In+ersec+ion for Spatial People

SCALGO has released version 1.2 of the software package SCALGO Hydrology, which can be used to perform basic hydrological modeling on massive raster terrain models (containing tens of billions of cells) on a normal desktop computer.

The new version contains a number of new features that make it easier to perform large-area hydrological analysis. These features include handling of massive collections of polygon data, which e.g. allows for easy and efficient "burning" of a large number of features (such as buildings, bridges and culverts) that are important for hydrological modeling into a large-area terrain model. The release also includes functionality that allows for efficient computation of various measures (height, area, volume) of all depressions (including depressions inside other depressions) in massive raster terrain models, which e.g. allows for easy and efficient identification of the depressions and terrain areas most important for hydrological modeling.

As the previous version, all SCALGO Hydrology 1.2 modules can be run through a standalone graphical user-interface or from within ArcGIS. In SCALGO Hydrology 1.2 the newly released ArcGIS version 10.1 is supported and an ArcGIS viewer has been added that allows for easy visualization of the output of many of the package modules.

The new release also contains updates to the standalone user-interface and to some of the core algorithms, including the utilization of multiple CPU cores. Overall, the most significant updates in SCALGO Hydrology 1.2 include:

• Extension to the Bluespot module so that each bluespot cell contains the measure (height, area or volume) of the depression below the cell.
• New Clip module that clips a raster or a point cloud according to a set of polygons.
• New Burn module that burns elevation values from a set of polygons into a raster or a point cloud.
• New Calculate module that evaluates a function for each cell in a raster.
• New Masks module that generates binary masks from a raster (e.g. useful for post-processing Sea-Levels module output).
• Merge of TIN Conversion, Raster Conversion and Point Conversion into new Convert module.
• Addition of multi-core support in many core algorithms.
• Updated standalone user-interface, including options to monitor CPU, disk and memory use.
• Addition of ArcGIS viewer for visualizing the output from many of the package modules.
• Support for ArcGIS 10.1.

Information about SCALGO technology, products and services can be found at http://scalgo.com. Future information about SCALGO products and services can also be received directly through Twitter and Facebook.

Scalable Algorithmics (SCALGO) was founded in 2009 with the mission to bring cutting-edge massive terrain data processing technology to market. The SCALGO technology is based on more than two decades of basic and applied research on I/O-efficient and geometric algorithms at Center for Massive Data Algorithmics (MADALGO) at Aarhus University in Denmark and at Duke University in the US, in collaboration with industry LiDAR and environmental GIS application experts. Software based on the technology can handle much larger terrain data sets on a normal desktop than most current software and thus it eliminates the need for accuracy-decreasing data thinning. The use of novel mathematical and algorithmic techniques also means that the software works provably efficient on all input data sets, delivering a completely specified output without the use of cumbersome workflows such as those introduced by data tiling. SCALGO is involved in multiple research projects and offer special pricing for academic institutions.

Illustration showing the result of computing bluespots using SCALGO Hydrology 1.2, visualized using the SCALGO ArcGIS Viewer. A cell is colored blue if the volume of the depression in the terrain below the cell is at most 3236m³ (as set by the viewer threshold value). Prior to the bluespot computation, the SCALGO Hydrology 1.2 Burn module was used to add buildings and cut bridges in the terrain model covering more than 13000km².

Directions Mag shares an interesting article named What Douglas County Learned Moving its GIS to the Cloud, mostly using Esri GIS software and Amazon services.

From the article: "From a GIS administrator’s perspective, our number one benefit derived from using the cloud has been flexibility. The flexibility to deploy a new server instance or an image of an existing server and only pay for the time we use it is extremely valuable. We are better prepared to test new versions of software and custom applications. From an organizational point of view, the biggest benefits have been reliability and the reduced dependency on internal IT resources. The costs are predictable and Amazon provides many options for driving those costs down."

Fredericton, NB, Canada – July 18, 2012 – CARIS, the world's leading marine GIS organization, has released its first open source API. CARIS OSCAR-js, a JavaScript Map API, allows you to create and embed custom web maps on your website.

The API was created to help shape CARIS Spatial Fusion Enterprise and includes tools for navigation, measurement, and download, as well as providing a means for developers to create their own custom tools and extensions. OSCAR-js extends the very popular OpenLayers library and utilizes jQueryUI and YUI to help create a feature rich mapping experience.

The API is designed around the creation of map themes. Map themes consist of thematic maps along with optional functionality such as selection, data download or more. OSCAR-js supports the use of Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) web services including Web Map Service (WMS), Web Map Tile Service (WMTS), Web Feature Service (WFS) and Web Coverage Service (WCS) for creating these map themes.

In addition to supporting OGC web services, OSCAR-js can connect to CARIS Spatial Fusion Viewer to load map configurations. This allows for centralized site management for your web map infrastructure.

The source code for the API is available on GitHub under the Apache License 2.0. This will enable the development community to make their own development branches for customization or as a way to contribute code to the project. Building your own distribution is done easily using Maven 3.
 

To get started, visit the OSCAR-js website. Users will find helpful API documentation, code examples, as well as a blog to hear the latest information about OSCAR-js.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CXfidLUsKY&hd=1

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EMERGING GOVERNMENT REBUILDS ECONOMY WITH GROUNDBREAKING SOFTWARE

ANACLA, BAMFIELD, BC – On April 1, the Huu-ay-aht First Nations celebrated the first anniversary of their return to self-governance and the management of their own lands. “The first year has been overwhelming, but we will persevere in these proudest of times for our people.” said Larry Johnson, Director of Lands and Natural Resources for the Huu-ay-aht.

“Managing our Lands and Natural Resources is a vital part of creating a better life for present and future Huu-ay-aht citizens” says Johnson. When faced with the choices of how to manage their reclaimed traditional lands, the Huu-ay-aht chose to develop a web-based land registry system unlike anything else ever produced.

Larry continues, “We worked with CloverPoint in Victoria to build the Land Registry, a system specifically designed to meet the needs of emerging governments.“

The Huu-ay-aht want to share the story of their journey to self-governance with the hope that they can inform and inspire other First Peoples to unlock their lands and build a bright future for generations to come.

CloverPoint is a leading international developer of 2D&3D computer mapping software. The CloverPoint team redefines what is possible on the web by pushing the boundaries of current technologies to develop innovative solutions for diverse clients.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/cloverpointvic
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/cloverpoint
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/CloverPoint
Land Registry: http://cloverpoint.com/land-registry/

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Directions Mag offers a product overview of Maptitude 2012 by Caliper Corp., a product we never mentioned before.

From the article: "The U.S. version of Maptitude 2012 includes the October 2011 geographic data release from NAVTEQ. [...] The census geographic boundary files with Maptitude 2012 encompass variables from the 2010 Census and the 2009 American Community Survey to map demographic information from the state level down to the census tracts. [...]

Maptitude 2012 is designed to provide a user with the ability to quickly generate presentation quality maps at a very affordable price and includes a vast database with the product. As an experienced GIS software user, I was able to get up and running with the software very quickly and found the user interface to be very user-friendly and intuitive. Caliper’s website provides free video tutorials for prospective and existing customers to view and learn about the capabilities of the software. I like that Maptitude 2012 provides the ability to create maps with the Quick Start and Map Librarian menu. The layers are added and symbolized automatically, which saves plenty of time for a user to create presentation quality maps quickly. I was also impressed with the model estimation tool."

A lot of geoblogs mentioned the release of Quantum GiS 1.8.0. QGIS is one of the most mature and widely used open source desktop GIS software, with tons of useful community-contributed plugins. Version 1.8.0 is clearly a major update of this already excellent GIS software.

The list of new features is quite long, here's a few of them:

• QGIS Browser: a stand alone app and a new panel in QGIS. The browser lets you easily navigate your file system and connection based (PostGIS, WFS etc.) datasets, preview them and drag and drop items into the canvas.
• DB Manager: the DB manager is now officially part of QGIS core. You can drag layers from the QGIS Browser into DB Manager and it will import your layer into your spatial database.
• New symbol layer types: Line Pattern Fill, Point Pattern Fill.
• Terrain Analysis Plugin: a new core plugin was added for doing terrain analysis - and it can make really good looking colored relief maps.
• Ellipse renderer: a new symbol layer type to render ellipse shapes (and also rectangles, triangles, crosses) by specifying width and height.
• Support for nesting projects within other projects: embed content from other project files.
• Layer grouping: Option to add layers to selected or active group.
• Customization: Allows setting up simplified QGIS interface by hiding various components of main window and widgets in dialogs.
• Action Tool: accessible from the map tools toolbar. It allows you to click on a vector feature and execute an action.
• Pan To Selected tool: Pans the map to selected feature(s); does not change the zoom level.
• Updated CRS selector dialog
• Legend-independent drawing order: The order seen in the legend can be different from the display order.
• Other features include: MSSQL Spatial Support, Expression based labelling, Heatmap tool, WFS support in QGIS Server, and much more

Head to the release notes (link above) to learn more and see screenshots.

WebMapSolutions shares an interesting entry named Is Google Maps GIS Lite?

From their conclusion: "When compared to the expensive, but well-polished products of ESRI, they may seem a bit rough in some areas, but they are also considerably cheaper or free to use as well. Everything is a trade-off. The hardcore GIS capabilities are not up to the same level as others such as GeoServer or ESRI, but then again that’s not what Google is shooting for either. They seem to be happy helping to expand the lighter, much larger-scoped public side of geospatial (which do cover a lot of use-case scenarios). [...] The direction is not towards traditional GIS work, but more into expanding the geospatial capability and usability on mobile devices. [...] Google kicked the old GIS world in the pants in 2005. They have plenty of expertise and money on their side to do it again."

A single click solution to get your maps from desktop to the Cloud!

The extension is free and compatible with ESRI ArcMap 9.x and 10.x. You can download it from the following link: GIS Cloud Publisher for ArcMap (600kB)

Publishing GIS projects with traditional GIS tools is not easy. You have to set up your own server, being that a server from a commercial vendor or open-source, and follow that with maintaining the server and services, uploading your data from desktop, reconfiguring maps and generating tiles to be optimized for the Web, not to mention mobile and tablets. All these are, for the most part, daunting and/or expensive tasks.

A map in ArcMap

GIS Cloud already gives you a way to easily build and publish your maps on the Cloud, but there are still lots of maps and projects sitting on your desktops. Of course it is possible to upload all that data to GIS Cloud, but then you would have to go through the process of creating and setting up those maps once again.

We have always been focused on making your GIS workflows more efficient to save you time and money. Therefore we are releasing today a GIS Cloud Publisher extension for one of the most popular desktop GIS tools out there: ESRI ArcMap

The GIS Cloud Publisher for ArcMap extension enables you to publish your maps from ArcMap to GIS Cloud with only one click. It automatically uploads your data, symbology, layer structure and spatial references. The idea is that what you see in your desktop GIS is instantly replicated on your GIS Cloud account. Once your maps and data are on GIS Cloud, they are easily published to the public or embedded into your website/blog without a need for having your own servers.

GIS Cloud Publisher Extension

After one click your entire map with the data is in GIS Cloud:

Your desktop GIS map on GIS Cloud

Also you can share it over a link like this: http://www.giscloud.com/map/44163/test

The extension is free and compatible with ESRI ArcMap 9.x and 10.x. You can download it from the following link: GIS Cloud Publisher for ArcMap (600kB)

Read more about it at GIS Cloud’s blog: http://www.giscloud.com/blog/release-of-gis-cloud-publisher-extension-fo...

About GIS Cloud:

GIS Cloud is a leading cloud platform delivering simple and easy to use geo platform, applications and solutions. Company is focused on providing geo services for visualizing and publishing spatial data through its innovative HTML5 mapping technology.

The mission of GIS Cloud is not only to supplement desktop solutions, but to extend and enrich their capabilities through the potential cloud computing provides.

With a strong focus on using latest web and cloud technologies, company believes in moving traditional GIS industry into to the world of modern web based software.

Contact:
Dino Ravnic, co-founder and CEO
[email protected]
London - Zagreb

Leading publisher of printed map products expands into digital world through PDF Maps app

TORONTO, (May 22, 2012) – Avenza Systems Inc., the leading developer of cartographic software --such as MAPublisher® for Adobe® Illustrator® and Geographic Imager® geospatial tools for Adobe Photoshop®-- has partnered with Mapmobility, Canada’s most prominent producer of printed urban mapping products to announce the largest offering of Canadian digital maps for consumer use on the iOS platform. Avenza will host Mapmobility’s highly detailed maps in the PDF Maps app and digital map store providing a new way for mobile device users to access a rich resource of content that was previously only available in print. The PDF Maps app allows users to explore and navigate Canada without having to worry about losing reception due to cell tower proximity or high data roaming charges typical of other “streaming” map services, making it the ideal travel accessory.

Mapmobility holds the largest Canadian market share of printed map products with hundreds of atlas and folded map titles making the relationship with Avenza mutually beneficial for both companies and the consumer. The partnership enhances Avenza’s digital map database by adding more than 30 years-worth of Canadian cartographic content, while Mapmobility benefits from Avenza’s foothold in a digital marketplace to reach a new mobile map consumer with the PDF Maps app and Avenza Map store. Mapmobility has selected Avenza as its exclusive channel for selling and distributing digital versions of its maps making the Avenza PDF Maps app and store the only place to find the vast array of Mapmobility Canadian maps.

“Given the shift in how our audience has received their information in the last ten years, we wanted to focus on a hi-tech solution that allowed consumers to be more interactive with our detailed maps,” said Carl Nanders, Director of Business Strategy at Mapmobility. “What Avenza provided is a way into a digital retail space without having to recreate the wheel ourselves. Avenza’s Map store within the PDF Maps app provides a more meaningful way to reach an audience that has gone mobile which is extremely appealing to publishers who once relied solely on the paper product.”

Avenza’s PDF Maps app is an all-encompassing solution for the use, distribution and sale of digital versions of paper maps to mobile devices. It includes both an app for consumers to use, discover and purchase maps directly from their devices as well as an in-app store to facilitate the transaction and delivery of maps. The in-app marketplace provides a new mobile e-commerce venue that allows those in the industry to have access to more than 200 million Apple iOS users seeking information about specific maps.

“For years we’ve worked with publishers providing cartographic software to help create maps, but as consumers continue to change how they access and consume content, we’re delighted to be the conduit for the more than 130 map publishers, including Mapmobility, to deliver such detailed maps in a more interactive manner,” said Ted Florence, President of Avenza Systems Inc. “As we continue to strengthen our community of vendors, many companies are beginning to see how useful the PDF Maps app can be in introducing content to consumers and we’re excited to be a part of how the industry evolves in a digital age.”

The PDF Maps app takes advantage of geospatial technology that allows travelers to view and measure real world locations and attributes. Paired together with mobile devices that utilize GPS, such as an iPhone or iPad, the PDF Maps app provides constant access to geographic locations and even points of interest without the risk of losing reception due to cell tower proximity – making it the ultimate traveling accessory for those that are enthusiastic about travel or anywhere internet bandwidth is not available or is cost-prohibitive when roaming internationally.

PDF Maps is available now on the iTunes App Store free of charge for personal use. For more information about the app, visit the Avenza website at www.avenza.com/pdf-maps. Pricing of each map is set by the publisher and free maps remain free to users through the PDF Maps in-app map store.

More about Avenza Systems Inc.

Avenza Systems Inc. is an award-winning, privately held corporation that provides cartographers and GIS professionals with powerful software tools for making better maps. In addition to software offerings for Mac and Windows users, Avenza offers value-added data sets, product training and consulting services. For more information visit the Avenza website at www.avenza.com.

For further information contact:
Tel: 416-487-5116
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.avenza.com

HUNTSVILLE, Ala., May 3, 2012 – London Hydro, London, Ontario’s sole electrical provider servicing approximately 410 square kilometers of territory, recently selected Intergraph®’s InService outage management system (OMS) and mobile workforce management solutions to consolidate and streamline administration of its electrical distribution control room. These solutions will fully integrate with Intergraph’s G/Technology and GeoMedia® products, which were previously implemented at London Hydro in 2006, eliminating any need for middleware or third-party products. Intergraph’s InService will supply London Hydro with an all-encompassing system of information between the field and the back office.

Intergraph’s InService solution, which includes a robust OMS with automated metering infrastructure (AMI), and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) interfaces, will allow London Hydro to utilize an integrated digital operating model. This model will serve as a single source for outage management, SCADA and mobile workforce management, as well as reduce restoration times, give accurate and timely reporting and analysis and generate comprehensive audit statistics.

Intergraph’s mobile workforce management solution, along with regionally developed outage web reporting and call-taker applications, will enable London Hydro to deliver timely responses to its trouble calls and show planned and current outages overlaid on Google Maps. In addition, Intergraph’s control room logger will provide the necessary capture/reporting and auditing of London Hydro’s work protection requirements.
“Intergraph has been with us every step of the way during our GIS implementation and OMS planning period,” explains Syed Mir- CIO, London Hydro. “We fully expect Intergraph’s InService solution to unify our distribution control, outage and field response – maximizing our smart grid operations efficiency.”

“It’s exciting to see London Hydro achieve a clearer picture of its infrastructure and be able to easily share data, both internally and externally, using InService,” states Rob Patten, Vice President of Intergraph’s SG&I Sales in Canada. “We look forward to continuing our relationship with London Hydro in support of its complete utilities life cycle.”

The implementation is expected to span the next three years, beginning with the implementation of InService OMS solution and ending with Intergraph’s mobile workforce management solution.

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About London Hydro

London Hydro services the city of London, Ontario, providing residents and business owners with a safe, efficient and reliable supply of electricity. London Hydro delivers electricity to its diverse customer base through an extensive network of overhead and underground power lines of more than 2,820 km in length. This network is fully owned, operated and maintained by London Hydro, and provides a peak load of 719 megawatts , spanning a territory of 410 square kilometers. London Hydro employs 302 full-time employees, providing service to approximately 148,000 customers in the education, institutional, industrial, consumer and corporate sectors.
Visit www.londonhydro.com for more information.

About Intergraph

Intergraph is the leading global provider of engineering and geospatial software that enables customers to visualize complex data. Businesses and governments in more than 60 countries rely on Intergraph’s industry-specific software to organize vast amounts of data to make processes and infrastructure better, safer and smarter. The company’s software and services empower customers to build and operate more efficient plants and ships, create intelligent maps, and protect critical infrastructure and millions of people around the world.

Intergraph operates through two divisions: Process, Power & Marine (PP&M) and Security, Government & Infrastructure (SG&I). Intergraph PP&M provides enterprise engineering software for the design, construction, operation and data management of plants, ships and offshore facilities. Intergraph SG&I provides geospatially powered solutions including ERDAS technologies to the public safety and security, defense and intelligence, government, transportation, photogrammetry, and utilities and communications industries. Intergraph Government Solutions (IGS) is an independent subsidiary for SG&I’s U.S. federal and classified business.

Intergraph is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hexagon AB, (Nordic exchange: HEXA B). For more information, visit www.intergraph.com and www.hexagon.com.

Desmond Khor
Senior Marketing Specialist
905-740-3457
[email protected]

© 2012 Intergraph Corp. All rights reserved. Intergraph and the Intergraph logo are registered trademarks of Intergraph Corp. or its subsidiaries in the United States and in other countries. Other brands and product names are trademarks of their respective owners.