GPS World

Tag: GIS

  • Launch a River Trip from Your Computer Using Streamer

    Streamer map of the conterminous United States showing water basins, weather radar, and real-time streamflow stations.
    Streamer map of the conterminous United States showing water basins, weather radar, and real-time streamflow stations.

    Field & Stream called it a “…very cool tool and quite a bit of fun.”  MinnPost described it as a “…high-tech illustration of Norman Maclean’s timeless view that, ‘Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.” And Popular Science noted that, “There’s something especially satisfying about clicking a stream that…shoots its way across multiple states to empty into the ocean.”

    These publications are all describing Streamer, the popular on-line mapping program from the U.S. Geological Survey. Streamer is a powerful, yet easy way to explore our major waterways. With a simple map click, anyone can trace rivers and streams from a starting point all the way downstream to where a stream drains. Even more impressive, they can click on a stream and trace all others that drain to that point. Streamer also produces a report that includes a map and information about the people and places encountered along the streams traced.

    Streamer map of an upstream trace from a point on Belle Fourche River in South Dakota extending into Wyoming and Montana. Weather radar and real-time streamflow stations are shown on the map.
    Streamer map of an upstream trace from a point on Belle Fourche River in South Dakota extending into Wyoming and Montana. Weather radar and real-time streamflow stations are shown on the map.

    As good as Streamer was when it launched last summer, it just got better. Four major enhancements and dozens of small improvements have been made. These include:

    • A new map layer displays the locations of real-time streamflow stations across the country. Streamer updates this information hourly and symbolizes these stations to illustrate current streamflow conditions compared with each station’s observed mean streamflow on the same day of the year.
    • You can tell at a glance whether conditions are above, below, or at normal levels at each station.
    • Links are provided from Streamer directly to selected stations for additional information and data.
    • Another new map layer has been added that shows weather radar across all 50 States.
    • Useful improvements to Streamer’s detailed reports have been added. One of these lists the names of waterbodies (lakes, reservoirs, etc.) along the path of your trace.
    • Congressional Districts encountered along your trace have been added.
    • A mouse click takes you from the Streamer report to additional information from the Census Bureau about socioeconomic conditions in each District.
    • Searching for locations on Streamer’s map by place name, zip code, geographic coordinates and more is greatly enhanced.

    In its first eight months in service, Streamer users traced more than 2.9 billion river miles.

    The USGS announced in February that it is ending production of the National Atlas on September 30, and that some of its products and services would transition to The National Map. With this release, Streamer becomes the first of these National Atlas products and services that The National Map will offer.  For cartographers and geospatial information professionals, Streamer’s surface water data is available for download at no cost.

    Detail from a Streamer map of an upstream trace from a point on the Arkansas River near Geuda Springs, Kansas, extending into Colorado and New Mexico. Real-time streamflow stations are shown.
    Detail from a Streamer map of an upstream trace from a point on the Arkansas River near Geuda Springs, Kansas, extending into Colorado and New Mexico. Real-time streamflow stations are shown.

  • Launch a River Trip from Your Computer Using Streamer

    Streamer map of the conterminous United States showing water basins, weather radar, and real-time streamflow stations.
    Streamer map of the conterminous United States showing water basins, weather radar, and real-time streamflow stations.

    Field & Stream called it a “…very cool tool and quite a bit of fun.”  MinnPost described it as a “…high-tech illustration of Norman Maclean’s timeless view that, ‘Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.” And Popular Science noted that, “There’s something especially satisfying about clicking a stream that…shoots its way across multiple states to empty into the ocean.”

    These publications are all describing Streamer, the popular on-line mapping program from the U.S. Geological Survey. Streamer is a powerful, yet easy way to explore our major waterways. With a simple map click, anyone can trace rivers and streams from a starting point all the way downstream to where a stream drains. Even more impressive, they can click on a stream and trace all others that drain to that point. Streamer also produces a report that includes a map and information about the people and places encountered along the streams traced.

    Streamer map of an upstream trace from a point on Belle Fourche River in South Dakota extending into Wyoming and Montana. Weather radar and real-time streamflow stations are shown on the map.
    Streamer map of an upstream trace from a point on Belle Fourche River in South Dakota extending into Wyoming and Montana. Weather radar and real-time streamflow stations are shown on the map.

    As good as Streamer was when it launched last summer, it just got better. Four major enhancements and dozens of small improvements have been made. These include:

    • A new map layer displays the locations of real-time streamflow stations across the country. Streamer updates this information hourly and symbolizes these stations to illustrate current streamflow conditions compared with each station’s observed mean streamflow on the same day of the year.
    • You can tell at a glance whether conditions are above, below, or at normal levels at each station.
    • Links are provided from Streamer directly to selected stations for additional information and data.
    • Another new map layer has been added that shows weather radar across all 50 States.
    • Useful improvements to Streamer’s detailed reports have been added. One of these lists the names of waterbodies (lakes, reservoirs, etc.) along the path of your trace.
    • Congressional Districts encountered along your trace have been added.
    • A mouse click takes you from the Streamer report to additional information from the Census Bureau about socioeconomic conditions in each District.
    • Searching for locations on Streamer’s map by place name, zip code, geographic coordinates and more is greatly enhanced.

    In its first eight months in service, Streamer users traced more than 2.9 billion river miles.

    The USGS announced in February that it is ending production of the National Atlas on September 30, and that some of its products and services would transition to The National Map. With this release, Streamer becomes the first of these National Atlas products and services that The National Map will offer.  For cartographers and geospatial information professionals, Streamer’s surface water data is available for download at no cost.

    Detail from a Streamer map of an upstream trace from a point on the Arkansas River near Geuda Springs, Kansas, extending into Colorado and New Mexico. Real-time streamflow stations are shown.
    Detail from a Streamer map of an upstream trace from a point on the Arkansas River near Geuda Springs, Kansas, extending into Colorado and New Mexico. Real-time streamflow stations are shown.

  • GEOINT Coverage, Day 2: Keynotes, Airbus, Skyline

    GEOINT 2013* — Day Two

    Today was the official start of the GEOINT 2013* Symposium. Attendance was estimated at 3,500.

    Keynote speakers included James Clapper, director of National Intelligence (DNI), LTG Michael Flynn, director, Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), and Lettitia Long, director, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA).

    The full conference guide and videos of many keynote speeches will be available through the GEOINT 2013 website in about two weeks. The full conference guide is available now as a downloadable PDF.

    I had an opportunity to attend a separate press briefing by Director Long (watch below).

    Included is a large exhibit hall, and today I started touring the booths. In the video below, I talk with Matt Harrison of Skyline as he demonstrates the company’s technology to generate 3D models from oblique imagery.

    Also, AirBus demonstrated its global DEM data set.

  • 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

  • CompassData Certified by FAA to Collect Data for Aviation Mapping

    CompassData, a worldwide provider of geospatial data and services, has received DO-200A certification by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for collection and processing of survey and ground control data used in the creation of Airport Mapping Database (AMDB) products.

    “DO-200A certification enables CompassData to provide Ground Control Points (GCPs) for generation of digital aeronautical products, such as Airport Moving Maps, used by pilots in the cockpit to navigate on the ground at airports worldwide,” said Hayden Howard, CompassData Vice President. “This certification applies to custom ground control collects and to many of the GCPs that exist in our worldwide archive available off the shelf for immediate purchase.”

    In addition, CompassData has been approved to use its GCPs and Accuracy Analyst map tool to verify the accuracy of satellite or aerial imagery used in creation of AMDB DO-272C aviation products. This means CompassData may orthorectify a high-resolution DigitalGlobe satellite image, verify that the orthoimage accuracy meets sub one- and five-meter specifications, and provide the image to an aeronautical mapping firm or avionics system developer to generate commercial products.

    DO-200A standards were developed by FAA to assure the quality of data used in the preparation of aeronautical mapping, navigation and situational awareness products and systems. Prior to certification, CompassData completed a rigorous examination procedure in which FAA reviewed every step in the firm’s methodologies for collecting, processing and managing GPS-surveyed ground control to ensure the data is accurate, timely, complete, and traceable.

    FAA has granted only six LOAs (Letters of Acceptance) in the Denver ACO Region and only 24 globally. CompassData is the first in the world to receive certification for verification of data sets used to create Airport Moving Map data.

    In March, CompassData purchased the assets of Spatial Information Solutions (SIS) in Starkville, Mississippi, and announced the continued sale and support of the popular Accuracy Analyst and Topo Analyst Map Accuracy Tools. These software applications are relied upon by geospatial end users to automatically verify the accuracy of orthoimagery and digital elevation data sets, often with CompassData GCPs.

    CompassData will discuss the FAA DO-200A certification and demonstrate Accuracy Analyst and Topo Analyst Map Accuracy Tools in booth #2063 at GEOINT 13* being held April 14-17, 2014, in Tampa, Florida.

  • Trimble Offers Software Updates to Simplify Geospatial Analysis

    Trimble announced today comprehensive updates to its powerful suite of geospatial office software, including Trimble Business Center, RealWorks and Trident solutions. Together, these updates provide increased data interoperability between Trimble office software platforms, enabling users to easily combine data generated through traditional survey methods, laser scanning and mobile mapping workflows, to produce richer and more intuitive deliverables, the company said.

    “Data interoperability across Trimble software platforms provide users with seamless and efficient workflows and the flexibility to focus first on the output needed for each job,” said Alain Samaha, business area director of GIS and software for Trimble’s Geospatial Division. “Whether it is a stakeout design or a precise as-built model, users can select the best software environment to get the job done right and deliver that information in the most useable format.”

    The announcement was made at SPAR International 2014, a conference for 3D data capture, processing and delivery technologies.

    Trimble Business Center Version 3.20. Geospatial professionals now have access to an improved processing and analysis experience. With an integrated and powerful new point cloud engine, users can visualize and edit large point clouds while simultaneously working with high- resolution imagery. Combining these rich data sets into a single workflow saves time and potential conversion errors.

    Trimble RealWorks Version 8.1. The latest release of Trimble RealWorks provides surveyors and laser scanning professionals with enhanced tools that make it easier to visualize and interpret scan data. Point clouds can now be easily colorized using high-resolution and High Dynamic Range (HDR) images from professional grade external cameras, significantly reducing measurement and modeling times.

    Trimble Trident Version 6.1. Mobile mapping professionals can now combine the rich datasets captured using spherical cameras with laser scanner and inertial measurements from the Trimble MX2, to easily determine the location of surveyed features and automatically classify imaged objects.

    The new office software versions are expected to be available in April 2014 through Trimble’s worldwide Geospatial distribution network.

  • 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.

  • NGA’s Bryan Goltry Honored with Lt. Michael P. Murphy Award

    This morning at the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation’s (USGIF) GEOINT 2013* Symposium, the 2013 Lt. Michael P. Murphy Award in Geospatial Intelligence was presented to Bryan Goltry, an analyst at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). NGA Director Letitia A. Long and Dr. Todd S. Bacastow, professor of practice for geospatial intelligence at Penn State University, presented the award to Goltry on the main stage directly following Long’s keynote address.

    “The Murphy award committee felt that Bryan’s independent studies made an exceptional contribution to understanding the principle dimensions of the geospatial intelligence profession,” said Bacastow.

    Goltry is a geospatial analyst with NGA’s Analysis Directorate, and recently completed Penn State’s master’s degree program in homeland security with a GEOINT focus. Goltry began his GEOINT career with Earth Satellite Corp., where he assisted with NGA’s GeoCover project. He then served as an imagery analyst at NGA from 2002 to 2006. In 2006, he worked in the private sector with 3001 Inc. as a program manager providing imagery and geospatial analysis services to customers in the Intelligence and Defense Communities. Goltry received his bachelor’s degree in geographic sciences with concentrations in GIS, global studies, and environmental studies from James Madison University.

    “Goltry’s contributions to NGA and his tradecraft continue the high standards established by the Murphy Award,” said Mark Brender, executive director of the DigitalGlobe Foundation. “We congratulate him for his excellent work and passion for his industry.”

    The Murphy Award is named for Navy SEAL Lt. Michael P. Murphy, a distinguished Penn State alumnus. Murphy was killed June 28, 2005, by enemy forces during a reconnaissance mission in Afghanistan. For his selfless leadership and courageous actions, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. The award, in his honor, recognizes achievement by a Penn State graduate student who is serving or has served in the U.S. Armed Forces or U.S. Intelligence Community. Recipients are
    chosen based upon demonstration of exceptional contributions to the discipline after completing Penn State’s Graduate Certificate in Geospatial Intelligence, as part of the university’s Master of Geographic Information Systems program.
    The generosity of USGIF, the DigitalGlobe Foundation, and faculty, staff, and friends of Penn State fund the Murphy Award.

  • USGIF Chairman Stu Shea Steps Down After 10 Years of Service

    After founding the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF) in 2004, serving as its first president and chief executive officer, and presiding as the Chairman of the Board for 10 years, Stu Shea this morning announced during the GEOINT 2013* Symposium he is stepping down from his position as chairman of the foundation. The Honorable Jeffrey K. Harris was elected Shea’s successor by the board of directors at its last meeting. Harris will assume chairman duties effective immediately.

    “USGIF has grown over the past decade to become exactly what myself and the other founders envisioned for the GEOINT Community,” Shea said. “From a small gathering of intelligence professionals, USGIF has built a community around and furthered GEOINT tradecraft, fueled by the strategic direction of the Board, the talented USGIF staff, and countless Foundation members, partners, and volunteers. Our accomplishments have been a team effort, and I am so very proud to have been a part of this success.”

    Since USGIF was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) educational, nonprofit foundation in January 2004, Shea has dedicated much of his time and energy as chairman. He served USGIF in a part-time capacity, one that sometimes equaled a second full-time job.

    Under Shea’s leadership, the foundation has grown from seven founding companies to nearly 250 member organizations, awarded nearly $700,000 in scholarships, accredited eight collegiate geospatial certificate programs, and expanded the GEOINT Symposium from a fledgling event into the largest annual gathering of intelligence professionals, numbering more than 4,000 attendees annually.

    “Stu is a valuable asset to the entire Intelligence Community, but particularly the GEOINT Community,” said USGIF Chief Operating Officer Aimee McGranahan. “I’ve been a part of USGIF since the beginning, and it has been an honor every day to be a part of the Foundation’s success under his leadership. Stu’s ability to make decisions and set direction, as well as his enthusiasm and passion for national security, has driven the organization to accomplish many successes. It was these same characteristics the board carefully sought when making the decision to elect Jeff as Stu’s successor.”

    Former director of the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and undersecretary of the U.S. Air Force, Jeffrey K. Harris has contributed to U.S. national security in both government and industry for 35 years. He has fostered new technologies, programs, and capabilities that have contributed significantly toward keeping our nation secure.

    Harris is retired from Lockheed Martin, where he was a corporate officer and served as president of Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space, as well as president of Lockheed Martin Special Programs. Prior, he served as president of Space Imaging, the first company to provide commercial high-resolution satellite imagery.

    Before entering the private sector, Harris served in federal leadership positions, including Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space, director of the NRO, and associate executive director of the Intelligence Community Management Staff. In all of these capacities, he provided direct support to both the Secretary of Defense and the Director of Central Intelligence.
    Harris has received numerous awards, most notably the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal, the CIA Distinguished Service Medal, the NRO Medal for Distinguished Service, Aviation Week’s Laureate Citation, and the James V. Hartinger Award for military space achievement. He was also the 2006 recipient of USGIF’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

    USGIF is a nonprofit educational foundation dedicated to promoting the geospatial intelligence tradecraft and developing a stronger GEOINT Community with government, industry, academia, professional organizations, and individuals who apply geospatial intelligence to address national security challenges. USGIF’s mission is to build the community, advance the tradecraft, and accelerate innovation. The GEOINT Symposium is hosted annually by USGIF.

  • Tax Day Mapped: How Do States Tax Residents?

    Esri has provided an interactive state taxes story map. Using the map, you can view tax rates by state for income tax, sales tax, and property tax to see how each state raises money from its residents. You can also explore demographic information in the popups to see whether the state’s population and relative wealth affects how it chooses to tax its citizens. See below:

  • Trimble Delivers 3D Scanning Extension for SketchU

    Trimble Business Center Version 3.20

    Trimble has released the Trimble Scan Explorer Extension for SketchUp Pro, what it calls a powerful, easy-to-use tool enabling architects, engineers and geospatial professionals to create models from 3D scanning data.

    The new software connects the high-resolution field data from Trimble scanners with intuitive and powerful professional modeling software, to simplify the process of creating, accessing and sharing precise 3D models of the real-world environment.

    The Trimble Scan Explorer Extension dramatically reduces the time required to generate a SketchUp Pro 3D model from scan data, the company said. Streamlined tools and one-touch features allow users to quickly extract construction points and lines that are used as a guide to simplify and expedite the modeling process. Automated plane extraction tools further increase modeling efficiency, particularly when modeling building interiors and facades.

    For improved visual references when working with point clouds, the extension includes a simple-to-use edge extraction tool, allowing users to easily decipher important cues from the scan data directly into their model building space. Structural edges are brought into SketchUp as guidelines, and one button push displays the shell of the structure.

    “By seamlessly integrating powerful tools across our broad range of best-in-class solutions, Trimble is helping transform the way our customers work and accomplish more every day. The integrated workflow provided by Scan Explorer brings the accessibility of 3D modeling to more users for as-built analysis and design changes,” said Alain Samaha, business area director of GIS and Software for Trimble’s Geospatial Division. “Professionals can now easily create visual 3D models that provide a true representation of the environment they are working in—improving the communication, collaboration and quality of deliverable that they can provide to their clients.”

    “SketchUp’s enormous popularity as a design tool is rooted in its capacity to make many complex processes easier and more efficient,” said Chris Keating, director of the Architecture Division within Trimble Buildings Group. ”The Trimble Scan Explorer Extension for SketchUp Pro reinforces our mission to deliver SketchUp’s benefits to new users and for new uses.”

    The release was announced at SPAR International 2014, a conference for 3D data capture, processing and delivery technologies.

    Trimble Scan Explorer Extension for SketchUp Pro is available through Trimble’s Geospatial distribution network and online.

    Trimble RealWorks Version 8.1 Bridge Clearance

    Trimble Trident Version 6.1