Tag: GIS

NSGIC issues joint statement on value of GIS during COVID-19 pandemic
Image: Kat72/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

The National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC) has released a joint statement on the value of GIS during the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside its partners the MidAmerica GIS Consortium (MAGIC), Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC), Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA), and American Association of Geographers (AAG).

Joint Statement on the Value of GIS in the Pandemic

The spread and effects of COVID-19 can be best understood considering space and time.

As governments are responding to COVID-19, more leaders are recognizing the value of “knowing the where.” The importance of knowing where the outbreak is growing, where high risk populations are, where the hospital beds and important medical resources are, and where to deploy resources is essential. “Knowing the where” informs better decision-making.

In an effort to better understand the where, governments are recognizing the value of geospatial information and technologies and are engaging geospatial professionals to help them better understand the where to help them in their decision-making and response.

Geospatial professionals bring unique analytical and visualization skills to the table that help responders and decision-makers visualize where the pandemic is spreading more quickly and can make the important decisions regarding where response and resource needs need to be focused. The value of telling the story through a map coupled with a geospatial dashboard provides a view of the event not readily seen in a table such as a spreadsheet.

Beyond visualizing existing data, we can connect data from a location perspective, which enhances the value of the data sources being integrated. Equally important in this event is data on COVID-19 cases and testing packaged and shared in a way useful to scientists.

GIS (geographic information systems) is experiencing an unprecedented level of use. Historically, GIS was deployed following a disaster to help respond and recover. Today, GIS is used as a disaster is unfolding. The COVID-19 event is an outstanding example of how effective GIS is when robust data is available. Governments are realizing the value of investing in these systems and the people who run them.

The information necessary to empower all partners already exists.

Current nationwide models and response efforts may not benefit from the details of local geographic parameters. Local or statewide models and response efforts may not fully take advantage of the data from other areas of the country. Hospitals are surveyed by both federal and state agencies, and the results of those surveys are not readily available to the hospitals working together to care for patients. Nationwide geospatial data will empower a coalition of participants with a better understanding of the spread and impacts of COVID-19 and improve mitigation actions.

The same data can be made available in different forms to empower people playing different roles in the response. Researchers — epidemiologists — will benefit from nationwide COVID-19 testing data and data describing factors impacting the spread. This data needs to be as disaggregated as permissible under HIPAA and in a form readily digestible in models.

The case data could be aggregated to the same units of geography as a wealth of existing demographic data (Census tracts), which could explain and quantify local variances in the spread. Policy makers and those in emergency management can benefit from map and tabular dashboards, harnessing the power of the where by integrating data for analytics.

The emergency response, public health and geospatial communities must come together to understand COVID-19 in the U.S. and mitigate its spread and overall impact.

By geo-enabling public health and emergency response data, we can better:
- understand the spread — with COVID case data, movements of people, and symptoms
- understand the impact on individuals — with data including age, disease, obesity, and medical treatments
- understand how to tailor outreach — by age, language, engagement with government, and lifestyle choices
- understand the needs of the healthcare industry — by facility, day, bed capacity, type of care, ventilators, and PPE
- understand the impact on the local economy — by county, day, unemployment, and bankruptcies
- understand the societal impacts — by census tract, domestic violence, alcohol consumption, child abuse, animal abuse, elder abuse, mental health crises, 3-1-1 calls and firearm sales
We are committed to beginning the national conversation about leveraging the best available data to better understand the spread and impacts of COVID-19.

To receive more information and be part of the discussion, please share your email address with us.

National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC)

MidAmerica GIS Consortium (MAGIC)

Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC)

Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA)

American Association of Geographers (AAG)

Feature image: Kat72/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images
April 17, 2020
NSGIC issues joint statement on value of GIS for COVID-19 pandemic
Image: Kat72/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

The National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC) has released a joint statement on the value of GIS in the pandemic, alongside its partners the MidAmerica GIS Consortium (MAGIC), Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC), Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA), and American Association of Geographers (AAG).

Joint Statement on the Value of GIS in the Pandemic

The spread and effects of COVID-19 can be best understood considering space and time.

As governments are responding to COVID-19, more leaders are recognizing the value of “knowing the where.” The importance of knowing where the outbreak is growing, where high risk populations are, where the hospital beds and important medical resources are, and where to deploy resources is essential. “Knowing the where” informs better decision-making.

In an effort to better understand the where, governments are recognizing the value of geospatial information and technologies and are engaging geospatial professionals to help them better understand the where to help them in their decision-making and response.

Geospatial professionals bring unique analytical and visualization skills to the table that help responders and decision-makers visualize where the pandemic is spreading more quickly and can make the important decisions regarding where response and resource needs need to be focused. The value of telling the story through a map coupled with a geospatial dashboard provides a view of the event not readily seen in a table such as a spreadsheet.

Beyond visualizing existing data, we can connect data from a location perspective, which enhances the value of the data sources being integrated. Equally important in this event is data on COVID-19 cases and testing packaged and shared in a way useful to scientists.

GIS (geographic information systems) is experiencing an unprecedented level of use. Historically, GIS was deployed following a disaster to help respond and recover. Today, GIS is used as a disaster is unfolding. The COVID-19 event is an outstanding example of how effective GIS is when robust data is available. Governments are realizing the value of investing in these systems and the people who run them.

The information necessary to empower all partners already exists.

Current nationwide models and response efforts may not benefit from the details of local geographic parameters. Local or statewide models and response efforts may not fully take advantage of the data from other areas of the country. Hospitals are surveyed by both federal and state agencies, and the results of those surveys are not readily available to the hospitals working together to care for patients. Nationwide geospatial data will empower a coalition of participants with a better understanding of the spread and impacts of COVID-19 and improve mitigation actions.

The same data can be made available in different forms to empower people playing different roles in the response. Researchers — epidemiologists — will benefit from nationwide COVID-19 testing data and data describing factors impacting the spread. This data needs to be as disaggregated as permissible under HIPAA and in a form readily digestible in models.

The case data could be aggregated to the same units of geography as a wealth of existing demographic data (Census tracts), which could explain and quantify local variances in the spread. Policy makers and those in emergency management can benefit from map and tabular dashboards, harnessing the power of the where by integrating data for analytics.

The emergency response, public health and geospatial communities must come together to understand COVID-19 in the U.S. and mitigate its spread and overall impact.

By geo-enabling public health and emergency response data, we can better:
- understand the spread — with COVID case data, movements of people, and symptoms
- understand the impact on individuals — with data including age, disease, obesity, and medical treatments
- understand how to tailor outreach — by age, language, engagement with government, and lifestyle choices
- understand the needs of the healthcare industry — by facility, day, bed capacity, type of care, ventilators, and PPE
- understand the impact on the local economy — by county, day, unemployment, and bankruptcies
- understand the societal impacts — by census tract, domestic violence, alcohol consumption, child abuse, animal abuse, elder abuse, mental health crises, 3-1-1 calls and firearm sales
We are committed to beginning the national conversation about leveraging the best available data to better understand the spread and impacts of COVID-19.

To receive more information and be part of the discussion, please share your email address with us.

National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC)

MidAmerica GIS Consortium (MAGIC)

Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC)

Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA)

American Association of Geographers (AAG)
April 17, 2020
4 more organizations select Maptitude for Redistricting

Four more organizations have selected Maptitude for Redistricting. The South Carolina Legislature, Massachusetts Secretary of State, NJ United, and the Mississippi Planning and Development District will all be using Maptitude for Redistricting for their redistricting activities this decade.

Photo: Caliper

Maptitude is a mapping software program created by Caliper Corp. that allows users to view, edit and integrate maps. Maptitude for Redistricting is the professional tool for political redistricting.

According to Caliper, the ease-of-use, fitness-for-purpose and competitive pricing of Maptitude for Redistricting have made Maptitude the dominant product for political redistricting. Maptitude provides measures and reports, and the program features tools such as the Efficiency Gap Measure tool for exploring redistricting problems.

Maptitude was used to democratize redistricting in California and is used by the majority of redistricters, from independent commissions, non-profits, and civil rights groups, to the courts and political parties, Caliper added.

April 17, 2020
Esri offers instructor-led GIS classes online
Over the last few weeks, many organizations have transitioned their workforce to remote work environments. At the same time, the demand for geographic information systems (GIS) products and skilled GIS professionals is high.

Esri announces that all of its instructor-led courses are available in its instructor-led online classroom, which is calls “an engaging learning environment that offers convenience and interactivity.”

The company lists these features:
- Instructors and course attendees use the phone, chat, and virtual whiteboards to talk and collaborate in real time.
- Group breakout sessions and content reviews support peer-to-peer learning and knowledge retention.
- Attendees access all Esri software needed to complete course exercises through virtual machines.
“We understand that sustaining business operations and achieving your organization’s mission remains critical,” the Esri Training Team said in an email. “As always, we’re committed to helping you build the skills needed to apply ArcGIS best practices, fuel efficiencies and make the best decisions based on data.”

Esri offers the Esri Training Pass to streamline access to its online instructor-led classes. Users can pre-purchase training days to simplify training registration and approval processes throughout the year.
April 15, 2020
Epson releases 3 SureColor T-Series printers

The Epson SureColor T2170 is designed for personal workspaces and home-based high-tech offices. (Photo: Epson)

Epson has released three new SureColor T-Series printers: the SureColor T2170, SureColor T3475 and SureColor T5475. According to the company, these printers are ideal for the architecture, construction, engineering, graphic design and education industries.

The SureColor T2170, designed for personal workspaces and home-based high-tech offices, is a 24-in. desktop printer. It produces accurate A1/D-size prints in 43 seconds, and delivers precise blueprints, line drawings and posters up to 24 inches. The SureColor T2170 features a 4.3-in. color touchscreen and uses UltraChrome XD2 pigment inks to produce durable, instant-dry prints. In addition, the printer is integrated with wireless and Wi-Fi Direct connectivity, which allows users to print from tablets and smartphones.

The 24-in. SureColor T3475 and 36-in. SureColor T5475 printers are designed for small- to mid-sized workgroup settings.

The SureColor T3475 is a wide-format wireless printer that’s ideal for high-production printing of blueprints, line drawings and posters up to 24 inches. It delivers accurate, 1/D-size prints in as fast as 25 seconds, Epson said. It features a 4.3-in. color touchscreen and offers advanced network security and encryption designed to safeguard sensitive information. It uses UltraChrome XD2 pigment inks and includes the company’s PrecisionCore MicroTFP printhead.

Finally, the SureColor T5475 is a wide-format wireless printer that’s ideal for high-production printing of blueprints, line drawings and posters up to 36 inches. According to Epson, it delivers accurate, A1/D-size prints in as fast as 22 seconds. The SureColor T5475 boasts a 4.3-in. color touchscreen and offers advanced network security and encryption designed to safeguard sensitive information. This printer also uses UltraChrome XD2 pigment inks and includes the company’s PrecisionCore MicroTFP printhead.

April 15, 2020
Golden Software streamlines workflows in Surfer mapping package
Golden Software’s Surfer package now includes a 3D exporting capability. (Photo: Golden Software)

Golden Software has streamlined many workflows in the latest version of its Surfer grinding, contouring and 3D surface mapping product. According to the company, these enhancements will save time for end users in oil and gas exploration, environmental consulting, mining, engineering and geospatial projects.

“We have simplified workflows by making many of the most popular Surfer mapping processes more intuitive,” said Kari Dickenson, Surfer product manager. “By deleting steps and reducing mouse clicks, we have shaved valuable minutes off the time it takes to complete many functions.”

The updates include easier base map editing, a convertible scale bar, the ability to make colors transparent, 3D exporting, simple image cropping, adding multiple files, the ability to apply actions on multiple layers and easier cross section profiles.

Here’s an overview of each update:
- Easier base map editing. Users will no longer have to click “Start/Stop Editing” to make changes to base maps. Users now can click on an item on the base map, and the program will automatically enter “Edit” mode so changes can be made to the feature.
- Convertible scale bar. Surfer now has a pulldown menu on the scale bar that allows users to convert the scale bar from one type of linear unit to another.
- Make colors transparent. Users are able to select any color in an image or air photo and make it transparent.
- 3D exporting. Users can now export 3D views to a variety of high-resolution image formats including TIF, PNG, JPG and BMP.
- Simple image cropping. Surfer users can now draw a polygon around their area of interest in an image or photo to crop out unneeded data, resulting in a smaller file size and faster map editing.
- Add multiple files. Users can select multiple map or layer files at once for importing into a Surfer project or applying certain functions.
- Apply actions on multiple layers. Users can select multiple map items or layers and then apply functions to all of them.
- Easer cross section profiles. Users now have the option of generating a cross section profile by drawing a line across their map or simply selecting a polyline in an existing base layer.
Golden Software also has released a Beta version of Surfer simultaneously with the new version to give customers a chance to try out new features while they are still in development. Users can find the Beta version by clicking “File | Online” from within Surfer.

The Beta features, which will be released in late summer 2020, include a redesigned “Open File” menu, pie charts, automatic scale change and the ability to create 3D PDFs.

Founded in 1983, Golden Software develops scientific graphics software. The company offers six producers, Surfer for gridding, contouring and 3D surface mapping; Grapher for 2D and 3D graphing; Voxler for 3D data visualization; Strater for well log, borehole and cross section plotting; MapViewer for thematic mapping and spatial analysis; and Didger for digitizing and coordinate conversion.
April 15, 2020
NavVis IndoorViewer 2.6 enables measurement based on point clouds

Enables building stakeholders to take accurate measurements based on point clouds

The latest release of the NavVis IndoorViewer 3D building visualization software features a new tool that lets building stakeholders take highly accurate measurements based on point clouds in the realistic 360° image view.

NavVis, global provider of indoor spatial intelligence technology and enterprise solutions, announces the release of NavVis IndoorViewer 2.6. This major software release includes a new measurement tool that lets users take highly accurate measurements based on point clouds in realistic browser-based digital buildings.

This release also makes additional features available to structured e57 point cloud files, including automatically generating highly detailed floor plans and routing.

NavVis IndoorViewer is a popular deliverable among building stakeholders without the technical expertise to work with point clouds and modeling software, thanks to the realistic digital buildings and intuitive interface.

One of the features that has proven to be useful among users across multiple industries is the measurement tool. It enables users to take measurements remotely on any device, saving time otherwise spent traveling to the site.

The release of version 2.6 of NavVis IndoorViewer marks a major advance in the accuracy of virtual measurement tools. The tool has been redesigned to overcome two of the biggest problems with virtual measurement tools – accuracy and usability.

On the one hand, point cloud measurements are quite accurate. But often these software tools are not accessible or even usable for a wide range of building stakeholders who lack the expertise in working with point clouds. If, on the other hand, the tool uses images or even meshes, which are much more user-friendly than point clouds, the tools are usually not reliable enough to produce accurate results.

The new measurement tool in NavVis IndoorViewer combines the best of both worlds, thanks to a patent-pending magnifying feature that appears when taking measurements in the realistic 360° view. The magnifying feature reveals the exact section of the point cloud behind the image and lets users pick the point cloud point as the basis for a measurement while benefiting from the intuitive interface of the fully immersive walkthrough.

“When redesigning the measurement tool in NavVis IndoorViewer, we wanted to make sure that a wide range of stakeholders in every industry that works with built environments could benefit from the accuracy of point clouds when taking virtual measurements,” said Georg Schroth, NavVis CTO. “We are confident that the new magnifying feature in NavVis IndoorViewer achieves our goal. Now even stakeholders that are unfamiliar with point clouds have an easy, intuitive way to take measurements based on this highly accurate real world data.”

In addition to making strides in the accuracy of remote measurements, the interface of the tool has also been fully redesigned. This includes a new slider function that lets users view the 2D floor plan and 3D walkthrough side-by-side or move from one view to the other.

The dual view provides an overview of the entire building so that users can easily locate an asset or area while also viewing the location in the realistic 360° view. The fully immersive walkthrough makes it possible to virtually move through the area being measured or inspect the asset, as if the user were on site. Measurements being taken show up in both views.

The release of NavVis IndoorViewer 2.6 also introduces new feature support for e57 point cloud files captured by static scanners. Previous NavVis IndoorViewer releases have included a popular feature that lets laser scanning professionals upload structured e57 point cloud files and automatically generate realistic, fully immersive 360° walkthroughs that can be published and shared with clients as a web-based link.

With the release of NavVis IndoorViewer 2.6, two popular features that were previously only compatible with scan data captured by NavVis hardware are now available for point clouds uploaded as structured e57 files. The first is the generation of a navigation graph, which makes it possible to turn static scans into a fully immersive indoor routing tool. The second is the automatic generation of highly detailed floor plans. Now point cloud files uploaded as structured e57 files can be turned into digital floor plans in a few clicks.

Version 2.6 of NavVis IndoorViewer is now available. Register for a free trial.

April 7, 2020
2020 US Census Data now available in Maptitude

Image: Caliper

The Maptitude 2020 U.S. Census Blocks Groups data is now available for the entire United States, according to software provider Caliper.

The small-area Census Summary Level is packed with neighborhood information essential for making accurate geography-based decisions. Maptitude users can explore locations by income, income growth, daytime population, age, race, gender, ethnicity, buying power, occupation, employment status, housing characteristics, citizenship counts and more.

The wealth of data can be leveraged by data scientists and market research analysts using Maptitude mapping software, a comprehensive application for data exploration.

The 2020 Block Groups are priced at US$250 on the Caliper Store, and are also available as shapefile, KML, KMZ or GeoJSON for an additional fee. If you have any questions about Maptitude or data availability contact the Maptitude team.

April 7, 2020
SimActive tech used to determine solar potential from satellite imagery

Dutch company NEO B.V. is using SimActive’s Correlator3D software to assess solar potential in multiple cities. (Image: SimActive)

SimActive’s Correlator3D software is being used by by Dutch company NEO B.V. to assess solar potential in multiple cities. Digital surface models (DSMs) are generated from WorldView and GeoEye satellite stereo images and serve to calculate solar panel capacity.

According to SimActive, DSMs covering hundreds of square kilometres are quickly generated by the software. Key metrics to estimate solar potential are then derived, including roof orientation, pitch and shaded areas.

“We have been impressed by the quality of SimActive’s DSMs, especially considering the limited spatial resolution of the imagery”, said Rob Beck, managing director at NEO B.V. “Another definite advantage of Correlator3D is the simplicity of the workflow, making it easy to use by our team.”

SimActive’s Correlator3D software is a patented, end-to-end photogrammetry solution for the generation of high-quality geospatial data from satellite and aerial imagery, including UAVs. Correlator3D performs aerial triangulation and produces dense digital surface models, digital terrain models, point clouds, orthomosaics, 3D models and vectorized 3D features.

April 3, 2020
Quantum Spatial awarded $40M contract for NOAA survey

Logo: Quantum Spatial

Quantum Spatial has been selected as a prime consultant for a five-year, $40 million shoreline mapping support services contract contributing to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Geodetic Survey.

The contract is expected to include data acquisition, data processing, quality control and data analytics. Quantum Spatial has bee providing topobathymetric lidar services to NOAA’s National Geodetic Survey Remote Sensing Division since 2013, the company said.

“This is the fourth consecutive contract awarded by NOAA’s National Geodetic Survey to Quantum Spatial covering more than 20 years in support of its mission,” said Kurt Allen, vice president for federal programs at Quantum Spatial. “A joint dedication by NOAA and Quantum Spatial for research and development and applying significant advancements in technology has allowed numerous stakeholders to utilize the near-shore bathymetric foundational data generated by the program.”

Quantum Spatial, an NV5 Global company, is a full-service geospatial solutions provider in North America.

April 2, 2020
Open Geospatial Consortium publishes Testbed-15 results

The Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) published the outcomes of its biggest research and development initiative of 2019, Testbed-15. Key outcomes, including engineering reports, presentations and videos, are available on the Testbed-15 website.

According to OGC, Testbed-15 research was conducted across several fields, including Earth observation data models, applications, catalogues and process delivery; data security in geospatial environments using encrypted containers; federated cloud environments incorporating OGC Open Web Services; secure delta updates to geospatial data in denied, disrupted, intermittent and limited situations; an open portrayal framework and APIs for sharing portrayals of geospatial content; and machine learning models and outputs integrating with OGC Open Web Services.

OGC Testbeds, an annual activity of OGC’s Innovation Program, are multi-vendor, collaborative efforts where participants follow a rapid prototyping approach to design, develop and test solutions to sponsors’ location-related problems. OGC Testbed results, documented in engineering reports, are provided to OGC’s Standards Program, where they are reviewed, revised, and potentially advanced as new international open standards.

Alongside the sixteen engineering reports, Testbed-15 resulted in advancements to the suite of draft OGC APIs, including APIs related to styles, maps, tiles, records and the OGC API-Common building block, OGC said.

OGC Testbed-15 was sponsored by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, the European Space Agency, Natural Resources Canada, the U.S. Geological Survey and NASA.

The Open Geospatial Consortium is an international consortium of more than 530 businesses, government agencies, research organizations and universities driven to make geospatial information and services findable, accessible, nteroperable and reusable.

April 2, 2020
Analytics and drones detect trash in San Francisco Bay

Kinetica simplifies active analytics with Kinetica Cloud

Kinetica, provider of the Kinetica Active Analytics Platform, has unveiled the Kinetica Cloud. Enterprises can use the full capabilities of the Kinetica platform in an optimal cloud environment, which includes historical data analytics, streaming data analytics, location intelligence and machine learning.

Kinetica Cloud was adopted by the San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI), which used the platform to detect trash in San Francisco Bay.

“The San Francisco Estuary Institute uses Kinetica Cloud for high-performance computing and to manage thousands of high-definition images of the landscape, which our machine learning algorithm studies to detect trash,” said Tony Hale, program director for Environmental Informatics, SFEI.

Photo: Thinkstock/Stockbyte/Getty Images

“With this more systematic way of monitoring when trash enters the landscape in uncontrolled ways, cities and governments that really care about the environment gain a remarkable resource to help them very quickly and effectively make decisions,” Hale said.

“With Kinetica Cloud, organizations across industries gain invaluable business flexibility and agility to direct their mission-critical initiatives,” said Paul Appleby, CEO, Kinetica. “Kinetica Cloud gives customers the ultimate flexibility in a hybrid, multi-cloud environment, empowering them to determine where it is optimal to deploy Kinetica.”

Organizations can use the Kinetica Active Analytics Platform on Kinetica Cloud without the complexity and wait times of deploying hardware systems and software.

“As customers adopt active analytics, they want to start their initiatives quickly to gain insight from their data,” said Karan Batta, senior director, Product Management, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. “We are very pleased that Kinetica Cloud is available for Oracle Cloud, allowing organizations to shift their focus away from infrastructure and towards bringing smart analytical applications to market faster.”

March 27, 2020