Top News of the Week

See what’s new at GISCafe Today, a blog written by GISCafe and GISWeekly Editor, Susan Smith.

NASA and Japan released a new digital topographic map of Earth Monday that covers more of our planet than ever before. The map was produced with detailed measurements from NASA's Terra spacecraft.

The new global digital elevation model of Earth was created from nearly 1.3 million individual stereo-pair images collected by the Japanese Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer, or ASTER, instrument aboard Terra. NASA and Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, known as METI, developed the data set. It is available online to users everywhere at no cost.

For visualizations of the new ASTER topographic data, visit: NASA website Data users can download the ASTER global digital elevation model

First American Spatial Solutions (FASS), a member of The First American Corporation family of companies and a leader in spatial and natural hazard risk solutions, announced that it has digitally mapped more than 120 million of America's property parcels - something no other public or private entity has been able to accomplish previously. See last week’s GISWeekly feature story

Trimble announced that it has launched Trimble VRS-iScope service in the U.S. The add-on service offers Trimble VRS Now subscribers in Florida, Iowa, Illinois and Colorado the ability to track and manage their assets in real time, as well as view their session history and rover information.

Acquisitions, Agreements, Alliances

Intermap Technologies announced a new data distribution agreement with Digital Data Services, a provider of mapping products and GIS services, to offer Intermap’s uniformly accurate 3D digital elevation models, orthorectified radar images, contour line maps, and optimized triangulated irregular network (TIN) models worldwide.

The addition of Intermap’s NEXTMap countrywide datasets to Digital Data Services’ suite of products and services give geospatial professionals immediate access to consistently reliable map data, thereby allowing them to perform wide-area spatial analysis in a more timely and cost efficient manner.

DigitalGlobe, a global content provider of high-resolution world imagery solutions, announced that it has signed a contract to extend DigitalGlobe’s Service Level Agreement (SLA) with NGA for $12.5 million per month. The SLA extension provides NGA with continued access to the WorldView-1 satellite. NGA has agreed to extend the SLA through March 31, 2010 for a total of $100 million during the extension period, with an option for NGA to extend the contract for an additional nine months on the same terms, from April 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010.

ESRI and First American Spatial Solutions announced the release of the Risk Analysis Solution for ArcGIS, a complete location-based risk analysis solution for the insurance industry. Risk Analysis Solution for ArcGIS can be used by insurance companies to view and analyze data at the policy and portfolio level, allowing insurers to assess concentration of risk and increase and improve underwriting decisions.

ImageTree Corporation has signed agreements with GeoEye, Inc., and MJ Harden Associates, Inc., enabling the three companies to cooperatively create, market, sell and deliver commercially viable, management inventory solutions to the forestry industry.

GeoEye and its wholly owned subsidiary MJ Harden are premier, complementary providers of timely, accurate and accessible location intelligence, products and services.

Announcements

GeoEye, Inc. announced new government awards totaling more than $25 million to supply geospatial products and services. Under awards during the first and second quarters of 2009, GeoEye will provide the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) a significant amount of value-added, imagery-based geospatial-intelligence products. Imagery processing and production will be performed at GeoEye's advanced imagery processing centers located in St. Louis, MO, Thornton, CO, and Dulles, VA. These awards are in addition to the Service Level Agreement (SLA) modification to the company's existing NextView contract with the NGA announced Dec. 10, 2008.

New Products

Trimble announced the release of Trimble Construction Manager version 2.4, a remote construction asset management solution. The new version offers fast and user-friendly maps provided by Google Maps API Premier and a rugged new GPS locator unit designed for the harshest construction site environments.

Trimble announced that its Trimble Outdoors family of lifestyle applications are now available for customers of T-Mobile USA, Inc. on their selection of GPS-enabled phones. With the AllSport GPS(TM), Geocache Navigator and Trimble Outdoors applications, T-Mobile USA customers have an easy-to-use and affordable way to harness the power of GPS, directly on their cell phone as they participate in outdoor activities like hiking, backpacking, fishing, biking, running, walking or even geocaching.

Getmapping has released details of its new ‘AZICAM’ oblique camera system. The system is used to capture sharp full color oblique digital images of towns and cities. When combined with traditional vertical imagery and desktop software users have a rich multidimensional viewing environment, that can be explored, measured and even exported for use in presentations or as building blocks for full 3D modeling.

The Sidwell Company, the provider of integrated land records management solutions and comprehensive GIS, photogrammetric, and software development services, is pleased to announce the planned release of Parcel Builder Version 3.4 at the upcoming ESRI International User Conference, July 13-17, 2009, in San Diego. Parcel Builder was first introduced in the GIS marketplace in 2002, and is currently deployed to more than 700 users across the country.

ALK Technologies, Inc. announced the release of PC*MILER 23, the North American transportation industry's first routing and mileage solution to include carbon emissions and intermodal analysis functionality. PC*MILER's twenty-third annual edition also includes critical map data updates such as truck restrictions and truck-specific toll costs.

The Geospatial Information & Technology Association (GITA) announced the publication of the 2009 Geospatial Technology Report. This 144-page report contains detailed information on the complexity, direction, and completeness of geographic information system (GIS) projects being implemented at 515 organizations—a 9% increase in participation from the 2008 edition. Copies of the report may be ordered online at GITA's Website, or by contacting GITA headquarters at 303-337-0513 or Email Contact. For information on participating in the surveys for the 2009 report, contact Kathryn Hail at 303-337-0513 or Email Contact.

Lowrance, a brand by Navico, a leading global manufacturer of leisure navigation electronics, has announced the launch of the Endura series - its all-new range of next generation handheld GPS devices.

The new units bring a whole new navigation experience to the outdoor enthusiast, combining touch-screen functionality and quick access buttons for unprecedented ease of use, while also offering unrivalled flexibility and access to the widest possible range of third party and community content.

Around the Web

Dashboard for Visualization in Geospatial Intelligence Magazine (blog), June 30, 2009

http://gisdk.blogspot.com/2009/06/geo-spatial-solutions-in-challenging.html,GIScovery Channel (blog), June 29, 2009

Google Makes a Case That It Isn’t So Big , June 28, 2008, by Miguel Helft, The New York Times (registration required) -- “Competition is a click away,” says Dana Wagner of Google, who has been on a public relations mission for the company.

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-- Susan Smith, GISCafe.com Managing Editor.