| SPOT Signs GDS as E-Commerce Provider
GeoData Systems, Inc (GDS) has been named as a strategic e-commerce partner by SPOT Image Corporation (www.spot.com/spot-us SPOT satellite imagery and information products will be the core content on the GDS geospatial web site (www.geodatasystems.com . In addition, SPOT Image is the exclusive provider of all aerial photography, Landsat and other imagery products to GDS. The GDS site will offer complete SPOT image coverage of the U.S., updated annually, to create the most dynamic and current information available through any geospatial web server.
"There are few realistic internet business models in our industry that recognize the dominance of content," explains Gene Colabatistto, president of SPOT Image Corporation. "The GDS concept of dynamic updates, and a focus on serving real business clients with valuable information products is what will make this successful."
"A close working relationship between SPOT and GDS is a key component of our business model. This relationship will provide our customers with not only faster data, but data of better quality, and at a highly competitive price," states Ernie Carroll, president of GDS.
The GDS business site is optimized to serve commercial and government users of imagery and information products, providing quick order/delivery of high quality coverage over large land areas. Clients will be able to graphically outline their coverage requirements, order and obtain the desired image coverage through the site.
Other GDS-site products to complement the SPOT-based coverage include digital elevation models (DEMs), Landsat 7 imagery and land cover maps created from SPOT/Landsat merges. After completion of the U.S. Coverage databases, GDS will begin developing global coverage databases with SPOT and the other data sources.
Typical GDS client applications which will be served by the web site include telecommunications network planning, natural resource exploration and extraction, environmental management, infrastructure development, and disaster management.
GeoData Systems (GDS), Inc was founded in 1998, to provide high-speed, high-accuracy generation of imagery-derived products from satellite and aircraft sources. Their expertise includes image science, software engineering, and web-based technology. Within the imagery and mapping world, GDS is recognized for their multi-terabyte enterprise storage and web-based dissemination solutions, used by major commercial and government clients worldwide.
For more information, contac: Carole J. Black, SPOT Image Corporation, 1897 Preston White Drive, Reston, Virginia, 20191, Phone: (703) 715 3102, Fax: (703) 648 1813, E-mail: [email protected]
LEICA INTRODUCES NEW RUGGED GPS RECEIVER FOR OEM AND MACHINE AUTOMATION MARKETS
Leica Geosystems has introduced the MC500, a new high-precision, dual-frequency GPS receiver in a ruggedized housing. The MC500 is based on Leica's System 500 family of survey-grade GPS products, incorporating the highly acclaimed ClearTrak(tm) signal processing technology, providing unsurpassed signal reception, satellite tracking, multipath mitigation and jamming resistance. This technology assures the highest level of reliability and accuracy in real-time position measurements.
The new MC500 is a 12-channel dual-frequency GPS receiver that uses real-time kinematic (RTK) techniques to provide ten independent position solutions per second with latency of 50 milliseconds to an accuracy of one centimeter. The MC500 provides outputs in Leica's proprietary data format as well as the CMR and RTCM formats, ensuring compatibility with any Leica dual-frequency survey receivers as well as those of other manufacturers.
"This data compatibility makes it easy for customers to optimize their operations by running a number of rover receivers, regardless of the equipment's manufacturer, from one base station, and knowing that all collected data can be processed together," said Rod Eckels, director of Leica's OEM business area.
The MC500, which will replace the MC1000 as Leica's primary product for OEM and machine automation markets, is packaged in a rugged aluminum housing with shock mount isolators and heavy-duty lemo connectors. The unit meets the shock and vibration specifications of MIL-STD-810C. This rugged design makes the MC500 ideal for the high vibration environment of earthmoving and mining equipment, hydrographic, agriculture, port control and monitoring applications.
For more information, contact: Leica Geosystems Inc., 23868 Hawthorne Blvd. Torrance, CA 90505, email: [email protected]
PASCO selects LH Systems' ADS40 Airborne Digital Sensor
PASCO (Tokyo, Japan) and LH Systems, LLC (San Diego, California, USA) announced the start of a joint endeavor to use the brand new ADS40 Airborne Digital Sensor, introduced by LH Systems as the world's first commercial airborne digital camera. PASCO placed an order for two units of ADS40. The ADS40 was created jointly by LH Systems and Deutsches Zentrum fŸr Luft- und Raumfahrt (German Aerospace Centre - DLR) and is derived from technology developed by DLR for both air and space applications, for example the 1996 Mars mission. The ADS40 was officially launched on July 17th at the opening of the XIXth ISPRS Congress in Amsterdam.
PASCO will be the first user of the ADS40 in the world and will work with LH Systems over the next 12 months to establish the most successful applications of the new system integrated into the company's digital mapping workflow. At a special reception organized by LH Systems and DLR during the Congress in Amsterdam, Bruce Wald (President and CEO of LH Systems) and Tsuneo Komatsuzaki (Executive Director of PASCO) announced the signing of the agreement.
Mr. Komatsuzaki explained that PASCO's decision together with LH Systems was part of its continuing investment strategy to maintain market leadership in Japan and position itself with digital technologies and expertise to address commercial and government customer needs for production and maintenance of precise spatial information. Mr. Komatsuzaki further noted that PASCO and LH Systems had been technological partners for many years for analog, analytical and digital photogrammetry including aerial film camera and scanner systems. "We have discussed the ADS40 product with LH Systems specialists for many months and I personally have had the opportunity to meet with their DLR technology partners in Berlin. Together with our internal technology experts, I conclude that the ADS40 best fits our needs for acquisition of precise airborne imagery. We recognize LH Systems as more than a systems supplier, indeed as a technology partner capable and willing to assist us in the full integration of new technology in our digital mapping processes."
Bruce Wald indicated that the long-standing relationship with PASCO had been a cornerstone of LH Systems' business in Japan for many years. "We have an opportunity to supply complete ADS40 systems and carry out a joint experiment with PASCO. PASCO is a world-leading company of digital mapping expertise and its aggressive attitude to innovation matches well with our own aspirations."
The announcement also signifies the first commercial sale of products resulting from the cooperative development agreement between LH Systems and DLR. The organizations have worked together since 1996 on the implementation of technology developed at DLR for airborne and space sensor applications, to a commercial production line for acquisition of airborne digital imagery. Prof. Dr. Hans-Peter Ršser, Director of DLR's Institute of Space Sensor Technology and Planetary Exploration, and Board members from DLR headquarters in Kšln attended the special announcement reception.
For more information contact: Stewart Walker, LH Systems, LLC, 10965 Via Frontera San Diego, CA 92127-1703, telephone (858) 675-3335 x112; Fax (858) 675-3345; e-mail [email protected]; Web www.lh-systems.com.
Jesse Theodore July 12, 2000 ESRI Tel.: 909-793-2853, extension 1-1419 E-mail: [email protected]
Lewis and Clark Educational Center Creates Interactive Web Site Using Internet GIS Software
ESRI announced the use of its Internet geographic information system (GIS) at the newly formed National Lewis and Clark Education Center (the Center) for educating K-12 students and teachers about the historical Lewis and Clark expedition. Formed May 30, 2000, the Center is managed by the University of Montana's Earth Observing System (EOS) Education Project, which is funded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to disseminate earth imagery and to support users in academia around the globe.
The Center's Web site (lewisandclarkeducationcenter.com) will provide interactive computer mapping to show historical, geographic, satellite, and other information via the Internet. Students, educators, and others from any Internet-enabled computer in the country can get online and view a virtual treasure trove of data. The Center will also train teachers to use GIS, satellite imagery, multimedia presentations, the Internet, and other tools for generating advanced lesson plans for students. Virtually anyone interested in the Lewis and Clark Expedition will benefit from the Web site, from casual users to K-12 students and teachers to college students, professors, and historical scholars.
"The University of Montana is assuming a tremendous responsibility to become a leading provider of geospatial and multimedia information about the coming 2003-2006 Lewis and Clark bicentennial," says Alex Philp, director of the National Lewis and Clark Education Center at the University of Montana. "We are proud to be working with the Corps of Education Partners program and the National Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Council to manage the National Lewis and Clark Education Center. By using the very latest technologies, such as Internet GIS, students and teachers will have the very latest tools to learn and explore this landmark event in U.S. history."
ESRI's GIS software, including ArcInfo, ArcView GIS, and ArcIMS, is utilized to create, view, manage, and distribute historical data. ESRI is a primary participant in the National Lewis and Clark Data Consortium, which is composed of institutions and agencies to help catalog, compile, and create many diverse data sets to support a wide range of Lewis and Clark educational applications. By utilizing many technologies, including the Internet, NASA imagery, GIS, and global positioning system (GPS), the historical nature of the trail will be preserved in a digital form.
Also participating in the formation of the Center are the University of Montana, the NASA EOS Education Project, Montana U.S. Senators Conrad Burns and Max Baucus, Montana U.S. House Representative Rick Hill, LizardTech, Space Imaging, Trimble, and GeoData Services.
LizardTech is providing their MrSID image compression software; Space Imaging is providing their high-resolution IKONOS imagery; Trimble is providing their GPS hardware; and GeoData Services will provide local GIS services and support. This is in addition to multiple other private and public sector parties contributing to the National Lewis and Clark Data Consortium and the National Lewis and Clark Education Center as these programs expand between now and the upcoming Lewis and Clark bicentennial (2003-2006).
Ministry of Transportation of Quebec Chooses Intergraph's GeoMedia Technology to Manage Road Networks
Intergraph Corporation announced that the Ministry of Transportation of Quebec (MTQ) has chosen Intergraph's GeoMedia® technology to help manage the provincial road network in Quebec. MTQ's mission is to ensure the efficient circulation of people and products throughout the province using the transportation infrastructure. To accomplish this mission, MTQ is responsible for planning, developing, and exploiting roadways and integrated transport systems in Quebec. During MTQ's evaluation for a corporate GIS database they reviewed Intergraph's product and service offerings as well as those of other GIS vendors. At the end of their benchmark effort, MTQ selected GeoMedia based on its open architecture, its flexible development environment, and the fact that they can continue to use approximately 150 seats of MapInfo that are already installed.
MTQ has an enormous amount of data related to the provincial road network. This information will be stored and analyzed using Oracle Spatial in an Oracle8i™ database. MTQ will use GeoMedia Professional to maintain the road base maps and GeoMedia and GeoMedia Objects to access information and analyze and solve business issues related to maintaining the road network, including inventory systems. MTQ selected Intergraph's GeoMedia technology because it meets the main technological concerns of the Ministry (ORACLE read/write data servers, existence of different graphic file formats, and three-tier architecture for spatial data). The Intergraph solution will be used for the development of GIS applications in the organization.
For more information, contact Intergraph at 1-800-791-3357 (within the United States) or Intergraph's Web address: www.intergraph.com/gis, or contact Dan Ruscheinski at (403) 569-5864 in Canada.
GTX Corporation Announces Rental Program
GTX" Corporation, a leading provider of Intelligent Paper to CAD Solutions" in raster editing and conversion software, and now providing intelligent digital imaging solutions, introduced the launch of their new rental program for the GTXRaster CAD® Series high-end product line. This program is available in the United States and Canada only.
The new program is a complete rental solution for GTXRaster CAD®, GTXRaster CAD® PLUS, and GTXRaster R2V™. The rentals are available in increments of 30-, 60-, and 90-day intervals. The customer also has the option to purchase the product at the suggested retail price after the rental term expires.
"Our new rental program is specifically designed for the end users interested in the GTXRaster CAD, GTXRaster CAD PLUS, and GTXRaster R2V technology," stated Andrew Ling, Senior Vice President and General Counsel. "This allows them to utilize a comprehensive raster clean up, editing, and raster-to-vector conversion solution for projects and assignments on a month-to-month basis. They pay for only the time needed to complete a project (minimum 30-day rental) and also receive FREE technical support and maintenance."
Complete details regarding the rental program are available through GTX Authorized Dealers and Distributors within the United States and Canada, as well as through the Sales and Marketing Department at GTX Corporation.
For more information, contact: Brenda Moorhead, GTX Corporation, Phone: (602) 224-8720 Fax: (602) 224-8730 , Toll Free Number: 1-800-879-8284, E-mail: [email protected]
ECW Imagery supported in MapObject applications
Earth Resource Mapping announced the latest release of the free ECW ActiveX Software Development Kit, which demonstrates the integration of ECW compressed imagery with ESRI's MapObjects and MapObjects LT applications. Developers can download the free SDK from the ER Mapper website (www.ermapper.com).
The MapObjects ECW Application Examples includes all the tools a developer needs to easily include ECW imagery in any MapObjects application, such as sample data, development code, and integration examples. By enhancing MapObjects applications with ECW compressed images, users add real-world meaning to vector based maps.
ECW compressed images can be accessed from an Image Web Server, or stored locally by the user. ECW compression makes it possible to view, use, and combine very large (Gigabyte and Terabyte sized) raster images with vector based GIS data. Users can interactively pan and zoom through compressed images that are progressively updated on the screen with the ActiveZoom technology.
For more information, or to download the ECW ActiveX SDK, please visit www.ermapper.com. Information on MapObjects is available from ESRI's website, www.esri.com. More information on the Image Web Server
eMapping Solutions announces strategic partnership with Deskmap Systems
eMapping Solutions has added Deskmap Systems, Inc., Austin, Texas, to its consortium of Value Added Strategic Partners. This partnership will allow both companies to sell each other's service and product offerings. The partnership extends the companies' already complementary business relationship. The two companies' will combine their expertise to become the leading application service provider (ASP) of geographic information system (GIS) technology and location-based solutions.
"This affiliation will allow us to extend our service offerings to the South and Southwest and give us several new applications to provide to our clients here in the Midwest" said Wayne L. Staats, CEO of eMapping Solutions, Inc. "Deskmap Systems has exciting niche products that will enhance our ability to expand our ASP business model," said Dave Opitz, President of eMapping Solutions. "Their expertise with the MapInfo platform dovetails with our proficiency with Intergraph products."
eMapping Solutions, Inc.claims to be the industry's first pure GIS ASP. The company, following the model others have established offering financial services and human resource technology, offers its GIS applications over the Internet. This allows companies who understand the potential advantages of geospatial solutions the opportunity to utilize GIS technology at a fraction of the cost and with considerable reduced risk.
For information, contact. www.emappingsolutions.com ; [email protected]
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