| From the Editor
By Greg Thomason And the winner isÉ I always take note when, at some unexpected moment, I read or hear about new ways the various GeoTechnologies are being applied. In the June issue of EOM we had a brief announcement on Bosche's development of GPS-guided headlights for cars. Who would have imagined?
With all the new, innovative applications for the GeoTechnologies, it strikes me as appropriate to announce periodic winners of the "EOM High Visibility" award. This phantom award will go to the company succeeding in establishing a uniquely visible presence in either the trade or popular press. The set of criteria for this award will vary as widely as the recipients and the type of press exposure they succeed in achieving. Nominations will gladly be accepted. Send your press clip or citing report to my attention, care of EOM (see our masthead for complete address and e-mail information).
That said, I would now like to announce our first EOM High Visibility award recipient. Over the past few days the partners behind TerraServer have achieved extraordinary visibility in the press and on the Internet in an effort to establish awareness surrounding the "biggest data base ever created." Promoters of the TerraServer Web site have taken every measure to assume an omnipresent status as chronicled in USA Today, various Internet news services, e-mail, and phone messages.
The concept of placing satellite imagery out on the Web is good for every vendor offering digital data to the marketplace. The fact that the program is backed by the heaviest hitter in the digital world, namely Microsoft, won't likely hurt the prospects of TerraServer becoming a huge success. According to Nathan Myhrvold, chief technical officer for TerraServer, the early data found at www.terraserver.microsoft.com will be great for schools and students. (Imagine, in the not too distant future: an entire generation initiated in the uses for, and interpretation of, remote sensed imagery.) Eventually, the database will carry more current data, with finer resolution-its promoters claim. As the next generation is becoming familiar with satellite imagery and its many applications, it is also likely that they will possess the necessary skills to perform ground truthing and georeferencing tasks using GPS. That is, if they are avid viewers of the Discovery Channel.
While channel surfing recently, I came across a Discovery Channel show for children in which the host was leading the young viewers on an adventure. To my amazement, he wasn't instructing them on the finer points of establishing a compass bearing. Rather, his audience was learning how to use a GPS hand held receiver to find their way along an imaginary path.
I believe the industry has turned the corner in terms of establishing an educated user base equipped to apply the theories and technologies being pioneered today in the GeoTechnologies.
In this issue of EOM, we continue to explore some of the groundbreaking ways the GeoTechnologies are being applied. Learn how the transportation industry is finding cost-effective uses for combining GPS with LiDAR technologies. Dean Pottle reviews the Asset Maintenance Management program spearheaded by John E. Chance & Associates, Inc.
Qualcomm, a world leader in cellular phone service, is finding the accuracy inherent in SPIN-2 data of great benefit in locating sites for placement of its cellular phone relay antennas. Read why the DEMs produced from this satellite imagery provide savings in time and money.
It's unofficial, but a stated fact, that the Colorado Front Range holds the title as the capital of the GeoTechnologies. Discover why and find out what one county is doing to promote this image.
William Blake once wrote, "Great things are done when men and mountains meetÉ." Turn to page 24 to learn about a group of scientists, with help from Trimble Navigation, who have given new meaning to these words through their efforts to gain a better understanding of the geologic forces that create the World's tallest mountain.
Thanks for making EOM your source for news in the GeoTechnologies. Greg Thomason Back |
