatial market than we have had over the past couple of decades. We are likely to see much more influence from video games, in terms of dynamic graphics and 3D visualization. This will be another driver for a new generation of software to replace today’s incumbents.
    • There will be a need for geospatial use governance in order to discern the real world from the virtual/modelled world in a 3D geospatial environment.
    • Free and open access to data will become the norm and geospatial information will increasingly be seen as an essential public good.
    • Funding models to ensure full data coverage even in non-profitable areas will continue to be a challenge.
    • Privacy will continue to be a major battleground.
    • Rapid growth will lead to confusion and lack of clarity over data ownership, distribution rights, liabilities and other aspects.
    • Protection of data from processes like data ‘scraping’ will be an issue.
    • Legislation will increasingly recognise digital signatures as digital cadastre/deeds will become the norm.
    • In five years, legal and policy communities in most parts of the world will be getting to grips with the power of geospatial technology and some of the unique aspects of geospatial data. However, in many areas of the world a consistent and transparent legal and policy framework will not have developed with regards to such matters as privacy, national security, liability and intellectual property. This will cause a number of issues.
    • In ten years, there will be a clear dividing line between winning and losing nations, dependent upon whether the appropriate legal and policy frameworks have been developed that enable a location-enabled society to flourish.
    • Some governments will use geospatial technology as a means to monitor or restrict the movements and personal interactions of their citizens. Individuals in these countries may be unwilling to use LBS or applications that require location for fear of this information being shared with authorities.
    • Supervision and regulation of geospatial information according to law will prevail, with governments paying increasing attention to the authoritativeness and accuracy of geospatial information.
    • National geospatial data infrastructures will be planned, developed and maintained as statutory infrastructures.
    • The deployment of sensors and the broader use of geospatial data within society will force public policy and law to move into a direction to protect the interests and rights of the people.
    • Location awareness should form a core component of the Internet of Things.
    • Capacity development and educational programmes will need to be tailored to individual country needs.
    • Spatial literacy will not be about learning GIS in schools but will be more centred on increasing spatial awareness and an understanding of the value of understanding place as context.
    • Staff at National Mapping Agencies will have to be rationalized and retrained to acquire multidisciplinary skills.
    • As well as playing a major role in securing and guaranteeing the quality of base geospatial information, governments/National Mapping Agencies will take on an additional role as geospatial information manager, and playing a guiding role in guaranteeing the quality and reliability of software used in creating user specific geospatial realities.
    • Government’s roles may increasingly be one of compensating for market failure as opposed to providing the complete geospatial framework.
    • The role of National Mapping Agencies as an authoritative supplier of high quality data and of arbitrator of other geospatial data sources will continue to be crucial.
    • National Mapping Agencies set up with large numbers of staff within individual specialist units will change.
    • Monopolies held by National Mapping Agencies in some areas of specialised spatial data will be eroded completely.
    • More activities carried out by National Mapping Agencies will be outsourced and crowdsourced.
    • Crowdsourced data will push National Mapping Agencies towards niche markets.
    • Government should provide leadership and establish/oversee frameworks.
    • National Mapping Agencies will be required to find new business models to provide simplified licenses and meet the demands for more free data from mapping agencies.
    • The integration of crowdsourced data with government data will increase over the next 5 to 10 years.
    • Crowdsourced content will decrease cost, improve accuracy and increase availability of rich geospatial information.
    • There will be increased combining of imagery with crowdsourced data to create datasets that could not have been created affordably on their own.
    • There will be no more than ten global providers of geospatial information services in the world.
    • Progress will be made on bridging the gap between authoritative data and crowdsourced data, moving towards true collaboration.
    • There will be an accelerated take-up of Volunteer Geographic Information over the next five years.
    • In all geographies without market failure, the private sector will wish to compete with traditional players.
    • Crowdsourced sensoring will emerge.
    • Within five years the level of detail on transport systems within OpenStreetMap will exceed virtually all other data sources and will be respected and used by major organisations and governments across the globe.
    • Community-based mapping will continue to grow.
    • There is unlikely to be a market for datasets like those currently sold to power navigation and location-based services solutions in 5 years, as they will have been superseded by crowdsourced datasets from OpenStreetMaps or other comparable initiatives.
    • National Mapping Agencies are likely to find it difficult to justify the costs of traditional data maintenance mechanisms as their products are used in increasingly niche areas.

    Thanks, and see you next week.

    Follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/GPSGIS_Eric

  • CMT Releases iCMTGIS II App for the Apple iPAD

    CMT Release iCMTGIS II App for the Apple iPAD, one of a series of apps the company is presenting to the iPAD and iPhone users in 2012. iCMTGIS II provides a host of powerful and user-friendly functions to facilitate GPS/GIS data collection and mapping for a variety of applications, such as forestry, land management, utility pole data collection, wildlife management and archaeology.

     

    iCMTGIS II functions include:
    • Display the coordinates of a geographic location
    • Create Feature Lists for data collection
    • Create sampling grids
    • Display Google Map as the background map
    • Import and Export Shapefiles
    • Collect multi-layer GPS/GIS data
    • Update the coordinates for Point Features
    • Create new points using angles and distances
    • Digitize points, lines and areas
    • Assign symbols and attributes to Features and Topics
    • View/Edit the collected data
    • View the area of an enclosed region
    • Measure distances on the displayed map
    • Send and receive job files via email
    • Store job data on the Cloud
    • Get and send job data via ftp
    iCMTGIS II Version 1.0.0 is available now from the App Store at: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/icmtgis-ii/id516124344?ls=1&mt=8

  • OAG Launches Mapper, a New Network Analysis Mapping Tool

    OAG unveiled its new aviation analysis mapping tool, OAG Mapper. This latest innovation, from the global leader in aviation intelligence, combines a powerful global flight schedule query with advanced mapping software technology to quickly plot route network maps, based on data drawn from OAG’s market leading schedules database of 1,000 airlines and over 3,500 airports. It is ideal for those in commercial, marketing and strategic planning roles across the airlines, airports, tourism, consulting and route network related industry sectors.

    According to the announcement, a web-based tool that eliminates the need to hand-draw network routes onto maps, OAG Mapper allows users to either import IATA Airport codes, or to enter a carrier, airport, equipment type or a combination of these and generate custom network maps in seconds. The user can then highlight key routes by changing the thickness and colour of the lines and label them for easy reference, save the map to their profile and export to jpeg for use in network planning, forecasting, strategy and executive presentations.

     

    “Aviation professionals who plan, forecast and analyse airline networks have never before had a single system that allows them to bring their network plans and presentations to life in an online format,” said Rob Shaw, OAG Product Director. “The OAG Mapper tool provides users with the ability to easily build an online library of custom-generated aviation route maps. It is a great example of how using OAG data intelligently can lead to the development of new solutions that help streamline our customers’ processes, increasing productivity and saving valuable time.”

  • SeaZone Introduces SeaZone HydroSpatial 2

    HydroSpatial announced it has released the first in a new series of marine mapping layers to sit within the new HydroSpatial 2 Product Family. Benefits include an enhanced data model, allowing for intuitive feature filtering; geo-processing and spatial analysis to create customised data outputs and map views using both real world and abstract feature types. Mapping is delivered in themed tiers with improved symbology, and licensed as a complete package, delivering an exceptional user experience in both desktop, and web GIS.

    According to the announcement, SeaZone HydroSpatial Base provides users with a definitive worldwide marine reference map incorporating large-scale, authoritatively sourced, marine geographic datasets. The content is processed to form a continuous vector layer dataset, with a well structured and defined feature and attribute model, providing the best possible marine mapping experience. SeaZone HydroSpatial Base is ideal for use as a marine spatial planning aid and as a primary decision support tool. It has a global reach and is available for regions where content is captured to scales greater than or equal to 1:1,500,000. The feature attribution for SeaZone HydroSpatial Base is comprehensive and serves a wide range use scenarios. For the high end technical user, HydroSpatial Base performs well when interrogated by vigorous and complex geo-processing or spatial analysis in GIS. For less demanding requirements, HydroSpatial Base represents an excellent high-resolution selectable back-drop with flexible filtering and styling.

    SeaZone reports that the HydroSpatial Base provides decision makers with accurate information to make effective decisions in the marine environment. SeaZone HydroSpatial Base was delivered as a result of an extensive consultation with our HydroSpatial customers about how they would like the product to evolve, the improvement content they needed and the prices they would like to pay. SeaZone acknowledges the support of EU Interreg IVB Bringing Land and Sea Together (BLAST) Project in developing and testing the HydroSpatial Base concept.

  • Geosoft 2012 Software Released

    Geosoft announced the availability of its 2012 Software Release, including updates to Oasis montaj, Target, Target for ArcGIS and GM-SYS Modelling software, and the new release of Geosoft VOXI Earth Modelling, a geophysical inversion software service that generates 3D voxel models from airborne or ground gravity and magnetic data. The 2012 release includes major 2D and 3D workflow enhancements and new capabilities that deliver greater efficiency and flexibility for resource explorers and earth scientists exploring the earth’s subsurface.

     

    “Each year Geosoft has continued to make improvements in developing our software technology to support explorers challenged to visualize and analyze more complex structures, deeper under cover, within integrated interpretations,” says Louis Racic, Geosoft Product Director. “The 2D to 3D workflow is an important one to get right, and a particular challenge for geoscientists working across GIS and exploration software platforms. Bridging the gap between 2D and 3D is a key improvement area within our 2012 Software Release.”

    Release highlights

    According to the announcement, new capabilities and workflow improvements in the Geosoft 2012 Software Release help save time and provide greater flexibility when visualizing multidisciplinary geoscience data in 2D and 3D.

    Improved 2D to 3D workflows in Target for ArcGIS: The 2D to 3D workflow enhancements, include new display capabilities, and new section import and export options. Layers, such as interpretation layers from sections or plans can now be easily displayed in their correct geospatial orientation within your 3D view. 2D section interpretations can be exported to a 3D georeferenced file, such as shapefiles or DXF files, to be shared with other 3D applications. 3D vector files, such as open pit outlines, and wire frames can now be easily imported to multiple section and plan maps.

    3D Viewer improvements: Geosoft 3D gridding methods have been expanded to include IDW and direct gridding; these new methods better support the 3D gridding of a broad range of data types. Angled clipping of objects in 3D views provides the ability to clip parallel or perpendicular to dataset orientation or geological strike. Geoscientists can set a clipping plane that aligns with any direction chosen.

    Expanded GM-SYS 3D density model support: Voxels can be used to define the 3D density variation within GM-SYS 3D model layers. This provides more direct integration with 3D seismic data as the generated density cubes may be used directly in the GM-SYS model.

    BING Maps imagery: Geoscientists can now add satellite imagery to their basemaps by connecting to the Bing Maps online data source. This is a useful, additional data layer which provides geographic context to maps.

    VOXI Earth Modelling

    Geosoft VOXI Earth Modelling is a new geophysical inversion software service that generates 3D voxel models from airborne, ground gravity and magnetic data. VOXI Earth Modelling is accessiblewithin Geosoft Oasis montaj and uses the power of cloud computing to rapidly invert large exploration datasets. More information on VOXI Earth Modelling is available at www.geosoft.com/voxi.

    Release availability

    Online installation of the Geosoft 2012 Software Releaseis available within Geosoft software and from the Downloads page within the Geosoft online support centre. Information on how to request an update DVD is available in the Geosoft Support Knowledge Base.

  • Stonewalling, Mapping, Google, and Fines

    After a long investigation, the FCC hit Google with a resoundingly soft penalty for stonewalling the FCC inquiry into its controversial street-mapping program. Google was picking up a payload of sensitive information from home wireless networks from 2007 through 2010. This included emails, passwords, and Internet usage history. The FCC declared that the data collection was technically legal because the information gathered was unencrypted. However, the FCC stated that, “for many months Google deliberately impeded and delayed the bureau’s investigation” and fined Google a paltry $25,000 for their behavior. After initially denying any wrongdoing, Google admitted in a blog entry in 2010 that it had made a mistake by collecting the data.

    Google and foursquare shared a panel at the GPS-Wireless conference, an interesting pairing given foursquare’s recent announcement that it is betting on the future of open source map data. New API pricing of Google Maps has a number of solution providers shopping for mapping alternatives. Google says that only the top .35 percent of Google map users is affected by the pricing (under 25,000 map views a day are still free). foursquare was among them, and re-launched its web maps using MapBox based on OpenStreetMap data. “These maps are adequate,” said Holger Luedorf of foursquare. “This helps the open street community and it felt like it was right thing to do. Google is very good and we will continue to use their products elsewhere.”

    Interesting tidbits. Heard at the “O’Reilly Where” and “GPS-Wireless” conferences this month:

    “People will pay for apps for family and safety. There is real monetization in this realm. When was the last time that people put an alarm on their house and paid for it with ads?”

    “I see nothing to augmented reality. I don’t think it will go anywhere. It feels like I’m looking through a toy camera viewer.”

    “Any location technology that has tried to compete against GPS has failed. They are useful but can’t compete head on against GPS. They now have a second life as a technology that supplements core location, which is GPS.”

    “Consumers are willing to share location if you can give them something in exchange of value. Not every company does that.”

    What’s happening to the vehicle aftermarket? It used to be that the vehicle aftermarket would lead innovation and benefited from a significant time-to-market advantage. The traditional aftermarket is currently struggling to find its special niche. The world has changed and the aftermarket is having a tough time rivaling connected vehicles. In the past, the aftermarket also offered consumers more value, but OEMS have gotten lighter on their feet. The aftermarket is now the consumer market, such as smartphones.

    Who will capture the indoor location frontier? Companies are lining up to get a shot at the indoor location market. Companies like Meridian, Google, aisle411, Point Inside, and Micello, and many others, have found their own niches. Meridian has staked out a niche for indoor navigation and mapping that is managed by the customer. “We aim to be the WordPress of indoor location,” says Jeff Hardison of Meridian. Meridian uses Wi-Fi when available and provides interactive mapping and navigation for various types of indoor venues including the American Museum of Natural History. For retail, the system can be tied into inventory systems to pinpoint items on shelves. One store has added advertisements for books on the indoor navigation system and reports 33 percent of users are clicking on the ads.

    Search rules location-based mobile ads. Locally targeted ads that accompany mobile search results are much more potent than locally targeted display ads. xAd, a mobile local ad network, reports significantly greater click-through rates for targeted local search (7 percent) compared to targeted local display ads ( 0.6 percent). Clicks alone don’t fully satisfy advertisers who want to see measured outcome. xAd self-reports secondary action rates of targeted local search ads of 37 percent and targeted local display ads of only five percent. Secondary actions include calls and requests for driving directions.

    It’s a race. Local and nationally targeted mobile advertising is currently neck and neck. This year, mobile local ad revenues have caught up with nationally targeted mobile ads, for a combined $2.7 billion in revenue, says BIA/Kelsey Group. This is an increase from last year, in which local ads were estimated to be 45 percent of total mobile ad revenues. According to projections by BIA/Kelsey Group, local mobile ads will exceed national ads in 2016 and total $5 billion of the estimated $7.7 billion in mobile ad revenues.

    Not everyone is convinced. “The financials for mobile advertising aren’t there for us. We won’t do it until our customers are asking for it,” says Bryan Trussel of Glympse at the GPS-Wireless show. “We tried it and got advertisements for toe fungus and Playtex on our screen. It wasn’t worth it. We don’t want generic banner ads. We’ll wait.”

  • Rugged Trimble Pro Series GNSS Receivers Provide Flexibility for GIS and Mobile Mapping

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    Trimble

    Trimble introduced today the next-generation of its Trimble GPS Pathfinder family — the Trimble Pro 6H and Pro 6T receivers for GIS and mobile mapping. The Trimble Pro series with advanced features allows mobile workers to configure a solution for a wide range of applications, delivering flexibility in professional GIS data collection, Trimble said. The series offers a new streamlined form-factor and dramatic productivity improvements in difficult GNSS environments with Trimble Floodlight technology.

    The modular Trimble Pro series receiver gives users the flexibility to choose their setup configurations:

    • Optimized for use with Trimble data collection devices such as the Trimble Juno or Nomad G series handhelds, or Yuma tablet computer, the Trimble Pro series can also be used with other tablets and handhelds with NMEA output.
    • Real-time or postprocessed GIS workflows.
    • The receiver can be deployed in a backpack, on a pole or mounted on a vehicle.
    • Two models are available: the Trimble Pro 6H delivers decimeter accuracy, while the Pro 6T is the submeter model for standard GIS applications.

    With the availability of the new Pro series receivers, data collection professionals now have access to the productivity-enhancements of Floodlight technology in both integrated and modular configurations,” said Daniel Wallace, general manager of Trimble’s GIS Data Collection Division. “While some prefer the convenience of an integrated, all-in-one handheld, others will appreciate the Pro series’ flexibility to choose from a range of data collection devices such as a high-resolution tablet or lightweight Trimble Juno.”

    Trimble Floodlight technology allows users to collect decimeter accuracy data in tough GNSS environments, Trimble said. Buildings and trees can cause satellite shadow and limit the environments where high-accuracy GNSS data collection can be performed. Trimble Floodlight technology combines a range of techniques to increase the availability of positions and boost accuracy in areas affected by satellite shadow. Using Floodlight technology, the Pro series can keep teams productive without compromising on accuracy. Users can work with fewer disruptions and ensure better data, faster data collection and higher field efficiency.

    Trimble Pro series receivers are rugged and built to withstand the rigors of long hours in tough outdoor conditions, yet optimized for high-accuracy GIS data collection workflows, Trimble said. For applications such as utilities inspections and timber stand valuations, Trimble Pro receivers provide long battery life and tough construction for dependable service over the course of rigorous data-collection projects.

    With its IP65 rating, the receivers offer reliable operation, even after prolonged exposure to water and dust, Trimble said. An integrated antenna reduces the complexity of the system for fast setup and swift data collection campaigns. Field workers can be up and running with minimal training, saving time and money. Combined with a Trimble handheld solution and Trimble TerraSync software, the complete system provides dedicated field workflows to simplify data collection and improve integration with the GIS for total workflow improvements.

    The new Trimble Pro 6H and 6T receivers are available from Trimble’s worldwide Mapping & GIS authorized distribution channel.