| 3Di Announces Strategic Partnership with Datria Systems
Geographic data company 3Di, LLC (3Di - Easton, MD) announced the formation of a broad strategic partnership with speech-to-data application software leader, Datria Systems, Inc. The two firms will pursue joint marketing and business development opportunities throughout the industry. 3Di will use Datria's technology to collect and incorporate voice generated field data into Geographic Information Systems for mining, utilities, telecommunications and other industries. Datria's VoCarta* technology has already been successfully incorporated into 3Di's VoiceLogger* solution, an industry-wide tool used to reduce logging time in mining drill programs and populating field databases into a Geographic Information System (GIS).
The strategic partnership provides robust speech-enabled applications for 3Di's customers "The real winner in this partnership is the customer - making decisions with up-to-the minute GIS information is necessary for the dynamic industries we serve. With Datria technology behind the solution, 3Di's client gets faster, more accurate data for improved decision making," said Monty Deel, President and CEO of 3Di. The companies will work together to decrease the cost of field data entry in GIS systems by offering an integrated solution. Datria's VoCarta* product will be marketed as a value-added component with 3Di's GIS solutions and applications. Clients can now gather information by speaking it directly into their database rather than using the conventional pen and paper system or typing into a laptop. VoCarta, Datria's patent pending technology, has the ability to incorporate multiple technologies such as speech, GPS, and wireless data devices to greatly enhance the mobile field workers' job.
"We're really excited about this partnership," said Jim Blaha, President and CEO of Datria Systems. "3Di and Datria's strategic partnership will expand Datria's market reach and broaden 3Di's GIS solutions package options. Our relationship with 3Di allows Datria to support its vision of being the premier mobile speech application provider to solution partners."
For more information, contact: www.3dillc.com., or www.datria.com,or Doug Broujos, 3Di, LLC, 410.770.6120, [email protected]
Tobin International and Kodak Win Aerial Imaging Business To Support Land Mapping Project In Russia
Tobin International, Inc. (Delaware) and Eastman Kodak Company announced that their combined aerial photo lab proposal has been approved by the World Bank's Land Reform Implementation Support Project (LARIS) for implementation later this year in Russia.
The LARIS project contract will expand the aerial photographic lab capabilities of the Cartographic Production Centers in Moscow and Omsk and provide necessary aerial photographic materials. Tobin, with an established presence in Russia, is the prime contractor and is responsible for product installation and customer interface.
The World Bank reports that the main objective of LARIS is to accelerate the implementation of land reforms by introducing a uniform land registration system in Russia. The project will support the development of an automated land registration system, a supplemental land registration program, development of land cadastre mapping and provision of training and technical assistance for land valuation.
Tobin, with over 70 years of aerial mapping experience, offers a broad range of services in mapping, remote sensing, global information systems, photogrammetric engineering, software/hardware integration, and data storage management. Tobin has been providing aerial mapping services in Russia since 1993, primarily for the oil and gas industry.
For LARIS, Kodak will be delivering aerial film and related products to Tobin for use at the Cartographic Production Centers in the cities of Omsk and Moscow in Russia.
"This LARIS mapping program opens the door for use of color films which provide improved land use classification, a critical aspect of Russia's land infrastructure development plans," said Uszer Teigman, manager strategic planning C&GS commercial markets and C&GS business manager for the LARIS effort.
Kodak's Aerial Imaging unit is the leading provider of high-resolution aerial imaging products and services worldwide, including camera and duplicating films in black-and-white, infrared and color for topographical and structural surveys, GIS, mapping, agriculture, environmental protection, photogrammetry, land management and urban planning.
For more information, contact: Surya Dill, Stackig Public Relations, 703.342.2639 [email protected]
Florida Department of Health Selects TDS SOLO CE™
Tripod Data Systems (TDS) announced that the Florida Department of Health in Tallahassee, Florida, has takendelivery of 45 seats of SOLO CE 2.1 software. SOLO CE is TDS' real-time, differential GPS/GIS mapping software for Windows CE.
The SOLO CE software was purchased along with 45 Starlink Invicta 210 DGPS receivers, 45 Fujitsu Pencentra 130 data collectors, and 45 telescoping rangepoles with mounting brackets for all the equipment and stabilizing bi-pods. The SOLO systems will be used to survey drinking water wells throughout Florida.
"We chose Tripod Data Systems because they offer a unique package that meets our needs," said Mark Wodka, environmental manager. "The pole configuration is ideally suited for our field personnel to work hands free as they do other tasks such as collecting water samples. We found from our first purchase of 25 units that Solo Field software is user friendly and ensures accurate data collection."
"Perhaps the greatest selling point has been Tripod Data System themselves," Wodka stated, "because they have taken time to understand our needs and make adjustments that have significantly reduced the time it takes to process data into our Geographic Information System. They have also contributed to the success of our project by providing excellent support to our field staff across the state." About SOLO CE
SOLO CE is a real-time turnkey field mapping system that provides sub-meter GPS accuracy. Working with a Coast Guard beacon or satellite correction service, SOLO will provide accurate GPS positions throughout world. SOLO CE also allows data input through a comprehensive laser rangefinder interface or manually through the touch screen of the Windows CE device.
SOLO CE brings the latest technology into your GPS/GIS data collection applications. Windows CE (version 2.x or later) features an easy-to-use graphical interface with many familiar features you might already be using on your Windows-based office PCs.
SOLO CE allows you to view your existing ESRI Shapefiles, MapInfo MIF files or raster images in the field. You can refernece the database information associated with these files. Your current GPS position can be plotted against the existing data in real time, and you can then use SOLO CE to create additional features, complete with full attribution.
SOLO CE will also export data compatible with most GIS packages directly from the data collector. Supported formats include ESRI Shapefiles, AutoCAD DXF, TDS .CR5 and ASCII.
For more information, contact TDS at 541-753-9322, by fax at 541-757-7439 or by email at [email protected].
New Version of Image Manager the Cities Revealed viewer is released
The GeoInformation Group announced the release of its new image management software programme - Image Manager. The new software, free with all CRWorld image datasets, will empower the user to compare historical images and maps to see change and enable them to measure and report on that change. In addition the Image Manager enables the creation of professional image maps complete with text, logos and scale bar and in addition search and create customised gazetteers.
This represents a significant advance and departure from the simple viewer to a desktop tool that adds a management and reporting function and goes beyond other simple viewers currently on the market today. "With staff pressures so great in many organisations this new software is really like having another member of staff in your office, but one that is free and doesn't drink all the coffee!" says Dr Alun Jones, Commercial Director at The GeoInformation Group.
Users will be able to measure areas, such as new development sites, compare the areas with old maps and blend the two images to see the change. Not only will they be able to see this change but also they can then create a customised image map of that area complete with their logo and text and then print or save that map for distribution to their colleagues and other interested parties. This has great applications for those involved in planning controls, environmental change, highway planning, map making, asset management and insurance applications.
The new software will be available to all new clients of The GeoInformation Group and existing clients can simply contact The GeoInformation Group to request their copy. The software programme will continue to be provided free with all CRWorld image datasets.
For more information, contact: The GeoInformation Group, 307 Cambridge Science Park Cambridge CB4 0ZD UK, (+44) 1223 425 325 (T), (+44) 1223 425 735 (F) [email protected]
GeoConcept shows strong growth in first half of financial year
GeoConcept, a leading European publisher of PC-based geographical information systems and software, announced revenues of 2.5 million euros ($2.25 million) for the first half of its financial year 1999-2000. This represents a 73 per cent rise compared with the first six months of 1998-99. Provisional net profit was 152,000 euros ($137,000).
The company expects full year revenues to be around 5.1 million euros ($4.6 million) with growth on the French market alone of 42 per cent against an industry growth in France of 15 per cent according to IDC. Over the next two years, the company anticipates growth of more than 30 per cent a year in revenues, with a strong contribution from export markets. These should represent 30 per cent of revenues and 60 per cent of licences sold by 2001.
"The good first half results are an encouraging confirmation that we are on the right lines to achieve the planned strong growth over the next few years," said Eric Lanzi, chairman of GeoConcept. "We expect revenues of 6.8 million euros ($6.1 million) in 2000-2001 and to exceed 9 million euros ($8.1 million) in 2001-2002 through organic growth alone. We have not excluded growth by acquisition, especially in export markets."
GeoConcept's origins go back to 1990 when Alsoft SA was created to develop and market GIS software. The company has enjoyed an uninterrupted growth in sales throughout its existence and took its present name in 1998. The company is backed by well-known investors including Innovacom 2, Financière de Brienne and Galileo. Some 69 per cent of the equity is held by the founders.
For more information, contact GeoConcept (http://www.geoconcept.com)
3Di Enhances Digital Photography and LIDAR Mapping with EagleScan Acquisition
3Di, LLC announced the acquisition of EagleScan Incorporated, a Laser Terrain Mapping and Imaging company considered a leader in the emerging remote sensing market.
EagleScan, founded in 1994 in Boulder, Colorado, utilizes emerging LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and digital camera technologies to produce precision topographic mapping and digital orthophotography for clients including Dames and Moore, United States Army Corps of Engineers, the United States Geological Survey and others. EagleScan's capabilities complement 3Di's line of Mapping, GIS Professional and Remote Sensing Services by offering clients topographic and Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data collected with LIDAR - a faster and often less expensive DEM capture tool.
"This is a benchmark acquisition," said Monty Deel, President and CEO of 3Di. "The acquisition of EagleScan adds LIDAR and advanced remote sensing to 3Di's capabilities, providing broadened services, faster solutions and a fully integrated product to the 3Di client." EagleScan also has significant experience using LIDAR and digital remote sensing for highway, pipeline, shoreline, reservoir, forestry and landscape development mapping. "This is a tremendous opportunity to combine our technologies and leadership strengths for a winning strategy," said EagleScan's Verlin Fisher. "We provide the marketplace with Mapping, GIS, Remote Sensing, LIDAR and professional service capabilities combined into one company - 3Di. We offer a fully integrated solution for our customers' GIS needs. 3Di is on the fast track for industry leadership - we're excited to be a part of this team."
EagleScan has developed its own terrain data acquisition hardware and data processing software while providing a full range of laser terrain mapping and digital imaging services. Through the acquisition, EagleScan's Digital Airborne Topographical Imaging System (DATIS) will become a part of the 3Di solution. DATIS provides an integration of LIDAR, GPS (Global Positioning System), and IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) technologies. DATIS also incorporates a digital camera with the LIDAR sensor to simultaneously collect digital panchromatic images of the same mapped area.
3Di will utilize EagleScan's capabilities to collect digital, high accuracy terrain elevation data or DEMs and omplementary digital images of the terrain. This process provides capabilities to generate other products such as planimetric features, three-dimensional high-resolution image models and precision digital ortho images to supplement 3Di's complete line of geo-spatial solutions.
The addition of EagleScan brings 3Di's staff to more than 250 employees, with 17 offices in three countries. 3Di's list of acquired companies includes Photogrammetric Data Services (PDS), Earth Information Systems (EISYS), and American Geographic Data (AGD). Additional acquisitions to support and expand 3Di's capabilities are also planned.
For more information contact: Doug Broujos, 3Di, LLC, 410.770.6120, [email protected] or visit 3DI at www.3dillc.com
Dallas Teachers Credit Union Uses ESRI and IBM Solution ATM and Branch Locations
ESRI announced that it has reached an agreement to allow IBM consultants to integrate ESRI's spatial analysis software into IBM's business intelligence (BI) offerings.
"Working with ESRI will add a new visual dimension to our business intelligence solutions, allowing IBM customers to make more strategic business decisions because they can visually portray their customer base, store layouts, geographic market penetration, and driving distances from branches, for example," said Ben C. Barnes, general manager, IBM Global Business Intelligence Solutions.
Dallas Teachers Credit Union, a full-service credit union with more than 145,000 members, combined the strengths of IBM business intelligence and ArcView Business Analyst when making its presentation to the Texas Credit Union Department to upgrade its membership charter from occupation-based to community-based.
An occupation-based charter would limit the Dallas Teachers Credit Union's member base to around 250,000. By enlarging its scope to include the residents in a five-county area around Dallas, the credit union could attract 2.2 million potential members.
Dallas Teachers Credit Union uses IBM DB2 Universal Database*, IBM DB2 Intelligent Miner*, IBM Visual Warehouse* and Business Objects OLAP** to compile information on its current members and where potential members would be after the charter change. That information was then plotted on a map using ArcView Business Analyst and sent to Texas Credit Union Department officials to request the change.
"Our BI solution gives us the ability to recognize spatial patterns on branch placement more effectively, and quickly demonstrates that when presenting a planned expansion to the Board of Directors," said Jerry Thompson, vice president and chief information officer, Dallas Teachers Credit Union.
As its member base grows, the Dallas Teachers Credit Union averages two new locations per year. More factors come into play than just the number of members when building a new branch. Sometimes the new branch needs to alleviate high traffic patterns at an existing branch.
"We just opened a new branch in a suburb that is relatively close to a branch that was overloaded," Thompson said. "We wanted the drainoff. We mapped out intersecting circles from the branch locations showing two to three miles of overlapping members. We estimated a 20 percent drainoff, and I think we've got about 25 percent from the old branch using the new branch."
Thompson said the mapping ability of ArcView Business Analyst drives home the powerful information brought forth from BI.
"The Board of Directors likes to see visuals. Where do the people live? Where are we spending that money on direct marketing? It is much faster for people to understand when they see it on a map than when it is in a table. In that category a picture really is worth ten thousand words," Thompson said.
In the near future, Dallas Teachers Credit Union plans to use demographics and traffic patterns to determine the placement of billboards and ATMs.
For more information, contact: Jesse Theodore, 909-793-2853, extension 1-1419 E-mail: [email protected] ESRI can be found on the Web at www.esri.com.
SPACE IMAGING PURCHASES SATELLITE GROUND STATIONS POWERED BY SGI HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTER SYSTEMS
SGI (NYSE: SGI) announced that Space Imaging has purchased six satellite ground stations powered by SGIª Origin¨ 2000¨ computer servers to capture and process the high-resolution imagery data transmitted to Earth by Space Imaging's IKONOS satellite, the first satellite to produce commercial high-resolution one-meter geospatial imagery of Earth.
The ground stations, developed by Raytheon Company, will be deployed at new Space Imaging regional affiliates overseas. Currently, SGI Origin 2000 servers are used in Space Imaging's primary ground station in Denver and at a Space Imaging regional affiliate ground station located in Greece.
The SGI Origin 2000 systems are used in the Space Imaging ground stations to process the large files of imagery data transmitted to Earth by the IKONOS satellite, which became the first satellite to produce commercial one-meter high-resolution satellite imagery of Earth after its successful launch in September 1999. The availability of commercial one-meter high-resolution Earth imagery promises to open new markets valued at billions of dollars, according to industry analysts. Prior to the IKONOS launch, high-resolution one-meter satellite imagery was available only for military and intelligence community use.
In addition to providing the Origin 2000 servers for use in Space Imaging ground stations, SGI also provides computer hardware, software and consulting services to Space Imaging for training, imagery exploitation systems and geospatial visualization applications.
The SGI Origin 2000 server family is used for high-performance, computationally intensive applications in business, government and the scientific and technical communities. Use of SGI™ MIPS® processors, combined with its IRIX® operating system and ccNUMA architecture in a 64-bit scalable server environment, allows Origin 2000 servers to scale to thousands of processors, providing the opportunity to seamlessly grow as customer requirements demand.
Space Imaging, based in Thornton, Colo., is a leading supplier of space imagery, aerial photography, mapping services and derivative geographic information products and services.
Headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., with offices worldwide, the company is located on the Web at www.sgi.com., Contacts: Gregory Slabodkin, SGI Federal, (301) 595-2618, [email protected]
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