GPS World

Tag: geospatial software

  • Hexagon releases machine-learning GIS tool for smart cities

    Hexagon releases machine-learning GIS tool for smart cities

    Hexagon’s Geospatial division has launched M.App Enterprise 2021, a significant update to its platform for creating geospatial and location intelligence applications. The latest release features new browser-based 3D capabilities and enhanced visual effects, plus the ability to create and configure custom applications more easily.

    M.App Enterprise 2021 adds complete and seamless integration with Hexagon’s LuciadRIA. Now, users can access LuciadRIA’s 3D features, including support for panoramic imagery, shading, ambient occlusion and other visualization effects, to build browser-based solutions with no development necessary.

    The latest version also features a new browser app configurator that makes it even easier to create spatio-temporal dashboards, known as Smart M.Apps. Additionally, Feature Analyzer has been expanded to allow users to add and manage multiple datasets on the fly and set up workflows. These enhancements enable more dynamic configurations, allowing field workers to be alerted quickly when action is required.

    The city of Klagenfurt, Austria — a long-time Hexagon customer — has already begun using M.App Enterprise 2021 to create a city app platform that features a detailed 3D urban landscape of the entire city.

    “This opens up endless possibilities for applications to automate several manual processes within different departments of the city,” said Günter Koren, head of the department of surveying and GIS at the city of Klagenfurt. “We believe M. App Enterprise will be an essential step in our journey to become a smarter, safer city for our 100,000 citizens.”

    The latest release contains other new features and improvements, including an overhauled style editor, a new default dark theme, options for customized theming and full support for SAP HANA databases.

    “M.App Enterprise 2021 helps organizations achieve smart monitoring of their cities, infrastructure and services by seamlessly incorporating location intelligence into enterprise systems and workflows,” said Georg Hammerer, chief technology officer of Hexagon’s Geospatial division. “With augmented visuals and dynamic configurations, this new version of M.App Enterprise can help customers easily set up powerful applications, allowing them to be more productive and efficient.”

    Screenshot: Hexagon Geospatial
    Screenshot: Hexagon Geospatial
  • IQGeo software company acquires OSPInsight for fiber optics

    IQGeo software company acquires OSPInsight for fiber optics

    logoIQGeo, a developer of geospatial productivity and collaboration software for the telecoms and utility industries, has acquired OSPInsight International Inc., a U.S.-based leader in fiber-optic network management.

    Under the terms of the agreement, IQGeo will purchase OSPInsight for $8.75 million, which will be funded through a mix of cash and shares. The completion of the acquisition is subject to shareholder final approval.

    The OSPInsight fiber planning and design software for the telecoms market is highly complementary with IQGeo’s geospatial software that also supports telecoms network operations, according to a press release from IQGeo. While the current IQGeo offering targets larger enterprise network deployments (tier 1 and tier 2 operators), the OSPInsight software is ideally suited for the needs of smaller networks (tier 3 and tier 4 operators) with simple, fast deployments.

    The combination of the two product lines, as well as the telecoms industry and software technology expertise, will enable IQGeo to service an expanded target market in existing and new geographies.

    “The entire IQGeo team is very excited about the business and technology potential that will be created by the acquisition of OSPInsight,” said Richard Petti, CEO at IQGeo. “With more than 25 years of industry experience, they have developed an excellent product line and established an impressive list of customers, while building a very strong reputation in the telecoms industry. We see this as a fantastic opportunity that provides IQGeo with a proven software solution and sales channel for tier 3 and tier 4 network operators and it gives the OSPInsight team the global reach and financial resources needed to take their software to a wider audience.”

    “The real winner in this acquisition will be OSPInsight customers,” explained Wade Anderson, CEO at OSPInsight. “Our customers will continue to enjoy the same level of support they’ve always had and have a greatly expanded product line for additional network management solutions. Existing and future OSPInsight customers will quickly have access to IQGeo’s industry-leading mobile software that digitizes field operations to improve network data quality and currency. The two product lines dovetail very nicely. I’m excited for the shared vision of providing world-class software that helps our telecoms customers transform their network operations. We can’t wait to get started.”

    You can learn more about the acquisition by visiting the IQGeo Investor page to view a video interview with Richard Petti, IQGeo’s CEO and Haywood Chapman, IQGeo’s CFO.

  • ProStar joins Trimble’s GIS Business Partner Program

    ProStar joins Trimble’s GIS Business Partner Program

    Photo: Trimble
    Photo: Trimble

    Trimble GNSS integrates with PointMan field applications to identify, capture and record the precise geospatial location of utilities

    ProStar has joined Trimble’s GIS Business Partner Program. As part of the program, ProStar has implemented the Trimble Precision SDK (software developer kit) to integrate high-accuracy positioning capability in its PointMan mobile application running on smartphones and tablets using Trimble GNSS receivers.

    ProStar provides field crews with an easy-to-use mobile data collection solution designed to capture, record and provide real-time visualization of the precise locations of subsurface infrastructure, while utilizing a centralized database to permanently and securely store and share utility location records in the cloud.

    By adding the Trimble R Series and Trimble Catalyst receivers to the ProStar workflow, users can confidently access high-quality data and identify potential conflicts to avoid accidents, disruption of services and costly delays to infrastructure projects impacted by not knowing the precise locations of buried utilities.

    “Together, Trimble and ProStar are changing the way construction companies, engineering and surveying firms as well as government transportation agencies capture, store and utilize utility infrastructure data. By leveraging the power of geospatial technology, they are able to make more informed decisions in the field,” said Stephanie Michaud, strategic marketing manager, Trimble Survey & Mapping field solutions. “Through this collaboration with ProStar, we are committed to integrating Trimble technology into ProStar’s cloud and mobile solutions to enhance safety protocols on site, reduce project costs and make a safer work environment.”

    “We’re excited about this new collaboration and the integration of our PointMan software with Trimble’s high-accuracy GNSS receivers,” said Page Tucker, president & CEO of ProStar. “Creating a seamless integration with Trimble high-accuracy receivers and our PointMan software is a game-changer that will now provide one of the most comprehensive and precise field data collection solutions in the industry.”

    About ProStar

    ProStar specializes in the development of Precision Mapping Solutions. ProStar’s Solution is natively cloud and mobile and offered as Software as a Service.

    ProStar’s Solution is designed to improve the business operations of any industry that requires the precise location of sub-surface infrastructure including utility, oil & gas, construction, engineering & surveying, 811 and contract locating.

    ProStar’s Solution enables real-time access to precise location information including in the office and out in the field. Knowing the type, precise location and condition of what lies below the earth’s surface can significantly decrease liabilities and increase productivity during construction and maintenance activities.

  • Bentley Systems to celebrate Year in Infrastructure in October

    Bentley Systems’ Year in Infrastructure 2018 Conference will be held Oct. 15-18 in London at the Hilton London Metropole.

    Bentley Systems is a global provider of comprehensive software solutions for advancing infrastructure.

    Presented by Bentley Institute, the conference is a global gathering of leading industry executives and prominent thought leaders in the design, construction and operations of the world’s infrastructure. The theme of this year’s conference is “Going Digital: Advancements in Infrastructure.”

    The conference features nearly 70 speakers and more than 50 informative sessions, including keynotes by leading industry experts, interactive workshops, forums, panel discussions and product demonstrations. Attendees can visit the Technology Pavilion, which features exhibits and presentations from Bentley Systems and its strategic partners Microsoft, Siemens, Topcon and Bureau Veritas.

    On the first day of the conference, Bentley Institute will host Digital Advancement Academies, featuring presentations and interactive discussions with subject matter experts who provide insights and best practices in their areas of expertise including reality modeling, BIM strategy and constructioneering.

    The conference also includes the selection and announcement of the winners of Bentley’s Year in Infrastructure 2018 Awards (formerly known as the Be Inspired Awards), which honors the extraordinary infrastructure projects by users of Bentley software throughout the world.

    During six industry-focused forums featured during the conference — Buildings and Campuses, Digital Cities, Industrial Infrastructure, Rail and Transit, Roads and Bridges, and Utilities and Water — more than 55 awards finalists will present their projects to independent panels of jurors, more than 100 members of the press, and conference attendees.

    From those presentations, winners are selected by the jurors, and will be announced at the conclusion of the conference on Oct. 18 during an evening ceremony and gala.

    Aret Garip, technical director for WSP, attended Bentley’s conference last year in Singapore to represent WSP’s One Blackfriars project in London, which was chosen as an awards finalist.

    “The conference has been truly inspiring and educational,” Garip said. “It’s a great event to learn about the latest tech in engineering design software and an opportunity to meet the creative, intelligent people who develop new tools to make it easier for us to design buildings.”

    In October 2019, the Year in Infrastructure Conference will return to the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore.

  • GeoSage enhances software to analyze Landsat-8 imagery

    landsat8_ani

    GeoSage’s software tool, Spectral Transformer for Landsat-8 Imagery, has been enhanced to include new functions towards automated image feature extraction.

    The changes are built upon the existing tool, so with two button clicks, a user is able to rapidly perform image-band combinations, image stretching and image pan-sharpening, and produce colorful, detail-rich imagery composites at 30m and 15m resolutions.

    New functions include:

    • one-button click for automated NDVI calculation, with 3 types of outputs.
    • one-button click for automated extraction of surface water areas, with 3 types of outputs.
    • generic function to calculate 56 normalized difference image feature indices, with 3 types of outputs.
    • generic function to calculate 56 band ratios, with 3 types of outputs.

    The 3 types of outputs are automatically generated by the software. Each is a single-band GeoTIFF file, ready to be displayed in Windows Photo Viewer, GIS and remote sensing software, or Google Earth Pro.

    • First output: 32-bit Float data type, useful for further analyses.
    • Second output: 8-bit Byte data type, a unique colour palette is applied.
    • Third output: 8-bit Byte data type, a binary image to show classified features after a user-defined threshold is applied.

    This Landsat-8 image analysis software tool targets geospatial professionals, K-12 students, as well as the general public. It is very easy to use, productive and saves time. To test the new functions, a trial version is available. Updated software user guide and new application demos are also provided.

  • SimActive strengthens enterprise UAV offering with version 6.3

    Photogrammetry software developer SimActive has announced Correlator3D version 6.3 with an expanded UAV enterprise offering. A new floating licensing option allows computers on the same network to seamlessly borrow licenses from a pool, increasing transferability for enterprise requirements.

    Because of the worldwide client base of Correlator3D, SimActive has also introduced multi-language support with this version. Users can now operate the software in multiple languages, along with the default English option. Examples of the increased selection include Chinese, Japanese and French.

    “With users in over 50 countries, including many with enterprise requirements, we continue adding features to meet the immense industry demand for the product,” said Louis Simard, CTO of SimActive. “With processing speed at least 10 times faster than entry-level UAV software, Correlator3D is the only affordable global enterprise solution.”

    For a live demonstration at the Capturing Reality Forum (Nov. 23-25, Salzburg, Austria), visit booth 37 or send an email to [email protected].

  • Trimble to Provide Geospatial Software, Training for UNIGIS Distance Learning Programs

    Trimble will provide access to Trimble geospatial software products and online training for UNIGIS post-graduate distance learning students. Students can also take part in Trimble’s User Community to access training materials and participate in forums and discussions.

    The UNIGIS International Association is a distance education initiative offering masters and postgraduate diploma and certificate programs in geographical information science and systems.

    “We are pleased to provide geospatial software and online training programs to students in UNIGIS programs,” said Alain Samaha, business area director of GIS and Software for Trimble’s Geospatial Division. “Working with UNIGIS, we can further support the industry by providing technology tools that enable students to be prepared for their careers.”

    Trimble will provide UNIGIS distance learning students worldwide with access to eCognition, Inpho, UASMaster, GPS Pathfinder Office, SketchUp Pro and other software technologies for their study assignments and thesis development.

    “UNIGIS is addressing the geospatial industry’s critical bottleneck of capacity building. This needs the sustained support of leading-edge companies like Trimble. Working together we can enhance the educational experience for students to promote future innovation and advancement of the geospatial industry,” said Prof. Josef Strobl at University of Salzburg and chair of UNIGIS International.

  • Boundless Certifies Latest QGIS Release with OpenGeo Suite

    Boundless, provider of open source geospatial software and services, is offering support and interoperability of QGIS 2.8.2 with OpenGeo Suite 4.6, the most recent version of its enterprise geospatial software platform.

    Boundless will be discussing QGIS and OpenGeo Suite at GEOINT 2015 at Booth 2094, June 22-25.

    QGIS 2.8.2 is the newest version of the open source GIS desktop application. Boundless commercially supports and packages QGIS as part of OpenGeo Suite 4.6, the latest version of Boundless’ leading open source geospatial software stack, powering web, mobile, and desktop maps and applications across organizations large and small. With this release, Boundless certifies interoperability between QGIS 2.8.2 and OpenGeo Suite 4.6 and extends commercial support for the interoperability to all OpenGeo Suite Enterprise customers.

    In addition, Boundless announced the availability of several new custom QGIS plugins for Enterprise customers, designed to enhance the usability and functionality of QGIS. This release includes:

    • MGRS-Tools, which adds support for using Military Grid Reference System (MGRS) coordinates when working with a QGIS map
    • WebApp Builder, which enables QGIS users to easily build web-based applications

    QGIS and OpenGeo Suite Enterprise from Boundless provide open source geospatial software designed for cost-sensitive users who still have advanced mapping and deployment requirements. Organizations with complex Enterprise needs should no longer feel locked in to proprietary software with significant license costs in order to accomplish sophisticated projects, Boundless said.

    “Boundless is pleased to extend our support of QGIS as part of our commitment to making geospatial software available and easy to use for all,” noted Ann Johnson, Boundless CEO. “Every day we see more and more evidence of QGIS’s growing footprint, so we remain focused on meeting the demands of our customer base.”

    Boundless offers service packages and training to help customers and free users get the most from QGIS and their OpenGeo Suite deployment. Boundless also supports a variety of deployment options, including on-premise and cloud environments such as AWS and Microsoft Azure.,

  • LizardTech Extends Global Reach with Partnerships

    LizardTech, a provider of software solutions for managing and distributing geospatial content, has expanded its global presence with several new business partnerships and product purchases during the first half of 2015.

    During the last six months, national governments, energy organizations and infrastructure owners and operators have all bought LizardTech software in countries such as Canada, Sweden, Norway, Germany, United Kingdom, Spain, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Oman, Australia and the Philippines.

    New partnerships established this year include EMi Grup in Turkey, Beijing Space Eye Innovation Technology Co. in China, Esri Muscat in Oman, and the Cuminas Corporation in Japan. Additionally, Sani International of Canada re-committed to LizardTech product distribution in Canada and the Caribbean. LizardTech’s international relationships outside of the Americas are managed by the geospatial sales and marketing agency, Quarry One Eleven, based in Guildford, UK.

    “We are delighted with the progress we have made in promoting LizardTech’s remarkable MrSID-based software throughout the European, African and Middle Eastern market places and beyond into Asia Pacific,” said Quarry One Eleven Founder Alistair Maclenan. “LizardTech is a great client that understands the power of marketing and in-region representation. Their support has been a huge factor in the partnership and sales successes we have seen for their image compression, preparation and distribution products.”

    “We have had an exciting first half of the year which illustrates that our products are in demand all over the world,” said Jeff Young, who directs Global Business Development at LizardTech. “These sales validate the sustainability of LizardTech over the last 23 years through partnerships in multiple continents. We take pride in our customer’s loyalty and continued commitment to our MrSID image compression format.”