GIS

Ordnance Survey releases first fully automated product

Ordnance Survey (OS) has released its first fully automated product derived from large scale source data, which means with the single press of a button OS can create a premium national dataset using the most up-to-date OS source data in just eight days.

The OS project team defined several objectives which included delivering efficiencies to OS by replacing the highly manual process of maintaining the product, improving the product currency, and implementing a‘framework’ system which could be re-used for other OS products. The development also introduced four core principles, which were fundamental to the project. These consisted of: trusting the data source (OS’s geospatial database of half a billion features), only using commercial off-theshelf tools (COTS), creating full end-toend automation and delivering data quality which meets the needs of the end user.

The team delivered a fully automated map production process solution utilising range of the latest technologies, including Esri ModelBuilder and Python for geo-processing, Esri ArcGIS for publication of map images, as well as end-to-end system orchestration delivered by Workflow Manager. The solution also relies on the Azure cloud environment for data processing.

Boundless partners with the united nations on the UN open GIS initiative

Boundless have announced its partnership with the United Nations (UN) to support its UN Open GIS Initiative, which aides UN operations around the world through open source geospatial software and services. With Boundless’ technology, the UN can leverage a hybrid architecture approach and maintain interoperability with existing software systems to maximize the value of its open technology and open data in global peacekeeping and other UN operations.

The UN Open GIS Initiative aims to identify and develop open source geospatial software and services that meet the requirements of UN operations, taking full advantage of the expertise of mission partners including member states, technology contributing countries, international organizations, academia, NGOs and the private sector. The scope of the initiative covers software development for the entire lifecycle of geospatial information at the enterprise level, from data collection, management and sharing to geospatial analysis and web and mobile applications. The initiative also focuses on the technology’s sustainability and eventual transfer from the UN to other potential user groups as well as developing countries. boundlessgeo.com

Bentley systems releases opensource library: iModel.js

Bentley Systems has announced the initial release of its iModel.js library, an open-source initiative to improve the accessibility, for both visualization and analytical visibility, of infrastructure digital twins. It can be used by developers and IT professionals to quickly and easily create immersive applications that connect their infrastructure digital twins with the rest of their digital world. It is the cornerstone of Bentley’s just-announced iTwin™ Services that combine iModelHub, reality modeling, and web-enabling software technologies within a Connected Data Environment (CDE) for infrastructure engineering. www.bentley.com

Global Mapper adds online access to NEXTMap One™ Elevation Data

Blue Marble Geographics has announced the immediate availability of NEXTMap® worldwide elevation data, including Intermap’s newest generation NEXTMap One, as an online streaming service within Global Mapper. Developed by Intermap Technologies®, NEXTMap One offers both Digital Terrain Model (DTM) and Digital Surface Model (DSM) datasets at one-meter resolution for detailed analysis. With an active NEXTMap subscription, Global Mapper users can quickly and easily render these 3D datasets for an area of interest and make use of the software’s extensive terrain and 3D analysis capabilities for contour generation, viewshed analysis, volume calculation, and much more. bluemarblegeo.com

Pointfuse launches New Point Cloud Processing Software

Pointfuse has released the latest version of its point cloud conversion software. Its 2018 version features a new cloud based data processing service, called Pointfuse Bolt, together with ground-breaking auto classification features and support for new laser scanning hardware and software formats. Designed to promote and support the practice of frequent capture it is set to disrupt workflows in mapping, modelling and measurement by supporting the development of intelligent, ‘living’ models that are easy to consume and easy to share. http://pointfuse.com

BAE : to deliver geospatial data under NGAs Janus programme

BAE Systems is one of two companies selected by the US National Geospatial- Intelligence Agency (NGA) to produce and deliver geospatial data to support the NGA, combatant commanders, and other government organisations.

The 10-year indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) Janus contracts, worth up to USD1.52 billion, are designed to help NGA strengthen near real-time access to commercially created geospatial data, enriched content, and community-sourced information in a cost-effective manner to improve decision-making timelines, BAE Systems said. www.marketscreener.com

New tool developed by Esri and USGS

A new tool that gives users the most detailed view yet of the world’s islands is now available from the USGS and Esri. And it’s as close as your computer or cellphone. The Global Islands Explorer (GIE) is an online app that can help a variety of users, from researchers to policy-makers to the interested public, to locate and access basic information on hundreds of thousands of islands across the globe. The GIE is a web-based tool that allows the user to search for islands by name or by zooming in on a map of global islands. The island coastlines can be displayed on top of a number of different backdrop images like topographic base maps, satellite imagery, or an uncluttered light grey canvas. https://doi.org

Genesys initiates aerial survey for Jaipur’s 3D city model project

Genesys International Corporation has started the mapping of the city of Jaipur using an array of latest technologies to create 3D models of each and every structure in the Jaipur Development Authority area having over 1 million buildings spread over 3000 square kilo meters.

For the first time in the country, a latest hybrid aerial camera system will be used which has Nadir, Oblique and Lidar sensors. The project flagged off by the Government of Rajasthan and RajCOMP Info Services (RISL) will aid the planning and development of Jaipur city. https://m.dailyhunt.in

Finance ministry, India launches “ Jan Dhan Darshak”

Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance and National Informatics Centre (NIC), India has jointly developed a mobile app called Jan Dhan Darshak as a part of financial inclusion (FI) initiative . As the name suggests, this app will act as a guide for the common people in locating a financial service touch point at a given location in the country.

Jan Dhan Darshak app will be in a unique position to provide a citizen centric platform for locating financial service touch points across all providers such as banks, post office, CSC, etc. These services could be availed as per the needs and convenience of the common people. While over 5 lakh FI touch points (Bank branches, ATMs, Post Offices) have been mapped on this App, approx. 1.35 lakh Bank Mitras would be on-boarded by early December 2018. http://pib.nic.in

Punjab, India GIS portal

Tapping the IT potential for bringing efficiency, transparency and accountability in the Public Works Department, PWD Minister Punjab launched the Punjab Roads GIS Portal and Punjab Sarak Sewa (PSS) Mobile App recently.

PWD department with the technical support of NIC has prepared the GIS portal of Punjab roads wherein the details of all the roads as to whether they are State roads, National highways, roads of Mandi Board, link roads, District roads etc is available. Besides the other attributes of the roads like the length, width, crust thickness, year of construction, cost incurred and last repair undertaken would also be available. This will help the department to spruce up its work as availability of digital data will expedite planning / implementation. http://punjab.gov.in