Canada Centre for Remote Sensing Collects High Resolution Imagery as Part of Core Software Technology's North American Ground Station Network
Core Software Technology announced the execution of an agreement where the Canada Centre for Remote Sensing (CCRS), a branch of Natural Resources Canada, will participate in Core's North American Ground Station Network. CCRS will use its two ground stations located near Prince Albert, Saskatchewan and Gatineau, Quebec to collect high-resolution West Indian Space (WIS) imagery on behalf of Core.
      Edryd Shaw, Director General of CCRS, stated, " I am excited that we are starting a new relationship with Core to enter the era of high resolution satellites. We look forward to working with them to provide high quality reception services and to develop new applications for these images with Canadian government agencies."
      Core Software Technology is the North American master distributor for imagery collected from the WIS high resolution satellite program. Core as the responsibility to acquire, archive and distribute all WIS imagery between Canada and Panama including the Caribbean. In developing the company's North American Ground Station Network Core partnered with CCRS due to their state of the art facilities for the reception and collection of remotely sensed imagery. The agreement also facilitates access to WIS high-resolution data by Canadian Federal and Provincial Government agencies for operational use. CCRS and Core intend to explore opportunities for cooperation in other areas of mutual interest such as access to geospatial information on the Internet. All WIS imagery sales in North America will be handled through Core or one of its official channels.
      Bill Usher, Chairman and CEO of Core stated, "I am delighted we achieved in agreement with CCRS, an organization recognized as one of the world's leaders in remote sensing applications and technology. Our partnership will prove to be a major effort in promoting the multiple applications of high resolution imagery."
      WIS will be launching the first of at least eight high-resolution imaging satellites in the summer of 2000. CCRS will begin to collect imagery as part of Core's North American Ground Station Network within two months of the launch.
      For More Information Contact: Justin Holtzman, Core Software Technology, (703) 917-8700 ext. 226, [email protected] Or, visit Core at www.coresw.com. Bill Bruce, Canada Centre for Remote Sensing, (613) 996-2648, [email protected] or www.ccrs.nrcan.gc.ca

MapInfo Unveils MapXtend Wireless Spatial Technology for Delivering Enterprise Applications to Handheld Devices
MapInfo Corporation announced MapInfo® MapXtend™, an extension of the Company's 100% Java-based Web technology for the wireless Internet market. MapXtend wireless spatial technology enables organizations to deliver their enterprise applications into the hands of field workers to improve decision making and customer care.
      With MapXtend technology, companies can tap into the power of Oracle8i and Oracle Spatial and use MapInfo's MapXtreme® Web software to give field staff on-the-move "live" access to location-based data on customers and assets. With MapInfo's enterprise wireless solutions linked to centralized spatially-enabled Oracle8i databases and delivered on Palm Computing and Windows CE platforms, field workers can use their PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) to view, edit, update and save the latest information locally and centrally. The development of these new solutions is in addition to MapInfo's WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) initiatives, which together represent a comprehensive set of wireless offerings, enabling customers of MapInfo to distribute mapping capabilities virtually anywhere, anytime, and on any device.
      Cahners In-Stat Group forecasts that wireless data users in enterprise segments will multiply more than tenfold, from 784,000 in 1999 to nearly 9 million in 2003. MapXtend will be invaluable to field workers in service industries who need to access precise information on customer and facility locations. By displaying this information on interactive maps that link back to centralized databases, field workers can better assess situations, deliver the right service solutions, and update the data on the spot. . See www.mapinfo.com/mapxtend for more information

Reliant Energy Arkla Deploys ArcFM 7.2, Other Affiliates Begin ArcInfo 8 Implementation Reliant Energy Completes Two of Three Phases of Its GIS Implementation, Data Migration
Reliant Energy, one of the world's largest energy providers serving four million residential and business customers, has successfully completed two of three phases of its geographic information system (GIS) implementation, with Phase Three currently underway. More than 2,500 employees and contractors of Reliant Energy use GIS in support of providing energy to customers. Functional areas that depend on GIS include gas distribution operations, electric distribution operations, gas engineering, electric engineering, line locating, leak survey, distribution dispatching, land and right-of-way, surveying and mapping, meter reading, and street light operations. GIS applications, together with interfaces to other corporate systems such as SAP, Customer Information System, and Outage Analysis System, provide users with an extensive amount of data.
      In Phase One, ESRI worked with Reliant Energy to develop the functional requirements of the GIS gas applications. Together, ESRI and Reliant Energy then designed the corporate relational data model based on ArcFM 7.2 software and ESRI provided training on this new platform. Phase Two involved the implementation of ArcFM 7.2 at Reliant Energy Arkla. This included development of ArcFM RuleBase and data migration.
      Phase Three involves data migration and implementation of ArcInfo 8 at Reliant Energy Entex, Reliant Energy HL&P, and Reliant Energy Arkla. This phase also includes the implementation of gas application functionality needed to replace the current environment, as well as the implementation of corporate object data models and RuleBase. Phase Three is currently underway and involves the implementation of ArcInfo 8.0.2 throughout Reliant Energy, together with an interface to SAP R/3. Common, corporate object data models for land, gas, and electricity were developed, based in part on the relational data models defined in Phase One. During the functional review and gap analysis, a design specification was prepared to address how each requirement documented in Phase One was to be delivered using either custom functionality or ArcInfo 8.0.2 core functionality. Following this, the requirements were prioritized for delivery and an implementation plan and schedule was completed.

COM-Based Interoperation of ESRI ArcInfo 8 and Stoner Solvers Established
Stoner Associates and ESRI announced that the same simulation solver that powers Stoner's SynerGEE product has been implemented as a Component Object Model (COM)-component within ESRI's ArcInfo 8 and ArcFM environments.
      This accomplishment enables users of ArcInfo 8-based applications to access Stoner's solvers from within the geographic information system (GIS) application just as if the solver were part of the GIS software's native functionality. Users of GIS-based applications in functions such as design and outage management can now directly tap Stoner's solvers at chosen business process points to analyze network performance. As a result, users can work more flexibly, collaborate more actively, and perform more productively.
      Utilizing ArcInfo 8 user interface components and easy-to-use programming languages gives users the freedom to design their own user interface for accessing the solvers that reflect their needs, processes, and preferences. This assures an intuitive and natural look and feel that maximizes productivity in interacting with the solvers and in understanding simulation results.
      Stoner Solvers will be commercially released in summer 2000.

More than 10,000 Attendees Expected at ESRI's 20th Annual International User Conference
While user conference planning continues throughout the year at ESRI, preparations are now in full swing in anticipation of the company's 20th annual conference, which will be held in San Diego, California, June 26-30, 2000.
      For the fourth consecutive year, San Diego will host the world's largest gathering of geographic information system (GIS) professionals. San Diego is more than just a host city, however; it is also a longtime user of ESRI software. More than 300 San Diego organizations use ESRI's GIS software in a wide range of applications.
      Conference attendance, restricted to current users of ESRI software, is expected to surpass 10,000 this year, and more than 1,800 will attend one or more of the twenty-five preconference seminars scheduled for the weekend of June 24-25. Topics range from "Introduction to Fuzzy Logic and Applications in GIS" to "Public Sector Market Research Utilizing ArcView GIS."
      The traditional ESRI international user conference elements will all be there including an opening night gala, a map gallery, a GIS education fair, plenary presentations, many technical workshops, and an exhibit pavilion with more than 200 vendors of hardware, peripherals, services, and products for GIS users. In addition, there will be a GIS Solutions EXPO with more than 100 ESRI Business Partners who offer custom applications, commercial data sets, and consulting services to help GIS users and an ESRI demo and consultation area. More than 800 presentations addressing thirty industry areas are anticipated this year in what GIS authority Dr. Roger Tomlinson calls, "The most significant event in the GIS year."
      In order to highlight new methods for presenting and using maps, ESRI is introducing a new event this year called the Internet and Multimedia Exhibition. This exhibition will allow developers of Internet mapping applications and multimedia map presentations a perfect opportunity to showcase their work.
      In addition, there are many social events, local tours, and the GIS Kids Camp with sessions for students from kindergarten through twelfth grade.
      For more information, please visit Web site at www.esri.com/events/uc or contact user conference information tel: 909-793-2853, ext: 1-1363; fax: 909-307-3128; e-mail: [email protected].

Merrick Wins Weld County Internet Mapping Project
Merrick & Company, Aurora, Colorado announced the firm has been awarded a contract with Weld County, Colorado to provide Internet Mapping Services for the distribution and display of GIS data on the world wide web. Merrick will also provide data hosting and maintenance of the Internet data for Weld County. Additionally, the firm has completed another Internet Mapping Solution for the City of Marietta, Georgia using ESRI's MapObjects and ArcView IMS products.
      For More Information Contact: Gary Outlaw, (303) 751-0741, 303-745-0964 FAX)

Intergraph Teams with RTSe (USA) to Provide Spatial Metadata Management System for GeoMedia
Industry-leading metadata tool now available for GeoMedia customers.
      Intergraph Corporation announced that it is teaming with RTSe formerly Enabling Technologies - to provide the company's industry-leading geospatial metadata tool, Spatial Metadata Management System (SMMS), to Intergraph's GeoMedia® customers worldwide. Developed by RTSe, SMMS for GeoMedia integrates spatial metadata capabilities within GeoMedia. The product allows customers to capture metadata elements quickly and directly from spatial data maintained in disparate sources within an organization or across the enterprise. SMMS for GeoMedia accesses spatial data formats and types stored across the full range of data warehouses supported by GeoMedia. File formats supported include MGE, ArcView, ArcInfo, Oracle, AutoCAD, MicroStation, and other formats for geographic information systems (GIS) and computer-aided design (CAD).
      The ability to store and use spatial metadata from a centralized repository dramatically increases the value of spatial data warehouses. SMMS for GeoMedia provides tools to search for, query, and directly access spatial data holdings from within the users' GeoMedia environment. Standardized reports and graphic displays can also be generated to support data discovery across an intranet or Internet environment.
      Available in Q2 2000, SMMS for GeoMedia is fully compliant with the metadata content standard of the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) and with the "Biological Metadata Profile" of the National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII). These FGDC standards are also gaining recognition among national governments worldwide.
      For more information about SMMS for GeoMedia or the location of a sales representative, contact Intergraph at 1-800- 791-3357, visit the company's Web site at http://www.intergraph.com/gis, or contact Nils Sorenson, senior vice president of sales at RTSe at (425) 895-1920 or [email protected].

ESRI Plans Global Distribution of LizardTech's MrSID and Expansion Into the Internet
LizardTech™ Inc., a developer of imaging technologies, and ESRI, announced they have formed a strategic relationshipfor the global distribution of LizardTech's product lines. ESRI will market and sell LizardTech's product lines both domestically and internationally. The strategic relationship between the two companies also includes the creation and promotion of software bundles, especially in regards to the distribution of massive geospatial imagery and data via the Internet.
      This announcement significantly enhances the existing relationship between the two companies. LizardTech and ESRI have been working together for more than three years to create solutions that make working with GIS raster imagery more powerful and extremely efficient. Today, LizardTech's MrSID™ Imaging Language is supported by ESRI's suite of GIS software, including ArcView GIS and ArcInfo software lines.
      FOR MORE INFORMATION: Laura Dodd, LizardTech, 206.652.5211 [email protected]

FME® 2000 ships with powerful spatial data utilities
Universal Data Viewer, Workbench and more included with FME 2000 -
      Safe Software announced the release of FME 2000 data translation and spatial processing software. FME 2000 now allows data to be moved between over 55 leading GIS, CAD and database formats. New formats include S-57, SpatialWare, Tiger, SDTS, and DTED.
      "FME 2000 leverages our core technology to provide customers with not just a powerful data translation solution, but a suite of powerful interoperability tools," said Dale Lutz, VP of Product Development at Safe Software, Inc.
      Along with the proven data translation capabilities that FME is known for, FME 2000 software products will also ship with: FME Universal Viewer: A utility that allows quick previewing of diverse data sets. The FME Universal Viewer gives access to both geometric and attribute information.
      FME Universal Reader: An ArcView Extension that allows direct view and import of data into ArcView. All the data types supported by FME are available.
      FME Workbench Technology Preview: A graphical programming environment that allows users to configure the flow of data from a source format to a target format. A wide variety of spatial processing functions can be applied during the translation.
      FME Objects API: A programming interface to all FME facilities that allows developers to add FME reading, writing, and data processing capabilities to their applications. Languages supported in the initial release include C++, C, COM, Java, and ArcView Avenue.
      FME Plug-in Developer Kit API: A programming interface which enables third parties to add support for new data formats/systems and processing capabilities to the FME Core. Once added to the FME core, these facilities become available to all FME applications.
      Visit www.safe.com for more information.Dalyce Hamilton, 604-501-9985 ext 224 [email protected]

LIZARDTECH'S TECHNOLOGY NOW AVAILABLE IN smallworld Spatial Object manager
LizardTech™ Inc.,a developer of imaging technologies, announced the integration of its MrSID Imaging Language into Smallworld's Spatial Object Manager (SOM) 2.0, which began shipping this month. With this integration, SOM users can now seamlessly access drastically reduced MrSID image files without the need for translation or conversion.
      MrSID™ Imaging Language is the leading image format for GIS professionals today. MrSID's wavelet-based imaging technology enables the efficient viewing and transporting of large images. Smallworld's SOM enables different business units within an organization to share information without having to incur lengthy and costly migration or translation cycles. SOM also allows users to directly integrate CAD and spatial data files into any Smallworld application. With this integration, Geospatial professionals will be able to work with large raster imagery within Smallworld's suite of products regardless of the physical location of the data, when it was captured or by what means. With MrSID's ability to enable massive imagery for GIS professionals, it is much easier for Smallworld's customers to work with and manage aerial and satellite photographs, scanned maps and other forms of large, high-resolution geospatial imagery.
      Additional information about the Seattle-based company can be found on the World Wide Web at www.lizardtech.com. LizardTech Europe is located in the Netherlands and can be contacted at: LizardTech Europe B.V., Hullenbergweg 379- 5th/6th Floor, 1101 CR Amsterdam Z.O., Netherlands. Phone: (31) 20 365 69 60, Technical Support (31) 20 365 69 61, e-mail [email protected].

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