The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has selected Carahsoft Technology Corp., a government information technology provider, and TerraGo Technologies, the leading provider of geospatial data distribution and collaboration solutions, to provide interactive electronic mapping solutions for the agency's use in response to critical emergency events.
Acquisitions/Agreements/Alliances
CX2 Technologies, Inc. announced the signing of a consulting agreement with GEOCommand, Inc., a developer of homeland security software for emergency responders. CX2 and GEOCommand have partnered to design and develop software that uses the CX2 wireless, IP-based narrowband network and CX2 data modems to integrate weather, radiation, chemical, and biological sensor data with GEOCommand's Dynamic Server™ technology.
iMapData Inc., a consulting firm specializing in customized, geospatially-based decision support solutions for the public and private sector, has been acquired from ChoicePoint Inc.® (NYSE: CPS) by a private investment group. The investment group is led by, and the business will be managed by, the founders of iMapData.
Announcements
GyPSii, a geo-location and social networking service provider for mobile phones and Internet devices, received highly sought after industry acclaim at this year's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, when it was a winner in the NAVTEQ LBS Challenge, a contest in which over 300 companies competed.
The award coincided with GyPSii's live launch at the event, following a three month public beta trial with users worldwide. The honor further positions GyPSii as the leading player in the emerging mobile social networking and LBS market.
Snowflake Software announced that GO Publisher WFS is the first Web Feature Server to meet the new stringent Team Engine WFS 1.0.0 and WFS 1.1.0 Compliance Tests of the Open Geospatial Consortium. GO Publisher WFS was awarded certification to the OpenGIS® Web Feature Service Implementation Specification, Version 1.0.0 and Version 1.1.0 after passing over 200 individual tests on February 28, 2008.
AWhere, Inc. (AWI), the developer of geoanalytic solutions for the visualization of business intelligence data, announces the release of AWhere Express. The new software allows users to quickly visualize data by building easy-to-read maps from MS Excel and other tabular data sources. AWhere Express leapfrogs complex Geographic Information Systems (GIS) solutions that require special training and a large financial investment. At $249, AWhere Express allows any MS Excel user to inexpensively create visualizations or "mash-ups" of their data.
Geographic Technologies Group, Inc. (GTG) released GeoBlade Search & Rescue application. GeoBlade Search & Rescue is just one of a family of “blades” incorporated into the GeoBlade toolset. Blades are additional functionalities to the core viewer, specific to an agency’s departmental needs.
People
The Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) announced that the OGC's founder and Chairman of the OGC Board of Directors, David Schell, has been appointed to a three-year term on the recently formed US National Geospatial Advisory Committee (NGAC).
Enspiria Solutions, Inc. announced that Peter Batty has joined its leadership team in an advisory role. As Chief Technical Advisor, Mr. Batty will work closely with the Enspiria® Research and Development Team, as well as the Enterprise GIS Consulting and Delivery Project Teams, defining and guiding the technical direction of Enspiria to ensure continued benefits to its clients. He also continues to be President of Spatial Networking, a startup company focused on combining location and social networking.
The Geospatial Information & Technology Association (GITA) has appointed Intergraph Corp. utilities industry manager Kecia Pierce to the conference chair position for its next Geospatial Infrastructure Solutions Conference to be held April 19-22, 2009 in Tampa.
East View Information Services (EVIS) and East View Cartographic (EVC) are excited to announce the addition of several highly accomplished members to its management team in recent months. Since 2007, EVIS has added Robert Lee, Director of Online Publishing and Dena Schoen, Director of Sales. EVC has added Dana Richard, Director of Operations. Finally, several corporate roles have been established over EVIS and EVC, which include Doug Keefer, Chief Financial Officer, Rodney Buhrsmith, Chief Marketing Officer and Ben Bowman, Chief Technology Officer.
Barb Wenninger, Appleton, has been promoted to the position of Director of Sales and Marketing at American Digital Cartography, Inc. (ADCi). In her new position Wenninger will be responsible for managing and growing ADCi’s sales activity; as well as planning, implementing, and directing the company’s marketing and public relations strategies. Wenninger has been with ADCi for six years and brings more than 20 years experience to her new role.
Anthony J. Pietropola was recently appointed to the Committee on Geographic Information Science and Applications on behalf of the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Executive Committee. Pietropola’s term will begin on April 15, 2008, and run through April 14, 2011.
New Products
TerraGo Technologies, the provider of geospatial data distribution and collaboration solutions, announced the release of Map2PDF Professional for Acrobat, the geospatial industry’s first solution designed to automatically create mapbooks in the GeoPDF format, at the GITA Conference in Seattle, WA. Mapbooks created with the Map2PDF Professional for Acrobat software provide timely and easy access to intelligent, interactive sets of maps for field users, first responders and emergency management personnel across all levels of government.
Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging announced the release of Leica TITAN 2008. This dynamic online solution allows users and communities to share geospatial data, web services and location-based content internal and external to an organization, and to a variety of client applications.
Abaco Srl, provider of the research and development of GIS tools and applications, presented at GITA 2008 the new version of Assioma, designed to make it easier to manage territorial assets like real-estates, networks, tools, etc.
The solution includes several years of experience designing and developing CAD/GIS applications integrated with Management Information Systems, in order to coherently store information with historical changes of terrains, buildings, street networks, and hydrograph networks. Progetto Assioma contains advanced software components (DbCAD/DbMAP), a comprehensive software framework (SITI) and application modules (Assioma).
SmartSynch has introduced a newer version of its Coverage Validation Unit (CVU) - a highly integrated, ruggedized handheld device that enables utility technicians to verify GPRS, CDMA or Wi-Fi frequency coverage prior to SmartMeter deployments. With competing solutions, utility technicians must rely on a trial-by-error approach; deploying advanced meters first, then returning to their offices to measure their performance.
Intergraph Corp.'s newest design and asset management software now supports Oracle Locator for storing geospatial data, allowing for greater interoperability among other corporate systems and further compliance with corporate and industry data storage standards. The software integrates geospatial data with corporate systems such as work management, outage management and network analysis to fully support planning, design, construction, operations, maintenance and emergency response functions.
Keigan Systems announced the release of its newest public safety/emergency management service, CLEER-Impact Plus. CLEER-Impact Plus uses CLEER’s powerful modeling and analytic capabilities to predict hazardous vapor dispersion, and maps the results using Google Maps™. First Responders and Emergency Managers anywhere can use this subscription product to support informed, timely decisions; all they need is access to a web browser and Internet connection.
Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging announces the release of Image Web Server (IWS) 8.5. Previously an ER Mapper product, IWS is a high-speed, specialized server application that efficiently distributes large volumes of geospatial image data. IWS solves the infrastructure congestion problems associated with deploying large amounts of image data, empowering users to quickly access the information they need.
Upcoming Events
| Web 2.0 Mapping and Social Networks March Meetup | |
| Date: | March 18, 2008 |
| Place: | 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Menlo Park, CA USA |
We are excited to feature two demos from our Web 2.0 Mapping and Social Networks Meetup members: Mapufacture.com and REmapper.com! Our Meetup group is about sharing, teaching, learning, and networking around current and future web-based geospatial and social networking technology. You belong if you are an entrepreneur, VC, developer, social-networker, product manager, programmer, developer, visionary, geographer, geologist, explorer, marketer, business exec, project manager, student, or a creative person who is curious about Web 2.0 mapping and social networks. We welcome all and exclude no one. The format of this Meetup is as follows: introductions, discussion of current events or current technology as it relates to web 2.0 mapping and social networks, presentation(s), 60-second audience announcements, and of course, networking. Please join us! | |
| 6th US Missile Defense Conference and Exhibit | |
| Date: | March 31 - April 3, 2008 |
| Place: | Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center
Washington, DC USA |
| A key objective of the 6th Annual U.S. Missile Defense Conference is to ensure that the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) Team maintains critical relationships, communication channels, and strategic direction as the BMDS continues its development and global deployment. | |
| Spatial Analysis for Business 2008 Conference | |
| Date: | April 5 - 8, 2008 |
| Place: | University of Redlands
Redlands, CA USA |
| The University of Redlands School of Business invites you to participate in the 2008 Spatial Analysis for Business Conference organized by the University of Redlands in partnership with the Small Business Administration and ESRI. This conference brings together noted experts in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), researchers, and business professionals to create a unique learning experience. The conference will consist of refereed paper and panel presentations, workshops, hands-on GIS tutorials and key note speakers. | |
| URISA/NENA Addressing Conference (formerly GIPSC) | |
| Date: | April 7 - 10, 2008 |
| Place: | Doubletree Hotel - Lloyd Center
Portland, OR USA |
| The Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA) and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) have announced a new name for its joint conference. The 2008 conference will be the first one presented under this name: The URISA/NENA Addressing Conference. | |
| Map Middle East 2008 | |
| Date: | April 8 - 10, 2008 |
| Place: | Dubai World Trade Centre
Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
| Map Middle East 2008, the Fourth Annual Middle East Conference on Geospatial Information, Technology & Applications will provide a platform to showcase the innovative applications of the Geospatial domain. | |
| 2008 North American Snow Conference | |
| Date: | April 13 - 16, 2008 |
| Place: | Kentucky International Convention Center,
Louisville,, KY USA |
| National conference and tradeshow specific to snow & ice control and winter operations. | |
You can find the full GISCafe.com event calendar here.
To read more news, click here.
-- Susan Smith, GISCafe.com Managing Editor.
