Standard to Improve the Way Information Is Referenced to the Earth

The Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) has approved the Discrete Global Grid System (DGGS) as OGC Abstract Specification - Topic 21 [OGC 15-104r5]. The goal of DGGS is to enable rapid assembly of spatial data without the difficulties of working with projected coordinate reference systems. The OGC DGGS Abstract Specification standard defines the conceptual model and a set of rules for building highly efficient architectures for spatial data storage, integration and analytics. DGGSs represent the Earth as hierarchical sequences of equal area tessellations on the surface of the Earth, each with global coverage and with progressively finer spatial resolution. Individual observations... (read more)

2017-11-01 08:42:35

The Role of Geological Data in the Smart City Agenda

Advances in the use of GIS and 3D modelling software have meant that there is now a greater opportunity to develop geo-environmental information systems for urban development, argues Dr Katherine Royse of BGS. By 2050, 70% of the world’s population will be living in cities. Cities have a major impact on the social and economic development of nations. They consume 75% of the world’s resources. This evolution raises a very important change with regard to the deployment and management of all types of infrastructures within cities. The sustainable development of our cities is of paramount importance if cities are to cope... (read more)

2017-02-15 03:22:22

Digital Earth Australia Releases New Features for more Accessibility

Digital Earth Australia (DEA), an analysis platform that uses satellite data to detect physical changes across Australia in unprecedented detail, has recently introduced new features to ensure its high-quality data products are now even more accessible for individuals, industry and government. By combining historical data from the last 30 years with an ever-growing range of information from new satellites, DEA provides regular updates for the entire country via its NationalMap product. It can be used to identify soil and coastal erosion, crop growth, water quality and changes to cities and regions in greater detail and with more authority than previously... (read more)

2019-01-11 10:23:38

Discrete Global Grid Systems - Interview with Perry Peterson

A number of weeks ago, I made contact with a certain Perry Peterson, the founder of a Canadian-based company called PYXIS, in order to request an interview about the Open Geospatial Consortium’s new Discrete Global Grid System (DGGS) standard which will be released soon. Over the course of numerous emails, Perry, who was one of the Chairs of the OGC’s DGGS working groups, agreed that an interview about the standard which he helped develop would be a more suitable option. My initial reluctance to write an article was due to a perceived complexity of an aspect of the industry which is now much more understandable thanks to the efforts of Perry... (read more)

2017-12-20 11:43:55

Combining Theory with Practice - Essentials for the Future Workplace

The University of Aberdeen has an enviable reputation for geoscience, GIS teaching and research. Dr David Green introduces the challenging MSc in GIS programme. All of the modules we teach as part of the MSc in GIS degree programme at the University of Aberdeen combine theory and practice into 11-week modules. The modules form the basis for the second half-session (SHS) of the academic year and are intended to provide students with an emphasis on practical work as preparation for their dissertation to be carried out in the summer months. Whilst all of the modules continue to provide theoretical background... (read more)

2017-04-04 05:00:38

Australia - A Nation Embracing its Geospatial Future

Despite having a population which is relatively small to its geographic side, Australia is a country which punches well above its weight on the global geospatial stage. In this article, Niall Conway provides an overview of the Australian geospatial industry, its active community, as well as the many geospatial initiatives which are taking place in the land Down Under. Although Australia’s first map by Western definition can be traced to the relatively recent date of 1810, it is actually a land with a long, rich history of maps. The second largest continent in the world contains a complex web of Aborigine... (read more)

2017-08-07 11:04:52