CommScope Gives Location-Based Services a Boost Through New Offering

CommScope is making it possible for mobile operators to finally realize the promise of mobile location technology and maximize their investment in wireless location systems. With GeoLENs®Locate™, the newest offering from the CommScope family of location technologies, carriers can now support targeted emergency messaging for public safety communication and opt-in mobile marketing opportunities, as well as social networking and enterprise applications.
Currently, mobile location capabilities are primarily limited to determining and updating the location of a specific subscriber’s mobile device in response to an emergency call, “friend-finder” request, or other location-based application. GeoLENs Locate goes beyond that to deliver a comprehensive, real-time means of integrating multiple subscriber locations and allowing highly-defined, area-targeted messaging and more value-added services. GeoLENs Locate accomplishes this by combining high-performance area location geofencing software from Intersec and active, specific location updating support from CommScope GeoLENs Mobile Location Centers.
“GeoLENs Locate is aimed at changing the game for mobile location because it strips away the remaining technical challenges preventing operators from delivering the next evolution of targeted messaging and location-based services,” said John Baker, vice president and general manager, Network Solutions, CommScope.
Technology agnostic, GeoLENs Locate is designed to access and use virtually any mobile location method supported by the service provider’s network. In the case of a public safety incident, for example, GeoLENs Locate establishes a coarse view of the users within a geographic area defined by civil authorities. Active location then identifies which mobile devices are within or near this “virtual perimeter,” and law enforcement can route emergency messages to those devices. Similar techniques can be employed for targeted marketing among opt-in subscribers and with social applications. The solution is dynamic, yet engineered to avoid negative impact on network performance. It supports 2G, 3G and 4G mobile phones. Additional features:

• Public safety support – GeoLENs Locate’s robust processing and high-volume capacity powers applications that provides 24/7 readiness for severe weather warnings, hazardous conditions, Amber alerts and other emergency situations requiring mass notification to mobiles in specific geographic areas.
• Mobile marketing – GeoLENs Locate lets advertisers and merchants geographically direct promotional and other messages to mobile users who have opted-in to receive such services.
• Fleet, family and friend tracking – GeoLENs Locate helps business customers better manage their fleets, suppliers and schedules. Individual subscribers can also pinpoint the location of their closed user group of friends, children or elderly parents for connecting on the go or just to be sure a loved one is safe.

GeoLENs Locate is designed to be deployed with CommScope’s GeoLENs wireless location systems, which employ a wide range of software-driven network-based and handset-based location technologies for macro-area, as well as indoor caller location solutions.
GeoLENs is a registered trademark and GeoLENs Locate is a trademark of CommScope, Inc.
About CommScope
CommScope (www.commscope.com) has played a role in virtually all the world’s best communication networks. We create the infrastructure that connects people and technologies through every evolution. Our portfolio of end-to-end solutions includes critical infrastructure our customers need to build high-performing wired and wireless networks. As much as technology changes, our goal remains the same: to help our customers create, innovate, design, and build faster and better. We’ll never stop connecting and evolving networks for the business of life at home, at work, and on the go.
This press release includes forward-looking statements that are based on information currently available to management, management’s beliefs, as well as on a number of assumptions concerning future events. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of performance and are subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results to differ materially from those currently expected. In providing forward-looking statements, the company does not intend, and is not undertaking any obligation or duty, to update these statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

GIS Technology Plays Important Role to Map Disease and Health Trends

Thanks to the advancements in geographic information systems (GIS) technologies and mapping applications like ArcGIS, health organizations worldwide are mapping disease and sickness trends in an effort to treat them locally and globally.
GIS tools and ArcGIS mapping applications play an important role in developing data-driven solutions that help health organizations visualize, analyze, interpret and present complex geo-location data.
The World Health Organization maintains an updated influenza map that shows Asia and Africa are at greater risk the spread of flu. Other organizations such as Health-mapping.com keep up-to-the-minute data-filled maps that cover water and health, influenza and malaria.
One map keeps water-related infectious diseases in the WHO European Region, focusing on the visualization of pan-European and worldwide water-related disease data that comes from centralized information system for infectious diseases (CISID) database. The map covers HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, Tuberculosis, Diphtheria and several other diseases.
Then there’s HealthMap.org, which was founded in 2006 to use online sources to help with disease outbreak monitoring.
Created by epidemiologists and software developers at Children’s Hospital Boston, the freely available website and mobile app ‘Outbreaks Near Me’ deliver real-time intelligence on a broad range of emerging infectious diseases for a diverse audience including libraries, local health departments, governments and international travelers.
HealthMap brings together disparate data sources, including online news aggregators, eyewitness reports, expert-curated discussions and validated official reports, to achieve a unified and comprehensive view of the current global state of infectious diseases and their effect on human and animal health.
Through an automated process, updating 24/7/365, the system monitors, organizes, integrates, filters, visualizes and disseminates online information about emerging diseases in nine languages, facilitating early detection of global public health threats.
For example, HealthMap.org recently released a report that several Massachusetts swans tested positive for low-path avian influenza or bird flu. Although the report indicated there is no threat to human health, this latest finding is just an example of how GIS can help save lives in the case of an outbreak.
“The real focus is identifying and focusing surveillance in hotspots around the world where we have potential for risk of a new disease that potentially might cause a pandemic worldwide,” said John Brownstein, co-founder of HealthMap.org and assistant professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School.
Maps are also tracking obesity and diabetes. CDC data and mapping indicates 644 counties in 15 states represent most of the country’s type two diabetes cases. This has been called the “Diabetes Belt,” which spans from Appalachia into the Deep South. Data also shows that a few counties in Michigan also have higher rates, as well as some regions in the West.
Meanwhile, Esri, an international geographic technology firm whose software is used by more than 350,000 organizations worldwide, has a GIS for Health & Human Services division that helps public health organizations and hospitals alike. Hospitals use ArcGIS for accurate and relevant patient information as well as for marketing, planning and community relations.
For example, the University of Kentucky Trauma Center, called UK Chandler Hospital used a customized GIS application to boost analyze data.
“We built the custom ArcGIS Server application using the Flex API to maximize accessibility and ease of use,” said Chris Walls, cofounder of 39°N, the firm that built the platform for UK. “We are extremely proud of this cutting-edge collaboration with the University of Kentucky. This kind of application will significantly streamline the administration of public facilities.”
GIS technology and ArcGIS offers tremendous potential to benefit the health care industry and its many uses are just now beginning to be realized. The need for GIS professionals who are proficient using ArcGIS will be even greater as organizations develop innovative ways to harness the data integration and spatial visualization power of GIS.
“The philosophy of American Sentinel’s bachelor’s in GIS curriculum is to prepare students for real workplace issues and challenges using state-of-the-art, industry leading software products such as Esri’s ArcGIS and open source technologies,” says Devon Cancilla, Ph.D., dean, business and technology at American Sentinel University.
Dr. Cancilla believes it’s important to empower students with a current and applicable GIS skill set such as using ArcGIS, so students can apply relevant knowledge on the job while use real-improving their career trajectory.
Learn More About American Sentinel University’s GIS and Health Care Degrees American Sentinel’s programs prepare students for entry into the GIS field and 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

Bharat Oman Refineries Limited Employs Bentley’s ProjectWise

Bentley Systems, Incorporated, the leading company dedicated to providing comprehensive software solutions for sustaining infrastructure, today announced that Bharat Oman Refineries Limited (BORL) has implemented ProjectWise, Bentley’s collaboration and work-sharing platform, to facilitate the design, construction, and ongoing capacity expansion of its recently commissioned 6 million metric ton refinery in Bina, Madhya Pradesh, India. BORL found that managing and sharing the project’s more than 1 million documents and 100 gigabytes of data among multidisciplinary teams and suppliers was a monumental undertaking. Searching for and accessing this engineering content – which encompassed a variety of formats including Microsoft Office files, AutoCAD, and JPG – and validating that it always reflected the most current technical information was consuming too much time and money. Through their use of ProjectWise, BORL’s project teams and stakeholders can now find and share the information they need far more easily and efficiently, improving quality, reducing rework and costs, and helping them meet project deadlines.
“Using ProjectWise to track and manage project content allows us to facilitate the reuse of design and engineering information, and reduces our design iterations,” said V. N. Herwadkar, vice president, Corporate Planning & Strategy, BORL. “Our design engineers are now anticipating the next phase of our ProjectWise implementation, which will include a web server to provide us with the scalability to publish and access our engineering content through the Internet.”
Added Gita Ramachandran, vice president, ERP & IT, “ProjectWise lets our BORL project teams maintain collaborative workflows, which – on a project of this scale – is a huge undertaking. For example, it enables us to receive revisions from project management consultants, process licensors, equipment suppliers, and multiple other contractors and quickly and securely share that information with authorized users at the job site.”
Through its use of ProjectWise, BORL is now able to cost-effectively manage, quickly access, and securely share work-in-progress engineering content among its civil engineering, operations and maintenance, planning, and other teams engaged in this ongoing project. Moreover, all authorized project stakeholders can participate in dynamic project reviews confident that their comments and feedback are always synchronized with the original source and author to resolve issues quickly and effectively. This is accomplished in a closed loop, returning accurate feedback in context to all relevant designers. As a result, each project team member always has access to the most up-to-date project content for decision making, thereby reducing errors and project risk. Additionally, because ProjectWise is interoperable, the content can be in a wide variety of forms and formats – from CAD drawings and other paper documents to DGN and DWG files, PDFs, Microsoft Office files, and much more.
Commenting on BORL’s implementation of ProjectWise, Atanu Pattanayak, Bentley territory executive, South Asia, said, “Through its deployment of ProjectWise on this complex refinery project, authorized BORL team members are able to accelerate work in progress using their architectural, engineering, and construction authoring tools and workflows of choice. This same capability enabled the team to execute and deliver the initial project ahead of schedule.”
The refinery, which was constructed at a cost of about US$2.4 billion, includes a crude oil supply system comprising a single-point mooring system (SPM), crude oil storage terminal at Vadinar, District Jamnagar, Gujarat, and a 935 kilometer-long cross-country pipeline from Vadinar to Bina. BORL is a joint venture company promoted by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Oman Oil Company Limited (OOCL) as its investment partner. The new refinery will boost BPCL’s processing by more than 30 percent.
About ProjectWise
ProjectWise is a system of collaboration servers and services for AECO information for the design and construction of infrastructure projects while the work is in progress. The system provides secure and managed work sharing, content reuse, and dynamic feedback capabilities including review, mark-up, clash resolution, visualization, automated publishing, and more. Deployed in 72 countries, ProjectWise is the system of choice for 45 of the ENR Top 50 Global Design Firms, 75 of the ENR Top 100 Global Design Firms, 29 of the ENR Top 50 Design-Build Firms, 218 of the Bentley Infrastructure 500 top owners, and half of the U.S. state departments of transportation. For additional information about ProjectWise, visit www.Bentley.com/ProjectWise.
About Bentley Systems, Incorporated
Bentley is the global leader dedicated to providing architects, engineers, geospatial professionals, constructors, and owner-operators with comprehensive software solutions for sustaining infrastructure. Bentley’s mission is to empower its users to leverage information modeling throughintegrated projects for high-performingintelligent infrastructure. Its solutions encompass the MicroStation platform for infrastructure design and modeling, the ProjectWise platform for infrastructure project team collaboration and work sharing, and the AssetWise platform for infrastructure asset operations – all supporting a broad portfolio of interoperable applications and complemented by worldwide professional services. Founded in 1984, Bentley has grown to nearly 3,000 colleagues in more than 45 countries and $500 million in annual revenues. Since 2001, the company has invested more than $1 billion in research, development, and acquisitions.
Additional information about Bentley is available at www.bentley.com and in Bentley’s annual report. For Bentley news as it happens, subscribe to an RSS feed of Bentley press releases and news alerts.Toview a searchable collection of innovative infrastructure projects from the annual Be Inspired Awards, access Bentley’s Year in Infrastructure publications. To access a professional networking site that enables members of the infrastructure community to connect, communicate, and learn from each other, visit Be Communities.
To download the Bentley Infrastructure 500 Top Owners ranking, a unique global compendium of the top public- and private-sector owners of infrastructure based on the value of their cumulative infrastructure investments, visit www.bentley.com/500.

Esri Announces Major Upgrade to Educational Site License Program

This year, Esri is rolling out a number of significant, free upgrades to its popular Educational Site License Program. The additional software applications and data enhance an already comprehensive GIS suite and provide new solutions for educators who wish to share the power of spatial thinking across their curricula.
Already added to the site license program this year are the mapping and charting solutions that improve cartographic production including Esri Nautical Solution, Esri Aeronautical Solution, Esri Defense Solution, and Esri Production Mapping. Also added are the ArcGIS Data Interoperability extension, which facilitates data sharing, and Esri Community Analyst, a web-based solution for domestic planning and policy analysis.
Future additions will include subscriptions to ArcGIS Online, a cloud-based system for creating and sharing geospatial content; new workflow-oriented Virtual Campus courses; Esri CityEngine, used for advanced 3D modeling and urban planning; and Esri demographic and Tapestry data for the United States.
"This is the most substantial upgrade in the 20-year history of our Educational Site License Program," says David DiBiase, Esri's director of education for industry solutions. "It reflects Esri's commitment to the success of educators at all levels in their efforts to cultivate the next generation of GIS users and a geospatially literate citizenry."
Staff members from Esri's Education Program team will be on hand to discuss this historic upgrade at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers. Some additions to the Educational Site License Program may be available only to US institutions. Educators in countries outside the United States should contact their local Esri distributor for details.
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.

GeoEye Successfully Completes Final Critical Design Review for the EnhancedView Program

GeoEye, Inc. (NASDAQ: GEOY), a leading source of geospatial information and insight, announced that it has successfully completed the System Critical Design Review, the last of four critical design reviews in its EnhancedView Program. This program includes the development of the GeoEye-2 satellite and an upgraded ground system architecture.
On January 26, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) approved the System Critical Design Review. This review was the final step to verify that GeoEye's space, ground and overall system level designs meet the stringent operational and security requirements of the NGA. Completion of these four critical design reviews also confirms the system will support all mission requirements and federal space standards for the EnhancedView Program.
Carl Alleyne, GeoEye's vice president of engineering, said, "This on-time achievement clears the way for bringing this important firm, fixed-price program to timely completion while meeting all of the U.S. government requirements."
"These milestones validate that our upgraded ground systems and GeoEye-2 satellite are designed to support the needs of the national security community, from our intelligence analysts at home to our many warfighters abroad," said Bill Schuster, GeoEye's chief operating officer.
With 34-centimeter resolution imagery, GeoEye-2 will be the world's highest resolution commercial satellite. When operational in 2013, GeoEye-2 will provide cost-effective, increased coverage and easier access for the U.S. government and its many other customers, which is particularly important during times of global crisis. GeoEye-2 will feature significant improvements over its predecessors, including enhanced tasking, the ability to collect more imagery at a faster rate and a new ITT Exelis camera.
About GeoEye
GeoEye is a leading source of geospatial information and insight for decision makers and analysts who need a clear understanding of our changing world to protect lives, manage risk and optimize resources. Each day, organizations in defense and intelligence, public safety, critical infrastructure, energy and online media rely on GeoEye's imagery, tools and expertise to support important missions around the globe. Widely recognized as a pioneer in high-resolution satellite imagery, GeoEye has evolved into a complete provider of geospatial intelligence solutions. GeoEye's ability to collect, process and analyze massive amounts of geospatial data allows our customers to quickly see precise changes on the ground and anticipate where events may occur in the future. GeoEye is a public company listed on NASDAQ as GEOY and is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia with more than 700 employees worldwide. Learn more at www.geoeye.com.

Bluesky Tree Map Helps Carlisle Make the Most of Green Spaces

Coalville, Leicestershire, UK - 14 February 2012 –  A digital tree map layer, created by Bluesky, is helping Carlisle City Council maximise the benefits of urban green spaces. Following the publication earlier this year of ‘The Natural Choice’ a Government White Paper on the natural environment Carlisle City Council is using the Bluesky ProximiTREE data to map existing trees, highlight areas where additional planting may be required, identify possible risks posed by trees and inform their inspection regime.

‘The Natural Choice’ builds on previous findings that highlight the economic benefits of urban green spaces. These include an estimated benefit of £300 per person, per year attributed to living within a view of green space and nationally urban green spaces are said to be worth £2.3 billion per year. Maintaining the UK’s green spaces is predicted to deliver £30 billion in health and welfare benefits however failing to maintain this valuable resource would cost £20 billion each year.

The Bluesky ProximiTREE data has so far been used by Carlisle City Council to inform a new ‘green strategy’ to secure and maximise the benefits from parks and green spaces in the city. ProximiTREE is derived from the most accurate and up to date aerial photography. Using overlapping images the exact location of every tree can be mapped and the height and extent of its canopy derived.

ProximiTREE is suitable for use in most desktop Geographical Information Systems (GIS), web mapping applications and Computer Aided Design (CAD) packages. Both 2D and 3D versions of the map are available and ProximiTREE works alongside existing Bluesky datasets such as 3D buildings, terrain models and aerial imagery.

ABOUT ProximiTREE

ProximiTREE is a digital map layer accurately depicting the location and extent of trees and their proximity to buildings. Designed as a tool to aid Local Authority officers, insurance assessors and property developers, ProximiTREE details the exact spatial location and height of individual trees, together with the circumference of its canopy. From this information the potential impact can be assessed. The database is capable of holding a wealth of information, including species, health and TPOs. Each tree has a unique identification number.

ProximiTREE is an accurate map representation and database of tree heights and their canopy widths derived from aerial photography. Bluesky's team of editors, trained in accurate photo-interpretation, examines aerial photos to identify the height of all crown and canopies visible within each photo. Once the highest point of each tree's crown has been measured, actual tree heights are determined using an existing Digital Terrain Model (digital representation of ground surface topography or terrain).
ProximiTREE is delivered in formats suitable for use in desktop Geographical Information Systems (GIS), web mapping applications and Computer Aided Design (CAD) packages. The fact that ProximiTREE comprises of both 2D location and 3D height measurements means it can be viewed and interrogated in both 2D and 3D GIS CAD software. It should be noted that ProximiTREE is simply a database and thus can also be provided in all common database, text or spreadsheet formats.

About Bluesky
Bluesky is a UK-based specialist in aerial imaging and remote sensing data collection and processing.  An internationally recognised leader with projects extending around the globe, Bluesky is proud to work with prestigious organisations such as Google, the BBC and Government Agencies.

Bluesky has unrivalled expertise in the creation of seamless, digital aerial photography, 3D landscape/cityscape visualisations and prints and also runs a national mapping centre, providing digital mapping, satellite imagery and aerial photography including ultra-high resolution imagery of cities and towns.

Bluesky is now leading the way developing innovative solutions for environmental applications including the UK’s first nationwide map of solar potential, citywide ‘heat loss’ maps, 3D maps of trees and their proximity to buildings and historical imagery.
 

Minister Of Infrastructure & The Environment, The Netherlands to Open Geospatial World Forum 2012

Amsterdam, The Netherlands - 8 February 2012 - Mrs Melanie Schultz van Haegen, Hon’ble Minister of Infrastructure and the Environment in the Netherlands, has confirmed to open Geospatial World Forum (GWF) 2012 on 24 April. She will also deliver the Opening Address. GWF 2012 will be held from 23 to 27 April at the RAI Convention Centre in Amsterdam.

As the premium global geospatial industry event, GWF 2012 will bring the stakeholders — solution providers, policy makers as well as users — to a single platform, providing unparalleled opportunities for discussion, debate and interaction. The theme of Geospatial World Forum 2012 is 'Geospatial Industry & World Economy'. In tune with the theme, the conference will touch upon the dimensions and directions of geospatial industry and attempt to bring forward and project its utility, contribution and relevance to several important industries contributing to the economy of the world. The conference is being organised by Geospatial Media and Communications along with the Netherlands’ Cadastre, Land Registry and Mapping Agency (in short: Kadaster).
Ms. Schultz assumed office for Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment in October 2010. This is a newly formed ministry, which has evolved after merger of earlier Ministries of Transport, Public Works and Water Management and Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment.
Mrs Schultz will be welcomed to the conference by Sanjay Kumar, Chief Executive Officer for Geospatial Media and Communications: ¨DIt is indeed our proud privilege to welcome the Hon’ble Minister. The ministry Mrs Schultz heads is one of the key beneficiaries of geospatial technologies. Her leading vision holds the key to the direction that the Netherlands will take in the coming years regarding projects with a geospatial core. We are confident that the delegates are eager to hear Mrs Schultz. Her presence will add significant value to the forum.¡¬
For more information about the conference, please visit www.geospatialworldforum.org
About Geospatial Media and Communications
Geospatial Media and Communications (formerly GIS Development) works towards raising the profile of the geospatial industry; expanding its horizons through creating awareness, connecting industry communities, policy advocacy and business development initiatives.
About Kadaster
The Netherlands’ Cadastre, Land Registry and Mapping Agency (in short: Kadaster) harbours many years of expertise regarding land registration, mapping, land use and corresponding IT-setup. As the international context of land administration continues to grow, the scope of Kadaster’s activities abroad continues to widen. By collaborating with many parties internationally, Kadaster is able to keep its know-how prominent and remain a reliable sparring partner.

Paragon Launches Olympic Planning Pack

By a unanimous vote of the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) Board of Directors, the Society has issued a third resolution calling for immediate support and funding for the continuation of the Nation’s moderate resolution imaging program.  Due to a technical failure in the Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) instrument on-board the Landsat 7 spacecraft in May 2003, and the recent decline of the Landsat 5 spacecraft, the continued collection of useful moderate-resolution, multispectral remote sensing data is now jeopardized.

Over 40 years of uninterrupted Landsat imagery has played a critical role in monitoring ongoing stresses on the Earth from population, industry, climate change, land use and other factors.  The continued collection of moderate resolution imagery is needed to provide an effective means to intensively and systematically measure the Earth’s vital conditions as food and water and energy resources become ever more scarce.
In the resolution, ASPRS cites the policy change made in 2008 by the Department of the Interior (DOI)/U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to distribute all current and historic Landsat imagery free of charge to users anywhere in the world.  This has resulted in an explosive growth in imagery utilization, especially the global monitoring land surface changes.  In addition, the resolution points out the comprehensive strategy formulated by the White House in 2007 to ensure long-term stability for moderate resolution satellite land-imaging.
In 2011, the current Administration embraced and reinforced that strategy by seeking funding within the DOI/USGS budget to ensure its implementation.  Congressional appropriators have not agreed with the Administration's proposal to create and fund a separate DOI/USGS "Land Imaging" account and instead have provided $2 million for program development only with time in the year ahead for all interested parties to re-examine how to proceed with future missions.
The current ASPRS resolution outlines five points that ASPRS believes the U.S. Government must seriously consider:

1. The United States must commit to continue the collection of moderate-resolution land imagery and the free distribution of current and historic imagery.
2. The United States must establish and maintain a core operational capability to collect moderate-resolution land imagery through the procurement and launch of a series of U.S.-owned satellites, thus providing job opportunities for highly skilled, technically trained Americans and sustaining U.S. technical leadership and expertise in remote sensing.
3. The United States must build, launch and operate lower cost smaller satellites, using those proven technologies for our future operational land-imaging systems, and avoiding costly, one-of-a-kind imaging satellites.
4. The United States must pursue a strategy that includes collaboration with international partners, and with domestic and foreign commercial entities, to augment the core capability for meeting U.S. operational requirements and create opportunities for cost sharing and data interoperability. 
5. The United States must ensure adequate funding is allocated to DOI, which will continue to partner with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to meet U.S. civil land imaging needs. 

“For the past nine years, ASPRS has pressed the U.S. Government on the importance of planning for data continuity and a commitment to the establishment and maintenance of a core operational capability to collect moderate-resolution land imagery through the procurement and launch of a series of U.S.-owned satellites,” said ASPRS President Gary Florence.  “ASPRS continues to believe the most efficient, sustainable and cost-effective way to ensure the continuous flow of Landsat or Landsat-like data is for the U.S. Government to invest in building lower cost smaller satellites and to pursue international cost-sharing partners, starting with the European Space Agency, who have the same or very similar program objectives,” he emphasized.
Founded in 1934, ASPRS is an international professional organization of 6,500 geospatial data professionals. ASPRS is devoted to advancing knowledge and improving understanding of the mapping sciences to promote responsible application of photogrammetry, remote sensing, geographic information systems and supporting technologies.

Intergraph® Enables Users to Exploit Power of 3D Geospatial Data with GeoMedia 3D 6.1.1

Intergraph proudly announces the release of GeoMedia^® 3D 6.1.1, providing a better way for organizations to exploit the precision and power of their geospatial data. 3D visualization provides the realistic view to facilitate smarter, more confident decision making and enhanced visual communication.
GeoMedia 3D is an add-on seamlessly connected to GeoMedia, enabling users to represent existing geospatial datasets in three dimensions through a new 3D map window.  By fusing multiple data sources together into a single georeferenced 3D view, users can better utilize this data for enhanced decision support and improved communications – ultimately making the data more relevant and actionable.
Users can also leverage the recently announced Live Link capability, connecting the GeoMedia 3D map window to ERDAS IMAGINE^®. This enhances the 3D view with ERDAS IMAGINE’s rich raster capabilities to support synchronized data sharing, viewing, editing, updating, and analysis. Users can leverage these products together, integrating accurately processed imagery and terrain data from ERDAS IMAGINE. Within ERDAS IMAGINE, users have access to a sophisticated set of assisted feature collection capabilities and quantitative image processing that supports change detections and the extraction of details about the earth.
“Many vertical segments are now embracing 3D geospatial solutions to provide a holistic, dynamic view” said Mladen Stojic, Vice President – Geospatial, Intergraph. “Organizations can accurately visualize, navigate, analyze, and interact with 3D data natively in GeoMedia, driving more informed and timely decisions.”
GeoMedia 3D provides increased performance and scalability.  In addition, users will experience enhanced memory management with new 3D visibility control for the 3D map window. This release also provides the ability to extrude features based on elevation or selected attributes, providing a rich set of options for graphical depiction of feature characteristics or data trends. With GeoMedia 3D 6.1.1, users can also import capabilities for pre-built city models such as CityGML and Google files for incorporating other readily available 3D models into projects.
To learn more about Intergraph’s geospatial offerings, please visit http://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.

GTG Selected for Multiple Software Contracts

Geographic Technologies Group® (GTG®) was selected for multiple software contracts and services including: Delta County, Colorado – purchased three seats of GeoBlade Dispatch. Town of Clayton, North Carolina – purchased GeoBlade Parcel Address Synchronization Tool (PAST) and five seats of GeoBlade Viewer. City of Hoover Board of Education, Alabama – purchased twenty-five (25) seats of GeoBlade Viewer. City of Chesterfield, Missouri Public Works – purchased fifteen (15) seats of GeoBlade Viewer and GeoBlade PAST. City of Wooster, Ohio – purchased five GeoBlade Crimes seats. Lancaster County, South Carolina – purchased GeoBlade Crimes. City of Hoover, Alabama – purchased seventeen (17) seats of GeoBlade Mobile, nineteen (19) seats of GeoBlade Dispatch, and one seat of GeoBlade AVL.
About Geographic Technologies Group, Inc. (GTG)
GTG is a full-service local government GIS consulting company offering specialized experience in the planning, design, implementation, and procurement of geo-technologies.  GTG has unmatched technical GIS capabilities, demonstrated successes, international experience, and a reputation for successfully implementing the right solutions. GTG develops GIS products that spatially enable various enterprise solutions and integrates an organization's IT investment via a common interface. GTG also offers stand alone products for land management, public safety, public access, touch screen technology, and utilities.
GTG has more than 700 clients located throughout North America and Europe and serves all levels of government as well as the private sector. To support our clients, GTG maintains four offices located across the United States: Headquarters in North Carolina, and regional offices in Texas, Florida, and Ohio.
Additional information may be obtained by contacting Geographic Technologies Group, Inc. at 888-757-4222 or you can access our website at www.geotg.com.

GEO-12 Set for Sell Out

Exhibition space at the UK’s only geospatial trade exhibition is going fast  and expected to sell out shortly.
More than ninety percent of stands have  already been sold and the organisers are in active discussions regarding the  remaining opportunities. Taking place on the 21st and 22nd of March 2012 at the  Holiday Inn, London Elstree, GEO-12 is completely free to attend with an average  attendance in excess of 600 visitors per year attracted by a packed programme of  free seminars, live product demos and great networking opportunities including a  Gala Evening.
Exhibitors already committed to GEO-12 include Leica  Geosystems, Topcon, Phoenix, SCCS and Opti-cal as well as Z & F, Penmap and  3D Laser Mapping.
Landmark and Ohmex are returning to the event after a short  gap while first time exhibitors include UAS/UAV mapping company Gatewing and  virtual reality specialists Virtalis. Regular supporters include Faro, C.Scope, Applications in CAD, Hemisphere GPS, Spheron as well as MBS Survey Software and Positioning Resources. GEO-12 has also support from the Association for Geographic Information (AGI), the British Cartographic Society and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
“This is a  tremendous achievement that puts us in the best possible position to deliver a  first class event for  both visitors and sponsor organisations,” commented  Stephen Booth of PV Publications, organisers of the event and publishers of  Geomatics World, GIS Professional and Engineering Surveying Showcase. “We pride  ourselves in offering value for money and a return on investment and we can now  concentrate our efforts putting together a complete package to attract record  visitor numbers including an exciting programme of seminars and debates and  networking opportunities.”
The GEO events are designed for everyone  involved in the capture and application of geospatial information for  construction, civil engineering, development, local / national government  agencies, professional survey practice and consultancy. Attracting exhibitors  demonstrating the latest technology and developments in the fields of  Geographical Information Systems (GIS), Satellite Positioning and Navigation  systems (GNSS), laser scanning, data modelling and analysis and mapping together  with leading trade organisations and academic institutions, this year’s GEO  event is a ‘must attend’.
Attendance at GEO-12 is completely free  of charge and includes free parking, free onsite refreshments and free entry to  a full two-day programme of stimulating seminars and debates. Themes for 2012  include the hot topic of Building Information Management (BIM), ‘Managing  Change: opportunities and threats’, a ‘Point Cloud Clinic’ as well as many other  topics, streams and speakers. In addition, those wishing to extend their stay  can complement their experience with a ticket for the event’s Gala Dinner  sponsored by KOREC, topping the evening off with a great deal on overnight  accommodation.

Public is Invited to Use Web, iPhone and Android Apps as Part of an AED Geo Inventory Challenge

Philadelphia, PA - February 8, 2012 - Azavea, an award-winning geospatial analysis (GIS) software development company, announces a crowd-sourcing contest to locate automated external defibrillators (AED) and the release of a web application and two free mobile apps, part of the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania’s MyHeartMap Challenge. The applications are now available for the public to participate in the MyHeartMap Challenge which will run for six weeks from January 31 to Tuesday, March 13. In an effort to build a national database of AEDs and increase AED awareness, the Penn Medicine’s MyHeartMap is turning to the public to gather as much information as possible about AEDs accessible to the public.

Though almost non-existent a decade ago, automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) are now all around us, in airports, schools, gyms, and workplaces. These devices can save lives as they deliver electric shocks to victims of cardiac arrests. This is most effective in the first minutes after someone collapses. Yet, there is no comprehensive map of such devices available to the public. As a result, AEDs are often not used when they are most needed either because witnesses of a cardiac arrest incident do not know there might be an AED close by or that they should be looking for one.

The Penn Medicine MyHeartMap team is initiating the MyHeartMap Challenge project by encouraging the public, armed with the web and mobile applications built by Azavea, to locate and photograph as many AEDs in Philadelphia as possible. Both the apps and participation in the contest are free. Participants will be able to geocode their photos via the mobile app – available on the iPhone or Android -- and register information about the AEDs such as manufacturer and condition of the device. In addition to the mobile apps, participants can enter data and check their status in the contest at the MyHeartMap website: http://philly.myheartmap.org/.

MyHeartMap Challenge participants can register as individuals or as teams. The individual or team that will find the most AEDs will win $10,000. Other participants will win $50 if they are the first to identify one of the designated “golden” AEDs. The MyHeartMap team is being coy about the precise number of golden AEDs, but has announced that there will be 20 to 200 of them. The data collected will be used to create an updated database of locations of all public AEDs in the Philadelphia region with a person's GPS coordinates to help them locate the nearest AED during an emergency. The project is part of a larger ongoing collaboration between faculty of the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Washington and is modeled after the DARPA Network Challenge, a crowd-sourcing experiment in which social media users raced to be the first to submit the locations of 10 moored, 8-foot, red, weather balloons at 10 fixed locations throughout the United States. It is the team’s hope that this challenge will lead to a nation-wide contest.

The MyHeartMap Challenge project is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; Physio Control; the Medtronic Foundation; the HeartRescue Project; Zoll; Cardiac Science; Philips and the University of Pennsylvania.

For more information about the MyHeartMap Challenge, visit: http://www.myheartmap.org. Participants can use a web application available at: http://philly.myheartmap.org/. The smart phone apps can also be downloaded for free for the iPhone at http://itunes.apple.com/app/id492442372?mt=8 and from the Android Marketplace at https://market.android.com/details?id=edu.upenn.medicine.myheartmap.

About Azavea

Azavea is an award-winning geospatial analysis (GIS) software development firm specializing in the creation of location-based web and mobile software as well as geospatial analysis services. Azavea is a certified B Corporation that applies geographic data and technology to promote the emergence of more dynamic, vibrant, and sustainable communities. Each of Azavea’s projects, products and pro bono engagements showcases this commitment. Find more at http://www.azavea.com.

If you would like more information about Azavea or to schedule an interview with Robert Cheetham, Azavea CEO and President, please contact Amy Trahey at (215) 558 – 6184 or e-mail atrahey@azavea.com.

About MyHeartMap Challenge

The Philadelphia MyHeartMap Challenge is the first of many city Challenges, followed by a nation-wide contest. Data collected for the contest will be used for a U-Penn research study evaluating AED mapping and database development. It is the initiative of a group of health professionals dedicated to saving lives and expanding the horizons of theory and practice—this interdisciplinary team has come together to engage and challenge the Philadelphia community to improve access to critical life-saving technologies. By harnessing the increasing reach of new media they hope to bring innovation to address an important public health disparity. Find more at http://www.myheartmap.org.

Blue Marble Releases GeoCore 2012 Featuring Improved LiDAR API

Blue Marble Geographics (bluemarblegeo) announces the release of GeoCore 2012, the all-in-one data conversion developer toolkit for geospatial data. The updated version of GeoCore features GeoCalc 6.5, GeoTransform 6.2, and GeoTranslate 5.2. If desired, the latest versions of these software development kits are also available for individual purchase. When combined into GeoCore users can seamlessly work with any Blue Marble data conversion toolkit in the same development environment to build powerful geospatial software. Whether your application requires coordinate, vector, CAD, raster, 2D or 3D geospatial data handling, GeoCore enables developers to address a variety of unique data transformation challenges quickly and efficiently, freeing up time for you to concentrate on your organizations core offerings.

Within GeoCore 2012, developers will have access to the GeoCalc 6.5 coordinate transformation library and toolkit, which showcases a new vertical height offset method, as well as support for various new height models including the Australian Geoid Model of 2009 (AusGeoid09), OSU91A, Netherlands Vertical Model of 2004, Danish Vertical Reference of 1990, Référent Altimétrique France Continentale 2009, Référent Altimétrique Corse 2009, Swedish Geoid Model of 2008, and South African Geoid Model of 2010 (SAGeoid2010). The new vertical height offset method even allows users to create custom offsets from defined Geoids. In adding support for some thirty different Geoid models worldwide, GeoCore has become the essential tool for LiDAR post-processing workflows.  Additionally, accuracy measurements have been added to all datum transformations to assist users with selecting the most appropriate datum shift for a specific transformation. 

GeoTransform 6.2 features improved support for larger LAS transformation and rendering, new code for reading coordinate system and geospatial object definitions from GML, WKT, and WKB along with updates for GeoCalc 6.5 compatibility. This includes the new height models for Australia, South Africa, Netherlands, Denmark and France.

GeoTranslate 5.2, the final addition to GeoCore 2012, is the most recent version of the toolkit. It has a newly added CAD to CAD converter for supporting block and cell preservation, improved speed and disc caching for large file formats, a new spatial index class for quicker access to geodetic files, extended geometry and attribute processing architecture and provides updated support for GeoCalc 6.5 compatibility.

GeoCore 2012 provides software developers with the coordinate transformation and definition powers GIS experts have come to rely on with GeoCalc, plus the ability to handle all of your raster and vector file format and geometry needs with GeoTranslate and GeoTransform. OEM Partners of Blue Marble span many verticals in geospatial software and include Saab Engineering, IHS Energy, Avenza Systems, Merrick & Company, Carlson Software, Optech Inc, and many others.  Look for these new features in these and other software products over the next few years.

“Not only is GeoCore a file translation tool that can process large files and tons of data quickly, but it has become the essential tool for converting data while handling the complex vertical coordinate systems challenges the industry has come to expect” explained Blue Marble President Patrick Cunningham. “With GeoCore you have all you need. If your software can’t handle the Z, then you can’t really handle LiDAR”.

About Blue Marble Geographics

Blue Marble Geographics of Gardiner, ME is a leading developer and provider of software products and services for highly accurate geospatial data conversion solutions. Blue Marble is known for their coordinate conversion expertise and is the developer of The Geographic Calculator and GeoCalc SDK.  The company has been writing GIS software tools and solutions for over 19 years and currently serves hundreds of thousands of users worldwide. 

Natural Disaster and Resiliency Depends On Better Integration of Built, Natural Environments

Improving the world’s resiliency to severe weather and natural disasters depends on how well we integrate our built environment with our natural one, according to the findings of a report presented today on the economic, human and structural impact of natural catastrophic events over the past year.

Craig W. Tillman, President of WeatherPredict Consulting Inc., presented the report, “Impact 2011: Examining a Year of Catastrophes through the Lens of Resiliency,” at the 2011 Annual Meeting of the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) being held Oct. 26-28 at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn, Lake Buena Vista, FL.

“It’s often said that natural disasters are man-made – our fragilities are directly related to how well or unwell our built environment performs in critical times,” Tillman said. “This report provides a platform for recognizing common themes and, ultimately, a framework to understand how resilience can work to improve communities worldwide.”

In his presentation, Tillman provided his company’s expert view of recent earthquake and weather catastrophes; talked about how these events shape the approach society uses to manage catastrophic risk; and discussed how risk management approaches are evolving. He also described the opportunities available for collaboration with the science and engineering community.

“In the context of historical natural catastrophes, 2011 continues to be a particularly challenging year, with significantly high human loss and property destruction,” Tillman said. “The most devastating of these catastrophes include the earthquakes that struck Japan and New Zealand causing a tragic number of deaths and outsized financial losses.”

He said the earthquakes in Tôhoku, Japan, and Christchurch, New Zealand, showed that even in the developed world there are varying levels of resilience for our most at-risk communities. And he reminded attendees that “mitigation pays,” saying that an investment in stronger building codes is a small cost compared to the lives and property that could potentially be spared.

For a copy of the report, visit http://www.flash.org/download.php?id=216.

WeatherPredict is a U.S. affiliate of RenaissanceRe, a leading global property catastrophe reinsurance company. One of WeatherPredict’s primary roles is bringing intelligence to the risk managers dealing with natural catastrophes.

With the theme Disaster Safety: One Movement, Many Voices, the 2011 FLASH Annual Meeting convened more than 100 of the nation’s leading experts in disaster safety, property loss mitigation and weather outcomes.

In a variety of presentations, panel discussions and demonstrations, meeting attendees are hearing and seeing the latest in innovative disaster safety and mitigation products, programs and impacts natural and manmade disasters have had on the U.S. economy and population at large. Prominent speakers include academics, builders, educators, emergency managers, engineers, researchers and scientists.

About FLASH

Federal Alliance for Safe Homes® (FLASH), a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, is the country’s leading consumer advocate for strengthening homes and safeguarding families from natural and manmade disasters. FLASH collaborates with more than 100 innovative and diverse partners that share its vision of making America a more disaster-resistant nation including: BASF, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Florida Division of Emergency Management, The Home Depot®, International Code Council, Kohler Power Systems, National Weather Service, RenaissanceRe, Simpson Strong-Tie®, State Farm®, USAA® and WeatherPredict Consulting Inc. In 2008, FLASH opened the interactive weather experience StormStruck: A Tale of Two Homes® in Lake Buena Vista, FL. Learn more about FLASH and gain access to its free consumer resources by visiting http://www.flash.org or calling (877) 221-SAFE (7233). Also, get timely safety tips to ensure that you and your family are always well protected from natural and manmade disasters by subscribing to the FLASH blog – Protect Your Home in a FLASH.

"GfK Purchasing Power Europe" Study Shows Rising Income Despite Economic Uncertainty

 




The recently updated "GfK Purchasing Power Europe 2011/2012" study reveals the regional distribution of the population's purchasing power in 42 European countries. Prospects for the disposable income available to Europe's households in 2011 continue to be optimistic despite the current debt crisis and economic slowdown in the second half of the year.

According to the results of the "GfK Purchasing Power Europe 2011/2012" study, European consumers have approximately €8,500 billion available for consumer purchases (e.g., retail, traveling) or saving in 2011. This corresponds to an average purchasing power of €12,774 per inhabitant for the 42 countries studied. Taking into account the upward adjusted 2010 numbers for many countries, a purchasing power growth rate of 3.1 percent is expected this year in the 42 countries under review.

However, a growth rate of only 2.3 percent is expected for the 15 long-standing EU member countries; the upward trend is mostly driven by the new member states and EU candidate countries or partner countries, particularly Turkey and the Ukraine, whose high number of inhabitants and high growth boost the growth rate for all of Europe.

Regional purchasing power distribution in selected countries

Norway: Prosperity apparent in purchasing power level

With a 2011 per capita purchasing power of €29,028, Norway comes in third in the purchasing power rankings behind Liechtenstein and Switzerland. The just under 5 million inhabitants of Norway thus have more than twice as much purchasing power as the average among the 42 countries reviewed. Norway's high ranking is in part a reflection of an exchange rate-related phenomenon: The positive revaluation of the Norwegian krone against the euro contributes to the increase in purchasing power when this value is expressed in euros.

The wealthiest district in the country - Oslo - is also the most populated. The around 600,000 inhabitants of the capit

INTERGEO 2011 – Emerging Technologies the Driving Force Behind New Approaches and Applications

 After the three-day INTERGEO event in Nuremberg, one thing was clear: “INTERGEO is a platform for dialogue between technology users from a variety of sectors – dialogue that gives rise to new approaches and applications. The resultant scope of possible new uses is considerable,” stated Olaf Freier, Managing Director of HINTE GmbH and INTERGEO organiser. “There is quite simply no better specialist platform for suppliers and users to network than this leading international trade fair,” said Professor Karl-Friedrich Thöne, President of INTERGEO patron DVW e.V. – the German Society for Geodesy, Geoinformation and Land Management.
A representative survey of exhibitors highlighted the optimistic mood at INTERGEO. Just under 70 percent of exhibitors felt the innovation rate in the industry was higher, while 21 percent expected an equally strong impetus from innovations.
Some 16,000 trade visitors from 80 different countries attended the 17th INTERGEO to find out about new developments. The event was more international than ever, with more than one in four visitors travelling from abroad. Attracting 1,500 participants, the conference included 140 lectures and provided an opportunity for intensive interdisciplinary discussions on around 40 topics.
Collaboration with the SatNav Forum proved highly successful. For the first time, the BMVBS (German Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development) and BITKOM (Federal Association for Information, Technology, Telecommunications and New Media) held the annual navigation conference in parallel with INTERGEO. “Never has there been such intensive dialogue between politicians and representatives from geoinformation technologies as at this year's INTERGEO. This provides clear proof of geoinformation's current and future significance in everyday life,” said DVW President Thöne. Discussions on further intensifying and continuing collaboration have already been agreed. On a tour of the three trade fair halls with a total exhibition area of 28,000 square metres, BMVBS State Secretary Rainer Bomba was impressed by the numerous solutions on offer from industry and service providers.
Exhibitors provided impressive confirmation of the event's success. Some 92 percent of participating companies, institutions and associations indicated that they had achieved their trade fair targets. Their top priorities were cultivating new and existing contacts and presenting innovations. More than 85 percent of exhibitors gave one of the top 3 ratings when evaluating the overall impression of INTERGEO. A high proportion of just under 89 percent indicated that they would be returning to the trade fair. And 16 percent of these companies spontaneously indicated that they would be increasing their level of participation. Exhibitors were united in their praise for the high quality of contacts they made.
Trade visitors – 98.7 percent according to the representative visitor survey – were happy to travel some way to the event. Thanks to intensive media networking worldwide and a high level of acceptance for INTERGEO's mobile concept, more than 53 percent travelled to Nuremberg from a distance of more than 300 kilometres. This is 13 percent higher than the figure for the previous year. The long journey proved worthwhile for first-time visitors, too. They accounted for 35 percent of total visitor numbers. Some 95 percent of visitors participating in the survey rated the range of products and services on offer positively. Their top priority was to find out about innovations, obtain a general overview of what was on offer, establish and cultivate contacts, and take a closer look at specific products.

“INTERGEO is one of Trimble's most important events,” said Chris Gibson, Vice President of the conference sponsor. One key factor that made INTERGEO so important for companies was the high proportion – a total of 75 percent – of people making or involved in making decisions among the trade public. Just under a third of visitors reported that they had placed orders at INTERGEO or had indicated at the fair that they would be doing so. Nearly 70 percent of the high proportion of decision-makers attending the event wait for INTERGEO before placing their orders.
The focus in 2011 was on geodata infrastructure, sensors and 3D mapping. Olaf Freier expects these topics to be joined by smartphones at INTERGEO 2012 in Hanover.

NASA, NOAA Data Show Significant Antarctic Ozone Hole Remains

 NASA, NOAA Data Show Significant Antarctic Ozone Hole

The Antarctic ozone hole, which yawns wide every Southern Hemisphere spring, reached its annual peak on Sept. 12. It stretched to 10.05 million square miles, the ninth largest ozone hole on record. Above the South Pole, the ozone hole reached its deepest point of the season on Oct. 9, tying this year for the 10th lowest in this 26-year record. 

NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) use balloon-borne instruments, ground-based instruments and satellites to monitor the annual Antarctic ozone hole, global levels of ozone in the stratosphere and the manmade chemicals that contribute to ozone depletion. 

"The colder than average temperatures in the stratosphere this year caused a larger than average ozone hole," said Paul Newman, chief scientist for atmospheres at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. "Even though it was relatively large, the area of this year's ozone hole was within the range we'd expect given the levels of manmade ozone-depleting chemicals that continue to persist in the atmosphere." 

The ozone layer helps protect the planet's surface from harmful ultraviolet radiation. Ozone depletion results in more incoming radiation that can hit the surface, elevating the risk of skin cancer and other harmful effects.

"The manmade chemicals known to destroy ozone are slowly declining because of international action, but there are still large amounts of these chemicals doing damage," said James Butler, director of NOAA's Global Monitoring Division in Boulder, Colo. 

In the Antarctic spring (August and September) the sun begins rising again after several months of darkness and polar-circling winds keep cold air trapped above the continent. Sunlight-sparked reactions involving ice clouds and manmade chemicals begin eating away at the ozone. Most years, the conditions for ozone depletion ease before early December when the seasonal hole closes. 

Levels of most ozone-depleting chemicals in the atmosphere have been gradually declining as the result of the 1987 Montreal Protocol, an international treaty to protect the ozone layer. That international treaty caused the phase-out of ozone-depleting chemicals, which had been used widely in refrigeration, as solvents and in aerosol spray cans. 

However, most of those chemicals remain in the atmosphere for decades.

Global atmospheric computer models predict that stratospheric ozone could recover by midcentury, but the ozone hole in the Antarctic will likely persist one to two decades longer, according to the latest analysis in the 2010 Quadrennial Ozone Assessment issued by the World Meteorological Organization and United Nations Environment Programme, with co-authors from NASA and NOAA. 

NASA currently measures ozone in the stratosphere with the Dutch-Finnish Ozone Monitoring Instrument, or OMI, on board the Aura satellite. OMI continues a NASA legacy of monitoring the ozone layer from space that dates back to 1972 with launch of the Nimbus-4 satellite. The instrument measured the 2011 ozone hole at its deepest at 95 Dobson units on Oct. 8 this year. This differs slightly from NOAA's balloon-borne ozone observations from the South Pole (102 Dobson units) because OMI measures ozone across the entire Antarctic region. 

That satellite-monitoring legacy will continue with the launch of NASA's National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System Preparatory Project, known as NPP, on Oct. 28. The satellite will carry a new ozone-monitoring instrument, the Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite. The instruments will provide more detailed daily, global ozone measurements than ever before to continue observing the ozone layer's gradual recovery. 

It will take a few years of averaging yearly lows in Antarctic ozone to discern evidence of recovery in ozone levels because seasonal cycles and other variable natural factors -- from the temperature of the atmosphere to the stability of atmospheric layers -- can make ozone levels dip and soar from day to day and year to year. 

NOAA has been tracking ozone depletion around the globe, including the South Pole, from several perspectives. NOAA researchers have used balloons to loft instruments 18 miles into the atmosphere for more than 24 years to collect detailed profiles of ozone levels from the surface up. NOAA also tracks ozone with ground-based instruments and from space. 

For the updates on the status of the Antarctic ozone layer, visit: http://ozonewatch.gsfc.nasa.gov

For more information on the Antarctic ozone hole, visit: http://www.ozonelayer.noaa.gov

3D Forests Show the Way for Sustainable Future

State-of-the-art GIS technology which can create highly detailed 3D maps of entire forests is set to overhaul Australia’s $2.5 billion forestry industry, according to one of the nation’s leading spatial professionals.

The technology, from location intelligence specialists Esri Australia, was on display at SilviLaser 2011, an annual showcase of LiDAR, or light detection and ranging, technology and its applications in forestry.

Esri Australia Senior Consultant Gordon Sumerling, who presented on LiDAR at Ozri 2011 last week, said new advances in GIS technology would ensure Australia’s commercial forests remain sustainable and renewable, and are managed in line with the world's highest environmental standards.

“Forestry is a vital industry in Australia, which has a total forested area of around 150 million hectares – which covers around 21% of our continent,” Mr Sumerling said.

“GIS, when combined with traditional technologies such as LiDAR, can vastly improve critical industry tasks such as assessing forest health, calculating biomass, and identifying drainage patterns and terrain types.

“The 3D maps generated by GIS can enable users to see intricate forest detail such as where and how dense various canopy layers are, and the characteristics of ground level biomass.

“The images also provide a detailed view of topographical changes, which will save an enormous amount of time in terms of hauling loads and positioning machinery.

“This level of insight will be critical in the ongoing sustainable management of our forests.”

LIDAR uses light beams fired from a plane to measure tree and canopy height and terrain.

Mr Sumerling said the Esri Australia’s GIS technology – particularly the soon-to-be-released ArcGIS 10.1 software – transformed raw LiDAR data into 3D maps of the landscape that provided significantly more detail than traditional aerial photographs.

“Aerial photographs only provide views of the actual tree tops, whereas LiDAR can penetrate those and other layers down to the forest floor,” Mr Sumerling said.

“However, in the past LiDAR could only produce simple, 2D images that were mostly useful only to highly trained technicians.

“GIS technology combines multiple 2D LiDAR images and creates highly detailed 3D maps that provide an extremely accurate picture of what forests actually look like – right down to the level of rocks and shrubs on the forest floor.

“This allows non-technical users to get an understanding of the forest floor and tree and canopy heights over vast areas, streamlining decision-making processes while also making them more accurate and informed.”

Mr Sumerling said SilviLaser 2011 was the first time the ArcGIS 10.1 LiDAR applications had been exhibited to Australia’s forestry industry.

“Senior forestry figures have been genuinely amazed by the 3D maps this technology is producing and how it has transformed relatively indecipherable raw data,” Mr Sumerling said.

“They can see the potential this technology has in the industry to revolutionise critical forestry management activities such as biodiversity, fertilisation, harvesting, cultural heritage and development.”

“It’s a very exciting time for Australia’s forestry industry.”

About Esri Australia
Esri Australia has a 33 year history of providing location intelligence and data mapping solutions that help organisations make smart business decisions. The combination of local expertise and world-leading Esri GIS technology has helped thousands of government departments and commercial organisations to turn their data, information and knowledge into collective insight to reveal opportunity.  
About GIS


Geographic Information Systems are a key piece of technology used in thousands of organisations Australia-wide from the military and government, to the insurance and mining sector. Australia’s GIS industry currently stands at over $2.1 billion and morethan 300,000 organisations across the world use Esri GIS.

Trimble Outdoors Launches Backpacker Map Maker App for iPad

Trimble (NASDAQ: TRMB) and Backpacker magazine released Backpacker Map Maker, a mapping and trip planning app for the Apple iPad. Now, from the touch-screen of an iPad, hikers and backpackers can find wild places, plot GPS points and plan their next adventure over seamless topographical maps.

"Our readers absolutely love maps. As avid backcountry explorers and GPS users, they like to view, create and annotate their topos, and with Map Maker, they can now harness the beauty and power of their tablets to experience maps in an extraordinary and dynamic way," said Jonathan Dorn, editor-in-chief of Backpacker, and vice president, AIM Outdoor Group. "Map Maker is a portable, practical tool for hikers, a great way to relive their adventures, and the perfect complement to GPS Trails, our smartphone navigation app for in-the-field use."

Backpacker Map Maker begins with best-in-class maps for hikers in the U.S. and Canada. In addition to aerial, hybrid, street and terrain maps, the app provides access to more than 68,000 USGS topo maps stitched together and enhanced by MyTopo. The app has a full-line of other features for the hiker, including:

Place search: Find popular peaks, campgrounds, trailheads, mountain passes, creeks, lakes and more from a list of more than 10 million places.

Dual maps: Turn on dual map mode and view two map types at once for more precise trip planning. For instance, view street maps to find access roads to the trailhead then fade to topo maps to check out the detailed topography.

Cloud-based trips: Save trips to a backpacker.com account and access them from anywhere with an Internet connection. Hikers can also plan trips in Map Maker and then open and navigate in the Backpacker GPS Trails app, an in-field navigation app for iPhone and Android.

Mark waypoints: Simply drag-and-drop GPS waypoints onto the map. Add notes too.

Ruler tool: Measure how far it is from the trailhead to your campsite to a mountain summit and beyond.

Digital compass: See a full-screen translucent compass overlaid on the maps.

GPS coordinates: Display latitude/longitude coordinates in three formats: DD, DDM and DMS. Or, view coordinates in UTM, the metric-based coordinate system preferred by the U.S. military and Backpacker editors. Backpacker publishes trail-based coordinates for nearly every destination article in the magazine.

"We are excited to add an iPad product to the successful line of Backpacker outdoor adventure apps. Backpacker readers can surf gorgeous topos and plan out trips in any park or wilderness in the U.S. and Canada, and then carry that trip with them using GPS Trails on their iPhone or Android smartphone," said Rich Rudow, general manager for Trimble Outdoors.

Backpacker Map Maker for the Apple iPad and iPad2 is available for download now from the Apple App Store at: www.backpacker.com/mapmaker.

About Backpacker

Backpacker brings the outdoors to readers' doorsteps, inspiring and empowering them to get out and enjoy nature more often. The authority on active adventure, Backpacker is the world's first GPS-enabled magazine, and the only magazine whose editors personally test the hiking trails, camping gear, and survival tips they publish. Backpacker is published by Active Interest Media (www.aimmedia.com), has a circulation of 340,000, and is published nine times per year. www.Backpacker.com.

About Trimble Outdoors

Trimble Outdoors, a Trimble business, develops GPS-enabled mobile apps and map solutions for fitness and outdoor enthusiasts. Its popular apps—Trimble Outdoors™, AllSport GPS™, Geocache Navigator™, Cabela's Recon™ Hunt, and Backpacker GPS Trails—run on more than 300 mobile devices worldwide and help consumers navigate on trails and off-road, track fitness workouts, find caches and more. Trimble Outdoors is also a leading provider of print and digital maps for hikers, hunters, and campers via the MyTopo brand. By leveraging Trimble's 30 years of commercial expertise in GPS, software, and communications, Trimble Outdoors delivers cost-effective and convenient position-based services that promote consumers' well-being, security and active lifestyles. For more information about Trimble Outdoors, visitwww.TrimbleOutdoors.com.

About Trimble

Trimble applies technology to make field and mobile workers in businesses and government significantly more productive. Solutions are focused on applications requiring position or location—including surveying, construction, agriculture, fleet and asset management, public safety and mapping. In addition to utilizing positioning technologies, such as GPS, lasers and optics, Trimble solutions may include software content specific to the needs of the user. Wireless technologies are utilized to deliver the solution to the user and to ensure a tight coupling of the field and the back office. Founded in 1978, Trimble is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California.