Archived GIS Snippets
Published in 2013
Permanent URL
Blue Marble Merges the Blue Marble Desktop into Geographic Calculator 2013
Blue Marble Geographics (bluemarblegeo.com) released the Geographic Calculator 2013 today, merging the various modules of the Blue Marble Desktop into one software application. Blue Marble's geospatial data manipulation, visualization and conversion solutions are used worldwide by thousands of GIS analysts at software, oil and gas, mining, civil engineering, surveying, and technology companies, as well as governmental and university organizations.
With the release of Geographic Calculator 2013, Blue Marble retired the concept of separate modules under separate licenses through the Blue Marble Desktop. All of the features available in the Blue Marble Desktop are now available as the new powerful Geographic Calculator 2013, including all of raster processing and spatial database tools found in Geographic Transformer and Spatial Connect modules. Now users can have all the tools necessary for in-depth, accurate coordinate transformation and geomatic operations on any type of GIS data all in one application! The Geographic Calculator converts individual coordinates, point databases, and map files from virtually any coordinate system, datum, and map projection to any other. With the added functionality of the Geographic Transformer, Calculator users can now convert, tile, mosaic, resample, reproject, and clip raster images singularly or in batch with the full coordinate power of the Geographic Calculator. Additionally, existing software support & maintenance subscription holders for Transformer will now have access to Geographic Calculator functionality at no additional cost.
Geographic Calculator 2013 also introduces a new streamlined license manager tool with automatic online licensing, the BMG Reprojector for the FME Workbench (additional license required), a new quick launch for Google Earth and new Geoid definitions.
first published week of: 01/21/2013
Permanent URL
Blue Marble Releases GeoCalc 6.7 with Enhanced Power
Blue Marble Geographics released the GeoCalc 6.7 software development kit (SDK). This release features enhanced speed and memory handling, making the GeoCalc SDK even more powerful for coordinate transformation. Blue Marble's geospatial data manipulation, visualization and conversion solutions are used worldwide by thousands of GIS analysts at software, oil and gas, mining, civil engineering, surveying, and technology companies, as well as governmental and university organizations.
GeoCalc is the leading coordinate transformation "engine" for converting data from one coordinate system to another and performing advanced geodetic calculations including HTDP time dependent shifts. Blue Marble's flagship developer toolkit is an object-oriented class library that can be incorporated into applications written for multiple development platforms. GeoCalc can provide your GPS, surveying, engineering or mapping programs fast and accurate coordinate conversion capabilities. GeoCalc is found in the Geographic Calculator and many commercial GIS and survey applications. The release of GeoCalc 6.7 features speed and memory enhancements for performing coordinate transformations as well as added support for the NGS-VDatum system allowing for tidal vertical references along the US coast. The release also includes new support for Vertical Datum references EGM 2008, Geoid 2012a and Finnish 2000/N60 height models.
"With the release of GeoCalc 6.7 we reinforce our commitment to providing our OEM partners and software developer customers the best in class coordinate transformation available," stated Blue Marble President Patrick Cunningham.
first published week of: 12/09/2013
Permanent URL
Boeing Awarded US Air Force Contract to Continue GPS Modernization
Boeing [NYSE: BA] will continue modernizing the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite constellation for up to five more years, extending the company's role in the vital military and civilian navigation network. The U.S. Air Force, which operates the GPS network, recently awarded Boeing a $51 million, one-year contract with four one-year options. The contract covers GPS IIF satellite shipment to the launch site in Florida, pre-launch preparation, post-launch checkout, handover and on-orbit support.
"The contract provides mission continuity for the Boeing GPS IIF fleet as we continue to deliver on our commitments," said Craig Cooning, vice president and general manager of Boeing Space & Intelligence Systems. "With nine GPS IIFs still awaiting deployment, the contract scope includes supplying all support needed until the Air Force calls for the vehicles."
Boeing, which has been part of GPS since the network’s inception in the 1970s, has produced nearly 70 percent of the satellites launched in support of the GPS constellation.
The company is on contract for 12 GPS IIF satellites, three of which have been launched into service. The IIFs provide greater navigational accuracy through advances that include atomic clock technology, a new civilian L5 signal and an improved military signal.
The next IIF is to launch during the second quarter of this year. Boeing will complete production of the remaining ones by the end of the year.
first published week of: 02/18/2013
Permanent URL
Bracketron Launches New Universal Golf GPS & Smartphone Mount to Boost Your Golf Game
Bracketron, leader and innovator in mounting solutions for mobile electronics, announces the release of its Universal Golf GPS & Smartphone Mount at the 2013 PGA Merchandise Show. The new universal mount installs in seconds to the handle bars of a push cart or on the vertical upright of motorized golf carts, providing a stable, secure and easily accessible mounting solution for your golf GPS or smartphone. The mount’s unique Grip-iT design allows the clamping arms to open to 4.5 inches wide to accommodate most GPS devices, iPods and smartphones. An anti-skid surface provides an added layer of stability for your device.
The Universal Golf GPS & Smartphone Mount requires no tools and installs with the simplicity of an adjustable strap and release lever. The mount works great with popular golf GPS devices such as Callaway®, SkyCaddie®, GolfBuddy®, Garmin®, Bushnell®, Sonocaddle® and IZZO Swami®, allowing your hands to be free and focused on your golf swing.
first published week of: 01/28/2013
Permanent URL
BreweryMap plans your next beer road trip
BreweryMap, a Google Maps mashup and mobile app, provides two main functions. The first is that it tells you where the nearest brewery is so that you'll never go thirsty again. The second and far more important function is that you can punch in two addresses, and BreweryMap tells you all the breweries that are on the way from point A to point B.
Let your fantasy become a reality. Just make sure to spread out your trips.
continued…first published week of: 08/05/2013
Permanent URL
British Library georeferencing old maps
The British Library askied the public to geo-reference their collection of maps. Just as I’ve described about local maps in maps of the imagination and in the maps section of this site, even maps designed to be ‘accurate’ in their time differ from modern mapping. This project asks members of the public to geo-reference these maps aligning control points on the old map with points in Google Earth.
Henry Graber of The Atlantic had a go, and describes the experience, and more about the project in his piece “Good Deed of the Day: Help Geo-Reference the British Library’s Map Collection“. continued…
first published week of: 02/04/2013