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Blog: Chris Harlow on ITSearch The Harlow Report Archives
A rescuer uses a stick to measure depth and look for victims under the tailings sludge that struck Brumadinho after the collapse of Dam 1 of the Córrego do Feijão mine, owned by mining company Vale S.A.
( Getty Images )
Creating maps using geographic information systems (GIS) began in the 1960s. It formed the backbone of geographic science including spatial analysis and visualization.
In July 2017, geospatial data helped the Thai cave rescue team save the lives of 12 people. That technology, mapping and analytics software came from Esri, a geospatial data company founded in 1969.
That same year, Esri took a step into augmented reality (AR) through their internal research and development group, Esri Labs, and released an AR app called AuGeo. Available in both Android and IoS, the AuGeo app has been used by the Illinois State Police to enable a line of sight analysis with a 3D model to create a standard security procedure to protect against snipers, showing areas where views are unobstructed from the tallest point.
The Israeli Special Forces also used the AuGeo app to create an overlay of the terrain before the flood in the January 2019 dam break in Brazil to allow first responders quickly orient themselves and begin to search for survivors.
Read full story at Forbes…
first published week of: 04/01/2019
Bentley Systems, Incorporated announced the acquisition of Keynetix, a UK-headquartered provider of cloud-based software for capturing, visualizing, modeling, and sharing of geotechnical data. The addition of Keynetix software expands Bentley’s geotechnical offerings and accelerates Bentley’s vision of enabling subsurface digital twins for infrastructure projects and assets.
Bentley’s gINT and Keynetix’s HoleBASE software platforms are core, business critical tools within our ground investigation (GI) businesses, and have been so for more than 20 years. Mark Bevan, associate director, ground investigation data systems for UK-based Structural Soils, Ltd.
Subsurface digital twins can be vital for assessing and managing risks in infrastructure projects, and to the planning, design, construction and operations of infrastructure assets. The creation and curation of subsurface digital twins involves modeling the underground environment (geology, hydrology, chemistry, and engineering properties, and the underground infrastructure), and utility networks, structures, and tunnels – and then analyzing and simulating the subsurface behavior. Supplementing borehole reports managed by Bentley’s gINT software, Keynetix’s cloud-based geotechnical knowledge management system captures and manages underground environment information for Bentley’s geotechnical analysis applications, PLAXIS and SoilVision.
Mark Bevan, associate director, ground investigation data systems for UK-based Structural Soils, Ltd., a member of the RSK Group Ltd., said, “Bentley’s gINT and Keynetix’s HoleBASE software platforms are core, business critical tools within our ground investigation (GI) businesses, and have been so for more than 20 years. The acquisition of Keynetix’s modern and innovative software into the Bentley portfolio, alongside the mature and proven gINT platform, is a breath-taking and exciting landmark moment within the GI digital landscape. The rapidly growing Bentley geotechnical platform is helping to maximize the potential positives of the digital shift we are experiencing within the GI workplace. Ground investigation is truly going digital.”
first published week of: 05/20/2019
BetterGIS, an innovator in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) applications, today announced that James Rodisch, an executive leader with decades of experience building growth companies, has been named Chief Financial Officer and a member of the company’s executive management team.
Rodisch has more than 40 years of business and academic experience. He has a long track record of success working with dynamic companies in technology, software, healthcare and education. He has served as CFO and Chief Operating Officer, as well as Director of finance or business development. He has worked with start-ups, early-stage firms and nonprofit organizations. During his career, Rodisch has helped raise or access more than $40 million in venture capital.
At BetterGIS, Rodisch will oversee the company’s finance and overall operations. He will work closely with CEO Michael London on capital raising and serve as a key member of the executive management team.
Read full story at betteGIS…
first published week of: 04/08/2019
Broadband internet coverage has been a contentious topic in the federal government for several months. A draft FCC report circulated in February found 19.4 million Americans lacked access to fixed broadband, down from 26.1 million at the end of 2016. The FCC’s mapping methodology has come under fire from critics, who note that if an internet service provider (ISP) has provided broadband to just one home in an entire service block, the FCC declares a ZIP code as "served."
Fight for the Future, a group that advocates for net neutrality, said the findings are "dubious" given that fiber deployment has slowed and ISPs' investment in networks is shrinking. Members of the FCC have also joined the chorus of criticism of the commission's mapping process.
Read full story at Smart Cities Dive…
first published week of: 05/20/2019
In a bid to improve location-based services, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) is adding a new direction finding feature to the version 5.1, combining its existing object-tracking technology with radio direction to enable tracking a device to a centimetre-level location accuracy.
By including the new direction finding feature, Bluetooth proximity solutions could add support for device direction capability, the Bluetooth SIG wrote in a blog post on Monday.
Bluetooth-enabled proximity solutions and positioning systems use the wireless technology to determine the physical location of devices with real-time locating systems (RTLS) and fuel item finding solutions like personal property tags as well as point-of-interest (PoI) information solutions.
Right now, Bluetooth systems track items by measuring their signal strength within the high accuracy range of one and 10 meters.
“Location services is one of the fastest growing solution areas for Bluetooth technology and the Bluetooth community continues to seek ways to further grow this market with technology enhancements that better address market needs worldwide,” said Mark Powell, Executive Director, Bluetooth SIG.
Read full story at Eastern Mirror…
first published week of: 03/18/2019
HD maps from NavInfo provide a much higher level of detail than ordinary GPS maps.
BMW China is looking to expand its autonomous driving in China and is partnering with Beijing-based navigation company NavInfo to develop high-precision maps necessary for driverless cars.
China is the world's biggest auto market and the country is also looking to become a world leader in electric vehicles and autonomous driving technology. However, before self-driving cars can safely navigate on public roads, they require high definition maps along with the typical suite of cameras, radar and other autonomous driving hardware.
BMW China is looking to expand its autonomous driving in China and is partnering with Beijing-based navigation company NavInfo to develop high-precision maps necessary for driverless cars. The deal was first reported by Chinese automotive news site Gasgoo.
"As one of core technologies for autonomous driving, HD map plays an irreplaceable role in prediction of real-time traffic conditions, driving strategy and driving safety. NavInfo is China's leading location-based service provider and is also a long-term business partner of BMW China. The latest cooperation will give great impetus to BMW's development of autonomous driving deployment in China," said Jochen Goller, President and CEO of BMW Group Region China.
Read full story at Future Cars…
first published week of: 07/29/2019