GIS

Large-scale solar parks in Madhya Pradesh, India

Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) and Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Limited (RUMSL) signed an agreement for financing the shared infrastructure of two large Solar Parks in Madhya Pradesh on 31st January 2018. Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE), World Bank & IREDA have been able to work out a proposal to channelize US$ 100 Million for creating common infrastructure for ultra-mega solar parks in India to achieve the 100 GW solar capacity addition target by 2022.

New noise maps created for the German Federal Railway

Commissioned by the German Federal Railway Authority, and under the direction of Disy Informationssysteme GmbH, the consortium of firms Disy, Pöyry and SoundPLAN have completed the EU environmental noise mapping of the main German railway lines. In addition to the actual noise calculations, this large-scale project includes a very complex data management system to check, clean, and homogenize huge data sets as a basis for the noise propagation calculations. The results of this nationwide noise mapping are the basis for noise action planning and are available to the public as of now. www.eba.bund.de

Water utilities capitalize on hydraulic modeling to minimize TOTEX

Manila Water is a water utility concessionaire in the Philippines that provides water and wastewater services for 24 cities and municipalities and operates more than 100 facilities serving 6 million customers both in water distribution and wastewater treatment. The Philippines sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions frequently occur. Metro Manila falls victim to this circumstance, being geographically transected by several fault systems, including the dangerous West Valley Fault System. To address the great level of risk, Manila Water conducted a Resiliency and Business Interruption (RBI) study to determine the systems and facilities that are most vulnerable in the event of such natural disasters. The study indicated that significant damages amounting to approximately USD 520 million in water infrastructure is inevitable. Consequently, the Natural Calamity Risk Resiliency and Mitigation Master Plan was developed in collaboration with National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and Local Government Units (LGU). The NDRRMC and LGU provided the emergency response plan as well as locations of evacuation sites that will be used in the event of a catastrophe.

Manila Water must ensure that these identified sites will have a secure and reliable supply of water in case of emergency. WaterGEMS was used to identify and prioritize critical assets requiring resiliency and contingency measures by simulating the effect of losing one or several components of the water system and seeing how interconnected systems would react.

Geovation programme in UK seeks new GeoTech and PropTech disruptors

The Geovation Programme is now accepting applications from start-ups using location and/or land and property data in their products and services. If selected to join the Programme, the start-ups will each receive up to £20,000 in funding and a range of resources and services to help develop their businesses. This includes access to experienced software developers, geospatial expertise from Ordnance Survey, property expertise from HMLR, and mentoring to assist with business proposals and investor relationships. https://geovation.uk

Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality Launched DigiTel Resident Card in India

The Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality recently announced the new "DigiThane” digital engagement platform that was launched in the city of Thane, India.

DigiTel is an innovative platform that strengthens the connection between residents and city officials, allowing residents to receive a variety of personalized services and information via email, SMS or the DigiTel webpage. Information is tailored to suit the needs of the individual and is based on many factors including place of residence, interests and personal status. The system offers live updates on current events in a specific neighborhood and around the city, along with discounts to events, cultural institutions and leisure activities. Tel Aviv- Yafo was given the "Smart City Award" at the 2014 Smart City Expo in Barcelona

First research centre for 3D digital mapping at UNSW Sydney

In January, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney set up its first Geospatial Information Centre under the Faculty of Built Environment to focus on 3D digital mapping of buildings and infrastructure. The objective of the new research centre is to advance the data of buildings in Sydney to the third dimension, in order to improve accessibility, safety and emergency response procedures of urban structures in Sydney. www.opengovasia.com

Ghana to develop a homegrown digital mapping system

Mr Kwesi Boateng Adjei, a Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development (MLG&RD) of Ghana has said government would develop a Home-grown Digital Mapping of property to promote the National Digital Property Addressing System (NDPAS) and Street Naming system. He said the vision of the initiative is to achieve a nationwide use of spatial database information for good governance and socio-economic development through the development, management and dissemination of property addressing linked with postal codes and to ensure total access to high-quality geographic information and services for individuals and organisations. www.ghanaweb.com

VolkerWessels and Trimble partnership

Trimble and VolkerWessels, announced a strategic relationship to standardize VolkerWessels’ projects on a key set of Trimble construction technologies. The collaboration is designed to leverage each company’s core capabilities to advance innovations in Building Information Management (BIM) technology and improve the management and predictability of building construction and real estate projects.

Fugro starts surveying Hail and Ghasha fields in UAE

Netherlands-based company Fugro has started conducting geophysical and geotechnical surveys for Artelia, as a part of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company’s (ADNOC) Hail and Ghasha gas development. Situated off the Arabian Gulf, the Hail and Ghasha gas development form an important part to ensure sustainable and economic gas supply to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The survey activities include the delivery of bathymetric, multibeam echo sounder, tide gauges, ultra-high-resolution seismic subbottom profiling, magnetometer and side scan sonar. www.offshore-technology.com

LeddarTech, OPTIS announce LiDAR simulation partnership

Virtual prototyping company OPTIS and LeddarTech have announced a partnership that will enable the industrial simulation of advanced LiDAR solutions. This collaboration allows transportation companies to virtually test and integrate their next generation of LiDAR developed around the LeddarCore integrated circuit (IC).

INCOIS to create 3D maps of areas at risk of tsunami

Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS)has commissioned Hyderabad-based RSI Softech India to compile data from the ground to create, with GIS and GPS data, maps for authorities at all levels to use to plan the emergency evacuation of low-lying areas. INCOIS will use the data to prepare detailed maps with data on individual buildings, the number of occupants, the time they spend in the structures and their profiles.