GIS

UKHO identifies key drivers for maritime industry

The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) recently presented a white paper on the opportunities and challenges facing the maritime industry as it transforms through decarbonization and digitalization. The paper was presented at the sixth International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) Council meeting in Monaco, which was attended by representatives of 26 countries. The meeting focused on the maritime sector’s transition to digital data services and the development and implementation of the new S-100 data standards.

The IHO’s S-100 data standards will greatly enhance our understanding of the ocean and the portrayal of the maritime environment. It will provide a coherent framework for high-fidelity maritime data applications, which are fundamental to the shift from Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) to digital geo-information systems. Those systems will be capable of receiving and processing information on a wide range of applications, including imagery and gridded data, high-density bathymetry, dynamic tidal monitoring and surface currents. https://iho.int

Czech Railway Administration will use digital maps

Hexagon’s Safety, Infrastructure & Geospatial division announced Ness Czech will supply the Czech Railway Administration with the Digital Technical Railway Map (DTRM), a railwayspecific GIS that will provide the state organization access to information about its transport and technical infrastructure to better and more efficiently prepare investments and repair work. The basis of the project is the Technical Map Information System (ISTEM), a unique solution developed by Ness and Hexagon.

The Railway Administration, as a railway operator, needs precise information about the railway network and surrounding area. By acquiring accurate and detailed geodetic measurements and digitizing asset and infrastructure information, the Railway Administration can meet its own needs and those of the state, which is developing the Digital Technical Map of the Czech Republic, a national map which should be operational in 2024. The national map is being built across the country by connecting regional digital maps and others from the Railway Administration and the Directorate of Roads and Highways. The connection is provided by the Czech Land Surveying and Cadastral Office, which has extensive experience in successfully managing cadastral mapping. hexagon.com

CCTech’s HVAC-Twin is Powered by iTwin

CCTech has announced the addition of HVAC-Twin to Bentley Systems’ powered by iTwin program. It enables quick turnaround between HVAC design iterations—leading to energy and costefficient HVAC designs. Designers and engineers can add sensor data, make connections, and start visualizing data such as temperature, occupancy, and CO2 levels—to diagnose and improve the performance of HVAC systems.

HVAC-Twin is a web-based, physicsinformed 3D digital twin that is built for easy accessibility and enhanced collaboration, providing quick turnaround between design iterations leading to energy and cost-efficient HVAC designs. www.cctech.co.in

Esri India launches Policy Maps

Esri India recently unveiled Policy Maps to facilitate data-driven policymaking in India. The announcement was made during Esri India’s User Conference.

The Policy Maps have been designed to provide meaningful insights for various government functions with a special focus on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The maps for SDGs provide detailed insights into how India is faring in the achievement of the 17 SDGs. It provides data at the granular level and help in analyzing the progress achievedThe data used in Policy Maps is sourced from authoritative government sources.

As a unique feature of the Policy Maps, relationship Maps created through the dashboard can help in identifying patterns and understanding how working towards one SDG can lead to creating better conditions for another SDG.

AI/ML for natural resource mapping

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the US Geological Survey (USGS) are exploring the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) tools for critical minerals assessments.

In order to solicit innovative solutions, DARPA collaborated with USGS, MITRE, and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory on an industry competition: The USGS Map Georeferencing Challenge and the Feature Extraction Challenge of the Artificial Intelligence for Critical Mineral Assessment.

At the virtual awards ceremony for the competition held on December 7th, Sanborn earned fourth place and an Honorable Mention. It successfully demonstrated ways to automate the georeferencing of scanned and raster maps, as well as feature extraction. www.Sanborn.com Implementing

Implementing GIS for map charting

Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) is enhancing the quality and accuracy of the data used for daily planning to support production operations and the decisionmaking process for the implementation of current and future projects.

This was done by contracting with one of the international companies specialized in this field. This project, for the first time since its inception, helped to possess three-dimensional maps of all terrain of the oil fields, and capture high-quality aerial photographs with an accuracy of 10 centimeters. The project aims to integrate with GIS used for operations. www.arabtimesonline.com