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Blog: Chris Harlow on ITSearch The Harlow Report Archives
This article will look at two types of sat nav, Binatone and Garmin. Binatone satellite navigation models feature varying screen sizes from 3.5 inches to 5 inches. So what kind of features do Binatone sat navs have under there belt. For ease of use many have widescreen displays and ant-reflective surface so that it can be used in many conditions. You will find that they also feature a touch screen display and audio directions.
Not only will a GPS help you reach your desired destination but they also feature a selection of pre-installed destinations. Many of these destinations are a necessity to drivers such as petrol stations. This is very handy if you’re in a new location, low on petrol and haven’t a clue as to where the nearest petrol station is. Other pre-installed destinations can be hotels or just a place to eat. The location of speed cameras can also be included on a Binatone satellite navigation. Maps can be viewed in either 3D or 2D depending on your preference.
The latest Binatone models feature blue-tooth function so that you can make and receive calls hands-free. This makes for a very useful all in one system.
Garmin satellite navigation models come in three price categories. The cheaper models in the range have small screens of around 3.5 inches and have basic features. They have the usual touch screen display and only a basic map layout. The more expensive Garmin models have larger screens (up to 5 inches) and even voice activated controls for ease of use. Many feature removable batteries and can be purchased at www.maplin.co.uk
If you want to avoid heavy traffic then it might be worth while buying a satellite navigation that features smart traffic avoidance. Another feature of the average Garmin sat nav is a route planner. This little feature can be a real time saver on long journeys. The inclusion of shaded contours means for a better assessment of the terrain ahead of you. continued…
first published week of: 09/28/2015
Better data sharing could have improved states’ response to the bird flu outbreak earlier this year, officials.
After news of the outbreak broke, geographic information systems officials across the Midwest, South and Pacific Coast pieced together maps to help identify infected areas and buffer zones in their states. But generally, states weren’t collaborating with each other. In Minnesota alone, officials created more than 1,700 maps during the five-month outbreak, but local laws prevented them from sharing their data across state lines, said Dan Ross, the state’s chief geospatial information officer.
“Data sharing was easy [but] there are statutes against it — so we didn’t share it,” Ross said during a panel at the National States Geographic Information Council’s annual conference Tuesday. “Sharing would’ve made it easier.”
In some cases, states will have to work within their legislatures to overturn old statutes on data sharing. In others, states will need to turn to groups like NSGIC to share best practices, even if they can’t share specific data.
A map of where avian flu was reported in Minnesota (USDA)A map of where bird flu was reported in Minnesota. (USDA) In Iowa, the nation’s largest egg producer, the outbreak affected 18 counties for nearly three months and resulted in the death of 32 million animals. Jon Paoli, the state’s GIS coordinator, said that in a situation like the outbreak, data sharing will be crucial to containing outbreaks in the future, and despite getting several requests about what the state was doing with GIS to manage the outbreak, Paoli and his team couldn’t legally share detailed information. continued…
first published week of: 10/12/2015
Blue Marble Geographics (bluemarblegeo.com) announced several new training programs being offered in 2015. The new programs include a Software Certification Program delivered via Public and On-site Training sessions, a Self-Training Program and Free Training. 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.
Blue Marble Geographics has been offering top quality training on a variety of topics for over 10 years. The new and improved training programs for 2015 are a direct result of customer feedback and extensive product feature expansion over the last three years. Individuals will have the opportunity to leverage hands-on training and tutorials to learn at their own pace as well as the ability to request customized training that can be delivered in a classroom-based session or online. Training topics include three classes on Global Mapper, and one each on Applied Geodesy, The Geographic Calculator, and the Blue Marble Developer Tool Kits.
The Public Training Instructor-led Program is being offered at several venues across North America. This year's program features a free full day of introduction to Global Mapper with no further obligation. If users are interested in more in-depth training they can attend the two advanced days and even become certified on the software. There is a new 'Day 2' class for advanced data processing and a new third day for Lidar, 3D modeling and Terrain Analysis. The Blue Marble Training Certificate Program recognizes the heightened level of proficiency gained from in-depth training and is being introduced at the repeated request of current customers. Certification is offered for Global Mapper and The Geographic Calculator, individuals who successfully complete the required training will be recognized as a certified user.
There is also a free Self-Training Program option available for Global Mapper and this is a great way to prepare for the more in-depth Public Training Certification Program or to supplement already existing knowledge.
"We are very excited to be offering a variety of learning opportunities for users" stated Blue Marble President Patrick Cunningham. "The free training class will ensure that everyone who has invested in Global Mapper can quickly see a return on that investment. It also allows prospective users to assess the capability of the software before deciding to purchase."
first published week of: 03/02/2015
Essex County [U.K.]Fire and Rescue Service is using the latest high resolution aerial photography from Bluesky to improve incident response and planning. The aerial dataset, covering more than three and a half thousand square kilometers, is being deployed across the entire organization with more than 1,600 staff having access to the data via the service’s web GIS. One of the largest County fire services in the UK, frontline crews and support staff at Essex Fire and Rescue Service are already using the Bluesky imagery to provide an instant, up to date view of the County and provide a new perspective on locations.
“Aerial photography allows all of our staff to view specific sites and premises without leaving their stations or desks,” commented Tracy King, GIS Officer at Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS). “Although the aerial photography cannot completely replace the need for site visits it is a great place to start and is already delivering savings and working efficiencies. The images also provide a totally different perspective and view of a site that traditional mapping simply doesn’t offer.”
The Bluesky aerial photography has already been made available to frontline crews, control and support staff via the organizations newly introduced web GIS (Geographical Information System) in addition to desktop version of the software. Applications of the data have already included the creation of Tactical Fire Plans and maps as well as initial assessment of building layouts by responding crews. The Bluesky imagery has also been used to help prepare for emergency exercises and it is hoped it will be rolled out for use by Control and Command staff as well as the service’s Critical Incident and Emergency Planning Teams.
first published week of: 03/23/2015
Working with resource efficiency company Sustain, Bluesky has mapped around 100,000 Housing Association properties across the UK, measuring their potential for energy generation from solar panels. Using a combination of high resolution aerial photography and detailed 3D models, Bluesky can accurately predict the potential for solar energy generation for individual houses based on a number of factors, including roof size and aspect as well as possible interference from neighboring properties or trees. Sustain uses this information to prepare detailed reports for its Housing Association clients containing cost benefit analysis and, more recently, highlighting potential impact on fuel poverty avoidance.
“By using Bluesky’s solar potential maps, we can assess more properties across wider areas than would otherwise be possible,” commented Matthew Landick, Associate at Sustain. “We can then use this information to identify potential PV installation programs based on geography, cost, and benefit to the Housing Association or even the resident. In recent projects we have also used this data to assess the impact of a solar installation on fuel poverty avoidance.
“The geographical outputs from Bluesky allow us to create far more interactive and user friendly deliverables for our clients than simply providing figures and spreadsheets, and enable us to analyze and aggregate the results in a more useful way, supporting decision making when taking works forward.”
Bluesky has a unique method of generating solar potential maps, using photogrammetric techniques to accurately measure and record factors that may contribute to the suitability of a property for photovoltaic (a method of generating electrical power by converting solar radiation) systems. Bluesky calculates the energy potential using high resolution aerial photography combined with 3D models of the earth’s surface to determine the size, aspect and gradient of each roof in the study area. The suitability of each roof is also considered, taking into account sharp angles and other impediments, such as sky lights or dormer windows. Potential obstructions, such as nearby buildings or trees, can also be identified and mapped. This data is combined with a given panel size to determine the number of potential panels and an estimate of solar irradiation.
first published week of: 10/12/2015
Many runners and cyclists these days are logging their routes with GPS so they can view the path that they just completed when they get back home. ArcGIS allows you to create stunning web maps and applications that display all your GPS routes simultaneously, creating a heat map of your spatial patterns and habits. This heatmap quite literally illuminates a geographical record of all the training that person records with their GPS. The beauty in this cartographic display is in its elegant simplicity. By showing all your routes, the most traveled paths shine bright while the least traveled areas are apparent by their dimness.
The Challenge
As a runner myself, I wanted to take advantage Esri’s Dark Gray Canvas along with the several years of GPS routes I had recorded in order to create a captivating map. This required converting my GPS tracklogs in GPX format to something I could used in ArcMap. The challenge was that the GPS to Feature Class Geoprocessing Tool provides input for only one .gpx file at a time. In order for a heat map like this to work, we need to map at least 100 routes to start uncovering a stunning spatial pattern. continued…
first published week of: 05/04/2015