GIS

Mapping Agency transforms into Geo-Spatial Information Agency

Ethiopian Mapping Agency is pondering a structural reform following the legislation of a proclamation which also changed its name to Ethiopian Geo-Spatial Information Agency.

In the reformation process, the Agency will add new directorates and departments, according to Tesfamikael Taffesse, communications director of the Agency.

The Agency was re-named due to the high demand to use geospatial information for different commercial, investment, mining, electric and telecom line installation, and an input for policy draft in the country, according to Tesfamikael. https://addisfortune.net

Project aimed at mapping ocean floor by 2030

An international project has been launched to fully map the world’s ocean floor by 2030 for clues to finding valuable resources.

The Seabed 2030 Project was jointly set up by Japan’s Nippon Foundation and the Guiding Committee of the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans, or GEBCO. GEBCO members include UNESCO and the International Hydrographic Organization.

Mapping ocean topography is a key to locating resources such as oil, natural gas and rare metals. It also helps predict effects of climate change.

But only about 15 percent of the world’s seabed has been mapped in detail, due to shortages of personnel and funding, as well as countries’ unwillingness to share data on their exclusive economic zones.

The project involves setting up 4 regional centers and asking governments and shipping companies to provide data. It is also designed to support new research and develop unmanned robot technology for underwater surveys. www3.nhk.or.jp

Automated mine monitoring solutions by 3D Laser Mapping

Two unique scanner and software packages, developed by 3D Laser Mapping, are set to boost safety, efficiency and productivity for underground and open pit mining operations. The long standing SITEMONITOR software gets an upgrade with the introduction of SITEMONITOR LIVE. The scalable solution marks a major step forward in mine surveying, asset monitoring and inventory management, providing real-time data and automated reports for improved operational intelligence. www.3dlasermapping.com

Pune, India to use GIS mapping to keep track of civic work

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is planning to conduct GIS mapping of every civic work it undertakes to ensure transparency and avoid wastage of public money. A civic official said the PMC spends most of its funds on construction of roads and footpaths, laying pipelines, managing sewage and storm water drainage systems, developing gardens, erecting street lights, among other infrastructural projects. It also spends a major chunk of its budget on repair and maintenance work, the official added.

The civic body, the official said, has received several complaints alleging wastage of public money in “unnecessary” repair and maintenance works, before the completion of its life-span. “The civic administration would conduct GIS mapping of each development project it undertakes — from construction to maintenance and repair. This would ensure that every detail regarding the civic work can be accessed by the public at the click of a button,” the official said. http://indianexpress.com

Indo-German MOU on Smart Cities in India

An Indo-German MOU has been signed for an “Implementation Agreement in Sustainable Urban Development and Smart Cities in India”. The objective of the programme is to develop and apply concepts for sustainable urban development about the provision of urban basic services and housing in selected cities and Smart Cities in India.

The Agreement was signed between Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs(MoHUA), Government of India and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit(GIZ) GmbH, India on behalf of the Government of Federal Republic of Germany in the presence of Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of State (IC) for Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India and Dr. Martin Ney, the German Ambassador to India.

Speaking after signing of the MOU, Shri Hardeep Puri said that the technical cooperation measure will support approaches for sustainable urban development in the area of integrated planning, provision of affordable housing and basic services with particular focus on water, waste water and solid waste management and mobility. The ‘Sustainable Urban Development Programme – Smart Cities in India’ project is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and jointly implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). http://pib.nic.in

Aerial mapping of Bengaluru’s solar energy potential takes off

Bescom has commissioned the mapping in a bid to meet its target of generation of 1,000 MW of rooftop solar energy by 2022 from Bengaluru alone. The initiative, which is based on a 2016 agreement of Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) with the Centre for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP) and Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd. (KREDL), finally took flight on at Jakkur aerodrome. Over the fortnight, a helicopter armed with LiDAR system will fly across the city, mapping its potential to generate rooftop solar energy. The aircraft will cover an approximate area of 1,100 sq. km, generating high resolution images of rooftops of buildings in the city. The mapping will be carried out by CSTEP and the data generated will be submitted to the Energy Department.

The LiDAR technology will send pulsed laser light on to the rooftop of a building and translate the reflected light into data points. Based on objects such as trees surrounding the rooftop, shadow-free area available for solar power generation will be calculated and an estimate will be arrived at as to the capacity of solar generation of each building in the city, said officials. www.thehindu.com

e-GEOS will be the provider of SAR data for AMSA

e-GEOS, together with its Australian partner Geospatial Intelligence Pty Limited, has recently won an international tender to provide its services to AMSA (Australian Maritime Safety Authority) whose objective is to monitor the marine environmental safety.

AMSA’s request was for a service provider capable of supplying an oil spill monitoring and surveillance service, based on SAR (synthetic aperture radar) technology. www.e-geos.it

HP launches the large format printers for GIS mapping

HP Inc has introduced HP DesignJet T1700 printers, next-generation 44- inch solutions for CAD and GIS workgroups to produce highly accurate documents and maps with powerful processing and a new level of security.

New added features on the HP DesignJet T1700 make it the most secure large format workgroup printer available today. The improved security is designed to help enterprises print CAD and GIS applications while protecting printers and data from unauthorized or malicious access in infrastructure construction, urban planning as well as utilities industries such as oil, water, gas, and electricity. http://whattheythink.com