From the Publisher
By Roland Mangold

From the Publisher
By Roland Mangold

Happy Millennium!

If you are reading this in the January 19oops! 2000 time frame, or sometime there after, then you and most of the systems we have come to rely upon have survived the millennium relatively unscathed. By the time this issue of EOM is published, printed on modern printing presses run by computers, delivered by the U.S. Postal Service with its automated systems, and most of the other technological luxuries and necessities we have come to depend upon are operating nominally.
      I am one of those of the mind that the Y2K Bug will pass us by with little more effect than a hangover. In which case, what will be our next "boogie man?" We, as a society, spend so much time, money and energy to prevent, avert, mitigate, and recover from disasters and the threat of such, that maybe . . .just maybe this is the "killer app" (no pun intended) we have all been looking for the GeoTechnologies.
      I've probably been naive to think that the proliferation of "disaster" application articles crossing my desk recently have been coincidental - but frankly I see no end to them. Last issue of EOM it was the primary focus, this month we have an article dealing with how remote sensing, GIS and satellite communications are used in forest fire applications, but the same combination of technologies are designed to address Command, Control, and Communications operations for any given disaster.
      The potential for the GeoTechnologies to be of benefit in the "disaster" business is enormous: FEMA will be spending hundreds of millions of dollars to update their flood maps. The private sector is beginning to invest heavily in this technology and government agencies here and around the world will collectively invest billions in the application of the GeoTechnologies in disaster situations.
      On the other hand, is this another example of "knee-jerk" marketing on the part of this industry? Is the disaster application the "flavor of the month" destined to join other highly touted applications for this industry such as agriculture, environment, petroleum and mineral exploration to name a few? Don't get me wrong, I am still very bullish on all those markets. However, what concerns me is that we lack the fundamental market research to effectively determine the ideal markets for our products and services, and what needs exist within these markets that can be solved using the GeoTechnologies.
      In Y2K, if our systems are still functioning, we at EOM will endeavor to address this issue of lack of market intelligence. Starting in 2000, EOM will begin conducting the GeoTech Census.
      The GeoTech Census will telephone survey every respondent and lead generated through EOM, Modern AG, The GEMI Store, and lists from a dozen industries as to who they are? What industry are they in? What is their job function? What type of software they use (MS Office to MapInfo to AutoCAD to ARC/Info to Microstation)? What type of mapping information do they currently use? What is the nature of their projects? What type of information do they need for their projects (Land Use, Land Cover, Elevation, Demographic, Streets, Parcels, Building Heights, Change Detection etc.)? What is the size of their projects (from a city block, to a county, state or entire country)? Are we missing something, let us know?
      The GEOTECH Census will be an ongoing telemarket research effort to ensure that the industry has its "fingers on the pulse" of the many markets for the GeoTechnologies. This will ensure that we are aware of trends within various diverse markets spread over different regions of the US as well as the world. It is extremely difficult for any one organization to ensure access to that type of market intelligence, EOM invites sponsors and participants to ensure that the GeoTech Census provides the type of market intelligence this industry needs to reach its true potential. Those wishing to participate, please contact me via e-mail listed below.

Here's to the new Millennium!

Cheers!


Roland Mangold
Publisher, EOM
E-mail: [email protected]

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