Big Data and Location – A Real or Imagined New Frontier?

Andy Coote reports on some of the insights gained from speaking and listening to some of the foremost experts in the field at the Strata 14 conference on Big Data in San Francisco and ponders the place of location in Big Data. So, Big Data and Location, why should you care? In their recent report on Big Data, McKinsey (1) suggest it is becoming a key battlefield of competitive advantage, underpinning new waves of productivity growth, innovation, and consumer behaviour. One of the key application areas they highlight is geocentric personal navigation data. They assess the application of such data... (read more)

2016-12-22 02:40:42

Mapping the Past

Anyone who has tried to accurately match old Ordnance Survey maps with the current Landranger series will soon realize that it is not an easy task. Brian Quinn explains the painstaking process that Cassini Publishing has been through in creating its unique range of historical maps. Amelia Earhart’s observation that “it’s easier to start something than to finish it” is certainly true, as any writer stuck at the bottom of page one will testify. But when, and how, do things finish? Often there is no definite conclusion but rather a steady progression that leads past or round the original goal... (read more)

2017-05-31 02:56:47

GGP’s GIS Brings Greater Levels of Interoperability to Local Government

GGP Systems has announced the latest version of its GIS. The new version, GGP 2014, offers true open systems architecture to provide unrivalled levels of interoperability making it the ideal corporate GIS solution. Able to work with different spatial databases, GGP has designed the latest version, GGP 2014, to make it easier to share data with other mapping platforms and interchange with other map datasets. Working with multiple spatial databases including Oracle 10g/11i/12i, SQL Server 2008/2012 and PostGIS 1.x/2.0, GGP has significantly extended integration capabilities with support for the open source OSGeo Feature Data Objects (FDO). This opens up access to additional data... (read more)

2017-01-06 04:08:10

System Monitoring Now Even Simpler with service.monitor

service.monitor 3.3 simplifies monitoring services in a GIS infrastructure. This version of this web application offers full multi-client and distribution capability and, in particular, features comprehensive support for users while they are creating monitoring jobs. It should be stressed that in this context, operating procedures have been considerably simplified while the basic architecture has also been updated. Creating and configuring monitoring jobs is now simpler than ever. The user interface assists in creating jobs that are technically appropriate and service specific. It does so by employing, among other things, dynamic example queries and an option to harvest services of an... (read more)

2017-01-06 04:09:28

Topcon Releases MAGNET Relay for GIS

Topcon Positioning Group announces the addition of MAGNET Relay for GIS to its suite of cloud-based solutions software. As a component of MAGNET Field GIS, MAGNET Relay GIS is a mobile base station RTK (Real Time Kinematic) broadcasting service. The system is designed to allow subscribers to connect a GNSS base receiver to the relay via a cellular connection for high-accuracy RTK corrections. “The RTK base station can be used by up to ten rovers, which makes MAGNET Relay a great solution for large scale and highly precise GIS projects,” said Stefan Naumann, business manager, software and solutions for Topcon Europe Positioning.... (read more)

2017-01-06 04:10:43

Topcon Releases eGIS for Android

Topcon Positioning Group announces the integration of the Android platform to the eGIS field software system. It’s designed to offer a simple and quick way to collect and maintain mapping data with GPS at various accuracies, including RTK (Real Time Kinematic). With the introduction of the eGIS for Android app, operators can use their Android-based smartphones and tablets to capture data for a variety of mapping projects - whether it be for electric utilities, gas pipelines, disaster management, wastewater operations, forestry, highway maintenance or other related tasks. “It’s another way we are expanding collection options for GIS industry professionals,” said... (read more)

2017-01-06 04:12:51

Bluesky Expands with New Appointments

Aerial mapping company Bluesky International has expanded its commercial operation with a number of new appointments at its Leicestershire based headquarters. Sarah Wright has been appointed as Project Manager and Joshua Aves as GIS Analyst. In addition, Alys Hudson joins as Sales Executive while David Beniston takes on the role of Office Administrator. Sarah Wright, who holds an MSc in Geographical Information Systems from the University of Leicester, joins Bluesky from Network Mapping where she held the role of Remote Sensing Technician. With considerable experience in the production of geographic datasets and the coordination of workflows and end-user specifications, Wright... (read more)

2017-01-06 04:19:31

Buzzes and Fizzes - Esri User Conference 2014

A brilliant sunny day in London was a chance to recharge enthusiasm for GIS and learn about some startling new applications of the technology. On the wall of one of the reception rooms of the QEII conference centre is an immense wooden sculpture. Entitled ‘On the Island’, it is the work of Sir Edualdo Paolozzi, born in Scotland of Italian parents. Created in 1986, the work is a mass of geometrical shapes that, for our community, serve as an easy metaphor for what today’s 3D city GIS can achieve. Alas, the full benefit of this remarkable work to delegates at... (read more)

2017-04-26 05:55:26

Using Open Geodata in Minecraft

The arrival of free open geodata in Denmark and open source code has sparked a fascinating public experiment involving a popular children’s computer game. But open source with open access means some players can bring you grief! The 1 January 2013 sparked a revolution in Denmark when a vast array of public sector information was made publicly available at no cost for private companies and citizens. The objectives were to eliminate redundant databases, heighten data quality, facilitate links between datasets, improve distribution and ensure effective/coordinated development and usage. Private companies have fully embraced the initiative and are now focusing on... (read more)

2017-05-31 02:48:04

Who Should Own a Drone Company?

The big boys are buying new toys. Why they’re doing this is perceptively explained by our regular columnist Adena Schutzberg. Have you been keeping up with which of the big non-defence focused geospatial companies are acquiring drone makers? Here’s a short list: In April 2012, Trimble acquired Gatewing, based in Belgium. In February 2014, Hexagon, owner of Intergraph and Leica Geosystems, acquired Aibotix, based in Germany. In April 2014, Google announced plans to acquire Titan Aerospace, based in the US. What do these companies have in common? They are involved in spatial data acquisition. They are also well-known as acquirers.... (read more)

2017-04-07 04:50:39