GIS

OS uses OS OpenData to create a Minecraft map of GB

Ordnance Survey have created a Minecraft world representing over 224,000 sqkms of Great Britain using two of their OS OpenData products. The Minecraft GB terrain was created using OS Terrain 50, a 3D model of the bare earth surface known as a Digital Terrain Model delivered as a grid with a resolution of 50 metres. The raster version of OS VectorMap District, a mid-scale contextual or backdrop map product, was then used to extract surface features based on pixel colours and densities. www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk

“Geotechnical Characterisation” of 30 cities in India

The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) of India has planned “Geotechnical Characterisation” of 30 cities in the country. MoES is mandated to provide the country with best possible services in weather/climate, ocean state, earthquakes, tsunamis and other phenomena related to earth systems through well integrated programmes. The Ministry has planned to take up Seismic Hazard Microzonation (SHM) of urban agglomeration of 30 targeted cities spread over the county on 1:25000/50000 scale during the 12th Five Year Plan period.

Jack to receive Top UN Award

Jack Dangermond, an environmental scientist and entrepreneur who revolutionized the use of geo-spatial technology for conservation is to receive the 2013 Champions of the Earth Award, the UN’s highest environmental accolade. He founded ESRI with his wife Laura in 1969 – pioneered the use of GIS. www.un.org

European geo-information networks disclose Copernicus benefits

EUROGI, the European Umbrella Organisation for Geographic Information, federating Geographic Information communities in over 20 European countries, has been awarded a contract by the ESA to explore the acceptance and potential of COPERNICUS, the European Earth Observation Programme, within the European GI community. Focused on products and services based on the COPERNICUS space infrastructure (“Sentinels” and other satellite missions), the activity aims at bridging the gap between the supply of products and services on the one hand and private service industry and individual consumers of location-based services on the other.

GIS mapping in polls in Nepal

For the first time in Nepal, the Election Commission (EC) has done GIS mapping of all the polling stations. The election body has recorded information about the road accessibility, state of infrastructure, means of communications, possibility of helicopter landing and the geographical details in around the polling stations. The EC obtained satellite maps from Google Earth and managed to record all the details concerning the polling stations in the new system by mobilising its staff. http://ekantipur.com

Malaysia launches geospatial services portal

The Malaysian Centre for Geospatial Data Infrastructure (MacGDI) recently launched MyGOS (Malaysia Geospatial Online Service), which serves as a single integrated portal for crucial geospatial services and information. It allows users to create groups and invite others to work together on projects, and to share maps, data, and other content. Furthermore, users can also create public groups so that they can share data outside of their organization. www.futuregov.asia/articles

Datanet India launches Geospatial Election Analysis

Datanet India has revamped and re-launched its web portal www.electionsinindia.com recently. This web portal now offers free access to summary results of all the parliamentary and assembly constituencies in India, since independence. Besides, the major service now added is to provide geospatial analysis of election results with the help of GIS maps. The GIS based analysis, on one hand, provides a relevant technology to analysis the outcomes of elections so far as postelection analysis is concerned and, on the other, provides the essential inputs for pre-electioneering processes & strategic planning etc. www.equitybulls.com

Victorian Government geospatial data on target

The Victorian Coalition Government of Australia has achieved another milestone as part of its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Strategy by making more than 1,000 datasets available to the public online at www.data.vic.gov.au. Also known as geospatial data, these datasets identify the geographic location of the features and boundaries of Victoria; both natural or constructed. www.data.vic.gov.au

JUPEM planning for a comprehensive underground utility map of Malaysia

The Survey and Mapping Department of Malaysia (JUPEM) is planning to map all the underground utilities. JUPEM has decided to collect data from all the local government authorities and the private sector companies involved in development projects that require digging. It will include data from companies like Tenaga Nasional Berhad (the largest electric utility company in Malaysia), Telekom Malaysia and Syabas (the Selangor water works company). The data will help in developing a comprehensive underground utility map of the country. www.nst.com.my

EVG to be source for English- Japanese Bilingual Map Production

After successfully delivering a Japanese to English translation of topographic maps over the tsunami-affected areas in the Sendai region in 2011, East View Geospatial (EVG) has been granted the exclusive rights to produce and distribute current English-Japanese bilingual topographic maps of 1:25,000 for the remaining areas of Japan by the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (GSI). Topographic maps in English covering the entirety of Japan at this level of detail have not previously been available. This agreement increases the availability of bilingual maps from eighteen to a full country coverage series of 4,350 sheets. www.eastview.com