GIS

OGC® adopts WPS 2.0 standard interface

The Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) membership has approved the OGC Web Processing Service (WPS) Version 2 Interface Standard. It provides rules for standardizing how inputs and outputs (requests and responses) for geospatial processing services, such as polygon overlay, can be structured in a standard way. WPS also defines how a client can request the execution of a process, and how the output from the process is handled. By implementing this standard, any geospatial processing service, regardless of the source, can be “wrapped” with a standard interface and integrated into existing workflows. WPS supports both immediate processing for computational tasks that take little time and asynchronous processing for more complex and time consuming tasks. www.opengeospatial.org/.

Louisiana DOTD selects Intergraph

Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) in the US has selected an integrated, automated permitting and routing solution from Intergraph and Cambridge Systematics, which will improve customer service and traveler safety on Louisiana’s roads. Louisiana DOTD will replace a legacy, in-house developed oversize/overweight (OS/OW) vehicle permitting system with Intergraph’s OS/OW permitting and routing solution. www.intergraph.com

New GIS Roadmap delivered for Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi

In support of the Abu Dhabi 2030 Environmental Vision, Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has come closer to establishing itself as a leader within the global environmental community through the development of a partnership with Ordnance Survey International and the creation of a new GIS Roadmap. EAD is committed to significantly improving the environmental sustainability of the Emirate and becoming a global advocate for environmental protection and sustainable living. http://os.uk/eadgisroadmap

Global market for smart cities technology to triple by 2019

Global urbanisation is swelling cities around the world, with more than 70 percent of the world’s population already living in urban areas. BCC Research reveals in its new report that information and communication technologies (ICT) will play a vital role in how cities become smarter in sustaining quality of life without upsetting the ecological balance.

The global market for smart city technologies will grow from $212.3 billion in 2013 to $668.5 billion in 2019, reflecting a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.9 percent. North America, the largest market, is anticipated to reach $218.3 billion in 2019, with a 16.1 percent CAGR. Europe, the region with the highest projected growth rate at 23.1 percent CAGR, will reach $197.7 billion by 2019. http://bwsmartcities.com

City of Groningen and Huawei signs agreement

The City of Groningen in the Netherlands signs an agreement with Huawei, the leading global ICT solutions provider, to explore implementing the company’s Smart City concepts. A three party MoU was signed between Huawei, Groningen City Government and the University Medical Center Groningen (one of the largest medical groups in Europe). In the Netherlands, Groningen is the fourth city, after Amsterdam, The Hague and Tilburg to sign a Smart City MoU with Huawei. http://enterprise.huawei.com/

Dutch Ministry and Kadaster for world wide registration of land

The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Kadaster join forces to advocate the world wide registration of land use and property rights in the short term. This cooperation has been officially announced as the Partnership Land Administration for National Development (LAND) in The Hague, on 11th June 2015. Appropriate land registration is a condition for economic development. In 70% of the world, however, land rights have not (yet) been formally registered. The Partnership LAND’s purpose is to support start ups for fast, cheap and reliable land registration in countries that have a need for this. Basic principle is the use of a new approach which focuses first on the demand for the registration of land and in a later phase on further development and refining. www.kadaster.nl/

South Australia Spatial Data Map Now Available

The South Australian government has released a new web map that shows all of the state’s spatial data in one place. It includes rest stops for long drives, walking trails, the location of every boat ramp in the state, mineral license applications and current leases, school zones, air quality, public transport options, school zones, healthcare facilities and more.

A vast array of open data is available to overlay on the map, with more than 160 sets already and more planned. Each dataset is searchable and the maps can be shared under a Creative Commons licensing agreement.

Mobile application for reporting disaster events

ICIMOD and Kathmandu University, Nepal, launched ‘Disaster Reporting’, an android application that enables users to report disaster events along with essential information, such as impact and immediate relief requirements. The application allows the user to select the type of disaster event (e.g., building damage, fire, landslide or public utility damage) and provides an option to include information on the extent of damage, number of people injured, people who perished and were displaced, along with current need in the field. Details of any incidents reported can be visualized on an interactive web map at the address: http://118.91.160.230/ nepeq/. The application also offers the option to customize the features according to the need of the user organizations. www.icimod.org