NEWSBRIEFS –INDUSTRY

Leica CloudWorx™ 1.0 for SmartPlant

Leica CloudWorx™ 1.0 for SmartPlant 3D was recently released by Leica. It is designed for Intergraph SmartPlant 3D users who want to take full advantage of accurate, laser scan asbuilt data directly in SmartPlant 3D. Leica has also released the QuickSteer motor – a new retrofi t option for farmers who want to add auto-steer functionality to their older tractors. It can be added to a wide range of agricultural vehicles that do not have factory-installed steering kits. www.leica-geosystems.com

Hemisphere & Juniper jointly offer DGPS Receiver

Juniper Systems and Hemisphere GPS offer the XF101 DGPS receivers for the Archer Field PC, designed to deliver sub-meter DGPS to location-based applications. The XF101 provides: Crescent GPS technology for submeter accuracy; COAST technology to maintain accuracy during temporary loss of differential signal; optional external antenna for centimetre-level accuracy; real-time or post-processed DGPS data collection, etc. It fully supports mobile GIS applications such as ESRI ArcPad and OnPoz GNSS Driver. www.hemispheregps.com

GPSDifferential for ArcPad 8

Magellan Professional introduced GPS Differential for ESRI ArcPad 8 which enables the MobileMapper 6 handheld receiver users to achieve sub-meter accuracy for GIS data collection and mapping at low cost. The software extension automatically logs the raw data even where real-time corrections are not available. The new product by Magellan shall be at display during Intergeo2009 at booth number1205 http://promagellangps.com

Multi-GNSS test system by Spirent

Spirent Communications has launched the Spirent GSS6700 Multi-GNSS Constellation Simulator for GNSS testing. It offers not only GPS test capability but also support for GLONASS and Galileo systems. It is available with a range of software capabilities designed to suit differing test requirements. www.spirent.com

Sailing teams choose u-blox and Velocitek

u-blox LEA GPS receiver module now powers Velocitek’s SC-1 speed compass, used onboard the boats in the Melges 24 and Viper 640 sport boat classes. It provides the critical heading, speed and position data, velocity made good (VMG), and tactical compass readouts in the SC-1. www.u-blox.com

Chronos CTL3500 GPS Interference Monitor

Chronos Technologys CTL3500 Interference Monitor is a low cost device designed to detect the presence of too much GPS power or non GPS signals and interference broadcasting on the L1 channel. It uses low noise signal amplifi cation with precision SAW fi lters and logarithmic detection. These techniques check for unwanted signals within the centre of the GPS L1 band no matter what the waveform or modulation scheme may be. www.chronos.co.uk

Microsoft and ESRI launch Fusion Core Solution

Microsoft Corp. and ESRI launched Fusion Core Solution, a public safety and homeland security solution architecture. It was designed for more effectively prevent today’s evolving physical and virtual security threats. It also strengthens the ability of government agencies to prepare, assess, and respond to natural disasters. www.esri.com

SuperGIS Mobile Engine 3 releases

SuperGeo released SuperGIS Mobile Engine 3, a Software Development Kit (SDK) based on .NET Compact Framework. It enables developers to effortlessly develop the lightweight mobile GIS programs with basic GIS functions or the powerful mobile GIS applications. www.supergeotek.com

Trimble creates Geospatial Division

Geo-3D, RolleiMetric, TopoSys, and INPHO have merged to create Trimble’s GeoSpatial Division to provide sensors, systems, solutions, and professional services to the global geospatial industry. Trimble’s GeoSpatial business delivers solutions in 3 key areas: Photogrammetry and LIDAR; Roads, Highways and Rail; Utilities and Energy for Transmission & Distribution. www.trimble.com

Topocad open source database connection released

Chaos systems AB released Topocad 11.3, a new and open source database connection. It uses the open source FDO from Open Source GEO, which has been adapted to Topocad. www.chaos.se

Telogis releases GeoBase 3.0

Telogis has released its mapping engine, GeoBase 3.0, which supports real-time navigation for commercial vehicles on both laptops and mobile operating systems and enables organisations to develop customised dispatching and navigation solutions. www.telogis.com

Accuracy Analyst™ Software

Accuracy Analyst™ by Information Solutions, Inc is a software solution to determine locational accuracy of the image data used to produce maps. It saves 80% of the time needed for traditional accuracy assessment. www.spatialis.com

DeLorme enters digital map market

DeLorme entered into the worldwide digital map data market, making its US and World digital base maps available for use within third-party GIS and OEM applications. It offers two core digital topographic map data sets: DeLorme World Base Map at 1:250,000 scale, and DeLorme North America Data Sets. www.delorme.com

Safe Software raster ETL capabilities

Safe Software introduced support for Bathymetric Attributed Grid (BAG), enhancing their raster ETL offerings. FME enables translation and conversion of data between BAG and over 225 other formats supported by FME. www.safe.com

SWConnector version 2.0 released

Spatial Business Systems has released SWConnector v2.0, an application programming interface that supports interoperability between General Electric’s Smallworld GIS and CAD, fi eld mobility, enterprise resource planning applications as well as other GIS products. www.spatialbiz.com

ProximiTREE launched

Bluesky launched a new digital map layer accurately modelling the location and extent of trees and their proximity to buildings. It details the exact spatial location and height of individual trees together with the circumference of its canopy. It is derived from the most accurate and up to date aerial photography. www.bluesky-world.com

Gearworks launches etrace 7.1

Gearworks released the etrace 7.1, an enhanced version of its wireless and Web based mobile workforce management solution that enables enterprises to supervise and optimize their personnel and activities in the fi eld. etrace taps the GPS capabilities of wireless mobile devices for the same. www.gearworks.com

Geographic Imager 2.5 for Adobe Photoshop announced

Avenza Systems Inc. releases geographic Imager 2.5. It is the latest version of this software that adds geospatial functionality to Adobe Photoshop. www.avenza.com

AGI Releases 3D Software Component

Analytical Graphics, Inc. (AGI) has release Insight3D – a .NET control that lets developers add 3D visualization to their aerospace and GIS applications with ease. It supports terrain, imagery, 3D models, satellite orbits, aircraft routes and more. Objects can be animated and also interacted with through picking and fl exible camera control. www.agi.com

AT A GLANCE

Mergers, Acquisitions and Partnerships
►Vexcel Corp. has upgraded to the recently commissioned Apex
remote sensing ground station in Santiago, Chile. First sale of an
UltraCamX to Istanbul-based Foto Havicilik
►SiRF Technology has merged with a wholly owned subsidiary of
CSR plc.
►RapidEye appoints MDA Federal to be one of their US
distributors.
►GVS Agrar will distribute automatic GPS auto-steer guidance
systems from Leica in Switzerland.
►LocatioNet’s “amaze” GPS navigation service on Huawei’s GPSenabled
mobile handsets.
►Eniro’s local content to be available in navigation devices using
the NAVTEQ map.
►Intermap in a new agreement with the Sarawak Lands and
Surveys Department in Malaysia.
►Intermap in a new agreement with the Sarawak Lands and
Surveys Department in Malaysia.
►ITT signs international distribution agreements with six
companies for ENVI.
► Woolpert partners with Pelydryn.
► Rolta Canada and ESRI Canada partnership for North America
► The GeoInformation Group Partnership with STAR-APIC
► ImageTree agreements with GeoEye Inc. and MJ Harden
Associates
► Location Based Technologies implements u-blox’ GPS software

CONTRACTS AWARDED
► GeoEye, gets a government order for more than $25 million
► China Information Security Technology contracts valued at
US$26.28 million in 2nd quarter of 09.
► Astrium and JSC National Company “Kazakhstan Gharysh
Sapary” to build a satellite integration centre.
► MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. awarded a multimillion
dollar contract from DigitalGlobe Inc.
► DigitalGlobe contract with NGA for $12.5 million a month.
► Maptel has secured a five-year; $600 million contract to digitise
data collection for US authorities.