Geoinformatics 2006 Vol06

Conferences & Meetings
ESRI International User Confer

Health and Human Services as One of the Emerging M
Lots of different speakers and lots of demos at the 26th Annual ESRI International User Conference, August 711, 2006, San Diego Convention Center. All of this is used to convince all of the 14,000 visitors that GIS and geography are perfect means to communicate our world. Focus on environment, the future generation on stage and new releases are items similar to last years User Conferences in San Diego, USA and Warsaw, Poland.
By Sonja de Bruijn
Dangermond says: Ordnance Survey has developed one of the largest, most successful GISs I have seen. The organisation has transformed itself from providing a traditional mapping service to that of a complete geospatial organisation to meet the growing needs of GIS services in Great Britain.
Health and Human Services

What I personally find most striking about the conference is the application of GIS in areas that wouldnt pop up in your (or at least my) mind instantly. One of my favourites is Health and Human Services, a field I am very excited about as Dangermond comments during the plenary session. Later on during the conference GeoInformatics has the opportunity to talk with Bill Davenhall, ESRI Health and Human Services Manager. According to Davenhall Don Cook, founder of Geographic Data Technology, GDT, the company that was taken over by Tele Atlas in 2004, fuelled GIS in the US. He took part in a program by the government wanting to push this knowledge out to commercial businesses and use it. Davenhall himself started in the late seventies by doing projects for hospitals, when it was still extremely expensive to use GIS-like applications. I was looking at things like poverty and raise and since I knew little about geography I was only aware that place was very important in this respect. So in fact I did all kinds of things with GIS in health care, says Davenhall. Over the past years Davenhall pointed out what things like these could mean in decisionmaking. If you know age, sex, race, you know what kinds of diseases to expect.
People from all over the world gathered for the ESRI International User Conference in the San Diego Convention Centre.
Jack Dangermond
Having been at many conferences and meetings mostly filled with business-like presentations and similar presenters it was once again a pleasure to listen to Dangermonds words at this years International User Conference in San Diego. Sincere or not, the man seems to be really interested in people and their points of view or actions and displays an open view of the world. With respect to the world and its (environmental) problems he says: We must develop greater human understanding and empathy, courage and will to act, strong leadership and a shared sense of responsibility. And yes, naturally GIS is extremely important in this context, providing a new medium for understanding the world around us. It builds common understanding and creates a sense of engagement, is his explanation. Just like last year Geoweb, or GIS on the web, is mentioned in this respect. And of course Google and
Microsoft arent forgotten for their share in changing things.
Make a Difference Award

Changing things or making a difference are quite important to ESRI so it is not surprising that also at this years conference several people are called to the stage to receive an Award. Two Make a Difference awards are given this year. First of all Dr. N. Vijayaditya, Director General, and Dr. Vandana Sharma, Sr. Technical Director, National Informatics Centre of India are on stage. The second one goes to Lt. General James R. Clapper, Jr., U.S. Air Force (Ret.), and former Director National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). Ordnance Survey (OS) of Great Britain, with Vanessa Lawrence as the Director-General, is honoured with the Presidents Award, for significantly having expanded their application of GIS technology. In presenting the award,
Marketing and Planning Departments

Davenhall makes clear why it is quite a logical thing to use GIS in Health and Human
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arkets
Services. We, the GIS people, jumped out in front of a huge parade that we knew was forming because we realized that if people have easier access to data it is kind of natural to use GIS. Hospitals already got into this through the marketing and planning departments who wanted to find out where the market was coming from, or where they should open another clinic. Even in countries where there is no private sector they still need to know whether they have enough services or not. In several countries there is a rationing in health services which shows the need for GIS, as well as in other reforms. They study the lack in resources and have to adjust to that position. houses these people were living in were built on a toxic area. Now would somebody who grew up there and now lives in Los Angeles tell his doctor that he grew up there? If he would, the address could be entered and the computer could look up all the related data. brain are taken in order to be able to put labels on each brain part, of which there are about 400. The current situation is that medical students need to memorize all parts of the body. So when an X-ray is taken of the brain they say: I remember that part X of the brain is there, so it should be somewhere over there. At least that what I think. He continues: I talked to the lady who is running this biomedical project and asked her what the problem is. She said: We dont know where where is. She meant that your heart for example is not in exactly the same place as somebody elses heart. So we want to improve accuracy. This implies a huge amount of work. The result will be a sort of fingerprint of the human brain. You probably noticed that it is not a geographic issue anymore but a geospatial one. People in Health find all this interesting, they just dont know that it is called GIS. That is not a problem, the most important thing is that it is coming.
Public Health Department

Davenhall strongly believes the technology he is talking about is heading towards geographic intelligence. Why doesnt this take place now? Because it is cumbersome, he explains. However the Public Health Department needs to warn families with children below five years of age that they shouldnt live within 100 yards of a major highway because it increases the chance of underdeveloped lung capacity. Though this information is known it is not (yet) directly linked to your or my personal place history. Doctors will only use this information when it has clinical value and when it is easy. Driving this value of geographic intelligence is one of the growth markets. Where you live has an impact on quality of life and this has nothing to do with being against highways, but everything with giving people information, linking it up and creating ways that make scientific sense.
Place History
The Health and Human Services Manager explains why a place history for each human being is important. The effects of SARS for example are quite obvious and affect a whole community. But what if I develop a place history on you? If you go to a doctor he or she wants to know your family history, and your drug history. But what about the place history: in how many places have you lived and how long have you lived there? This might be essential to determine a deficiency in vitamin D for example, caused by lack of sunlight, mostly occurring in countries like Norway, Denmark or the UK. This deficiency can cause a whole host of problems. Another example Davenhall mentions is an area in New York where many miscarriages appeared. Investigation proved that the
Major Release
Naturally ESRI staff pays a lot of attention to (new) technology at the conference. In October or November the long-awaited for 9.2 versions will be released. In the meantime ESRI worked hard on fixing bugs in things like memory leaks in ArcGIS. The new version of this integrated collection of software products (www.esri.com/software/arcgis/) for building a complete GIS is called a major release with, amongst other things, improved documentation and focus on support for three different types of standards: technology and content standards and in the transformation procedure (ETL, which stands for Extract, Transform, and Load data). For a flash demo of all 15 usability enhancements go to www.esri.com/software/arcgis/about/ whats-coming.html. ArcIMS 9.2 can be found at www.esri.com/ software/arcgis/arcims/about/whatscoming.html. Elaborate details on ArcGIS Server 9.2 via www.esri.com/software/arcgis/arcgisserver/about /whats-coming.html. More on ArcGIS Explorer, available with the release of ArcGIS 9.2, is available via www.esri.com/news/arcnews/spring06articles/ public-beta.html. But theres more news under the sun than new technology features. There is a recently
GIS for the Human Body

So GIS can be used for personal place history, but can it be used for the human body as well? Yes it can, is Davenhalls enthusiastic reaction. Maps of parts of the human body are already there. Right now research on mapping the brain is in progress. Slices of the
The Map Gallery attracted many visitors and showed a wide array of applications.
Latest News? Visit www.geoinformatics.com
September 2006
updated education website and besides this there seems to be a new ESRI customer care portal, http://customers.esri.com, currently only available to US customers.
GDP History Viewer

Quite nice to watch during the plenary session on Monday August 7 is the demonstration by Crystal Dorn on the occurrence of asthma with children in a certain area. She makes use of the GDP History Viewer working with the animation and video capabilities of ArcGIS 9.2. Does the occurrence of asthma with children have anything to do with location, namely close to freeways? Or is it more a seasonal thing? And what about the age at which asthma occurs most? Dorn brings datasets on these aspects together in GIS and shows an animated historical map that shows changes in asthma cases, air quality, and freeway exhaust. These animations can easily be communicated with others in a public hearing for example. By using this kind of technology it becomes apparent that in this case asthma doesnt have a lot to do with the factors mentioned but more with the season: there are clear peaks of afflicted children in winter.
Larry Smarr
After lunch Dangermond appears on stage again but not for long since he has several people to introduce. First of all there is Dr Larry Smarr, a man who according to Dangermond is remarkable because he can see the future. Next is former democratic senator from Nebraska Bob Kerrey, who became interested in GIS during his period
in Washington. Currently he is president of The New School in New York City where he created the Parsons Institute for Information Mapping. "The PIIM Voting Tool" is a research project he and his students are working on. This tool will track the power of issues in American presidential electoral contests and demonstrate the importance of the Electoral College in determining the president. Smarr receives the ESRI Lifetime Achievement Award for essentially bringing together technology and science. His presentation revolves around the topic toward a planetary nervous system: a system that will sense every change on earth. According to the director of Calit2, the California Institutes for Science and Innovation, we are preparing for a world in which distance has been eliminated. Smarr strongly believes in the power of geographic imagery and optical networking to bring ever-higher-resolution imagery to bear on scientific problems. He ends his presentation by saying: We are going to have to make some tough decisions about our planet in the coming years. Wouldnt it be better if those decisions were driven by solid GIS data and scientific reasoning, rather than whos the richest, who has the most political power, or who has the most weaponry? More information on Calit2 via www.calit2.net.
Summit on August 6: a GIS professional and a surveyor on stage and the audience seeing their laundry. Not surprisingly Janet Jackson, certified as a GIS professional and head of McKim & Creeds GIS activities in North Carolina and Virginia, has to answer for most of the questions during Intersect Live. Some issues that are discussed during the session: surveyors are licensed, GIS professionals can just put a sign next to their door and start business. When do I need a surveyor? And when do I need a GIS professional? In any case the cooperation between Jackson and Randy Rambleau, manager of he survey operations in McKim & Creeds Cary, North Carolina office, is exemplary. Their secret: open communication, and lots of asking. During the second day of the GIS and Survey summit presentations are revolving round topics like Implementing GIS, Geodetics, and Land Management. Eric Rodenberg, ESRI staff, clearly explains GIS basics, GIS results, and GIS & data. During his Introduction to GIS presentation he also shares information on geodatabases and geocoding. Ian Harper from Geodata Information Systems Pty Ltd, Australia, talks about Integrating Survey and GIS data. Another presentation focuses on the sufficiency of the geodetic infrastructure of Turkey for GIS. A more elaborate report on the ESRI Survey and GIS Summit can be found on www.geoinformatics.com, online articles section.
Sonja de Bruijn (sdebruijn@geoinformatics.com) is editorial manager of GeoInformatics.
ESRI Survey and GIS Summit

Besides the User Conference the ESRI Survey and GIS Summit took place 5 - 11 August 2006 at the Convention Centre in San Diego, attended by 300 people. A nice ending to this
September 2006
Article
Thales Navigation Becomes Magellan Navigation

Merge of Consumer and Professional GPS Technology
Meet Magellan Navigation, the company formerly known as Thales Navigation. Shah Capital Partners (SCP), the organisation that did the investment, saw the company as a compelling investment opportunity. According to Claire Geffroy, spokes person for Thales Navigation, it is a 100 per cent positive change: We were lacking a focused shareholder, now we can speed up and focus on our main business. By Sonja de Bruijn
customers. And what to think of democratisation of GPS navigation? Geffroy explains: GPS consumer and professional technology can benefit from many points of leverage. We have expertise in consumer usability, as well as the advantages of high-volume, low-cost manufacturing. By developing a common platform and then building products on top of that platform which are designed for the markets they serve, we can increase output, decrease cycles and build greater value for the customer. Geffroy claims there will be no loss in features for the professional user of devices like ProMark or MobileMapper, and that in fact benefits like cost effectiveness can result.
GIS and Mapping Business

Magellan will keep the same management board, the same division in consumer, survey/ GIS and OEM market. The company will pursue its GIS and mapping business under a Magellan family brand, which is expected to be announced in late September. While Magellan is a strong brand name in GPS, the company wants to make sure its professional users know that Magellan will be building its name just as strongly in the survey and GIS markets. Thales Navigation was always involved in the receiver development associated with the Galileo program and will continue to develop for Galileo and take advantage of that constellation once it can truly offer value to customers.
Design Manufacturer
TES Electronic Solutions is the new name for Thales Micro Electronics, which was acquired three years ago. SCP helped the outsource manufacturing facility become more of a contract and design manufacturer and they have done quite well with SCP support. Thales Navigation uses TES to manufacture many of its survey and GIS products, though TES acts as an outsource manufacturer with products being designed in-house at Thales Navigation. With the take-over of Thales Navigation in July this year the manufacturing and sales of both survey and GIS products have officially come together again. Geffroy says: In fact the Thales Group recognized that Thales Navigation has growth potential as an
independent company, and we felt the same way. The thing is that the Thales Group as such focuses on defence, aerospace and security markets which is quite distant from our main business. Now there is Magellan Navigation, a standalone company trusting SCP to help accelerate its growth strategy. As the press release on July 19 states, Henry Gaillard, chief executive officer of Thales Navigation, thinks SCP is a good partner in increasing our leadership in the consumer, survey, GIS and OEM markets worldwide.
Transaction
Co-investors who participated with SCP in the transaction included Tudor Group, Galleon Group, Consolidated Press Holdings, AIG SunAmerica, and Eli Broad. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2006. At INTERGEO, held 8-13 October in Munich, Germany, there will be the opportunity to meet with the new stand-alone company Magellan Navigation and its staff.
Sonja de Bruijn (sdebruijn@geoinformatics.com) is editorial manager of GeoInformatics. Have a look at www.thalesnavigation.com.
Brand Name
There are some challenges to be met. First of all Magellan Navigation will need to get its brand name known to both old and new
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Article
Celebrating 85 Years of Advan

World Hydrography Day
The United Nations, in its General Assembly Resolution A/60/30 of 29 November 2005, Welcomes the adoption by the International Hydrographic Organization of the World Hydrography Day. It is celebrated annually on June 21st, with the aim of giving suitable publicity to its work at all levels and of increasing the coverage of hydrographic information on a global basis. Furthermore it urges all States to work with that organization to promote safe navigation, especially in the areas of international navigation, ports and where there are vulnerable or protected marine areas.
special day is to provide education and awareness to the field of hydrography and encourage the active participation of agencies and scientists around the world to increase the global coverage of hydrographic information. There are over 70 member states belonging to the IHO and each country will be celebrating World Hydrography Day in its own special way. A number of hydrographic offices celebrated with workshops, lectures or presentations to the general public. Special events to be mentioned were hosted in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.
United Kingdom
By Huibert-Jan Lekkerkerk
In the United Kingdom a drinks reception followed by a gala dinner was hosted by United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) chief executive dr. Wyn Williams, who welcomed the Minister of State for Transport Dr Stephen Ladyman. To celebrate World Hydrography Day, Dr Wyn Williams announced the launch of the Alexander Dalrymple Award, who, following orders from King George III in 1795, set up the Hydrographic Office, and is renowned today as a leading figure in the world of hydrography. The Award is a symbol of recognition for outstanding dedication and contribution to World Hydrography and as such will become an extremely prestigious award in this sector. This year the prize was awarded for the first time, to Rear Admiral Stephen Ritchie CB DSC for his exceptional devotion to World Hydrography.
World Hydrography Day poster developed by the Polish Hydrographic Service. (source: www.iho.shom.fr)
Safe Navigation
Hydrography is probably one of the oldest professions of geography. Until the 1950s this discipline was primarily interested in the safe navigation of waterways. Since then, with the development of offshore oil production and the extension of ports and waterways it has spread to the exploration and construction industry as well. Hydrography is mainly concerned with offshore positioning, depth, tidal and current measurements and all geographic features, both anthropogenic and natural, that pose a hazard or can assist construction work and the safe navigation of vessels. The principal product of hydrography is the nautical chart; either in digital or
paper form. Until the middle of the 20th century hydrography was a cumbersome job involving a lot of manual labour. Since the Second World War the profession has been automated rapidly with the advent of computers, the multibeam echosounder and electronic (satellite) positioning.
World Hydrography day

The theme for the first year of celebrations in 2006 is 85 years of the International Hydrographic Bureau (IHO) contributing to worldwide safety to navigation. The date of this first annual celebration, June 21, coincides with the establishment of the International Hydrographic Bureau, based in Monaco by Prince Albert 1st in 1921. The goal of this
The International Hydrographic Organization is an intergovernmental consultative and technical organization that was established in 1921 to support safety in navigation and the protection of the marine environment. The object of the Organization is to bring about: The coordination of the activities of national hydrographic offices; The greatest possible uniformity in nautical charts and documents; The adoption of reliable and efficient methods of carrying out and exploiting hydrographic surveys; The development of the sciences in the field of hydrography and the techniques employed in descriptive oceanography.
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cement in Safe Navigation

UKHO chief executive dr. Wyn Williams presenting the Dalrymple award to RA Stephen Ritchie. (source: www.ukho.gov.uk)
new location of the Netherlands Hydrographic Office by revealing the first Electronical Navigational Chart (ENC) produced at the new location. The opening mentioned as a new era for personnel and organisation of the Netherlands - Hydrographic Office, signifying the transition from the old location where the office was located for the last 82 years to the new location.
Rear Admiral Stephen Ritchie CB DSC FRICS is an illustrious name and living legend in hydrographic circles. He joined the British surveying service in 1936 and has worked in hydrographic surveying until his retirement. During his professional career Ritchie has been Hydrographer of the Navy (1966 1971) and president of the directing committee of the IHB (1972 1982). After his retirement from active service he has been an active supporter of hydrography appearing at about all major events worldwide. Ritchie has been awarded a number of prestigious prizes in the past. He is also the author of a number of books and quite a few articles and papers on hydrography and oceanography.
The Netherlands
Another special event took place in the Netherlands where, at the 21st of June, the Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy, Vice-admiral Jan Willem Kelder, opened the
Huibert-Jan Lekkerkerk (hlekkerkerk@geoinformatics.com) is a freelance writer and trainer in the field of positioning and hydrography. For more information on the IHO: www.iho.shom.fr.
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Moving Toward a Broader, More

Beyond Location
With the advent of enhanced 911 services in the late 1990s, CDMA has experienced the benefits of having GPS technology integrated into the handset for precise location fixes. This resulted in the introduction of innovative new services for mobile workforce management, real-time navigation, directions and points of interest, and family tracking, among other offerings now available from the major carriers.
Shortcomings of Closed Model

The closed model refers to LBS services that rely on proprietary protocols for client/server communication. This relationship is typically established on a one-onone basis between the client application running on the mobile device and the service running in the network. The key shortcomings of the closed model are: Sharing of services and technologies is not allowed, hindering interoperability across service providers and networks; Todays applications are run separately in a disintegrated manner. Applications such as real-time navigation and personal tracking cannot be run simultaneously because exclusive use components such as GPS cannot be shared across applications; Security and privacy approaches vary depending on the carrier and the vendor. While the closed model has been the mainstay of first generation LBS services, it needs to evolve to support open standards and seamless integration of technologies.
By Leo Modica
Model for Collaboration

As depicted in Figure 1, a shared services approach allows communication between service and content providers through open standards and public interfaces provided as web services. The central component of the open model is the Location Manager that performs functions similar to those of the Mobile Positioning Center (MPC) and the Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC). The Location Manager serves as a common network element used by LBS service providers to provide a standard means of obtaining and protecting location data. The Location Manager acquires and stores the mobile devices location in a secure manner. Each mobiles location can then be accessed by trusted clients who have been authenticated, allowing established privacy and preference rules to govern which clients have access to that location and how it is delivered. This end user owns his personal location data and gives access to his location based on privacy and preference rules within the Location Manager.
Open Ecosystem
While the applications mentioned above have achieved some success, they have not attained mass market acceptance. In order for LBS to become ubiquitous, the fundamental aspects of the LBS ecosystem must be open -allowing multiple service providers to share users location data, content and services. This increased level of integration of both content and services will ultimately produce a more compelling array of service offerings to the end user. Establishing an open, collaborative LBS model that safeguards location data, enables the rapid integration and introduction of LBS content and services into the marketplace. It allows interoperability between customers on disparate networks and is key for making LBS ubiquitous.
Standards
Several key aspects of the LBS eco-system must be addressed, including disparity among location determination technologies, lack of interoperability between services and networks, user authentication and privacy, and service integration frameworks. Standards such as Secure User Plane for Location (SUPL), Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC), Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML), Remote Authentication Dial In User Service (RADIUS), and the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) can provide a starting point for developing a more open, collaborative model. However these standards must be stitched together to address the broader needs of the LBS eco-system.
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Collaborative LBS Eco-System

disclosed. These rules can include who has access, when they have access, level of precision and mode of access (one time or periodic), among a host of other decision criteria that could be implemented. The Location Manager provides a web portal that allows the end-user to manage his privacy preferences. It allows the privacy manager to grant or deny other end-users and service providers access to their location. In addition, end users can monitor who is acquiring their location and when. Security and privacy must be a top priority as consumers and network operators alike placing an enormous amount of trust in their Location Managers and service providers. Circles of trust must be established between these entities to ensure the success of the open model in the LBS industry.
Enhanced LBS Services

Rich, integrated services are provided by service aggregators and are composed of simple services and content. Through collaborative, cross-vendor partnerships made possible by an open LBS model, service and content providers can complement each others expertise in providing simple, aggregated services. The implementation of an open, collaborative LBS model serves as solid foundation for the development of next generation LBS services. Our hope is that this new model will spark a proliferation of LBS services equaling the growth in Application Service Providers (ASPs) realized by the World Wide Web.
Leo Modica (lmodica@claritycsi.com) provides technical leadership for LBS development at Clarity. Obtain more information about the company and its products at www.claritycsi.com.
Network Operators
The LBS eco-system created with the open model allows service providers to quickly meet a wider range of LBS needs. For example, services can either be hosted by network operators using an IMS-based architecture or by third-party hosting centers on the Internet. Another key component of the open model is the thin mobile client application: an LBSenabled Web browser used to access LBS network services. This browser eliminates the need for special purpose applications to run on the mobile device. In addition to providing HTML, MMS and SMS services, the LBS-enabled browser provides the following services: Location determination with support for one-time and periodic location acquisition, plus geo-zone processing; Real-time interactions with network services using AJAX-like mechanisms; Ability to capture and present a wide range of media, such as voice, video, images and vector graphics. These services are enabled by JavaScript or any other suitable procedural mark-up language. They are provided by the network services and downloaded to the mobile device on demand.
Safeguarding Location
Undoubtedly, information about an end-users location is as private and personal as his social security number and financial data, making its security and safeguarding imperative/critical. Failure to do so can have severe consequences, compromising the safety and security of the individual. Therefore, another key role of the Location Manager is to address all dimensions of security and privacy. These include: Firewalls to protect servers containing location data from malicious attacks; Digital certificates and SSL encryption methods to protect a users identity and location whenever transmitted over the public Internet; Use of temporary identifiers when a users location is shared with trusted third-party service providers to guarantee the users true identity is never divulged; Strong, two-factor authentication methods utilizing tokens, one-time passwords and the Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) are implemented to ensure that mobile device users and service providers are genuine; Privacy/preference rules are in place to authorize observers access to location data and the manner in which the data is
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Interview
Building Solutions and Using

Both Sides of the Story Under the Spotlight
This month we are bringing you an interesting double interview, introducing the managers of two companies from Germany, one that offers online geomarketing solutions and on the other side a company that uses these solutions in its business process. Reading the interview with managers Sebastian Mitter of mapChart and Sven Walter of Haushaltwerbung Walter, you can hear both sides of the geomarketing solutions and services story at the same time. In your opinion, in which business and service characteristics do you differ most from other Web-GIS companies? How are these differences visible to your customers?
The MapChart GeoManager is founded in a new technology, developed in-house at MapChart. While other companies still use raster-based technology the vector mapping technology of MapChart enables faster services with a larger set of functions and opportunities. Using Java as the technology framework compared to Flash or SVG we can guarantee the highest performance with the most appropriate security features. As other Web-GIS solutions are mainly spatial viewers, the MapChart GeoManager has the same core features like GIS desktop applications plus a set of additional features, optimized for a web driven communication. By using the latest Java technology the service grants its user features like creating micro webmapping pages, import of spatial data, such as shape files, or the mailing of the generated maps in an integrated MapMessenger. Therefore strategic decisions based on spatial market knowledge are more reliable and easier to realize. MapChart.com is a one-of-akind decision guidance for spatial questions in respect of business planning and controlling.
By Joc Triglav
Sebastian Mitter, MBA (s.mitter@mapchart.com) is Director Marketing and Business Development at MapChart.
MapChart offers its users on-demand geo-management services as the current approach to GIS outsourcing. Please elaborate from the application service providers side of view on how this process runs between you and your customers.
An application service provider (ASP) is a business that provides computer-based services (in this case GIS services) to customers over an online network. The client of such an ASP doesnt have to buy the whole software package; he has just to lease the software on-demand for the processing of his business tasks. By using ASP services regarding GIS, companies can outsource whole administration areas and process steps. With intelligent interfaces, such networked systems can also interact with client-based in-house systems if required by
Your company is quite a newcomer in the geoinformation business, so please first explain who you are and which are your business priorities and goals?
The claim of the online GIS solution provider MapChart GmbH (Germany) is: just rent the software, dont buy the whole application. The up-to-date ASP approach features clear advantages for the clients: the detailed pan-European TeleAtlas street maps, latest databases, competitive handling, fast communication and optimized marketing
offer an increased benefit to all users of spatially based businesses. MapChart.com, the web-geo-management system of MapChart GmbH (founded in 2005), is based on the idea to provide, publish and analyze spatial market research data and socio-demographic data (geodata), online, transparent and easyto-use. The online platform is including appropriate tools, to visualize market and business data in digital maps. By the evaluation, the perception and the analysis of the data, decision makers can detect spatial complexities and market potentials faster.
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These in a Business Process

the level of interaction between you and these customers more or less the same in all cases or does this differ with individual customers?
The core customers of MapChart GmbH are located in the EU. The main branches are direct marketing companies, market researchers, retailers and companies in the B2C area. Haushaltwerbung Walter is a typical example of a large direct marketing company, using the Performing a geomarketing analysis with the MapChart GeoManager. MapChart GeoManager at many using Application Programming Interfaces locations. The interaction is higher with com(APIs). The MapChart GeoManager is an panies which have a stronger connection to example for new approaches to GIS. As an spatial planning (or: planning a door-drop marASP model the GeoManager integrates keting campaign or analyse, where to place a geodata, the GIS software, a networked new Point of Sale). Other customers, for examcommunication and interaction system with ple Debitel, are using the technology side of the service of a team of spatialists on just MapChart like the mobile TV locator one online platform. The client can test the http://wms.mapchart.com/debitel). system on the website www.mapchart.com. The third segment consists of telematics and Afterwards he can order a tariff with an tracking solutions like www.yellowfox.de, that included volume of transactions. Using the are incorporating the mapping technology of on-demand approach the user just pays for MapChart in their portals (MapChart Fleetpoint the clicks transactions he needed to develservice). Overall a lot of companies have a op individual business maps or analyses. growing demand for spatial solutions, but they Therefore he can save high investment costs want it in a flexible way without making large compared to Desktop applications where he investments in a complex IT structure. has to buy new software, the additional mapping, pay for additional network licences as well as a number of trainings for the professional staff and hire highly qualified GIS staff. The community-driven approach of MapChart enables the client to share his data and the reports with other users in his company over a secure web environment and therefore he can optimize his internal processes.
With which of your tools do you perform geo-marketing analyses and which are the main characteristics of these tools?
For analysis the MapChart GeoManager provides a set of so-called selection assistants. With these agents, the user can perform quantitative and qualitative selections and calculations, for example calculate an area on statistical area level surrounding a point of sale, which should represent 100,000 households with an average purchasing power of >18,000 euros per year. Using multivariate analysing functions, several selections could be shown parallel in the map. Other assistants handle the whole style dialog of the mapping process or the specific selection of spatial elements using external xls, xml or csv tables.
What is your opinion on the available European geodata? How do they support your services? Which are the main obstacles using these data in your daily experience? How do you tackle compatibility issues between various national datasets?
Using pan-European mapping data providers like Tele Atlas we dont have any compatibility issues between national datasets. We are cooperating with the leading geodata distributors and providers in Europe for presenting our customers a holistic view on the available geodata for business tasks. From purchasing power figures on the zhlsprengel level in Austria to socio-demographic data for microgeographic areas in Spain to real estate information on a street level in Germany we can research and provide our clients with the necessary datasets. To face the lack of transparency in the European market for geodata MapChart will introduce an E-commerce platform, a GeoStore where especially small and mediumsized companies can research and buy geodata online and use it in addition to the MapChart GeoManager.
Which are the main fields of applications that can benefit from your software and services and how? Please give us some typical examples of your existing customers and shortly describe your cooperation. Is Using the style assistant to design the thematic map.
How do you explain the geodata lifecycle and the use of geoinfor-
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Interview
mation with a Web-Geo-Management System as you define it at MapChart?

The geodata lifecycle is a process model on how a current Web-GIS system should be able to handle the data and the developed information. The five steps are: Supply of data; Processing of data, analyzing and mapping; Team-based quality check of the results, supported by intelligent functions; Publication of the results and export of the data; Storing the mapping and analyzing results in a secured online storage environment. The results are represented in the processoriented user workflow in the MapChart GeoManager. By adding the online team approach to the mapping process MapChart adds a new dimension to the Web-GIS world.
Which essential directions do you see the development of web geoinformation management heading for in the near future?
With companies like SAP or Microsoft going ASP and on-demand with their solutions, the GIS branch also faces the challenge of evolution of technical and business models. The integration of on-demand GIS solutions like the MapChart GeoManager will activate a whole new potential of clients and users of geoinformation services. With an appropriate price/performance ratio for small and medium-sized companies market-oriented GIS based methods like geomarketing may help to increase competitiveness and marketing efficiency. This new dynamic will help to establish new innovative solutions and will elevate the method of spatial analysis to a broader usage in companies all over Europe. So the answer to the question whether Web-GIS is the new competitor to the still ruling desktop systems is clearly no,
Example of the use of the MapChart web mapping technology for customer solutions the mobile TV locator at www.watcha.de.
because Web-GIS solutions can help to lower the entry threshold to the GIS market in general and will help to enlarge the complete GIS market, as new user groups will enter this market permanently.
to minimise wastage as the item is only distributed to relevant prospects on a regional or national basis. This highly targeted approach at individual postcode level is only feasible through our investment in automated electronic delivery system and specific geomarketing systems, which enables us today to deliver over 1 billion items a year.
Sven Walter (s.walter@walter-werbung.de) is Managing Director of Haushaltwerbung Walter Berlin GmbH, Co-Owner of Haushaltwerbung Walter Leipzig, Haushaltwerbung Walter Dresden and Haushaltwerbung Walter Munich.
Which main factors have led you to the decision to optimize your business processes with spatial technologies?
The growing customer demand for mapping reports on leaflet distributions; The aim to raise the competitiveness of the Walter group as a leading direct marketing company in Germany; Saving time in the mapping process.
To start with please present shortly your direct marketing company and its main business and service activities.
With initially a handful of distributors, Haushaltwerbung Walter was founded in 1979 in Munich. At that time Rudolf Walter established a door-to-door distribution agency, which offered a broad local knowledge to its customers. In the eighties, Haushaltwerbung Walters membership to the WVO, a nationwide consortium of medium sized door-to-door companies (WerbeVertriebs-Organisationen Verbund e.V., www.wvo.de), alongside its accreditation by the German Direct Marketing Association DDV (Deutscher Direktmarketing Verband e.V., www.ddv.de) brought a new opportunity of
carrying our national advertising campaigns through just one point of contact. Following the fall of the Berlin wall in 1990 Haushaltwerbung Walter expanded its operation into the new German federal states. Today each of the seven companies, which make up Haushaltwerbung Walter, offers tailored and individual service plus the necessary flexibility to its customers. Since 1990 Haushaltwerbung Walters membership to ELMA (European Letterbox Marketing Association, www.elma-europe.com) has also opened the door to specialist knowledge and the execution of pan-European distributors. Door-to-door distribution has become one of the favourite media for retailers and manufacturers alike, enabling them to track where their customers come from as well as
What does the usual workflow of your cooperation with mapChart look like in its main steps? Are the flowcharts different for various door-drop marketing clients or is there only difference in the data that you supply to mapChart?
The usual workflow always starts with the customer. A large retail company is ordering a leaflet distribution for several of its locations. Therefore we map these locations and select the distribution areas according to the target group definition and the amount of households. In an interactive way we integrate through mapChart the client in the planning process by sending him a
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Interview
Distinct cost savings could be realized by the management of the entire planning process (target group selection, planning of the distribution areas, involvement of the client in the planning process, realization of the campaign) in an integrated online solution; The customer satisfaction and the customer retention were improved by means of sales improvement through using mapChart.com and the spatial documentation of the entire process.
Based on your acquired experience using mapChart spatial technologies, which are the main benefits for your clients?
Precise mapping; Reduction of scattering loss; Better controlling of the door-drop process; Better opportunities, to measure the response of the campaign; Campaign wastage can clearly be reduced by intelligent advertising based on current sociodemographic and economic data such as purchasing power, household structure, education; Customers that are also using mapChart can use the leaflet campaign data to check the spatial response rate and can achieve an even higher benefit working with the Walter Group.
Dropping leaflets at the door is supported by geomarketing technology.
MapAbstract (a micro website, created with mapChart), where he can check the planned distribution. Finally we deliver the campaign map to the customer. Many other door-drop marketing companies are still working offline. They still copy maps from travel or town maps and just draw their distribution areas without the use of a geographic information system. The other case is a direct marketing company with just one working seat for a GIS solution. Their problem is the limited knowledge, which is concentrated in just one mapping employee. The customers just get printed maps, but no fast interaction is possible. Another difference lies in the data, which Walter integrates into its mapChart account. Walter is developing and updating its own household data on a microgeographic level. These spatial datasets are used in mapChart in addition to external data of data providers or the customers.
We are using the Data research service of mapChart regarding external geodata from leading European data providers. For example purchasing power data on the level of statistical areas or real estate typologies. We develop our own datasets with our distribution staff regarding micro-geographic household figures and basic socio-demographics. From the customer we usually get the location of his subsidiaries or points of sale, which we can geocode at mapChart. The Tele Atlas data for the mapping is already integrated for whole Europe in the mapChart GeoManager.
In which ways has the spatially optimized business process changed your interaction with your clients and their involvement in the marketing planning process?
Faster way to interact with the clients; Clients can take part in the planning of the door-drop campaigns in every stage, using the web-platform of mapChart.com; Results can be shown in an interactive way, which supports a higher customer loyalty; Our competence to integrate current approaches to spatial marketing planning and management and the high efforts to deliver the best quality is a crucial factor for our customers; The selection of distribution areas occurs faster and with a better probability to localize the appropriate target group; The combination of the distribution areas with current map material permits a detailed planning down to the house numbers;
As a user of mapChart solutions you must have in mind the desired directions of your future cooperation. Could you share these?
Geotracking of our leaflet distributors using GPS devices is a primary possibility. MapChart can offer the technology to integrate our geomarketing needs (distribution areas, household data) with the live tracking of our leaflet distributors. With this a whole new dimension in the quality controlling of door-drop marketing campaigns can be reached. In addition we plan to integrate a mapping applet into our Walter homepage as a new sales channel for incoming requests regarding spatial distributions.
Joc Triglav (jtriglav@geoinformatics.com) is a contributing editor and columnist of GeoInformatics.
Which types of products and services does mapChart provide you?

MapChart GeoManager, geocoding services and digitization services as well as special geomarketing consulting services regarding the use of the mapChart GeoManager in direct marketing campaigns and target group specification. For special planning purposes we also use the data research services of mapChart.
Which are the necessary geodata, sociodemographic and economic data to support spatial optimization of your business processes and where do you get them? Which types of data are available off-the-shelf and which are supplied by your clients?
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Did GIS Become IT Mainstream?

Around the year 2001 the whole GIS market was shouting: GIS is becoming IT Mainstream. Did this really happen or was it just wishful thinking? An interesting question, when looking at where we are right now with the OGC Web Services and the Web Services and Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) adoption in the IT Industry.
Han Wammes (han.wammes@oracle.com) works for Oracle where he is responsible for Market Development around GeoSpatial Information Management in the Benelux, but occasionally he is also active internationally.
It is important to realise what a Web Service really is. A good definition comes from W3C: A Web service is a software system designed to support interoperable machine-to-machine interaction over a network. It has an interface described in a machine-processable format (specifically WSDL, Web Services Description Language). Other systems interact with the Web service in a manner prescribed by its description using Service-Oriented Architecture Protocol (SOAP) messages, typically conveyed using HTTP with an XML serialization in conjunction with other Web-related standards. This implies that a Web Service has to have a WSDL interface. It also needs to use SOAP messages in order to be able to be a Web Service and to be able to participate in a SOA, since they are the core of the publish, find and bind principle of a Web Service (UDDI, Universal Description, Discovery, and Integration, is the third component, but managed by OASIS and not W3C). This is an interesting conclusion in the light of WMS, WFS, WCS and CS-W. Currently only WFS (1.1) and CS-W (2.0.1) support WDSL and SOAP, this as the outcome of the OWS-2 interoperability test bed. The rest will follow soon according to Ionic, one of the big pushers of WSDL and
Yes, we are almost there, at least for the basics (WS-I Basic Profile), but there are still issues to be resolved: what about Web Service Orchestration, Security and Transaction Management?
SOAP adoption: The OGC pioneered the concept of geospatial web services and is now extending protocol support to WSDL and SOAP, which will harmonize the OpenGIS specifications with the larger IT Web Services environment. Yes, we are almost there, at least for the basics (WS-I Basic Profile), but there are still issues to be resolved: what about Web Service Orchestration, Security and Transaction Management? An interesting view on whats happening comes from David Sonnen, Spatial Information
Management Research Consultant with the International Data Group (IDC): Increasingly, the broad IT infrastructure handles location-specific data in open, standard ways. Companies like Oracle, Microsoft, IBM, SAP, Google, MapQuest and Yahoo are making location an integral part of their platforms. Open standards and Open Source are making geospatial technology and data cheap, standard and available to hundreds of thousands of developers. Increasingly capable SOAs break down integration barriers and drop the cost of entry for new entrepreneurs. Because of its inherent ability to respond to changing requirements, SOA is now a survival skill for users and information technology vendors alike. Is the GIS market still the explicit domain of the GIS vendors?
W3C: www.w3c.org OASIS: www.oasis-open.org WMS, WFS, WCS and CS-W: www.opengeospatial.org WS-I Basic Profile: www.ws-i.org
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Article
GEOSS to Benefit from Service Ch

Need Rises with Rise in Temperature of the Planet
At a series of demonstrations being held around the world, scientists in many disciplines are discovering exciting new capabilities for publishing, discovering and accessing not only geospatial data, but also online geospatial services that can be linked together to process the data. By George Percivall
benefit in nine areas. Two of these, air quality and climate change, were highlighted at the Denver workshop, and most of the scientists present at the Denver workshop work in these two areas.
A Forest Fire Smoke Use Case

The Denver GEOSS demo involved a scenario that required near real-time data access, browsing, and analysis of distributed air quality data from satellite and surface sensors. The scenario was based on an actual smoke incursion on June 26-30, 2006 from Manitoba to the U.S. The pattern of air pollution is determined by the combined effects of emission sources and by the interaction of transport, transformation and removal processes. The contribution of the various factors can be examined by a set of relatively simple analysis tools. Air quality is monitored by a variety of sensors at the Earths surface and from satellites. The data are accessible from a large array of distributed providers, but they are in different formats and use different access procedures. The demonstration showed how the different formats and access procedures no longer need prevent scientists and others from being able to easily discover and use the data live and archived from these sensors. The analyst in the scenario first accesses air quality images, including surface visibility and meteorological conditions observed from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys AirNow sensors and a surface meteorological network. Political boundaries and weather observation data from the satellite-borne MODIS (the MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) also need to be accessed.
Data for air quality analyses comes from many sources.
Sixty-one Countries
The Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) effort was begun at the 2003 Earth Observation Summit (EOS) to serve a wide range of social needs. Sixty-one countries and forty international organizations, including the Open Geospatial Consortium, Inc. (OGC), are now involved in GEOSS. The User and the GEOSS Architecture V Workshop at IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS) 2006 in Denver, Colorado, July 29, is the fifth in a series of eight international GEOSS Architecture workshops. The goal of the workshops is to provide opportunities for different communities of GEOSS users to interact with information technologists in exploring the benefits and challenges of the emerging GEOSS. During each workshop, participants demonstrate an OGC standards-based networking application, such as monitoring forest fire smoke dispersion. These demonstrations are supported by the OGC as part of the GEOSS Web Services network. The Denver demo was lead by Liping Di of George Mason University and Rudy Husar of Washington University, St. Louis. Demonstration components and data were provided by Unidata/ UCAR, NOAA/NCDC NASA, IMAA/CNR, CIESIN, EPA and others.
Planned Workshops
The four previous The User and the GEOSS Architecture Workshops were held in Seoul, Korea; Tshwane (Pretoria), South Africa; Beijing, China; and Corsica, France. Three others are planned: Sept 25-26 in Goa, India at the ISPRS Comm IV (International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing Commission IV) conference. OGC demo to be managed by University College of London; October 28-29 in Cairo, Egypt at the Sixth AARSE (African Association of Remote Sensing of the Environment) conference. OGC demo to be managed by Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) of South Africa; November 8 in Santiago, Chile at the 9th International Conference of the Global Spatial Data Infrastructure. GEOSS demo to be managed by the Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN). The workshops provide an informal environment in which to exchange ideas and make recommendations to the GEO committees formulating GEOSS as the committees move forward with implementation. GEOSS has a mission to provide societal
Political Boundaries The analyst uses a catalog that implements the OpenGIS Catalog Services interface standard to search the published air quality images for the specific date and geographic coverage. When the analyst finds there is no such data product registered and available, the analyst creates such a product through a geo-processing model and registers the model as a virtual product in the catalog. For those who have not closely followed the development of Web services, this is a rather remarkable development. With open geoprocessing service interface standards -- OGC
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Article
aining Based on OGC Standards

Air Pollution Advisory In the demonstration, after finding, accessing and analyzing the data, the analyst estimates the current and predicted health impact of air pollution on the human population, calculating from the surface concentration of pollutants and from population density. When the forecast exposure exceeds a threshold, the manager issues an air pollution advisory or warning. The Air Quality Image created as a result of the chained services can be combined with other OGC web service accessible data to complete the analysis. Workflow automation using standards-based geospatial web services will provide a new level of productivity in addressing the societal benefit areas of GEOSS. The easy, quick access to data results in a dramatic reduction in effort and time for the projects. The ability to share the workflow scripts amongst peers enables collaboration. The agile, flexible workflow allows evaluation of different approaches for pragmatic decision making.
Analyst creates a new image by chaining services from multiple sources.
Web Services (OWS) -- based on the open standards of the Web, many things are possible that were barely dreamed of just a few years ago. It is now possible for owners of geospatial data, data streams, data schemas, and Web services (online processing capabilities) to register these resources in a standard way using an online catalog. The catalog is designed with open interfaces so any developer can write software to access the resources registered in it. Not only is it possible to access a Web Service from a Web-based application, but one can string together a series of Web Services (which may be running on different computers around the world) to perform a series of operations on data.
The analyst identifies the location of high pollution levels and runs the back-trajectories for those locations. Air mass back-trajectories are overlaid on top of emission density maps to see if the air resided over high pollutant emission regions. Based on satellite and model data, the analyst examines possible emissions from major fires or from dust storms. Given the location of high pollution values, forward trajectories are calculated to see the transport direction of the polluted air. Model forecasts are also consulted. Each data set is accessed through a variety of interfaces based on OGC standards. Service chaining is executed at multiple servers to demonstrate the interoperability that such chaining requires.
Conclusion
The Denver GEOSS Architecture Demo showed how interoperability of Web services from different providers implementing OGC Web Services standards enables chaining of services in automated workflows. Through open standards in a distributed processing environment, scientists can quickly find and evaluate many different data sets and processing approaches. Such an open Web services approach provides an agile environment to serve scientific collaboration in all the scientific communities that use geospatial data. This streamlined approach to finding, accessing and analyzing data also serves environmental managers and others who must deliver the results of their analyses to officials and to the public. Scientists are nearly unanimous in their concerns about global warming and its accompanying dangers, such as severe weather events and associated forest fires, floods, etc. Clearly, the need for GEOSS rises with the rise in the temperature of the planet.
George Percivall (gpercivall@opengeospatial.org) is Chief Architect with the Open Geospatial Consortium,
Geospatial Information Product In the GEOSS demo, the system converts the analysts model to an executable workflow using the OASIS standard called BPEL (Business Process Execution Language for Web Services) by automatically plugging in real services and data based on the users specification. The system and the Web services it has marshaled then execute the workflow to generate the geospatial information product on demand. The analyst retrieves the air quality image from a server with an interface that implements the OpenGIS Web Coverage Service (WCS) Implementation Specification.
Data from many sources can be automatically accessed and combined.
Inc. Visit www.opengeospatial.org to find out more about the topics discussed in this article.
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Evaluation of Hyperspectral D
Identification of Various Rocks and Minerals
Hyperspectral remote sensing, the measurement of the Earths surface in up to hundreds of spectral images, provides a unique means of remotely mapping mineralogy. A wide variety of hyperspectral data are now available along with operational methods for quantitatively analyzing the data and producing mineral maps. This paper is meant to illustrate the potential of these data and how it can be used as a tool to aid detailed geologic mapping and exploration. By M. Rajesh Kumar and T.N. Singh
monitoring of the Earths surface by using remote sensing images. In particular, hyperspectral sensors provide a dense sampling of spectral signatures of land covers, thus allowing a better discrimination among similar ground cover classes than traditional multispectral scanners (Lee et. al., 1993). However, at present, a major limitation on the use of hyperspectral images lies in the lack of reliable and effective techniques for processing the large amount of data involved. In this context, an important issue concerns the selection of the most informative spectral channels to be used for the classification of hyperspectral images. As hyperspectral sensors acquire images in very narrow spectral bands, the resulting high-dimensional feature sets contain redundant information. Consequently, the number of features given as input to a classifier can be reduced without a considerable loss of information (Fukunaga, 1990). Such reduction obviously leads to a sharp decrease in the processing time required by the classification process. The field of spectroscopy is concerned with the measurement, analysis, and interpretation of mineral spectra. Combining spectroscopy with methods to acquire spectral information over large areas is known as imaging spectroscopy. The principles involved in the application of imaging spectroscopy to perform satellite remote sensing are illustrated in Figure 2. Hyperspectral sensors are a class of imaging spectroscopy sensors in which the waveband of interest is divided into hundreds of contiguous narrow bands for the purpose of signature analysis.
Figure 1: typical hyperspectral frequency bands.
Introduction
Hyperspectral sensors, also known as Imaging Spectrometers, are a systems technology whereby images of a scene are collected in tens to hundreds of contiguous narrow spectral bands nearly simultaneously. They represent the next step in the spectral dimension of the evolution of multispectral (using different parts of spectrum, or using or operating with different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum) imaging radiometers currently represented by satellite sensors such as the Landsat Thematic Mapper which collects data in seven simultaneous bands. The term hyperspectral usually refers to an instrument, whose spectral bands are constrained to the region of solar illumination, that is visible through shortwave infrared and in the remote sensing
context has an observing platform that is either airborne or spaceborne. The data collected are often termed as an image cube where the two spatial dimensions are joined by the third spectral dimension. All objects reflect, absorb, or emit electromagnetic radiation based on their composition. A hyperspectral sensor, using reflected solar radiation (0.4 m- 2.5 m wavelength range), captures the unique spectra, or 'spectral signature', of an object, which can then be used to identify and quantify the material of which it is composed. The electromagnetic spectrum covered by a range of hyperspectral imagers is shown in Figure 1.
Spatial Sampling Resolution

There are four sampling operations involved in the collection of hyperspectral data: spatial, spectral, radiometric, and temporal. The spatial sampling resolution, or ground pixel size, varies from a few meters to tens of meters and is a function of the sensor aperture and platform altitude that, in turn, depends upon the kind of platform, spaceor airborne. The spectral sampling can be accomplished by a variety of means such as a prism or interferometer. A/D converter
Spectral Signatures
The recent developments in hyperspectral sensors have opened new vistas for the
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ata for Geological Mapping

mechanical breakdown of the lithologies into boulder fields, which do not provide a homogeneous target for remote sensing. Different approaches to image segmentation include spectral signature based Minimum Noise Fraction (MNF) transformation and edge detection algorithms. Second, hyperspectral imagery records the spectral signature of weathered surfaces of the various lithologies. Identification of a specific lithotype is rarely defined by reference to library spectra but more commonly to field acquired characteristic spectra. Third, establishing the stratigraphic and structural relationships of rock units requires some knowledge of their three-dimensional distribution.
Figure 2: Schematic illustration of the imaging spectrometry concept. Images are acquired simultaneously of up to several hundreds of narrow spectral bands providing a complete reflectance spectrum for every pixel in the imaging spectrometer scene. (Courtesy: www.sed.manchester.ac. uk/.../uperu/project4.htm)
Magmatic Rocks
Pluralities of remote sensing applications have shown that hyperspectral reflectance data can be used for identification of various rocks and minerals, due to their unique spectral characteristics such as absorption features. However, identification with respect to the mineralogical composition of magmatic rocks can not be achieved by using this wave length range. These rocks possess their specific spectral features as emission minima mineralogical composition. The most intensive spectral features of the siliceous rock forming minerals can be observed between 8m and 14m due to fundamental vibration of atoms and molecules. For rock identification using rock spectra, knowledge about spectral behavior and spectral variations of the constituents is needed. This is because a rock spectrum can be described by the combination of the particular spectra of the rock forming minerals.
samples the radiance measured in each spectral channel producing the digital data, at the prescribed radiometric resolution, that comprises a hyperspectral cube. Temporal sampling corresponds to the collection of multiple hyperspectral images of the same scene over time and is an important mechanism for studying environmental changes. Typically, the analysis of a hyperspectral scene involves the decomposition of each pixel in the image into its constituents. These are represented by spectra of relatively pure material, which are themselves extracted from the scene. The identity of these constituents is determined by comparison with 'library' spectra of known materials measured in the field or in the laboratory. Hyperspectral data will enable the identification of terrestrial features with greater accuracy and the capability of developing unique image products which are not possible by using the current generation of spaceborne sensors. A spaceborne hyperspectral sensor will be an enabling tool used to monitor both static and dynamic targets at high spectral and spatial resolution.
significant contribution to the field of mapping and exploration geology. Remote sensing imagery has become an important tool to worldwide geologic and mineral mapping. With economic and exploration frontiers expanding globally, the use of multispectral and hyperspectral systems plays a significant role in mapping and evaluating developing countries, overseeing reconstruction efforts in foreign lands, and monitoring international mining and environmental conditions. Airborne and spaceborne sensors provide a valuable digital imagery that allows lithologic (rocks: their origin and formation and mineral composition and classification) and stratigraphic identification (the identification of strata, or layers), geomorphic and structural interpretation, rock alteration and mineral prediction, as well as geobotanical observations, all on a worldwide scale. All geological maps contain an image that describes the spatial distribution of the lithologies (folds and faults), and a stratigraphic column that describes the temporal relationships of lithologies.
Mineral Exploration
Mineral exploration is becoming increasingly difficult. Especially in ground access sensitive or remote geophysical methods can be used to provide the detailed physicochemistry (mineralogy, chemistry and morphology) of the Earths surface. This information is useful for mapping potential host rocks, alteration assemblages and regolith characteristics. In contrast to the older generation of low spectral resolution systems, such as the
Challenges Exploration Geology

Because of the unique spectral characteristics of many alteration and rock-forming minerals, hyperspectral remote sensing can make a Geological mapping comprises a number of challenges. First, the identification of lithologic contacts and their differentiation by spectral signatures are complicated by
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Hyperspectral is not multispectral and here is why: multispectral simply does not have the spectral resolution to identify minerals.
Spectra
Spectral resolution is important for detecting fine spectral features that can be identified specific materials. Figure 4 shows Hyperion1, the hyperspectral imager on EO-1, which will measure much finer spectral information than the ETM+ (Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus) or ALI (Advanced Land Imager). In nature, spectral information is continuous the amount of sunlight reflected off a point on the Earths surface varies smoothly with changes in wavelength. Hyperions 220 bands (green line) provide a more accurate depiction than the discrete bands of Landsat (blue dots).
Applications
The following sections outline the mineral exploration applications that will benefit from the availability of spaceborne hyperspectral remote sensing data. For each application area, hyperspectral products are identified, and potential benefits of hyperspectral data are outlined. Two major application areas of hyperspectral data to mineral exploration have been identified: Lithologic mapping, or direct sensing of bedrock and minerals; Geobotanical mapping or indirect sensing of surficial geology. The use of hyperspectral data for geobotanical mapping is far less mature than lithologic mapping, but nevertheless represents a large potential market. The key goals in mineral exploration are: 1) to gain a preliminary understanding of a geographic area through lithological mapping and 2) to assist in defining potential exploration targets prior to initiating intensive field exploration activities. Spaceborne hyperspectral data are well-suited to mapping bedrock and identifying the presence and abundance of specific diagnostic minerals at specific scales.
Figure 3: Aster Image with SWIR bands 4-6-8 in RGB, and highlights lithologic and alteration differences of surface units. (Courtesy: http://asterweb.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery-detail.asp?name=Escondida )
Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) with only six reflected bands, the new generation of hyperspectral systems enables the identification and mapping of detailed surface mineralogy using laboratory-grade spectroscopic principals (Clark et. al., 1990).
Absorption Features
Investigations carried out over the last 15 years show that hyperspectral remote sensing can make major new contributions to the advancement of geological applications, especially in the areas of identification and mapping of minerals, and lithological mapping in arid and semi-arid environments. This is possible since hyperspectral sensors, in contrast to other existing broad-band multi-spectral sensor systems, are able to resolve absorption features unique to specific minerals. For example in Figure 3 the ASTER image covers 30 by 37 km in the Atacama Desert, Chile and was acquired on April 23, 2000. The Escondida Cu-Au-Ag open-pit mine is at an elevation of 3050 m, and came on stream in 1990. Current capacity is 127,000 tons/day of ore; in 1999 production totaled 827,000 tons of copper, 150,000 ounces of gold and 3.53 million ounces of silver. Primary concentration of the ore is done on-site; the concentrate is then sent to the coast for further processing through a 170 km long network consisting of 9 pipes. Escondida is
related geologically to three porphyry bodies intruded along the Chilean West Fissure Fault System. A high grade supergene cap overlies primary sulfide ore. The image displays SWIR bands 4-6-8 in RGB, and highlights lithologic and alteration differences of surface units. Hyperspectral data provide a means of identifying the surface mineralogy, and are an aid to lithological mapping. Hyperspectral is not a variant of multispectral such as Landsat, SPOT, IRS and alike information that fills map drawers and hard disks. However it has been of question when it comes to finding ore. Many common minerals can be identified using hyperspectral sensors. The value of the hyperspectral imaging from an explorationists point of view is based on practical experience with the technology.
Hyperspectral Products
Products derived from hyperspectral data include categorized images of bedrock distribution with geological labels, and maps detailing the distribution of specific minerals and their abundances. These maps provide geologists with an additional tool to decipher the overall lithologic and structural history of a region, and help to define potential exploration targets. The minerals which have been successfully
Figure 4: Spectral resolution of multispectral and hyperspectral systems. (Courtesy: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Library/ EO1/ eo1_2.html).
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identified to date with imaging spectroscopy can be grouped as follows: OH-bearing minerals, carbonates, sulfates, olivines, pyroxenes, iron oxides and hydroxides. The identification of minerals and the mapping of their distribution provide the necessary underpinnings for exploration purposes (such as precious and base metals, and diamonds), and lithological (rock) mapping. The latter application is of particular interest in areas where either no maps or much generalized maps exist, such as in arctic environments. The first category also includes petroleum exploration where hyperspectral remote sensing may assist in the detection of hydrocarbon micro-seepage. To be useful to the end users, products derived from spaceborne hyperspectral data should be readily integratable with other data sources, possibly in a geology-specific GIS. The analysis of the products is typically conducted in conjunction with traditional geophysical data (magnetics, gamma-ray). Availability of digital elevation data (DEM) at a scale of 1:20,000 is also beneficial in the analysis of hyperspectral data.
vegetation, but not detailed mineralogy or geobotany of importance for mineral exploration. This function is currently undertaken by field crews, which is expensive and timeconsuming. Hyperspectral remote sensing can potentially have a significant impact in detecting geobotanical anomalies or trends.
Summary
Pluralities of remote sensing applications have shown that hyperspectral reflectance data can be used for identification of various rocks and minerals. Because of the unique spectral characteristics of many alteration and rock-forming minerals, hyperspectral remote sensing can make a significant contribution to the field of exploration geology. The high spectral resolution characteristic of hyperspectral sensors preserves important aspects of the spectrum, for example the shape of narrow absorption bands, and makes differentiation of different materials in the ground possible. The data in each band corresponds to a narrowband image of the surface covered by the field of view of the sensor, whereas along the wavelength dimension, each image pixel provides a spectrum characterizing the materials within the pixel.
Figure 5: AVIRIS image is a Fe (Iron)-bearing mineral map (0.35 to 1.35 micron spectral region). (Courtesy: http://aviris.jpl.nasa.gov/html/data.html)
Geobotanical Mapping
In most areas of the world, surface geology is to some degree obscured by vegetation. Geobotanical mapping, or exploration in vegetated environments, has the potential of identifying the areal distribution of specific element-associated spectral changes in vegetation which are related to soil geochemistry, lithology, or surficial materials. This approach makes use of the fact that the reflection of vegetation is spectrally affected in the presence of heavy metals or alteration zones. For example, accumulation of heavy metals induces stress on the vegetation causing a shift of the red-edge (680-800nm). Such a shift is only detectable with a hyperspectral imager.
Benefits The prime benefit of hyperspectral remote sensing to the user community is the ability to identify the presence and abundances of specific diagnostic minerals that will help direct mineral exploration activities to areas of high potential at considerable cost savings. Hyperspectral sensors, for example the AVIRIS (Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer), collects data that can be used for characterization of the Earth's surface and atmosphere from geometrically coherent spectroradiometric measurements. This data can be applied to studies in the fields of oceanography, environmental science, snow hydrology, geology, volcanology, soil and land management, atmospheric and aerosol studies, agriculture, and limnology. Applications under development include the assessment and monitoring of environmental hazards such as toxic waste, oil spills, and land/air/water pollution. With proper calibration and correction for atmospheric effects, the measurements can be converted to ground reflectance data which can then be used for quantitative characterization of surface features. In Figure 5 the image is an example of research conducted by the United States Geological Survey using AVIRIS data. The image is a Fe (Iron)-bearing mineral map (0.35 to 1.35 micron spectral region) in the Antelope Range (AVIRIS flight 980805t01p02_r10) derived from Tetracorder analysis of AVIRIS data.
Hyperspectral Products
The idea is that spaceborne hyperspectral data allows identification of element-specific geobotanical anomalies on the basis of absorption features or changes in the continuum of vegetation spectra. The output products would consist of classified images or maps of the areal extent (and degree) of element-specific geobotanical variations. Geobotanical anomalies associated with ore bodies may also be expressed as abrupt changes from one plant community to another as a function of the underlying surficial geology and not necessarily due to stress induced physiological changes in plants. Although the use of geobotanical mapping is very promising, the ability of achieving element specific geobotanical products is not yet well developed and requires further basic research and development before it achieves operational status.
Hyperion1: It is an instrument which provides a high resolution hyperspectral imager capable of resolving 220 spectral bands (from 0.4 to 2.5 m) with a 30 meter spatial resolution. The instrument images a 7.5 km by 100 km land area per image and provides detailed spectral mapping across all 220 channels with high radiometric accuracy.
References
Clark, R.N., King, T., Klejwa, M. and Swayze, G.A., 1990. High spectral resolution reflectance spectroscopy of minerals. J. of Geophysical Research 95 (B8), 653-680. Fukunaga K., Introduction to Statistical Pattern Recognition, 2nd Ed. New York: Academic, 1990 Lee C., and Landgrebe D. A., Analyzing highdimensional multispectral data, IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sensing, vol. 31, pp. 792800, July 1993
M. Rajesh Kumar (rajgeo@iitb.ac.in) works as a Research Assistant at the Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. T.N. Singh (tnsingh@iitb.ac.in) is an Associate Professor with the Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay.
Benefits Currently spaceborne multi-spectral sensors are capable of providing gross lithologic information or identification of stressed
September 2006
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The Land Issue is Still Very

Positive Developments as well as Disappointments
Paul van der Molen has been chair of FIG Commission 7 (Cadastre and Land Management) for four years now. What is his view on this application field? What influences do we need to take into account, now and in the future? And what about technology and its influence?
peace treaties urge for land administration to cope with land ownership that meets social justice. Even UNCHR talks about land administration, as a prerequisite for fugitives proving their ownership rights when returning home.
False Hypothesis
By Sonja de Bruijn
Another positive development is the growing recognition of -what is called- customary forms of land tenure, while earlier experts advocated that only individual titles to land were the solution for prosperity. This has proven to be a false hypothesis, as many projects reveal that the forced transition from collective to individual tenure appears not to be sustainable because of not coping with the existing social environment. As a result of this, the requirements to land administration systems today include the ability to cope with all these different forms of tenure, while at the same time the relation between men and land is not static, but dynamic and changing over time. Naturally developments did not only take place in the developing world. In the developed world we are part of a tremendous effort of land administration systems to meet the evolving multi-use of land with 3D and 4D aspects, restructuring governments information infrastructures (key registers, standards) to create SDIs that facilitate better data-sharing and data-integration to achieve a efficient and effective goverment.
Name: Paul van der Molen (56) Nationality: Dutch Education: degree in geodesy of the University of Delft (the Netherlands) Current Positions: corporate director of the Netherlands Public Registers and Cadastre Agency, and visiting professor in Cadastre and Land Administration at the International Institute for Geoinformation Science and Earth Observation (ITC) in Enschede, the Netherlands. Chair of FIG Commission 7 (2002-2006) and director of the FIG International Bureau of Land Records and Cadastre OICRF.
Dedication
Of course there are also disappointments to be observed. Politicians and professionals in our field: land administrators, land adjudicators, land surveyors, and land lawyers are not always dedicated to development and innovations. There is so much knowledge about how to deal with the land issue. But why do they stick to their bureaucracy,
Land Policy
There is much more awareness today that high political objectives like poverty reduction, fair distribution of landownership, transparent land markets, sustainable economic growth, might not be achieved when governments neglect the land issue. A growing amount of countries develop a land policy, with policy measures on security of land tenure, land reform, regulations for the land market, real estate taxation and management of natural resources. When it comes to the question of implemen-
tation, it becomes quickly clear that without a sound land law, land use planning mechanisms and a land administration system, the execution of land policy is hardly possible. I would say that this is a positive development, which actually is promoted and encouraged by the international community of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, Habitat and World Bank. Developing land policies and related measures in post-disaster or post-conflict areas like the Balkans, Cambodia, Guatemala, and Rwanda, is even more challenging: almost all
My conclusion is that the world of land administration is very dynamic. I believe the requirements and challenges never have been so demanding.
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Sensitive in Many Countries

their complex regulations, complicated public administration, slow land reform, full fledged titles to land, high accuracy cadastral surveying, and so on? Apart from this, corruption regarding management and registration of land is still a paramount problem. And as a result of that the land issue is still very sensitive in many countries. systems should be as cheap as possible, while at the same time meeting demands of a highly transactional environment, simple and transparent processes of data acquisition, quick processing, and easy dissemination of land information. My opinion and experience is that low-cost systems that should meet all these demands require high technology. But not a high technology that nobody can operate. At the contrary: it should be possible for people in developing countries to operate such technology after - say- two weeks training. My conclusion is that the world of land administration is very dynamic. I believe the requirements and challenges never have been so demanding. Apart from many other fields in which FIG is active, my personal enthusiasm goes to land administration and its context of societal development. Commission 7 is the only world wide forum for land administration issues. For the last twelve years Commission 7 has attempted to address all the topics mentioned above. Referring to the last four years we had about 19 international meetings, and 7 books with proceedings, 2 CD ROMS, and hundreds of scientific papers regarding different aspects of the subject matter. The next period, 2006-2010, the Commission will be chaired by Andrs Ossk (Hungary), and his work plan continues this approach.
Surf to www.fig.net for more information on FIG, or
Serve Customer Demands

I consider a land administration system as a tool to facilitate this broader complex of land issues. That implies the intention to serve customer demands as much as possible, whether we regard users and professionals in land tenure, land reform, land market, land use planning, or land taxation. Institutional economics teaches us that transaction costs of economic transactions should be as low as possible. So, the design, development and maintenance of land information
Societal Development
FIG has proven to be an excellent platform for enhancing land administration knowledge.
to www.fao.org to find out more about the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
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About the FIG Foundation, Confe

Interview with John D Hohol
If you attend most geo-related conferences it is most probable that you know John D Hohol, head of delegation ACSM FIG Forum and president of the FIG Foundation. At the International ESRI User Conference in San Diego we had the opportunity to exchange thoughts on the FIG Foundation, the importance of conferences and the relationship between traveling and appreciation. By Sonja de Bruijn
Promoting Education
And there is more, namely the FIG Foundation. The organization aims at promoting education in surveying to those people that dont have access to it. Hohol: One of the goals of the Foundation is to raise funds and also provide products that we can distribute to students and programs that we can help further their progress in education. This might be computers but also textbooks in their native language or a, to us, simple surveying instrument. Because each country or region approaches surveying and surveying education differently it is difficult to determine general needs. Professors, teachers or students wanting to travel to a different country to attend a conference, present a paper or do research, or those who are interested in attending a course or class abroad can also apply to the FIG Foundation. Primarily the funding comes through donations from people involved in FIG. We solicit donations at each working week and each congress, adds Hohol. Jack Dangermond, founder and president of ESRI, for example is the honorary chairman of the Foundation helping to gather donations and so on. Both ESRI and Intergraph have a program where they provide a funding through a discount in software where we get a funding in as well. The FIG Foundation normally receives 10 to 15 requests a year. Who thinks the grants are enormous is mistaken. We limit them because we are trying to grow the foundation amount so that in the future we can grant larger grants, explains Hohol. Until we reach that level we give smaller grants of which the largest would be 2,000 euros. This is in fact quite a lot of money in most cases.
John D Hohol, head of delegation ACSM FIG Forum and President of the FIG Foundation.
FIG Congress
Hohols first experience with FIG was in Montreux, Switzerland, in 1981 as an exhibitor, when he was vice president of Berntsen, a company producing survey instruments. Since that time he attended every FIG congress and all FIG working weeks. He was involved in the American Bureau where the administration of FIG during 1999-2002 was seated, which ended with the FIG congress in Washington D.C. in 2002. Besides this he was also deputy congress director and as such responsible for the exhibition. At that time he was also on the Board of Directors of the FIG Foundation and became president back in 2003.
From 2004 FIG is taking administration of the meetings and working groups and future congresses. The idea is to have representation on the continent globally so that FIG has representatives from different regions such as Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Currently Holger Magel is president of FIG. The new structure will be applied with the election of the new FIG president and vice presidents at the INTERGEO/FIG congress in Munich, Germany.
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rences and Global Communities

There are so many conferences nowadays that it is getting more difficult for people to get the funding to go there. A broad conference like INTERGEO means finding everything in one place.
In some cases we feel we can do more with many smaller grants. available. But if you are looking for a product you can only see it as a two-dimensional representation. At a conference you can test and try out software, play with it, or get the look & feel of a GPS station or a survey instrument. Nevertheless there is also a problem. Hohol: There are so many conferences nowadays that it is getting more difficult for people to get the funding to go there. A broad conference like INTERGEO means finding everything in one 2003 Working week: part of the exhibition. place. The boundary between surveying and GIS is fading Travel Around the World which means conferences like these offer Hohols wants to finish the interview with a good opportunities for networking between message to the readers of GeoInformatics. the two professions. In my involvement in FIG and the surveying community in general there is one thing that I found in my travels around the world: even though there are language and cultural differences, you have the same problems everywhere in terms of technical issues and approaches. So I think it is extremely important to use FIG as a resource to be able to come together and share ideas and discuss and find solutions and to network. You get a good appreciation of the culture and issues such as what the challenges are for fellow practitioners in a different country as well as appreciation for what you have. I would like to encourage people, especially surveyors, to go out in order to fully understand and realize that we are a global community.
Sonja de Bruijn (sdebruijn@geoinformatics.com) is editorial manager of GeoInformatics. The International Federation of Surveyors (FIG) can be found at www.fig.net.
All Aspects
This year Hohol will also be present at INTERGEO, an exhibition he has seen growing exponentially over the past 16 years since he has been attending. There are now exhibitors from all over the world and they represent all aspects of surveying and mapping and geoinformation. Hohol says another big change has been the involvement of FIG. Since 2001 we are part of the INTERGEO program. This means a combined program with presentations in English and German, as such broadening the spectrums. Does Hohol think conferences are still important, in spite of the fact that there is the Internet where you can easily find all kinds of information? Definitely, is his reply. The Internet is an amazing resource and you will always find the information you need, readily
2003 Working week: part of the exhibition.
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INTERGEO and FIG World Confer

Integration Into One Event
INTERGEO 2006 in combination with the FIG World Conference offers one of the largest meeting points for the industry sectors geodesy, geoinformation and land management in Europe and beyond. The place where both events will be held is Munich, Germany. Important to notice: INTERGEO takes place 10-12 October, whereas the FIG XXIII Congress and XXIX General Assembly - Shaping the Change is from 8-13 October. Below, in alphabetical order, you will find an overview of some of the INTERGEO exhibitors this year.
Bentley Stand C1.1513
integration with Google Earth. Users will benefit from the ability to publish rich spatial data via Bentleys Geo Web Publisher to the Google Earth environment. Furthermore the company will be featuring a range of products from the newly-acquired GEF-RIS company, based in Leimen, Germany. GEF-RIS offers solutions for managing the lifecycle of multi-utility infrastructure together with modelling software. Bentley will also be showcasing Bentley CADscript also recently acquired from Corporate Montage. This solution offers publishing and plotting solutions for MicroStation output. Special discounts will be available at INTERGEO for the purchase of CADscript and CADscript bundled with MicroStation. And finally, Bentley executives will be present to explain the benefits of its Municipal License Subscription (MLS) program this offers local governments unlimited access to a comprehensive portfolio of Bentley software solutions for a fixed annual fee based simply on population.
www.bentley.com
Cadcorp Stand C3.3243

sisNET Bentleys new multi-utility solution.
Bentley will be showing solutions for its various user groups national and local governments, water utilities, gas and electric utilities, communications service providers and multi-utilities. Apart from geospatial platform products such as Bentley Geospatial Server, Bentley Map and Bentley Cadastre, the company is showing solutions for specific industries. For telecommunications service providers the company will demonstrate the power of an intelligent network model through Bentley Fiber, Bentley Coax, Bentley Copper and Bentley Inside Plant. Water utilities will be able to explore the power of Bentleys Haestad Solutions including products like WaterCAD, SewerCAD and WaterGEMS. Gas and electric companies will be interested in Bentley Expert Designer, Bentleys Substation Design solution and the GEF-RIS range of products. Bentley Geospatials solutions support OGC standards such as WMS and WFS. Not only does Bentley offer desktop engineering solutions, but the company also empowers its users to leverage its GIS data through web publishing solutions like Bentley Geospatial Server and Bentley Geo Web Publisher. The organisation also offers offline solutions for field technicians such as Bentley PowerMap Field, including a specific version for the communications industry. Bentley is also showcasing its
Cadcorp SIS Map Modeller showing dynamic ALK EDBS overlay with additional aerial imagery and transparent raster basemap overlays.
Digital mapping and GIS software developer Cadcorp will demonstrate and launch the latest versions of its Internet/intranet-based GIS, GeognoSIS.NETTM Version 6.3 and mobile GIS software and mSIS
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ence 2006
mobile Spatial Information System Version 6.2. GeognoSIS.NET Version 6.3 and mSIS Version 6.2 are scheduled to begin shipping in early October. Version 6.3 of GeognoSIS.NET, Cadcorps web-based GIS, provides improved scalability and performance through a number of new features. These are designed to appeal mainly to application developers and system administrators and include stored procedures, improved multi-threading, clustering, map and formula caching and support for processor affinity. Version 6.3 of GeognoSIS.NET provides wider support for Open Geospatial Consortium, IncTM (OGCTM) web services and adding support for several new data formats. New functionality in Version 6.3 includes an OGC Catalogue Service for the Web (CS-W) server implementation to match the client implementation already in Version 6.2. The OGC Web Feature Service (WFS) server implementation has been extended to enable the serving of OS MasterMap Topography Layer data in its native XML Schema (GB only). New data formats supported via cursor-based Datasets with Version 6.3 include ESRI Personal GeoDatabase and MapInfo TAB, to provide fast access to large datasets. Meanwhile, the Plug-in for ESRI ArcIMS now includes Mapdex searching to provide on-line access to the global index of more than 600,000 ESRI ArcIMS Layers. Other new formats supported via Plug-ins will be available for free download on the Cadcorp web site. These include GeoRSS (Simple and GML encodings, import and export), GML 3.1.1 (export), GPX, Gridded Binary (GRIB), MIDAS XML (GB only), NASA World Wind and SIA dataMap Export Format. The Plug-ins are fully compatible with the current release of Cadcorp SIS Spatial Information System, Version 6.2. Also, PDF support has been enhanced in GeognoSIS.NET Version 6.3, with font embedding, hierarchical PDF layers for SIS Overlays within Photos, and feature property exporting. New features introduced with Version 6.2 of Cadcorp mSIS mobile Spatial Information System include support for a wider range of data types e.g. MapInfo TAB and improved project management facilities.
www.cadcorp.com
3D Model of Zurich Airport in ArcGlobe (ESRI). Data source: Unique (Flughafen Zrich AG).
textured 3D city models, high-resolution orthophotos, Digital Terrain Models and 3D Landmarks via the Internet. The new version of Map2Day, a web based interactive 3D city information system, will be introduced. A new user-friendly graphical user interface as well as a number of new features, such as route planning and area search will be especially interesting for 2D web solution providers, tourism agencies, transportation companies and municipalities/counties for city marketing.
www.cybercity.tv
Diamond Airborne Sensing Stand C3.3058
CyberCity Stand C2.2261

CyberCity is a worldwide operating system- and software company specialized in the creation and visualization of reality-based virtual 3D city and facility Models. CyberCity applies its software CyberCityModeler to generate and provide virtual 3-dimensional city models all over the world. The models are produced using aerial-/satellite imagery (photogrammetry) and airborne laserscanner data (LIDAR), GIS and 3D computer graphics. Highly detailed and photorealistic 3D Landmarks may be used in various applications like simulation and web solutions. CyberCity creates the virtual 3D objects of important places of interest using terrestrial laserscanning and digital photography and offers about 1,400 Landmarks for Germany. The large and storage-intensive 3D city and facility model datasets are optimized for interactive visualization using TerrainView and TerrainView-Globe which is developed by the partner company ViewTec AG, Zurich, see page 60 of this issue of GeoInformatics. Various functions tailored for planning applications as well as smooth data handling in huge projects make TerrainView and TerrainView-Globe helpful tools for GIS and visualization professionals. With TerrainView-Web an interactive visualization solution is provided to stream large datasets including
Diamond Airborne Sensing GmbH was founded in January 2006, as a 100 percent subsidiary of the aircraft manufacturer Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH. One result of this close relationship is the development of the DA42 MPP (Multi Purpose Platform) twin engine aircraft, which is suited as a multifunctional airborne sensor carrier. It combines the advantages and flexibility of a business aircraft with the specialized needs of any sensor operator worldwide. Diamond Airborne Sensing provides all-in-one solutions that come directly from the manufacturer of the aircraft. Not only the supply of the equipment is the core competence of DAS, the post-processing of the acquired data material is also a service available to its customers. Practical training on the aircraft with experienced pilots, professional flight management, geo-positioning and mission planning are also services offered by Diamond Airborne Sensing. The DA42 MPP offers the opportunity to carry the following mission equipment: Large format digital frame cameras; Panchromatic and multi-spectral line scanners;
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Hyper-spectral line scanners; Laser scanners; Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) & Informatric SAR (InSAR); Gyro stabilized multi sensor cameras for HD TV; Gyro stabilized multi sensor cameras for law enforcement and environmental surveillance.
Geokosmos Stand C1.1701

Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Moscow Geokosmos now is a surveying and mapping company not only active in Russia, but also in many other countries. A few years ago the company focused its activities on laser scanning and aerial digital photography technologies. In 2005 Geokosmos was selected as a contractor for GAZPROM Mega Project on the gas pipeline construction connecting Yamal peninsular and Western Europe and allowing to cover 37% deficit in natural gas that Europe is experiencing nowadays. Today Geokosmos has subsidiaries and business partners in CIS, Europe, Middle East, Japan, America and Africa.. However, the scope of Geokosmos projects is not limited by the CIS market only. In 2005-2006 Geokosmos participated in different projects implemented in the Baltic Sea Region, Western Europe, Middle East, Caribbean [1] Region, and Africa. Geokosmos experts will demonstrate Geokosmos products as well as share their vision on the future of geoinformatics.
www.geokosmos.ru
www.diamond-air.at
ESRI Stand C2.2420
[2]
1. ESRI's ArcGIS software allows an easy integration of CAD and GIS data. The screenshot depicts CAD data over Aerial Photos from a geodatabase. 2. Raw data collected by ALTM 3100 LIDAR system (Optech Inc., Canada) Photo shot made by large format digital aerial topographic camera UltraCAM-D (Vexcel Imaging, Austria) Digital Surface Model (DSM) textured by photo shot
Today, Geographic Information System (GIS) technology is expanding the role of the surveyor and the data that is collected. Increased accuracy in measurements achieved through the use of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) used in conjunction with the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) allows a greater precision in the measurement and recording of spatial features. These measurements can in turn be used with the other data layers of a GIS for a better understanding of the natural and constructed features of a specified area within the geographic context. By using ESRI's ArcGIS Survey Analyst surveyors can incorporate their measurements and calculations into GIS databases that can serve all departments and related applications in an agency. This allows both surveyors and GIS technicians to work in a collaborative and unified spatial database environment. Significant enhancements to the pending revision of Survey Analyst include the Cadastral Editor, which manages survey and record measurement data to deliver a truly measurement driven parcel network. Additionally, soon to be released revisions to ArcGIS that are of interest to surveyors include double precision data storage, better CAD integration, improved parcel COGO tools, and the ability to handle large point data sets for LiDAR. ESRI's product range includes many solutions that provide specific GIS-based benefits to land use planning, e-government, and cadastral applications. Its Production Line Tool Set (PLTS) for ArcGIS is a collection of turnkey software applications developed to extend ArcGIS for high-volume database production, maintenance, quality control, cartographic product generation, and work flow management. Other ArcGIS components including ArcGIS Server, ArcSDE, and Image Server provide advanced geo-processing, image integration, data storage, and interoperability. Data sharing is easily facilitated through its Web-based ArcIMS product.ESRI has had a longtime working relationship with the international Federation of Surveyors (FIG) and has made a substantial contribution to Cadastre 2014, a document suggesting methodology in the development of international guidelines for surveying standards and land ownership registration.
www.esri.com/surveying
3.
[3]
Geosystems Stand C2.2530
Geosystems GmbH, authorized reseller of Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging, shows the complete range of Leica Geosystems software products for remote sensing, digital photogrammetry and 3D visualisation and analysis. Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging, LLC. is co-exhibiting on the Geosystems stand. Geosystems and Leica Geosystems experts will be available for individual demonstrations of the latest versions of ERDAS IMAGINE, Leica Photogrammetry Suite, Stereo Analyst for ArcGIS and Leica Virtual Explorer. The new ERDAS IMAGINE 9.0 add-on IMAGINE Easytrace encompasses a vector feature capture process with as less mouse clicks as possible. The new Feature
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Analyst provides analysts with an automated feature extraction toolset for collecting 2D and 3D geospatial features from earth imagery and scanned maps. IMAGINE AutoSync is a new add-on for ERDAS IMAGINE 9.0 for automatic, accurate image-to-image co-registration. LIDAR Analyst, another new software product, automates the extraction of 3D terrain surfaces, buildings, trees, and forest areas from LIDAR. Leica Photogrammetry Suite (LPS) is a collection of integrated software tools for the complete photogrammetric workflow. Leica MosaicPro is a new mosaicking module that improves the seam editing portion of mosaicking as well as offering additional radiometric adjustment capabilities. At INTERGEO there will also be a preview of the Leica Ortho Accelerator, the enterprise-enabled geospatial process management system for digital orthophoto production. Leica Virtual Explorer merges terabytes of spatial information into an informative digital earth. 3D scenes are distributed via the Internet, intranet or on CD/DVD. Using a free client, users can independently explore and analyze 3D terrain with a broad array of GIS and analysis tools. Users can also choose to collaborate in their exploration by sharing chat, views, scene markups and custom GIS layers with other users. With the recent release of Leica Virtual Explorer 3.1, the components of the suite are open to varying levels of customization. Learn more at the oral presentation 3-D Geodaten im Internet: Der Leica Virtual Explorer at the INTERGEO Forum on Thursday 12 October, 9:30 a.m.
www.geosystems.de
reseller Kisters; Productive printing solution for technicals: HP Designjet 1055CMplus (A0), reseller Amcad; Production workflow and cost management: HP Designjet 4500PS + ESTE folder, reseller KABUCO; Scan-to-Print for multi user workflow: HP Designjet 4000PS + DJ4500 scanner, reseller WDV; Productive and cost efficiency: HP Designjet 4000PS, reseller Amcad.HP workstation area; Flexible office printing: HP Designjet 70 (A2); Ultimative photo printing in GIS: New Solution for GIS photo printing; Flexible CAD/GIS application: HP Designjet 500plus; HP Linux Comunale; HP Information Life Cycle Management.
www.hp.com
INPHO Stand C2.2052

The major new version 5.0 of INPHOs digital photogrammetric system will be presented at INTERGEO. Its main components are the products MATCH-AT, MATCH-T, DTMaster, Summit Evolution, OrthoMaster and OrthoVista. These modules cover the complete processing workflow needed in a photogrammetric project. They are now managed by the new ApplicationsMaster 5.0 which provides a comprehensive collection of basic tools for project definition, data import and export, data conversion and transformation, image preprocessing and orientation, and DTM handling. ApplicationsMaster will be delivered as part of INPHOs system components. Among other extensions, version 5.0 offers extended functionality for efficient processing of imagery from all kinds of digital aerial cameras and from numerous satellites.
www.inpho.de
HP Stand C2312/14
The HP Designjet 4500MFP scan-to-print solution.
Throughout the show HP will be in Hall C2 with six solution partners. It will be displaying its whole portfolio of GIS-environmental large-format printers, including a new solution for GIS photo printing, an upgraded HP Designjet 820MFP, and the upgraded HP Designjet 500plus. GIS imaging has come a long way in a short time. As it continues to evolve, so images become more intricate, complex and rich in colour, and so file sizes have increased hugely. At the same time, output dimensions and speeds have also increased, so GIS firms have much to gain from advanced printing and imaging technology for day-to-day printed output. HP works proactively with GIS software vendors to ensure the best possible integration of its solutions into the GIS workflow. HP products and solution partners at the INTERGEO show will include: Multifunctional printing: HP Designjet 820MFP (A0+), reseller Mendel; Scan-to-Print Solution: HP Designjet 4500MFP, reseller Kisters; Production-RIP and Outdoor: HP Designjet 5500PS UV (A0+),
Another company in the same stand is DAT/EM Systems International is a developer of software for digital mapping and photogrammetric applications. Currently, DAT/EM serves over 350 photogrammetric firms, engineering firms and government agencies in more than 50 countries worldwide. DAT/EM offers the following tools: Summit Evolution: a digital PC-based mapping system; Stereo Capture: collects 3D image features direction from the Summit Evolution stereoplotter into ArcView, ArcEditor and ArcInfo; DAT/EM Capture: stereoplotter interface and feature data collection program for collecting 3D data directly into AutoCAD or MicroStation from a stereoplotter or Summit Evolution; Map/Editor: Software for automatic batch and vector editing in AutoCAD or MicroStation. DAT/EM also offers the following services: IMA analytic stereoplotters refurbished to interface with Window based PCs; IMA Upgrades on users stereoplotters to interface with Window based PCs; Analytical Servicing on the following stereoplotters: P1, P2, P3, P33 and converted C100, C110, C120 and C130 plotters.
www.datem.com
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Intergraph Stand C1.1737

Intergraph is pleased to participate in INTERGEO 2006, especially as they are working with their partners to showcase a wide range of their spatial data capture and analysis solutions at the event. Intergraphs earth imaging solutions provide a digital workflow for producing maps, terrain models, and other geographic data. Intergraphs technology includes a large-format digital aerial camera, film cameras, scanners, and flight and sensor management systems, as well as photogrammetric data exploitation and distribution solutions. Offerings include the Intergraph's Z/I Imaging DMC (Digital Mapping Camera), a large-format digital aerial framing camera that provides high quality resolution at engineering-scale accuracy; a custom-built photogrammetric workstation delivering high-volume production; digital photogrammetric software that provides a comprehensive suite for all kinds of production needs; and enterprise image management, processing, and distribution software, including a suite of products that provides a client-server system that manages geoimaging data from acquisition to exploitation to distribution. At INTERGEO Intergraph will feature in particular the DMC and its flight management suite, solutions for data capture with MicroStation and GeoMedia, and Feature Analyst for GeoMedia. Additionally, representatives will showcase Intergraph offerings for education.
www.intergraph.com
Pro sensor for reference station networks. Leica SmartStation, a total station with integrated GPS, now also supports GNSS Technology. The newest member of the System 1200 family is the Leica SmartRover, an all-on-the-pole RTK GPS system. Consisting of the Leica SmartAntenna ATX1230 (GG) and the Leica RX1250 Controller, the Leica SmartRover delivers cable free operation and weighs 2.8 kg. Leica ScanStation is a 3D laser scanner with all four fundamental total station features: Full 360o x 270o field-of-view (FOV); Survey-grade dual axis (tilt) compensation for traversing and resectioning; Survey-grade accuracy for each measurement; Good useful range. Prior to ScanStation, users had to settle for scanners with only 3 or fewer of these fundamental features. Some further solutions presented at this years INTERGEO are: Integrated Geospatial Imaging hard- and software solutions such as the Leica ALS50-II LIDAR System: higher accuracy with pulse rates up to 150 kHz; Leica GeoMoS, scalable monitoring and analysis software; Innovations in machine automation systems, such as the Leica MNS1200 GNSS Machine Navigation Solution; Leica DISTOA6, The Data Transfer One laser distance meter for in-/outdoors with new Bluetooth data transfer.
www.leica-geosystems.com
Leica Geosystems Stand 2420
Magellan Stand C2.2028

Recently independent company Magellan (formerly Thales Navigation) is set to unveil its new survey and GIS brand, celebrating both an exciting new phase for the company and its .Net generation of survey and GIS solutions. Including VRS, FKP, NTRIP and GPRS, RTCM V3.0 network communication, the .Net generation of survey and GIS solutions is led by Z-Max.Net and the MobileMapper CE. MobileMapper CE is Magellans handheld GPS receiver for GIS applications, and now offers differential corrections via NTRIP and direct IP. It also provides real-time, sub-meter GPS positioning, embedded Microsoft Windows CE .NET, Bluetooth wireless technology, removable SD card memory and an all-day removable battery. Also to be featured at the new Magellan booth is ProMark3 which makes use of the proprietary Prism technology. ProMark3 provides sub-meter, real-time accuracy using WAAS or EGNOS, centimeter-level accuracy in post-processing, and keeps working in urban canyons and dense foliage using optimized multi-path mitigation. These solutions and more can be seen under the new brand, and show attendees will have a chance to win consumer and professional GPS solutions as part of Magellans Discovery, a promotion that invites visitors to uncover the unexpected treasures of the show, including those at the Magellan booth.
www.thalesnavigation.com
Traditionally Leica Geosystems and ESRI will show their new products and solutions for surveying and land management on a common stand. After Create your World and World of Solutions the new slogan is For a Safe Earth. All System 1200 instruments now support GNSS Technology. The new Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) measurement engine supports both GPS L2C signals and GLONASS satellites. The Leica Geosystems GPS product portfolio is further extended with the Leica GX1230 GG and Leica ATX1230 GG sensors for surveying applications as well as the GRX1200 GG
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OmniSTAR Stand 2046
Pentax Stand C3126
OmniSTAR provides positioning services through the use of over 100 reference stations, 6 high power satellites and 2 global Network Control Centres. The company is part of the Fugro NV Group, a worldwide services and consultancy company, specializing in surveying, positioning and geotechnical solutions for both on- and offshore applications. Both OmniSTAR-VBS (Virtual Base Station) & OmniSTARHP/XP (High Performance/ Extended Performance) data services are broadcast by L-Band transmissions via a network of geo-stationery satellites. These services derive a networked solution from 2 independent positioning technologies: both ground based reference stations and satellite based precise orbits and clocks corrections. OmniSTAR-HP/XP is the latest dual frequency GNSS augmentation solution. It provides robust GNSS solutions for many applications in the areas of surveying, agriculture, aviation and others. The OmniSTAR coverage area is global, and achieved through several overlapping satellite footprints with the use of Network Technology. For redundancy and increased reliability all reference stations are dually linked to their respective Network Control Centre. The primary connection is by lease line, VSAT or Internet, backed up by dial-up connection. To support all these services OmniSTAR also offers a collection of associated receivers and provides training-, repair- and support services.
www.omnistar.nl
After being present at INTERGEO for many years, Pentax now has now become one of the fixed partners of the exhibition. Hamburg, Stuttgart, Dsseldorf, and Mnich today, will be the place to show their know-how. Pentax started off with small booths and only what is 'necessary'. According to the company this year will be special with many new things to show. There will be emphasize on the new versions of the R-300X Series, for example the R-300NX with extended EDM range of 270m in non-prism function. Pentax will also launch its new Evolution Series: a range of instruments for surveying and construction with a totally 'new look'. A so-called INTERGEO Team will be present during the exhibiton to assist visitors when needed. Next to the new instruments and models Pentax will be showing new sales and marketing tools, specially designed to help distributors and dealers market their products. Finally, Pentax added a touch of high-tech amusement to its 2006 participation. All visitors will be invited to a very special World Championship. Forget about the Italians, the Germans, the Brazilians, meet the DDD and be amazed!
www.pentaxeurope.com
Sokkia Stand 3020
PCI Geomatics Stand 1746

PCI Geomatics is a developer of image centric software and solutions for the geospatial industry and will be demonstrating. This product offers its tools within a single integrated environment. Geomatica also features support for over 100 spatial data formats, and provides interoperability with other software packages. While at our booth, ask a PCI representative about Geomatica X a series of image centric solutions designed to address geospatial industry needs for automation and production capacity. Geomatica X contains PCIs software components used for building production workflows, such as automated DEM extraction, orthorectification, and mosaicking. Additional Geomatica capabilities include Geomatica GeoRaster ETL (Extract/Translate/Load) and GeoComp. GeoRaster ETL can be used for automated loading of georeferenced data, such as satellite imagery, aerial photography and georeferenced maps into an Oracle 10g database. Those interested can attend a live demonstration of GIMS, the Geomatica Image Management System that enables large and small enterprises to realize that spatially enabling their business process with both raster and vector information will add value to everything.
www.pcigeomatics.com
Sokkia will introduce the robotic total station at the trade floor in Munich at a 170 m2 stand. It is also possible to try out the instrument outside the trade building and to join demonstrations with the SRX robotic total station. The SRX robotic total station is equipped with a new trigger key on the side of the instrument so that the user can keep his sight on the target. The new Red-Tech Ex distance meter enables reflectorless measurements from 30cm until 500m. Furthermore the total station has been equipped with a fully illuminated keyboard. The SRX is made out of environmentally friendly materials and has a large full color touch screen. The data export possibilities are provided through two USB ports where USB memory disks can be connected. A CF card or SD card with CF adaptor can be inserted just behind the keyboard. The SRX is also equipped with Sokkias SFX technology for communicating with the PC. The specially designed remote control unit should make sure that the SRX finds the user when working remotely. On the command of the remote control unit the SRX turns exactly to the correct position.
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The communication is handled by the Bluetooth wireless technology Class 2 which ensures for a 500 m wireless connection. The self calibration technology results in lower maintenance. Auto pointing applies to prisms and sheets. After INTERGEO the SRX robotic station is available at all official Sokkia dealers.
www.sokkia.net
TopoSys Stand 3146
Topcon Stand C2.2302
This year Topcon will present itself in a more active way than last year; large, with eye for details, covering all aspects of surveying and mapping, showing the evolution of technologies and presenting the latest ones. It is the place for the very latest Topcon technology including: G3; GPS+ GLONASS+GALILEO and mmGPS; all types of total stations like Imaging and Long Range and more; TopSURV field computer software; Topcon office software; TopNET Network hardware and software. Topcons product line-up gives solutions for things like crossover between Total Stations, GPS+ and machine control, and seamless dataflow. To highlight a few latest ones; GPT-9000A, equipped with Long Range technology, prismless up to 2000 m. This total station is suitable for one-man and prismless measuring, with modular communication solutions for remote control, radio, and Bluetooth. G-3 stands for the Topcon geodetic receivers capable of tracking all signals from GPS plus GLONASS plus GALILEO. These provide all on the pole solutions with integrated receiver, antenna, radio-modem, GSM-modem, several memory card possibilities and Bluetooth. Topcons booth encompasses a terrace, lots of activities, presentations, live software and instrument demonstrations, and many different applications.
www.topconeurope.com
TopoSys is a manufacturer of sensors as well as service provider. The newest airborne laser scanner Falcon III, Harrier 56/LR (long range) as well as Harrier 24 will be on display. Falcon III is a System for laser scanning with a high point density between 5 and 50 points per square meter, maximum accuracy and true-ortho images with high resolution. The Harrier 56/LR (new with increased range) is a Medium system for corridor mapping and wide area laser scanning with a high point density between 0,5 and 15 points per square meter as well as parallel acquisition of ortho and true-ortho images. Harrier 24 stands for an entry level system for corridor mapping and smaller projects with a point density between 0,25 and 2 points per square meter as well as acquisition of ortho images. Various combinations of laser scanner and multi spectral sensors are possible. In addition, version 6 of the processing software TopPIT will be presented. This is a complete software package to process laser and true-ortho image data. TopPIT V6 includes a new and unique feature enabling processing so-called true-ortho images from image data acquired by digital frame cameras. For LiDAR services, TopoSys shows the latest data acquired by the Falcon II and the new Harrier 56. First results of full wave form data which have been acquired in large commercial projects and which have been processed and analysed will be introduced to the customer.
www.toposys.com
September 2006
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Special
There is a Black Hole in What

Juha Talvitie: Surveyors Should be More Involved in Plan
Going through the curriculum vitae of Juha Talvitie two things are leaping to the eye. The first one is the long relationship with the Helsinki University of Technology (over forty years). Second: his commitment to regional and spatial planning, having been involved in associations in Finland as well as countries or regions like Lapland and South Bothnia in west Finland. With 46 years of involvement Talvitie is definitely the person to talk to regarding spatial development and the surveying profession.
By Sonja de Bruijn
Name: Juha Pellervo Talvitie Date of Birth: 12 September 1935 Nationality: Finnish Education: Dipl. Engineer (Masters Degree), Licentiate of Technology, Doctor of Science (Technology) Past Positions: Started his career as a Planning engineer in a State Rural Development Authority in Lapland. Accordingly he became Managing Director of the Regional Planning Association of Lapland, then Managing Director of the Regional Planning Association of South Bothnia. After having been the Managing Director of the Association of Finnish Regional Councils he became Director of Structural Policy and EU-Affairs with the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities. Membership of several professional organizations, amongst which the Finnish Association of Surveyors and FIG. 1976-78 Vice Chairman FIG commission 8 1978-81 Chairman of the spatial planning and development commission 8, FIG 1985-87 Vice President FIG 1988-91 President of FIG Current Position: Retired.
Too Many Secrets

On July 27 GeoInformatics had a phone interview with Talvitie, president of FIG from 1988-91. We called his home number since a recently acquired mobile phone offered too many secrets for immediate use. It didnt take the Finn long however to have the device up and running. (New) technology, it was also one of the topics during the interview. Being 64 years old, Talvitie stopped consulting, a freelance activity which he started after his retirement from the service of the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities in 1998. Master of his agenda again enabled him to do research with the aim to prepare a dissertation for the Helsinki University of Technology after the impact of information and communication technology (ICT) on spatial development and planning.
Space, Distance and Time

According to Talvitie the development of an information/knowledge society will affect urban and rural structures as did the development of the industrial society. He explains why: The determinants of space, distance and, most important, time will change or disappear. As a result freedom of location will increase and people and organisations can reorganise their activities. One may ask what the result will be of this new spatial order. Talvitie believes planners should be educated to these questions.
Interpret
This information society places a challenge for surveyors, Talvitie continues. It will also influence the activities of all scientific commissions of FIG. Their task is to interpret
how this development will affect different fields of surveying activities and how one should react. Of course the development of new tools will help to meet new challenges. All this is of influence at the surveying profession. Talvitie: The development of rural areas in the developed world is changing the situation as it used to be. Surveyors in many countries have been very much involved in the development of these areas mostly related to agriculture. Now there is a need for new types of industries and new ways to use rural land. The values of properties may be affected by the new directions of spatial change. New location factors will have an influence on property values. Even some urban centres have lost their importance while on the other hand some rural areas may have a new future because of a rise in demand of rural land for special features.
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is Coming
ning
In order to succeed we need to have a clear picture of how societies are developing in spatial terms. The basic task of the surveying profession is the relation man-land-sea-properties.
Globalisation
Of course the digital revolution has greatly influenced society and as such the profession of surveying. Most important in this respect are mapping and GIS technologies. Globalisation definitely is another factor, and according to Talvitie a consequence of the information technology we are living in now. It has increased competition between different occupations. A good thing, says Talvitie. There is another consequence: new occupations are developing, which means harder competition with the old ones. And thus there is a need for new studies or courses. In order to succeed we need to have a clear picture of how societies are developing in spatial terms. The basic task of the surveying profession is the relation man-land-sea-properties. be able to understand social developments in spatial terms, insight in how the demands of different services will change, and see new business opportunities and technologies.
Sonja de Bruijn (sdebruijn@geoinformatics.com) is editorial manager of GeoInformatics. Articles by Talvitie on the spatial impact of the application of ICT in general and specific planning areas and for the development of new planning theories, methods and models can be found at www.nordregio.se/EJSD/refereed10.pdf and www.hut.fi/Yksikot/Kiinteisto/julkaisutVerkkojulkaisut/ julkaisuB106.pdf. The first one is a refereed article in the Nordregio journal European Journal of Spatial Development, which mostly deals with planning issues. The second one is a longer version about the whole thesis, published in the pages of the Helsinki University of Technology, Surveying Department.
Role of FIG
What does Talvitie expect from FIG in future? FIG serves both as a services and an interest organisation. They should see what is happening in our society in general terms and inform its members how it will affect surveying and surveying organisations and market surveying as a quality profession. This requires that people should be well educated. To me this means the following:
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Article
Implementing SDIs Through

The MetroGIS Geospatial Data
It has often been argued that effective networking is the key to successful SDI implementation but it is not often recognised that new types of organisation may be needed for such purposes. For this reason the experiences of the MetroGIS geospatial data cooperative are likely to be of interest to international as well as North American audiences. By Ian Masser and Randall Johnson
of common benefit, and readily usable. Its goal has been to integrate into the dayto-day functions of stakeholder organizations the systems and procedures needed to sustain the desired data-sharing outcomes. The result is that both data users and producers share in the efficiencies of users being able to effortlessly obtain data needed from others, in the form needed, and when it is needed. MetroGISs comprehensive solution can be characterized as a distributed system comprised of three interrelated, technology dependent components: Coordinated production, maintenance, and documentation of regional data solutions for common information needs; A one-stop shop for discovery and distribution of data important to and consistent with stakeholder business functions (MetroGIS DataFinder); Knowledge sharing and fostering use of endorsed best practices through the general-information Web site, special purpose forums, and scheduled meetings of the policy Board and committees.
The MetroGIS Concept

MetroGIS provides an innovative and effective system for collaboration between the geospatial data producer and user communities. It assembles, documents, and distributes geospatial data commonly used by the more than 300 local and regional government units serving the seven-county MinneapolisSt. Paul metropolitan area, see figure 1. It is a voluntary organization that provides an effective forum to identify common geospatial data related needs, collectively define the organisational and technical solutions needed to address those needs, and share geospatial data knowledge. MetroGIS has no legal standing and, as such, cannot own data, hire staff, or finance projects. It relies on its stakeholder organizations to develop and maintain all data, develop and support data-distribution tools, and finance its staff and project needs. The key to MetroGISs ability to accomplish institutional changes needed to achieve the vision of both the MetroGIS community is its unconventional organizational structure. Its Policy Board consists of 12 elected officials from its core local and regional government communities - counties, cities, school districts,
Figure 1: more than 300 local and regional government units serve the seven-county MinneapolisSt. Paul metropolitan area.
Origins
Organizations in the state of Minnesota have a long tradition of cooperative development and use of geographic information system technology. Hereby they address issues that significantly affect the quality of life. In the early 1990s a number of local governments began to explore the benefits of GIS technology and state and regional government. Six of the seven counties that make up the MinneapolisSt. Paul metropolitan area made considerable investments. The result was a plethora of conflicting dataaccess policies, inconsistent and time-consuming licensing requirements, and duplication of data-development efforts. Where data docu-
mentation existed, it varied significantly in quality and format. Small pockets of collaboration began to emerge as the GIS community became increasingly aware of the duplication of effort and expense that was occurring.
Guiding Vision
MetroGIS was created in 1996 to improve the efficiency and quality of decisions made by governments in the Twin Cities area through widespread geospatial data sharing. The guiding vision of MetroGIS is to provide an ongoing, stakeholder-governed, metro-wide mechanism through which participants easily and equitably share geographically referenced data that are accurate, current, secure,
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Effective Networking
Interoperable regional data solutions which significantly reduce the time and effort needed to manipulate data for use once it is located and obtained; The experience of the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District is a good example of these benefits. Prior to access to MetroGIS data, district staff spent thousands of dollars and many hours acquiring, downloading, manipulating, and reconciling parcel data from seven different counties to generate accurate and comparable field maps. Now the data is free and can be downloaded from one spot. Quarterly updates are available at no charge. In just two months after an updated and enhanced parcel data set was released in early 2005, nearly 50 organizations had sought and obtained licenses for access to this data.
Figure 2: The Policy Board is supported by a 25-member Coordinating committee.
watershed districts, and regional government. These members are appointed by their respective communities to the Board, which has no formal legal standing, see figure 2. The Policy Board is supported by a 25-member Coordinating committee. This provides a forum to discuss MetroGIS design, implementation, and operations. It defines goals and issues for strategic work groups, and makes recommendations to the Policy Board. Its members are drawn from a wide variety of public, academic, private, non-profit, and forprofit stakeholders of MetroGIS. MetroGIS has been successful because it focuses on both technology and building interorganisational relationships, and it raises issues to a level of public purpose. This structure ensures that all relevant and affected interests are involved, dominated by none. At the outset, participants recognized that conventional hierarchical, command-and-control structures would not be capable of building and maintaining the trust relationships needed to bring all essential participants to the table or of overcoming fears of hidden agendas.
Current Status
During its ten year lifetime MetroGIS has had a significant positive impact on improving the efficiency of government operations in the Twin Cities area. The primary reasons for the improved efficiencies include: reduced duplication of effort to find and use data; access to data not previously available; cost avoidance through collaborative solutions; improved data quality; and greater understanding of the communitys geospatial data needs and opportunities through increased networking. Benefits of regional data solutions to common information needs include: Uniform data solutions across the sevencounty area, notwithstanding that in most cases each regional data set is an assembly of several components or primary data sets. For example, the seven individually produced county parcel data sets have been assembled into a single regional solution with attributes that have been reformatted to have consistent names, character types, and sizes, see figure 3;
Experiences
Riley-Purgatory-Bluff Creek Watershed District has also benefited considerably from MetroGIS. The District works with other government bodies to regulate storm water runoff, improve water quality, and provide recreation. GIS Specialist Tim Anderson, from the Districts consulting firm, Barr Engineering, explains that before MetroGIS, his firm had to spend time and money getting data from two separate counties and several cities and then reconciling the data. Through the MetroGIS data-sharing agreements, that data can be downloaded for free and is often contained in a regional dataset that doesnt require any further work to piece it together. This represents a savings for our clients because we dont have to generate or look for the data, Anderson said. The City of Rosevilles experience is similar to those described above. Roseville is a firstring suburban community of 33,690, situated just north of St. Paul. It is home to more than 2,200 businesses that employ more than 39,000 people, many of whom live outside the city. The culture of data-sharing facilitated by MetroGIS, and its easy data access tool, DataFinder, make cross-jurisdictional analysis not only possible but quick and easy, see figure 4. Having an organization that coordinates the sharing of data is a
The value added dimension of MetroGIS to users is that it provides regional solutions to common information needs.
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Figure 3: the seven individually produced county parcel data sets have been assembled into a single regional solution with attributes that have been reformatted to have consistent names, character types, and sizes.
much more efficient mechanism than having all the regions cities, and other organizations, spending time to acquire the data individually, said Dennis Welsch, Rosevilles community development director. The bottom line is better service to the public by enabling management and elected officials to make more informed decisions because of access to the wealth of information that can be processed and displayed using GIS.
International Perspective
The experiences of MetroGIS show what can be achieved through effective networking
through new kinds of organisation at the metropolitan level to implement SDIs. Despite the collaboratives reliance on consensus decision making procedures it has proved a remarkably robust model for interagency networking over the last years. Therefore it is of considerable interest to the international SDI community as well as a north American audience. One factor that underlies the success of MetroGIS is the key role that local politicians have played in the development of MetroGIS through their participation in its Policy Board. This has been very important in
building up support for its activities amongst the key stakeholders and giving it some measure of protection from external threats during this period. The other main factor behind MetroGISs success is the extent to which it is the product of enlightened self interest on the part of its stakeholders. During the ten years that it has been in operation MetroGIS has built up a core of active users in a wide range of agencies who are able to access data that they regard as being of importance to their work through MetroGIS. MetroGIS is also attractive to politicians and taxpayers because it saves money and makes better use of existing resources. The only direct cost of its operations is the $200,000 that is paid annually by the Metropolitan Council to cover the costs of coordination. However, the seven counties also contribute the equivalent of 20 FTE staff time each year through the work that they carry out with respect to the core land parcel database and a state agency and the University of Minnesota also contribute to the collaborative solutions.
Regional Solutions
The value added dimension of MetroGIS to users is that it provides regional solutions to common information needs. No single entity in the Twin Cities has the charge to secure the regional solutions that have been achieved through MetroGISs efforts, due to the diversity of business needs being served. In a recent program evaluation study of the value of MetroGIS, the Metropolitan Council found that other metropolitan governments in the United States, with similar responsibilities, are paying 5 to 6 times its $200,000 investment for similar and, in some cases, less robust data. The Councils unanimous conclusion was that MetroGIS is not only extremely economical for its needs but that is also providing significant benefits to the region as a whole through the leveraging and coordination of existing investments by a host of data producers closest to the source of data commonly used by many.
Ian Masser (masser@onetel.com) currently holds the positions of Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Geographical Sciences at the University of Utrecht, the Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis at University College London and the Department of Geomatics at the University of Melbourne. Randall (Randy) Johnson (randy.johnson@metc.state.mn.us), AICP, is a MetroGIS Staff Coordinator, Metropolitan Council (Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota Metropolitan Area). Go to www.metrogis.org and www.datafinder.org to find out more about MetroGIS and related topics.
Figure 4: the culture of data-sharing facilitated by MetroGIS, and its data access tool, DataFinder, make crossjurisdictional analysis quick and easy.
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Interview
Bentley Leaves Choice to End User

Google Earth Nothing More than a Handy Tool
Google Earth is a nice tool capable of several things, in spite of the limited number of features. However it is nothing more than that, says Styli Camateros: We dont really mind if data are being viewed with Google Earth or with a different web browser. By Lambert-Jan Koops
Integration
According to Camateros the recent acquisitions made by Bentley are exciting. The integration of this software with MicroStation doesnt oppose any problem. Many companies that we acquire are developing applications on top of MicroStation and as such are compatible. With Cook-Hurlbert this wasnt the case but that software is very open thus easy to integrate. We always start by the integration in ProjectWise and once succeeded we are working towards the final stage in which programs are capable of dealing with XFM. What we really dont want is several platforms; all our software must be capable of dealing with other software some way or the other. Sometimes we succeed within one year after the acquisition and sometimes it takes a bit longer. That doesnt matter, as long as we succeed.
Customer Demands
All acquisitions and cooperation agreements might make people think Bentley finds it difficult to make choices and meddling with all kinds of businesses. However Camateros knows very well what he wants: We want to meet our customers demands. We are investing a lot of time in conversations with our end users and if we notice a certain change in working method we want to offer solutions. It is the end users making these kinds of decisions. It is nice if they opted for MicroStation, but if they purchased a different type of GIS software that is no problem either. In any case we dont want to waste energy on discussions about the choice made by the end user. Wed rather invest in developing solutions aiding the end user in situations arisen by decisions already made. Even if an end user has a GIS system not developed by Bentley, we can still offer solutions that can optimise the use of GIS.
Lambert-Jan Koops (lkoops@geoinformatics.com) is contributing editor of GeoInformatics. Surf to www.bentley.com for more information on Bentley, its vision and its products.
Vice President of Bentley Geospatial Styli Camateros: The interface of Google Earth is nice and disposes information to users. But in no way is it a GIS program and for this obvious reason we dont regard it as such.
Popular Tool
The interface of Google Earth is nice and disposes information to users. But in no way is it a GIS program and for this obvious reason we dont regard it as such, comments the Vice President of Bentley Geospatial. Our interest in Googles software depends on the way in which our customers deal with it. We noticed that it is becoming a popular tool and for this reason we got involved, but for customer-driven reasons. Nevertheless we have been developing some very nice things. Bentley Map for example not only makes it
possible to add data to Google Earth but features as well. An example of this is assigning names to layers so that it is more clear that a layer contains water pipes. Besides this it is even possible to replace the background made available by Google by own data. In many cases this is no luxury since very up-todate high resolution images are available for the US, but not especially for the rest of the world. I myself live in Quebec and when looking up my house I saw that the image was already four years old. However I expect the quality of the images to improve.
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Interview
Keeping Track of Cars, Boats

On-line Track and Trace Service also Available Outside
Track & Trace is used to determine the location of objects or persons. Fleet management, tracing containers, or retrieving stolen cars are just a few examples of applications in this area.
SMS only, which can be a low-cost solution for car rental companies for example that want to get a message once a car is moved while nobody should be driving it.
Speed Limits
By Sonja de Bruijn
According to Vorster TraceMe is quite unique in the fact that multiple links are possible. All kinds of signals can be linked and made visible. It can detect whether a tailboard is open or closed, or when speed limits are exceeded. Furthermore multiple connections with external hardware are possible, for example with I-buttons (for identification), cameras and an LCD screen and keyboards. Vorster gives an example: TraceMe can be linked to our LCD and configured by the user in a way that its going to behave like an onboard computer, in order to send messages like return, call me or arrival. Various internal parameters can also be presented on the LCD and in/outputs can be viewed or controlled by a small keyboard and the remote server. In near future a user can also connect a PDA or plug in a memory stick, for example to record the route and be able to see what happened just before an accident occurred by viewing the last images of the on-board camera. It is the customer who decides how far he wants to go. Vorster admits that the settings program delivered with the device is quite broad and that it can take quite some time for a customer to customize it according to his needs. On the other hand the advantage is that they dont need to get back to us because they can control TraceMEs parameters completely, he comments. Fine tuning the settings program is the customers job, what KCS offers is coding the GPRS data, changing settings and tracking and tracing units when a customer is not able to reach them for some reason.
Overview of Locate with graphical reports.
Positioning Data and Events

What is needed is a GPS receiver with antenna, a GPRS/GSM modem (dual, tri or quad band), a GPRS license, a (solar) battery, and external connections for hardware like cameras or a PDA. Furthermore a certain amount of memory is essential to store positioning data and events in areas without GPRS/GSM coverage, as well as a licence software to handle the data. A solid enclosure for rough environments and you are ready to install the device in your car, boat or truck and use it to be able to track and trace it everywhere at any time.
TraceMe
Kolff Computer Supplies (KCS), whose original activities were developing and composing printed circuit boards for use in devices for hospitals, PC cards and professional video editing equipment, is now also active in the development of a Track& Trace apparatus. Since the launch of the so-called TraceMe three years ago, about 4,000 devices have been sold all over the world. For 95 per cent TraceMe is applied for fleet management but according to PR manager Bram Vorster keeping track of Diesel generators for example is becoming more and more popular. Often these are located near roads or other public places where it is quite easy to steal them. Since the TraceMe module does not only offer GSM and GPS but also GPRS, it is mostly used by professional users. Vorster: The advantage of GPRS is that users are able to achieve a considerable amount of real-time data at short intervals and against monthly costs that are quite low. TraceMe is also capable of operating via
Solar Panel
The TraceMe standard memory is 32Mb, for making and saving pictures when there is no GPRS connection for example says Vorster. TraceMe needs 5,5 Volt to be operational, and can work on a solar panel. The antenna doesnt need to be visible which means it can be built in easily. Many optional sensors can be connected and configured, like a
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and Trucks with TraceMe

Europe
Arab Version
Since 1 January 2006 LocatePlaza.com track and trace services are available outside Europe as well. We now have services available for the Middle East area for which we have designed an Arab version with local partners from Dubai and Jordan. We currently are extending LocatePlaza coverage to North America and Brazil on top of South Africa, which was added in Junethis year. The interface is standard for users of Locate lite and basic. For clients with the plus to pro package the application can be converted to an own look and feel, or integrated into the companys website. From the plus version upwards, random symbols can be used to display each vehicle.
TraceMe needs 5,5 Volt to be operational, and can work on a solar panel.
motion detector, tilt sensor, et cetera. An accuracy of 10 to 20 meters can be achieved and in an altitude of 5,000 meters is no problem, as KCS found out when they sponsored Reach for the Sky Limited, an English hot air balloon firm taking part in the Filzmoos (Austria) Hot Air Balloon Week in January 2006. Though the device was exposed to both cold (because of the height) and heat (the flame for warming the air in the balloon), it didnt show any effects. The very mountainous environment was no problem for transmitting the exact location, height, speed and direction of the balloon. This enabled the ground crew to closely follow the flown route and even to be at the landing spot in time instead of the usual five hours after landing.
such as a door opening and closing. Actually, any information a manager would be interested to see in the pursuit of operational effectiveness can be presented within the online service, Van Heijningen continues. ATsence can tailor applications for special needs. When a customer starts using the LocatePlaza.com services we often see that once all the information becomes available, managers want to use it in their corporate software systems. LocatePlaza Pro has been specially designed for that purpose.
Geofencing Options
Locate Lite is the entry level version for tracing one single vehicle on an interactive map. For business solutions there is Locate Basic, which includes drive administration and five built-in geofencing options. With geofencing, particular boundaries or locations are set within the map that lead to a pre-programmed action when these are crossed or approached. That may be a phone call with a set text, or an SMS or email message. Locate Pro has a number of geofencing possibilities, including automated messaging to a customers own clients; delivery vehicle arriving, car rental returning, bus or coach arriving. This is all made easier by a link to address details from a programme such as Outlook. Geofences can also be used for marketing purposes; a road side restaurant can send an offer as the vehicle arrives in the area. Through the decrease of the usage costs of data-transport via GPRS and GSM there is a perceptible growth in the application of LocatePlaza.com. Increasingly so, affordable mobile machines and tools are being produced with a GPS module for easy, real-time orientation.
Sonja de Bruijn (sdebruijn@geoinformatics.com) is editorial manager of GeoInformatics. KCS can be found at www.traceme.tv. Visit www.LocatePlaza.com for specifications on LocatePlaza.
Sceptical
Live on-line pictures taken from moving vehicles is one of Locates most eye-catching Unique Selling Propositions (USPs). Van Heijningen: At first when KCS prompted us on the availability of the camera we were a bit sceptical about the usage of live pictures from a vehicle. The GPRS bandwidth however proved to be more than sufficient for transferring pictures. In some countries where security issues are a problem, having live pictures from the vehicle interior, the cargo area or even the surrounding area can prove to be crucial. The camera is also used in public and private transport for monitoring the passenger safety. In this case it is used in combination with a panic button. When pushed by the driver the button will transmit a silent alarm and take live pictures from inside the vehicle which are then made available online. This information can result in actions by police or private security firms.
On-line Dynamic Mapping Services

ATsence is a software company based in the Netherlands who designed LocatePlaza.com, where users can find on-line GPS, track and trace applications for the TraceME units. We have designed the services on LocatePlaza.com in close cooperation with KCS around their TraceME units, giving clients optimal access to their corporate trace information, says Bart van Heijningen, Managing Director of ATsence. When users log on to the website they are presented with a dynamic on-line map of their vehicles displaying not only their exact location but also giving access to real-time information such as direction, route, speed, altitude, address, temperature and even the monitoring of other digital inputs/outputs,
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Article
DAF Uses SPS Application

Integrated and Web-based Environment
Land management in the EU is changing. In order to meet the growing need for improved accuracy and efficiency in the administration of farm grants, the European Union is driving efforts to implement IT systems capable of automating this process and providing a comprehensive overview of agricultural assets and resources. By Orla Power
All Users
The eSpatial design enables the consolidation and integration of spatial and business data, making SPS information available to non-GISspecialist users. Thereby it opens up the use of spatial information to all users within DAF as well as remote agricultural land owners. eSpatial developed the geospatial system and provided consulting services on spatial technology, specific application training, and ongoing support services. eSpatials iSMART technology, which provides the platform for the spatial component of the application, is a standards-based, extensible development and run-time platform for embedding geospatial capabilities in business applications using Oracle Spatial and J2EE application servers such as Oracle9iAS. Oracle supplied the application server and database for the tool, which integrates all existing DAF datasets, including geospatial information and SFP transactional data, in one environment.
Disease Tracking
iMAP Administration User Interface.
Single Payment Scheme Application

Irelands Department of Agriculture & Food (DAF) is a 4,500+ employee, central government body. DAF, whose wide range customer base of over 300,000 encompasses government departments and individual citizens, deployed a Single Payment Scheme (SPS) Application. It is based on an original solution built by GIS and enterprise geospatial technology company eSpatial, and Accenture, international management-consulting and technology services company. The solution integrates application-form processing data with geospatial information which enables the DAF to manage and process Single Farm Payment applications and payments in an integrated and web-based environment. The SPS application recently won the award for best project in Government to Business category in the Irish Innovation through Technology Awards.
Leverage Skills
DAFs key aims were for a new, integrated system to meet EU regulations and new reporting requirements, introduce new business efficiencies, and offer new web-enabled services to its customers. In addition, the system had to leverage core employee skills without lengthy training sessions. Crucially, it also had to be delivered in less than a single payment cycle to allow the following years schemes to be supported, hence delivering a short-term return on investment. DAF chose eSpatials technology for the spatial component of SPS as it is fully extensible, offers flexibility, and is built using open, standards-based, platform-independent architecture. DAF was particularly attracted by the fact that eSpatials spatial-information management solution hosts all spatial data in Oracle 8.1.7. Another factor was the fact that eSpatial can deploy and integrate geospatial applications using standard IT infrastructure, rather than separate GIS infrastructure.
In addition to facilitating payments, the SPS system provides a single, homogenous view of all agricultural land use for which direct payments have been claimed so that claims can be validated. It also supports other critical functions within DAF, such as other direct payment schemes and disease tracking. eSpatials iSMART Geospatial platform can be used for the development of integrated spatial and business systems such as SPS. In addition to this system, Accenture and eSpatial have developed a system for forestry contractors to make applications for grants for forest productions directly over the web. This system (FIMS) shows how technology such as iSMART, eSpatials flagship product, can be used to replace existing paper based processes with fully integrated electronic application systems accessible by the general public. The Greek Ministry of Agricultures Payment Agency (OPEKEPE) has also chosen eSpatial for its data capture application of Integrated Administration and Control System. This application also developed using iSMART, is part of the EU administrative responsibility for area aid and subsidy payments.
Orla Power (opower@espatial.com) is Marketing Manager for eSpatial. For more information have a look at www.espatial.com.
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Product Review
3D Visualization; What is it, an

Review ViewTecs TerrainView
According to the American Planning Association, 3D Visualization models have many applications in urban studies: site location analysis, emergency facilities planning, design review, and presentations to the public. 3D Visualization has made its way into the study of Geography, and recently through advances in web technology there is a great deal of rich content available in 3D delivered directly over the World Wide Web. By Greg Baca
Visualization - the act of visualizing; according to Merriam-Websters Dictionary: 1: formation of mental visual images; 2: the act or process of interpreting in visual terms or of putting into visible form. Geographic Three Dimensional (3D) Visualization gives us the ability to see and visualize our landscape extending geographic analysis beyond a mere set of numbers or what we might be seen with a two dimensional image. offers navigation in a variety of ways which we will explore later in the article. It is possible to add text as a Point of Interest and to zoom to those Points of Interest. Furthermore there is the ability to import georeferenced 3D models, the capability to generate image sequences for digital video, as well as the ability to build flight paths through a scene.
Getting Started
On the initial opening of the TerrainView application the Graphical User Interface (GUI) seems rather busy, but after I had a chance to explore the application a bit further I found that I was able to arrange the various tools and windows as necessary - almost all windows are dockable. The documentation is well written, and well organized with a few grammatical oddities often apparent during the translation between English and other languages. In the documentation I found a guide to work with a scene entitled Your First Scene. Initially, you are instructed to load a previously completed scene as a vehicle for learning your way around the software and the interface. This is a good method to get the user familiar with the software before attempting to create a scene from scratch. Since TerrainView is a powerful application, there is a good deal to learn and understand before the user can be fluent in the application.
The Graphical User Interface (GUI).
Better Understanding
I have witnessed first hand the ability to capture and hold an audiences attention with 3D visualization at city planning sessions with site selection, and view shed analysis scenarios presented to the audience in 3D. The advent of faster, more capable computers, and advances in software and visualization science, enable modelling much of the world in realistic 3D visualizations providing a means to a better understanding of the terrain. The wide variety of 3D objects, such as trees, foliage, buildings, and surfaces help to make the 3D visualization a virtual reality. Much of the realism comes from lighting (angles, intensity, shadows, weather) and things like fog, sky color, clouds, rain, and snow. This application of the third dimension
brings powerful qualities to the models we create to analyze our world.
Navigate
In this issue of GeoInformatics we take a look at ViewTecs TerrainView. TerrainView goes beyond 3D to virtual reality by not only displaying terrain, landscapes, objects and text in 3D, but allowing us to navigate through the terrain and providing the ability to add realistic weather visualization. TerrainView Globe is an additional module which adds spherical Earth rendering, and advanced functionality. TerrainView bills itself as A Virtual Reality based Geographic Information System, offering, multi-resolution support and display of global and local scale imagery, elevation, and vector-based datasets. The software
The Graphical User Interface The Graphical User Interface (GUI) by default loads with standard elements such as the Menu, Toolbar, and Status Bar common elements one would find on any Windows application. Through the menu and Toolbar the user can access most commands specific
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d What Are Some Uses for It?

to the application. TerrainView specific elements are the 3D View, where the scene is displayed. An Explorer provides access to data stored locally. on a network and from the web. The Scene View provides access to entities that can be loaded into a scene and accessed through tabs in the window, and the Properties for these; the Scene View tabs are Entities, Flight paths, Points of Interest, and Measurements. Entities displays the terrain and objects that are loaded in the current view in a tree form where each can be expanded or contracted to show more or less detail. Measurements store measurements that can be added to a scene for measurements of distance, angle, profile, and area. Flight paths define a series of points representing camera point of view that define a flight or a drive through a scene. Points of interest define a point where text can be added to the scene, font, angle, elevation and other properties can be defined for the point of interest. Most of the application functionality is accessed through the Modules element; Navigation, Tools, Options, Environment, Import, System and About, along with applicable submenus, or dialogs are provided in Modules.
Scene Navigation key chart.
around in the scene, and through Control provides a number of methods to approach the navigation. Fortunately ViewTec provides a nice chart of keys and commands to illustrate scene navigation. I mostly used the mouse navigation methods, yet was able to tweak specifics such as direction, tilt angle and the like with the navigation panel itself. With a little practice I was able to navigate scenes with relative ease.
The Configuration File TerrainView defines a Configuration as any scene consisting of terrain, 3D models, flight paths, points of interest, and weather conditions. These can be saved in configuration files for instant access in future sessions and are stored as a .tvc file. Navigation After the TerrainView Configuration file is loaded the first thing to master is navigation through the scene. TerrainView defines a Scene as The Virtual World visualized based on the configuration and the data, terrain is defined as the entity that represents the ground. Navigation is found in the Modules element, and is rich in possible ways to get
Flight Paths Flight Paths provide another way to get around a scene. There are paths that follow the ground much as one might do walking or driving in a car, or paths defined above the ground in the air as one might see from an airplane. Flight paths are defined point by point as though each point represents an imaginary cameras position and view angle. Movement between points can be interpolated in a variety of ways and the default is a spline curve which provides for a smooth transition between points on playback. Factors such as speed, angle, interpolation between points, and the frequency of points make a significant difference on how good the flight plays back. Building flight paths takes a good deal of
practice in order to get satisfactory results. A unique feature to TerrainView is to add an object such as a car or helicopter to the path and then set a delay as to portray following that object, such as a car, helicopter, or airplane. 3D objects can of course, be added to the scene. Each individual object loaded in the scene can be manipulated in space as to location orientation and tilt with respect to the X, Y, and Z axes (Translate, Rotate and Scale). Adding and manipulating objects is relatively intuitive. Objects can be directly navigated to by right clicking the object in the Scene view tree, and choosing Jump to or Fly to.
TerrainView provides a high level of detail with a realistic sense of motion.
Points of Interest Adding Points of Interest is quite simple. These are text at a specific point; type, appearance, and decorations are properties that can be defined for a Point of Interest. Measurements Measurements are an important component of any analysis. Terrain View allows various kinds of 3D measurements to be made, like distances, angles, profiles and areas.
The Navigation Module in TerrainView.
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Product Review
Data Access Over the Web

TerrainView provides the capability to view in 3D over the web. ViewTec offers Geographic data and 3D models. TerrainView 3D scenes can be exported then accessed over the web.
Conclusion
TerrainView is a full function 3D Geographic Visualization system with the capability of providing significant analysis beyond visualization. In my opinion TerrainView does a good job of representing textures for landscapes, building sides, and rooftops. The application provides a high level of detail with a realistic sense of motion. 3D Objects are customizable as to how they are handled and the addition of environmental features such as haze and clouds make for a realistic experience. TerrainView provides a host of options with which to configure the scene, or application, and provides methods to balance the ratio of speed/performance to the degree of rendering (graininess or blurring). As with any powerful software system one cant expect to become an expert instantly. With practice and a bit of RYDM (read your darn manual!) one can get data into TerrainView and begin visualizing their data for meaningful analysis. As always data is a key factor; we must keep in mind the data fed into the application can have a significant impact on the viability of the model. One can think of aspects like accuracy, precision, currentness, and even the textures applied to the objects. TerrainView makes good on its claim that it is A Virtual Reality based Geographic Information System, offering, multi-resolution support and display of global and local scale imagery, elevation, and vector-based datasets. I highly recommend taking a flight through a 3D Scene with TerrainView.
Flight Simulation; note the Weather simulation with the clouds in the sky.
Environments My favourite aspect, and I think a distinguishing feature of TerrainView, is the ability to add fog, clouds and haze. Weather contributes to a much more realistic visualization. These settings can be found under the Environments tab of Modules. There are a number of settings for sky such as color, haze, and fog and varying color settings for time of day. For clouds, there are a variety of cloud types and parameters such as minimum and maximum height, distance, number of clouds, and other parameters. Even the addition of wind and rain are available options.
Points of Note
There are a wide variety of options and settings applying to how the application behaves and parameters specific to an individual scene. The list is too numerous to mention each one of them in this article, but worth mentioning is that all combine to make TerrainView a robust 3D application. A critical aspect to analysis from a geographic standpoint is spatially correct portrayal of the data. TerrainView handles a variety of coordinate systems and georeferencing
methods. By exporting a flight path TerrainView can generate videos of various resolution, and videos using different video codecs. ViewTec supplies a host of modules and other applications for 3D visualization, one of significant note is Remote Control. As ViewTec states: TerrainView Remote Control is the core technology for dynamic 3D terrain monitoring and the tracking of mobile units and dynamic objects on the ground and in the air. TerrainView Remote Control supports the integration of signals, such as GPS, and imagery from various sources and sensors in an interactive 3D visualization environment. TerrainView supports a number of input and output formats, in fact too many to list in this article. Those interested can have a look at www.viewtec.ch/techdiv/terrainview_e.html for a complete list.
System Requirements
Hardware: Minimum: Pentium IV / 2,4 Ghz, 512 MByte RAM, Graphics Board with OpenGL support and 128 MByte Texture RAM, PixelShader 1.4; Operating System: Windows 2000/XP.
Credits
ViewTec Credits the following: Building data, Cybercity AG, DEM and Orthophotos Endoxon AG and Swissphoto AG.
Greg Baca (gbaca@geoinformatics.com) is a contributing editor of GeoInformatics. Surf to www.viewtec.ch to get to know the company and its products.
ViewTec, founded in 1998, is a spin-off company emerging from the University of Zurich, Department of Computer Science, Switzerland. ViewTecs core business covers the fields of Virtual Reality, 3D Computer Graphics and Scientific Visualization. Its customer base includes hospitals, real estate companies, art museums, tourist agencies and Department of Defense contractors. The projects cover applications such as interactive Virtual Reality (VR) environments, flight simulators, and medical imaging. ViewTecs product range includes TerrainView, TerrainView-Web, TerrainView-Globe, FlightSim, MedView and Hugo. ViewTec also offers high resolution digital 3D databases covering the entire area of Switzerland, Europe and World. The 3D databases are distributed in various resolutions and qualities and for different ViewTec applications. The ViewTec website also includes a great introduction to Computer Graphics, Scientific Visualization and Virtual Reality at www.viewtec.ch/techdiv/vr_info_e.html. ViewTec is also present at the INTERGEO exhibition.
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Article
Part 6: Base Station Installation

Practical Satellite Navigation
Probably the most important step in the installation of a GPS system is mounting the GPS antenna. One should distinguish between mounting the base and the rover. The actual antenna installation has two main aspects: the mounting of the antenna on the survey platform (survey rod, tripod or object) and the position of the survey platform relative to the world. This article focuses on the installation of an RTK base station with a radio telemetry link. By Huibert-Jan Lekkerkerk
be used for installation based upon the construction and geographical position in relation to the project area. The following aspects need to be addressed: Type of object, accessibility and location relative to other objects in the immediate surrounding; Permissions needed for installation, operation and maintenance; Objects in the neighbourhood that are liable to radio interference to either the GPS or the differential signal. Reconnaissance usually starts with the determination of potential locations based on a detailed (topographic) map. Next is the check of the most probable locations in the field. Too often the local situation differs greatly from that derived from the map.
Precision (2sigma = 95%) of an RTK system in relation to the working distance.
Base Station
A complete dGPS system consists of at least one base station and one or more rovers. In the previous articles it was shown that with most code phase dGPS systems the user does not need to install his own base station while operating in the civilized world or when willing to pay for correction signals. With carrier phase dGPS the situation is different. There are some third party base stations, but these are usually not available for other users or have a limited range. Privately owned commercial RTK networks do exist in some countries but are mainly used for relatively small projects or as a back-up. For larger projects or when working in third world countries, a project-specific base station is usually installed by the survey contractor.
Installation Procedure
First it is necessary to determine whether the installation is to be permanent (days to months) or temporary (hours to days). Temporary installations are generally used for survey work prior to the design phase while
permanent stations are used during the execution of construction works. In the latter case the user group usually consists not only of the survey team but of the construction equipment as well. The following steps can be distinguished during the installation of a base station: 1 Reconnaissance; 2 Selection of a location; 3 Trials; 4 Permanent installation; 5 Determining antenna position; 6 Checking of the system. It is of utmost importance that every step of the installation is documented. Not only can the documentation be used to convince the client of the quality of the survey, it can also serve as documentation for future projects in the same area. When executing a temporary installation, steps 1, 2 and 5 will usually be shortened considerably or skipped altogether.
Selection One of the main criteria for selection is possibly the absence of objects like buildings and trees that shield the horizon from the proposed antenna location or those objects liable to create multi-path problems. The closer we can place the station to the project area, the better the precision will be since this is a function of the distance between base and rover. Furthermore, when working over short distances (up to 2 kilometres) it is usually possible to use low power, and licence free radio signals. The higher we can place the antenna, the further the differential signal will probably reach. The single exception to this rule is when working at short distances from the base station. In this case the differential signal may overshoot the survey area as a result of the beam angle of the antenna. Stability When installing a permanent station the stability of the object is important as well. When mounted on top of a high building or radio mast, it should be realised that these objects can sway over some centimetres or decimetres in heavy winds thus rendering the station unusable under these wind conditions. Movement of the underground can also pose a problem, especially if there is going to be (or have recently been) major construction works in the direct neighbourhood of the station. The author of this article has observed height
Reconnaissance This step involves searching for all objects (such as a building, or a mast) that can
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This temporary station is located too close to the tree line to achieve optimum results. (source: www.nmri.go.jp)
Permanent station. Potential problems with this set-up: multi-path and shifting. The first was remedied by a ground plane, the second by regular resurveys.
changes of some centimetres over a period of weeks on certain larger - projects.
Accessibility Finally the accessibility of the object for survey personnel and the power supply are important when selecting objects for permanent installation. When a base station goes down this may have serious implications for the entire project. The sooner it can be reached and restarted, the lower the downtime of equipment and the lower the amount of money lost. Last but not least there is the need for (building) permits to be considered when installing permanent stations. Trials When installing a permanent station it is often advisable to test the station before spending money on other steps. Especially with multiple users, the additional cost of a trial is generally much lower than the costs resulting from downtime of the base station. The following aspects should be monitored during a trial: Radio coverage of the project area; Prevention of multi-path. These aspects are important for temporary stations as well but will in general be solved on a more pragmatic basis by for example moving the station or temporarily stopping the survey. Coverage Test Coverage tests are performed to ascertain coverage of the differential signals throughout the project area. The simplest method is going round the survey area with a handheld radio scanner. The main disadvantage of this method is that only the existence of the differential signal can be determined. A better alternative is to use a rover to log the signal strength (if possible) as well as the quality of the position determination. This should be done on various (representative) locations around the project area.
Multi-path Test The goal of this test is to detect multi-path at the potential location of the base station. Since the GPS constellation revolves around the earth in 11 hours and 58 minutes this will also be true for multi-path errors. For a good detection of multi-path a continuous measurement of at least 2x24 hours is needed. After the data has been collected it should be examined carefully for positional errors that repeat roughly every 12 hours. Determining Antenna Position When the proposed location meets all previous requirements, the time has come to install the antenna permanently and determine its position. For temporary installations the antenna is usually installed directly over a geodetic control point. This way the horizontal coordinates are nearly identical to those of the control point. However we still need to determine the height of the phase centre of the antenna in relation to the control point. The latter can be done using a measuring tape or yardstick. It should be noted that the distance determined is usually the slant range between the rim of the antenna and the control point and not the vertical height. Some manufacturers can provide a survey rod, which, together with the antenna, has a length of exactly 1 or 2 meters. This greatly reduces the chance of errors in the determination of the antenna height and allows for easy correction if errors are made. Permanent Stations The determination of the antenna position is more difficult with permanent stations since these will rarely be installed directly over a control point. In this case the position of the phase centre of the antenna needs to be determined using other methods. The following methods are commonly used: Position determination using another (RTK) GPS network;
Land survey using static GPS measurements; Land survey using a total station and level instrument. As a rule the best results are achieved using conventional land survey techniques. However, GPS based techniques have the advantage that the exact phase centre of the antenna can be determined and that no transformation to WGS84 coordinates is needed. One should realise however that when using GPS as a survey a fairly long large amount of time is needed (preferably > 12 hours) to achieve an accuracy similar to using conventional land survey techniques. When measuring for short periods of time (minutes to half an hour) it must be realized that the accuracy of the height determination is usually less than 2 to 5 centimetres. In combination with the precision of the RTK system itself this will result in height accuracies at the rover that will usually be worse than 5 to 10 centimetres.
Checking of the System With the system up and running the base station needs to be checked for correct operation before engaging the survey. This checking can be done in various ways. The most extensive
High antenna mountings may result in deteriorated reception of differential signals. (source: www.cornucopia3d.com [adapted])
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a certain amount of question the quality of this other station. In time (usually 15 to 30 some countries like the Netherlands an indeminutes). Based on pendent certification service is available that the results of this will certify a GPS station installation, but this check, the actual preis more an exception than a rule. When no cision and reliability certification is available it is advisable to of the system can be perform independent checks before using a determined and verithird party reference station. Remember that fied against the checking is in general less expensive than requirements of the downtime during construction! job. The disadvantage Huibert-Jan Lekkerkerk of this method is that (hlekkerkerk@geoinformatics.com) is a freelance only a snapshot of writer and trainer in the field of positioning and Coverage tests executed during the sanitation of Lake Ketelmeer (base station IJsseldijk the real situation is hydrography. red point). Values in decibel; below 30 dB no signals are received. derived. It is therefore advisable to perform a check is the installation of a monitor station similar, but shorter, check on a regular basis, that continuously monitors the difference for example at the start and end of a survey between the derived RTK position and the true day. position of the station. This is however an Conclusion expensive solution which can only be used on Installing a (permanent) base staconstruction sites where the accuracy needs to tion is a job that requires quite be high and/or must be proven to the client. A some knowledge and experience monitor station has to be installed with the and is not to be thought of same specifications as the base station. lightly. Using an already established For most projects however it is sufficient to Difference between the (theoretical) phase centre and the housing of a station from a third party seems perform a quick check. Usually this involves Thales NAP2 antenna. (source: www.thales-navigation.com [adapted]) much easier, but one should always installing a rover over a control point. Then the position of the antenna is registered over
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Product News
ESRI Releases GeoCollector Series
KOREC Releases New Versions of fastMAP Software

KOREC announced that Version 6 of fastMAP mapping products are now available: fastMAP CE version 6.0 New features in version 6 of KORECs GIS data capture and maintenance software include support for Pocket PC 2005; a simplified Tom Tom style user interface; link to Trimble VRS Now GPS correction service; improved GPS status information including predicted accuracy; simple area and line measurement functions and support for Bluetooth laser measurement devices. fastMAP Tablet version 6.0 KORECs single solution for collecting, maintaining and processing GIS data now offers user defined job attributes; enhanced surveying functions such as intersections, extend line and offsets; automatic recording of time stamped GPS log file and links to Trimble VRS GPS Rover for cm position accuracy and Trimble GPS Now for improved positional accuracy, < 0.3m. fastMAP Office version 6.0 The upgrade of KORECs desktop GIS provides an enhanced user interface; the ability to create/mange overlay groups; a user defined Quick Menu for repetitive tasks and improved database forms. Source: KOREC Internet: www.korecgroup.com/mapping
ESRI released the GeoCollector series, an end-to-end field data collection solution that merges ESRIs mobile GIS software with professional-grade global positioning system (GPS) technology from Trimble. The GeoCollector solution includes an ultrarugged handheld computer with integrated GPS receiver from the current Trimble GeoExplorer series and ESRIs ArcPad, delivering hassle-free field collection and data integration with ArcGIS. To meet the full range of field data collection requirements, the device is available in three accuracy options: subfoot, submeter, and
one- to three-meter. The GeoCollector series also includes Trimbles GPScorrect for ArcPad, which collects and manages the GPS data necessary for differential correction during data collection. In addition, Trimbles GPS Analyst for ArcGIS Desktop is available as an add-on to enable the direct transfer of data from GeoCollector and to perform differential correction inside ArcGIS Desktop. Source: ESRI
Internet: www.esri.com/geocollector
Leica SpiderWeb V2.0 with Additional Services

ADW Software launches Pythagoras CAD+GIS, a new version of its CAD software Pythagoras. The Road Design module has been redesigned completely and a new GIS module is added to the already existing CAD features. The new GIS module is completely integrated in the known CAD environment. According to ADW Software user defined line styles, symbols and hatchings allow displaying thematic maps in an easy way. Multiple thematic maps can be combined to ease up a visual analysis. Pythagoras CAD+GIS is equipped with multiple search engines combining expressions based on database attributes and graphical attributes of a drawing or project. Source: ADW Software Internet: www.pythagoras.net
DAT/EM Systems Summit Evolution 3.8

In preparation of a new LiDAR management product, DAT/EMs Summit Evolution V3.8 includes a few utilities that currently exist as stand-alone modules. These are installed with Summit Evolution and may be used to read points or create images from LiDAR data. Summit Evolution Version 3.8 is available for download from DAT/EMs website. Source: DAT/EM Internet: www.datem.com
3D Products for ESRI ArcGIS Explorer by Pictometry and Harris Corporation

Pictometry International Corp and Harris Corporation announced the availability of new 3D modeling products. This new offering combines the aerial imaging data from Pictometry with Harris' 3D modeling and geospatial product expertise. The products are available in a variety of formats accessible via ESRI's ArcGIS Explorer. Pictometry's industry software enables users to access up to 12 different oblique (at an angle) views of any property, building, highway, or other feature. The software also enables users to obtain measurements such as distance, height, elevation, and area directly from the oblique imagery. Additional ESRI solutions from Pictometry include an ArcGIS extension, ArcIMS integration, ArcSDE support, and coordinate pass-through capabilities. Source: Pictometry Internet: www.pictometry.com
Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging Releases ERDAS IMAGINE 9.1

Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging announces ERDAS IMAGINE 9.1 with expanded platform support such as Windows XP Professional Edition 64-bit and Sun Solaris 10. The IMAGINE NITF module has been enhanced addressing several key requirements for the Defense community. Leica Geosystems also provides support for the Indian Cartosat topographic mapping satellite demonstrating enhanced capabilities for Cartosat orthorectification. Additionally, ERDAS IMAGINE 9.1 continues to leverage the capabilities of spatially-aware databases such as ESRI ArcSDE and Oracle Spatial 10g. Additional new ERDAS IMAGINE 9.1 enhancements include: High-Pass Filter Resolution (HPF) Merge improvements; Faster and uses less temporary disk space; Better retention of original spectral radiometry; Control over output data type; Ehlers Fusion; Fourier Transform-based pan sharpening; Automatic or manual filtering schemas; TIFF format improvements; Support for GeoTIFF 1.5; Export TIFF Chip from TIFF ; New/upgraded TIFF Info tab in Image Info; Support for persistent NULL values; Extended project system support for Oracle Spatial 10g.
Source: Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging Internet: www.gi.leica-geosystems.com
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Product News
New ArcGIS Extension Supports Local Update of Census Addresses Program for 2010
ESRI announced the development of a new ArcGIS extension to support local governments participating in the Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA) program for the 2010 Census. The Census Bureau LUCA program will allow the Census Bureau to benefit from local knowledge to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the 2010 Census by providing digital data and a review and update tool to approximately 40,000 local governments. The LUCA program is also expected to be one of the key cost-saving programs of the 2010 Census. The extension will read Census Bureau-provided spatial data in shapefile format, provide a toolbox of census-specific workflow tasks (incorporating business rules and data validation), and output a revised shapefile in the required census format. This extension will replicate the task and technical functionality of the census Master Address File/Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing (MAF/TIGER) Partnership Software (MTPS) in an ArcGIS environment. The extension development is a joint effort between ESRI and Citygate GIS LLC. The anticipated availability of the initial version of the extension is December 2006, coinciding with the availability of census-provided data and a census-developed review and update tool. Advance notice letters to participate in the LUCA program are expected to be sent to local government entities early in 2007, with formal invitation letters sent in July 2007 and census-provided data and the review and update tool delivered in the AugustOctober 2007 time frame. More information about the LUCA program and participation options is available on the Census Bureau Web site www.census.gov/geo/www/luca2010/luca.html. Source: ESRI Internet: www.esri.com and www.citygategis.com
.NET-Manageable GIS Developer Kernel for WinForms

TatukGIS announces the release of the .NET edition of its GIS Developer Kernel product supporting .NET manageable code for Windows Forms. The Developer Kernel .NET is available as a free trial version download from the TatukGIS web site, along with 45 DK.NET samples in C# and VB.NET code. The TatukGIS Developer Kernel is a comprehensive GIS software development toolkit (SDK), supporting advanced GIS functionality such as geometric relations, topology, SQL database server map layers, database joining, advanced rendering properties, most GIS/CAD/image/grid data formats, most geographic coordinate systems, and much more. The native .NET edition is the third development platform edition of the TatukGIS Developer Kernel product, after the native VCL edition for Delphi and C++Builder developers and the ActiveX edition. The DK-VCL was originally released in 2001 and the DK-ActiveX was originally released in 2002. The VCL and ActiveX editions of the TatukGIS Developer Kernel product are used by GIS solution developers in over fifty countries. The .NET-native edition is released as a version 8.5 and supports the same object API, features, and properties as the latest available versions of the VCL and ActiveX editions. The DK.NET v. 8.5 is based on .NET framework 1.1, but also compatible with .NET framework 2.0. The DK.NET product also reflects the same royalty-free licensing model as the DK-VCL and DK-ActiveX. Compiled, desktop applications developed from the Developer Kernel can deployed to final users free of distribution royalties. Source: TatukGIS
Internet: www.tatukgis.com
iSMART 5.1 by eSpatial
Euro-Maps Now Available for Italy

In co-production GAF AG and Euromap GmbH have extended the availability of the IRS orthophoto mosaic Euro-Maps from Germany, Austria and Switzerland to Italy. Euro-Maps is suitable for spatial planning and analysis of the current situations for a wide range of tasks. Euro-Maps is regularly updated and is a high-resolution satellite mosaic offering such precise and current information with 5-m ground resolution and blanket coverage for multiple countries. The required areas can be precisely defined and this prevents losses caused by scattering. Euro-Maps provides an up-todate, accurate and economical planning spatial information base which can be continually updated and expanded. Euro-Maps offer simple and rapid access to detailed information about specific locations and their spatial relationships. This allows reliable decision making and rapid and efficient preparation of planning measures and cartographical tasks. Euro-Maps can already be created and delivered for other countries or regions anywhere in Europe, on request. Euro-Maps of the Iberian peninsula as well as large parts of northern Africa are just under construction and will be published beginning 2007. Source: Euromap GmbH and GAF AG Internet: www.euromap.de and www.gaf.de
eSpatial announced iSMART 5.1, including advanced metadata management, further Oracle integration, increased use of Web 2.0 technologies and development environment to match emerging web mapping interface standards from companies such as Google and Microsoft. A key updated feature in iSMART 5.1 is the treatment of Metadata: iSMART 5.1 can configure, enter, view and search metadata; this capability enables iSMART users to find useful spatial data sets and add them into maps for viewing, editing, and analysing across an organisation or the internet. This is also an essential capability for Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDI) and complies with industry metadata standards such as ISO 19115 and ISO 15836 (Dublin Core). iSMART 5.1 provides deeper support for Oracle functionality, including integration with
Oracle 10g Mapviewer. This facility enables use of this Oracle application server component for visualising spatial data. It allows data rendered by Mapviewer to be combined with other data managed by iSMART such as from OGC web services, live / tracking data feeds, image stores, and custom data sources, for display, analysis and editing, and provides iSMARTs out of the box powerful end user tools for data management, visualisation (GeoPortal), and Editing to Oracle Mapviewer. It also increases the range of data types that may be viewed using iSMART tools and custom applications, including 10g GeoRaster GRID, and Network Data. Source: eSpatial
Internet: www.espatial.com
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June 2006
Industry News
USD 3.2 Million Contract for NEXTMap USA
Intermap Technologies announced that its Intermap Federal Services subsidiary has been awarded a USD3.2 million contract to provide imagery and elevation data from the companys NEXTMap USA geospatial datasets. Included in the license for 773,889 square kilometers of data across the United States is the first purchase of a data license for the entire state of California. Intermap will supply the California data immediately and will deliver other areas over the next few quarters as they are collected. Included in the deliverables are highaccuracy digital surface models, digital terrain models and high-resolution orthorectified radar imagery.
Carnegie Institution Purchases Optechs ALTM 3100EA

Optech Inc. announced the sale of an ALTM 3100EA to the Carnegie Institute of Washington, USA. For this purchase, Optechs latest iteration of the ALTM 3100 will come equipped with an Intelligent Waveform Digitizer module, enabling more complex and thorough data analysis. This is Carnegies first purchase of an ALTM system. The Department of Global Ecology, part of Carnegie Institute, will use the ALTM in a program called the Carnegie Airborne Observatory Program (CAO). The ALTM will be one of two core instruments in the CAO sensor package. Carnegies purchase of the ALTM was funded by a grant from the W.M. Keck Foundation.
www.intermap.com
www.optech.ca and www.carnegieinstitution.org
Geokosmos Company Completes Project for Gazprom
Applanix DSS Airborne Sensor ESRI Image Server Ready

Applanix DSS Airborne Digital Sensor System has successfully transferred and processed geo-referenced imagery using the newest ESRI Image Server. Ortho photos derived from the Applanix DSS directly georeferenced imagery and the USGS DEM were produced and shared via ESRI Image Server in less than eight hours after the flight.
Moscow-based Geokosmos has successfully completed a GIS project for the gas industry. The project was initiated by Gazprom Joint Stock Company and Urengoygazprom Ltd., the owners of the vast gas field areas in the Tyumen Region (Western Siberia). The project is focused on land survey, land management and land inventory. It is for the first time when the airborne laser scanning and terrestrial laser scanning technologies have been used in such a large-scale project not only in Russia but in whole Europe as well. Total surveyed territory comprises 1 167 000 hectares. The project carried out by Geokosmos Company allows Gazprom and Urengoygazprom to acquire high level accuracy information on their land funds and real estate as well as a unified digital cartographic base of a large and medium scale (1:500 1:25 000).
buildings. It is expected that these markets will initially gain the most benefit from completely new Locata technology which creates terrestrial augmentation of GPS for environments with weak or no GPS coverage. Following initial integration activities, Locata will co-operate with Leica Geosystems in the development of an integrated GPS/Locata receiver for specific positioning markets. The agreement gives Leica Geosystems worldwide rights to distribute Locata positioning technologies for the open cast mining and structural deformation markets, whereby distribution includes sales, logistics, installation and post-sales support.
www.applanix.com and www.esri.com
Pictometry and Intergraph Form Marketing Alliance

Pictometry International Corp. and Intergraph Corporation announced a marketing alliance. The two firms will provide integration solutions to their mutual customers whereby Pictometry's aerial imaging and measuring technology can be accessed via Intergraph's emergency incident management solution. Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs), also known as 9-1-1 call centers, are tasked with ensuring fast and accurate responses to calls for service. Intergraph and Pictometry have recently integrated their products into the 9-1-1 communication center serving Howard County, Md. Pictometry is hosting its first annual User Conference, Pictometry FutureView 2006, from October 29 - November 1, 2006 in Orlando, Florida, USA. www.pictometry.com and www.intergraph.com
www.leica-geosystems.com
Powered by SAP NetWeaver Qualification ESRI

ESRI announced that strategic alliance partner SAP AG has certified the integration of ESRIs ArcGIS 9.1 software with the SAP NetWeaver platform. The seamless integration enables organizational flexibility in deploying enterprise server GIS solutions, thereby reducing the need for custom integration.
www.esri.com
Ontario Canada Selects Bentley InRoads Software

The Ministry of Transportation of Ontario has selected Bentley InRoads as its new transportation design software. In addition, MTO has joined Bentleys Enterprise Training Subscription (ETS) program, which entitles the ministry to unlimited professional training by Bentley Institute. The contract includes software, implementation and customization services, and training. An implementation plan and seminars will prepare consultants that provide engineering services to MTO. Implementation is expected to be completed by the end of October 2006. The ETS program will serve the training needs of staff members in MTOs head office and five of its regional offices.
DigitalGlobe Takes Delivery of WorldView 1 Sensor from ITT

DigitalGlobe announced that ITT Corporation has completed and shipped the imaging sensor for the next generation WorldView 1 satellite. The WorldView 1 sensor is now at Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. to be integrated into the satellite. With completion of this milestone, DigitalGlobe has completed the majority of the financial milestones against the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agencys NextView contract, for which the system is being constructed to support imagery delivery.
www.geokosmos.ru
Trimble Tracks Galileo Test Satellite Signal

Trimble has successfully acquired and tracked the L1 BOC (1,1) Galileo GIOVE-A test satellite signal using a combined GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo prototype receiver. The GIOVE-A test satellite, which was launched in late 2005, began transmitting signals on January 12, 2006. The Galileo system proposed by the European Union offers advantages to Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) users by providing additional satellites, additional signals, and compatibility with GPS.
www.digitalglobe.com
www.trimble.com
www.bentley.com
New Technology Partnership Laser-Scan and Galdos

Laser-Scan and Galdos announce a technology partnership focused on the certification of quality spatial data. This partnership will allow Galdos and Laser-Scan customers to benefit from integrated technologies. The companies will work together to establish a standard for spatial data quality certification and publishing as a driving force behind the GeoWeb.
Co-operation Leica Geosystems and Locata

Leica Geosystems and Locata Corporation, Australia have signed a co-operation agreement for the distribution and support of Locata positioning technology in mutually-agreed markets. The first steps in this agreement will see Locata providing technology and support to Leica Geosystems for Locata receiver integration into mine monitoring and machine automation solutions for open cast mining, and for monitoring of structures such as bridges, dams and
Bentley Inaugurates Bentley LEARN

Bentley LEARN provides unlimited OnDemand eLearning for a fixed annual fee. Courses include lectures, hands-on courses, and feature clips from Bentley Institute. Bentley LEARN is now available globally to all Bentley SELECT subscribers. Regional portals are available for the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Ireland, and others will be added in the months ahead.
www.laser-scan.com
www.bentley.com/learn
September 2006
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Industry News
MidCoast Water Realises Rapid ROI with Radius Topology
MidCoast Water has introduced a program which has been developed in two stages: Improving the efficiency and accuracy with which information is gathered and recorded; Improving the accessibility of this information. MidCoast Water has experienced benefits since utilising Radius Topology to clean and maintain the quality of their existing spatial data: Interoperability data is error-free and accessible via multiple applications across the company; Enhanced productivity; Enterprise-wide data management business and spatial data has been centralised into a single database, reducing the duplication of effort for maintenance; Improvements in data gathering has helped to reduce the timescales for translating spatial data into maps; Efficient processing for property information MidCoast have experienced reduction in staff time for this task when combined with other processes; Versatility of application the return on investment has increased due to an ability to apply the data in a variety of new ways and through data mining opportunities. ESRI will support two projects promoting sustainable development. Ambassador Alfonso Quinez, the OAS executive secretary for integral development (SEDI), and Jack Dangermond, president of ESRI, signed the agreement at the 26th Annual ESRI International User Conference. In the initial phase of the agreement, ESRI will support two critical SEDI projects: the Municipal Development Program (MuNet) and the Inter-American Biodiversity Information Network (IABIN) project. One of the components of SEDIs MuNet is designed to empower municipalities in Latin America by providing them with the electronic tools necessary to start building their regional cadastral and land registry systems. In addition to 15 software licenses, ESRI will provide one week of training in El Salvador for representatives from five selected municipalities in participating countries. an agencys existing Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD). The Alliance Police Departments CAD, TAC, facilitated the installation. In addition to outfitting the Alliance communications center with the software, DDTI installed its Mobile application in seven of the police departments vehicles.
www.ddti.net
Launch New RADARSAT-2 Information Website

The RADARSAT-2 information website www.radarsat2.info has a "new" look. Designed for current and future RADARSAT users, the website provides a resource of information on topics as: RADARSAT-2 Applications (guidelines and case studies), Satellite Construction and Testing Status, Polarimetry, the Science and Operational Applications Research (SOAR) RADARSAT-2 Program, and Products and Services. The website is a collaboration between MDA, the Canadian Space Agency and the Canada Centre for Remote Sensing.
www.esri.com
DDTI Installs 9-1-1 Software in Alliance

Digital Data Technologies, Inc. (DDTI), completed another successful installation in Alliance, Ohio, of its AccuGlobe E9-1-1 Dispatch mapping software. The Alliance Police Department began using the application to locate calls to 9-1-1 this summer. The E9-1-1 service can now dispatch emergency units to 9-1-1 calls with greater efficiency and confidence, as the origin of the call is displayed on a digital map for the dispatcher. AccuGlobe E9-1-1 software also offers easy search capabilities, automatic routing applications and automatic vehicle location (AVL). AccuGlobe E9-1-1 Dispatch mapping software functions as a stand-alone product, or integrates with
www.radarsat2.info
Infoterra France Reinforces Their Presence in Beijing

Infoterra France announces the setting up of a permanent presence in Beijing to support and develop flourishing commercial activity throughout Pacific Asia. Headed by Infoterras Asian-Pacific Business Development Manager, Frank Bignone, this team aims to advise and inform current and future clients about Infoterras cutting edge multi-sensor data acquisition, processing, analysis and interpreting tools and services. An important effort will be devoted to helping customers develop business
www.laser-scan.com
Strategic Alliance ESRI and OAS

ESRI announces that it signed an agreement with the Organization of American States (OAS) whereby
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July/August 2006
Industry News
from products or services derived from their Infoterra systems, in particular the Pixel Factory, an industrialised processing suite that produces advanced 3D mapping products of unparalleled quality. Infoterras team will also prospect commercial opportunities in the region. They hope these actions will forge a stronger cohesion among Infoterra, its clients and partners in Asia Pacific.
Liberty Alliance Launches Global eGovernment Group

Liberty Alliance, the global identity consortium working to build a more trusted Internet, announced the launch of a new group formed to help governments speed the deployment of open standards and deliver more privacy-respecting and secure identity-based services to citizens worldwide. The Liberty Alliance eGovernment Group is open to all organizations interested in identifying and addressing common business, technical and policy challenges facing the public sector. Liberty's eGovernment Group is chaired by Colin Wallis of the New Zealand Government's State Services Commission, and includes representation from government organizations from Denmark, Finland, France, Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as global and regional technology vendors and enterprises working in the government sector, such as ActivIdentity, The Boeing Company, Gemalto, NEC, Neustar, NTT and Sun Microsystems. This diverse mix of thought leaders deploying public sector identity management solutions will help ensure that the output of Liberty's eGovernment group meets the real-world identity needs of governments, enterprises and citizens around the globe.
www.infoterra-global.com
Digital Data - Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

The amount of digital data being produced across various disciplines is increasing at an exponential rate, but this information may not be around for future generations because the data are often incompatible with rapidly changing technologies and become unreadable. To address this risk, ESA is assisting a European-Union backed project for the preservation of fragile digital information.
great way to learn about new applications and to discuss current projects with the vendor experts. In the ESRI Doctors corner there is the opportunity to speak with the ESRI technicians and find out the details of the new software functions. Training courses about the latest ESRI products will be provided before and after the conference while Prof. Roger Tomlinson will present a workshop for GIS managers. A poster session (with best poster competition) and several social events complete this second European Conference in Athens (the first one was 13 years ago). The Hilton hotel is a wonderful setting for this event with from its roof a breathtaking view on the Acropolis.
http://www.marathondata.gr/euc2006/index.htm
Training4GIS & British Geological Survey 3D Workshops

Training4GIS, the training and consultancy division of The GeoInformation Group, announce further 3D educational workshops following the summer 3D workshops held in London and Nottingham. A wide array of delegates from contaminated land experts to the emergency services attended the one-day seminar and workshops. Feedback provided by the delegates has been positive and has prompted BGS and Training4GIS to confirm workshops at Manchester on 18 October 2006 and Edinburgh on 25 October 2006.
www.esa.int/esaEO/SEM2F5JZBQE_index_0.html
People
New Chief Executive Officer OS of Northern Ireland
The new Chief Executive Officer for Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland (OSNI) is Mr Iain Greenway. Between 2000 and 2006, Greenway was a General Manager of Ordnance Survey Ireland, with responsibility for the management of the organisations operational activity and its mapping technology. Greenway, a native of Warwickshire, graduated with an M.A. in Engineering from Cambridge University and an M.Sc. in Land Survey from University College London and joined the Ordnance Survey of Great Britain in 1986. Greenway is a Chartered Surveyor (MRICS), a Fellow of the Irish Institution of Surveying (FIS) and a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (MCIM).
www.projectliberty.org
Pilot Program UK Met Office

The United Kingdom Met Office and Galdos Systems Inc. announced the initiation of a pilot program for the Met Office. The program, which will implement a prototype Service Oriented Architecture (SOA), will test Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) web services technologies, Geography Markup Language (GML) and Galdos Products as a solution to deploying a completely automated product creation and delivery SOA system for the UK Met Office. Galdos products Cartalinea and FreeStyler will be utilized to significantly reduce data integration and management costs, and to enhance products and services. Cartalinea and FreeStyler, real time, customizable, web services, will allow old and new data from a multitude of the Met Offices GIS systems to be integrated and distributed. The integration of legacy assets is expected to increase the life span of some of the Met Offices current systems, some of them already 15 years old.
www.training4gis.com
Web Inventor Confirmed Keynote Speaker at Ordnance Survey Research Event

The widely acclaimed inventor of the World Wide Web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, is to give the opening keynote speech at Ordnance Survey's annual Terra future conference. He will address thought leaders representing business, government and academia at the national mapping agency's Southampton head office on 19 September. Berners-Lee will discuss the future of the World Wide Web and the growing importance of geographic information in its development. Terra future is a one-day, invitationonly event that explores the impact of future trends on information businesses. It is a chance for leading industry experts to give their views on topics, including new and evolving technologies, societal change and consumer demands. Delegates will be invited to share their industry experience and ideas to evaluate future impacts on business and society.
www.osni.gov.uk
www.galdosinc.com
www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/terrafuture
Intermap Technologies Hires New Vice President of Sales

Intermap Technologies has hired Richard Smolenski as vice president of sales. Smolenskis background includes executive-level responsibility for the sale of complex high-technology communications, wireless, video, intelligence collection, and embedded control systems, as well as the negotiation of international military, government, and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) contracts.

21st European Conference for ESRI Users
The upcoming 21st European Conference for ESRI Users in Athens, Nov. 6-8, promises to become a vibrant event with many interesting highlights. There will be a keynote speaker and Jack Dangermond, President of ESRI Inc. will give his vision on the status of GIS now and in the future. David Maguire, Director of Products, Solutions and International, will discuss and demonstrate the newest features in the 9.2 release of ArcGIS. The second and third day of the conference will primarily be filled with technical workshops and many parallel sessions combined in several tracks. The most important tracks will be on utilities/energy, transport & logistics, cadastres and NMAs, agriculture, defense, education, physical planning and e-government. Please contact the local organizers to submit your abstracts for the Conference. The exhibition will feature many ESRI partners from Europe but also from further away. This event is always a
Trimble VRS NOW at AGI

KOREC will promote Trimble VRS NOW at AGI, a new service that provides end users with instant access to RTK corrections throughout the UK. No longer dependant on a field base station, precision GPS surveys can be up and running in minutes and receivers can now work independently as rovers. Users can select from a range of Trimble GPS receivers depending on their accuracy requirements:- Trimble RTK GPS (eg R8 or 5800) for 1cm accuracy with 1 receiver; Trimble DGPS (ProXH or ProXT) for 0.3m or Trimble handheld GPS (GeoXT) for 0.3m. The service is also compatible with all other leading brands of GPS receivers. Benefits are said to be increased accuracy, consistency and ease of use from a GPS, the ability to see GPS positions in real-time against OS MasterMap data whilst surveying directly in OS coordinates using cm accuracy GPS. Using VRS NOW, Trimbles handheld GPS, the GeoXT, can now achieve accuracies of 0.3m out in the field.
www.intermap.com
DigitalGlobe Expands Senior Management Team

DigitalGlobe announced two additions to its senior management team. Marc Tremblay has been appointed as General Manager of DigitalGlobes Commercial Business Unit, where he will be responsible for the management of global commercial sales via direct, channel and web distribution. Steve Larned has been appointed Chief Marketing Officer for the company. In this role, Larned will oversee worldwide marketing, product management, and strategy development and execution.
www.korecgroup.com/mapping
www.digitalglobe.com
September 2006
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Conferences & Meetings

ESRI International User Confer

Health and Human Services

Microsoft arent forgotten for their share in changing things.

Make a Difference Award

Marketing and Planning Departments

Conferences & Meetings

Public Health Department

GIS for the Human Body

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Conferences & Meetings

GDP History Viewer

ESRI Survey and GIS Summit

Thales Navigation Becomes Magellan Navigation

GIS and Mapping Business

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Celebrating 85 Years of Advan

World Hydrography day

cement in Safe Navigation

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Moving Toward a Broader, More

Shortcomings of Closed Model

Model for Collaboration

Collaborative LBS Eco-System

Enhanced LBS Services

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Building Solutions and Using

These in a Business Process

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mation with a Web-Geo-Management System as you define it at MapChart?

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Dropping leaflets at the door is supported by geomarketing technology.

Which types of products and services does mapChart provide you?

Latest News? Visit www.geoinformatics.com

Did GIS Become IT Mainstream?

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GEOSS to Benefit from Service Ch

A Forest Fire Smoke Use Case

Data for air quality analyses comes from many sources.

aining Based on OGC Standards

Analyst creates a new image by chaining services from multiple sources.

Data from many sources can be automatically accessed and combined.

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Figure 1: typical hyperspectral frequency bands.

Spatial Sampling Resolution

ata for Geological Mapping

Challenges Exploration Geology

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The Land Issue is Still Very

Sensitive in Many Countries

Serve Customer Demands

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About the FIG Foundation, Confe

rences and Global Communities

2003 Working week: part of the exhibition.

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INTERGEO and FIG World Confer

Bentley Stand C1.1513

Cadcorp Stand C3.3243

Diamond Airborne Sensing Stand C3.3058

CyberCity Stand C2.2261