In coordination with Google, Esri is providing replacement software and training to customers and partners using Google’s enterprise geospatial technology.
NT Concepts, an experienced Google integrator, is announcing a new partnership with Esri to help customers that have implemented Google Earth Enterprise and Google Maps Engine make a smooth transition to the ArcGIS platform with minimal interruptions to their operations.
Esri is a longtime provider of geospatial solutions to the defense and intelligence communities and has developed more than 40 specialized applications for their use.
“NT Concepts has mapped the functionality of Google to Esri’s ArcGIS platform. The current users of Google’s enterprise geospatial products will find the Esri platform to be a key option for meeting their geospatial requirements,” said Chris Powell, chief technology officer at NT Concepts.
For Google Earth customers that would like to transition to the ArcGIS platform, Esri is offering the new ArcGIS 10.3.1 for Server and related client/app technology. In addition to other advanced functionality, these will allow users to publish 2D data, 3D buildings, and KML files throughout the enterprise.
“Esri is delighted to have NT Concepts as our trusted partner for this important work,” said Patty Mims, Esri director for intelligence. “The company provides key skills needed to work with both Esri and Google technology.”
DJI’s M100 is designed for developers to test their applications.
UAV maker DJI has announced a suite of products designed to help developers research and test new applications for aerial technology. The company also announced the DJI Guidance system, a commercially available collision avoidance for aerial platforms.
The DJI Matrice 100 (M100) is a new quadcopter specifically created for developers to test new hardware and software solutions for the sky. The system includes everything needed to fly with minimal assembly time and no need for tuning or programming the platform to get it in the air.
With multiple communication ports, power supply leads, and expansion bays, peripheral hardware can be mounted to the system and access a flight data and control mechanisms. The platform can fly for 20 minutes with a 1kg (2.2 lbs) payload, but can be configured with an extra battery compartment to provide up to 40 minutes of flight time with a diminished payload capacity.
The M100 also incorporates DJI’s signature Lightbridge video transmission technology that is open to the DJI Inspire 1 Zenmuse X3 camera and gimbal, as well as any camera with HDMI or analogue video output. This makes it simpler than ever to stream live images to smart devices using DJI Pilot app from a variety of sensors, including near infrared and thermal.
“The M100 makes it easy to add processors, sensors and other equipment, opening the possibilities for how people use aerial technology in across industries,” said Frank Wang, CEO and CTO of DJI. “We’re excited to see how researchers and developers will use this platform to test how aerial technology can be used for agriculture, inspection, search and rescue and several other fields.”
Also announced is the DJI Guidance system, a commercially available collision avoidance for aerial platforms. Using a network of ultrasonic sensors and stereo cameras, Guidance identifies when an aerial platform is close to objects at a range up to 20m (65 feet) and will prevent flying close to the objects at a configurable distance, as well as providing centimetre visual positioning stabilization above the ground).
Guidance can mount to the DJI M100 or any other robotic system with USB and UART connection ports.
Both the M100 and Guidance system have software development kits (SDK) that allow developers to read flight data and control flight functions both through mobile applications and on board.
Research teams are already using the M100 and Guidance system for unique applications, including an aerial solution created at Fudan University in Shanghai that uses Intel processors to detect illegally parked cars from the air.
DJI also announced SDKs for the company’s leading aerial platforms, the DJI Inspire 1 and Phantom 3. The SDK for the Inspire 1 and Phantom 3 make it easy for software developers to create applications to control the world’s aerial imaging platforms.
“DJI has already made flight more accessible than ever before, but with our expanding developer suite we are making aerial innovation open to anyone with a creative vision,” said Andy Pan, DJI’s vice president of Ecosystems. “Using our high-performance aerial platforms and easy-to-use development kits, the possibilities for aerial technology for researchers and developers are endless.”
The M100 and Guidance system are available for pre-order at $3,299 and $999, respectively. They are scheduled to begin shipping by the end of June. Given the focus on research and development of these systems, a special discount will be offered to academic institutions.
The SDK for the Phantom 3 and Inspire 1 are available to download, along with more information about the M100 and Guidance system, at dev.dji.com.
Boundless, provider of open source geospatial software and services, is offering support and interoperability of QGIS 2.8.2 with OpenGeo Suite 4.6, the most recent version of its enterprise geospatial software platform.
Boundless will be discussing QGIS and OpenGeo Suite at GEOINT 2015 at Booth 2094, June 22-25.
QGIS 2.8.2 is the newest version of the open source GIS desktop application. Boundless commercially supports and packages QGIS as part of OpenGeo Suite 4.6, the latest version of Boundless’ leading open source geospatial software stack, powering web, mobile, and desktop maps and applications across organizations large and small. With this release, Boundless certifies interoperability between QGIS 2.8.2 and OpenGeo Suite 4.6 and extends commercial support for the interoperability to all OpenGeo Suite Enterprise customers.
In addition, Boundless announced the availability of several new custom QGIS plugins for Enterprise customers, designed to enhance the usability and functionality of QGIS. This release includes:
MGRS-Tools, which adds support for using Military Grid Reference System (MGRS) coordinates when working with a QGIS map
WebApp Builder, which enables QGIS users to easily build web-based applications
QGIS and OpenGeo Suite Enterprise from Boundless provide open source geospatial software designed for cost-sensitive users who still have advanced mapping and deployment requirements. Organizations with complex Enterprise needs should no longer feel locked in to proprietary software with significant license costs in order to accomplish sophisticated projects, Boundless said.
“Boundless is pleased to extend our support of QGIS as part of our commitment to making geospatial software available and easy to use for all,” noted Ann Johnson, Boundless CEO. “Every day we see more and more evidence of QGIS’s growing footprint, so we remain focused on meeting the demands of our customer base.”
Boundless offers service packages and training to help customers and free users get the most from QGIS and their OpenGeo Suite deployment. Boundless also supports a variety of deployment options, including on-premise and cloud environments such as AWS and Microsoft Azure.,
Remote GeoSystems, Inc., an Esri Emerging Business Partner, has released two new Esri-based Geospatial Full Motion Video (FMV) Inspection & Reporting Solutions: LineVision Esri ArcGIS and LineVision Esri ArcMap Add-In.
LineVision Esri ArcGIS and LineVision Esri ArcMap Add-In are open and versatile geospatial video analysis and inspection data reporting tools for the Esri platform. Both LineVision Esri versions will accept properly formatted video from a variety of consumer GPS video cameras, UAV/UAS platforms, gyro-stabilized camera systems and specialized geospatial DVRs; including the Remote GeoSystems geoDVR.
LineVision Esri ArcGIS and LineVision Esri ArcMap Add-In enables users to geospatially “navigate” a video recording by simply clicking a location along a GPS track positioned over an Esri-based map. As the video plays, a cursor moves along the GPS track, constantly indicating where the current video view was captured. If something of interest is detected in the video, users may pause and capture a geo-tagged still photo from the video.
The software can play up to four geospatially-synchronized videos at once, enhancing the capabilities of modern airborne multi-sensor HD/IR/UV gimbal cameras and terrestrial mobile mapping systems.
In addition to geo-tagged video, LineVision Esri ArcGIS and LineVision Esri ArcMap Add-in also support geospatial positioning of still photos, audio, annotations and any other digital documents. Along with the video, all these media files can be saved as a .geoProject™ file for the ultimate in data portability and simple delivery to clients.
LineVision Esri ArcGIS. LineVision Esri ArcGIS is a “stand-alone” desktop software that leverages the Esri ArcGIS platform to map, analyze and package geospatial full motion video (FMV), photos, annotations, documents, SHP files and raster imagery. It is designed for rapid adoption and ease-of-use so now anyone without GIS experience can easily view this valuable asset location-based multimedia using enterprise maps and imagery provided by ArcGIS for Server, ArcGIS for Desktop or ArcGIS Online. Users do not need to have other Esri software installed.
LineVision Esri ArcMap Add-in. LineVision Esri ArcMap Add-In offers all the same capabilities as LineVision Esri ArcGIS but as a “traditional ArcMap Add-In,” leveraging Esri’s powerful desktop GIS environment. Users will need to have Esri ArcMap software installed.
“Esri customers have been asking for a solution that simplifies post-mission geospatial video analysis and project reporting while leveraging the enterprise GIS capabilities and data available from ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS for Server and ArcGIS for Desktop. We’re excited to see that utilizing the resources available from Esri’s Startup Program, Remote Geo was able to quickly migrate their LineVision software to the ArcGIS platform,” said Kurt Daradics, EsriEmerging Business Group Manager.
“LineVision Esri ArcGIS and ArcMap Add-In are the first of many solutions to align our geoDVR, LineVision and geoProject capabilities with Esri’s technology stack,” said Jeff Dahlke, Remote GeoSystems Managing Director. “Geospatially-intelligent video is now being recognized as a corporate asset that reduces real risks and costs. Offering solutions that leverage Esri is critical as we roll out our enterprise geospatial video management offerings.”
Key features include:
Multi-channel Geo-referenced HD Video Playback
Snap Geo-tagged Still Photos from Video
Use Waypoint Navigator to Quickly Jump to POIs Identified In-mission
Mark Locations with Annotations and Attach Any Document or File
Add Local Shapefiles & Raster Data
Connect to ArcGIS Online & ArcGIS for Server
Add & Edit Documents and Files Right on the Map
Create Portable .geoProject File Packages
Pro & Viewer Editions Available
Both LineVision Esri ArcGIS and LineVision Esri ArcMap Add-In are available in Pro (Professional) and Viewer editions. The primary difference between the two versions is Pro will allow you to create and save information-rich, immersive geoProject reports with all related files, whereas Viewer is primarily designed for viewing and interacting with previously-saved geoProjects.
Progressive Technology Federal Systems Inc. (PTFS), a provider of Enterprise Content Management (ECM) solutions, has upgraded and rebranded ArchivalWare, its flagship product line, as Knowvation. PTFS will demonstrate the enhanced Knowvation ECM offering and the roles it can play in Activity-Based Intelligence at GEOINT 2015, which will be held June 22-25 in Washington, D.C.
“In response to client feedback, we have improved the Knowvation graphical user interface making it faster and easier to query and retrieve content from vast enterprise repositories,” said Dan Quinn, PTFS vice president. “Knowvation will continue to appeal to government agencies, commercial organizations and libraries.”
PTFS will demonstrate the new Knowvation ECM solution in booth #2083 at the GEOINT 2015 Symposium.
Knowvation ECM is a web-based federated search and discovery application that manages structured and unstructured content, including born-digital and digitized files, in many databases at multiple locations across the enterprise. Fully modular, Knowvation enables users to interrogate and retrieve content by searching on metadata, full text, or geospatial parameters. Searchable content includes documents, books, newspapers, video, audio, photographs and raster/vector geospatial files in all formats.
“Combining full-text and geospatial queries sets Knowvation apart from many other Enterprise Content Management systems,” said Quinn. “The geospatial search and discovery capability has made Knowvation a trusted all source tool relied upon by government agencies with large GIS and satellite imagery archives, especially in the Intelligence Community.”
Knowvation users can perform geospatial searches on data archives containing over 200 different types of file formats. Format-agnostic geospatial queries can be initiated by typing a geographic name, entering latitude/longitude coordinates or drawing a polygon on a map interface. Once the analyst has retrieved required data their ELT of choice is launched with one click to perform analysis and build timely actionable intelligence.
PTFS offers the option of deploying Knowvation as the client’s repository of record in which all content is ingested, stored, managed and searched. Or the client may keep its content in other applications and shared drives with the ECM solution deployed externally to index the information for easy search and retrieval. The Knowvation server can be located behind the client firewall or hosted by PTFS offsite or in the Amazon cloud in a Software-as-a-Service business model.
Introduced 11 years ago as ArchivalWare, Knowvation is deployed in government agencies, libraries, academic institutions, and labor unions. The largest installations are within the U.S. federal government at DoD sites.
PTFS President John Yokley and Global Marketing Insights President Dr. Shawana Johnson will participate in a video at GEOINT 2015 discussing emerging technologies in the Federal/Civilian space and Knowvation’s move into the Amazon Marketplace.
Concurrent with GEOINT, Dan Quinn will speak on GeoPDF technology at 11 am on Thursday, June 25, at the U.S. government’s 9th Geospatial PDF Working Group meeting at the Washington Convention Center.
Avenza Systems Inc., a developer of cartographic software — including MAPublisher for Adobe Illustrator and Geographic Imager geospatial tools for Adobe Photoshop — has released PDF Maps app 2.5 for iOS devices with enhanced features.
Avenza’s PDF Maps app and mobile solution is used for both personal and commercial purposes and incorporates more detailed functions commonly needed when tracking, plotting points, navigating and collecting data in areas where Internet service is unavailable. To date, Avenza’s PDF Maps app has grown its commercial side to more than 30,000 regular users.
Paired with mobile devices that use GPS, such as a smartphone or tablet, the PDF Maps app provides constant access to geographic locations without the risk of losing reception due to cell-tower proximity. Over the years, the app initially attracted the attention of recreational users such as hikers who traveled through rugged areas.
Today, PDF Maps app has developed a growing list of commercial users globally, including the military, wild fire units, search and rescue teams, and conservation groups that use the app to record data, document with images and share detailed navigation points with others quickly and easily. Based on the various types of environments the app is being applied in, Avenza has further developed its latest features based on the feedback and specifications of its users. These include:
Enhanced navigation: ability to establish both GPS position and compass.
Measurement: tools to calculate distances, size and areas.
Map use: capable of overlaying search engine results on any map for offline use.
Map Collections: convenient map searching tools including the ability to pan and zoom between maps.
Personalization: ability to load a user’s own geospatial PDF, GeoPDF, GeoTIFF, JPG and TIFF maps and imagery from a file system, Dropbox, URL or email.
“Avenza’s PDF Maps app has always been popular with the recreational groups who often use the free app for use while in the air, on land or sea excursions. The mapping resource has helped many novice and expert outdoor enthusiasts navigate through areas where most digital maps fail in the details,” said Ted Florence, president, Avenza Systems Inc. “Recently, the popularity experienced on the recreational side is now being felt on the commercial end as many organizations that work in remote areas, and require use of their own custom maps and drawings on smartphones or tablets, need the ability to locate themselves and make notations and share information on detailed maps quickly. Avenza is excited to see the growth of PDF Maps, not just as a product, but as a valuable tool that is aiding commercial users such as conservation teams and similar groups. We hope the latest features of PDF Maps app 2.5 helps make a difference in their work.”
Currently, Avenza’s vast PDF Maps app library covering maps for domestic and international destinations includes more than 100,000 maps organized by country, state and area. All maps available through the in-app iTunes-like map store offer the following capabilities:
Access and load maps through in-app purchase, iTunes File Sharing, Wi-Fi or cellular network to read maps anytime.
Access and interact with saved maps without the need for a live network connection (offline).
View your location on the PDF map using the built-in GPS device or via Wi-Fi triangulation.
Find coordinate of any location in the map, including the ability to type in a coordinate to search.
Display coordinates as Lat/Long (WGS84), Lat/Long (Map Default), Northing/Easting, or Military Grid Reference System (MGRS/United States National Grid (USNG).
Support for GeoTIFF files to create tiles similar to how a geospatial PDF is tiled.
Map rendering in higher resolution.
Overlay Google search results.
Add waypoints and collect/record information about locations, including photos.
Measure distances and areas.
Open current map extents in the Maps app.
Quickly view, zoom and pan maps using gestures (pinch, drag and flick, double tap).
Change pin colors, position and label names.
PDF Maps app 2.5 is available now on the iTunes App Store free of charge for personal and private use. PDF Maps app is also available for use with Android devices in the Google Play Store free of charge for personal non-commercial use. A Windows version is currently in public beta targeted for a release later this year. Commercial, government and academic use licensing is available for a nominal annual fee.
For more information about PDF Maps, visit the Avenza website or the PDF Maps website. Pricing of each map is set by the publisher and free maps remain free to users through the PDF Maps app in-app store.
Trimble displayed the Multirotor G4 Surveying Robot at the AUVSI Unmanned Systems Show in May.
Trimble is partnering with unmanned aircraft system (UAS) manufacturer Multirotor service-drone, GmbH. The collaboration will allow Trimble to expand its existing UAS portfolio to provide its customers with additional solutions to choose from based on their aerial imaging project needs.
Multirotor service-drone, based in Germany, is a manufacturer of multirotor systems. Trimble will be Multirotor service-drone’s exclusive provider of multirotor vehicles for aerial mapping use in surveying, construction, mining, agriculture, oil and gas, and utilities. The combination of Multirotor service-drone’s stable and reliable platforms with Trimble’s industry-leading sensor technology and workflow efficiencies will provide customers with best-in-class solutions for aerial data capture.
Unmanned multirotor systems are powerful solutions for visually documenting smaller areas, vertical structures or environments where holding position is important. High-resolution imagery, orthophotos, terrain models and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) map deliverables created from multirotor data provide valuable information for the survey, engineering and agriculture industries that Trimble serves, the company said.
“We are very excited to partner with Multirotor service-drone. At Trimble we’re always looking for ways to meet our customer’s needs and enable them to solve the complex problems they encounter every day,” said Todd Steiner, product marketing director in Trimble’s Geospatial Division. “The collaboration will enable our customers to use a technology rapidly growing in popularity due to its flexibility and productivity.”
Founded in March 2011, Multirotor service-drone quickly became a market leader in the area of professional unmanned aerial systems. In 2013, service-drone acquired competitor Multirotor and together developed the award-winning fourth-generation flight control system used in its service-drone products today. Multirotor service-drone offers a broad range of commercially used UAS within the 8 to 50 pound (4 to 25 KG) weight class. Designed and manufactured in Germany, Multirotor service-drone products are built to deliver safety, quality and consistency for professional applications, according to the company.
The Capturing Reality Forum has issued a call or papers. The event will incorporate the best of SPAR Europe and European LiDAR Mapping Forum (ELMF). Taking place at the Salzburg Congress, Austria, November 23-25, the Capturing Reality Forum will focus on the technologies of laser scanning, LiDAR, 3D data capture and modeling to provide an inspiring platform for professionals to meet, learn and share ideas with industry’s best.
Industry leaders are invited to submit technical papers to be considered for presentation. Abstracts can be submitted online until August 11. “We welcome international papers which will address recent project examples and the key commercial and technical issues but most importantly those that highlight pioneering research and developments that will impact the future development of the industry. Each abstract will be peer reviewed and we will announce the final program in September,” said Conference Chairman Alastair MacDonald (director of TMS International).
Headed up by the Diversified UK team, the forum will include a conference featuring leaders from all sectors of the industry, with an international exhibition of the latest technologies running in parallel. The event management team headed by Versha Carter, group director, has previously managed the ELMF and ILMF events and successfully launched the GEO Business show. “We are excited to be involved with the rebranding of these two very established events, which has been received as a very positive next step for the industry,” Carter said. “SPAR Europe and ELMF co-located two years ago, but continued to have separate conference programs. By merging into one, the synergy between the two events and the shared interests, challenges and opportunities will be fully realized.”
“If you are interested in data capture and imaging on the inside or outside of facilities, the tracking of utilities and monitoring of transport, or modeling external effects on the national coastline or landmass, the Capturing Reality Forum has all the ingredients of a must-attend event,” MacDonald said. “Delegates will be in the company of colleagues from all sectors of the geospatial data capture, visualization and imaging industry. And this will all be happening over three days in the wonderful atmosphere of Salzburg.”
Papers could include reports on subjects such as: Building Information Modeling (BIM); 3D for asset and facilities management; 3D data capture for as-built conditions; point cloud processing; managing and sharing large data sets; 3D/intelligent modeling; augmented reality and visualization tools; airborne, terrestrial and bathymetric LiDAR; coastal zone, defense and flood plain LiDAR; corridor and utilities mapping; data classification, GIS, data modeling/management; mobile mapping; technology development and trends; and small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS).
Running alongside the Capturing Reality forum conference will be an exhibition of more than 50 stands displaying manufacturers, software developers and service providers of 3D imaging, laser scanning and LiDAR products. As an extra benefit to delegates, many of the exhibiting companies will host workshops, providing an opportunity for more in-depth discussion.
Centrally located in mainland Europe, Salzburg is easily accessible from northern, southern, eastern and western European countries. Salzburg Congress is situated in the center of the city and provides a special dimension socially with its seasonal events and Christmas markets.
“This is an outstanding venue, which has always earned a flood of positive feedback,” Carter said. “The move to Salzburg has been welcomed by the industry and we look forward to hosting the Capturing Reality Forum in the heart of such a beautiful historic city.”
Screenshot of a mobile mapping service integrating USGS topographic data; hiking and biking trails south of Golden, Colo. Imagery with road and contour data overlaid via AlpineQuest.
Are you a developer, firm, or organization using mobile or web applications to enable your users? The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has publicly available geospatial services and data to help your application development and enhancement.
The USGS’ National Geospatial Technical Operations Center (NGTOC) will be hosting a 30-minute webinar on “Using The National Map services to enable your web and mobile mapping efforts” on June 16 at 9 a.m. MT.
Screenshot of a mobile mapping service integrating USGS topographic data; hiking and biking trails south of Golden, Colo. Trail data in KML/GPX overlaid via AlpineQuest.
This webinar will feature a brief overview of services, data and products that are publicly available, a quick overview on how AlpineQuest, a leading private firm, is leveraging this public data to benefit their users, and a Question & Answer session with a USGS developer to help you get the most out of the national geospatial services.
“This is an opportunity from NGTOC to bring developers and users together for some demonstrations and starting some dialogue,” said Brian Fox, the NGTOC Systems Development Branch Chief. “The webinar format allows us to improve awareness of USGS geospatial services and develop a better understanding of what users and developers need to make our data and services more available and usable.”
To access the webinar, you’ll need to activate Cisco WebEx and call into the conference number (toll free) 855-547-8255 and use the security code: 98212385. The webinar will display through WebEx.
Use this system diagnosis to ensure that you have the appropriate players installed for this WebEx enabled webinar.
The session will be recorded and closed caption option is available.
Click here to find out more about this and other NGOC webinar conferences.
Esri President Jack Dangermond is asking for geospatial professionals to provide illustrations for his opening presentation at the 2015 Esri User Conference in July.
“Each year, the Plenary Session provides an inspiring overview of the state of geospatial technology today, and one of the best ways to illustrate that is by sharing examples of your work,” Dangermond writes in an email. “I invite you to submit up to three images for us to consider including in the presentation.”
Dangermond said he is interested in:
Maps that helped make a decision
Maps that helped with collaboration
Maps that helped communicate
High-quality cartographic displays
3D visualizations
Built environment
Nature landscapes
Cartography (statistics)
Maps that illustrate spatial analysis, modeling, and science
Web maps
Image submissions must be received by Friday, June 12, via Esri’s online portal.
The conference will be open with keynote speeches by Chris Cappelli (Esri Inc.) on “The Age of the Location Platform: How Mapping and GIS are Transforming the Work Environment” and Prof. Georg Gartner (TU Wien, Vienna University of Applied Sciences), president of the International Cartographic Association, on “The Future of the Map – the Map of the Future.”
“The agenda for the INTERGEO conference in Stuttgart is packed with exciting topics that are the focus of ongoing political debate on the digital world and will play a key role in shaping the way we work in future,” reads a statement by INTERGEO. “With keynote speeches and plenary talks delivered in English and simultaneous interpreting provided for one strand of the conference on the second day, it is clear that INTERGEO is also becoming increasingly significant on an international scale.”
The major topic of discussion at 2014’s INTERGEO remains a key part of the conference this year — INSPIRE examines geo-issues from a European perspective, providing practical examples and focusing on further development of the European directive. Other central themes include geodata as a basis for construction management and land development, a major concern for future development at regional and local level, as well as issues relating to property markets and valuation. These subjects are all crucial when it comes to discussing the “smart cities” and “smart villages” of the future, according to INTERGEO.
Another highlight of INTERGEO in Stuttgart this year will be the panel discussion on the second day on “Geospatial Information – A Key Element for Emerging Markets.” The high-profile panel of speakers include Bengt Kjellson (UN-GGIM Europe), Ola Rollen (Hexagon), Steve Berglund (Trimble) and Chris Cappelli (Esri Inc.).
A further key topic at the conference that is set to have a profound effect on the working world is geoinformation and mobility. DDGI and DVW will be addressing this together and discussing practical examples in two event strands.
The contributions on big data will focus on the rapid development of data capture, processing and presentation as well as the direct integration of data into business processes. Geoinformation as an element of networked processes is a subject of major international significance, as evidenced by the conference’s high-profile speakers. “In terms of digitization, the conference will be key to paving the path to Geospatial 4.0 and the networking of digital geodata,” said Prof. Karl-Friedrich Thöne, president of the event’s host, DVW, adding, “INTERGEO is the ideal forum for creating processes that could eventually benefit the entire value-added chain.”
As important as data may be in the digital world, it is also crucial to have the right visualization concepts in place. This will be demonstrated through presentations on the German Cartographers’ Day, which will form part of INTERGEO this year.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has begun production of higher level (more highly processed) Landsat data products to help advance land surface change studies. One such product is Landsat surface-reflectance data. Landsat satellite data have been produced, archived, and distributed by the U.S. Geological Survey since 1972.
Surface reflectance data products approximate what a sensor held just above the Earth’s surface would measure, if conditions were ideal without any intervening artifacts (interference or changing conditions) that may come from the Earth’s atmosphere, different levels of illumination, and the changing geometry of the view by the sensor from hundreds of miles above the Earth. The precise removal of atmospheric artifacts increases the consistency and comparability between images of the Earth’s surface taken at different times of the year and different times of the day.
Surface reflectance and other high-level data products can be requested through the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center by accessing the EROS Science Processing Architecture (ESPA) interface. Surface reflectance data are also available using the USGS EarthExplorer; select “Landsat CDR” under the tab for datasets. More information on Landsat surface reflectance data is available at the USGS Landsat website and in an updated USGS Fact Sheet.
Data users in many different fields depend on basic Earth observation information from the USGS to conduct broad investigations of historical land surface change that cross large regions of the globe and span many years. Accordingly, this community of users requires consistently calibrated radiometric data that are processed to the highest standards.
