| Surdex Chooses Z/I Imaging as Automatic Triangulation Software Supplier
Z/I Imaging Corp. announced that Surdex Corp. has selected ImageStation Automatic Triangulation (ISAT) 2001 as its automatic triangulation (AT) software. Since 1954, Surdex has provided a wide range of geo-spatial services for municipal, county, state, federal, and private agencies interested in the acquisition of accurate geo-spatial data, GIS applications, and enterprise solutions for their respective markets.
ISAT 2001 is an innovative AT package that delivers well matched, multi-ray tie points by using built-in bundle adjustment during all phases of the image matching operation. ISAT 2001 includes the following features:
* GPS/INS data processing
* Footprint selection that lets users graphically select footprints of photos/models/blocks/strips
* Unlimited project size using sub-blocks
* Seamless Applanix POSEO support
* Camera calibration
* Automatic parameter selection and analysis for self-calibration.
Additionally, ISAT 2001 provides fully automated aerial triangulation, from interior orientation to the determination of tie points, to the final block adjustment analysis. The software features a built-in, comprehensive block adjustment and full editing tools.
Z/I Imaging Corp. provides open Microsoft Windows-based imaging solutions, including aerial cameras, stereo softcopy workstations, analytic stereo plotters, photogrammetric scanners, and image management, processing, and distribution software.
For further information, please contact Rachel Rogers at Z/I Imaging, Huntsville, Ala. Tel: (256) 730-8051. E-mail: [email protected].
M.J. Harden Associates Inc. Announces New Projects
The Government/Utilities Division of MJH announces the following new projects and developments:
* Lincoln Electric Systems (LES) will migrate from their existing CableCAD system to ESRI's ArcGIS 8.1. MJH joins with Miner & Miner to provide database translation services for LES. To date, MJH has successfully completed the initial test-model pilot and also a full translation of the LES service area as a final test of the conversion procedures.
* MJH has partnered with Miner & Miner to provide data translation and implementation services for the city of Ames (Iowa) Electric Department (AED). MJH will be responsible for migrating data from CableCAD to ArcFM 8.1.
* Empire District Electric Company (EDEC), an investor-owned electric utility that provides electric service in a 10,000 square-mile area covering parts of southwestern Missouri, southeastern Kansas, northwestern Arkansas, and northeastern Oklahoma, has selected MJH to provide GIS/OMS consulting and implementation services.
MJH is currently assisting EDEC with the vendor selection process and creation of an implementation plan to guide the utility in the follow-on phases. MJH is a geographic information technology firm specializing in photogrammetric mapping, GIS, and information technology services including Web-based geospatial information centers.
For further information, please contact Doug Leibbrandt at M.J. Harden Associates, Inc., 1019 Admiral Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64106. Tel: (816) 889-1150. E-mail: [email protected].
TOBIN International Adds West Coast Office
As part of its expansion throughout the West Coast region, TOBIN International Ltd. has opened a new office in Seattle, Wash. This office is headed by Rob Hathaway, who is responsible for managing all client accounts located in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska, as well as Canadian accounts in British Columbia and Alberta.
TOBIN International Ltd. provides geo-business information systems utilizing map data and decision support software, with markets in oil and gas, forestry, and state and local governments.
For further information, please contact Paul Hackleman at TOBIN International. Tel: (949) 646-4490. E-mail: [email protected].
ESRI and Partners Kickoff Digital City E-Government Tour
ESRI has announced the fourth installment of its popular Digital City seminar series. Beginning a 20-city tour in November 2001, the Digital City E-Government Edition will focus on the importance of integrating geographic information system (GIS) technology into e-government and present examples of best practices in Internet applications, data warehousing and exchange, and field force automation.
The company's partners in this endeavor include Compaq Computer Corp., Tele Atlas North America, Microsoft, and American City and County magazine. The purpose of this series is to give new and existing GIS users a broader perspective on how e-government applications can deliver more information faster, improving customer service in a seamless and coordinated manner. Managers and technology professionals at state, county, city, township, and regional agencies, as well as educators and consultants in the private sector, are invited to attend these seminars.
Attendees will see demonstrations of cutting-edge technology for e-government and can test-drive them in the special hands-on technology track. There will also be a managers' track that features the latest technology updates. Included in the test package are the following ESRI products:
* ArcSDE for data warehousing and data distribution
* ArcIMS for Internet and Intranet applications
* ArcPad, an automation tool for field operations
* Geography Network, the company's flagship GIS data portal.
Recognizing the importance of integrating third-party data sets into government Web sites, Tele Atlas will discuss how governments are using these data sets for economic development and routing. Compaq will present its range of hardware and integration services for e-government services, and Microsoft will demonstrate its enabling platforms, from scalable enterprise servers such as Windows 2000 Datacenter and SQL Server 2000 to new desktop and mobile experiences provided by Windows XP and Pocket PC.
Each of the seminar sponsors offers specially priced Digital City promotions of their respective products. For more information about the seminars, dates, and locations, visit the Web site at www.esri.com/localgov and click on the "Digital City" button.
ESRI is a developer of GIS software and provides a full line of consulting, implementation, and technical support services.
For further information, please contact Nancy Sappington at ESRI, Redlands, Calif. Tel.: 909-793-2853. E-mail: [email protected].
ERDAS(r) Unveils New Automated DTM Extraction Capability
IMAGINE OrthoBASE Pro(tm), a new ERDAS IMAGINE(r) add-on module that automatically extracts DTMs (Digital Terrain Model) from imagery, is now available from ERDAS(r). IMAGINE OrthoBASE Pro is an upgrade to IMAGINE OrthoBASE(tm), a digital photogrammetry system that reduces the time and costs associated with creating ortho-accurate images for a GIS through increased automation and innovative block triangulation techniques.
IMAGINE OrthoBASE Pro uses sophisticated and rigorous artificial intelligence techniques to automatically extract elevation information from imagery. Digital image-matching techniques, commonly used for machine vision, automatically identify and match image points that appear on overlapping areas of a stereo pair (i.e., left and right overlapping images). Once the correct image positions have been identified and matched, the elevation for the ground point is automatically computed. All of the extracted 3D ground points are subsequently used to create a digital terrain model.
In addition, IMAGINE OrthoBASE Pro provides the following capabilities:
* Automatically saves extracted DTMs as raster digital elevation models (DEMs), triangulated irregular networks (TINs), ESRI 3D Shapefiles, or ASCII output files
* Extracts, subsets, and mosaics individual DTMs for an entire project area, encompassing hundreds of images with one click
* Supports the extraction of DTMs from aerial photography, satellite imagery (IKONOS, SPOT, IRS-1C), digital, video and 35mm camera imagery
* Digitizes specific geographic areas to define output DTM extent
* Computes detailed accuracy information that is stored in an output DTM accuracy report.
For further information, please contact ERDAS by telephone at (404) 248-9000 or by visiting the company's Web site at www.erdas.com.
Earthstar Releases TerraColor World Upgrade
Earthstar Geographics recently released TerraColor World version 1.5, an update to its high-resolution, color-shaded terrain and bathymetry images of the Earth. Version 1.5 features new images that include global snow and ice cover, plus new plug-ins to use these images in ArcGIS(tm), Autodesk(r), MapInfo(r), PhotoShop(r), and various other products.
TerraColor World is useful for creating colorful world or regional base maps in geography education, geologic and bathymetric studies, and many more disciplines. Images are derived from several public-domain data sources including one-kilometer DEM data and 3.5-kilometer bathymetric data.
TerraColor World images are delivered in the ECW compressed-image format that was developed by Earth Resource Mapping. Over 20GB of world and regional images are provided on a single CD-ROM in a variety of map projections, accompanied by a detailed user's guide.
For further information, please visit the Earthstar Geographics company Web site at
www.es-geo.com.
NovaLIS Technologies Releases Maintenance Solution for ESRI's GeoDatabase
NovaLIS Technologies is working with ESRI to provide a broader selection of map maintenance solutions. The company's Parcel Editor 8.1 software will be combined with ESRI's ArcGIS 8.1 (using GeoDatabase technology), a pairing expected to appeal especially to mapping professionals who require a complete parcel mapping solution.
NovaLIS Technologies' Parcel Editor 8.1 features a series of highly customizable workflow palettes to aid in the productivity of property and street centerline maintenance within the ESRI GeoDatabase. Other planned features for this release include parcel split, parcel merge, subdivision entry, snake attribution, and support for addressing. The software will also include a number of default workflow panels to provide specific functions to mapping professionals. Also, administrators can lock down palettes to ensure that all users within an organization update maps by the same method. Parcel Editor 8.1 is scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2002.
NovaLIS Technologies, owned jointly by ESRI and Leica Geosystems, specializes in land-records software and services.
For further information, please contact Gina Stack at NovaLIS Technologies, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Tel: (902) 423-1800. E-mail: [email protected].
Intermap Announces Getmapping plc as NEXTMap Britain Partner
Intermap Technologies Inc. has signed a NEXTMap Britain subscription agreement with Getmapping plc, an aerial photography company based in the United Kingdom. NEXTMap Britain is Intermap's full-coverage digital mapping product for Great Britain, which will provide the first-ever, homogenous digital elevation model (DEM) of the entire country. Data will be collected in the winter of 2001/02, and DEMs are expected to be ready for distribution by April 2002.
The detailed, high-resolution digital elevation models supplied by Intermap will be used by Getmapping for precision rectification (removal of mapping errors) of the aerial photography that comprises the Millennium Map(tm).
Getmapping plc was established in 1998 with the specific aim to produce the Millennium Map, an aerial photography that, for the first time in history, photographs every part of the U.K. from the air at a standard scale suitable for the production of highly accuracy map products. This historic photo set has been applied to professional and consumer applications such as map updating, environmental analysis, regional planning, and even coffee table books.
Intermap Technologies is a commercial supplier of digital elevation models. DEMs create highly accurate digital maps of the Earth's surface for use in a wide range of applications that include planning and engineering projects, air and auto navigation systems, and to enrich digital images from satellite and airborne systems.
For further information, please contact Garth Lawrence, Intermap Technologies, 9785 Maroon Circle, Englewood, CO 80112. Tel: (303) 708-0955. E-mail: [email protected].
DIME(tm) Software Now Available on GSA Schedule
Positive Systems(r) Inc. was recently awarded a General Services Administration (GSA) contract to allow government entities to more easily purchase DIME(tm) (Digital Images Made Easy) software. This five-year contract is effective immediately and places DIME software directly on the U.S. government's GSA schedule.
DIME software is designed to provide an alternative to traditional methods of mosaicking, geo-referencing, and color balancing for all kinds of digital imagery. Using feature-matching technology, DIME uses automated methods to combine numerous frames of scanned film or digital camera aerial photography, plus digital camera or satellite imagery, into a single picture. In addition, DIME provides a suite of tools to help correct color imbalances specific to airborne and satellite imagery. DIME's tools help prepare imagery to be used efficiently in GIS, CAD and Image Processing applications.
For further information, please contact Dale Johnson at Positive Systems Inc., Whitefish, Mont. Tel: (406) 862-7745. E-mail: [email protected].
Maryland County Hires PlanGraphics to Reengineer Business Processes
Anne Arundel County (Md.) has awarded PlanGraphics Inc. a contract to analyze the land-use business processes of the county's department of planning and zoning, and the department of inspections and permits. PlanGraphics will reengineer seven core business processes that include zoning, subdivision tracking, and permitting. Based upon this reengineering, PlanGraphics will prepare a set of functional system requirements that will be used to purchase a new and integrated information technology management system. The proposed system will integrate work and data flow into a single, cohesive system to improve these departments' business efficiency. The new system and business processes will be fully integrated with GIS for mapping and spatial analysis capabilities.
PlanGraphics Inc. is a systems integration company that provides services in the design and implementation of spatial information technology such as GIS.
For further information, please contact Drew Leatherby at PlanGraphics, Frankfort, Ky. Tel: (502) 223-1501. E-mail: [email protected].
DeLorme Launches New Aerial Photography Software
DeLorme has announced the availability of XMap PhotoFlight, a software tool for aerial photographers, photogrammetrists, and surveyors that automatically lays out accurate aerial photography flight plans. XMap PhotoFlight uses a corrected USGS digital elevation model (DEM) to accurately position flight lines and optimal photo trigger points to ensure that the desired photo overlap is achieved.
XMap PhotoFlight creates a mission plan over a specified geographic region. Once the planner specifies a geographic polygon, flight line bearing and photo scale, the application looks at the digital elevation data to determine the altitude and placement of each flight line to ensure the proper side-to-side overlap and scale. After the flight lines are set, the trigger points for the photos are calculated. The elevation data is again used to calculate the proper overlap along each flight line.
DeLorme's XMap PhotoFlight comes complete with reference maps that feature scanned USGS 7.5-minute digital topographic maps of the entire United States, available either in 2D or 3D scale. Reference mapping software includes DeLorme's 3D TopoQuads, available by state or region, or TopoUSA version 3.0.
DeLorme is an industry leader in digital mapping and location technologies. For further information, please contact Kelly Gordon at DeLorme, Yarmouth, Maine. Tel: (207) 846-7111. E-mail: [email protected].
USDA Signs Department-wide Site License for ESRI GIS Products
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has purchased a department-wide site license for ESRI software. This blanket purchase agreement (BPA) will enable the USDA to extend the functionality of ESRI GIS throughout the entire organization.
The BPA will provide a complete enterprise suite of ESRI's GIS software to all USDA agencies. The agreement includes the roll-in of legacy software currently within the U.S. Forest Service and other USDA agencies. GIS software applications and extensions from ESRI include ArcInfo, ArcEditor, ArcView, and ArcIMS, all of which provide an array of Internet-aware solutions, browsers, and mobile devices.
Established in 1862 with a mission to acquire information on subjects connected with agriculture and make it available to the American public, the USDA is using GIS to help achieve this mission in the 21st century. No other technology synthesizes and displays complex agricultural, natural resource, environmental, demographic, and socioeconomic information and relationships as completely or intuitively as does GIS. This agreement will help the USDA workforce provide more efficient and timely services to related government agencies, and to the public at large.
With 29 agencies and staff offices, the USDA serves the country through agencies such as the USFS, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Farm Service Agency (FSA), Rural Development Agencies, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Agricultural Research Service, and many others. The agencies' activities deal with spatial data about soil, water, air, plants, animals, land ownership, demographics, and socio-economics.
ESRI is a developer of GIS software and provides a full line of consulting, implementation, and technical support services.
For further information, please contact Nancy Sappington at ESRI, Redlands, Calif. Tel.: 909-793-2853. E-mail: [email protected].
Team GeoMedia Responds to Geospatial Technology Growth in Mainstream IT In response to geospatial technology becoming more of a mainstream endeavor within the information technology (IT) world, Intergraph Mapping and GIS Solutions is responding to this growth by expanding its Team GeoMedia program.
Team GeoMedia provides a global partnership framework for companies and individuals focused on the development, sales, marketing, and support of geospatial industry products and solutions based upon Intergraph's GeoMedia(r) technology. Team GeoMedia is targeted at consulting firms, systems integrators, data providers, resellers, enterprise software/solutions providers, and development partners who wish to expand their geospatial business. Strong growth is projected for such emerging areas as wireless and location-based services.
Program levels include the following categories:
* Team GeoMedia Subscriber -- Any company or individual with at least one license of any GeoMedia product may become a member of the subscriber program. This membership level is most appropriate for end-users with internal application development teams, and education or research labs.
* Team GeoMedia Registered Solutions Provider -- First introduced in Europe, this program is available worldwide for leaders in specific industries, territories, or applications in the geospatial area who are authorized to resell Intergraph technology.
* Team GeoMedia Registered Solutions Center -- In parallel to the aforementioned category, this program is designed for non-reselling business partners, primarily for systems integrators, consulting companies, or data providers.
* Team GeoMedia Strategic Partner -- Strategic Partners are selected to form strategic alliances between Intergraph and global enterprise software/solutions providers, data providers, consulting firms, systems integrators, and development partners.
* Team GeoMedia Certified Developer -- This designation indicates an expert skill level in desktop or Web areas. An individual may become a member by attending a Developing Desktop Solutions course or a Developing Web Solutions course, passing a GeoMedia Developer Aptitude test, and maintaining his or her status by retaking the aptitude test every two years.
* Team GeoMedia Certified Trainer -- This level requires a thorough knowledge of GeoMedia or GeoMedia Professional as well as training skills. Trainers must attend either the GeoMedia User course or the GeoMedia Professional User course, pass the Product Knowledge Assessment test, and update trainer status with each new product release.
* Team GeoMedia Certified Consultant -- The new Certified Consultant program requires long-term commitment, outstanding skill sets, and broad experience in the mapping and GIS industry. A successful applicant must be a Certified Developer for at least six months, with at least three years of proven GeoMedia development experience and three successful project references.
Intergraph Mapping and GIS Solutions offers geospatial products in the field of cartography, and enterprise-wide mapping and GIS.
For further information, please contact Intergraph (Huntsville, Ala.) by telephone at (800) 791-3357 (U.S.A.), (256) 730-7191 (international), or via the company's Web page at www.intergraph.com/imgs.
HJW to Update San Francisco Base Map
HJW GeoSpatial (HJW) Inc. has been chosen by the city of San Francisco to produce citywide orthophotographic maps. This new mapping project is designed to update the original 1"=100' orthophotos that HJW produced for the city in 1993. Prior to that first base map project, HJW produced orthophotos on an emergency response basis, which proved to be of great assistance in San Francisco's recovery efforts after the Loma Prieta earthquake. Aerial photography was flown in early September 2001, just prior to the national tragedy that prompted stringent FAA restrictions on commercial air traffic.
HJW GeoSpatial Inc. is a provider of custom services that include aerial photography, photogrammetry, digital orthophotography, topographic and planimetric mapping, remote sensing, and GIS.
For further information, please contact Shel de Zabala at HJW, Oakland, Calif. Tel: (510) 638-6122. E-mail: [email protected].
EarthSat Announces Strategic Investment in Forest One
Earth Satellite Corp. (EarthSat) has agreed to acquire a controlling interest in Forest One Inc., a company involved in the remote sensing field and focused on solutions and Web technologies to the forestry and natural resources industries. Under the terms of this agreement, Forest One will retain both its offices in Chicago, Ill. and Jackson, Miss., and will open a joint office with EarthSat in Washington, D.C.
Forest One's satellite- and GIS-based tools are used in forestland monitoring, appraisal and harvesting analysis. Some of its tools include:
* F1.Guard -- a remote sensing software that analyzes satellite images to remotely monitor changes in forestland
* F1.Cruise -- a Web-based system that provides digital aerial photographs, satellite imagery, and GIS tools for forestland appraisal.
Earth Satellite Corporation specializes in the application and development of remote sensing and GIS for the exploration, development, monitoring and management of the Earth's resources. Among the company's areas of expertise are oil and mineral exploration, worldwide crop monitoring, and land-cover change mapping.
For further information, please contact Robert Winokur at EarthSat, Rockville, Md. Tel: (301) 231-0660. E-mail: [email protected].
DigitalGlobe Successfully Launches QuickBird Imaging Satellite
DigitalGlobe announced the successful launch and deployment of the QuickBird high-resolution remote sensing satellite. Once operational, QuickBird will provide the highest resolution, commercially available, satellite imagery and the foundation for a wide array of information products. The satellite was launched at approximately 1:00 p.m. MDT October 18, 2001, on a Delta II launch vehicle from Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
QuickBird was launched into a 98-degree sun-synchronous orbit. Shortly after the launch, a DigitalGlobe ground station received a downlink signal confirming that the satellite successfully separated from the launch vehicle and had automatically initialized the onboard processors. The QuickBird satellite continues to perform flawlessly.
After an on-orbit calibration and commissioning period of about 90 days, QuickBird will begin acquiring 61-centimeter (two-foot) resolution panchromatic (black and white), and 2.44-meter (eight-foot) multispectral (color) imagery. At 61-centimeter resolution, buildings, roads, bridges and other detailed infrastructure become visible. The imagery will be used for a wide range of applications, focusing on the assessment and management of land, infrastructure, and natural resources. QuickBird will collect an industry-leading 16.5-kilometer (10.3-mile) swath of imagery that enables greater collection of large areas. QuickBird is the first in a constellation of remote sensing satellites DigitalGlobe will launch in the coming years.
For more information, please contact: Chuck Herring - Media Relations - [email protected] - 800.496.1225 or at their Web site: www.digitalglobe.com HOME |
