2006 September 15

This issue sponsored by

ESRI

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Editor's Introduction

This week I bring you two interviews: one on the status of navigation for cell phones—which, in turn, enables location-based services (LBS)—and the other on MapInfo's latest improvements in geocoding, which it has achieved by using data from TeleAtlas. Plus, my usual round-up of news from press releases.

— Matteo

What's New In Cell Phone Navigation

For years now, location-based services (LBS) for consumers using cell phones have been just over the horizon... which is that imaginary line that recedes as you approach it! Now, however, that might be finally changing, as wireless carriers and software companies begin to make full use of handsets' GPS capabilities.

I discussed these developments with Ori Lavie, Director of Product Marketing for the U.S. office of Telmap, an Israeli company that produces navigation software for cell phones. Its latest launch in the United States was a couple of weeks ago with Sprint-Nextel under the MapQuest brand. Lavie, who has an engineering background, wrote parts of the code for this software.

Read more …

MapInfo Uses TeleAtlas Data To Improve Geocoding

MapInfo first released MapMarkerPlus in 1995; at the beginning of August it released version 12.0, which includes quarterly data from TeleAtlas and better address interpolation for New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. At the end of this month it will release MapMarker ParcelPrecision, a parcel-level data set of all 50 states, plus D.C., where data are available. At the end of October, the company will ship MapMarker version 12.1, in which it will implement better address interpolation for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, where data are available.

I recently discussed MapInfo's products with Karl Urich, the company's Director of Data Development. "Our focus is business intelligence, solving the business problems of vertical industries," he told me. Specifically, Urich cites retail and the telecommunications and insurance industries. Almost all of the company's customers, he explains, require software, data, and services, so MapInfo delivers all three—as shrink-wrapped products, developer tools, and data. The data, including demographics and data for mapping, routing, and geocoding "is useful for both horizontal and vertical markets," says Urich.

Read more …

News Briefs

Please note: I have culled the following news items from press releases and have not independently verified them.

  1. CONTRACTS & COLLABORATIONS

    1. The City of Namur will implement STAR INFORMATIC software to migrate from their former GIS based on SICAD to a new architecture based on Oracle Spatial and STAR software. Read more …

    2. The Department of Infrastructure (DOI) for the state of Victoria, Australia, and Geomatic Technologies (GT) have completed the Victorian Rail Infrastructure Survey and Pass Assets project, which involved producing a register of assets associated with Victoria's Rail Infrastructure, estimated to be worth $6 billion. Read more …

    3. Six fire and rescue services in the United Kingdom have recently implemented new GIS-enabled information systems from SSi Solutions Ltd., a business partner for emergency services of digital mapping and GIS software developer Cadcorp. Read more …

    4. Galdos has signed a new contract to develop an urban spatial data infrastructure (SDI) within the city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Read more …

  2. PRODUCTS

    1. LeadDog Consulting, LLC has released detailed geographic databases of major roads for Honduras and city streets for Tegucigalpa to support military, government, asset-tracking, and commercial GIS applications.

    2. ESRI has begun shipping BusinessMAP Financial — a new, industry-specific version of its BusinessMAP database mapping software. Read more …

    3. Aerial Cartographics of America, Inc. (ACA), a 33-year old photogrammetric firm, has released MultiVision service, an aerial photography and software solution that allows individuals to view and use multiple, simultaneous digital oblique images for planning, assessment, and emergency purposes from a single computer screen. Read more …

    4. Bentley has released the textbook Learning MicroStation VBA.

  3. CONFERENCES

    1. The Trimble Dimensions 2006 conference will take place in Las Vegas, November 6-8, with the theme "Building Your Connected Site." Process integration and intelligent positioning devices will profoundly impact surveying, engineering, and construction professionals. Read more …

    2. A free ESRI live training seminar offered on the Web in October will demonstrate new cartographic functions in ArcGIS 9.2 that will make producing maps easier. Read more …

    3. Airborne 1 Corporation, a provider of LiDAR services, rentals, and software worldwide, will host the ASPRS Southwest Region Technical Meeting on Thursday September 28. Read more …

    4. ESRI is demonstrating enhancements in its new ArcGIS 9.2 software this fall during a series of worldwide seminars developed for GIS professionals. Read more …

    5. Jed Rice, vice president of market development for Skyhook Wireless, provider of the industry's first Wi-Fi-based positioning system, will be a featured panelist at Search Engine Strategies Local Search Conference & Expo, taking place on Thursday, September 28 in Denver, Colorado. Read more …

  4. PEOPLE

    1. GeoDecisions, a geospatial solutions company, has promoted Stephen A. Ellis to vice president, Miomir Ivanovic to director of intelligent transportation systems (ITS), and Brian J. Smith to director of state government. Read more …

    2. BAE Systems has named Drew Fisher as commercial sales manager for North America, representing the company's Geospatial eXploitation Products (GXP). Read more …

  5. OTHER

    1. The IDC-Dataquest IT Best Employers Survey 2006 results are out and for the fourth year running, global IT services provider RMSI has moved upward in the spotlighted "Top Twenty" ranking, jumping from last year's fourth place to the runner-up position. Read more …

    2. The Management Association for Private Photogrammetric Surveyors (MAPPS) is conducting its 2006 Non-Cash Benefits and Salary Survey. Read more …

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Contact

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Matteo Luccio, Editor
GIS Monitor

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