Professional Documents
Culture Documents
com
G Hydro Special GERDAS Interview GAcquisition Sensors
GMapping Cultural Heritage Underwater GArc Marine Data Model
Magaz i ne f or Sur veyi ng, Mappi ng & GI S Pr of es s i onal s
April/May 2008
Volume 11
3
Here be sea dragons
About 70 percent of the surface of the earth is covered with water. An even larger percent-
age of the earth contains water, that is if we include the groundwater beneath our feet.
But we know very little about the waters surrounding us. We have been able to put men
on the moon and remote-controlled vehicles on Mars, but so far we have only investigat-
ed a very small percentage of our seas and oceans. Take, for example, information about
the sea bottom. Even though modern charts may lead us to believe that almost all the
oceans have been charted, the only data available is from satellite remote sensing.
And even that data is inferred information.
The equipment to make more detailed images is available, but the costs associated with
this type of research are staggering. As a result we only have detailed maps for the
shallow areas frequented by ships or those parts of the ocean where we drill for oil or
create new structures.
Considering the organisms living in the sea we know even less. At the same time we are
searching for life on Mars we are still discovering new creatures in the oceans. I once read
a good illustration of the problem that oceanographers face. Imagine you are in a hot-air
balloon travelling over the rainforest at night. The only equipment available to you is a
bucket and a photo camera. You lower the bucket and camera through the dense forest
canopy and hope something will end up in the bucket or in front of your camera. All the
information we have on life in the oceans has been gathered this way, but instead of a
bucket scientists use a dragnet.
The early explorers would leave a blank spot on their charts saying something like here
be dragons when an area went unexplored. Today we probably know little more about
large parts of the ocean, but it is unimaginable to put here be sea dragons on our digital
globes. As a result the majority of the public is unaware of our lack of knowledge concern-
ing our own planet.
In this issue we will focus on the liquid part of our planet and bring to you some
examples of the investigations and mapping currently being undertaken. As with the
science itself, large parts will remain unexplored but hopefully it will give you a good idea
of whats going on under the sea.
Enjoy your reading,
Huibert-Jan Lekkerkerk
Editor-in-chief
April/May 2008
3
GeoInformatics provides coverage, analysis and
commentary with respect to the international surveying,
mapping and GIS industry.
Publisher
Ruud Groothuis
rgroothuis@geoinformatics.com
Editor-in-chief
Huibert-Jan Lekkerkerk
hlekkerkerk@geoinformatics.com
Editorial Manager
Eric van Rees
evanrees@geoinformatics.com
Editors
Frank Arts
fartes@geoinformatics.com
Florian Fischer
ffischer@geoinformatics.com
Job van Haaften
jvanhaaften@geoinformatics.com
Remco Takken
rtakken@geoinformatics.com
Joc Triglav
jtriglav@geoinformatics.com
Columnists
Bart van Mierlo
Mike Sanderson
Contributing Writers
Seger van den Brenk
Chuck Chaapel
Philip Cheng
Jack Cook
Florian Fischer
Paul Haase
Huibert-Jan Lekkerkerk
Arjan van der Meer
Account Manager
Wilfred Westerhof
wwesterhof@geoinformatics.com
Subscriptions
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Sander van der Kolk
svanderkolk@geoinformatics.com
ISSN 13870858
Copyright 2008. GeoInformatics: no material may
be reproduced without written permission.
GeoInformatics is published by
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Don Murray
Eric van Rees
George G. Spoelstra
Remco Takken
Joc Triglav
Robert Wick
Dawn Wright
ESRIs Arc Marine
Over the past few years ESRI, with a significant amount of user
community input, has been engaged in the exercise of building "industry-
specific" data models for ArcGIS. A new marine data model
(Arc Marine) has been developed for those who apply GIS to the coasts,
estuaries, marginal seas, and/or the deep ocean; Find out all about the
activities that led to the release of the data model and accompanying
reference book, Arc Marine: GIS for a Blue Planet
The Growing Need for Spatial ETL
Spatial ETL (extracting, transforming, and loading) tools have been
around for over a decade. Yet only in the past few years has their true
strategic value emerged in geospatial initiatives around the globe.
By Don Murray.
C o n t e n t
4
April/May 2008
Articles
GIS, GPS and Digital Photography 12
Dutch Contribution to European Research Project
Increased Image Collection Opportunities 16
DigitalGlobes WorldView-1 Satellite
Digital Copy of GeoInformatics Is a Huge Success! 23
Over 7000 Subscribers in March 2008
The Growing Need for Spatial ETL 24
On Data, Technologies and Convergence
Part 7: S-57 IHO Transfer Standard for 28
Digital Hydrographic Data
Standards in Practice
Oceans Heavily Affected by Human Activities 32
A Global Map of Human Impact on Marine Ecosystems
The Arc Marine Data Model 36
Process and Product
Emergency Solution 43
Senegal River Survey Project
Maintaining Fire Fighting Capacity while 44
Managing Pressure
Brisbane Water Deploys Rigorous Hydraulic Model
Acquisition Sensors 48
Part 1: Multibeam Echo Sounder
Real-Time Kinematic GPS Positioning 52
Guiding the Construction of The World
Mapping Cultural Heritage..Underwater! 62
Dutch Archaeological Research In The Waterbeds
Column
A Sense of Foreboding? 21
By Mike Sanderson
Hydrology versus Hydrography: 47
Do GIS Specialists Know the Difference?
By Bart van Mierlo
Page 36
Page 24
Latest News? Visit www.geoinformatics.com
5
April/May 2008
Conferences
Following in the Footsteps of Humboldt 6
Annual Conference of Runder Tisch GIS
Oceanology International 2008 8
Technology, Sustainability and the Oceans
Interview
Mladen Stojic on the New ERDAS 58
Leading the Renaissance of Geospatial Innovation
Product News 67
Industry News 71
Calendar 74
Advertisers Index 74
On the Cover:
The globe is built using Safe Softwares spatial ETL technology, FME. It
takes a simple text file containing average elevations of 1 x 1 degree
cells and creates a 3D globe. This is one example of how spatial ETL
technology breaks format and data model barriers to place spatial
data into the hands of users so companies can realize the full power
of spatial data assets. See article, page 24.
ERDAS Interview
With over 10 years of experience at ERDAS, Mladen Stojic has extensive
product development and management experience, coupled with a broad
understanding of the rapidly expanding geospatial markets. In an
interview with GeoInformatics, he explains all about the new ERDAS and
future strategies.
Page 24
GPS Positioning Guides
Construction of The World
Just a few kilometers offshore in the sunny waters of the Arabian Gulf, the
giant dredging and marine contractor of the Netherlands, Van Oord NV,
works on the largest project ever undertaken by a single marine contrac-
tor: building The World. One key to making the work cost-effective is high-
precision, Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) GPS positioning. RTK dGPS for The
World project is enabled by technology from Trimble as well as the Pacific
Crest Corporation.
Page 52
Page 58
Annual Conference of Runder Tisch GIS
Following in the Footsteps
of Humboldt
From 26th to 28th of February 2008 the annual conference of the GIS networking association Runder Tisch GIS e.V.
took place at the Munich University of Technology. Around 350 visitors from Switzerland, Austria and Germany
gathered in Munich to compare notes about the future paths of the geospatial sector. This years focus was on
the emerging European Spatial Data Infrastructures and how to make their concepts and ideas alive.
This article will present some highlights of the conference.
By Florian Fischer
European Environment Agency presented the
European Environment Information and
Observation Network (EIONET). And then there
are still dozens of national information infra -
structures for different sectors and purposes.
Therefore Prof. Schilchers question met to
sympathy in the audience by all means.
Eventually the question is whether there are
crossroads of these infrastructures or do they
exist in totally parallel worlds. In order to
approach this question the INSPIRE initiative
has been in the center of discussion on the
conference.
The Current Status of European
Spatial Data Infrastructures
In Geographic Information Science a current
topic is the development of Spatial Data
Infrastructures (SDI). An SDI basically aims at
the provision and usage of spatial informa-
tion by geographically distributed and decen-
6
Conf er ence
April/May 2008
Information Infrastructures
Everywhere
Does there still someone have the general
overview on that? has been the short com-
ment on the first afternoon by Prof. Schilcher,
chairman of the networking association
Runder Tisch GIS e.V. and head of the GIS
department at the Munich University of
Technology (TUM). He referred to the general
view on the different information infrastruc-
ture initiatives that have been presented so
far. All on the level of the European Union and
all deal with spatial information somehow.
Probably the most well known is the
Infrastructure for Spatial Information in
Europe (INSPIRE). And there is the Global
Monitoring for Environment and Security
(GMES) which is a European initiative but an
information infrastructure as well and shall
support agencies in Europe on their repor ting
duties. And then Dr. Markus Erhard from the
The Munich University of Technology provided a good infrastructure to talk about Spatial Data Infrastructures.
tralised spatial information repositories and
spatial processing services. Prof. Lars Bernard
from the Technical University of Dresden gave
a lecture on the current status of European
SDIs and the INSPIRE initiative. So far there
have been many initiatives on regional and
national SDIs in Europe. Early operational SDI-
applications are already implemented but on
the European level they mostly the have the
character of pilot-projects, test-beds or feasi-
bility studies. Interoperable usage of geoin-
formation on a European level is limited due
to costs and a missing framework for coordi-
nation, standards, rules and organisational
structures. The INSPIRE Directive became
effective in May 2007 and will last until May
2019. The requirements of INSPIRE are put on
paper by implementing provisions and are
developed at the moment. First predominant
requirements for basic services are produced
and in 2010 the European SDI is expected to
be operational for searching metadata and
visualise data. That is a fairly tough time table
especially when one takes into consideration
that the EU member states and their regional
administrations are part of plan of conduc-
tion. Additionally the directive still involves
some pitfalls on the level of semantic trans-
formation. Proper web-services are still nee -
ded for an intelligent solution. Dr. Andreas
Donaubauer and Florian Straub (both TUM)
presented a quite sophisticated service for
semantic translation.
Model-driven Web Feature Service
INSPIRE requires to establish interoperable
geo web-services. By the guidelines an estab-
lishment an interoperable access to all geo
web-services of the EU member states shall
be granted on a technical level. On a seman-
tic level that is, on a level interoperability of
data-models INSPIRE provides European-wide,
harmonised data models for distinctive
themes like administrative boundaries.
Consequently data providers have to trans-
form their data from their own data models
to the EU models. The transformation is sup-
posed to be done by special transformation
services. One presented way of doing this is
the model-based transformation. Geo-data
models are therefore described by a concep-
tional schema language (CSL). Thereof con-
ceptional data models can be created and
afterwards transformed to any necessary
transfer format by an appropriate parser. But
again a conceptional illustration of a model
has to be created to use a model based trans-
formation. Donaubauer and Straub propose a
web service for the semantic transformation
called mdWFS-ST for model-driven Web
Feature Service semantic translation. The
service has two operations and is designed
monisation of spatial data. Secondly there is
the aim to establish a developer community
to keep the HUMBOLDT framework going on
in the future. Complementary a user commu-
nity ought to be established to gather peo-
ple that use the applications basing on HUM-
BOLDT. The communities frame the
development of application scenarios that use
the HUMBOLDT framework.
Geospatial is Not Special Anymore
The way to show the utilisation of the emer -
ging European Spatial Data Infrastructure by
developing real-life application seems to show
promise. Even more promising seems the idea
of the respective scenario as an initiation only
and the commitment to make the applications
operative and durable. However even the
HUMBOLDT applications still embrace a cer-
tain character of a test-bed. This might be
inevitably but this issue has to be dealt with
care.
All the lively discussions about INSPIRE and
the emerging Spatial Data Infrastructures have
also shown that SDI is the vehicle to bring
geospatial technology to many application
areas. The integration of Geospatial
Technology into the mainstream IT is an
inevitable trend. All the more I wondered that
the geospatial community is still addicted that
much to application scenarios that focus in
pure use of geospatial technology. The com-
bination with mainstream IT opens up for
more interesting scenarios and I believe for
even better durability. The HUMBOLDT project
is line marking this paths a bit and hopefully
there will be more projects like this.
Florian Fischer ffischer@geoinformatics.com is
contributing editor GIS for GeoInformatics.
For more information, have a look at:
The HUMBOLDT project: www.esdi-humboldt.eu
Runder Tisch GIS e.V.: www.rtg.bv.tum.de
to fit into an infrastructure of OGC Web
Services. Therefore the mdWFS-ST essentially
is a Web Feature Service (WFS) with the capa-
bility of semantic transformation on the fly.
Thus it ensures semantic interoperability on
a web-service level which perfectly fits in the
philosophy of INSPIRE. Eventually it is not
only a technical gimmick but has really pre-
cious functionality. A best practice example is
an application in cross-border spatial plan-
ning. The planners will be confronted with dif-
ferent notations and the semantics of these
notations but the mdWFS-ST could help to
resolve these problems.
Humboldt
Next to interoperable web services the
European Spatial Data Infrastructure will need
applications. There are already some pilot-
projects and test-beds but all lack of durabil-
ity. Moreover many of them concentrate on
specific technical features. Whereas the
approach of the HUMBOLDT project is rather
different as it tends to show new paths on
the way to INSPIRE. The aim is to achieve
progress in SDI by projects that build on a
SDI to what a SDI can be used for. The HUM-
BOLDT projects especially try to integrate
GMES here. Therefore the project name has
been chosen after Alexander v. Humboldt, a
scientist who tried to collect and integrate
knowledge about the world and create new
insights.
The aim of the HUMBOLDT project is not to
create a product and algorithm or an applica-
tion itself. As a project it aims on initiating a
long-term user perspective for data and ser-
vices of the emerging European SDI. Thus the
project is rather a hodge-podge of various
activities. It involves an Open Source
Framework that is, a collection of free and
open-source tools and concepts for the har-
Latest News? Visit www.geoinformatics.com
Conf er ence
7
April/May 2008
The Humboldt Project: On the interface between
INSPIRE and GMES.
Technology, Sustainability and the Oceans
Oceanology International 2008
Oceanology International (OI) is the marine science and ocean technology communitys premier forum,
and for well over three decades has provided a focal point every two years for the diverse range of individuals and
organizations that work in this sector to debate and discuss crucial topics. It also provides a unique networking
opportunity for companies to showcase the latest state-of-the-art technological solutions in use or under
consideration by the industries that work in the ocean environment.
By Huibert-Jan Lekkerkerk
The latest show, held from March 11 to
March 13 under the overall theme of
Technology, Sustainability and the Oceans,
attracted a record total of 8,703 attendees
through its doors at the ExCeL venue in the
Docklands. Attendees came from 67 countries,
from as far afield as China, Russia, the USA,
Vietnam, Malaysia, Japan, Australia, Angola,
Nigeria, Brazil, Venezuela, Canada, the United
Arab Emirates and India, as well as from
Europe and Scandinavia.
The exhibition, meanwhile, saw the available
space of 7,184 square meters sold out, with
533 exhibitors from 32 different countries par-
ticipating. Country pavilions from Canada,
France, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain
were featured, alongside exhibiting organiza-
tions and companies including the European
Commission, Fugro, Acergy, Gardline, Balmoral
Offshore Engineering, Teledyne, Kongsberg
Maritime, Sonardyne and IXSEA.
Congress
The theme of the 2008 congress was
Technology, Sustainability and the Oceans.
The sessions covered three subjects; Energy
from the Ocean, the Oceans and Climate
Change, and Environmental and Civil Security.
The theme as well as the specific subjects
would lead most outsiders to believe that the
conference would provide more insight into
these politically important subjects. Any visi-
tor basing his or her attendance on just this
information would have been in for a disap-
pointment. As with many congresses of this
type, the sessions were highly technical or
academic in nature, addressing such issues
as the Development and field testing of the
Doppler Volume Sampler.
For the audience gathered at these sessions,
the information exchange proved, however, to
be very useful. There are very few oceano-
graphic events and every such event is an
opportunity to share infor-
mation amongst the
attending scientists.
Exhibition
The exhibition, on the
other hand, attracts atten-
dees from all disciplines.
When one is (or has been)
part of the world of ocean
and sea surveying the
exhibition is a sort of
reunion. The list of
exhibitors reads like the
whos who of the ocean
business. Although more
than 70% of the world is
covered with water, the
ocean business is much
smaller in terms of compa-
nies operating than, say,
land survey or GIS. As a result, the exhibition
serves every two years as a reunion of busi-
ness partners, old colleagues and people who
have retired from the industry.
The exhibitors themselves can be roughly
divided into three categories. The two biggest
categories are offshore survey companies and
equipment providers. The third category
covers the (inter)national organizations
involved in the ocean business.
8
Conf er ence
April/May 2008
Outside exhibition with
various survey vessels present.
Survey vessel Xplorer in the London docks demonstrating Kongsberg Simrad
multibeam echo sounding equipment.
Underwater Vehicles
Quite a few booths at the exhibition were
dedicated to underwater vehicles of all sorts
and sizes. Underwater vehicles can roughly be
divided into two categories: the ROV
(Remotely Operated Vehicle) and the AUV
(Autonomous Underwater Vehicle).
The major difference between the ROV and
the AUV lies in the method of control.
Whereas the ROV is connected to a mother
vessel through a so-called umbilical cord, the
AUV is programmed to do a set task and is
then left on its own with frequent checks on
the operation.
Due to the limited amount of power AUVs are
mainly used for survey tasks whereas ROVs
are also used as an underwater workhorse.
The size of the ROVs and AUVs on display at
OI2008 varied from very small eyeball ROVs
to large work-class ROVs.
Surface Vessels
Although not officially mentioned, there is a
third component to OI; the outside exhibition.
where the GPS antennas and the motion sen-
sor are installed in a single unit. This removes
the need to calibrate the offset between these
two instruments in the field. The major marine
GPS suppliers such as Trimble, Magellan,
Novatel and Navcom were present or repre-
sented by their main marine resellers. There
were, however, few new marine products.
Marine surveillance systems are getting more
and more attention at this sort of show. With
the US-based ISM safety code for marine ship-
ping being implemented at all major harbors
in the world, the need for automated surveil-
lance is increasing. The newest systems have
the ability to detect divers swimming towards
the quay. Since visibility underwater is gener-
ally poor, these systems are based on acous-
tics. Some systems even have a coupling
between an above-water camera and a below-
water acoustic imaging system.
Socializing
As mentioned before, OI is not just a place
where companies show their latest products
and scientists exchange information; it is also
a major reunion of those involved in the
ocean business. Much attention is given to
the social aspect of this gathering and as a
result attendees could choose from quite a
few receptions. For example, on the first
evening of the show I counted at least four
receptions taking place.
Huibert-Jan Lekkerkerk
hlekkerkerk@geoinformatics.com is project manager
at IDsW and a freelance writer and trainer.
This article reflects his personal opinion. For more
information on OI: www.oceanologyinternational.com
A number of vessels attend every show. This
year the number of vessels was relatively
small due to gale-force storms in the North
Sea, with mainly larger vessels in attendance.
From experience I can tell you readers that it
is not funny and even downright dangerous
to try crossing the North Sea in that sort of
weather in a small vessel.
The vessels present represent a cross-section
of those used every day around the world.
The smaller vessels are used to demonstrate
the newest equipment from the various
manufacturers. This year a few smaller ves-
sels who had the luck to arrive before the
storm demonstrated their equipment in the
London docks.
In previous years the results from these
demonstrations have been quite dramatic.
Personally I remember the show where the
first high-resolution multibeam echo sounders
were demonstrated. During this demonstra-
tion various car wrecks that the London Port
Authority was not aware of were found near
the quaysides. This year, however, the winds
were still high during the
exhibition and no vessel
dared to go close to the
quaysides.
Equipment
The inside exhibition dis-
played the latest equipment
from a variety of manufactur-
ers. These included high-
resolution multibeam echo
sounders and side-scan
sonars as well as various
positioning systems. New
from CodaOctopus was a
version of the F180 GPS
heading and attitude sensor
Latest News? Visit www.geoinformatics.com
Conf er ence
9
April/May 2008
Eyeball-type ROV in an aquarium in the exhibition.
Work-class ROV being explained.
Surveillance system using both optical cameras for
above-water surveillance and acoustic imagery to
provide a 3D underwater image.
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Dutch Contribution to European Research Project
GIS, GPS and Digital Photography
The introduction of digital cameras has led to enormous (online) collections of
digital images. The European Tripod project aims to introduce new tools on
automated labelling of these images. A Dutch partner, Geodan, wanted to know
if GIS could be used for recognizing objects and label images. Dutch Geomatics
student Arnoud de Boer took the challenge and came with promising results for
the future of digital imaging and GPS.
By: Eric van Rees
Since the introduction of digital imaging it
has become easier to share large photo col-
lections online with other internet users.
Describing enormous online photo collections
isnt automated yet. It still takes a lot of time.
To change this situation, a European research
project called Tripod has been initiated. The
purpose of this project is to improve the
access of visual media (especially digital
images) for multiple groups of users by deve -
loping tools that improve the quality of
existing images, labels and automatically
place labels of new images.
The project couples with technological deve -
lopments which integrate photo gear and
GPS. This means that alongside storage, also
the location of the image is being saved in
the metadata. Although useful tools have
been developed to save environmental data
(such as weather information and geographi-
cal names), its not yet possible to save infor-
12
Ar t i cl e
April/May 2008
Edward Verbree (l), Arnoud de Boer (m) and Eduardo Dias (r).
mation of imaged objects, such as, for exam-
ple, names of historical buildings.
Geodan
In the future this all will be different: digital
cameras for the consumer market will be
equipped with GPS and a digital compass, so
that imaging position and view angle can be
recorded. In Asia these cameras are already
being used for pedestrian navigation. Also,
the exact scale of the imaged situation is
registered.
Geomatics student Arnoud de Boer performed
research on the use of 3D positioning and ori-
entation of digital imaging to automatically
recognize and label imaged objects with the
use of GIS. This all happened within the scope
of a graduation project at Geodan, the Dutch
partner of Tripod. The results of this research
turned out to have significant benefit for
Tripod.
Extrusion Model
De Boers research combines digital imaging,
GPS and GIS. Roughly, the research can be
divided into three steps: the first step is com-
bining GPS and digital imaging, to be able to
localise the images geographically. The
second step contains linking the images in a
virtual model with a spatial dataset with the
use of GIS, in order to recognize the images
with a desktop computer. The third step con-
tains the automated labelling of the images,
also with the use of GIS.
Reference point of this research is recognition
of historical buildings, based on the assump-
tion that many people take pictures of histo -
rical buildings and use the names of those
buildings when labelling them. A second
reference point is that a perspective view
have been defined and subsequently height
data have been added to these footprints,
from a national Dutch LiDar elevation map-
ping initiative called AHN (General Elevation
Map in the Netherlands, Algemene Hoogte -
kaart Nederland). The advantage of this extru-
sion model, built in ArcGIS, lies in the fact
that the buildings simulate their real heights,
and dont necessarily look like flat blocks like
normal extrusion models do.
Object Recognition and Localisation
To identify the names of the imaged objects,
the extrusion is linked to the digital images.
The reason behind this is to present the 3D
extrusion model in 2D by means of a
perspective change, to be able to make an
overlay of the digital image and the identical
virtual scene. The reason for this is that the
digital image contains information about the
distance and depth, in relation to the real
objects. The virtual image, on the other hand,
contains information about the names of the
objects in the picture, along with geometry of
these objects.
ESRI ArcScene has been used to make a
perspective view of the virtual objects that
corresponds to the perspective of the digital
images. Each and every object gets a unique
colour value, that serves to be able to relate
the 2D vector features from the extrusion
model with each other. This export happens
in a PNG-file, so that no loss of (meta)data
occurs. Now, objects in the images can
be labelled with the object labels of the
virtual scene with an overlay command. With
replacing the object labels with the object
names, the user can place the object
names inside the labels in the virtual scene
(figure 2).
generator will be used for object recognition.
This can be done with GIS software such as
ESRI ArcScene, where 3D data can visualised
and rendered as defined by the user.
Another reference point is to make use of a
perspective viewer generator for recognizing
objects. A perspective viewer generator a soft-
ware program such as ESRI ArcScene, that can
be used to visualize, render and export 3D
data in a user-defined perspective.
For carrying out step one, spatial and visual
accurate images have been taken at the Grote
Markt (market square) in Delft, a town in the
west of the Netherlands. The most accurate
spatial images of step one have been made
with a Topcon imaging total station. Step two
demanded most creativity of all three steps:
in order to recognize the objects on these 3D
georeferenced images, they need to be
localized in a 3D model and linked to a
spatial model and data set.
To do justice to the irregular-shaped, unique
historical buildings at the market square in
Delft, a 3D extrusion model has been built,
based on spatial data sets such as 2D map
data and Buildings Top10nl (figure 1). With
this, the footprints of all individual buildings
Latest News? Visit www.geoinformatics.com
Ar t i cl e
13
April/May 2008
Figure 1. Extrusion model of the intersection of vectorized elevation model with the building footprints.
Figure 2. Object identification results of Topcon
image 1010.
August 25, 2008
CX
Universal GIS Solution
One device. Many appplications. Introducing the new Magellan
MobileMapper
CX,
the ultimate professional mapping solution. Highly flexible, its compatible with any
standard Windows CE-based GIS solution or GPS navigation application, supports
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technologies, and has DGPS networking capabilities.
Exceptionally precise, it provides real-time sub-meter and even sub-foot accuracy in
post-processing. And remarkably rugged, it delivers uncompromised performance
even in the most extreme outdoor conditions.
For more information on the affordable, easy-to-use MobileMapper
CX, visit
www.pro.magellanGPS.com.
2007 Magellan Navigation, Inc. All rights reserved. Magellan, the Magellan logo, and MobileMapper are trademarks of Magellan
Navigation, Inc. CNES 2002 - Distribution Spot Image.
Features
wireless peripherals
for cable-free convenience, outstanding range and unmatched reliability.
Voice Messages The only GNSS receiver to provide audible status notication
in the eld. Now available in multiple languages and generic tones.
Environmentally sound Complies with European Unions RoHS lead-free directives.
Additional features:
- Triple-frequency GNSS receiver and antenna, Bluetooth
wireless
technology, batteries and internal data link all in one rugged enclosure
- Support for GPS L2C and L5 and GLONASS L1/L2 signals
- Convenient, cable-free base and rover setup
- Superior LED display panel
- Complete protection against dust ingress - water immersion up to 1.0 m www.sokkia.net
GPS + GLONASS
ESRI Releases ArcGIS 9.3 Beta
ESRI is currently distributing the beta version of ArcGIS 9.3. In addition to enhanced
performance, participants in the beta program will experience improved functionali-
ty and easier integration of data and services. Using the Web, mobile devices, and
desktop applications, geographic information system (GIS) content and capabilities
can be shared with people who may not even be aware they are using GIS.
A highlight of ArcGIS 9.3 will be the new JavaScript APIs that will make it possible
to create mashups using ArcGIS Server technology. These APIs are included with
ArcGIS Server and let GIS users quickly integrate, view, and use disparate data
through standards-based tools. Various Web services, such as those provided via
Google Maps or Microsoft Virtual Earth, can be combined with content and capabil-
ities served from ArcGIS Server, allowing end users to access geospatial analytic
capabilities while customizing how they view information.
Other important enhancements of ArcGIS 9.3 will include an out-of-the-box mobile
editing application to better help field staff participate in a common operating pic-
ture, additional platform support, and expanded support for Open Geospatial
Consortium, Inc. (OGC) and ISO standards to continue to improve the interoperabil-
ity of ArcGIS with other enterprise systems. ArcGIS Desktop 9.3 will also offer new
cartographic tools that enhance productivity as well as numerous general mapping
enhancements.
Internet: www.esri.com.
www.esri.com/whatscoming
Trimble Introduces Flexible GNSS Mapping and GIS Solution
Trimble introduced a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver for Geographic Information System (GIS)
data collection and mappingthe GPS Pathfinder ProXRT receiver. The receiver combines a high-performance
GPS receiver with Trimble H-Star technology, OmniSTAR correction capability, and optional GLONASS capability to
provide various levels of positioning accuraciesfrom submeter to decimeter (10 centimeter) accuracy.
The ProXRT receiver is suited for high-accuracy mapping, data collection, and asset management applications in
industries such as water/wastewater, utilities, telecommunications, transportation as well as many others. In
recent years, these industries have experienced the need for subfoot and decimeter level performance.
With Trimble's patented H-Star technology, GPS Pathfinder ProXRT receiver users can relocate assets in real time
so they can verify their data before they even leave the job site. Users can connect to a real time correction
source and collect decimeter positions in the field by using wireless communications link and a local Trimble
VRS network or they can set up a base station for additional flexibility.
If a VRS network or a local base station is not available in the area, users can also achieve real-time decimeter
accuracy with OmniSTAR HP corrections. The OmniSTAR antenna is integrated in the ProXRT receiver so there's
no need to carry extra equipmentall a user needs to do is purchase a subscription from an OmniSTAR reseller
for over the air corrections. The GPS Pathfinder ProXRT receiver is also capable of receiving OmniSTAR XP (for
subfoot accuracy) and OmniSTAR VBS (for submeter accuracy).
Optional GLONASS support is also available. GLONASS increases the number of satellites that can be observed
when working in real time. The GLONASS option provides users with the capability to maintain lock on enough
satellites when sky visibility becomes limited, allowing them to continually work in urban canyons or high
foliage environments. Tracking both GLONASS and GPS satellites can also improve productivity by reducing
the time required to achieve real-time decimeter or subfoot accuracy.
With Bluetooth technology, the GPS Pathfinder ProXRT receiver allows for cable-free communications to a field
computer. The receiver can be connected to a variety of field computers, including the rugged Trimble Nomad
series, Trimble Recon handheld, or the Trimble Ranger handheld as well as laptops, tablet PCs, and PDAs.
The Trimble TerraSync software or Trimble GPScorrect extension for ESRI ArcPad software provides a com-
plete solution from the field to office and back. Mapping professionals can also use GPS Pathfinder Tools
Software Development Kit (SDK) to build their own customized application to fit their unique needs.
Internet: www.trimble.com
Latest News? Visit www.geoinformatics.com
Pr oduct News
67
April/May 2008
Snowflake Softwares GO Publisher: the First to Attain WFS 1.1.0 Compliance from the OGC
Snowflake Software announced that GO Publisher WFS is the first Web Feature
Server to meet the new stringent Team Engine WFS 1.0.0 and WFS 1.1.0
Compliance Tests of the Open Geospatial Consortium. GO Publisher WFS was
awarded certification to the OpenGIS Web Feature Service Implementation
Specification, Version 1.0.0 and Version 1.1.0 after passing over 200 individual
tests on February 28, 2008.
GO Publisher Version 1.3 is the latest release of Snowflakes GML publishing
suite. In addition to obtaining WFS 1.0.0 and WFS 1.1.0 compliance, GO Publisher
v1.3 incorporates many additional features including: JBOSS support, JNDI
database connections, XPath property queries, additional WFS filter requests and
extensions to enable root level metadata. These will be of particular benefit to
users wanting to publish their data to complex GML schemas and be able to run
advanced WFS filter queries on these schemas in a standards compliant manner.
GO Publisher is being used internationally by many very demanding applica-
tions. Its User Base includes companies such as the European Commission Joint
Research Centre, TNO and the UK MET Office, all of whom are working on highly
challenging implementations. The technical expertise of the users has naturally
raised the expectations of the products capabilities, encouraging the earliest
adoption of new requirements.
GO Publisher Version 1.3 is now released and shipping.
The GO Publisher product suite covers two key requirements:
1) I wish to publish my data as XML and create an XML Schema.
This requirement addresses the need for users to quickly exchange data in an
open manner
2) I have been given an XML Schema and I wish to publish my data in XML to
it. This requirement enables users to quickly contribute to wider standards ini-
tiatives where they have already been provided an XML Schema and need to
translate their data into it.
To date, GO Publisher has been successfully applied to a variety of schemas,
including but not limited to;
BS7666 XML CityGML EuroRoads IMBOD IMGeo IMRO 2006
IMKICH KML NAS / AAA NEN3610 OKSTRA OS MasterMap
Internet: www.snowflakesoftware.com
Latest News? Visit www.geoinformatics.com
Pr oduct News
69
April/May 2008
1Spatial Releases Premium Version of Validation Tool for Spatial Data in Oracle Databases
1Spatial announces the release of their Radius Check
Plus product, a user-friendly, windows-based appli-
cation that allows easy identification and admini -
stration of spatial data held in Oracle Databases.
Radius Check Plus is a follow-up to the existing
Radius Check Lite and Radius Check. The trio of
products are designed to enable any user of spatial
data in Oracle to manage their databases effec tively,
without the need for a significant level of expertise.
Each product provides the user with a different level
of access and functionality.
Radius Check Lite is a free, downloadable version
that allows users to review the relevant metadata,
indexes and SDO_GEOMETRY data in one, easy-
to-use form. Problems are then highlighted in a
user-friendly, colour coded display. Radius Check
has, in addition to the Radius Check Lite functions,
the capacity to allow the user to identify and then
create, delete and amend relevant schema problems
using simple drop-down menus within the interface.
Radius Check Plus is the premium product in the
suite and includes all of the functionality of Radius
Check Lite and Radius Check, as well as additional
visualisation and correction capabilities, allowing
users to identify and correct certain problems with-
in the data, such as double digitisation.
As small applications, any of the Radius Check pro -
ducts can be installed quickly and easily with mini-
mum disruption to users. This, combined with the
simple interface, makes for a more time and
cost-effective solution to spatial database admini -
stration, created after months of trials and feed-
back from Oracle DBAs and system developers.
1Spatial have built up considerable expertise in the
area of Oracle Spatial technology, and are active
members of the Oracle Spatial development
community and beta program. The continued
Certified Partner Status with Oracle is testament to
the close relationship between the two companies
and affirms 1Spatials commitment to the Oracle
technology stack.
Internet: www.1spatial.com/products/radius_check/
index.php
www.trimble.com
Prepare to set sail. The revolution in surveying is under way, with Trimble taking the lead. Trimble has
dedicated its experienced team to helping you and your business reach the highest levels of success.
Were more than surveying technology; Trimble is the proven leader in providing surveying solutions
of superior quality and versatility. In addition, we prepare your business for the future, in the ofce as
well as on-site. From increasing productivity to maximizing return on investments to preparing for
surprises in the eld, the Trimble team will be with you the entire voyage.
2008, Trimble Navigation Limited. All rights reserved. Trimble and the Globe & Triangle logo are trademarks of Trimble Navigation Limited registered in the United States
Patent and Trademark Ofce and other countries. SUR-105
The support your business
needs to stay the course.
ESRI Survey & Engineering GIS Summit
Continues to Grow
Geographic information system (GIS) technology is
rapidly reshaping the survey and engineering indus-
tries. The 2008 ESRI Survey & Engineering GIS
Summit to be held August 25, 2008, at the San
Diego Convention Center in California, will help
attendees explore how GIS is building new oppor-
tunities for their businesses. Surveying, engineering,
and GIS professionals will gather at the summit
the only event of its kindto discuss the latest
trends, challenges, and solutions.
During the Plenary Session, attendees will hear from
keynote speaker Colonel David Madden, comman-
der of the Global Positioning Systems (GPS) Wing
at the Space Missile Systems Center. Madden is
responsible for the multinational, multiservice devel-
opment of all GPS space, satellite, and ground seg-
ments. He will discuss the largest avionics integra-
tion and installation program in the U.S. Department
of Defense.
ESRI staff will continue the plenary discussion by
sharing real-world issues, advancements in GIS, and
how ESRI technology is creating more complete busi-
ness solutions with capabilities for project planning
and execution with advanced data management and
analysis capabilities. Other features of the summit
include the Industry Panel, where heads of industry-
leading organizations will discuss hot topics and
answer questions about how their organizations are
addressing today's top concerns. In addition, ESRI
business partners will exhibit their solution products
and services at the GIS Solutions EXPO.
The summit's wide range of sessions and activities
is geared to meet the needs of all participants.
Professionals will want to attend to
See how others are using GIS to optimize core
business functions.
Hear from technology experts and industry lead-
ers about where GIS is headed and the vital role
for surveyors and engineers.
Meet one-on-one with ESRI staff.
Sharpen the competitive edge in a changing
industry by discovering how state-of-the-art
technology and added functionality address
real-world problems.
Also, since the summit is held concurrently with the
2008 ESRI International User Conference (ESRI UC).
Internet: www.esri.com
GeoEyes OConnell and DigitalGlobes Smith Join
USGIFs Board of Directors
The United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation
(USGIF) announced the election of two new direc-
tors to its board. Matthew M. OConnell, chief exec-
utive officer, president and director of GeoEye, and
Jill Smith, chief executive officer of DigitalGlobe, were
elected new members of the board.
The addition of Jill Smith and Matt OConnell to the
USGIF board brings a wealth of knowledge in the
commercial imagery sector and also best practices
in business from their wide-ranging experiences in
finance, strategic management and brand develop-
ment, said Stu Shea, USGIF chairman and CEO.
They are great assets to USGIF and the communi-
ty, and we are pleased they are now helping set the
direction of the community.
OConnell has more than twenty years of experience
in communications management and finance. He
came to the commercial remote sensing industry in
2001 as CEO of GeoEyes predecessor, Orbimage. In
January 2006, Orbimage merged with Space Imaging
to form GeoEye Inc. A year later, Deloitte named
GeoEye as one of the Virginia Technology Fast 50
companies, ranking the company No. 12. In January,
OConnell was appointed by the Department of the
Interior to serve on its National Geospatial Advisory
Committee.
Smith came to DigitalGlobe in November 2005 with
a wealth of experience leading commercial technol-
ogy companies in the Internet, software and elec-
tronic publishing markets. She was previously presi-
dent and CEO of eDial, a collaboration software
company she successfully repositioned and helped
grow, culminating in eDials acquisition by Alcatel.
Before that, she was COO of Micron Electronics Inc.,
a $1.5 billion direct PC manufacturer and marketer.
Internet: www.usgif.org
Geokosmos and TerraImaging Have Signed a
Co-Operation Agreement.
Geokosmos announces that they have entered into
a strategic cooperation with the Dutch-based com-
pany TerraImaging B.V. Geokosmos, a company in
the topographical survey market of Russia and CIS,
and TerraImaging, a player in the west European
market expect mutual benefits and synergies from
Latest News? Visit www.geoinformatics.com
I ndust r y News
71
April/May 2008
The market for accurate 3D models of buildings and vegetation is continually growing. INPHO is meeting the demand with the
new generation MATCH-T DSM. In addition to its well-proven terrain extraction, MATCH-T DSM offers a photogrammetric means
to acquire surface models with highly dense point clouds that till now have only been achievable by LIDAR. The economic
benefit is clear. MATCH-T DSM takes aerial imagery based 3D modeling to the next level with continued INPHO quality.
Image Capture Aerial Triangulation Data Capture Terrain Modeling Orthophoto Processing
www.inpho.de
See the world with
different eyes.
MATCH-T DSM
The new generation of
surface extraction.
their partnership. Under the terms of the agreement
Geokosmos takes a shareholding in TerraImaging
and provides LiDAR and Digital Camera systems to
TerraImaging.
Both companies will make their specific knowledge
and experience available to each other to better
position on the worldwide market. TerraImaging
acquires and executes projects in the field of Laser
scanning, digital camera projects, innovative value
adding and 3D-Data products by using its contacts,
know-how and the existing international network.
Sergey Melnikov, founder and President of the
Geokosmos company, comments on the new
alliance: "Europe has always been a very important
market for us; we are very enthusiastic about the
possibilities to explore Western Europe markets via
our new reputable partner, which is well known and
experienced in all fields of our business. Our part-
nership with TerraImaging is a significant step for-
ward to penetrate such a growing market. I am con-
vinced that the extensive experience and impressive
record of LiDAR and Digital Camera projects of
TerraImaging and Geokosmos solid LiDAR technolo-
gy base and extensive practical experience will clear-
ly enable both of our companies to fully meet client
requirements in our worldwide markets."
Jan Willem van der Vegt, managing director of
TerraImaging, commented after signature: "The part-
nership will strengthen our operations and help us
to extend our presence in the international markets.
Both companies have complimentary experience in
the laser scanning and digital imagery markets. Our
clients will receive products and services based on
the most state-of-the-art LiDAR and Digital Camera
technology.
Internet: www.terraimaging.nl
3A goes 3D
3D Geo GmbH has a new partner: the software com-
pany AED-SICAD Corporation, a specialist for geo-
data and 3A standards. Due to the link-up with 3D
Geos LandXplorer technology both companies will
be able to visualize two-dimensional geo-data in 3D.
Quickly and efficiently land registry data can be inte-
grated into city information spaces.
3D Geo, pioneer and international pace maker in
matters of 3D geo-visualization, has formed a part-
nership with the software house AED-SICAD, known
for its cadastral, municipal, and supply solutions.
The aim: to sustainably link-up AED-SICADs 3A pro -
duct line with the 3D world. Through the combina-
tion of the 3A processing solution meaning soft-
ware that enables the generation, qualifying and
keeping of AFIS, ALKIS, and ATKIS data (official fixed
point information system, official realty cadastral
information system, official topographic cartograph-
ic information system) city information spaces have
a new component added. The geo-data, like realty
and topographic data based on the ISO/OGC stan-
dards of the consortium for surveying administra-
tion (AdV) can, in future, be transferred into 3D city
information spaces. As a reminder: the 3A standard
was launched by AdV to create unity in geo-data
throughout Germany meaning also across federal
state borders. One house should look like the other,
at least in the data model of the official land regis-
ter. The system is just being implemented in the fe -
deral states and has the aim to eliminate communi-
cation problems and make planning processes
easier. The 3A-solution from AED-SICAD is based in
software terms on the ArcGIS product family from
ESRI. This makes it possible to use many basic GIS
functions additionally to the extensive functionali-
ties of 3A. The 3A products realize on this platform
the AFIS-ALKIS-ATKIS-Standard with the handling of
the norm based exchange interface (NAS), conform
siganturing, as well as extensive and comfortable
support of all business processes.
The 3D tools of 3D Geo GmbH can freely generate,
administer, analyze, and distribute memory inten-
sive geo-information in a secure, efficient and con-
trolled way. With the help of the LandXplorer prod-
uct family city information spaces can be created,
administered, analyzed and updated.
Internet: www.LandXplorer.com
72
I ndust r y News
April/May 2008
Infoterra Ltd supports MapAction's Relief
Operations
Infoterra, a company in
the provision of geospatial
products and services,
supports MapAction's
relief operations with the
donation of two Erdas
Imagine licences. "In the
field, it's often necessary
to manipulate Earth obser-
vation data quickly to pro-
duce the most relevant
image-based maps for dis-
aster relief organisations.
Erdas Imagine is an ideal tool for this work, and we
are very grateful to Infoterra for donating licences for
use by our team during our humanitarian response
missions," commented David Spackman, Direc tor of
MapAction. "We are pleased to be able to support
MapAction's field staff in their vital supporting role
to UN and national disaster response agencies," said
Phil Cooper, Head of Geospatial Imaging Software, at
Infoterra Ltd. Infoterra Ltd is the newly appointed
Leica Geosystems' Geospatial Imaging Software dis-
tributor in the UK & Ireland.
Internet: www.infoterra.co.uk
www.mapaction.org
ArcGIS Survey Analyst Adds Depth to City of
Torontos Cadastre
The City of Toronto, Canada, has chosen ESRI's ArcGIS
Survey Analyst software to maintain its survey, parcel,
and cadastral data. With the tools and workflow avail-
able in the Survey Analyst extension of ArcGIS, the city
will manage and continually enhance the accuracy of
its cadastre using survey methodologies in a geo-
graphic information system (GIS) environment.
ArcGIS Survey Analyst provides a workflow and tools
to create, process, maintain, and centrally locate
survey and cadastral data in a desktop or enterprise-
wide GIS. The latest release of ArcGIS Survey Analyst
introduced a new dataset called the Cadastral Fabric
and a Cadastral Editor that defines
a new workflow. The Cadastral
Fabric dataset will become a key
part of the city's geodatabase
because it delivers a seam less
coverage of parcel boundaries and
associated survey control free of
gaps and overlaps. Cadastral Editor
will give the city the ability to
add new parcels from subdivision
plans, split parcels, add survey
control points, and improve the
spatial position of parcels without
changing the original survey record
data stored in the GIS database.
The addition of Survey Analyst to
the City of Toronto's ArcGIS
software-based Integrated Geospatial Environment
(IGE) will streamline maintenance of more than
600,000 existing parcels, improve information
exchange among city divisions, and elevate govern-
ment services to Toronto's 2.3 million citizens.
Internet: www.esri.com/surveying
www.esri.com/surveyanalyst
www.toronto.ca
Latest News? Visit www.geoinformatics.com
I ndust r y News
73
April/May 2008
The ESRI International User Conference (ESRI UC) is the largest conference
dedicated to geographic information systems (GIS). This one-of-a-kind
event brings together users from more than 120 countries to delve into the
power of place using GIS. Attendees gain knowledge, develop skills, and
experience a strong sense of community. Youre invited this summer to be
part of this enlightening and inspiring forum.
Learn from your peers about recent applications and best practices.