GPS World

Tag: Esri

  • Trimble Enhances Cloud-based Software for Smart Water Infrastructure

    Trimble has introduced the latest version of its smart water infrastructure mapping and work management software — Trimble Connect version 1.8. The latest release of the cloud-based, geographic information system (GIS)-centric software includes a suite of applications that allow water, wastewater and stormwater utilities to visualize and efficiently manage their network maintenance and data collection activities.

    Trimble Connect software leverages Trimble’s GNSS rugged mobile devices and Esri’s GIS technologies to accurately map, locate and assess the condition of critical infrastructure assets, allowing utilities to keep their field infrastructure data up-to-date and accurate. Offered as a software-as-a-service (SaaS) subscription, the solution allows users to monitor asset operating conditions, manage leak repairs, reduce non-revenue water, deploy and inspect smart meters, lower potential threats to safety and health due to contamination and adhere to regulators’ reporting guidelines and requirements. Trimble Connect version 1.8 can be configured and deployed quickly on a variety of Trimble and non-Trimble mobile devices, laptops, tablets and smartphones, including Apple iPads, iPhones, Android, Windows and Windows Mobile devices to automate field workflows and eliminate paper-based maps.

    Trimble Connect utilizes the latest Esri ArcGIS 10.2.2 for Server, Mobile and ArcGIS Online basemap services. The software is designed to automate a variety of specific water and wastewater industry workflows through individual “apps” offered within the product and as part of a subscription. The new version provides standard core apps including Map Book, Manhole Inspector, Leak Repair, Hydrant Inspector, Valve Inspector, Meter Changeout, Incident Repair, Water Mapper, Wastewater Mapper and Stormwater Mapper. In addition, an optional partner app developed for American Flow Control (AFC) hydrant and valve data collection, “AFC Mapper,” can be purchased from AFC and their distributors for use with Trimble rugged handhelds.

    In addition to the standard core apps, Trimble Connect version 1.8 includes:

    • Full offline mobile support including GIS data for Android, iOS, Windows Mobile and Windows 7/8 platforms
    • Esri ArcGIS Online (AGOL) support to create and share Web Maps using data collected in Trimble Connect
    • Work management support for single and multi-asset work orders on all supported platforms
    • Enhanced workflows for asset inspection and condition assessment
    • Embedded business rules to define failed inspections or ones that need review
    • Enhanced workflows for asset mapping and data collection
    • Support for the Trimble Geo 7 series rugged mapping handheld and integrated Laser Rangefinder
    • Standard dashboards with each of the core apps

  • F4 Tech Offers Free SilvAssist Software to SAF Accredited Forestry Schools

    F4 Tech is contributing to future foresters’ education by providing complementary SilvAssist software to colleges accredited by the Society of American Foresters (SAF). SilvAssist  is a set of GIS tools for managing forest inventory data.

    Institutions with SAF accreditation will be eligible for licensing of the SilvAssist solution to integrate within their curriculum.

    “Understanding the forest inventory process and how it relates to GIS is critical for today’s students of forest resource management,” said Mark Milligan, president of F4 Tech. “We believe that providing SilvAssist free of charge to SAF accredited schools is the right thing to do, and we look forward to getting that started immediately.”

    F4 Tech is confident that this new partnership with forestry schools will help to enhance and improve education in the design, management, reporting and analysis of forest inventory data.

    SilvAssist is a toolbar for Esri’s ArcGIS that helps to improve productivity by providing information needed for crucial business decisions. SilvAssist is compatible with: ArcGIS 9.3, 10, 10.1, 10.2, and 32 and 64-bit computers.

  • New Esri Book Proposes Changes to U.S. Land Records System

    new-esri-book-proposes-changes-to-us-land-records-system-lgThe latest book from Esri Press provides a comprehensive view of the American Land Records System (ALRS). Modernizing American Land Records: Order upon Chaos examines the history of American land concepts, governance, and records systems and their use. The book considers institutional land record trends and the latest technical developments of location-oriented land data systems such as geographic and land information systems (GIS/LIS). Both the institutional and technical concepts are reconciled in the authors’ proposed design of a modern ALRS  that is consistent with current attitudes, practices, and technological development.

    The book is coauthored by Earl F. Epstein and Bernard J. Niemann Jr. Epstein is professor emeritus in the School of Environment and Natural Resources at Ohio State University. Niemann is professor emeritus in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning and director of the Land Information and Computer Graphics Facility at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

    Modernizing American Land Records: Order upon Chaos (ISBN: 9781589483040, 216 pages, US$24.99) 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 your local Esri distributor. Interested retailers can contact Esri Press book distributor Ingram Publisher Services.

  • PenBay Solutions Launches InVision 1.5 for Facilities Management

    PenBay Solutions Launches InVision 1.5 for Facilities Management

     

    Photo: PenBay Solutions

    PenBay Solutions, a developer of GIS-based facility management and public safety software, is introducing InVision 1.5 in booth #F116 at the Esri User Conference in San Diego, July 14-17. The new technology will also be featured at the InVision Special Interest Group Lunch in room 28B at 12 p.m. on July 16 at the conference.

    InVision software is built on the Esri ArcGIS platform to help users visualize, analyze and interpret data in ways that reach beyond individual buildings and site maps. InVision bridges the gap between managing exterior and interior built environments by aggregating all facility and infrastructure data from various sources into a single, comprehensive, visual system for portfolio management, operations, and safety and security.

    The 1.5 release of InVision software introduces several new features and enhancements with an emphasis on mobile capabilities. InVision 1.5 introduces mobile viewers for:

    • Space Management: view space types, uses and assignments while in the field to more easily find and understand space use and classification.
    • Asset Management: remotely view utility and asset types, statuses and conditions to more quickly locate and evaluate assets.
    • Campus Viewing: provide information about campus points of interest so employees, residents and visitors can easily find what they are looking for.
    • Security Planning: view security plans – including both indoor and outdoor environments – and share that security information via mobile devices with outside public safety agencies and response personnel.
    • Security Operations: view critical building, floor, space and security asset information in the field to better understand the location and status of security assets in real time.

    “Mobility is critically important to our customers,” said Stu Rich, Chief Technology Officer at PenBay Solutions. “These new InVision Mobile Viewers are just the beginning. We’re in the process of developing mobile applications designed for data collection, data editing and inspection workflows as well. Watch for announcements around those exciting new applications in the coming months.”

    The InVision Secure Event Management Solution supports a range of activities and users throughout event planning, coordination, and operations. With InVision Secure, users can coordinate plan creation, manage the review and approval process, and securely share information that is relevant to the safety and security of events. The solution helped make Super Bowl XLVIII a safe and successful event, according to PenBay Solutions.

    “PenBay Solutions was instrumental in helping us with all the agencies we worked with to gather data, and for implementing a public safety system that met our needs for the Super Bowl,” said Captain Steven Pollackov of FDNY’s GIS Unit. “As we move forward, we will be utilizing this platform more and more.”

  • CompassCom Previews On-the-Fly Geofencing at Esri User Conference

    CompassCom will offer Esri User Conference attendees a sneak peek at advanced asset tracking capabilities in the upcoming version of its CompassTrac software powered by Esri ArcGIS technology. Scheduled for release in late summer, CompassTrac 6 provides Esri users with custom digitizing tools for geofencing applications and map optimization for any electronic device.

    CompassCom will demonstrate the new CompassTrac 6 capabilities in booth #2307 at the Esri User Conference, being held July 14-18 in San Diego.

    “The newest version of CompassTrac will enable Esri GIS users to keep track of their vehicles and high-value assets with greater ease than ever before whether they are in the office or out in the field,” said CompassCom CEO W. Brant Howard. “On-the-fly geofence alerts increase fleet efficiency and improve crew safety.”

    CompassTrac is the software tool that enables Esri ArcGIS users to view the locations and statuses of vehicles and other high-value assets on their GIS map in real time. Leveraging existing Esri architecture and GIS data files, CompassTrac locates addresses and displays vehicle positions, speeds, and heading on the fly using selected ArcGIS data layers as the map background, including satellite and aerial imagery, the company said.

    Over the past 16 years, CompassTrac has provided field service management services for thousands of vehicles operated by organizations involved in public safety, public works, utilities, road maintenance, delivery and transportation.

    The premier upgrade to CompassTrac version 6 is a set of digitizing tools that allows the user to draw a geofence polygon around any feature or area — a street, neighborhood or town — on the GIS map. If any vehicle or asset being tracked by the system crosses the geofence boundary, CompassTrac will automatically send a text or email alert to select users and highlight the vehicle in question on the map display. These geofence alerts occur instantly and on the fly in real time, providing enhanced tracking of mobile resources to help operators manage their mobile work force.

    Now with version 6, CompassTrac is also hardware agnostic. The software will automatically scale, or optimize, its map view to fit on the screens of desktop computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones, giving Esri users the ability to track assets from any location where they have Internet.

    Visitors to CompassCom’s booth #2307 at the Esri User Conference will also view demonstrations of the new CompassLDE Connector, which provides plug-and-play capabilities to link AVL and mobile resource management tracking to the Esri ArcGIS GeoEvent Processor.

  • Altus Introduces RTK Receiver for Esri Community

    At the 2014 Esri User Conference, Altus Positioning Systems is unveiling a new GNSS RTK receiver designed and developed specifically for the Esri user community.

    According to Altus CEO Neil Vancans, the new Altus APS-NR2 provides a new combination of performance and features that make it ideal for Esri users:

    • Light weight – At 1.5 lbs., the APS-NR2 weighs the same as a dozen glazed doughnuts.
    • Dual-cellular antennae – With automatic switchover, users will minimize downtime due to signal loss.
    • Unlimited flexibility – It works on virtually all RTK networks.
    • Built-in Wi-Fi – Users can configure and monitor the unit and stream data directly to their own tablets.
    • Supercharged – It runs all day on hot-swappable batteries and recharges from any USB port.
    • Esri Compatible – It communicates seamlessly with Esri cloud-based platforms.
    • Open architecture – Users can choose their own data collector software or interface directly with Esri ArcGIS Online.

    “It all adds up to the world’s most versatile RTK rover that provides more productivity and less downtime in the field,” said Vancans. “The APS-NR2 raises the bar and sets a new standard for the state-of-the-art in high-precision surveying and geolocation, leveraging the power and convenience of mobile tablet platforms.”

    The APS-NR2 will be commercially available by September, according to Vancans.

    In addition to the APS-NR2, Altus will show the APS GeoPod, a compact GNSS module that adds high-precision RTK positioning to any USB-compatible tablet PC. “This unique product gives users the convenience of adding RTK precision to any on-board application on their own mobile devices,” said Vancans.

    Altus is showcasing the APS-NR2 and APS GeoPod, along with the full range of Altus products, in Booth 1218 at the 2014 Esri Users Conference, July 14-18, in the San Diego Convention Center.

  • Esri Conference Speaker to Share Insights into Polio Fight

    Dr. Bruce Aylward from the World Health Organization (WHO) and Dr. Vincent Seaman from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will share their stories with an audience of more than 16,000 attendees at the Opening Session of the 2014 Esri User Conference (Esri UC) on July 14. As experts in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, they will describe the challenges and opportunities involved in bringing fundamental healthcare to impoverished regions. They’ll also talk about the importance maps have in pinpointing where help is needed most around the world.

    “Polio, a terrible disease, is almost completely eradicated, but ‘almost’ isn’t good enough with a disease slated for complete eradication,” said Aylward.

    Most of the world hardly remembers polio, which has been reduced by over 99 percent in the past generation by vaccination. However, the disease survives in parts of just a few countries, and has repeatedly spread back from these places to polio-free areas worldwide. The urgency of preventing such spread and protecting the polio-free world led the WHO Director-General to declare a public health emergency of international concern on May 5, 2014.

    “The polio eradication program is an international effort to reach the most vulnerable people in the world, irrespective of geography, poverty, culture, and conflict,” said Aylward.

    The Esri UC, to be held July 14–18, will bring together thousands of people from more than 90 countries, all unified by their use of Esri’s geographic information system (GIS) technology. Of particular interest to Esri UC attendees will be the use of GIS in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Aylward will explain how the people working at WHO identify where there are new outbreaks in the world, how the disease spreads, and where it has been eradicated. Seaman will share how the polio program uses GIS-based maps and analyses in high-risk areas to plan vaccination campaigns targeting every child under the age of five and to provide better tools to assess the effectiveness of these efforts.

    “At the Esri UC Plenary Session, we like to feature innovative people doing important work around the world,” said Esri president Jack Dangermond. “Dr. Aylward and Dr. Seaman certainly qualify. We are honored to welcome them and excited that GIS can help fulfill the mission of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative as the teams of humanitarians use maps to understand and solve problems.”

  • Jack Dangermond of Esri Pledges $1B of Mapping Software to Schools

    Jack Dangermond, founder and president of Esri, has announced that Esri will make its advanced mapping software ArcGIS available for free to K-12 schools across the country, reports FORBES. Through the program, students will have access to the same cloud-based GIS technology used by governments and businesses to map and analyze data. The program is set to benefit more than 100,000 schools, with each ArcGIS online account worth about $10,000, adding up to a total potential value exceeding $1 billion, according to Esri.

    “This is not a new endeavor by us. We have been supporting GIS in schools for more than 25 years,” Dangermond told FORBES. “Bringing GIS into schools gets the kids very excited and indirectly teaches them different components of STEM education. That’s been illustrated at school after school.”

    The idea began when Dangermond met with President Obama a few months ago to discuss how Esri can contribute to the ConnectED Initiative, a program by the White House to help strengthen STEM education for K-12 students. “I asked myself: ‘What’s the biggest idea that we can go for?’” Dangermond recalled. As soon as he proposed that Esri would offer its software for free for every K-12 school in America, the president was immediately on board. “We thought this is a way to scale it up and bring GIS education to schools in the whole country,” Dangermond said.

    Esri previously experimented with the initiative on a smaller scale in different states. In Detroit, students used the company’s software to identify environmental issues and come up with plans to fix them. Students also have used ArcGIS to map health issues in Los Angeles and use demographic data to get Walmart products delivered to returning veterans.

  • Esri Launches Small Government Departmental Platform Program

    Esri’s new Small Government Departmental Platform Agreement allows for unlimited deployments of core ArcGIS software within one governmental department. Departments that have plans to integrate GIS in multiple workflows — such as assessors, health and human services, public works, fire, and planning departments — can use this program to rapidly achieve their goals.

    “Esri is always seeking to support departments that have a real vision for using GIS throughout their operations,” said Christopher Thomas, director of government markets, Esri. ”This program helps them get there faster.”

    This program is designed for departments that want to:

    • increase ArcGIS software and Software as a Service (SaaS) deployments.
    • have flexibility when deploying GIS to desktops, servers, and mobile devices.
    • have a predictable annual licensing model.

    The County of Tazewell, Virginia, population 45,936, was the first to participate. “This program has given the Tazewell County Engineering Department access to more tools and programs to help create and maintain better GIS data,” said Kenneth Dunford, assistant county engineer.

    The Small Government Departmental Platform Agreement program is open to all governments in the United States with populations of 100,000 or less. For more information, call Esri at 800-447-9778.

  • Esri Offers Interactive Map of Landslide Risk

    Aerial photograph of the Oso mudslide, taken by the Washington State Patrol.
    Aerial photograph of the Oso mudslide, taken by the Washington State Patrol.

    The March 22 mudslide in Oso, Washington, has drawn national attention to the danger of landslides. So far, the Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s office confirmed that 39 people had died and seven people remain missing.

    Esri provides an interactive map for users to see where the risk of landslides is low, moderate, or high in the United States.

    The map shows landslide suspectibility and incidence data from the USGS, which says this 1982 map was not intended to show landslide areas. Areas with low landslide incidence have been omitted.

    Users can click any feature on the map for detailed information about the people living in that area.
     Esri-Landslide-map

  • Esri Offers Interactive Map of Landslide Risk

    Aerial photograph of the Oso mudslide, taken by the Washington State Patrol.
    Aerial photograph of the Oso mudslide, taken by the Washington State Patrol.

    The March 22 mudslide in Oso, Washington, has drawn national attention to the danger of landslides. So far, the Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s office confirmed that 39 people had died and seven people remain missing.

    Esri provides an interactive map for users to see where the risk of landslides is low, moderate, or high in the United States.

    The map shows landslide suspectibility and incidence data from the USGS, which says this 1982 map was not intended to show landslide areas. Areas with low landslide incidence have been omitted.

    Users can click any feature on the map for detailed information about the people living in that area.
     Esri-Landslide-map

  • Esri Issues Help to Fight Heartbleed Bug in ArcGIS Products

    heartbleedEsri has issued guidelines for users to protect themselve against the Heartbleed Bug, officially named OpenSSL Vulnerability CVE-2014-0160 (Heartbleed).

    The Heartbleed Bug is a serious vulnerability in the popular OpenSSL cryptographic software library. This weakness allows stealing the information protected, under normal conditions, by the SSL/TLS encryption used to secure the Internet. SSL/TLS provides communication security and privacy over the Internet for applications such as web, email, instant messaging (IM) and some virtual private networks (VPNs).

    Some 17 percent (around half a million) of the Internet’s secure web servers certified by trusted authorities were believed to be vulnerable to the attack, allowing theft of the servers’ private keys and users’ session cookies and passwords.

    Since learning about the vulnerability, Esri staff have been performing maintenance to validate, secure, and patch Esri servers and infrastructure to close this vulnerability and ensure Esri customers are protected.

    Esri suggests its customers read its Knowledge Base Technical Article to determine the action required for their particular ArcGIS products and services. As an extra precaution, users may want to change their passwords.