GPS World

Tag: GIS

  • Topcon upgrades MAGNET Collage Web with new deliverable options

    Topcon Positioning Group has upgraded its MAGNET Collage Web, a web-based service enabling the sharing and collaboration of UAV and scanning data sets.

    MAGNET Collage Web version 1.3 is designed to allow operators to work with more types of data with greater flexibility, including the ability to import BIM models, as well as CAD and GIS data, the company said.

    MAGNET Collage Web and MAGNET Collage desktop software meet the demands of a diverse user-group. The latest update is designed to address an increasing need from the vertical building construction market segment to work in a single-software environment with BIM, scanning, and UAV datasets.

    “Now operators can view and publish BIM models, along with other data types, directly through the web browser to be sharable with more versatility,” said Alok Srivastava, director of product management. “MAGNET Collage Web can be used to overlay as-built laser scans and design data to visualize proposed changes and detect construction issues. The software supports OBJ, FBX and 3DS formats.”

    The upgrade to MAGNET Collage Web also includes new direct publishing functionality for CAD and GIS data files through the browser.

    “Operators can now overlay 3D point clouds and reality models with CAD and GIS design data, including support for DXF, SHP, KML, GML and GeoJSON formats,” said Srivastava.

    The upgrade to MAGNET Collage Web also introduces advanced sharing controls including the ability to fully customize layer visibility, appearance, window layout, feature selection, and camera position.

    “The updated customization controls allow operators to share and present their projects exactly the way they mean to with a multitude of viewing options, allowing specific features to be highlighted as necessary,” said Srivastava.

    Additionally, MAGNET Collage Web can now be accessed through the Topcon “Blue Bar” that allows direct access to the service from any Topcon website. The universal account and application management toolbar is embedded at the top of Topcon web pages.

  • Fugro uses airborne RAMMS to acquire land and sea data

    Fugro has completed a landmark data acquisition campaign over the Turks and Caicos Islands, marking the first commercial success of its new Rapid Airborne Multibeam Mapping System (RAMMS).

    Working under contract to the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO), the company acquired more than 7,400 square kilometers of integrated, high-resolution bathymetric, topographic and image data. The resulting deliverables will support updated nautical charts and coastal zone management activities in the region.

    Launched in August 2018, RAMMS is a highly efficient, next-generation airborne bathymetric mapping system that uses multibeam laser technology to deliver depth penetration and point densities, the company said. The compact sensor is deployed from small aircraft and can be integrated with other remote sensing technologies for simultaneous collection of multiple complementary datasets.

    For the Turks and Caicos project, this approach made it possible to acquire near-shore (bathymetry) and coastal (topography and imagery) data in a single deployment, producing a cost-effective solution and advancing Fugro’s sustainability goals by significantly reducing fuel consumption.

    “After years of development, it’s extremely gratifying to operate RAMMS commercially and to demonstrate to clients the value that this cutting-edge technology can bring,” said Mark MacDonald, Fugro Americas Marine Division hydrographic service line director.

    He pointed to the massive Turks and Caicos project as an example. “The system’s multibeam lidar capability allowed us to achieve point densities that otherwise would have required vessel-based surveys. With RAMMS, we were able to avoid that additional time and expense, and significantly reduce health and safety exposure.”

    Fugro is working on three additional RAMMS projects in the Americas region, one for UKHO in Belize, and two for the Canadian Hydrographic Society, in Quebec and Atlantic Canada. These projects are similar in scope to that of the Turks and Caicos project, combining bathymetry, topography and imagery for maximum value to clients, serving both navigation and coastal applications.

    Based on steady interest in RAMMS, Fugro and technology partner Areté Associates are building an additional system to meet anticipated contracting volumes in 2019.

    Fugro is also finalizing a cloud-processing capability, which will further improve client delivery by streamlining data review and approvals, and ultimately making data available for download-on-demand.

    Additionally, Fugro aims to operate the unmanned aerial vehicle-proven system autonomously in 2019, providing further operational efficiency gains and increasing access to remote project areas.

  • USGS selects Dewberry to complete lidar mapping for Florida

    This digital elevation model (DEM) indicates the type of data currently being acquired across Florida. (Photo: Dewberry)
    This digital elevation model (DEM) indicates the type of data currently being acquired across Florida. (Photo: Dewberry)

    High-resolution airborne lidar data to be acquired over 34,000 square miles for disaster response and recovery.

    Under an active Geospatial Products and Services contract, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has selected Dewberry, a privately held professional services firm, to complete a statewide lidar mapping project for Florida. The project is funded by the Florida Division of Emergency Management and USGS as part of Hurricane Irma Disaster Recovery, Response and Preparedness measures being conducted by the state and federal agencies.

    The approximately $20 million project includes airborne lidar data acquisition, ground survey and preparation of bare earth point cloud and digital elevation model products for various applications to support response, recovery, and preparation for future storm events.

    The resulting quality level 1 data will be primarily used for hydrologic and hydraulic modeling and many engineering applications by the water management districts to mitigate the impacts of flooding caused by these storms.

    USGS and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will also utilize these data for various flood studies. The project encompasses an area of more than 34,000 square miles.

    Photo: Dewberry
    Photo: Dewberry

    Dewberry has acquired and processed nearly 22,000 square miles of lidar data for various local, state, and federal agencies in Florida within the past three years.

    “As we continue to map the state of Florida, we’re looking forward to using the best technology and personnel to complete such a vast undertaking,” said Dewberry Vice President and Director of Remote Sensing Amar Nayegandhi, CP, CMS, GISP. “Once these data are acquired and analyzed, they will be able to support USGS, FEMA, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Florida water management districts, and several other state and local agencies in their mission to better prepare for natural disasters and minimize loss of life and property; and use these scientific data to enhance and protect our quality of life.”

    Dewberry will serve as prime contractor for this project and will perform the majority of the data production. The firm is teaming with seven other partner firms including Woolpert Inc., Quantum Spatial Inc. and Digital Aerial Solutions, Inc, which will acquire and process data to support the project.

    Dewberry’s other subcontractors will be tasked with acquiring airborne lidar data.

    “We have 11 aircraft with top-of-the-line airborne lidar sensors being deployed for data acquisition starting in early December,” said Dewberry Senior Project Manager Elise MacPherson, PMP. “I’m excited to manage this project and support the needs of USGS, their partner federal agencies and the many stakeholders in Florida.”

  • NSGIC releases first-year report for Geo-Enabled Elections project

    Includes first draft of best practices for implementing GIS in elections.

    Photo: iStock.com/YinYang
    Photo: iStock.com/YinYang

    The National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC) has released the first-year report of phase one of its Geo-Enabled Elections project, highlighting the project’s accomplishments in the first 12 months. These include completing a baseline assessment of how far states have come, to date, in terms of integrating geographic information systems (GIS) with electoral systems, as well as assembling a team of leaders and experts to help guide the project.

    The project team has also facilitated conversations with a wide range of stakeholder groups, aimed at raising awareness of the importance of using geospatial technology to increase reliability and accuracy in elections.

    The Geo-Enabled Elections project, phase one, runs from Oct. 1, 2017, to Sept. 30, 2019, with the aim to help strengthen electoral systems by supporting states in the adoption of GIS. Concretely, this means encouraging state governments to replace non-spatial “address file” systems with election precinct and voter data in a GIS format, leveraging that format’s inherent visual and analytical advantages.

    The Geo-Enabled Elections project is partly funded by the bipartisan Democracy Fund Voice.

    “During this first year, we’ve been encouraged to learn that while most voter data across the country is still kept in ‘address file’ tables, many state election directors are interested in the benefits that GIS can bring. Additionally, since most state governments have a geographic information officer (GIO) or equivalent on staff, the prospects for strengthening elections through the integration of GIS into electoral systems are very good,” said Dan Ross, NSGIC president and GIO for the State of Minnesota.

    As part of the Geo-Enabled Elections project, NSGIC has been able to help build stronger connections between state officials responsible for the electoral system and state-level GIS subject matter experts, a critical first step towards the successful implementation of GIS in elections.

    The organization, which is quickly becoming recognized as the center of expertise for how GIS can be deployed to strengthen electoral systems, also released the first draft of its best practices for how states may go about enhancing election accuracy using GIS. The five identified best practices are:

    • Convene a team of specialists
    • Collect and sustain a statewide voting unit GIS layer
    • Adopt and implement a statewide geocoding strategy
    • Assemble and provide best Available contextual GIS layers
    • Define and implement data validation processes

    These draft best practices will be put to the test and further refined in five state-wide pilot studies taking place during the project’s second year. The best practices can be viewed in full as part of the first-year report.

    NSGIC’s report also outlines the work that lies ahead for the project, as well as opportunities to impact geo-enabled elections in phase two of the project (pending funding).

     

  • Esri relaunches ArcGIS for Developers with commercial app deployment

    Enhancements include flexible pricing and easier app deployment experience

    Esri has implemented major changes to ArcGIS for Developers, providing an enhanced mapping experience that the company says is more accessible and affordable.

    These changes include a new pay-as-you-go plan for all of Esri’s location-based services, a decrease in the price of routing transactions and a new commercial app deployment experience for developers, the company said.

    ArcGIS for Developers. (Photo: Esri)
    ArcGIS for Developers. (Photo: Esri)

    This new experience brings the power of mapping to all developers and provides greater simplicity and flexibility. Esri has introduced a new monthly payment structure for the Builder plan in its developer subscription. The Builder plan is now offered at a monthly subscription rate of $125.

    Esri has also introduced a 10 percent discount on existing annual Builder plan subscriptions. Customers who currently have an annual Builder plan subscription can continue to pay annually or switch to paying monthly.

    “In addition to our existing subscription plans, we have introduced a new pay-as-you-go model that enables developers to pay only for services and transactions that they use,” said David Cardella, Esri product manager for developer technologies. “Developers can now access dozens of different maps from our Living Atlas, store their data securely, route, and geocode, as well as create and deploy apps with much greater ease and efficiency.”

    Esri has additionally included a commercial app deployment license in all paid developer subscription plans (Builder plan and higher) at no additional cost. The price of routing services has also been reduced from $4 to $0.50 per 1,000 routes. This price decrease is applicable to all ArcGIS users, including the developer community.

    ArcGIS for Developers offers a full suite of developer tools and development resources to build mapping and analytics solutions to support business needs. Developers use ArcGIS APIs to create location-based web and native applications for desktop and mobile devices.

    The new enhancements and changes now give developers greater freedom to build, manage, and deploy apps as quickly as possible by allowing them to use the specific tools they need, when they need them, priced to fit their individual needs.

  • Hexagon Geospatial releases Luciad Portfolio update

    Logo: HexagonHexagon’s Geospatial Division has released V2018.1 of the Luciad Portfolio. According to the company, V2018.1 focuses on further expanding 3D capabilities and includes additional data formats and standards for users in military and maritime domains.

    To accomodate organizations’ expanding geospatial data, LuciadFusion added a RESTful API to automate the entire process of data crawling.

    As a part of the update, LuciadFusion and LuciadLightspeed, the server and desktop solutions, have added support for the E57 point cloud format and automate point cloud data optimization through the Tiling Engine API. LuciadLightspeed now includes inland electronic navigational charts and updated support for military symbology with the U.S. Department of Defense Joint Military Symbology Standard and the NATO Joint Military Symbology Standard APP-6D icons.

    In addition, LuciadRIA now allows users to draw a multitude of complex lines and military tactical graphics in 2D and 3D in the browser.

    “The additional 3D capabilities of Luciad V2018.1 support our vision for a smart digital reality, empowering users to unlock the power of advanced geospatial analytics and visualizations,” said Mladen Stojic, president of Hexagon’s Geospatial Division.

  • Interactive app illuminates climate change around the globe

    A new interactive app by Esri models the cumulative number of climate hazards likely to occur under different emissions scenarios for any place on Earth through 2100. The app visualizes the index of 11 hazards, including warming, drought, heatwaves, fires, precipitation, floods, storms, water scarcity, sea-level rise, and changes in natural land cover and ocean chemistry. Users can see how severely locations around the world will be affected by these cumulative hazards under different global mitigation scenarios.

    Esri created the app in partnership with the University of Hawaii’s Camilo Mora, lead author of a study in Nature Climate Change, which provides a comprehensive assessment of the simultaneous occurrence of multiple climate hazards strengthened by increasing greenhouse gas emissions and their effect on humanity. Mora’s analysis of thousands of peer reviewed scientific papers reveals 467 ways in which human health, food, water, economy, infrastructure and security have been impacted by multiple climatic changes.

    By clearly visualizing the threats that our world’s ecosystem faces at every level, the maps and data hammer home how location intelligence can help with understanding what is at stake in making decisions, even at a global scale. Visualize the data here.

    Screenshot: Esri
    Screenshot: Esri

  • Bluesky with CityMapper captures cities in 3D

    St. Paul’s Cathedral in London was captured in RGB. (Image: Bluesky)
    St. Paul’s Cathedral in London captured in RGB. (Image: Bluesky)

    Aerial survey company Bluesky International Ltd. is using the Leica CityMapper to capture imagery of major cities throughout the United Kingdom.

    CityMapper is a hybrid airborne sensor combining vertical and oblique imagery with 3D laser scanning designed for 3D city modeling and urban mapping.

    Using the CityMapper, Bluesky was able to capture parts of London, Manchester and Birmingham as well as Brighton, Bristol, Cambridge, Norwich, Nottingham and Oxford. Bluesky intends to increase its coverage by capturing additional towns and cities across the U.K. and Ireland in 2019.

    St. Paul’s Cathedral in London captured in lidar point-cloud data. (Image: Bluesky)
    St. Paul’s Cathedral in London captured in lidar point-cloud data. (Image: Bluesky)

    According to Bluesky, this is the first time the technology has been used commercially in the UK to this level. The captured city data is available from Bluesky and Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon, in its constituent components of vertical orthorectified aerial imagery, oblique photographs and lidar point cloud data. Plans are in place to also include the imagery in the HxGN Content Program.

    The combination of multiple survey-grade cameras and lidar enables the simultaneous capture of data for the automatic creation of highly accurate and detailed citywide 3D models, with one sensor, according to Bluesky.

    Previous 3D models have either been prohibitively expensive for use across larger areas or of insufficient detail or accuracy. The CityMapper sensor enabled efficient, cost-effective capture of highly detailed and accurate data, and could make possible widespread use of 3D models possible.

    The CityMapper sensor is designed for 3D city modeling and urban mapping. (Photo: Leica Geosystems)
    The CityMapper sensor is designed for 3D city modeling and urban mapping. (Photo: Leica Geosystems)

    CityMapper includes a traditional vertical camera as well as survey-grade oblique cameras. The sensor also includes high-performance lidar technology to accurately collect elevation data even into the shadows, which are common in urban environments and make photo-based data collection difficult.

    The CityMapper sensor also collects color infrared data, which can be used to aid greenspace mapping and vegetation studies.

    Applications of the new Bluesky 3D models are expected to include urban planning, line-of-sight analysis, new development visualizations and environmental modeling, as well as potentially 3D fly throughs and virtual reality experiences. Early adopters of the data include architects, planning consultants and other map publishers.

  • Team to collect Arctic surveillance data for NGA

    Photo: NASA
    Photo: NASA

    The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) has awarded GeoNorth Information Systems (GNIS) a five-year, $15 million contract for persistent surveillance services of the Arctic region. Lockheed Martin will provide a scalable geospatial processing platform to enable the surveillance project.

    GNIS will leverage Lockheed Martin’s Rosetta technology, which includes a versatile and highly automated set of commercial and civil image processing tools that scale and adapt to deliver precision geospatial intelligence products to the NGA.

    GNIS, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Tatitlek Corporation, an Alaska Native Village Corporation, will work with Lockheed Martin and the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ (UAF) Alaska Satellite Facility (ASF), under the banner of the Arctic GeoData Cooperative. GNIS and the partners will build, improve, monitor and maintain terrain elevation models of the Arctic region.

    “The Arctic region has significant global implications for environmental, economic and security factors,” said Gil Metzger, director of Applied Research at Lockheed Martin. “It is critical that we document and monitor this demanding environment with the best technologies available. Lockheed Martin is proud to be part of this innovative cooperative that establishes both an operational domain awareness capability and a foundation for advanced research.”

    The cooperative team will leverage each member’s unique expertise and capabilities to provide a one-of-a-kind solution to partners like the NGA.

    As the prime contractor, GNIS will perform overall project management, conduct day-to-day operations and provide access to commercial remote-sensing platforms through its existing direct receiving station located at ASF.

    UAF brings broad Arctic-related research and development, problem solving and the ability to refine existing scientific algorithms and methods to support specific project requirements.

    Lockheed Martin’s Rosetta toolset will transform the large volumes of sensed data into correlated geospatial intelligence products.

    “The Arctic domain poses many challenges,” said Jon Heinsius, general manager of GNIS. “Not only is it an area much larger than the whole United States and Canada combined, but its remoteness, intense weather conditions and unique characteristics are not found anywhere else in the world. The cooperative’s combined academic and commercial approach provides the NGA with tremendous flexibility to meet their current and future needs.”

    “The cooperative is going to be a supportive environment where participants can bring ideas, technologies, algorithms and research for development, testing and validation,” said Nettie La Belle-Hamer, director of the Alaska Satellite Facility. “The concept is to explore and nurture new ideas to take what we learn today to build for tomorrow.”

  • Blue Marble releases 2019 Geographic Calculator

    Logo: Geographic Calculator 2019Blue Marble Geographics has launched its 2019 Geographic Calculator, which features a universal copy and paste function, a new angular unit conversion tool, support for NADCON 5.0 and updated seismic survey conversion functionality.

    According to Blue Marble, the foundation of the Geographic Calculator’s geodetic data processing functionality is the embedded GeoCalc datasource, which is continually revised and improved with updates through the online GeoCalc Geodetic Registry. The datasource included in the 2019 release mirrors the most current EPSG database definitions.

    The calculator’s copy and paste function can be used to quickly capture data for use in a third-party application or to insert new coordinate values in an existing job. The latest version also includes a new tool for accurately converting between various angular units and offers expanded seismic survey conversion capability with improved P1/11 format support and additional SEG-Y format handling for coordinate scalar values, the company added.

    The 2019 Geographic Calculator also includes support for NADCON 5.0 from the National Geodetic Survey, providing 3D coordinate transformations within the National Spatial Reference System, as well as several new projection methods.

    The calculator also boasts a refreshed interface with new icons and graphic elements for various jobs and tools, as well as optimized architecture for the Windows 10 environment.

    “With the imminent approach of the North American Terrestrial Reference Frame in 2022 the need for highly accurate geodetic tools has become more important than ever,” said Patrick Cunningham, president at Blue Marble. “Geographic Calculator continues to lead the way in this field and as is evident in release of the 2019 edition, we are continually raising the bar by providing ever more powerful tools combined with the world’s most expansive geodetic database.”

    Blue Marble Geographics is a mapping software company based in Hallowell, Maine. The company offers a number of GIS software solutions, including data conversion, software development kits, low cost GIS, educational resources, 3D analysis, coordinate transformation and GPS.

  • Boundless receives nod from U.S. Army for desktop GIS software

    Certificate of Networthiness accreditation affirms U.S. Army’s use of Boundless Desktop for battlespace awareness in warfighter missions.

    Boundless Desktop has received the U.S. Army Certificate of Networthiness (CoN), an accreditation that ensures the product meets Department of Defense (DoD) and Army guidelines, regulations and requirements. The CoN verifies compliance with stringent DoD and Army requirements for security, sustainability and usability.

    Boundless Desktop is a native, cross-platform desktop geospatial information system (GIS) built upon proven open source software, including QGIS, PgAdmin, Qt Designer and GDAL/OGR. The product builds maps, manages data, models and analyzes, and disseminates results with users globally.

    Desktop is used to conduct geospatial analysis to include creation of common operating pictures, route and area analysis, and other geospatial intelligence operations.

    Desktop integrates government and geographic standards for cartographic styles and rules, combines and models spatial data in ways that generate new insights through workflow modeling, provides analytical tools and scripts for terrain and data analysis, and provides access to various open source formats for data and product sharing.

    Federal agencies are collecting and storing more location data and imagery than ever before, and timely and accurate geospatial intelligence is critical to making decisions that impact safety, security and quality of life. Public accountability means that agencies must be mindful of directing costs away from necessary tasks.

    Boundless provides federal agencies with enterprise-grade, fully supported versions of proven open source software along with reliable, expert help from feature development to production support. Interoperability is built right in, ensuring that geospatial data and analysis is accessible across agencies and divisions, the company said. Open source technology offers the flexibility needed to leverage geospatial data now and when needs or demands change. Expenses are predictable and manageable, freeing resources for mission-critical operations.

    “The use of automated data analysis and analytical tools is essential for developing situational awareness and a common operating picture of battlespace in our warfighter missions,” said Jason Lee Smith, security specialist, Counter Explosive Hazards Center, U.S. Army Fort Leonard Wood. “Timely and accurate geospatial intelligence provided by Boundless allows us to make mission-critical decisions that impact safety and security, and the software’s flexibility and interoperability means that we can consistently rely on it both in our day-to-day operations and when there are spikes of activity.”

    “Boundless is committed to delivering open and scalable GIS solutions that empower our users to understand the world around them through geospatial intelligence,” said Andy Dearing, CEO, Boundless. “The Army CoN assures that Boundless Desktop is safe, sustainable and easy for federal agencies to use, and we’re proud to have achieved this validation for our solutions in the federal government space.”

  • Global Mapper SDK updated for greater geospatial intelligence

    Version 20 of the Global Mapper Software Development Kit (SDK) is now available, along with the accompanying Lidar Module SDK. Mirroring the most important capabilities of the desktop version of the software, the powerful developer’s toolkit provides software engineers with the means to embed the latest geospatial technology into their custom applications, according to software maker Blue Marble Geographics.

    An elevation contour image in Global Mapper SDK. (Screenshot: Blue Marble)
    An elevation contour image in Global Mapper SDK. (Screenshot: Blue Marble)

    Among the highlights of the version 20 release are dramatically improved vector data performance in both the 2D and 3D environments, updated 3D mesh rendering with colors now displayed in the 2D view, and faster display and export of online tiled datasets, the company said.

    For more than 25 years, Blue Marble’s affordable, user-friendly GIS software has been meeting the needs of users in industries including software, oil and gas, mining, civil engineering, surveying and technology companies, as well as government departments and academic institutions.

    The Global Mapper GIS application can display, convert and analyze virtually any type of geospatial data. The Global Mapper SDK and Lidar Module SDK provide software developers with a toolkit for accessing much of this functionality from within an existing or custom-built application.

    The SDK also enables the creation of custom toolbars and extensions to enhance the data processing and analysis functionality of the standard version of Global Mapper. This capability allows in-house developers to create a unique version of the application to meet their specific needs or for software companies to build custom products for commercial distribution.

    The functional highlights of the latest version of the SDK effectively illustrate the continued evolution of 3D GIS technology and Blue Marble’s commitment to providing a superior data processing engine for managing, visualizing and analyzing increasingly large 3D datasets. Such is the case with the improvements that have been made to the display performance of vector files with faster rendering in both 2D and 3D Views.

    The display of 3D meshes or models, such as those created in Global Mapper’s Pixels-to-Points tool, has been improved with the photo-realistic colors now displayed in the top-down view. Online data processing has also seen improvements with significant speed increases when loading and exporting tiled data sources.

    Additional upgrades to the SDK functionality include improved box resampling of color images, especially those with palettes; several new supported formats, including Cyclone PTX and Autodesk Recap (RCP and RCS) point clouds; new projections and datums, including GDA2020 (Australia) and TUREF (Turkey); and support for Intermap’s online NextMap worldwide elevation dataset.

    For users of the Global Mapper Lidar Module, the version 20 SDK release also introduces a wealth of new and updated functionality. Point clouds can now be thinned, from both a 2D and 3D perspective, reducing file size and improving efficiency; a gridded layer can now be created from the classification values associated with lidar points; and a new scripting option has been added to apply colors to a point cloud from underlying imagery.

    “The Global Mapper SDK has become one of the most important components of Blue Marble’s suite of geospatial products,” stated Patrick Cunningham, Blue Marble President. “Motivated by the rapid emergence of the desktop software as a major player in the GIS industry, developers are increasingly turning to the corresponding SDK to leverage the software’s powerful geoprocessing tools in a wide variety of third party applications. The improved data handling capability of the version 20 release demonstrates our commitment to providing tools that work efficiently with even the largest datasets.”