September 2009 eNews
Highlights include: WALIS Success! International Society for Digital Earth (ISDE) Symposium: ISDE7 2011; Spatial Volunteers; NSW Scientist of the Year Awards; CSIRO and China Geological Survey Sign Agreement; Geospatial Semantics; Twitter Working on Adding Location; Kidlandia; Monopoly City Streets; and Groovy Map Wins Big.
What’s Happening in the WALIS Community?
WALIS Success! International Society for Digital Earth (ISDE) Symposium: ISDE7 2011
WALIS Stakeholders in the News
New Discoveries on Kimberley Islands
NSW Scientist of the Year Awards
Interest Enquiry – New Interests Now Available
NotifyMe – Here Now from Landgate
Australian Angle
GPS Device Maps Typically Two Years Old
Cityworks Being Utilised for Significant Projects in Australia
MDS Drives Repco Rally Volunteers to Starting Positions
Antarctic Scientist Wins Eureka Prize
LINZ Investigates Real-Time GNSS Data Delivery
AAMHatch's 'Smart Tools for Rapid 3D Model Creation' Wins 2009 Queensland Spatial Excellence Award
CSIRO and China Geological Survey Sign Agreement
Optus Says “Yes” to MapData Sciences Helping to Map Customer Territories
New Zealand Moves to New Official Maps
Radiometric Map of Australia Provides New Insights into Uranium Prospectivity
Wellington Bus Times to be Accurate to Within a Minute
Website Shows Walking, Cycling Routes
News from Around the Globe
Twitter Working on Adding Location
FME Server Proves to Solve Spatial Data Access Challenges
Seek’n Spell: Scrabble-Like Location-Based Game
PerkinElmer Gets $15M for Better Atomic Clock in GPS Satellites
New Fugro Survey Vessel Starts Operations in South East Asia
ESRI (UK) and Microsoft “Remove the Boundaries” for GIS Integration
French SIA Integrates GIS into Aeronautical System
World Record-Breaker at INTERGEO 2009: Largest Children’s Map of the World to be Unveiled
Court Rejects 'GPS made me do it' Argument
Mayor Orders Thames Back on Map
3D Laser Mapping Launches Advanced Mine Safety Monitoring System
deCarta Announces Support for Worldwide OpenStreetMap Content
Upcoming Events
Details of events in Australia and around the world
Interesting Website of the Month
What’s Happening in the WALIS Community?
WALIS Success! International Society for Digital Earth (ISDE) Symposium: ISDE7 2011
It has been confirmed that WALIS has been successful in its international bid to host the International Society for Digital Earth Symposium (ISDE7) in 2011.
WALIS was recently notified that its Australian bid was successful.
Marnie Leybourne, Director of WALIS, visited China where she made a presentation to the ISDE Executive Committee at the ISDE6 Symposium held in Beijing and was subsequently notified that the next ISDE Symposium in 2011 will be held in Perth.
It is anticipated that WALIS International Forum 2011 will be held in conjunction with ISDE7, making the Symposium a broad, international and exciting event that is a coup not only for WALIS community, but also for our State.
Congratulations to the WALIS team for their efforts in putting the submission together, culminating in such exciting success!
For more information about the International Society for Digital Earth, visit http://www.digitalearth-isde.org/
Thinking of becoming a Spatial Volunteer?
Becoming a Spatial Volunteer is a great way to give back to your WALIS community. WALIS is made up of many people dedicated to providing good will through time and effort for the initiatives that make our spatial community better.
By getting involved in your spatial community you will be helping to promote that good will further! You may even be eligible for 3SI Contribution to the Profession points for some of these activities.
We are currently seeking expressions of interest for:
3SI Mentoring Program – as mentor; 3SI Mentoring Program – as mentee; Spatial Technology in Schools (STiS) - as mentor; and the STiS competition needs judges as well.
For more information, visit the WALIS website: http://www.walis.wa.gov.au/resources/spatialvolunteer
The Positional Accuracy Improvement Group recently met to get an update on progress made, share lessons learnt and discuss where agencies are heading to ease their referential topology difficulties.
Landgate is looking at how the Spatial Cadastral Database (SCDB) can accommodate some of the difficulties that agencies are facing when cadastral boundaries are constantly changing. They have also provided a provisional overview of technical implications and potential issues referring to requests from agencies.
A task group has been identified as well as a champion to lead further investigations on solutions and methods that will aid the SCDB alignment with agency data.
WALIS is coordinating agencies feedback on 3rd party software and possible solutions and lesson learnt. If you wish to contribute please contact Jenny on 9273 7093 / jenny.smith@walis.wa.gov.au
The WALIS Roads Group has been busy this month as road data users, suppliers and value adders have given presentations to the group showing how the road information is used, updated and maintained.
The Group also looked at business processes and requirements for improved road data sets. At the next meeting commonalities will be identified, as well as ways to streamline business processes between key agencies.
For more information on the WALIS Road Group visit http://www.walis.wa.gov.au/projects/walis-road-group or contact Jenny on 9273 7093 / jenny.smith@walis.wa.gov.au
The Data Group met on September 7.
Discussions centred around a Ped Shed tool, what is currently happening in WALIS and demonstrating a Contours Online tool. For the agenda and minutes of this meeting and further information please go to http://www.walis.wa.gov.au/projects/data-and-metadata-group.
The next meeting will be held on 1 February 2010.
WALIS Stakeholders in the News
They say that a picture is worth a thousand words and a customised map from Landgate will prove that you can convey information very quickly and accurately to stakeholder and community groups; decision makers and clients.
Landgate will combine your information with the mapping features you want so that you can successfully communicate your vision.
Customised maps can also help you to manage day-to-day business tasks by defining sales boundaries or delivery and collection routes. They can also be created for operational purposes and include sales area targets, demographics and focus areas. The use of colour can highlight specific areas such as trading hotspots. There are so many possibilities.
Maps can include legends and your company logo, and be delivered laminated if required.
Contact Landgate on (08) 9273 7341 to discuss the possibilities.
New Discoveries on Kimberley Islands
Scientists from the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) and traditional Kimberley land owners are rapidly discovering new species in the State's north as part of the Kimberley islands biological survey.
With field work almost complete, the survey has confirmed that the Kimberley is one of Australia's diversity hotspots for ancient camaenid land snails.
Web link to full article: http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/news/department-of-environment-and-conservation/new-discoveries-on-kimberley-islands.html
NSW Scientist of the Year Awards
The NSW Scientist of the Year Awards were established in 2008 to recognise and reward the state’s leading researchers for cutting edge work that generates economic, health, environmental or technological benefits for NSW.
The NSW Scientist of the Year 2009 Award is designed to engage and involve the general public as well as the NSW research community, to promote the value of science and encourage science careers.
WALIS would like to congratulate Dr Linlin Ge for winning the Physics, Earth Sciences, Chemistry and Astronomy Category. In May 2008, Dr Ge's expertise enabled detailed, near real-time satellite assessment of a devastating earthquake measuring 8.0 on the Richter Scale that struck the Wenchuan region of Sichuan Province of China, impacting 250,000 square kilometres and claiming over 80,000 lives.
Interest Enquiry - New Interests Now Available
Recent additions to the interests available and searchable through Interest Enquiry include Native Title and Indigenous land use agreements, acid sulphate soils, and additional certificate of title interests.
Information on 23 interests is currently held by the application and Landgate is continuing to expand this number.
Interest Enquiry provides you with a map viewer combined with a spatial searching capability to identify and display interests relating to a particular area of land.
For further enquiries call Landgate (08) 9273 7341.
NotifyMe - Here Now from Landgate
You’ll never again have to remind yourself to check the status of your surveys or dealings lodged with Landgate if you use NotifyMe, a new online application that will do it for you.
Register for NotifyMe at the $2.50 introductory price and you will receive an email alert each time the status of your survey or dealing changes within Landgate. These states include:
For Surveys
‘CC’ Certified Correct
‘CP’ Certified Correct and sent to WAPC
‘MP’ WAPC Approved
‘ST’ Stopped
‘OD’ In Order for Dealings
‘AP’ Approved
For Dealings
Under Examination
Requisitioned
Final Notice
Registrar’s Packet
Registered
Withdrawn
Rejected
Register now through Land Enquiry or the ‘Quicklink’ from your My Landgate homepage.
For further enquiries call Landgate (08) 9273 7341
Australian Angle
Developers are planning iPhone software that uses GPS to locate patrons on an interactive map.
Any nearby restaurants found to have breached health regulations are highlighted by a red pointer.
Details, including the amount a company has been fined and the conviction, are displayed in a sidebar.
Mogeneration chief Keith Ahern said he built the Food Watch NSW App because he wanted to know which restaurants to avoid.
Web link to full article: http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,25985749-5008620,00.html
The chief executive of Perth-based photomap media company, NearMap, says the company will launch a new internet portal to display the company's imagery within the next few months.
Nixon says NearMap is a vehicle to launch the next generation of Earth image technology. The imagery is sourced from NearMap's HyperPod aerial camera system. He describes it as 'a multi-resolution virtual camera' capable of generating both nadir and oblique views. It generates about a gigabyte of raw data every second. It is the subject of a new patent.
Web link to full article: http://www.asmmag.com/news/nearmap-release-soon
Reprinted from www.asmmag.com, copyright 2009 ASM
GPS Device Maps Typically Two Years Old
User-generated data may be the answer to the GPS navigation industry's problem of outdated maps on user devices, say industry voices.
According to Ed Parsons, Google's geospatial technologist, the reason users encounter inaccurate road layouts and landmark placements on their GPS devices is that it takes a long time getting updated maps to users.
From the mapping of roads to getting the maps updated and onto distribution channels such as garages, people can expect their maps to be over two years old, even on new devices, Parsons said in an interview with ZDNet Asia.
Web link to full article: http://www.zdnetasia.com/news/internet/0,39044908,62057422,00.htm
Cityworks Being Utilised for Significant Projects in Australia
Two project sites in Australia, The Parklands Foundation and Theiss Corporation, have selected Cityworks for their asset and maintenance management needs, being the first in the country to utilise the software by Azteca Systems, the leading provider of GIS-centric management solutions.
Both are large, significant projects where Cityworks will be used to meet the individual needs of the agencies to manage infrastructure assets and maintenance while leveraging each organisation's use of GIS.
Web link to full article: http://www.directionsmag.com/press.releases/?duty=Show&id=37011
Source: Directions Magazine
CSIRO has chosen the major science projects that its Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP) telescope will tackle in its first five years.
ASKAP, being developed for a site in Western Australia, is expected to be fully operational in 2013. Construction is due to start later this year.
During the telescope’s first five years at least 75 per cent of its time will be used for large Survey Science Projects, each needing more than 1500 hours to complete and designed to take advantage of ASKAP’s unique capabilities.
Web link to full article: http://www.csiro.au/news/ps5e9.html
Source: CSIRO
MDS Drives Repco Rally Volunteers to Starting Positions
MapData Sciences Pty Ltd (MDS) is pleased to announce its support of Repco Rally Australia 2009, part of the World Rally Championships.
MDS will provide the organisers with the digital mapping services needed for the smooth running of the event, to be held over four days with 35 competitive stages across the Northern Rivers of NSW.
Web link to press release: http://www.mapds.com.au/pressreleases/Repco_Rally_Aust_1_September_2009.pdf
Antarctic Scientist Wins Eureka PrizeThe Australian Antarctic Division's Ian Ball has won a prestigious Eureka Science Prize for his conservation planning software program.
The Marxan program helps efficiently map Nature Reserves and Marine Protected Areas taking into account a range of ecological, social and economic criteria.
Web link to full article: http://www.aad.gov.au/default.asp?casid=36743&source=17&rank=2
LINZ Investigates Real-Time GNSS Data Delivery
A LINZ-commissioned report has recommended an upgrade of LINZ’s PositioNZ network to provide real-time Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data.
PositioNZ is made up of more than 30 Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) and currently records position data every 30-seconds with the data being provided in hourly and daily files. The upgrade to real-time provision of data would see position data ‘streamed’ to users every second, similar to streaming internet video.
Web link to full article: http://www.linz.govt.nz/geodetic/standards-publications/geodetic-notices/2009/0907-real-time-gnss-data-delivery/index.aspx
Whereis Navigator will tell you. Telstra has launched the latest evolution in the Whereis Navigator product.
Whereis Navigator gives Next G customers access to an all-in-one navigation solution on selected GPS enabled mobiles. It works just like the stand alone GPS navigation units used in cars and provides voice-prompted, turn-by-turn navigation, thanks to Garmin technology.
Web link to full article: http://www.telstra.com.au/abouttelstra/media/announcements_article.cfm?ObjectID=45428
AAMHatch's 'Smart Tools for Rapid 3D Model Creation' Wins 2009 Queensland Spatial Excellence Award
AAMHatch has won the Queensland Spatial Excellence Award for Land Development and Planning for the generation of ‘Smart Tools for Rapid 3D Model Creation’.
AAMHatch developed the tools to service the growing demand from our clients for comprehensive, geometrically accurate 3D building and city models.
Web link to press release: http://www.aamhatch.com/news.cfm?itemId=C0F4CEB8-19B9-EFA7-D6B7BFAC8F363F17
CSIRO and China Geological Survey Sign Agreement
CSIRO has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the China Geological Survey (CGS).
The signing follows a number of successful projects between CSIRO and CGS in the field of hyperspectral imaging.
This new collaborative relationship will assist Australian geological technologies entering or planning to enter the Chinese market. It will also help further secure China as Australia’s leading resource partner.
Web link to full article: http://www.csiro.com.au/news/CSIRO-and-China-Geological-Survey-Agreement.html
Source: CSIRO
By John Forne
Yesterday's workshop (BeSTGRID Geospatial Semantics Workshop)at the Auckland University on Geospatial Semantics run by the Centre for eResearch was very interesting and highlights the need for a co-ordinated approach to achieve interoperability.
If "interoperability" isn't enough of a mouthful - try "semantic interoperability". This was the theme of yesterday's workshop. So what is semantic interoperability? Let's unravel the term...
Broadly, interoperability is a concept that describes a state when things, such as spatial information, are able to be used in different systems (to inter-operate). For example, in a computing context, interoperability would be achieved when data is able to be shared across different systems, such as between government agencies. There are different levels of interoperability. For example, we might both be able to display a PowerPoint presentation on screen (data services)... But the presentation is in French and I can't read French (data content). Semantics is at this data content level.
Semantics is harder to define neatly, but refers to the study of meaning, particularly the study of signs and symbols to represent other concepts and entities as used by agents or communities within particular contexts. Semantics studies how we describe, represent, or structure what we're talking about. For example, whether we talk about volcanic rocks or igneous extrusive rocks.
Web link to full article: http://www.geospatial.govt.nz/geospatial-semantics/
Source: New Zealand Geospatial Office
Optus Says "Yes" to MapData Sciences Helping to Map Customer Territories
Digital mapping specialist MapData Sciences Pty Ltd (MDS) has completed a major project to enable leading telco Optus to streamline the provision of inbound services, dramatically simplifying what was once a difficult task.
Inbound telecommunications services appeal to almost any organisation with a network of branches or offices which wants to streamline customer service. With just one phone number customers can contact the organisation, regardless of where they are in relation to that organisation.
Optus realised that by helping organisations plan inbound services based on a geographic location, it could win and retain very profitable business.
Web link to full press release: http://www.mapds.com.au/pressreleases/Optus_press_release_10_Sept_09.pdf
New Zealand Moves to New Official Maps
Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) has made one of the most significant changes to New Zealand’s official topographical maps since the 1930s, with the launch of the Topo50 map series available from now.
The new Topo50 map series has been developed to be compatible with international mapping systems and modern navigational technologies such as GPS. As a result, the 1:50,000 scale Topo50 maps use different coordinates (latitudes/longitudes) of points in New Zealand. The difference is equivalent to an approximate 200m change in position.
Web link to full article: http://www.linz.govt.nz/topography/projects-programmes/news-notices/20090922-new-official-maps/index.aspx
Radiometric Map of Australia Provides New Insights into Uranium Prospectivity
The new radioelement map of Australia facilitates rapid assessment of uranium prospectivity from national through to local scales.
The map shows the distribution of potassium (per cent K), uranium (parts per million (ppm) equivalent U) and thorium (parts per million (ppm) equivalent Th) over 80 per cent of the Australian landmass.
It has been calibrated using the recent Australia-Wide Airborne Geophysical Survey (AWAGS) to adjust all the public-domain airborne radiometric surveys in Australia to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Global Radioelement Datum.
Web link to full article: http://www.ga.gov.au/image_cache/GA15012.pdf
Wellington Bus Times to be Accurate to Within a Minute
The Greater Wellington Regional Council says a real-time passenger information system supplied by British company ACIS will be designed to forecast bus and train arrival times that are accurate to within one minute at least 90 per cent of the time.
Electronic displays showing expected arrival times will be fitted to up to 190 of Wellington's 2600 bus stops. Sixty displays showing train arrival times will also be fitted to station platforms.
The council reduced the number of displays when it shaved $3 million off the project's budget in 2008.
Council project leader David Lewry says ACIS will be paid $8.1 million to supply its BusNet system and provide support for five years.
"The contract is structured to enable more desirable but potentially more complex and expensive sites to be installed, even if that means a slight reduction in the potential total number."
All Go Wellington, Valley Flyer, Mana and Newlands buses and suburban trains, including Wairarapa trains, will be tracked by GPS.
Web link to full article: http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/2883673/Wellington-bus-times-to-be-accurate-to-within-a-minute
Source: stuff.co.nz
Website Shows Walking, Cycling Routes
A website showing the best route when walking or cycling between any two points in Wellington, and how long it should take, has gone live.
Journeyplanner.org.nz was funded by the Greater Wellington regional council to coincide with World Carfree Day, and built by local developer ProjectX.
The website shows how steep routes are and how many calories people are likely to burn.
Little-known tracks and short cuts are included and toilets, drinking fountains and public seating are marked.
Web link to full article: http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/2883680/Website-shows-walking-cycling-routes
Source: stuff.co.nz
GPS car units help drivers navigate unfamiliar roads and find certain locations, using satellite signals to determine their location and overlay this information onto mapping software to provide directions.
Think about your driving habits before you shell out. If you mainly stick to roads you know and could drive them with your eyes closed you may not get much use from a GPS device.
But, they can be invaluable when trying to find your way around an unfamiliar city, if you're caught in a traffic jam and need an alternate route, or need to find public toilets in a hurry.
Web link to full article: http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/gadgets/2879827/GPS-buyers-guide
Source: stuff.co.nz
News from Around the Globe
Twitter Working on Adding Location
Twitter is working on adding location to tweets:
We’re gearing up to launch a new feature which makes Twitter truly location-aware.
A new API will allow developers to add latitude and longitude to any tweet. Folks will need to activate this new feature by choice because it will be off by default and the exact location data won’t be stored for an extended period of time. However, if people do opt in to sharing location on a tweet-by-tweet basis, compelling context will be added to each burst of information.
I don’t know where they’re going to find the room for geotags in 140 characters or less …
Web link to full article: http://www.mcwetboy.net/maproom/2009/08/twitter_working.php
Source: The Map Room
FME Server Proves to Solve Spatial Data Access Challenges
FME Server is being implemented by organisations around the world to solve common data access challenges.
In particular, FME Server's on-the-fly transformation capabilities have proven invaluable in removing format and data model barriers. This has enabled organisations to more easily centralise data, share up-to-date data and participate in SDI initiatives.
Organizations today are often looking to centralize their data into a single database to gain a unified view of their spatial information. This provides a single access point to all of their spatial data assets for use in analyses, visualizations, and decision making.
Web link to full press release: http://www.safe.com/aboutus/news/2009/133/index.htm
Kidlandia maps are customisable maps of imaginary places.
While the concept may look like pure whimsy, it seems possible that getting a customised Kidlandia map at an impressionable age could turn a kid into a life-long cartophile!
Source: Directions Magazine
explore is a new beta application from Ordnance Survey, allowing you to create and share your routes with the world, and join in with ones that already exist.
explore is more than just maps - it's a whole new way of exploring and sharing your favourite parts of the country.
Search for a location and then view the routes that people are sharing for that area. This will include details and points of interest. If you have a route you really love to travel, you can plot your route directly onto Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 scale mapping, then add points of interest and photos and share all this with the world.
Link to website: http://explore.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/
On 9 September a world of property empire building on an unimaginable scale was launched.
It is a live worldwide game of Monopoly using Google Maps as the game board. The goal is simple. Play to beat your friends and the world to become the richest property magnate in existence.
Own any street in the world. Build humble houses, crazy castles and stupendous skyscrapers to collect rent. Use Monopoly Chance Cards to sabotage your mates by building Hazards on their streets.
Which strategy will you employ? Determined drive? Ingenious daring? Intelligent caution? Will you thrive under the pressure of a fast growing global property empire – or will you crumble? Find out if you’ll thrive, or even survive, in the amazing world of Monopoly City Streets. It's going to be epic fun!
Check out there blog here.
Seek'n Spell: Scrabble-Like Location-Based Game
Retronyms, a San Francisco-based iPhone development boutique has launched an iPhone application called Seek’n Spell.
The application is an interesting mix of Scrabble and location-based gameplay.
Playing the game is quite easy and the rules very intuitive. You gather a few iPhone owners in a park, set duration for the game and get started. The application downloads a satellite picture of your surroundings and scatters virtual letters around it. To win points players run to “catch” the virtual letters and form words based on these letters.
Web link to full article: http://www.gpsbusinessnews.com/Seek-n-Spell-Scrabble-like-location-based-game_a1722.html
Source: GPS Business News
PerkinElmer Gets $15M for Better Atomic Clock in GPS Satellites
A division of Waltham-based PerkinElmer Inc. has landed a $15 million subcontract to help improve the atomic clock technology it provides for the Global Positioning System satellites.
The Salem-based illumination business unit of PerkinElmer (NYSE: PKI) was awarded the subcontract from ITT Corp.’s Space Systems Division to design and deploy various engineering advances for PerkinElmer’s Rubidium Atomic Frequency Standards for the next version of the GPS satellites. The first two satellites in the new group from prime contractor Lockheed Martin are expected to be launched by 2014.
Web link to full article: http://www.masshightech.com/stories/2009/09/07/daily27-PerkinElmer-gets-15M-for-better-atomic-clock-in-GPS-satellites.html
New Fugro Survey Vessel Starts Operations in South East Asia
Fugro Survey has launched its multirole survey vessel, MV Fugro Gemini for a wide range of surveys like shallow and deepwater geophysical analogue and multi-channel seismic site survey, pipeline and cable route survey, swathe bathymetry survey and AUV (autonomous underwater vehicle) survey, serving the oil and gas industry, the cable sector and government agency clients in South East Asia.
Web link to full article: http://www.fugro.com.au/news/newsdetails.asp?item=466
NavSync's New NavTrac Wi-Fi Enabled GPS Devices Support Asset and Inventory Tracking from Inside Buildings to Around the World
NavSync, Ltd., a leader in GPS navigation and tracking technology, announced that it is integrating Ekahau's location tracking software into their newly FCC certified NavTrac GPS receivers.
With this innovative combination of wireless technologies, these tags vastly expand the ability to track the location of assets and inventory in any environment - from inside a building or across a campus environment to anywhere around the world.
Web link to full article: http://www.directionsmag.com/press.releases/?duty=Show&id=37309
Source: Directions Magazine
ESRI (UK) and Microsoft "Remove the Boundaries" for GIS Integration
ESRI (UK), the market leader in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) solutions, and Microsoft are running an event to demonstrate how their technologies together help remove the boundaries to businesses’ return on investment (ROI).
The free one day event at Microsoft’s headquarters in Reading on Tuesday 20 October 2009 will highlight the ease of integration between ESRI’s ArcGIS 9.3.1 and Microsoft technology, the latest trends in GIS and the business case for using an enterprise-wide GIS.
Web link to full article: http://www10.giscafe.com/nbc/articles/view_article.php?section=CorpNews&articleid=738438
Source: GISCafé
Groovy Map has been awarded a silver medal for the ‘Best Tourist/ Free Publication’ by the International Map Trade Association (IMTA) at their Asia Pacific Conference and Trade Show, held this year in Darwin, Australia.
Not only did they take silver for the new edition of Groovy Beijing, they also blew away the competition by winning the Best Tourist Map prize for their free publication, the Official Bangkok Airport Map.
Authorities in Guangdong are targeting surveying and mapping by foreign organisations which, they claim, has hindered the 'healthy development' of the industry in China.
The review, which began last month, coincides with a move by the State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping, an instrumentality of the central government in Beijing, to regulate the geographic information industry.
Web link to full article: http://www.asmmag.com/news/chinese-to-control-surveying
Source: ASM Mag
Reprinted from www.asmmag.com, copyright 2009 ASM
French SIA Integrates GIS into Aeronautical System
The French Service de l'Information Aeronautique (SIA), headquartered in the Bordeaux-Merignac Airport in the town of Merignac, France, has awarded a contract for an aeronautical information management (AIM) system based on ESRI's geographic information system (GIS) software.
Web link to full article: http://www.gpsdaily.com/reports/French_SIA_Integrates_GIS_Into_Aeronautical_System_999.html
Source: GPS Daily
World Record-Breaker at INTERGEO 2009: Largest Children's Map of the World to be Unveiled
The map of the world on display at INTERGEO is a favourite addition to children’s bedrooms, due to its lovingly crafted, finely detailed images.
However, it is its sheer size that makes this map truly unique. Measuring 4.35 by 3.09 metres, it is the largest map of its kind printed as a single piece. Stiefel Eurocart from Lenting, Bavaria, is now bringing its record-breaking children’s map to the world’s largest congress trade fair for geodesy, geoinformation and land management. This is the first time that the map will be on display to a wider audience.
Web link to full article: http://www.intergeo.de/en/englisch/news/aktuelles.php?navid=106
Court Rejects 'GPS made me do it' Argument
Robert Jones certainly had a run of bad luck as he was driving through the town of Todmorden, England.
Jones, whose BMW was nearly out of gas, was looking for a petrol station and relied on his TomTom navigation system to help him find one. Unfortunately, the satnav instead led him down a dirt road. Despite some pretty apparent clues that he might be going the wrong way, Jones continued to rely on his trusty satnav, until he drove his BMW to the brink of a 100-foot cliff and got stuck on a fence.
Web link to full article: http://www.examiner.com/x-696-Auto-Examiner~y2009m9d16-Man-follows-his-GPS-to-a-cliff-gets-stuck-then-fined or http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-10355499-71.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-5
Mayor Orders Thames Back on Map
A "furious" London Mayor Boris Johnson has ordered Transport for London (TfL) to restore the River Thames on revised Tube maps.
TfL distributed the maps last weekend without the River Thames or the fare zones marked on it. TfL said it had removed the fare zones and the river from the revised map as the previous map had become "cluttered" and lost its "simplicity".
TfL added it was responding to the feedback from passengers.
Web link to full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/8260943.stm
Source: BBC News
3D Laser Mapping Launches Advanced Mine Safety Monitoring System
3D Laser Mapping has launched a new safety monitoring system that automatically detects tiny movements in slopes and walls in open pit mines.
Using advanced laser scanning technology, the modular SiteMonitor 3 system offers extensive user-defined alarm options with remote monitoring over the Internet and automated warning e-mails. SiteMonitor 3 builds on the success of previous SiteMonitor systems that are already in use in diamond, gold, platinum and iron mines across the world.
Web link to full article: http://www10.giscafe.com/nbc/articles/view_article.php?section=CorpNews&articleid=739409
Source: GISCafé
deCarta Announces Support for Worldwide OpenStreetMap Content
deCarta, the leading supplier of software and services for the Location-Based Services (LBS) industry, has announced the launch of its beta program supporting OpenStreetMap (OSM) data.
The beta program makes the OSM content available for selected cities around the world. A product release that will support the complete coverage of OSM is scheduled for October 2009.
Web link to full article: http://www.decarta.com/about/press_releases_2009/news_events_160909.htm
CoastGIS 2009
30 September – 2 October, Santa Catarina, Brazil
CoastGIS, the International Symposium on GIS and Computer Mapping for Coastal Management, is a series of conferences that began in Cork, Ireland, in 1995 as a collaboration between the Commission on Coastal Systems of the International Geographical Union and the Commission on Marine Mapping of the International Cartographic Association.
In the early 1990s, both were aiming to find a vehicle through which coastal issues and technological processes could be examined and means by which recent advances in the mapping of the world's coastal zones could jointly find an outlet.
As a major event, the CoastGIS series attracts an international audience of coastal researchers, managers and practitioners who use one or more of the geospatial technologies.
Visit the website for more.
22nd CIPA Symposium (2009)
11-15 October, Kyoto, Japan
The 22nd International Committee for Documentation of Cultural Heritage (CIPA) Symposium will be an international and inter-disciplinary event on recording, documentation, preservation and restoration of cultural heritage applying information and communication technology.
To be held in Asia for the first time, the topics to be covered will include GIS, intellectual property and open source, terrestrial/ aerial photogrammetry and terrestrial/ aerial laser scanning, remote sensing and strategies for long-term archiving of digital information.
7th FIG Regional Conference
19-22 October, Hanoi, Vietnam
The theme of the 7th FIG Regional Conference is ‘Spatial Data Serving People: Land Governance and the Environment - Building the Capacity’ and is divided into three sub-themes: Land Administration; Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) and the Environment; and Capacity Building.
Free and Open Source Software for Geospatial Conference (FOSS4G)
20-23 October, Sydney, Australia
Carrying on the FOSS4G conference tradition, 2009 will present a comprehensive agenda, combining content from across the geospatial spectrum.
In line with the 2009 theme, "User Driven", the conference will have renewed focus on the business imperatives for adopting open source solutions. The program will contain a broad range of presentations and case studies that address the topics of interest to managers and decision makers as well as those that may be more technically orientated.
FOSS4G is a unique event which collects together a global community into a single location for an intensive week of activity. Year on year, FOSS4G provides a great opportunity to take part in a very special event, where ideas mix together with language to create a network of collaboration and creativity.
WALIS Forum
11-13 November, Perth Convention Exhibition Centre
WALIS Forum is one of the premier GIS events in Australia, attracting over 650 participants from a diverse range of professions. Held every 18 months, the Forum provides an opportunity to address issues related to the collection, management and application of geographic or spatial information. WALIS Forum
GIS in Transit Conference
16-18 November, St Petersburg, Florida
“The Route to Success in Transit GIS”.
4th International Conference: Earth from Space – the Most Effective Solutions (2009)
1-3 December, Moscow, Russia
Rapid development of the space information technology has deprived the limited groups of specialists of the privilege to control telecommunications, navigation and remote sensing of the Earth from space. We can witness how Earth observation from space helps to resolve a wide range of practical tasks, becoming a modern public information instrument.
The International Conference "Earth from Space - the Most Effective Solutions" is the largest biennial event in sphere of Earth remote sensing in Russia and CIS countries, attended by around 350 participants from different countries. The goal of the conference is to show the experience of practical use of satellite monitoring in different branches of economy together with the recent developments in remote sensing as the backbone of cost-efficient functioning economic systems and is an opportunity to demonstrate the latest innovations, achievements and practical results in sphere of space information technologies.
Visit the website for more.
IGNSS 2009
1-3 December, Gold Coast, Queensland
The IGNSS symposium will include open forums where users can discuss the implementation and application of GNSS and other location technologies, and voice their concerns in an interactive format with representatives from all the satellite system providers, major manufacturers and applications developers.
Pacific Island GIS and Remote Sensing User Conference 2009
1-4 December, University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji
Since the first Pacific GIS&RS Conference in 1999, this annual event has attracted a lot of participants.
Each year the range of GIS&RS technologies presented cover an array of applications including the management of resources of the small island Pacific nations. Shallow water bathymetry derived from satellite imagery, forest function maps to identify areas for to be protected, areas identified for developments in flood zones are some of the applications where the development of GIS&RS in the region have been applied in various sectors. As with previous conferences, there are no fees levied for those wishing to attend.
http://www.picisoc.org/PacInet+2009
OZRI and APUC 2010
3-5 March, Gold Coast, Australia
GIS: Extending the reach is the theme for the conference which recognises that GIS has evolved from being seen as a tool to simply link location to information to being acknowledged as a serious business system that delivers real benefits.
The program will consist of four conference streams which will demonstrate how the latest location intelligence solutions are making it easier to extend the reach of GIS, whether it be externally, geographically or technically.
OZRI 2010 will be held on the Gold Coast and will also incorporate the 2010 ESRI Asia Pacific User Conference. ESRI president and founder Jack Dangermond is confirmed as keynote speaker at the event.
FIG Congress 2010
11-16 April, Sydney, Australia
Facing the Challenges – Building the Capacity
Interesting Website of the Month
EarthCam
“Where the world watches the world”
ThroughEarhCam's live webcams, you can see the hustle and bustle of Times Square, catch the action on the Vegas Strip, watch a sunrise over London's Big Ben, and enjoy beautiful sunsets in St. Thomas.
You can also see the Top 10 Webcams that are chosen by a panel of EarthCam producers who select the best out of hundreds of popular webcam submissions. The criteria used for judging includes image quality, uniqueness of the content, and overall technical achievement in webcam technology. These are the cameras that have amused, amazed, or astounded.
Another feature is the World Map view, where you can zoom into various parts of the world and see where live cams are located.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this newsletter is provided for general information purposes. It does not constitute professional or expert advice and you must not use or rely upon it for that purpose. WALIS and the State of Western Australia, do not guarantee and do not accept responsibility for the accuracy, currency, completeness and reliability of the information contained in this newsletter. The opinions contained in the information do not necessarily reflect the opinions of WALIS or the State of Western Australia. Links to other Internet sites are provided for your convenience only and they do not constitute an endorsement, approval or recommendation of the material contained in those other Internet sites. It is your responsibility to evaluate the relevance, accuracy, completeness and reliability of material contained in those other Internet sites.