Welcome to GISWeekly! Customer-driven interoperability has come to the forefront this week as five prominent vendors announced a new initiative to achieve interoperability between their GIS products. See our Industry News for the full story.
GISWeekly examines select top news each week, picks out worthwhile reading from around the web, and special interest items you might not find elsewhere. This issue will feature Industry News, Alliances/Acquisitions, Announcements, Appointments, New Products, Letters from Our Readers, Going on Around the Web, and Calendar.
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Susan Smith, Managing Editor
Industry News
Customer-driven Interoperability
Customer-driven interoperability has come to the forefront this week as five prominent vendors announced a new initiative to achieve improved interoperability between their GIS products. Laser-Scan, Autodesk, Intergraph, MapInfo, and Oracle, all members of the OpenGIS Consortium (OGC), put their heads together to attempt to give customers a “mix and match” capability with their technologies, making access to seamless data possible via Oracle Spatial relational database. Many organizations have separate departments that require a range of GIS applications. In addition, more and more businesses require their systems and applications to be interoperable in order to reduce costs and facilitate smarter working. Obviously those clients that have spearheaded this type of interoperability are already invested in Oracle. According to the interoperability initiators, Oracle Spatial is well suited for this joint initiative because it offers data interoperability across applications, regardless of which tools applications, or Web services are used for access.
Here is what some of the participants had to say:
How do you see this being any different than what the OGC has in place or what you're doing with them on your own?
Duncan Guthrie, Sales and Marketing Director for Laser-Scan:
We certainly made OGC aware of what we're doing. There are a couple of clients that have expressed the interest in interoperability for the text and point data such as orientation that they didn't have currently. So that prompted us to get in contact with each other to discuss what the clients want to do - why don't we get together and satisfy client need? That's where it stemmed from originally.
We produced what we call the Interoperability Kit that [each vendor] has developed independently and we've obviously made sure that they work with each other. However, this is not a club--it's just a common thing where we're saying let's do something for the client, and test that the kits work, then put them out in the marketplace as open source. So really any other GIS vendor that wants to have a look at this and say this is a good idea, and wants to create their own interoperability kit, they can do that. We heavily endorse any GIS vendor coming and doing exactly that. That's what the market is really asking for.
Each vendor will have their own Interoperability Kits so that when the client comes into the database, Autodesk can read anything created in MapInfo, MapInfo can read information created by Intergraph.
Pierre Lemire, CTO, Autodesk ISD:
As Autodesk moves to the solution business, we are becoming more customer and community centric. This is an initiative that addresses immediate interoperability needs and will help us to better solve customer problems related to multi-vendor implementations. In this particular case, Oracle Spatial was at the center. The Open GIS consortium, purposely vendor neutral, would never support an activity that focuses on only one database vendor. All the members of the initiative are strong supporters of the consortium and we all respect the independency of the consortium. In fact, we did not think it would be appropriate to bring this issue to the consortium without doing preliminary “hands-on” work. We all recognize the tremendous value for the industry of having a single place where university, systems integrators, software and hardware vendors can all talk openly and achieve consensus on specifications. But when our customers are asking multiple vendors at the same time for better support of text with Oracle Spatial, we need to fix it before the new specification is discussed, revised and accepted. The impact of this work will definitively benefit the consortium and the specifications as it will bring even more customer feedback in the future.
Tom Myers, Product Manager, MapInfo:
The goals of this initiative are completely in line with our efforts as a principal member of the OGC. That is, making data exchange simple, transparent and open. This work has been driven by customers looking to build multi-vendor systems built on Oracle technology. Without the standardization of certain data type descriptions at the database layer we understand that customers may need to make additional investments in their solutions to make their applications interoperate. This was clearly an opportunity for us to improve our customers' experience, work cooperatively with one another in the near term through the development of interoperability kits, and moving forward, work within the OGC framework to reach agreement on data type specifications.
Steve Reed, Director, Strategic Alliances, Intergraph Mapping and Geospatial Solutions:
This is consistent with and builds on what OGC has achieved. This initiative enables customers to achieve enterprise interoperability by using open tools to share information in a mixed vendor environment. Because the initial work for this initiative was started by customer-driven needs it did not go through the formal OGC process. However, the next logical step is to fold this into the OGC process.
Are you looking at this as a short term solution only or will it evolve into a long term solution?
Duncan Guthrie, Sales and Marketing Director for Laser-Scan:
We all have a heavy involvement with OGC and this is the first step. This is a short term goal to satisfy a client's need. This is very good for OGC, and we want to make what we have done here, in terms of standardizing a format, part of OGC. So it sort of works alongside and accelerates what OGC's trying to achieve. It's sort of the first rung of the ladder and very much the intention that this gets rolled into OGC's standards.
It will evolve, as it solves a problem that some clients have at the moment and the kits enable any other organizations to do exactly the same. We don't want this to be anything outside of OGC; it's really working into the whole OGC scenario now, so it's not separate. It's a common goal that we're all working towards. The kits as they stand should encourage other organizations to advance what they want to do in interoperability. It's about creating the best tool for the job.
Instead of having to use a software product simply because that's what another department is doing, we can rule that out and the clients can begin to use what they want to use. It is very important that we push this into the OGC community.
How will this initiative impact specifications of the future?
Tom Myers, Product Manager, MapInfo:
Our hope is that this effort fosters similar participation and cooperation within the market and that this will lead to the introduction of specifications within the OGC consensus process. MapInfo, in cooperation with Intergraph, Autodesk and Laser-Scan, are committed to these next steps.
Steve Reed, Director, Strategic Alliances, Intergraph Mapping and Geospatial Solutions:
By moving this process forward though OGC there will be significant value added to the already significant OGC specifications.
How difficult is it to incorporate vendor/customer influence into the development of specifications?
Vendor agreement on specifications is an important part to this process. With phase 1 achievement of this initiative Intergraph, Autodesk, MapInfo, Laser-Scan and Oracle have proven they can work together effectively and in a cooperative environment to develop solutions to customers' interoperability issues. Each vendor in this initiative wants to expand this effort into the OGC process as a next logical step.
The goal was to provide interoperability on the Oracle Spatial platform. Oracle, through their SDO_GEOMETRY objects, already provides an extensive set of geometry types that can be shared between most vendors today. Additional interoperability formats were introduced where required with standard Oracle data structures used to store these formats. These formats will be published so that all vendors can use them if they are interested in interoperability.
Carl Reed, PhD, Executive Director, OGC Specification Program:
As you are aware, a number of OGC members have worked together to develop an "Interoperability Kit" that supports seamless access by a vendor neutral solution to spatially enabled RDBMS. The "interoperability kits" from Autodesk, Intergraph and MapInfo are clients accessing Laser-Scan Radius Topology within Oracle. Some may wonder why this group of members is working interoperability issues outside the OGC process.
Our member's focus on OGC Web Services has been extremely productive and has resulted in a Web Services Architecture for geoprocessing represented by six very solid specifications, such as the Web Map Service and GML specifications, that have been widely adopted and implemented in the marketplace. Members have also evolved these specifications to support Location Based Services (LBS). The OpenGIS Open Location Services specification should be publicly available before the end of the calendar year.
OGC Web Service specifications define what are termed "loosely coupled" interfaces operating in the Web world in which geographically distributed clients "talk" to geographically distributed servers, typically via HTTP. Consider, however, that the early work of the OGC membership was on "tightly coupled" interface specifications using CORBA and COM. Our first specification, called the OpenGIS Simple Feature Specification, was for tightly coupled client-to-server data communication. A number of our members implemented this specification. Since then, due to the focus on web services, member work on tightly coupled interface specifications took on a low level of activity.
At the same time, market conditions are dictating a requirement for "multi-database/multi-GIS vendor" interoperability operating across networks other than the Internet. The "Interoperability Kit" is a signal to the OGC that service interoperability at the DB level is at hand and it is time for the Consortium to begin readying our membership to define an enhanced architecture and specification for multi application/multi db interoperability. As was stated in one of the press releases, "This effort represents a step in the progression toward the Open GIS Consortium's (OGC) vision of a world in which everyone benefits from geographic information and services made available across any network, application, or platform. Intergraph, Autodesk, Laser-Scan, and MapInfo are committed to maturing and submitting the results of this effort into the standards-setting programs of the OGC."
There is nothing to prevent OGC members teaming outside the OGC framework and working issues of geospatial interoperability and then bringing this work into the OGC standards process - which is the intent of this group of members. And this is not the first time this has happened. Recently, several of our members developed an interface specification for a portal project in Germany. They then brought this draft specification, called "Web Pricing and Ordering" into the OGC membership for review as part of the formal OGC specification process. Their work was very well received and is on its way to becoming an adopted OpenGIS Specification.
I feel that members working collaboratively - either inside or outside the OGC process - to solve interoperability and open systems issues is incredibly healthy for our industry. When this group of members brings the results of their work into the OGC standards process, we will be able to revitalize our specification work for tightly coupled applications. By bringing the results of the effort to the membership, all of our members will have the opportunity to review, comment, and enhance this work. Also, as part of our process, there is an open, public comment period for every OGC specification. At that time, anyone (OGC member or not) can comment on a draft specification.
Laser-Scan white paper on interoperability
White paper on GIS interoperability via Oracle Spatial
Autodesk White Paper
MapInfo on Interoperability.
Other comments from press releases:
"We are excited to see Laser-Scan and this group of OGC members engaged in this unified approach to interoperability processes using Oracle ," said Steve Hagan, vice president, Server Technologies at Oracle. "Oracle Spatial is used around the globe in thousands of enterprise and national GIS, digital mapping and wireless location based services applications that are shared by and accessed through every major spatial and GIS partner technology. We believe that this initiative is an important milestone in the continuing evolution of open standards and will support continued development of this initiative within the OGC consensus process."
Attendees of the INTERGEO Conference and Trade Fair on September 17-19 in Hamburg, Germany, got the first look at demonstrations of this enterprise interoperability capability among the four vendors at Intergraph's Booth # 12D44.
Alliances/Acquisitions/Agreements
ESRI, developer of geographic information system (GIS) software, announced that the Portuguese municipality of Lisbon and ESRI Portugal have signed a cooperation agreement for GIS implementation in the city. This agreement establishes ESRI as the designated supplier of GIS software to the municipality of Lisbon and anticipates the expansion of the use of ESRI's GIS technology solution throughout the municipality. Pedro Santana Lopes, Lisbon's mayor, indicates that this agreement constitutes a crucial element in the city's information technology (IT) modernization strategy.
SPOT Image and ASERCA (Apoyos y Servicios a la Comercializacion Agropecuaria) recently signed an agreement providing for direct reception of SPOT satellite image data through a new receiving station in Mexico. The agreement covers reception of data from the SPOT 2, SPOT 4 and SPOT 5 satellites. ASERCA is part of the Mexican federal government's Ministry of agriculture, livestock farming, rural development, food and fisheries (SAGARPA).
Orbital Imaging Corporation (ORBIMAGE) announced that it has reached a settlement agreement with MacDonald Dettwiler & Associates, Ltd. (MDA) of Vancouver, Canada concerning its remaining marketing rights in the long-delayed Canadian Radarsat-2 satellite program. In exchange for payments totaling $12 million over the next 2 years, ORBIMAGE agreed to end its dispute and return its limited licenses in Radarsat-2 back to MDA, the prime contractor for the program. Furthermore, resolution of its dispute concerning Radarsat-2 now enables ORBIMAGE to finalize its plan of reorganization and emerge from its Chapter 11 bankruptcy case.
Two of the largest remaining UK GIS companies, Laser-Scan and Cadcorp, have announced a co-operation agreement. The companies intend to work together to allow users of Cadcorp's flagship product Cadcorp SIS® - Spatial Information System® - seamless access to Laser-Scan's Radius Topology, when deployed with Oracle spatial technology.
Announcements
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Courtesy of ORBIMAGE |
With Hurricane Isabel approaching the mid-Atlantic coast, more than 16.7 million residents of North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland will feel the first effects of the wide-ranging storm, the U.S. Census Bureau said this week. Based on the projected path, the Bureau said more than 21.2 million people will experience tropical- and hurricane-force winds before the hurricane's eye makes landfall Thursday.
According to the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Isabel currently is a strong Category 2 storm. Measurements taken at 5 p.m. EDT indicated that sustained winds of about 105 mph extended outward to 115 miles from the center, with tropical storm-force winds extending more than 315 miles.
Probability charts showed the storm would make landfall along the central coast of North Carolina, near the city of Morehead. Located to the south of Cape Hatteras, Morehead has more than 7,800 residents.
NASA is keeping a close watch on Hurricane Isabel as it churns in the Atlantic with winds that top 150 miles per hour. Instruments aboard NASA's suite of Earth-observing satellites are monitoring the storm as it makes its way toward the East Coast of the United States. Meanwhile, astronauts aboard the International Space Station are capturing unique video of the storm.
Spectacular images of Isabel are available on both the Internet and NASA Television. Expedition 7 Commander Yuri Malenchenko and NASA Science Officer Ed Lu aboard the International Space Station captured the latest images and video as they passed 240 statute miles over the storm.
NASA will continue to monitor the storm and publish images and video as Isabel continues to move toward the Eastern Seaboard. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration uses NASA data as part of its prediction tool kit while working to predict where and when landfall will occur. The data are also vital to hurricane researchers, who seek to understand how these dangerous storms develop and affect people and property on land and at sea.
Video is available on NASA TV's Video File beginning at noon EDT. Still images and animation of Isabel as captured by one of the NASA instruments watching the storm, the MODIS instrument onboard NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites, are now available on the web at: http://www.nasa.gov and http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/topstory/2003/0915isabel.html. For information about NASA TV and its Video File feeds on the Internet, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html
See more on hurricanes and Isabel in “Going on Around the Web” below.
ObjectFX Corporation, a provider of a Java™-based spatial software toolkit today announced it has been awarded a United States patent which validates the company's innovative technology behind its SpatialFX™ product that enables the integration of dynamic location services and spatial operations into enterprise solutions.
InfoWave has won a contract to equip over 5,000 Singapore taxis with in-vehicle touch-screen devices. A key component of a new transport management system for Singapore's CityCab, the InfoWave 728 devices provide in-built GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) data and voice communications, coupled with GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite tracking. Specially designed with super-bright and large 7-inch TFT glare-resistant displays, the devices provide easy and user-friendly viewing for taxi drivers.
Geoscape International, Inc. (Geoscape) introduced its “American Marketscape DataStream: 2003 Series”. The data set includes over one thousand variables for population and households within the U.S. at the national level and at detailed levels down to the zip code and block group. The data set is designed to fuel the analyses and plans of marketers attempting to grow their market share among these rapidly growing population segments. The “DataStream” also is made available via an internet-based system, which provides detailed reporting, mapping, retail site analysis, media coverage reports, list enhancement, prospect list generation and other market intelligence functions
SANZ (OTCBB: SANZ) announced that the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in Denver, Colorado has purchased and installed an EarthWhere™, multi user, spatial data provisioning system. The USGS Rocky Mountain Mapping Center (RMMC) is using EarthWhere as part of its core information technology infrastructure to create custom digital maps and imagery datasets that support a variety of government-wide projects, including homeland security and wildfire management. This particular system combines the SANZ EarthWhere software application integrated by SANZ with a multi-terabyte StorageTek ASM (Application Storage Manager) appliance.
Thales (TAL-less) Navigation, a global provider of GPS solutions, and Geodetics, Inc., specializing in high-precision real-time GPS software, announced that Thales Navigation is marketing Geodetics' RTD - Real Time Dynamics GPS Network software system.
Intergraph Mapping and Geospatial Solutions has extended the registration deadline for the "Introduction to Geographic Information Science (GIS)" online education course. Due to increasing customer demand, the deadline is extended through October 30, 2003. The training program, presented by the Intergraph GeoSpatial Users Community (IGUC), was established to provide a theoretical and hands-on understanding of GIS, and is suitable for both existing users of GeoMedia Professional or other GIS technology, as well as those new to GIS within the academic or commercial community. Upon completion of the program, participants will have the opportunity to take an examination in order to gain GeoMedia Professional Certified User status For more information or to register online, visit http://imgs.intergraph.com/training/online.asp
U.S. based NavCom Technology, Inc., precise positioning and communications technology provider, announced at the INTERGEO conference that Allsat GmbH network+services (ALLSAT) has successfully completed the integration of NavCom's high-performance, high-accuracy RTK receivers with its GART-2000® software.
ESRI has announced that Orange Slovensko (SK), the largest Slovakian mobile telecommunications operator, recently launched a second phase of location-based applications for its mass-market and enterprise subscribers.
HP (NYSE: HPQ) became the first storage and server vendor to articulate a comprehensive Information Lifecycle Management (ILM) initiative for the active management of data -- from creation to deletion -- based on changing application and business needs.
Trimble announced that it has signed an agreement with EDF Environnement et Developpement S.A. of France to acquire its subsidiary, MENSI S.A., a leading developer of terrestrial 3D laser scanning technology. Trimble will acquire MENSI in a cash transaction valued at up to EUR 6.5 million (approximately USD 7.3 million). The initial purchase price is EUR 3.5 million (approximately USD 3.9 million) with additional payments up to EUR 3.0 million (approximately USD 3.4 million) based on revenue through 2007. Closing of the transaction is subject to approval by French authorities.
Appointments
Martin Morgan, chairman of Sanborn, a geographic information system (GIS) and photogrammetry industry company, announced that Bob Williams, a former vice president of sales and marketing for the Colorado Springs, Colorado-based company, has returned to Sanborn to run the company's St. Louis, Missouri, office, effective immediately.
David Donahue has rejoined the Leica Geosystems organization as director of sales for the northeast region. He spent eight years in the 1980s as direct sales rep and regional sales manager for the Wild Heerbrugg Company, which later became Leica Geosystems. Since then, he spent four years as sales manager with the Heinrich Company and eight years as northeast regional manager for Nikon Inc.
David Page has been named technical sales representative in the eastern Ontario region. Page was owner and president of AM Laser & Survey Ltd in Nova Scotia. Prior to that, he worked a number of years as inside sales coordinator in the Wild-Leitz Halifax office. He is a Certified Sales Professional (CSP) and Certified Engineering Technologist (CET). In his new position, Page will have responsibility for sales and technical support for Leica Geosystems surveying products throughout the region.
Former Wyoming Governor Jim Geringer has joined ESRI. Geringer, a strong advocate for technology in government, completed his second term as governor in January 2003. Prior to the governorship, he served in the Wyoming legislature for 12 years.
Hitachi Software Global Technology, Ltd. (HSGT), provider of spatial data and Open GIS solutions, announced the appointment of Mr. Joseph Langer as its new utilities account executive. He will be responsible for GIS business development within the electric and gas utility markets at HSGT's headquarters in Westminster, Colorado.
New Products
LeadDog Consulting announced the release of Mexico Streets & Roads in SDC format, the proprietary data format used within ESRI's RouteMap IMS.
Mexico Streets & Roads in SDC format includes:
- Nationwide Major Roads & Highways
- City Streets
- Postcode points
- Points of Interest
- Parks & Water
- Municipal / State / Country boundaries
Geosoft, provider of geospatial software for earth science industries, announced the release of Target for ArcGIS, a surface and drillhole mapping extension to ESRI's ArcGIS software.
Safe Software Inc. announced it has added PostGIS and PostgreSQL import and export capability to its core data translation technology, making it immediately available for its flagship product FME (Feature Manipulation Engine).
Fastrax Ltd., a developer of GPS receivers, expanded its product offering with new-generation iTrax03 series OEM GPS receivers. Designed to complement the Fastrax iTrax02 series OEM GPS receivers, the iTrax03 product family introduces several innovations to allow extensive applicability.
Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT), launched FS Oncore™, a breakthrough miniature Global Positioning System (GPS) product. The FS Oncore module, smaller than a dime at 200 Sq. mm, is used for adding accurate location sensing to virtually any portable electronics product.
Pharos Science & Applications Inc., provider of portable GPS navigation and location-based services, is introducing Smart Navigator, the first Web-based service to combine GPS navigation, real-time traffic and dynamic points-of-interest lookup for users of Windows Mobile-based Pocket PCs (as well as Pocket PCs with integrated phone capabilities.) To mark the launch of Smart Navigator, Pharos is offering the service for free through the end of 2003.
Letters from our Readers
Response to Editorial: Books, Books and More Books About GIS
Last week's Industry News highlighted some new GIS books that are either currently available or soon to be released. Readers responded with their own comments-on favorite books and love of books in print.
Dear Ms Smith;
I am a geologic consultant. The company I work for writes environmental reports for banks, lawyers, the State of California, Kern County etc. We (two of us) have to review all that we write and be sure that the clients can understand it. We have found that the only certain way to get the job done correctly is to print out what we have produced and then edit it. Do it over again and then publish.
The printed word is the best way to edit. Editing on the screen is OK, if all we have is one page. Editing from the screen for a 15 or 20 page report is an invitation to contradiction in our own writing! Stuff from page 3 that does not agree with page 17 jumps out when we print it.
We boiler-plate some material from one report to another similar report, to remain consistent with wording. But, not everything is exactly the same from one project to another. The inconsistencies in our writing leap off the printed page! They get lost when you go from one page to another on the screen and I have a 0.21 pixel screen.
Books rule and fortunately the computer screen, Internet etc. has caused them to grow. An unintended consequence.
Congratulations on your return to the printed page! I look forward to your geology for children book.
Harold Sugden
Registered Geologist - State of California
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Hello,
I would like to know how those new GIS books can be ordered and what are the prices?
Thank You
Kind regards
Bartosz Brozek
Editor's Note:
You can find all the books and their prices, with the exception of those published by East View Cartographic (which you can find by clicking on the URL listed in the article http://www.cartographic.com/whats_new.asp), are listed on Amazon.com.
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Hi Susan,
That was a nice list of books. The following may be a bit more academic than the others, but for those in Transportation GIS, it's a resource.
From the Oxford Press Spatial Information Series:
Geographic Information Systems for Transportation, Principles and Applications
by Harvey Miller and Shih-lung Shaw
Oxford University Press, Inc.
198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
ISBN 0-19-512394-8
Hope this helps,
Ernie
Ernest K. Ott
Transportation Industry Manager
ESRI, Inc.
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Going on Around the Web...
Hurricane Isabel Maps & Charts, NOAA
Recipe for a Hurricane Between June 1st and November 30th and peaking between late August and mid-September, the Atlantic Ocean becomes a meteorological mixing bowl, with all of the ingredients necessary to create the recipe for hurricanes. And when it does, NASA has a cadre of satellites ready to serve up a feast of information to the forecasters who seek to monitor and better understand these awesome storms. NASA September 9, 2003
NASA Fact: Hurricanes rank low-high ratings of 1-5, depending on potential damage, flooding and intensity. Category 5 hurricanes, like 'Mitch' in 1998, have winds over 155 mph and storm surges over 18 ft. Trees and signs are blown down, and roofs are blown away.
Canon EOS Rebel Digital Camera Review PC Magazine, September 15, 2003, by Les Freed. The impressive Canon EOS Digital Rebel SLR carves out a new niche in the ever-harder-to-define prosumer digital camera market.
Satellite Tracking of Suspects Requires a Warrant, Court Rules by Associated Press, NY Times, September 11, 2003
The police cannot attach a Global Positioning System tracker to a suspect's vehicle without a warrant, the Washington Supreme Court said in the first such ruling in the nation.
Going on in September...
SmartCard Teleconference Events
Date: September 4, 2003
Place: USA
"Ask the Experts" Roundtable teleconference
2003 South Florida GIS Expo
Date: September 4 - 5, 2003
Place: West Palm Beach, FL USA
The South Florida GIS Expo is an annual conference sponsored by the Palm Beach County Countywide GIS Forum which hosts GIS-related technical and educational presentations. This event could not happen without the volunteers that work on the various GIS Expo Committees. As this event continues to grow regionally, our volunteer support has expanded to include staff from the four counties in this region, Palm Beach, Miami-Dade, Broward and Martin. We also get substantial support from several municipalities and other government and private agencies in the South Florida region.
International Map Trade Association Americas Annual Conference & Trade Show
Date: September 7 - 10, 2003
Place: Santa Barbara, CA USA
The International Map Trade Association (IMTA) fully represents the international mapping, geospatial, and geographic information industry. Membership includes data and content providers, publishers/manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. Members from over 50 countries and 6 continents, representing over 800 companies and organizations, join together to foster individual and industry growth.
International PROGIS Partner and VIP Conference
Date: September 10 - 12, 2003
Place: Hotel Karnerhof, Egg am Faaker Australia
Access to selected markets with the WinGIS 2003 Product line from PROGIS
ESRI Latin American User Conference
Date: September 10 - 12, 2003
Place: Santa Cruz, Bolivia
FME Training Surrey
Date: September 11 - 12, 2003
Place: (Safe Headoffice) BC , Canada
Learn from the source how to use the core components of the Feature Manipulation Engine (FME) through hands-on training. During our two-day (1/3 lecture, 2/3 exercise and problem solving) training course, attendees learn to unlock the powerful features and functionalities of FME to more effectively manage their data translation and data transformation problems. Questions are encouraged throughout the class and attendees are encouraged to bring their own sample data files.
GeoSolutions 2003
Date: September 16 - 18, 2003
Place: Earls Court 1 London, England, United Kingdom
Now in it's 12th year, GeoSolutions 2003 in association with the AGI conference is Europe's leading event for professionals looking for business solutions through Geographic Information. Providing a single focus for the industry the event is Europe's leading educational and business forum, attracting over 3000 visitors last year from a diversity of markets.
AGI Conference at GeoSolutions 2003:
Date: September 16 - 18, 2003
Place: Earls Court 1 London, United Kingdom
The practical application and business use of Geographic Information (GI) for commercial property, retail, risk management and general business will be highlighted at this years' AGI Conference, held in association with the GeoSolutions 2003 event. The exhibition and conference will run be held at Earls Court, London UK from the 16 - 18th September 2003.
Association of Pacific Coast Geographers 2003 Annual Meeting
Date: September 17 - 20, 2003
Place: Portland, OR USA
Hosted by the Geography Department at Portland State University, the program will begin with an opening session featuring geographers from the University of Oregon, Oregon State University, and Portland State University who will be speaking on the general rubric of global and regional environmental change.
Geospatial Intelligence Days
Date: September 17 - 19, 2003
Place: Intergraph 1881 Campus Commons Drive, Suite 410, Reston, VA 20191 USA
Please join us for demonstrations and presentations designed to enhance your knowledge of Geospatial Intelligence. Please RSVP by calling 1-800-559-9261, or by following the link to the web site that provides a detailed agenda and on-line registration for your convenience. We look forward to seeing you there!
Avenza Systems Training
Date: September 18 - 19, 2003
Place: Chicago, IL USA
MAPublisher training using MAPublisher 5.0 on Adobe Illustrator 10 on Windows. Given by Avenza technical and training staff.
Digital Earth 2003
Date: September 21 - 25, 2003
Place: Masaryk University Brno, Czech Republic
Information Resources for Global Sustainability Knowledge, Networks, Technology, Economy, Society, Natural and Human Resources, Policy and Strategy
Spatial Sciences 2003-Spatial Knowledge Without Boundaries
Date: September 22 - 27, 2003
Place: National Convention Centre, Canberra, Australia
Inaugural national conference addressing the interests of professionals in the fields of surveying, geographic information systems, mapping sciences and remote sensing.
FME Training Calgary
Date: September 22 - 23, 2003
Place: Calgary, AB , Canada
Learn from the source how to use the core components of the Feature Manipulation Engine (FME) through hands-on training. During our two-day (1/3 lecture, 2/3 exercise and problem solving) training course, attendees learn to unlock the powerful features and functionalities of FME to more effectively manage their data translation and data transformation problems. Questions are encouraged throughout the class and attendees are encouraged to bring their own sample data files.
GITA 12th Annual GIS for Oil & Gas Conference
Date: September 29, 2003
Place: JW Marriott, Houston, TX USA
September 29 - October 1 The two-and-a-half-day conference includes introductory and advanced workshops, information-packed educational sessions in concurrent tracks, and numerous exhibits showcasing the latest advances in GIS hardware, software, and services designed for use within the industry.
You can find the full GISCafe.com event calendar here.
To read more news, click here.
-- Susan Smith, GISCafe.com Managing Editor.