| 3D Nature, LLC announced that World Construction Set Version 5.3 is now shipping.
This exciting new release makes WCS available to Macintosh artists while adding new features for GIS professionals and interactive developers. WCS 5.3 is a free update for registered WCS 5 users.
The big news with this release is support for the Apple PowerMac. Support for Microsoft Windows (NT/2000/98/ME) on Intel, Athlon and Alpha computers has also been improved. The feature set is identical on the Microsoft Windows and Macintosh platforms.
WCS 5.3 offers many improvements and new features. The enhanced Data Import Wizard now recognizes DXF vector colors and allows more flexibility when importing ArcView Shape files. The Atmospheric Editor has improved control over volumetric atmospheres for dramatic haze, fog and crepuscular ray effects. The powerful WCS Texture Engine now offers pixel smoothing for image-based terrain modification without stepping artifacts.
WCS can now export edited terrain data and realistic texturing to create exciting real time 3D applications in interactive games and on the internet. Improved OpenGL Views can now show edited terrain in real time. New Illustrator file support makes it easy to integrate WCS renderings into realistic maps.
WCS 5.3 also encompasses the complete, extensive feature set from the initial WCS 5 release.
For more information, contact: 3D NATURE LLC, 5740 Olde Wadsworth, Unit C, Arvada CO 80002, Phone (303) 659-4028, Web: www.3DNature.com
NOAA Uses IKONOS Imagery to Map and Study U. S. Coral Reefs
Space Imaging announced that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA, Washington, D.C.) and its partners in coral reef mapping have purchased more than $350,000 of CARTERRA imagery collected by the IKONOS satellite. The imagery will be used to map, measure and, potentially, monitor U.S. shallow-water coral reef ecosystems in the Caribbean and the Pacific Rim.
NOAA's study is a result of an executive order signed by President Clinton on June 11, 1998. The intent of Executive Order 13089 is to "preserve and protect the biodiversity, health, heritage, and social and economic value of U.S. coral reef ecosystems and the marine environment." The IKONOS remote sensing satellite was launched in September 1999 and provides NOAA with a new technology to understand the coral reef habitat.
The Executive Order also established the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force. In March, the Task Force released a National Action Plan to Conserve Coral Reefs, which 'lays out a carefully considered, science-based road map to healthy coral reefs for generations to come.' For more information visit: http://coralreef.gov
Dr. Steve Rohmann, a physical scientist for NOAA, and colleagues from other federal, state, university and private organizations have nearly completed coral reef mapping activities in the U.S. Caribbean and are initiating similar activities in Hawaii, especially the northwest Hawaiian Islands. More than 60 percent of the United States' coral reef ecosystems are located in the Hawaiian archipelago. Of the estimated 17,000 square kilometers of coral reef areas in U.S. waters, only about eight percent have been meticulously mapped. Rohmann's project includes the use of IKONOS one-meter resolution panchromatic and four-meter resolution multispectral imagery to evaluate and map these areas. NOAA research has shown that IKONOS imagery has been found to have a depth penetration of up to 30 meters in clear water.
"The IKONOS satellite can be pointed to minimize sun glint over water and maximize sunlight penetration and bottom feature visibility," said Rohmann. "That capability, combined with its spatial and spectral resolution, makes IKONOS a powerful tool in any effort to produce accurate, georeferenced maps of coral reef ecosystems."
Rohmann goes on to say that, "Regardless of the imagery source, mapping coral reef ecosystems is a challenging proposition. Waves, clouds, materials suspended in the water, water depth and sunlight affect the ability to see, much less identify bottom features. In many cases, little is known about the islands and atolls where coral reefs occur. As a result, any effort to characterize the bottom features of these remote locales will take time. Mapping coral reefs also requires funding. In Fiscal Year 2000, NOAA received approximately $1 million to map coral ecosystems. At this time, it is uncertain what we will receive in FY2001."
Satellite technology from IKONOS holds promise for other coral reef-related activities. Monitoring the condition or health of coral reef ecosystems over time is an important application of high-resolution satellite imagery. Another untested use of high-resolution satellite imagery is the assessment of the impact of hazardous material spills and shipwrecks on coral reefs.
For more information about Space Imaging, visit their Web site at http://www.spaceimaging.com.
For more information about NOAA visit their Web site at http://www.noaa.gov
Kodak and Skyline to Develop Joint Business Initiatives for 3D Earth Imagery
Eastman Kodak Company's Commercial & Government Systems (C&GS) business unit and Skyline Software Systems of Waltham, MA, announced a strategic agreement where Kodak will offer to its customers Skyline 3D earth imagery products and services.
Kodak and Skyline will develop, launch and execute a business plan to market a variety of imaging products and services over the course of the five-year agreement. Both companies intend to leverage each other's technology, services, database, brand recognition, and distribution channels for a variety of Internet, commercial, and consumer markets for earth imagery.
Under the agreement, Kodak will feature Skyline's 3D earth visualization technology exclusively on its new Kodak Earth Imaging Products (EIP) Web site which can be found at http://www.kodak.com/go/earthimaging.
"We are very excited by the potential that Skyline's technology represents because they stand out as the only complete solution for efficient creation and delivery of 3D digital earth imaging information over computer networks, including the Web," said Carl A. Marchetto, president of C&GS. "Our strategic partnership will enable customers to view the earth in an extremely innovative way."
Using proprietary algorithms, unique programming methods, and patented rendering software, Skyline technology overcomes four major technical challenges to presenting earth imagery on the Internet:
* Patented streaming technology delivers high-volumes of 3D image data over the Internet or direct from CD-ROM and DVD;
* Ability to manipulate massive 3D image databases, unlimited by size of area or level of detail;
* Rendering 3D images in real-time on a standard PC platform without special hardware;
* Ability to overlay any amount of geo-referenced data onto the 3D terrain to deliver a unique visual information environment.
For more information, contact Eastman Kodak Company, Nate Boyer, Director Worldwide Sales, KEIP, 1300 N. 17th Street, Suite 1040, Arlington, VA 22209, 703-558-3710 (voice), [email protected]
LEICA INTRODUCES WORLDWIDE SATELLITE DIFFERENTIAL GPS SERVICE FOR GIS APPLICATIONS
Leica Geosystems announced an important enhancement for the GS50 family of GIS/GPS receivers with the addition of an optional real-time satellite (RTS) differential module that provides submeter positioning accuracy anywhere in the world.
The Leica RTS module works with the Racal LandStar system. Racal LandStar is a satellite-based precise positioning service that transmits differential GPS corrections via geostationary satellites to subscribers in more than 40 countries. With a network of continuously operating reference stations around the world and 24-hour manned control centers, Racal LandStar is the most extensive wide-area DGPS network operating today.
"The RTS differential option provides real-time submeter accuracy in areas not covered by land-based DGPS services," stated Stig Pedersen, GIS market business manager for Leica Geosystems. "We are now able to offer our GS50 users a wide range of choices for reception of DGPS data, including Coast Guard beacon broadcasts and GSM cellular networks, as well as the Racal LandStar satellite system."
The RTS package consists of a small lightweight satellite receiver that mounts directly on the side of the main GS50 unit, and a combined GPS/DGPS antenna unit. The RTS module is now available with all new GS50 units. Existing GS50 sets can be easily field upgraded with the RTS module. The RTS option, along with a variety of Racal LandStar subscription packages, can be purchased from Leica selling units and dealers worldwide.
For more information, contact Leica Geosystems Inc., 23868 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance, CA 90505
Java Location Services web site is re-launched to promote Java and GIS technologies
ESRI has joined forces with Sun Microsystems, Inc., to develop a first of its kind Web portal providing users with a central Web location for accessing a treasure trove of information about location services. The Java Location Services web site (www.jlocationservices.com) has been re-launched to promote the importance of Java and GIS technologies as foundations to successful location services.
Location services are applications that deliver location-based information where and when it is needed. Users can access these services via the desktop, Web browser, mobile phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), pager, or other device. Diverse applications include fleet tracking, emergency dispatch, sensor monitoring, customer location for target marketing and advertising, roadside assistance, stolen vehicle recovery, navigation, directory services, and more.
"We've developed the Web site to provide useful information about value-added services for business, government, and consumer markets," says Jack Dangermond, ESRI president. "Location services utilize large amounts of detailed geographic data, and we believe with ESRI's geographic technology and industry knowledge, the Java Location Services Web site provides businesses in many diverse markets with unique, meaningful solutions."
According to ESRI officials, the re-launching of this Web site is an idea whose time has come with the recent convergence of the Internet, wireless communications, portable devices, and other technologies that will provide information to meet the demands of an increasingly mobile society. By 2002, it is estimated that 50 percent of the total workforce will be mobile, and total wireless Internet users will surpass wired users. The Yankee Group forecasts that by 2003, one billion people worldwide will use a Web-enabled mobile device. An estimated 80 million of those devices will be equipped with location capabilities either in the device itself accessing the global positioning system, via a wireless network, or some hybrid of the two.
Simply knowing where you are is not enough. Relating location to other pertinent information is where the real value is. For example, knowing that you are a mile from a facility may help to know you are getting closer, but getting valid driving directions that are sensitive to changing conditions, and can tell you what other facilities can be found along the way, is truly valuable.
For more information, contact. ESRI on the World Wide Web at www.esri.com.
LH Systems appoints new distributor in Thailand, Cambodia and Laos
LH Systems has appointed ESRI (Thailand) Co., Ltd. as its exclusive distributor in Thailand, Cambodia and Laos of its product lines for generating geospatial data from imagery, including airborne sensors, scanners and photogrammetric workstations.
ESRI (Thailand) Co., Ltd. offers a total solution in GIS, which includes installation and systems integration, as well as providing services in digital map production, GIS applications, remote sensing and other geomatics areas. Based in Bangkok, ESRI (Thailand) employs approximately 120 staff, many with over 10 years' experience in GIS. ESRI (Thailand) also distributes several related product lines, including ESRI software and Leica Geosystems surveying and GPS products.
LH Systems, LLC, is a joint venture company of Leica Geosystems and BAE SYSTEMS Mission Solutions. LH Systems designs, develops and manufactures a range of products and software-based systems for the acquisition, processing and maintenance of imagery and precise geospatial information, primarily from airborne and satellite imagery. LH Systems was founded on 1 June 1997 to take over the Leica photogrammetry and aerial camera systems business on a worldwide basis and the commercial photogrammetry systems business of the Helava Associates, Inc., subsidiary of GDE Systems. Product lines include aerial sensor systems (RC30 film camera; recently introduced ADS40 airborne digital sensor; PAV30 gyro-stabilized mount), flight management system (ASCOT), post-processing of airborne GPS (Flykin Suite+), photo interpretation equipment (ST4, TSP1), analytical plotters (SD2000/3000), triangulation software (ORIMA), feature collection software (PRO600), photogrammetric scanner (DSW500) and digital photogrammetric software (SOCET SET®, DODGER). Headquartered in San Diego, California, USA, LH Systems operates a distribution channel consisting of direct outlets and appointed representatives. The direct outlets comprise subsidiary companies in Heerbrugg (Switzerland), London, Paris, Berlin, Tokyo, Madrid and Sydney, and sales offices in Denver and Singapore. The appointed representatives form an expanding network of exclusive third party distributors trained in and committed to LH Systems products. LH Systems competes effectively in the systems business, stressing flexibility and fast response as it provides its customers with solutions for precise information from imagery. The company's systems provide users in over 75 countries with the latest production tools for precision mapping to support engineering, telecommunications, environmental, planning and other land-related information applications.
For more information contact Stewart Walker, LH Systems, LLC, 10965 Via Frontera San Diego, CA 92127-1703, USA, telephone (858) 675-3335 x112, fax (858) 675-3345, e-mail: [email protected], Web www.lh-systems.com.
Axion Spatial Imaging and VistaScape Technology Sign Strategic Alliance and Marketing Agreement
Axion Spatial Imaging, Inc. and VistaScape Technology Corp., announced the signing of a Strategic Alliance and Marketing Agreement.
Under the terms of this agreement, Axion will be embedding its decompression and image processing capability onto VistaScape's AP-100TM Appliance Platform. "This adds a tremendously powerful capability to Axion's proven line of Advanced Digital Mapping Technologies," said Markus Lemke, President and Chief Executive Officer of Axion. "This technology enables us to offer to the $6.5 billion annual GIS/RS market a revolutionary solution to the increasing problem of bandwidth, storage, and manipulation of large image datasets, which are being used by more and more industry sectors in their daily operations".
"The agreement between VistaScape and Axion represents an important opportunity for VistaScape's AP-100( Appliance Platform to set new standards in storage and image distribution," said Emma Morris, Chief Executive Officer of VistaScape. "We recognize Axion's technology leadership in the GIS/RS market. The combination of their application and our platform will deliver greater efficiency and productivity to the GIS end-user."
Under the terms of the agreement, both Axion and VistaScape will be marketing this product worldwide. Pursuant to this agreement the two companies will share revenues and Axion will be issuing 1,300,000 shares to VistaScape.
For further more, contact: Markus Lemke President & CEO, Axion Spatial Imaging Inc. Email: [email protected] or visit, www.axionspatial.com www.vistascape.com
Kodak Earth Imaging Join Forces with DeLorme to Drive E-commerce Solutions for Aerial Imaging on the Internet
Kodak's Commercial & Government Systems (C&GS) division announced that Kodak Earth Imaging Products (EIP) and DeLorme Inc., have linked together to provide world class web imaging technology and web mapping application expertise online. Advanced geographic web mapping systems developed by DeLorme Inc. powers Kodak's new EIP Web site at: http://www.kodak.com/go/earthimaging.
DeLorme has provided the geocoding tools required making it possible to quickly locate and purchase Kodak's high-resolution aerial images over the Internet through the EIP Web site.
The remote sensing industry is heading into a major transition geared towards receiving and purchasing images electronically on the Internet. "Kodak will continue to align our world class position in imaging with participants that reflect the best from their markets. DeLorme brings outstanding map application software to our portfolio. Our goal is to make image accessibility and usage of vital geospatial imagery obtainable both quickly and accurately" said David Ledgerwood, vice president of Kodak C&GS.
"DeLorme is very pleased to partner with Kodak on this advanced aerial imaging site. Both companies are utilizing cutting-edge technology to bring this state-of-the-art application to mapping enthusiasts around the world," said David DeLorme, CEO, DeLorme, Inc. "Businesses, large and small, will use aerial imagery to realize productivity gains and address the increasingly complex needs of the architecture, engineering and construction community."
For more information contact David Parkes, Kodak C&GS., at 716-253-5438 or by e-mail to [email protected]. , or Rita Yavinsky, Delorme, at 207-846-7000, ext. 2402 or by e-mail at [email protected].
Intermap Launches New Business Initiative With $3.8 Million Contract
Intermap Technologies Inc. announced it has signed a $3.8 million US contract with EarthWatch Incorporated, one of the largest commercial satellite companies in the United States, to supply precision digital mapping data for its new Quickbird satellite.
"Images and DEMs resulting from this project will provide, in digital form, the world's most advanced, accurate and consistent maps on a nationwide scale," said Brian Bullock, Intermap President and CEO. "We are delighted that our customer for these precision geocoded images is our long-time business partner EarthWatch."
EarthWatch, of Longmont, Colorado, will be collecting Quickbird satellite images of high-growth urban centres in the U.S. Intermap Technologies will supply EarthWatch with digital elevation model (DEM) data that will allow the creation of precision satellite image products for these areas.
"Intermap has a strong heritage of photogrammetric mapping and airborne radar experience, making Intermap the company with the commercial capacity to meet our worldwide demand for accurate, low-cost digital elevation models (DEMs)" said Herb Satterlee, President and CEO of EarthWatch.
"With the Quickbird satellite scheduled for launch in mid-November, we wanted to position ourselves to be able to provide our Distributor network with quality, precision data," Mr. Satterlee added.. "The DEMs that will be provided by Intermap will be used to create precision Quickbird products, and are therefore vital in meeting an increasing global demand for precision maps".
Intermap expects to begin work on the contract immediately after EarthWatch launches its Quickbird satellite. The Intermap DEMs will also be made available to the commercial market through Intermap's GLOBAL Terrain™ store.
Mr. Bullock said Intermap has just completed a detailed market analysis of its core business, "and this contract represents an important endorsement for one of several initiatives defined in that study, namely the provision of high-resolution data to improve the accuracy of satellite images. Intermap also expects that new products, such as high resolution satellite images fused with Intermap's detailed DEMs, will meet the needs of a growing 3D visualization market." He added Intermap is the only mapping company with the commercial capacity to meet world demand for accurate, low-cost digital elevation models (DEMs).
Mr. Bullock said the EarthWatch agreement brings the value of STAR-3i contracts Intermap has signed this year to over $7 million, a 38% increase over the total of all STAR-3i contracts signed during the 1999 fiscal year. "The company is very encouraged by market response to our new initiatives. We can expect increased sales as satellites collect more worldwide data."
Intermap Technologies is building a global database of digital elevation models (DEMs). Intermap digital maps are used in a wide range of applications including planning and engineering projects, in navigation systems, and to enrich satellite images. Working for governments and private industry worldwide, Intermap's STAR-3i IFSAR radar system maps large areas accurately, quickly, and can acquire data in overcast or dark conditions. Intermap generates maps, DEMs and orthorectified images in highly automated production facilities. Map products are available at the Company's GLOBAL Terrain (www.globalterrain.com) e-commerce Internet site.
For more information, contact: Brian Bullock, President & Chief Executive Officer , (303) 708-0955, Ext. 202
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