GPS World

Tag: mobile devices

  • Scout Goes Global with GPS Navigation Powered by OpenStreetMap

    Telenav-OpenStreetMapTelenav’s free U.S. Scout for iPhone app will use the crowd-sourced and free OpenStreetMap (OSM) for all of its map data. OSM, the “Wikipedia of Maps,” offers users a more accurate and up-to-date map than what is available via commercial maps, the company said.

    The rollout of OSM starts today for some Scout users and will be fully implemented for all users by the end of this week. The company plans to switch to OSM for Scout for Android in the U.S. in June. Scout’s companion website, scout.me, is already using OSM.

    Telenav also announced today that through a rebrand of the popular skobbler GPS Navigation app for iOS and Android, Scout is now available in more than 50 app store markets with maps and navigation for almost 200 countries. skobbler’s GPS Navigation app was the first OSM navigation app in the world. Telenav acquired skobbler in January.

    With this launch, Scout is supporting a growing community of global OSM editors. The OSM community has doubled year over year to more than 1.6 million registered editors, with people mapping every country around the world, ranging from the U.S. to Germany and Lesotho to North Korea.

    The OSM crowd-sourced model enables edits to be published every minute, resulting in maps that are often more detailed and more up to date than commercially available maps. In addition to reporting traffic or accidents, now anyone using Scout can send mapping feedback directly from the app to Scout OSM editors who will let the person know once the data has been reviewed and updated.

    “As a mapping platform, OSM is a credible alternative to proprietary solutions, with the added advantage of instant updates, resulting in a more accurate and up-to-date map,” said Steve Coast, founder of OpenStreetMap and Telenav’s head of OSM. “Roads change, subdivisions are built, and freeways expand so, just like all other maps, it needs updates on an ongoing basis. Today’s launch has effectively added millions of editors to the OSM global community, breathing even more life into an already exploding free and open-sourced project. Compare this to the billions of dollars that Google has spent — and will have to continue to spend — on keeping its maps updated and I think you can understand why we have switched to OSM.”

    “This is a turning point for the mapping industry,” continued Coast. “The amount of effort and investment needed in order to provide high-quality turn-by-turn navigation using OSM crowd-sourced map data cannot be understated. We expect a significant return on our investments to create a better map platform for navigation using the free OSM. It took Telenav years of OSM community engagement, advanced algorithms, technology development, and road testing to reach a point where we felt it was ready for consumers. Now that we are here, we can’t wait for the world to try Scout with OSM. As for the global community of editors, this is true validation that their enthusiasm and passion for making a free, editable map of the world has made a dramatic impact on the evolution of maps and navigation.”

    The OSM rollout is automatic for Scout users and does not require an app update. Separately, Telenav also announced today that it has launched a Scout Maps and Navigation SDK, the first GPS navigation SDK that allows mobile app and developers to integrate OpenStreetMap-based GPS navigation and maps within their own products. The new Scout for Developers program also includes a new Scout Maps API for desktop and mobile websites using OSM, allowing developers to replace Google Maps. More information is available at developer.scout.me.

    Telenav is also sharing in the celebration of its OSM launch by kicking off a map-editing contest at scout.me/osmcontest where map editors have a chance to win various prizes including cash and tablets.

  • Avenza Releases MAPublisher 9.4 for Adobe Illustrator

    mapublisher-adobe-O

    Avenza Systems Inc., producers of the PDF Maps app for mobile and geospatial plugins for Adobe Creative Suite, including Geographic Imager for Adobe Photoshop, has released MAPublisher 9.4 for Adobe Illustrator. This latest update includes new  features such as streamlined import, support for additional formats when exporting a document to web tiles, and a new image attribute type to support images imported from the PDF Maps app on both iOS and Android platforms.

    “We’re excited to release MAPublisher 9.4 because of its continued evolution to make it even easier to create great looking maps with enhanced cartography tools,” said Ted Florence, President of Avenza. “The enhancements and features in this release have been developed from customer feedback with significant improvements to import and export interoperability. The primary focus of this release is to increase productivity for cartographers and GIS professionals by enabling them to easily and quickly import data, create high-quality map products, and easily publish or export to print and digital formats.”

    Enhancements and new features of MAPublisher 9.4 include:

    • Streamlined data import: Import (formerly Simple Import) and Multiple Data Import (formerly known as Advanced Import). Improved interface provides additional coordinate system information and easier access to format specific Adobe Illustrator options that affect how data is imported.
    • New image attribute type to store an image for each record in a layer’s MAP Attribute table. Image attributes are supported when importing from the PDF Maps app (in KMZ format) and exporting to Google Earth (in KMZ format).
    • Export Document to Web Tiles now supports MapBox and Tile Map Service map providers. A new anti-aliasing option to optimize art or type is now available.
    • New ability to export a coordinate system file for non-geospatial image formats.
    • New ability to specify grid constraints to limit the geographical extent of a Measured Grid. In addition, a new option is available for ticks to follow the line at the grid boundary.
    • New file export option to assign metadata for TAB/MIF and KML/KMZ formats. The metadata assignment option allows layer attributes to be assigned to format specific metadata fields.
    • Improved preview quality makes it easier to see how settings affect the scale bar.
    • Newly designed MAP Layer icons and feature type icons.
    • Various user interface and performance enhancements to improve usability.

    MAPublisher for Adobe Illustrator is powerful map production software for creating cartographic-quality maps from GIS data. MAPublisher tools leverage the superior graphics design capabilities of Adobe Illustrator to manipulate GIS data and to produce high-quality maps with accuracy and efficiency.

    MAPublisher 9.4 for Adobe Illustrator is available free of charge to all MAPublisher users with an active maintenance subscription and as an upgrade for non-maintenance users at US$599. New licenses start at US$1399. MAPublisher FME Auto and MAPublisher LabelPro are also available as add-ons to MAPublisher 9.4 at prices starting at US$399 per license. Academic, floating and volume pricing are also available. Prices include one year of full maintenance.

  • Smart Mapping SuperSurv Available on App Store and Google Play

    SuperSurv-2Supergeo Technologies, a provider of GIS software and solutions, has launched SuperSurv, a mobile GIS app, on the App Store and Google Play.

    SuperSurv contains comprehensive GIS data-collection functions. Designed for both iOS and Android powered devices, it integrates with GIS and GPS technologies to provide functions in field survey, such as Map Display, Query, Measure, etc. With SuperSurv, the collected data can be saved as feature layer (point, line, polygon) in SHP or GEO format in offline mode. SuperSurv supports OpenStreetMap as the base map.

    SuperSurv has been successfully applied in various industries worldwide, including environment protection, pollution prevention, and facility management. The free trial version is now available on Apple App Store and Google Play, allowing users to experience complete functions for seven days before purchase.

    SuperSurv-1For users in North America, Supergeo has released the SuperSurv M3 version to provide easy-to-use and useful data collection and map display functions. SuperSurv M3 supports feature-layer display and offline editing functions. Furthermore, cached maps can be adopted as the base map to facilitate data capture tasks.

    SuperSurv (iOS)

    SuperSur M3 (iOS)

    SuperSurv (Android)

    SuperSurv M3 (Android)

     

    Screenshot: SuperSurv, Supergeo Technologies

  • Geospatial Corp. Unveils Latest Version of Cloud-Based GeoUnderground

    Geospatial Corporation has unveiled the company’s newest version of GeoUnderground, its proprietary cloud-based GIS platform custom designed around the Google Maps API and Google Maps Engine.

    “The economic and social benefit gained through accurately locating, mapping and managing the world’s underground infrastructure assets in a systematic fashion is huge,” said Mark A. Smith, Geospatial CEO. “To accomplish this, Geospatial has developed a comprehensive suite of technologies capable of gathering accurate 3D positional data on most underground or underwater pipelines. The combination of these data acquisition technologies with our cloud-based GeoUnderground GIS platform provides our clients with a total solution to their underground asset management needs.”

    Geospatial Corporation utilizes integrated technologies to determine the accurate location and position of underground pipelines, conduits and other underground infrastructure data, allowing Geospatial to create accurate three-dimensional digital maps and models of underground infrastructure.

    The company manages the infrastructure data on its cloud-based GIS portal called GeoUnderground, its proprietary GIS platform custom designed around the Google Maps API and Google Maps Engine.

    .

  • Trimble and Infinicon Offer Surface Methane Monitoring Solution

    Trimble and Infinicon, Inc., are offering a portable Infinicon DataFID Flame Ionization Detector and Trimble SEMonitor software as a solution for surface methane monitoring of landfills. The landfill gas solution provides a more streamlined workflow for the environmental services professional, improving efficiency and reducing rework.

    The announcement was made at WasteExpo 2014, a North American solid waste and recycling tradeshow.

    In the past, field technicians had to carry notebooks, maps, plans and the sensor to locate, mitigate and audit trouble points on site. The Trimble SEMonitor and Infinicon DataFID solution combine to eliminate the need for pen and paper, increase communication capabilities in the field and improve work flow demands for field technicians, maximizing productivity and streamlining the workflow.

    By leveraging Trimble’s innovation and expertise in geospatial software solutions with Infinicon’s proficiency in portable, intrinsic safe detection equipment, environmental professionals can see increased efficiency in conducting their landfill methane surface emission monitoring, analysis and reporting.

    “Collaborating with Infinicon allows us to offer a more robust software solution while simultaneously addressing the entire environmental workflow from data collection through analysis for compliance and operational optimization,” said John Rice, general manager of Trimble’s Environmental Solutions Division. “Together, we offer the environmental industry a complete end-to-end solution for landfill methane monitoring.”

    “The Trimble SEMonitor adds a unique dimension to traditional monitoring practices by streamlining surface landfill gas data collection, analysis and compliance reporting. Communicating via the Bluetooth connection, the hardware and software solutions combine to improve efficiency, accuracy and effectiveness of surface methane monitoring,” said ChingYue Yeung, product manager for the INFICON DataFID.

  • GIS 2Go Allows for Offline Access to ArcGIS Maps from Tablets

    GPS2Go-O

    Disy Informationssysteme GmbH, a provider of GIS and reporting solutions for spatial and non-spatial data, is offering a new app and service for offline maps for tablets.

    GIS 2go allows users to save Esri’s ArcGIS Desktop maps to their tablets (iPad or Android). The GIS 2go add-in for ArcGIS Desktop supports data selection, map export and re-import via the cloud. With the app Cadenza Mobile GIS 2go installed on a tablet, users have immediate access to their maps, including all attribute data and media — even if they are offline in the field. Graphic notes and media created on the go can also be imported back into ArcGIS Desktop.

    Disy_GIS2go_2_Tablet_Szenario_Strassenwesen_englUsers can interactively navigate on the map while on the go. Moreover, it is possible to show attribute data and use the graphic notebook to add points, lines and areas or track them via GPS. This information can be complemented with photos and audio/video recordings or text notes. Data captured on the go can be imported into ArcGIS Desktop and stored to the local database or file system.

    How to save and use mobile maps on a tablet is described in 4 easy steps is at www.gis2go.com. The website also provides information on features and pricing, as well as tutorials and an FAQ.

    A personal demo account is offered  for interested users interesting in testing GIS 2go their mobile devices. The demo account is free of charge and without any obligation.

  • Mobile Device Operating System Wars: Ver. 2.0

    It’s been two years since I wrote a column entitled Mobile Device Operating system wars: Android vs. iOS vs. Windows Mobile. After traveling and attending countless conferences and listening to a large number of mobile device users in the geospatial user community, I think it’s time to touch on this subject again, and what a crazy and confusing landscape it is. First of all, let’s frame the discussion in terms of the geospatial users, because that’s the soup we swim in.

    At the end of the day, we are driven by the geospatial software we use, so this limits the type of mobile device we can select from. For example, Esri’s ArcPad runs on Windows Mobile and Windows desktop. If that’s the software you want to use, then you can’t use an Android device, an iPad, or a Windows Phone device. In another example, AutoCAD 360 for mobile, which I used a few weeks ago in the field, runs only on Android and iOS devices, not on Windows Mobile devices.

    MobileOperatingSystems_2014

    Chart Source: The Wall Street Journal, Gartner

    While it appears Android is the dominant mobile operating system of the future, it depends on who you talk to. Right or wrong, some (maybe a lot of) enterprise organizations are scared of Android. They are scared because of one word: security, or more specifically, the perception of the lack of security. Android is open source, and it scares the heck out of enterprise IT (information technology) departments. It scares some to the point that they are shutting down projects that are proposing to deploy Android devices in the field. Is the fear justified? It’s probably more hyped up than it deserves, but IT folks are pretty conservative these days.

    Where does that leave the enterprise organizations? iOS or Windows?

    Some organizations are going with iOS, but the number of enterprise geospatial apps for iOS is very limited, and most of those that exist aren’t very powerful. They can’t even deal with datum transformations. That means the hardcore iOS enterprise users are left developing their own software, which some are doing. The other limitation of iOS is the hardware device selection. Since Apple doesn’t license iOS to anyone, you have the iPad and the iPhone and that’s about it. Not much selection.

    That leaves us where we started…Microsoft Windows.

    Dell Venue Tablet
    Dell Venue Tablet

    My gut tells me that Windows is making a comeback among geospatial users, even though Windows operating system market share is minuscule compared to Android and iOS on mobile devices. Part of the reason is a plethora of high-quality, Windows-based tablets and pads. Recently, I’ve had the chance to handle some Windows-based tablets such as Dell Venue tablet and Panasonic ToughPad. They are nice tablets for field use. Thank Apple for driving manufacturers to produce good quality tablets at a reasonable price. The other part of the reason, and the major driver, is security. IT departments simply trust the security features that Microsoft provides more than iOS and Android. In the age of security breaches such as the recent Heartbleed bug, the emphasis on computer security is at an all-time high.

    Panasonic ToughPad
    Panasonic ToughPad

    Security may be the catalyst that pushes Windows back into the forefront of operating systems for the enterprise geospatial user. That’s good news for geospatial software developers. Pressure has been mounting for geospatial software manufacturers to introduce Android- and iOS-compatible versions of their software. Now, with the security issue at the forefront and the availability of high-quality Windows-based tablets at reasonable prices, developers may have some breathing space.

    But wait: Which version of Windows?

    Windows Mobile? Windows Phone? Windows Embedded Handheld? Windows Desktop? Windows RT?

    They aren’t all the same, and they all don’t run the same software. For example, software built for Windows Mobile won’t run on Windows Phone or Windows Desktop.

    Microsoft’s mobile operating system strategy has been confusing at best. In past years, it’s been clear that mobile devices run Windows Mobile. It’s not so clear any longer. Microsoft discontinued mainstream support for Windows Mobile 6.1 and 6.5 in January 2013. It’s not as bad as it sounds because in the three years I’ve owned a Win Mobile 6.5 Pro device, an update was never issued. But what it does say is that Microsoft is done with it. No new devices will be designed with Windows Mobile 6.5. However, that’s not to say that Windows Mobile devices are going away. Microsoft just renamed it to Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5, which Microsoft says it will provide extended support for until January 2020. So, all is well, just a different name.

    Microsoft’s mobile strategy has turned off manufacturers, and it shows. Given that Microsoft has stopped supporting new devices running Windows Mobile since January 2013, how many devices have you seen introduced since then that support Windows Embedded Handheld? The answer is, not that many, and the ones that do support it are handhelds selling at a premium price, upwards of $1,500 or more. That’s tough to justify when you can buy a tablet or pad for equal or less. And…..the tablets and pads are running full Windows, not the mobile, handheld or phone version so they’re able to run a greater number of off-the-shelf software programs.

    Given the above, I feel the tide is turning, at least for the geospatial user community. Windows is going to make a comeback and be the go-to operating system for mobile devices, at least for tablet and pad devices. Don’t misunderstand me though: Android and iOS will still dominate the market share numbers by far, but that’s the consumer user community, not the enterprise geospatial user community. Windows Mobile devices will still have a niche place in the geospatial user community, but I have to wonder if software makers will continue to support that environment if the sales aren’t significant enough.

    Sidebar: For those of you who feel I’ve errantly left out the discussion about ruggedized devices vs. non-ruggedized or semi-rugged consumer devices, I’ll say this. Whenever I’ve encountered an enterprise that has deployed consumer mobile devices in an industrial environment (such as iPad), it invariably answers the question about device reliability with “We’ve had very few problems.” The reality seems to be that enterprise users are taking special care of these devices in the field. Program managers are saying, “Even if each person breaks one per year, it’s still half the price of industrial devices.” The reality is that small percentages are failing.

    However, one can’t ignore the outdoor usability issue. The displays on some consumer devices don’t handle sunlight very well, and if the display isn’t sunlight readable, the device is severely limited in the field. The same can be said for wide temperature ranges. Both extreme heat and extreme cold can torture a mobile device that isn’t built to withstand that environment. Test before you deploy. Heat it up in your oven, cool it down in your freezer, and see how it behaves.

    There’s certainly a niche market for ruggedized mobile devices, but the significant price difference between those devices and consumer devices are making enterprise organizations think twice about where to spend their money. Lastly, many consumer devices are trending towards semi-rugged as manufacturers are discovering this is one way to differentiate them from the ultra-price-competitive mobile device market.

    Thanks, and see you next time.

    Follow me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/GPSGIS_Eric

  • GEOINT Coverage, Day 3: Interview with USGIF CEO, New Tech

    Kalinski-Ball-Aerospace-GEOINT-O
    Roy Nelson of Ball Aerospace discusses real-time 3D models created with flash LIDAR. See video below.

    GEOINT 2013* –  Day Three

    I had the opportunity to interview Keith Masback, CEO of USGIF, about GEOINT 2013*. He discusses new technology, future combat systems, and plans for the 2015 conference. Watch the interview here:

    I spent a good part of the day touring the GEOINT EXPO. Here are a few video clips that show technology I found especially interesting, from these exhibitors. (Scroll down to see each video.):

    Ball Aerospace: Roy Nelson of Ball Aerospace discusses real-time 3D models created with flash LIDAR.

    Consolidated Resource Imaging (CRI): Dr. Gregg Wildes discusses the company’s system of wide-area surveillance, including the WAMI, or wide-area motion imagery system.

    Solid Terrain Modeling: Mark Fisher talks about how his company creates 3D models of terrain using geospatial data sets with its special inkjet printer.

    TerraGo: Scott Lee shows off new developments with GEOPDFs on a mobile device, using the Terrago Edge application.

    Thermopylae Sciences & Technology: Jamel Monroe, engineer at Thermopylae, demonstrates the Occulus Rift 3D virtual reality glasses, with the game Half-Life 2.

  • 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.

  • 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.