Press Release: Williams-Meridian Provides Advanced Real Estate GIS and Market Data to TierraStar

Houston, Texas based Williams-Meridian Companies recently completed a successful trial of it's upcoming real estate analytical platform using the firm's extensive market data and geographic information systems (GIS) technologies for TierraStar Real Estate, a real estate brokerage, economic development and commercial development firm based in McKinney, Texas.

Using the company's rapid-deployment capabilities, Williams-Meridian provided a comprehensive set of geospatial data, high resolution images, demographic and income overlays, and land mapping tools to TierraStar in conjunction with the firm's robust financial analysis methods. Combining these elements into a customized platform, Williams-Meridian enabled TierraStar to shorten its real estate land acquisition advisory process significantly.

In a matter of only a few weeks after selecting Williams-Meridian, TierraStar was able to review virtually every individual land parcel in the entire San Antonio metropolitan statistical area, both privately-held and government-owned, relative to its demographic trending strength, site engineering capacity and financial viability from a return on investment (ROI) perspective. By using Williams-Meridian's proprietary technologies, TierraStar was able to rely on superior information sets and market data, better advise its existing commercial real estate client after months of using traditional channels, and complete the company's real estate brokerage services within a substantially shorter time. From initial project analysis to final cash closing on a large raw land parcel by the commercial real estate buyer, TierraStar completed its real estate services in only a few weeks using Williams-Meridian's technologies.

Upon project completion the company's President, Philip Williams, congratulated TierraStar by saying, "I believe that these technologies will play an integral part in what I sincerely hope is a lasting business relationship between Williams-Meridian and TierraStar, enabling your firm with a significant advantage over the big brokerage firms while we provide a level of service that far exceeds the traditional approach taken by them."

Company Overview

Williams-Meridian Companies is a privately held, commercial real estate development firm providing creative, full-service solutions to its valued partners. Based in Houston, Texas, Williams-Meridian offers a wide range of commercial real estate services to clients across the nation, including real estate consulting, corporate real estate strategies, leading or co-developing projects, or providing joint venture equity on select real estate investments or development projects across all real estate asset classes.

URISA Data Policy & Amicus Brief Decision Statement

February 27, 2012 - Des Plaines, IL - At its February 24, 2012 meeting, the URISA Board of Directors again considered the draft Sierra Club vs. Orange County, California amicus brief.  A Board motion to sign an earlier version of the brief on February 2 failed to pass a vote.

The Board’s deliberation followed a joint URISA Board and Policy Committee conference call to discuss the Board’s February 2 decision in light of the Policy’s Committee’s recommendation to sign the brief.  Glenn O’Grady, Policy Committee Chair, was invited to again discuss the matter with the Board during the February 24 meeting.
Before considering the question of signing the SC v. OC amicus brief, the Board drafted and approved the following data sharing policy that reflects URISA’s role as an international organization and the need for the organization to be aware of data policies and situations in many countries:

It is URISA's policy that all units of government should freely provide the means for their citizens to fully participate in their own governance by publishing and otherwise supplying geospatial data to all interested parties.  URISA believes that governmental geospatial programs must be appropriately funded and that there are multiple acceptable mechanisms for such funding.  Credible studies have shown that the value of geospatial data to the governmental agencies and the people they serve increases with the breadth of data sharing.

The Board then discussed reconsideration of signing the draft amicus brief.  However no motion to sign the brief reached the floor for a vote by the Board.

The Board did agree to continue advocating for the principles outlined in the data sharing policy.  Specific actions will include continued pursuit of URISA’s 2011-2012 Advocacy Agenda item 2 (Nationwide Development of High Quality, Publicly Accessible Geospatial Data), participation in COGO’s URISA/NSGIC – Data Sharing Legal & Policy Framework initiative, and advocating for the newly approved URISA data sharing policy with state governors and legislatures.

Individual URISA members are free to make their own choice to sign or not to sign the SC v. OC amicus brief.  The value of a professional organization is not to tell its members what to think in a case like this. It is to create an environment where each individual can be exposed to the range of arguments about the issue so that they can make their own decision.  This would be the case no matter how the Board voted.

Yotta DCL Wins £2.27m Highways Agency Contract to Survey 140,000km of UK Roads

Leamington Spa - 28  February 2012 - UK highway surveying company Yotta DCL has signed a four-year  contract worth around GBP2.27 million (USD3.6 million) with the Highways Agency.  Over the life of the agreement, Yotta DCL will survey and monitor approximately  140,000km of motorway and other major roads across England. 

As part  of the agreement, Yotta DCL will perform a Traffic Speed Condition Survey  (TRACS) to determine the condition of the road surface, assess the areas in  particular need of repair and determine where immediate action needs to be  taken.

During the bid process, Yotta DCL was awarded the highest  score on the overall qualitative criteria used to select the successful bidder.  Yotta DCL will use its new state-of-the-art Tempest highways data capture  vehicles to carry out the survey and will also participate in the development of  new algorithms to produce more accurate modeling of the road surface deterioration.

“This is a great start to 2012 for Yotta DCL and we  are delighted to be awarded this significant contract with the Highways Agency.  At the time of our preliminary results, we highlighted the potential for our new  Tempest vans. That potential has today become clear and this contract win is  testament to Yotta DCL’s technical superiority and progress,” said Nick Smee, Managing Director, Yotta DCL

About Yotta DCL 

Yotta DCL is at the forefront  of highway technology and services. The company’s surveyors cover hundreds of  miles of roads collecting all types of data every day to help transform highway  surveys into solutions with real benefits. Its broad experience working with  local authorities enables Yotta DCL to provide a range of survey solutions for  councils to efficiently manage and maintain their highway assets. 

Esri to Demo Operations Dashboard at TechAdvantage

Redlands, California - February 27, 2012 - Union Power Cooperative of North Carolina will join Esri at the upcoming TechAdvantage Conference & Expo to demonstrate its operations dashboard—a comprehensive view of the electric distribution network that merges data from throughout the company into one real-time map.

TechAdvantage, an event that attracts professionals from electric cooperative engineering, energy services, operations, information technology, purchasing, and supply management, will be held March 6–9, 2012, in San Diego, California.

"We have taken the Electric Distribution Operations Dashboard template from Esri and made it work for us," said Todd Harrington, GIS administrator for Union Power Cooperative. "We learned that the dashboard provided more information to our employees and was much faster and easier to use than our existing digital maps."

Within the first week of implementing the dashboard, the utility recovered more than $3,000 lost to meter tampering. Operators also report a considerable savings in time since personnel are no longer tied up with the tasks of extracting data, cleaning it up, and producing maps.

Attendees of TechAdvantage can visit Esri at booth #1439 and connect with Union Power Cooperative by attending the paper session Tying It all Together, on Thursday, March 8, at 8:00 a.m.

About Esri

Since 1969, Esri has been giving customers around the world the power to think and plan geographically. The market leader in GIS technology, Esri software is used in more than 300,000 organizations worldwide including each of the 200 largest cities in the United States, most national governments, more than two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies, and more than 7,000 colleges and universities. Esri applications, running on more than one million desktops and thousands of web and enterprise servers, provide the backbone for the world's mapping and spatial analysis. Esri is the only vendor that provides complete technical solutions for desktop, mobile, server, and Internet platforms. Visit us at esri.com/news.

GEO-12 Seminar Programme Announced

Organisers of the UK’s only geospatial trade exhibition  have just released details of the seminar programme that will run alongside the  ‘sell out’ event. The two day programme of topical seminars and workshops will  include a focus on Building Information Management (BIM), exploration of new  tools for data collection including UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) and crowd sourcing as well as assessment of global satellite navigation systems (GNSS). 

Special workshop sessions will include a laser scanning clinic and an open floor  debate looking at the next edition of the Royal Institution of Chartered  Surveyors (RICS) guidance on land surveying.

The sell-out GEO-12  exhibition, taking place on the 21st and 22nd of March 2012 at the Holiday Inn,  London Elstree, is completely free to attend.

Annual attendee numbers of 600 or  more are attracted by a delegate package that includes free onsite parking and  refreshments, a stimulating programme of free seminars and workshops and live  product demos. In addition, those wishing to extend their stay can complement  their experience with a ticket for the event’s Gala Dinner sponsored by KOREC  and Trimble, topping the evening off with a great deal on overnight  accommodation.

The two-day programme of seminars and workshops is  designed to complement the geospatial focus of the exhibition. Building  Information Management is a topical issue driven by government requirements for  all public sector contracts of £10 million or over to be undertaken using BIM by  2015. A dedicated seminar session will explore the relationship between BIM and  geospatial technologies and look at some of the opportunities and solutions that  are coming to market.

New data collection methodologies and  innovations, including UAV, crowd sourcing and the recent dramatic uptake of  laser scanning will also be explored and discussed. Sessions will include  ‘Mapping the Underground: buried utility surveys’, ‘Mapping and Visualisation’,  ‘Beyond the Point Cloud’ and ‘GNSS: just how accurate and reliable is it?’.  

“We hope that the mix of topical, interesting,  informative and even challenging seminars and workshops we have carefully  crafted appeals to visitors both old and new,” comments Stephen Booth of PV  Publications, organisers of the event and publishers of Geomatics World, GIS  Professional and Engineering Surveying Showcase. “The speakers we have already  secured are of the highest quality and include some well know names from the  geospatial world.”

MapText Software Receives Letter of Compliance for FAA DO-178B Airworthiness Standard

Monmouth Junction, NJ – February 28, 2012 - MapText is proud to announce that it has received an FAA DO-178B Letter of Compliance for its new Dynamic Text Placement software component for real-time aeronautical charting.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates the use of software and hardware systems in commercial aircraft. The DO-178B standard is a central component of this regulatory process. The standard specifies aspects of airworthiness for software systems based on how critical they are to flight safety.

MapText, Inc., a subsidiary of Lufthansa Systems AG, has been developing a dynamic label placement component for aeronautical charts. MapText’s software is capable of continuously re-labeling electronic charts and it provides smooth pan and zoom capabilities. Dynamic labeling also enables the “nose-up” navigation mode for pilots. In this mode, the airplane symbol remains static in the center of the display while the chart moves and turns under it. The advantage of real-time dynamic electronic charts over paper or PDF is that they can retrieve and present the latest available data, such as changes in weather conditions, runway status, etc. 

MapText engaged an FAA Designated Engineering Representative (DER) to guide the development of a compliant software product as defined by the airworthiness standard.  After an extensive review by the DER, the Dynamic Text Placement software received its Letter of Compliance with the FAA airworthiness standard.

The dynamic labeling software component will be initially embedded in the Airport Moving Map (Lido/AMM) application developed by MapText’s parent company, Lufthansa Systems. It will also be used in flight-deck charting applications. The dynamic labeling component is flexible and can also be used in non-certified environments, such as iPad-based aeronautical applications for on-board use by pilots.

MapText, Inc.

MapText is the leading label-placement solutions provider for local, state, and national government mapping agencies worldwide.  Its software places text automatically for virtually any kind of map or chart – to high cartographic standards and at incredible speed. The software is in use worldwide for making city street maps, highway maps, cadastral maps, soil maps, utility maps, as well as nautical and aeronautical charts. MapText is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lufthansa Systems AG. For more information, visit www.maptext.com and www.LHsystems.com  

TomTom Expands Coverage Of Real Time Traffic Products For Licensing Customers

Mobile World Congress, Barcelona - 27 February 2012 - Today TomTom announces a partnership with NDrive whereby TomTom will deliver maps and enhanced content to power their innovative location-based applications. NDrive, a provider of navigation services and software for GPS units and mobile phones, has millions of users worldwide. Through the three year global agreement, TomTom is equipping more users of mobile devices with the most accurate maps, points of interest, and other enhanced content.

"TomTom is excited to enter into a new agreement with NDrive that presents great potential for ensuring our location content gets into the hands of as many users possible," said Nuno Campos, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for TomTom Licensing. "We're convinced that the TomTom map and enhanced content will enrich not only NDrive user's navigation experiences but all location-based information sharing."

"NDrive develops applications for Android, Apple iOS, HP webOS, Samsung bada, Symbian and Windows Mobile platforms, reaching millions of smartphone users globally," said Luis Baptista-Coelho, NDrive's Chief Executive Officer. "We believe that the location experience of our users is enriched by the accuracy and freshness of the data delivered by TomTom."

TomTom maps provide navigable coverage in 109 countries with 35.8 million kilometers of roads. By leveraging the TomTom map, NDrive will be able to provide consumers with a full range of location services – ranging from delivering turn-by-turn driving directions to sharing location information with friends.

About TomTom
TomTom is a global supplier of location and navigation products and services. We provide consumers and enterprise, government and automotive industry customers with digital maps, traffic intelligence, navigation software, PNDs, automotive systems, fleet management services, smartphone apps, fitness devices, POIs and speedcam intelligence.
Headquartered in Amsterdam, TomTom has over 3,500 employees and operates from 50 locations in 35 countries.
TomTom (AEX: TOM2) is listed on NYSE Euronext. More information can be found at www.tomtom.com. For the most up-to-date route planner, including live traffic information please visit www.tomtom.com/livetraffic

AgTerra Launches New Mapping Software

AgTerra Technologies of Sheridan, Wyoming announces the release of MapItFast, new mapping software for Android tablet and smartphone devices. MapItFast allows users to easily map points, lines, and areas (including user labels and descriptions) based upon their current GPS location. Features are placed on background street maps and/or aerial imagery. Pictures from any camera may also be included.
According to Alan Telck, president of AgTerra Technologies, "The MapItFast app is designed for users who need a quick and easy way to map without expensive, cumbersome hardware and technically challenging software. MapItFast users can create professional and detailed maps without calling on a GIS expert. Furthermore, people are able to use the smartphone or tablet they are already comfortable with to get the job done."
MapItFast only requires a GPS for creating maps on the device; however if a cellular data or Internet connection is available, MapItFast engines allow all map elements to be instantly available to project participants anywhere in the world. Maps may be securely shared, analyzed and edited online and even exported to formats that allow the data to be used in other GIS software systems such as Google Earth and ArcGIS.
MapItFast is an ideal mapping solution for outdoor based activities such as inspections and surveys, wildfire and disaster response, utility work, crop scouting, mobile asset tracking, wildlife management, oil and gas fieldwork, rangeland monitoring, weed and pest projects, and even outdoor recreational activities such as hiking, biking, horseback riding, geocaching and hunting.
More information and a video about the MapItFast product and other technology tools offered by AgTerra may be found at www.mapitfast.com or the company's website at www.agterra.com.
AgTerra Technologies, Inc. of Sheridan, Wyoming (www.agterra.com) is a solutions provider delivering data collection and information systems technology to the agriculture and natural resource industries. The company's solutions help businesses ease the challenges of data collection, management, and distribution of information; leading to better decision-making, increased workforce productivity and greater value to their patrons.

Aerial Imaging Incorporated Purchases UltraCamXp

Graz, Austria - Aerial Imaging Incorporated has contracted with Microsoft’s UltraCam business unit and subsidiary, Vexcel Imaging GmbH, to purchase an UltraCamXp digital aerial photogrammetric camera.
“We were looking for one camera that could do it all. The UltraCam is a tried and true digital system based on mature technology that we feel very comfortable investing in at this time,” stated Marcel Joubert, President of Aerial Imaging Incorporated. “References from other owners convinced us that the system is extremely reliable and priced competitively, and that we could count on great product support. Vexcel supplied us with sample 2cm GSD data, and our local government was astounded with the excellent clarity and visible detail of the imagery. This also gave us added confidence in our purchase of the camera.”
Aerial Imaging Inc. will use its UltraCamXp to serve its government and commercial customers, primarily in Western Canada. The large footprint and substantial on-board data storage makes collecting large areas cost-effective at varying altitudes and mapping scales. In addition, the infrared band on the digital camera allows the company to compete for forestry projects, which is a key market in Canada.
“Microsoft is pleased to provide the UltraCamXp to Aerial Imaging Inc. to help meet the increasing demand for high resolution digital imagery in its geographic region,” said Alexander Wiechert, Microsoft Business Director. “The UltraCamXp offers features that are highly suitable for the types of projects that Aerial Imaging intends to pursue.”
About the UltraCamXp

The UltraCamXp photogrammetric digital aerial camera provides a pixel size of 6 micrometers and a footprint of 196 megapixels (17,310 across track x 11,310 along track). The resolution ratio of 1:3 between pan and color bands allows the production of high-resolution pan-sharpened products. The collection rate of 2.5 Gbits per second allows for rapid data collection. The low-cost, exchangeable on-board storage devices hold up to 6,600 images each—approximately 4.2 terabytes of data. The vast storage capability permits more efficient data collection as a result of uninterrupted image collection and minimal ground time.

About Microsoft's UltraCam Business Unit

With its operations based in Graz, Austria, and sales and support teams in North America, Microsoft's UltraCam business unit brings more than two decades of photogrammetry expertise to Microsoft's Bing Maps business unit. The division is responsible for the highly successful line of UltraCam digital aerial mapping systems that include the UltraCamLp, UltraCamXp and UltraCamXp Wide Angle and the new UltraCam Eagle digital photogrammetric sensors. Rounding out the UltraCam mapping systems offering is the UltraMap workflow software system that provides an automated project-based color balancing module and additional quality control tools.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

About Aerial Imaging Incorporated

Aerial Imaging Incorporated, based near Calgary in Alberta, Canada, provides imaging services throughout Western Canada. The company specializes in high resolution aerial data collection and processing for the environmental, transportation, infrastructure, government and energy markets. For more information, visit www.aerialimaging.org or contact Marcel Joubert at 403-995-7070 or aiinc@telus.net.

1st Edition of 2012 North Carolina Motorcycle-Maps Released

Dennis Munden, Owner/President of Motorcycle-Maps has announced that the 1st edition of the 2012 North Carolina Motorcycle-Map is now available for those riders wishing to ride the Tarheel State. The paper version shows highlighted ride routes around the state classified for various skill/experience levels. Roads from scenic to experienced allow riders to pre-select a ride route on which they are comfortable.

While rides routes are an important part of the map the main focus is on biker friendly mom and pop businesses across the state. Many of these businesses are located on back roads around the state and sometimes may be difficult to find. Partnering with Motorcycle-Maps they are given visibility they may otherwise have.

This 1st edition has the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse on the outer banks of North Carolina gracing the cover of the map. David Huff, the Lead Ad Rep for North Carolina, was instrumental in getting permission for the photo on the cover.

The North Carolina map is available through North Carolina Welcome Centers free of charge, customer locations, they can also be ordered on-line through the website at: www.motorcycle-
maps.us for $5.00 each which includes shipping.

Motorcycle-Maps can be found on;
Facebook
Twitter
Google +
Tumblr

In addition to social media and distribution locations across the state Motorcycle-Maps also offers an iPhone app available under the navigation category in the Apple Store. Providing real time updates and nationwide coverage the app is available for $2.99.

Publisher of individual state motorcycle friendly maps with focus on biker friendly mom and pop businesses across each state.

Whistle Stop Press of Southern Pines, NC is the designer and printer for the award winning Motorcycle-Maps.

For those biker friendly businesses that may be interested in joining the Motorcycle-Maps program for the NC map, please contact David Huff, davidh@motorcycle-maps.us or cell #: 910-988-9328. The next edition is tentatively scheduled for August 2012. Motorcycle-Maps also offer exclusive runs for businesses wishing to have their own state specific Motorcycle-Map or Biker Journal.

Motorcycle-Maps is actively seeking experienced Ad Sales Representatives across the country. Interested parties may contact Dennis Munden at dmunden@motorcycle-maps.us

Motorcycle-Maps is the publisher of individual state motorcycle friendly maps with focus on biker friendly mom and pop businesses across each state

FINIS® Unveils Hydro Tracker GPS

Livermore, CA - FINIS, the worldwide leader in technical swimming development and provider of select training equipment for the U.S. Olympic Swim Team, announces the FINIS Hydro Tracker GPS. The Hydro Tracker GPS is a tracking, mapping and performance reporting fitness accessory designed for open water swimmers. Hydro Tracker GPS, a multi-sport device captures the swimmer’s course and key performance data for an in-depth post-swim, statistical report. The free online FINIS Streamline Training Log allows swimmers to set goals and analyze stats including splits, speed, distance, accumulated time, and elevation. Swimmers can share their results with friends via CSV, KML Google Earth, Facebook and Twitter. The Hydro Tracker GPS is available now for $129.99 at www.FINISInc.com/hydrotracker and select retailers.
“We created the Hydro Tracker GPS to meet the needs of open water swimmers and fitness enthusiasts,” says John Mix, President of FINIS. “Our Hydro Tracker GPS and free Streamline Log allows swimmers to dig deeper into their key workout stats, providing them with invaluable ongoing feedback. This new GPS system will help maximize anyone’s results.”
The Hydro Tracker GPS easily and securely attaches to swim goggle straps on the back of the head, or included neoprene armband and does not require GPS calibration. Full features and benefits include:

• Accurate GPS Tracking – Engineered to rest on the back of the head so swimmers receive a constant GPS signal
• Online Mapping – View your route on a Google Maps™ integrated satellite map complete with zoom function
• Performance Reporting – Set goals and analyze stats including splits, speed, distance, accumulated time and elevation
• Hydrodynamic Clips –Attaches the tracker securely to goggle straps for optimal signal detection
• Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery – Up to 16 hours of use
• Time-Lapse Animation -Watch the progress of your workout with a click of a button to see elevation variations
• 2 Button Operation – Simple and easy to use interface with LED indicators
• Neoprene Armband – Slip the tracker on your arm or bike for use in other outdoor activities
• Share Workouts – Export your data from the Streamline Log using CSV or Google Earth files, or share via Facebook and Twitter
• Multi-Sport Compatible – Can be used for swimming, running, walking, biking, skiing, hiking & more
• No Calibration Needed -Just put on the tracker and you’re ready to go
• Adjustable Sampling Rate – Configure how often you want to record GPS data so that you can control accuracy and battery life
• Waterproof – Built to withstand the roughest environments

For more information about the Hydro Tracker GPS and Streamline Log technology and the entire FINIS product line including gear used by the U.S. Olympic Swim team, visit www.FINISINC.com
About FINIS
Founded in 1993 in Northern California, FINIS was started by John Mix and Olympic Gold Medal Swimmer Pablo Morales. The Monofin and the Swimmer’s Snorkel were the first products they developed for the US market; afterwards, they continued to focus on creating training tools for swimmers and coaches worldwide. FINIS products are currently available in over 60 countries and are used by US and International Olympic teams, elite triathletes, and fitness swimmers.
Innovative research and design is FINIS’ highest priority. This dedication has resulted in truly unique products such as: the Swimmer’s Snorkel, which is recognized as the paramount tool to improve a swimmer’s technique, the SwiMP3 that uses bone conduction technology to play music instead ear buds, and the Z2 Zoomers fins, which demonstrate an intimate understanding of swimming musculature, hydrodynamics, and engineering.

3-GIS Partners with GTI to Develop HCA Application for the Gas Industry

3-GIS, developers of the Express Solution, the latest Esri ArcGIS Server web-based and mobile mapping tool software, in conjunction with GTI have produced a High Consequence Area (HCA) application for the gas transmission pipeline industry. An HCA is a geographic location where a transmission pipeline accident could have an increased risk to people, property or environment.

Identifying HCAs has always been a priority for natural gas operators; however events in recent years have increased regulatory scrutiny and heightened awareness regarding the risk of pipeline incidents. Many operators still use paper forms and spreadsheets to track identified site and structure information. These methods are not only inefficient, but can also lead to data entry errors that compromise data quality and accuracy.

An application developed by 3-GIS and GTI provides the industry with a tool that uses new consumer grade smart phones and tablet computers, operating on iOS and Android platforms, to improve the field data collection process for HCA operations. The application allows field users to collect information on identified sites that include location, along with occupancy status, features, and photographs. An “intelligent form”, which increases data quality, is used to capture the structure attribute information.

While there are many advantages to electronic field data capture in terms of quality, the primary cost savings result from a streamlined back-office integration process. The application allows new structures to be associated with assets in the GIS directly from the field, therefore eliminating the need for any manual data transfer. The process of classifying a structure as being inside or outside of the Pipeline Impact Radius (PIR) can then be completed with all of the field collected attribute information immediately available. The HCA information is available to the entire organization for viewing and updating.

This new application is currently being deployed with Alagasco in Birmingham, AL in a pilot project to evaluate the ease-of-use of the software and the feasibly of using consumer grade tablet devices for field operations.

“We will now be able to streamline the field data collection process and produce higher quality results in a more efficient time frame,” says Bethany Miller, compliance engineer at Alagasco.

About Gas Technology Institute (GTI)

GTI is a leading independent research, development, and training organization. For 70 years, GTI has solved important energy and environmental challenges by developing technology-based solutions that create value for consumers, government, and industry. GTI has been collaborating with, academia, government, and industry to identify, develop and deploy solutions for converting the potential of unconventional gas resources into reality for more than 20 years. GTI’s primary focus in this regard today is in reducing environmental footprint and the cost of unconventional gas E&P. For more information visit www.gastechnology.org.

About 3-GIS

3-GIS is a leading innovator of smart geospatial solutions and proud recipient of the 2011 Esri Partner’s Choice Award and the Esri Private Web Application Award. 3-GIS’
software for desktop and field use, takes complex GIS information and makes it simple to understand and fast to access from every level of the enterprise. Visit www.3-GIS.com.

Geomarketing Software "RegioGraph 2012" to be Unveiled at CeBIT

Visitors to the CeBIT in Hannover, Germany from March 6-10, 2012 will be the first to see the new geomarketing solution "RegioGraph 2012". GfK GeoMarketing will be presenting both the English and German editions of its latest software version at hall 4, stand A02.
RegioGraph 2012 allows users to visualize their customers, target groups and potential on up-to-date digital maps and carry out analyses based on the integrated data on potential, such as GfK Purchasing Power 2012.
"We've already made many appointments for presentations of the new RegioGraph 2012," explains Doris Hardt-Beischl, head of sales at GfK GeoMarketing. "Geomarketing analyses serve as an indispensable basis for sales territory and branch-network management, expansion decisions, more efficient marketing and much more. With a detailed cartographic basis and integrated data on business-to-business potential or GfK Purchasing Power 2012, RegioGraph offers everything users need to make more informed business decisions that promote the long-term success of their companies. We're looking forward to presenting the 2012 version of RegioGraph to both prospective and experienced users at the upcoming CeBIT."
RegioGraph 2012 allows users from all business areas to quickly determine the distribution of potential and pinpoint strengths and weaknesses in their active markets.
"RegioGraph Analysis" supports the controlling and optimization of regional market exploitation quotas through objective, insight-generating analyses displayed on maps. "RegioGraph Planning" additionally offers professional tools for planning sales territories and locations, calculating catchment areas and planning efficient customer visits. Users of "RegioGraph Strategy" can also carry out address-specific analyses of end-consumer target groups and business-to-business potential. With 40,000 users, RegioGraph is Germany's geomarketing software of choice.
Additional information on RegioGraph can be found at www.gfk-regiograph.com

About GfK GeoMarketing

GfK GeoMarketing is one of the largest providers of geomarketing services in Europe for customers and users from all branches of trade. Key business areas include:

• Consultancy and reports
• Market data
• Digital maps
• Geomarketing software RegioGraph

GfK GeoMarketing is a subsidiary of the globally active GfK Group. One of the world's leading market research institutes, the GfK is represented in more than 100 countries by over 11,000 employees.

TomTom Expands Partnership with Blom to Improve Road Networks in Europe

With the help of TomTom's professional traffic analysis tools, Blom – a European provider of GIS services – can now enable governments in Europe to identify and solve the bottlenecks in their road network quickly and at reduced costs. TomTom and Blom already cooperate in creating the largest 3D city model database and are now expanding their partnership to support Blom in selling TomTom's advanced traffic products.
With TomTom's unique traffic products, Blom can support municipalities, regions, provinces and national government authorities across Europe with bottleneck analysis, evaluation studies and investment proposals in order to help their customers improve travel times for the entire European road network. TomTom's historical traffic database includes more than five trillion anonymous data points and continues to grow with over six billion data points collected per day.
"The expansion of our partnership with Blom is proof of the growing demand for advanced traffic analysis to help reduce traffic congestion and save costs," said Nuno Campos, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for TomTom Licensing. "With the addition of TomTom's accurate historical traffic analyses, Blom can help speed up policy and decision-making within governments."
"Blom are always looking to bring innovative solutions to the marketplace and we believe that TomTom's historic traffic analysis technology is one such example. Therefore, expanding on what is already a successful partnership with TomTom was the next logical step for Blom to take," said Jan Skybak, Vice President of Sales & Marketing of Blom.
The granularity of TomTom's historical traffic database is reflected in products like Custom Travel Times and Custom Area Analysis which enable analysis to be made for any individual road segment or a larger geographical area. The analyses are quickly and easily available through TomTom's online professional web portal: http://trafficstats.tomtom.com. A leading European Data Protection Authority has confirmed the data delivered by TomTom to be compliant with strict privacy regulations.
About TomTom
TomTom is a global supplier of location and navigation products and services. We provide consumers and enterprise, government and automotive industry customers with digital maps, traffic intelligence, navigation software, PNDs, automotive systems, fleet management services, smartphone apps, fitness devices, POIs and speedcam intelligence. 
Headquartered in Amsterdam, TomTom has over 3,500 employees and operates from 50 locations in 35 countries.
TomTom (AEX: TOM2) is listed on NYSE Euronext. More information can be found at www.tomtom.com. For the most up-to-date route planner, including live traffic information please visit www.tomtom.com/livetraffic

GIS & Social Media Team Up to Combat Disasters

Two of the world’s top technologies are consistently pairing up in what many believe is the evolution of information. Software companies are integrating geographic information systems (GIS) technology and social media to map people’s tweets and other social media platforms with geospatial data.
GIS paired with social media has been used in every major disaster over the past two years.
Lee Mitchell, owner of G.A.I.A. Professionals, a successful GIS technology firm, lived on the waterfront line of the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster.
“While the NOAA map helped me monitor the spill and official response, the social maps were by far the most helpful because that is where I could find people with experiences like mine that weren’t nearly being addressed through any official means,” says Mitchell.
Mitchell says the feelings of confusion and powerlessness can be nearly overwhelming in a disaster situation and the ability to connect with others and share experiences so that you don’t feel so alone is very important.
“I found social media maps to be a great help in making those connections in times of disaster,” adds Mitchell.
Here are a few other examples of how GIS and social media are playing an important role to connect people in times of disaster:
Haiti
During the 2010 Haiti earthquake that registered 7.0 on the Richter scale at least 52 aftershocks measuring 4.5 or greater, an estimated three million people were affected and some 316,000 died. But, without GIS technology, experts believe the disaster could have been worse.
In a Esri conference video (http://video.esri.com/watch/163/haiti-the-importance-of-social-media-use-during-a-disaster) about Haiti, Craig Fugate, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), says that in big disasters the initial response is generally not the government, it is individuals helping each other, trying to find out what is going on.
In this age of social media, people can share information in real time. To capture this, Esri’s data and services included a 25-meter reference grid of Haiti, an Esri Geo Viewer, and Haiti base map data from the United Nations available at ArcGIS Online. Esri-generated earthquake and recovery maps were available for both the media and public.
“Our job is to help where we can empower our users with better GIS support,” says Russ Johnson, director of public safety solutions for Esri, in a press release. “As soon as we learned of the terrible event in Haiti, we activated our emergency operational procedures to assist emergency services, humanitarian relief, health professionals, NGOs [nongovernmental organizations], and others. These organizations are working extremely hard to make a difference. We’re working to assist their efforts.”
Japan
The 2011 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tohoku registered a 9.0 on the Richter scale and killed more than 15,000 people. As outlined in this American Sentinel University blog post, ‘GIS Technology Critical to Managing Japan Disaster,’ (available at http://www.americansentinel.edu/2011/03/24/gis-technology-critical-to-managing-japan-disaster/) GIS technology helped find victims of the Japan Earthquake.
Google People Finder used GIS to help individuals track down loved ones. The East Honshu Island, Japan, Military Grid Reference System provided a seamless plane coordinate system across jurisdictional boundaries and map scales with GIS technology.
ArcGIS was used to facilitate precise position referencing with GPS, produce web-based map portals that enabled a practical system of geoaddresses and a universal map index. Maps were created based on street views and satellite imagery with links to tweets, YouTube videos and Flickr photos from the area.
Hurricane Irene
Hurricane Irene zipped across the Atlantic Ocean and ravaged the East Coast last August. Some 50 people died and more than $10 billion in damages were inflicted. Considering this hurricane hit highly populated areas, the damages and fatalities could have been much worse. According to ctovision.com, the average citizen had a wealth of accurate (and useful) hurricane information to choose from, including Twitter/Flickr/YouTube overlays on Google Earth.
Popular blogger The GIS Doctor said, “Geographers and GIS pros are all over this storm. Unlike the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, which had a ton of reactionary GIS development, hurricanes provide the opportunity to develop datasets, applications, and analysis before the storm arrives. There are a number of great applications and datasets that have been generated in the past four days, with many more to come over the next several days.”
Significant real-time maps included The New York Times hurricane tracker, MSNBC hurricane tracker, Esri and CNN.
And after the hurricane, GIS played another important role to help insurers accurately pay claims.
Esri’s Mark McCoy notes in an Esri.com interview that ArcGIS plays a crucial role after a disastrous event and insurers can use this information to make certain their customers are as safe as possible and that they carry the appropriate coverage for any catastrophe that might affect that location. ArcGIS also helps insurers accurately rate the risk to ensure they are collecting appropriate premiums for the losses that are likely to be incurred.
GIS technology can transform society through better decision-making using a geographic perspective and has become an essential tool for natural disaster research to predict damage as well as assessing post-disaster damage.
Effective natural disaster planning programs can help save lives and reduce the level of damage that occurs during catastrophic natural events and American Sentinel University positions their GIS students for success in the industry.
American Sentinel’s GIS programs prepare students for entry into the GIS field and also provide training in information systems that benefit other business areas. Learn more about American Sentinel University’s GIS degrees at http://www.americansentinel.edu/online-degree/bachelor-degree-online/bachelor-gis-degree.php.
About American Sentinel University
American Sentinel University delivers the competitive advantages of accredited associate, bachelor's and master's online degree programs focused on the needs of high-growth sectors, including information technology, computer science, GIS, computer information systems and business intelligence degrees. The university is accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), which is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency and is a recognized member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

RouteBuddy 3.3 - Automatic Map Install Release

RouteBuddy have packed a wealth of new features and fixes into version 3.3 and, with users now able to install maps with a simple command (or even drag-and-drop!) All the problems of single, or multiple, map installs have now been solved with just one simple click.

In removing the bother of tedious map installs, and by creating and incorporating their own in-app file decompression and extraction engines, RouteBuddy have uniquely rewritten the manual for any digital map software user.


Reveal Maps
Move Maps easily to iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. With RouteBuddy's new "Reveal Maps" feature. One click from the menu opens RouteBuddy's dedicated maps folder, allowing easy access to all installed maps for quick and easy transfer to any iOS device.

Move Topo Maps to your iPhone?
Now just drag-and-drop with RouteBuddy.

Height Data (UK)
Following feedback from UltraWalkers on the varied height data reported in all competing applications, RouteBuddy have made major changes to their software and, working to outperform rivals, RouteBuddy now offers outstanding OSGB spot height reports and elevation data graphs.

Performance
Improved right across the software - feature elements include... Import speed, Data Analysis and Screen Rendering, all show high performance increases and particular attention has been paid to the following:
Route modifications.
Multiple Route import.
Ignore bad geocoding data from imports.
Geodata import of Waypoints, Routes and Tracks.
Layer and Route notification performance improved.
Geodata rendering over the map, or aerial image, layer.
Tracks are now batch edited to increase speed when adding elevation.
Identical EULAs are now suppressed when auto-installing multiple maps.
Imported Routes are now incorporated as Direct Routes by default and import/render performance increased.

Enhanced Google Earth linkage
When RouteBuddy initiates Google Earth startup a notification now appears if the application is not installed. Additionally RouteBuddy now looks for both newer and older Google Earth version install locations which, has been noted, have varied by release.

Availability
RouteBuddy 3.3 is a free update to our fully-registered software customers.

The update can be accessed directly from within the application or via our website:

RouteBuddy for Windows 7, Vista and XP is available from: http://www.routebuddy.com/


RouteBuddy for Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, 10.6 and 10.5 is available from: http://www.routebuddy.com/

RouteBuddy Press Page http://www.RouteBuddy.com/news/press-information/

About RouteBuddy Ltd

Founded in 2005, RouteBuddy Ltd are a UK-based developer of GPS-enabled mapping software.

Our goal is continual development of high-quality mapping software that unlocks the potential of mass-market GPS devices.

To support our software we have also developed the RouteBuddy Store, which provides a gateway to purchasing digital maps for use in our products.

Our original desktop mapping software was released in 2006, and was followed by mobile software for Apple's iOS platform. We have continued to develop both desktop and mobile products, and have recently expanded our desktop support to include Microsoft Windows.

Kuwait Ministry of Public Works Receive GIS Training from SuperGeo

SuperGeo Technologies is invited to provide GIS training lectures for Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) and Kuwait Ministry of Public Works (MPW). The party is invited by Institute for Information Industry (III), the organization supporting the development of the local information technology industry, to learn the GIS development and innovations in Taiwan.
Under the arrangement of III, the party visited several government units, research institutes, telecommunication and GIS consultant engineering firms, to have a deep understanding of how the governmental departments and private enterprises grow their businesses by applying GIS technology to a wide variety of applications which focus on GIS system development, pipeline management, and transportation control.
As for the GIS training program, SuperGeo arranged very professional courses for geospatial knowledge, manipulation of GIS techniques, and various applications for desktop GIS, analyst extensions, server GIS, and mobile GIS for Android and Window Mobile. The officials have learned how to utilize GIS technologies to support their daily tasks effectively.
SuperGeo team also introduced the successful GIS applications in Taiwan such as Real-time traffic information system, Emergency Response System for nuclear plants, Enterprise GIS Platform for Telecom, etc. With years of innovation and development experiences in the global GIS market, SuperGeo is the reliable GIS solution provider who can assist the local governmental units in Kuwait with infrastructure planning.
About SuperGeo
SuperGeo Technologies Inc. is a leading global provider of GIS software and solutions. Since the establishment, SuperGeo has dedicated to providing state-of-the-art geospatial technologies and comprehensive services for customers around the world. It is our vision to help users utilize geospatial technologies to create a better world.
SuperGeo software and applications have been spread over the world to be the backbone of the world’s mapping and spatial analysis. SuperGeo is the professional GIS vendor, providing GIS-related users with complete GIS solutions for desktop, mobile, server, and Internet platforms.
More information about SuperGeo is available at www.supergeotek.com

Aviation Community Adoption of Open Geospatial Standards Progresses

The global aviation community is moving forward on the adoption of an international framework of standards that enable communication in a net-centric, globally interoperable Air Transport System (ATS). 
Major government aviation organizations working with large and small aviation companies have developed the Aeronautical Information Exchange Model (AIXM) and the Weather Information Exchange Model (WXXM), both of which are based on the OGC Geography Markup Language (GML) Encoding Standard. The OGC has been assisting in the evaluation, advancement and adoption of AIXM and WXXM by leading a series of rapid prototyping testbeds.
The ninth OGC Web Services testbed (OWS-9) will have sponsorship from numerous organizations including the FAA and Eurocontrol. The Aviation Thread of OWS-9 builds on the Aeronautical Information Management (AIM) and aviation threads of OWS-6, OWS-7 and OWS-8. Participants will further develop and demonstrate the use of AIXM and WXXM in an OGC Web Services environment.  The request for participation and quotes will be issued this week with responses due in April 2012. The kickoff meeting will be held in April, all deliverables are due in December, and a demonstration event will be held in January 2013.
The Aviation Thread will advance the Aviation Architecture to support several Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) Joint Undertaking (SJU) project requirements as well as the FAA's AIM and SWIM (System Wide Information Management) AatS (Aircraft Access to SWIM) requirements. Some efforts in the thread will advance system stability and compliance and others will focus on the SESAR’s ATM Information Reference Model (AIRM). 
To raise awareness of AIXM and WXXM and the value of open geospatial standards, the OGC, in collaboration with EUROCONTROL and the FAA, has organised the ATC Global 2012 workshop “Use of Open Standards in the Modernisation of ATM.” ATC Global (6 - 8 March 2012) is the largest international ATM exhibition of its kind, featuring 200 exhibitors and 40+ free seminars and workshops.
The workshop will cover the role of open standards in supporting and accelerating the ongoing modernization of ATM worldwide and is for ATM data providers, integrators, ANSPs (air navigation service providers), avionics system implementers, EFB (electronic flight bag) implementers, airline representatives, dispatch/operation centre representatives and users of ATM information.
View the agenda here.  Speakers include George Percivall, Chief Architect and Executive Director, Open Geospatial Consortium; Paul Bosman; SWIM/EA Unit manager, Agency AIM focal point, EUROCONTROL; Kevin Haggerty, FAA International Program Officer for Europe, Africa, and Middle East;  Hubert Lepori, AIXM Change Control Board, Information Management / Enterprise Architecture Unit, EUROCONTROL; Frank Suykens, Head of Research & Development, Luciad; Ian Painter, Managing Director, Snowflake Software; Ulrich Kaage, Product Manager, Comsoft; Fatimah Madari, SmartAIM Product Manager, Frequentis; Paolo Stefani, Project Manager, IDS and senior representation from SESAR JU.
The workshop will take place on the morning of Tuesday, 6 March from 10:00 to 13:00 in the Workshop Theatre, Hall 9 at the Amsterdam RAI Exhibition & Congress Centre in the Netherlands. Go to http://www.atcglobalhub.com/register to register as a free exhibition visitor. Make sure to tick the relevant workshop to register your interest in attending. Please arrive at the Workshop theatre, Hall 9 at 09:45 as places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
About the OGC
The OGC is an international consortium of more than 440 companies, government agencies, research organizations, and universities participating in a consensus process to develop publicly available geospatial standards. OGC standards support interoperable solutions that "geo-enable" the Web, wireless and location-based services, and mainstream IT. OGC standards empower technology developers to make geospatial information and services accessible and useful with any application that needs to be geospatially enabled. Visit the OGC website at http://www.opengeospatial.org/contact.

GIS Mobile Guide System on iOS Platform

SuperGeo Technologies, the leading global provider of complete GIS software and solutions, joined the plan held by Development Center of United Technology, Ministry of Education in Taiwan to develop a local mobile guide system app, “Yilan Yuanshan Trip” for iPhone users.
To cooperate with the development of tourism in Yuanshan Recreational Agriculture Area, the system integrates the digital guidance information of several areas, Zhenshan, Dahudi, and Hengshangto. The system is established to achieve the target of promoting the agriculture development in Yuanshan Township, Yilan. The system is also regarded as the key value and feature of the tourism in Yilan County. 
The mobile app, Yilan Yuanshan Trip, integrates not only GPS, e-compass, and Augmented Reality but also the GIS and LBS technologies which allow tourists to recognize the direction and distances of the scenic spot easily. Through accessing GPS functions, tourists can effortlessly obtain the information about their current location.
Moreover, the system also provides the information of recreational scenic spot, including accommodation, tourism farm, cultural scenic spot, cuisine, etc. Users can receive the latest sales news and discount message from local shops via push notification.  
SuperGeo has released a number of applications for Android platform in addition to the application for the industry-academy cooperation. In the near future, SuperGeo is going to release more GIS-related apps for iOS platform.
For more information, please visit http://www.supergeotek.com/index.aspx
About SuperGeo
SuperGeo Technologies Inc. is a leading global provider of GIS software and solutions. Since the establishment, SuperGeo has been dedicated to providing state-of-the-art geospatial technologies and comprehensive services for customers around the world. It is our vision to help users utilize geospatial technologies to create a better world.
SuperGeo software and applications have been spread over the world to be the backbone of the world’s mapping and spatial analysis. SuperGeo is the professional GIS vendor, providing GIS-related users with complete GIS solutions for desktop, mobile, server, and Internet platforms.

Telmap’s Ultra-local Content Vision Becomes a Reality

Telmap, pioneers in mobile location-based services, is proud to share the evolution of its ultra-local vision in the past year.
Delivering users with ultra-local content in their home countries is a key pillar in Telmap’s product strategy of serving all users’ on-the-go needs. Therefore, Telmap prides itself for delivering the most localised location companion tailored to specific segments, markets and geographies.
During 2011, Telmap has been busy identifying the leading content brands in each of its key markets, working together with those brands on integrating the most popular content in each geography into the Telmap Mobile Location Companion, so users in these countries can enjoy the content they trust and are most familiar with.
Here are some of the leading content providers contracted in each country:
Germany:

• PRINZ Event Guide / Top Guide, DER FEINSCHMECKER and MERIAN - Prominent events, city and travel guides
• Das Örtliche - The leading local search and directory service in Germany
• Advantago - Sponsored search provider
• KaufDA - Mobile coupons provider
• COUPIES - Mobile coupons provider
• MyMobai - Mobile coupons provider
• Madvertise - European  mobile advertising network
• Becom Systemhaus - Funny and celebrity voices in German

France:

• LaFourchette - Restaurant guide and booking services
• Dis Moi Ou - User reviews, offers and deals
• Admoove - Location-based advertising
• Yourbandeals - Mobile coupons provider
• Sentinelo - Mobile coupons and special offers provider
• Xolyn - Funny and celebrity voices in French
• Small TV Productions - Funny and celebrity voices in French

South Africa:

• Eat Out / Eat In - Leading restaurant and food shopping guides 

UK:

•  Ordnance Survey Points of Interest - Coming from Great Britain’s national mapping agency
• Good Pub Guide - Independent and trusted pub reviews
• Podcast Multimedia - Funny and celebrity voices in English for the UK 

Spain:

• El Tenedor - Restaurant guide and booking services provider
• Yell Spain - The leading Yellow Pages company 

Italy:

• Seat Pagine Gialle - The Local Internet Company 

Israel:

• Yellow pages Israel - The leading business directory
• Rest.co.il - Israel’s top restaurant guide and restaurant coupons
• Onmyway - Leading provider for coupons, vouchers and daily deals
• Ynet - Israel’s leading news and lifetime portal
• Seret.co.il - Top movies and cinema  guide
• Pango - Mobile parking payment service
• Tel-o-fun - Bike rental service in Tel-Aviv
• Mapa - Local GIS and POI provider

Global, cross-country contents:

• Michelin - World’s leading restaurant and hotel guides
• Lonely Planet - World’s Leading Travel Publishers
• TripAdvisor - World’s largest travel website
• Yelp - Urban city guide and user reviews
• HRS - Hotel Reservation Service - One of world´s leading hotel booking platform
• NAVX - Gas prices updates
• ARC Europe - Real-time parking information
• INRIX - real-time traffic information and incident alerts
• Eventseekr - Global events information
• AccuWeather - Accurate, detailed, and local weather information for 2.7 million locations worldwide
• Cyclops - Worldwide live safety alerts
• xAd - Sponsored Search provider
• Wanderlust Media - Celebrity voices

“We believe that having access to local content that’s relevant and up-to-date, coming from a brand you know and trust is a key success factor for the Telmap Mobile Location Companion. We have dedicated a lot of time and effort in the past year, to make sure we get the leading brands in each of our key markets on board, and we will continue on the same path in 2012.  We believe these efforts will result in increased user satisfaction, as users discover the reliability and accuracy of the service and realize they can  count on the on-the-go value derived from the location companion”, said Motti Kushnir, Telmap Chief Marketing Officer.
We invite you to come and experience Telmap’s ultra-local experience at the Telmap booth at Mobile World Congress (Hall 7 Booth# C42), Barcelona, Spain, February 27-March 1, 2012.  
About Telmap
Telmap, which was acquired by Intel in 2011, is a world leader in mobile location-based services, providing mobile operators with white label, hosted and managed location-based services that are fully designed to open new business opportunities and generate new revenue streams. The company has established a solid reputation for providing its customers with innovative, value added end-to-end mobile location based services that enrich on-the-go experiences through integration of local content, community interactions, and relevant retail offers.
Telmap’s flagship product, the Mobile Location Companion, caters to all users’ needs while out and about, with location central to everything: social interactions, deals and promotions, exploration of one’s surroundings, and more.
A complementary web companion is also available, as well as a robust location platform with a set of APIs to support Telmap customers in delivering a strong LBS strategy.
Telmap is the #1 provider of choice for mobile location-based services and its technology has been selected by leading industry players such as Orange France, Vodafone, Vodacom, Cell C, SFR, O2, Telefonica, SingTel, OPTUS, Cellcom, Pelephone, Partner and more.

URISA Invites Comments on the Geospatial Management Competency Model

URISA invites experienced geospatial professionals of all kinds – particularly those with management experience – to review and comment on a draft Geospatial Management Competency Model (GMCM). Reviews by GIS professionals, professional surveyors, photogrammetrists and remote sensing scientists, programmers and application developers who specialize in geospatial applications, educators with specialized expertise in Geographic Information Science and Technology, and others whose work relies on geospatial technologies and data analysis are all welcome to participate.
A URISA Task Force prepared the draft for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA). Reviews will be reported to the Task Force and DOLETA, and will used to refine and validate the GMCM. Reviewers who share contact information will also receive results of the public review as well as copies of the revised GMCM.
Links to the draft GMCM and an online questionnaire for reviewers are available at http://www.urisa.org/gmcm_review. The questionnaire will remain open through March 31, 2012.
The Geospatial Management Competency Model (GMCM) specifies 74 essential competencies and 17 competency areas that characterize the work of most successful managers in the geospatial industry.
The GMCM builds upon DOLETA’s Geospatial Technology Competency Model, which specifies the foundational, industry-wide, and industry sector-specific expertise characteristic of the various occupations that comprise the geospatial industry (http://www.careeronestop.org/CompetencyModel/pyramid.aspx?GEO=Y).
URISA convened a task force composed of ten experienced geospatial managers and one facilitator at the 2011 GIS-Pro Conference in Indianapolis to produce the GMCM for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA).
URISA’s qualifications to organize the GMCM effort include its nearly 50-year history as one of the founding organizations of the GIS profession, its successful organization of the GIS Certification Institute and the URISA Leadership Academy, and its healthy working relationships with other professional and scientific associations in the geospatial field through the Coalition on Geospatial Organizations (COGO).

Esri Press Publishes Collection of Geospatial Lessons for Universities

Redlands, California - SpatiaLABS from Esri Press are independent computer lab activities that introduce, enhance, and reinforce spatial reasoning and analytic skills that apply to a variety of disciplines. Students working with SpatiaLABS use mapping technology and visualization tools, including Esri's ArcGIS software, to solve real-world problems.
The unique lab activities focus on teaching students how to approach a spatial problem rather than the mechanics of geospatial tools. Covering a broad range of subjects, SpatiaLABS include more than 50 titles such as Forest Planning for Sensitive Wildlife Species, Impacts of Sea Level Rise and Storms on Manhattan, Predicting West Nile Virus Outbreaks, and Customer Profiling: Demographic and Lifestyle Segmentation.
"I introduced all the topics from the [SpatiaLABS] description list to the class and then let the students pick the material they were interested in. I was intrigued with how devoted students became to doing these labs and how hard they were willing to work to discover the meaning of the information," says Dave Skiles, GIS program coordinator, Front Range Community College.
Delivered on DVD, the labs are provided in editable file formats to allow educators to customize each lab for their specific courses or include local data if desired. The level of difficulty and time to complete each lab varies, providing a range of materials instructors can use to accommodate students with different abilities and interests.
SpatiaLABS are available for an annual site license fee. To learn more and to order, visit esri.com/spatialabs or call 1-800-447-9778. Outside the United States, visit esri.com/distributors to contact your local Esri distributor.
About Esri Press
Esri Press publishes books on GIS, cartography, and related topics. The complete selection of GIS titles from Esri Press can be found on the web at esri.com/esripress.
About Esri
Since 1969, Esri has been giving customers around the world the power to think and plan geographically. The market leader in geographic information system (GIS) technology, Esri software is used in more than 300,000 organizations worldwide, including each of the 200 largest cities in the United States, most national governments, more than two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies, and more than 7,000 colleges and universities. Esri applications, running on more than one million desktops and thousands of web and enterprise servers, provide the backbone for the world's mapping and spatial analysis. Esri is the only vendor that provides complete technical solutions for desktop, mobile, server, and Internet platforms. Visit us at esri.com/news.

TomTom Delivers Data in Esri’s File Geodatabase Format

Esri Federal GIS Conference, Washington, DC - February 22, 2012 - TomTom today announces the availability of its MultiNet suite of map products in Esri’s file geodatabase format.   As GIS datasets increase in size, TomTom is offering enterprise customers a data solution that improves versatility, optimizes performance and allows for customizable storage configuration.  Large TomTom datasets may now be consumed directly by Esri applications in a file geodatabase format that is configurable within the customer’s environment, saving time and effort for GIS professionals. The geodatabase format enables Esri users to utilize their TomTom data within multiuser access and editing environments for desktop, server and mobile environments,

“By providing map data in file geodatabase format, TomTom is enabling the most efficient use of Esri software,” said Dan Adams, Vice President, Location and Live Services at TomTom.  “The availability of this format provides a more complete solution, underscoring TomTom’s commitment to Esri and its users.”
“At Esri, we believe that geospatial data should not only be easy to use but also scalable,” saidChristophe Charpentier, Manager of Content at Esri.  “TomTom is proving to be a proactive and responsive partner by delivering a customized solution for our users.” 
TomTom provides file geodatabase format for the following products:  MultiNet, MultiNet Enterprise, MultiNet Administrative Areas, MultiNet Census Enabled Geocoding Layer, MultiNet Locality Index, and MultiNet Post.
About TomTom
TomTom is a global supplier of location and navigation products and services. We provide consumers and enterprise, government and automotive industry customers with digital maps, traffic intelligence, navigation software, PNDs, automotive systems, fleet management services, smartphone apps, fitness devices, POIs and speedcam intelligence. 
Headquartered in Amsterdam, TomTom has over 3,500 employees and operates from 50 locations in 35 countries.
TomTom (AEX: TOM2) is listed on NYSE Euronext. More information can be found at www.tomtom.com. For the most up-to-date route planner, including live traffic information please visit www.tomtom.com/livetraffic

POWER Engineers Welcomes Paul Downing to the GIS/AMS Business Unit

Hailey, Idaho - POWER Engineers, Inc. (POWER) announced today that Paul Downing II has joined the GIS and Asset Management (GIS/AMS) Business Unit. Over the past 18 years, Paul has successfully managed the implementation of enterprise solutions involving GIS, work management and asset life-cycle information technology solutions. His proven experience includes business process documentation, program management, quality assurance, development of key performance indicators, and professional services management. Based in Atlanta, Paul will provide a local management and consulting presence for POWER’s regional engagements in the southern states.  He will be using his consulting skills to assist our clients with Cityworks® projects as well as other program and project opportunities.
“I'm impressed by the depth of professional experience and the caliber of technical knowledge for me to draw upon as a member of POWER's GIS and Asset Management Solutions team,” stated Paul. “It’s our shared vision that we can grow POWER's presence in the Southeast by providing superior consulting services for existing and future clients in the Cityworks, ArcGIS®, ArcFM and other product families.”
Bart Koenig, POWER’s GIS/AMS Business Unit Director, said, “I’m extremely pleased that Paul has joined our team to support our growing Cityworks and GIS client base in the Southeast. POWER has a solid reputation for partnering with our clients to solve their unique requirements in an efficient and cost-effective way, and we know that Paul will help us continue our strong growth as a leader in Cityworks® AMS and PLL solutions.”
About POWER Engineers
POWER Engineers is a global consulting engineering firm specializing in the delivery of integrated solutions for energy, food and beverage, facilities, communications, environmental, and federal markets. POWER Engineers offers complete multidiscipline engineering and program management services. Founded in 1976, it is an employee-owned company with more than 1,500 employees and over 33 offices throughout the United States and abroad. POWER’s GIS and Asset Management Solutions group provides experience with industry-leading technologies and a wide range of solutions for electric, gas and water utilities and local governments.  For more information, please visit www.powereng.com.

Pictometry® Roof Measurement Reports Now Available Through AccuLynx

ROCHESTER, NY, February 22, 2012 – Pictometry International Corp., the expert in high resolution aerial imagery and measurement analytics, is partnering with AccuLynx, the leading business management software provider for roofing contractors. As a result, AccuLynx will now offer Pictometry Roof Measurement Reports inside their industry leading software. This new capability will be exhibited by both Pictometry and AccuLynx at their booths (nos.1609 and 861) at the International Roofing Expo in Orlando, starting today at the Orange County Convention Center.
“Roofing contractors rely on AccuLynx software for every aspect of their business, from billing and estimating to project scheduling. Now, we are giving them the ability to order the most precise and comprehensive roof measurement reports on the market today, from the provider with the best coverage in the industry. Best of all, they can do all this without leaving their workspace,” said AccuLynx CEO Richard Spanton Jr. “By offering our customers roof measurement reports from the industry source for aerial intelligence, we’re confident that we will also be enabling them to grow their businesses by reducing operating and field costs.”
Pictometry Roof Measurement Reports provide all the answers needed to create an accurate estimate for a customer requiring roof repair or replacement, including detailed aerial imagery of the structure from multiple perspectives, detailed line drawings, pitch values and directions, and complete roof takeoff measurements.
“We are excited to partner with AccuLynx to provide roofing contractors with a more comprehensive, single solution that will enable them to run their business more competitively and improve customer service,” said Kevin Reilley, President of Pictometry Business Solutions. “With over a decade of experience in producing intelligent aerial imagery and measurement solutions, users of Pictometry Roof Measurement Reports can work with confidence, knowing that their estimates will be delivered quickly, accurately and with the answers they need to create a competitive estimate for every job.”
Pictometry creates highly accurate Roof Measurement Reports with data derived from Pictometry imagery. Pictometry imagery is captured using a patented process that geo-references images, attributing a latitude/longitude coordinate to each pixel and enables users to make highly accurate remote measurements of structures and land features including area, height, distance, elevation, bearing, pitch and more – directly on imagery.
About Pictometry

Pictometry International Corp. -- the leading provider of data-rich aerial Imagery, Analytics, Integrations and Reports - specializes in the capture of high resolution aerial oblique imagery. Using its patented capture technology, Pictometry produces imagery that is among the highest quality, highest resolution imagery in the world. Geo-referenced and accurate for location-based planning, Pictometry® Intelligent Images™ enable users to measure sites and structures for area, distance, height, elevation and more – without leaving the office. Assessment, Insurance, Construction, Oil & Gas and other industries use Pictometry imagery daily, overlaying it with GIS data and integrating it into existing systems to create an enterprise-wide productivity tool. Pictometry’s vast image library of 145 million data-rich images is continually-updated and includes imagery captured in 150 countries and territories around the world including all major U.S. markets. Pictometry International Corp. is based in Rochester, N.Y. To learn more, visit us online at www.pictometry.com

OGC Announces 5th International Augmented Reality Standards Community Meeting

The Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC®) announced that the Fifth International Augmented Reality (AR) Standards Community meeting will take place March 19 and 20, 2012 in Austin, Texas, USA. This meeting is being sponsored by Khronos Group http://www.khronos.org and sponsored/hosted by the OGC in cooperation with the University of Texas.
Participants will learn the status of activities and discuss progress in all relevant standards development organizations, including:

• Open Mobile Alliance Mobile AR Enabler
• W3C Points of Interest and GeoLocation WGs
• ISO/JTC SC 29 MPEG-A Part 13
• ISO/JTC SC 24 Working Group 9 on AR
• Web3D Consortium AR Work Group
• Open Geospatial Consortium ARML 2.0

Developers and providers of AR tools, platforms, applications, services and data are invited to attend. Participation is open to anyone, but registration is required. To register, visit https://store.opengeospatial.org/event/120319ar .
Position papers and the status updates of six international standard development organizations will form the basis of the meeting's agenda and discussions.  Additional information about the meeting goals and steps to register/prepare may be found at: http://www.perey.com/ARStandards/fifth-international-ar-standards-meeting/
About the OGC
The OGC is an international consortium of more than 440 companies, government agencies, research organizations, and universities participating in a consensus process to develop publicly available geospatial standards. OGC standards support interoperable solutions that "geo-enable" the Web, wireless and location-based services, and mainstream IT. OGC standards empower technology developers to make geospatial information and services accessible and useful with any application that needs to be geospatially enabled. Visit the OGC website at http://www.opengeospatial.org/contact.

Russian SRCAMB Selects Intergraph’s ERDAS IMAGINE & APOLLO to Aid Infectious Disease Management

Intergraph^® announces that the Russian State Research Center for Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology (SRCAMB) in Obolensk has implemented both ERDAS IMAGINE^® and ERDAS APOLLO to help support its spatial-temporal approach for processing data related to infectious diseases and conduct risk analysis of biologically hazardous objects. NeoGeography R&D Group and Navgeocom, authorized Intergraph Geospatial resellers in Russia, are now working directly with the Russian State Research Center on implementation.
ERDAS IMAGINE provides the SRCAMB with the ability to process and analyze satellite imagery to assess environmental impact factors. It also serves as an access point for acquiring relevant information, assisting in the analysis of environmental impact factors and aiding further research and development.
ERDAS APOLLO supports the SRCAMB by providing a common, reliable framework from which specialists, as well as the public at large, can access relevant data and the value-added products created in ERDAS IMAGINE. This includes cataloging and deploying all the available satellite imagery. The end-user utilizes ERDAS APOLLO to search, harvest and deploy the information, and ERDAS IMAGINE to measure and analyze the relevant data. From the ERDAS APOLLO interface, users can access spatially located information aggregated from the different software packages installed at the client side.
“By using ERDAS IMAGINE in conjunction with ERDAS APOLLO, we will be able to provide a unique level of situational awareness for infectious disease monitoring, reducing biological risks and threats for the public,” said Igor Govorunov, Information Department Chief, State Research Center for Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology in Obolensk, Russia.
Some of the core areas that both ERDAS products support include:

• Cataloging of primary, geographically located information about biological and chemical safety
• Development of the first-ever seasonally correct geographical context based on satellite imagery
• Analysis of environmental factors of infectious diseases
• Capabilities for rapid net-centric incident information based on WFS-T service Research and development in providing healthcare solutions.

“Throughout Russia, numerous organizations are discovering the value of robust data management solutions that provide true interoperability and security,” said Martin Ehrhardt, EMEA Geospatial Manager – Sales & Channel, Intergraph Corporation. “Solutions like ERDAS APOLLO and ERDAS IMAGINE allow global organizations to manage and address real-time needs that directly impact local populations.”
For more information about ERDAS IMAGINE or ERDAS APOLLO, please visit www.intergraph.com/geospatial.
About Intergraph
Intergraph is the leading global provider of engineering and geospatial software that enables customers to visualize complex data. Businesses and governments in more than 60 countries rely on Intergraph’s industry-specific software to organize vast amounts of data to make processes and infrastructure better, safer and smarter. The company’s software and services empower customers to build and operate more efficient plants and ships, create intelligent maps, and protect critical infrastructure and millions of people around the world.
Intergraph operates through two divisions: Process, Power & Marine (PP&M) and Security, Government & Infrastructure (SG&I).  Intergraph PP&M provides enterprise engineering software for the design, construction, operation and data management of plants, ships and offshore facilities. Intergraph SG&I provides geospatially powered solutions including ERDAS technologies to the public safety and security, defense and intelligence, government, transportation, photogrammetry, and utilities and communications industries. Intergraph Government Solutions (IGS) is an independent subsidiary for SG&I’s U.S. federal and classified business.
Intergraph is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hexagon AB, (Nordic exchange: HEXA B) and (Swiss exchange: HEXN). For more information, visit www.intergraph.com and www.hexagon.com.

MAPPS to Host Policy Luncheon February 23 on Remote Sensing Technologies in Airport Surveys

Reston, VA - February 21, 2012 - MAPPS, the only national association for private geospatial firms will host a Washington Policy Luncheon on Thursday, February 23 in Washington, D.C. during the Esri federal user conference. The forum will focus on the recently released FAA Advisory Circular "Standards for Using Remote Sensing Technologies in Airport Surveys" (AC 150/5300-17C). Mike McNerney, Ph.D., P.E. of the FAA is the featured speaker.

Dr. McNerney will discuss the opportunities available for private sector geospatial firms for airport survey contracting. This is an opportunity for private sector firms to gain knowledge on the specific geospatial data, including LiDAR, the FAA is seeking to collect through the airport GIS surveys. He will also discuss the implementation process for the circular and the eligibility of airports to receive grants through the Airport Improvement Program (AIP). Dr. McNerney will also review the data verification process for the airport GIS program.

"This is a very timely forum for private firms to understand how their capabilities can be utilized to upgrade GIS for the nation's airports and learn about their clients' eligibility for AIP grants," said John Palatiello, MAPPS Executive Director. "We hope private firms that are interested in competing for these contracts that will be in Washington D.C. and attend the event."

The MAPPS Federal Policy Luncheon will take place at 12:00 Noon at the City Club of Washington at Columbia Square, 555 13th Street, NW, Washington, D.C. Advanced registration is required. The fee is $65.00 for MAPPS members and $80.00 for non-members. Lunch will be included. To register, please visit www.mapps.org

About MAPPS

Formed in 1982, MAPPS is the only national association exclusively comprised of private firms in the remote sensing, spatial data and geographic information systems field in the United States. The MAPPS membership spans the entire spectrum of the geospatial community, including Member Firms engaged in satellite and airborne remote sensing, surveying, photogrammetry, aerial photography, LIDAR, hydrography, bathymetry, charting, aerial and satellite image processing, GPS, and GIS data collection and conversion services. MAPPS also includes Associate Member Firms, which are companies that provide hardware, software, products and services to the geospatial profession in the United States and other firms from around the world. Independent Consultant Members are sole proprietors engaged in consulting in or to the geospatial profession, or provides a consulting service of interest to the geospatial profession.

MAPPS provides its 160+ member firms opportunities for networking and developing business-to-business relationships, information sharing, education, public policy advocacy, market growth, and professional development and image enhancement.
For more information on MAPPS, please visit www.MAPPS.org.

California GIS Community to Convene in Sacramento for CalGIS 2012

CalGIS 2012 - the 18th Annual California GIS Conference - will take place April 11-13, 2012 at the Sheraton Sacramento. The conference features a comprehensive educational program, networking events and an exhibit hall.
Themed “Capitalizing on Spatial Technology”, the conference opens on Wednesday, April 11 with numerous workshops, meetings, and a Levee and Wine tour. On Thursday, April 12, Scott Gregory, the State of California’s GIO, will update attendees on statewide GIS activities and priorities followed by a Town Hall session, where attendees will share their perspectives about issues impacting the profession.
Sessions on topics ranging fromWeb and Open Source ResourcesforGIS to Visual Simulations and the Use of LiDARwill provide attendees with top-quality education on Thursday and Friday. An Ignite session and a poster session will complement the multiple breakout sessions.
The California Geographic Information Association (CGIA) will honor 2012 award winners and Dr. Dawn Wright will provide a keynote address on “The Age of Science and Big Data”.
The committee is organizing a number of networking events including a geocaching tour of downtown Sacramento and an urban bike tour.
Don’t miss the best in California GIS this April in Sacramento. For details and registration, visit www.calgis.org.
Sponsored by:

• Northern California Chapter of URISA - host chapter
• Southern California Chapter of URISA
• Central California Chapter of URISA
• California Geographic Information Association (CGIA)

GAF Applies Earth Observation For Improved Governance Of Informal Mining

GAF AG, in a team together with DLR (German Aerospace Center - Germany) and IES (Institute for Environmental Security - Netherlands), is carrying out a contract to use optical and radar remote sensing sensors and interpretation techniques to locate, map and monitor small-scale and artisanal mining (ASM) operations. In many countries, information about ASM is largely incomplete and, as a consequence, ASM activities remain informal and outside of governmental supervision andregulation.
Especially in remote, poorly accessible or security sensitive areas, satellite-based remote sensing is the most efficient tool for area-wide mapping and monitoring. In this project, very high resolution optical image data, stereo data and radar-based coherence analysis is being applied and interpreted together with other geo-data such as mining cadastre information. This involves the following information being extracted from earth observation images for monitoring ASM activities:

• location and description of mining activities (activity maps and disturbed terrain analysis e.g. trenches, pits, stockpiles)  and change detection
• rough estimation of extracted material 
• infrastructure (e.g. processing plants, transportation routes) and influx/efflux of population

This information is used to create up-to-date reconnaissance maps and dossiers with a description of current mining activities in order to facilitate the work of in-situ mines inspectors. In addition, a methodology for country-wide mines verification is being developed.
The project covers a range of settings with artisanal mining for metals, coal, gold, gemstones as well as quarries in several selected pilot areas. Cases are selected from GAF`s international activities within the mineral resources domain; recent GAF project countries include Guyana, Morocco, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Uganda, Madagascar, Afghanistan, Mongolia and Papua New Guinea.
Artisanal or small-scale mining is largely a poverty driven activity and is typically practiced in the poorest and most remote rural areas of countries by a largely itinerant, poorly educated populace with little else available in the way of alternative employment. Today, an estimated 13 million people in about 30 countries across the world are small-scale/artisanal miners, with about 80 - 100 million people depending on such mining for their livelihoods. ASM can be environmentally damaging and often has serious health and safetyconsequences for workers and surrounding communities. Many of the potential economic benefits of the small-scale mining sector are also lost as a result of poor practice with regard to mining, processing and marketing. The compiling of an inventory is a first step towards regularizing the sector, i.e. the enforcement of health, safety and environmental standards and the collection of royalties. Governments can then also grant operators proper legal title and provide technical, marketing and training support.
The project is funded under the European Space Agency (ESA) "Timely Situation Awareness for Law Enforcement and Intelligence Application" contract, which forms part of the Value Added Element (VAE) programme. The purpose of the VAEprogrammeis to support industry in the use of earth observation data. The project started in autumn 2011 and is scheduled to run for 18 months.
About GAF AG – Germany 
GAF AG, an e-GEOS, Telespazio company, is globally active and has an international reputation as an experienced provider of project design, management and implementation services in the fields of geo-information, satellite remote sensing, spatial IT-consultancy and capacity building for private and public clients.GAF provides solutions in the sectors of mining and geology, natural resources, water and environment, security, land and renewable resources. Over the past 27 years, GAF has been active in more than 100 countries throughout Europe, Africa, South America and Asia.