GPS World

Tag: Esri

  • SAP debuts Geographical Enablement Framework at Esri UC

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    SAP SE unveiled its SAP Geographical Enablement Framework, powered by SAP HANA, at the 2016 Esri User Conference, which is being held June 27 to July 1 in San Diego, California. SAP Geographical Enablement Framework helps organizations enrich business applications with geographic data from geographic information systems (GIS), such as Esri ArcGIS.

    “In many asset-intensive industries such as energy, transportation and public sector, the ability to visualize business objects on maps is critical to improving efficiency and decision making,” says Irfan Khan, GM and global head, database and data management, SAP. “SAP Geographical Enablement Framework, powered by SAP HANA, can help organizations streamline the processing of both enterprise and spatial data for greater location awareness across business processes.”

    To develop spatially enabled business applications, organizations can use the framework to:

    • Enable smooth integration and bidirectional navigation between SAP applications and Esri ArcGIS. Developers can use application programming interfaces published by GIS to fetch geospatial data. Also, business data augmented with geometric attributes can be published as a service, so that GIS users can access SAP business data from within their GIS tools.
    • Embed a responsive map user interface in a business application to display both business and spatial data simultaneously to provide greater insight.
    • Store the geometry of any SAP business object in the SAP HANA platform and accelerate spatial data processing in memory to deliver real-time insights, enriched with spatial context, to improve decision making.
    • Visualize, filter and search for business objects — such as functional location, equipment, linear assets, notifications or work orders — on a map from within a spatially enabled application. From a desktop or a tablet, users can also drill down through multiple map layers to gain better insight.

    With continued collaboration between SAP and Esri, organizations can gain contextual insight from business and spatial data, enabling business and GIS users to work within the same multiuser access and editing environment, the company says.

    “At EDF Renewable Energy, we have built a truly innovative enterprise business intelligence and data warehouse platform that combines Esri geospatial data along with asset sensor data and ERP transactional data in SAP HANA,” says Devang Shah, manager of database and business intelligence, EDF Renewable Energy. “This provides us with near real-time insights to help us operate more efficiently.”

    As an open platform, SAP HANA is certified with the Open Geospatial Consortium, enabling organizations to easily consume spatial data from third-party spatial solutions that also adhere to the standard. SAP HANA also supports synchronous and asynchronous imports of data from any spatial reference system or coordinate reference system to ease access to local, regional or global geographic entities.

    Native geocoding delivered by SAP HANA smart data quality helps rapidly convert addresses to latitude and longitude within SAP HANA, the company says.

    “Munich Re is one of the leading reinsurance companies in the world,” says Andreas Siebert, head of geospatial solutions at Munich Re. “We use spatial data processing capabilities in SAP HANA, in conjunction with predictive analytics, to assess risk — such as to identify natural hazard profiles for millions of locations around the globe, to efficiently coordinate loss adjustors after a major catastrophe or to calculate how many hospitals, schools and roads may be impacted by an impending hurricane or flood.”

  • ArcGIS apps for the field launched at Esri UC

    ArcGIS apps for the field launched at Esri UC

    Esri has launched two new ArcGIS apps for field operating efficiency at the Esri User Conference, being held June 27–July 1 in San Diego. Attendees can see live demonstrations and experiment with Drone2Map for ArcGIS and Survey123 for ArcGIS.

    “These two apps are already becoming game changers,” said Esri President Jack Dangermond. “What we’ve done is make it much easier for our users to collect data, including imagery, and then right away start working with that data — mapping, analyzing, sharing—in ArcGIS.”

    Drone2Map for ArcGIS provides safe and affordable imagery on demand—a benefit especially useful to people who work in land analysis or infrastructure inspection and those monitoring events such as natural disasters and environmental change. Drone2Map takes still imagery captured by a drone and quickly turns it into high-quality 2D and 3D products in ArcGIS.

    The app detects camera and sensor parameters and intelligently applies appropriate defaults. Its rapid-process capability allows teams in the field to be sure they’ve captured everything they need to avoid costly return trips. The imagery products created using Drone2Map can be used for analysis in ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Pro to support informed decision-making.

    Esri Survey123.
    Esri Survey123.

    Survey123 for ArcGIS is a simple yet powerful form-centric field data gathering solution that makes it possible to create, share, and analyze surveys in three easy steps. With Survey123, paper forms are effectively transformed into digital surveys. Surveys, from simple to sophisticated, are authored and then shared in ArcGIS.

    Using the Survey123 mobile app for iOS, Android or Windows, teams in the field capture survey results with their smartphones and tablets, even in disconnected environments. Data captured in the field is immediately available for analysis in ArcGIS to help users make better decisions. Survey123 is a versatile data collection solution already popular with people in public health, education, public works, disaster response, and humanitarian agencies.

    Attendees of the Esri User Conference can see live demos and get hands-on experience with both of these new apps along with hundreds of other solutions designed to enable a smarter world.

    ]The annual event attracts 16,000 geographic information system (GIS) users, managers, and developers. It offers 300 moderated sessions, 450 hours of technical training, access to 300 software vendors, inspirational keynotes, and one-on-one sessions with Esri technical and professional support staff. See more of GPS World’s coverage.

    Learn more about Esri apps for the field.

  • 3DR to integrate Site Scan with Esri Drone2Map

    Today at the Esri User Conference, 3DR announced that it has teamed up with Esri to integrate 3DR’s Site Scan with Esri Drone2Map.

    Designed for the field professional, Site Scan is an intuitive, powerful and open aerial data capture and analytics platform that delivers an end-to-end solution ready-made for existing mapping and survey workflows, 3DR said in a news release. With Site Scan and Drone2Map, Esri customers can safely, quickly and easily conduct surveys with the Solo smart drone and effortlessly deliver that data to ArcGIS and ArcGIS Online.

    “Aerial data capture technology is bringing about a revolution in surveying and mapping,” said Lawrie Jordan, Director of Imaging and Remote Sensing at Esri. “We are thrilled to partner with 3DR to streamline the creation of professional imagery products with Site Scan and Drone2Map for ArcGIS. Together we will accelerate the development and use of remote sensing across all industries.”

    Site Scan automatically calculates a flight plan and Solo autonomously executes both flight and image capture. Images are processed and integrated with Esri Drone2Map to create high-resolution georeferenced maps and digital elevation models to share as tile or feature services in ArcGIS and ArcGIS Online.

    “Capturing site data today is costly, time consuming and often dangerous. Drones can easily go where it’s inefficient or unsafe for field personnel, making it easier to accurately measure our world so we can better analyze and manage it,” said Chris Anderson, CEO of 3DR. “We’re delighted to partner with such a great industry leader and integrate Site Scan with Esri Drone2Map. Together, we offer a complete solution for site capture that will help our customers create maps that tell stories, record change over time and perform analysis all while saving time, saving money and keeping humans out of harm’s way.”

    Site Scan makes it safer and easier than ever for people in land management, GIS, mapping, energy, infrastructure and related fields to aggregate and process multiple forms of aerial imagery and data and easily incorporate them into the Esri tools they use every day, 3DR said.

    Engineering and survey firm McKim & Creed, based in Fort Worth, Texas, is one customer. “Utilizing the 3DR Solo and SiteScan allowed McKim & Creed to confidently collect accurate spatial information in dangerous and demanding environments where it would have been difficult to use traditional survey methods,” said Christian Stallings, R&D Manager at McKim & Creed.

    “Using Esri’s Drone2Map software, surveyed ground control and 3DR’s Solo, we were able to collect detailed elevation information and high-resolution orthophotography over a dredging containment pond operated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). This approach proved to be accurate and kept people out of harm’s way — which would only be achievable using this approach,” Stallings said.

    3DR designed Site Scan as an open and extensible platform. On the hardware side, the Solo smart drone has open gimbal and accessory bays, which give both 3DR and their global technology partners the ability to integrate additional cameras and sensors.

    Additionally, Solo firmware updates optimize the drone’s flight profile and performance. On the software side, 3DR continually updates the Site Scan application so that customers can take advantage of the most recent and advanced analytics technologies.

    With Site Scan, even users new to drone technology will fly with confidence from day one. The Site Scan app includes 3DR’s airspace safety information software, which alerts users if they’re about to fly in restricted airspace. They can then pull up a map of the area with all restrictions around them clearly marked.

    To support enterprise customers further, 3DR offers Success Services, including the Premier Success Plan. Included with their purchase of Success Services, all Site Scan users will have access to experts on Site Scan and Solo. They will also have a Solo overnight replacement guarantee should anything go wrong with one of their drones.

    Site Scan with Solo Enterprise is available immediately for order on store.3dr.com, priced at $3249 with a monthly service fee of $499 paid annually with a 12-month commitment.

  • GPS World reports live from the 2016 Esri User Conference

    GPS World reports live from the 2016 Esri User Conference

    The 2016 Esri User Conference, the mecca of geographic information systems (GIS) in the U.S., takes place June 28 to July 1 in San Diego, California. The conference is designed to give attendees practical advice and hands-on experience with GIS tools from Esri and other companies, as well as share ideas and best practices for improving our world through maps.

    The event encompasses 16,000 GIS users, managers and developers; 300 moderated sessions; 450 hours of technical training; and 300 software vendors.

    GPS World/Geospatial Solutions staff is on site, and we will be posting news, photos and videos live from the show on this page. Also follow us on Twitter at @GSS_NCM and @GPSWorld.

    NEWS

    Spectra Precision MobileMapper 50 combines smartphone design with GNSS capabilities

     

    Golden Software releases Strater 5 well log, borehole and cross-section plotting program (6/28)

    Trimble unveils TDC100 handheld data collector at Esri UC

    SAP debuts Geographical Enablement Framework at Esri UC (6/28)

    ArcGIS apps for the field launched at Esri UC (6/27)

    3DR to integrate Site Scan with Esri Drone2Map (6/27)

    Esri, DigitalGlobe partner to expand World Imagery Map (6/27)

    CoreLogic expands location-based intelligence with building footprints (6/27)

    Laser Technology shares new time-saving mapping tools at Esri UC (6/23)

    Septentrio to spotlight drone GNSS solutions at Esri UC (6/23)

    PHOTOS

    VIDEO PLAYLIST

  • Esri observes World Refugee Day with new Story Map

    In celebration of World Refugee Day, Esri has revealed a Story Map, “The Uprooted,” which provides insight into the Syrian displacement. Syria accounts for a large portion of the world’s refugees and internally displaced people.

    World Refugee Day is held every year on June 20 to commemorate the strength, courage and perseverance of millions of refugees.

    Check out more data on displaced people on Esri’s website.

  • Sentinel imagery now works inside ArcGIS

    Esri has enhanced its ArcGIS technology to simplify the use of free global imagery from the Sentinel-2 satellite launched by the European Space Agency. ArcGIS supports visualization, interpretation, and analysis of Sentinel imagery, which is of significant value in applications for forestry, agriculture, land resources management, and environmental monitoring.

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    Sentinel-2 color infrared image.

    “Scientists and GIS professionals rely on consistent access to high-quality imagery data and information products for a range of applications in their work observing, modeling and predicting Earth systems,” said Lawrie Jordan, Esri’s director of imagery and remote sensing. “Sentinel imagery can also be enhanced by the Landsat imagery already available in ArcGIS Online, which provides additional temporal depth.”

    One of the unique capabilities ArcGIS offers is that it can work simultaneously with a wide range of spectral bands and indices at different resolutions. ArcGIS has image processing and analysis tools that allow people to view and analyze all types of imagery.

    Institutions, organizations and startup businesses use ArcGIS to manage, analyze and share imagery and applications related to land monitoring, maritime, climate and security issues.

    For those working with a large collection of images, Esri released an image management workflow for Sentinel. The workflow ensures that Sentinel scenes can be quickly served as dynamic image services, making the full information content accessible to applications for use on desktop, web, and mobile devices. All processing is applied on the fly, with no intermediate storage required.

    “The single-button image management workflow tool is an easy way to share and provide access to a wide range of derived Sentinel-2 imagery products,” said Jordan.

    Find specific and technical details on the Esri blog.

  • Esri introduces high-precision GNSS mobile GIS software

    In its 47-year history, Esri has never before built a high-precision GNSS mobile GIS software . Sure, one could connect a high-precision GNSS receiver to ArcGIS Mobile or even ArcGIS desktop running on a tablet, but in those cases and all others, there’s no direct support for high-precision GNSS receivers.

    By support, I mean the software features that one needs to automatically collect reliable, verifiable and defensible high-precision GNSS coordinates and associated metadata, like real-time estimated accuracy, correction age and other metadata that can be referenced months or years later to understand the quality of the data collected.

    Until now…

    Collector for ArcGIS is a cross-platform mobile GIS app that’s available for iOS, Windows 10 and Android. Until now, Collector did not differentiate between low-precision GNSS data (for instance, a smartphone’s internal GNSS receiver) and RTK GNSS (centimeter-accuracy) receivers, so it was difficult to know what sort of accuracy one was achieving even when a centimeter-accurate receiver was connected to it.

    Esri is on its way to solving this problem.

    Earlier this month, Esri introduced a beta version of the new Collector for ArcGIS mobile GIS software that incorporates features for high-precision GNSS data collection. While Collector has been around for a few years, it has not allowed the user to differentiate between low-precision GNSS data (such as a smartphone internal GNSS receiver) and RTK GNSS (centimeter-accuracy) receivers. To circumvent that limitation, high-precision GNSS receiver vendors offered companion apps that run concurrently with Collector to display metadata. However, that’s not a fun solution because if the user wants to records GNSS metadata, he would have to tab between apps and hand-enter the GNSS metadata into attribute fields in Collector.

    Another nagging problem for high-precision GNSS users with Collector is the lack of an on-the-fly datum transformation feature. Sources of high-precision GNSS receiver corrections come in different datum flavors (ITRF08, NAD83/2011, NAD83/CSRS, etc.). Those datum flavors don’t necessarily match a user’s GIS database, sometimes introducing a meter or more of error.

    Historically, Collector didn’t give the user an opportunity to apply an on-the-fly datum transformation to reconcile datum differences between the high-precision GNSS receiver datum and the geodatabase datum. Yeah, you could fix it later by applying a datum shift after the fact, but it’s a tedious and laborious task to do so, and sort of defeats the purpose of having an efficient real-time GNSS data collection workflow.

    I was using the beta version of iOS Collector for ArcGIS this week with a survey-grade  RTK GNSS receiver that, according to GPS World’s 2016 Receiver Survey, delivers 1-centimeter RTK accuracy. Setting up the GNSS correction profile is a bit tricky. There are three settings you need to select. Following is a screen capture of the profile settings I used for RTK in Collector when the RTK base was referenced to NAD83/2011:

    MOBILE-GIS-3

    When setting up a GNSS receiver profile to use WAAS/SBAS as a source of corrections in Collector, you’ll need to select GCS ITRF 2008 instead of GCS NAD 1983 2011.

    Once I got the proper datum transformations dialed in, RTK GNSS accuracy was where it should be when compared to a survey mark (3.7mm):

    MeasurementPostCollection-W

    Another tricky area with Collector is the GNSS metadata. It’s great that Collector supports automated GNSS metadata recording, but in order for Collector to record GNSS metadata, you’ll need to follow the Esri data model for GNSS metadata. Essentially, add fields to your database that will be populated. Here’s a link to the supported GNSS metadata fields.  http://arcg.is/22h41yR. Note that you’ll need to log in using your Esri account credentials to view the link.

    I didn’t add the GNSS metadata fields to the database to try it because this iOS beta version doesn’t support GNSS metadata (Esri says it will be supported on the next beta release), I did collect a bit of data. Here’s what the Collector screen looks like:

    MOBILE-GIS-1

    Some of the fields on the iPad Mini were cut off (I’ll report that to Esri), but you can see that it is entirely possible for Collector (iOS) to accept and record data from an iPad using an RTK GNSS receiver (note accuracy value at the bottom left corner of the screen.

    So, to Esri’s credit, they’ve appeared to address the GNSS metadata and datum transformation problems in the beta release of Collector, making it the first Esri mobile GIS that supports high-precision GNSS. The iOS and Windows 10 beta versions are available now to users who register for Esri’s Collector beta program. For support and answers to questions, you can visit Geonet.

    Before you get too excited, even with the new features Collector is still a light-weight mobile GIS and likely always will be, as long as it’s a free app (although not always free to use). But this is certainly a move in the right direction for high-precision GNSS receiver users who want to live in the Esri ArcGIS Online/Portal/Server ecosystem and rid themselves of shp files.

    Some of you may beg to differ that Collector is Esri’s first high-precision GNSS mobile GIS data collection software. I know ArcPad has been around for years and has supported high-precision GNSS receivers for many years. In fact, if you install the GeoBullsEye plug-in, ArcPad becomes the only 3D, high-precision GNSS data collection software that works real time in the Esri AGOL/Portal/Server ecosystem. But, it wasn’t built by Esri :-). An Australian company named Maptel built ArcPad, and then Esri acquired the company a few years ago.

    While the beta versions of Collector for Windows 10 and iOS are available now, Esri reports that the beta version of Collector for Android should be available next week.

    Thanks, and see you next month.
    Follow me on Twitter at GPSGIS_Eric

  • Smart maps track Zika outbreaks globally

    Colombia – Percent Change in Cumulative Zika Cases by Department, Feb. 13 -March 26, 2016.
    Colombia – Percent Change in Cumulative Zika Cases by Department, Feb. 13 -March 26, 2016.

    Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) is using the Esri platform to track the outbreak of the Zika virus on a global scale. By sharing mapped intelligence with health services and aid responders, PDC is able to provide essential information that defines the characteristics of the virus and its carrier’s breeding grounds.

    “Esri provides the backbone for visualizing an event and understanding the locality and context for any disaster, including the Zika virus,” said Ray Shirkhodai, PDC executive director.

    The center provides situational awareness information for all manner of disasters. Esri, the world leader in geographic information system (GIS) software, creates technology that generates smart maps derived from a wide variety of data resources and then publishes them across information networks.

    PDC uses these capabilities to add different data layers — hospital density, rain, vector programs, and so forth—to maps. Maps make it easier and faster for disaster managers to understand the scope of a region’s vulnerability to disease. The center serves its map products around the world to organizations that depend on it for intelligence about specific regions.

    “Esri GIS technology specifically allows us to characterize the Zika virus outbreak and contextualize it for decision makers,” explained Joseph Green, PDC’s health risk specialist. “Our maps describe the distribution of suspected cases at national levels throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.”

    PDC gathers Zika virus information from weekly epidemiology updates and bulletins obtained from health organizations worldwide. In return, the center publishes regular updates, including online maps that track the increase and decrease of reported and suspected cases over time.

    The solution to containing the Zika virus is to dispose of mosquitos, which carry the disease. Mapping regional vulnerabilities to virus outbreaks highlights the value of mosquito management programs. Learn more about using GIS for vector-borne disease surveillance and control at go.esri.com/vector-ready.

  • Harris, Esri partner to modernize foundational data production

    Esri and Harris Corporation are embarking on a broad strategic relationship to develop modernized foundation GEOINT data production, apps and tools within a WebGIS environment, for federal agencies.

    The partnership will advance the state-of-the-art in automated GEOINT (geointelligence) production methods leveraging commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS)-based solutions.

    The collaborative effort will help programs across multiple security domains to meet the expected surge of commercial imagery from small satellites, unmanned aerial system (UAS) platforms and open-data sources.

    Visit Esri and Harris Corporation at GEOINT Symposium 2016 this week: booth 828 Harris; Booth 600 Esri.

  • Esri webinar aims to help Zika virus reponse

    Esri is hosting a free one-hour webinar “Effective Vector-Borne Disease Surveillance and Control” on Thursday, May 26, at 11 a.m. PDT. The webinar will help city and county staff implement a complete workflow that is driven by understanding the location of information.

    Geographic information systems (GIS) technology plays a vital role in monitoring and eradicating mosquitos, and ramping up to fast and efficient response when outbreaks occur. The webinar will introduce how the Esri ArcGIS platform can help create smart communities when collecting and analyzing data, improving operations and response times, and communicating critical information with the public.

    When vector-borne disease outbreaks occur, fast, effective response protects people from infection and its consequences,” said Este Geraghty, Chief Medical Office and Health Solutions Director, Esri. “Integrated pest management programs respond through the vital functions of prevention, surveillance, and control activities. Temporal and spatial information are critical to those efforts to curb the spread of disease. Organizations that harness the power of a location platform can achieve faster, more efficient response.”

    Speakers are Este Geraghty, chief medical officer and health solutions director, Esri; and Jared Shoultz, health and human services technical specialist, Esri.

    For more information on how Esri solutions help with vector-borne disease surveillance and control, visit go.esri.com/vector-ready.

  • Esri workbook teaches basic mapmaking, spatial analysis techniques

    Esri-mapmaking-bookThe new edition of GIS Tutorial 1: Basic Workbook, published by Esri, teaches the fundamentals of using geographic information system (GIS) technology, including making maps, geocoding data and analyzing spatial data.

    The workbook, updated for ArcGIS 10.3 for Desktop software and later versions, also includes a new chapter on how to use the ArcGIS Network Analyst extension to analyze street network data to help solve routing and facility location problems.

    “GIS Tutorial 1 is a hands-on workbook with step-by-step exercises that take the reader from the basics of using ArcGIS for Desktop through performing many kinds of spatial analyses,” said the workbook’s authors, Wilpen L. Gorr and Kristen S. Kurland. “Instructors can use this book for the lab portion of a GIS course, or individuals can use it for [independent] study.”

    The book will guide beginning GIS software users as they learn basic skills such as designing various types of maps; building a file geodatabase; and conducting spatial analyses to determine, for example, where earthquakes are most likely to occur.

    The workbook’s 12 chapters include these assignments:

    • Producing a crime map
    • Comparing serious crime with the poverty rate in a major American city
    • Developing a 3D presentation of historic sites
    • Estimating heart attack fatalities by gender
    • Locating new farmers’ markets in Washington, D.C.

    GIS Tutorial 1: Basic Workbook is available in print (ISBN: 9781589484566, 462 pages, US$79.99) or as an e-book (ISBN: 9781589484641, US$39.99). 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.

  • CaGIS discusses upcoming world conference at FedGIS

    Eric Anderson describes the Cartography and Geographic Information Society (CaGIS) and its world conference, coming to Washington, D.C., in 2017. He was interviewed by GeoIntelligence Insider columnist Art Kalinski for geospatial-solutions.com at the Esri Federal GIS Conference, held Feb. 24-25 in Washington, D.C.