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first published week of: 02/20/2017
internetofthingsagenda.techtarget.com
Geospatial information — an amalgam of data on an object’s location and attributes — is gaining increased attention beyond its traditional home in geographic information systems (GIS) communities. When integrated with active devices and sensors, geospatial technologies are transforming the way people work, move, live and — thanks to geocaching, fitness apps and Pokémon Go — play
Companies can use GIS and internet of things technologies to combine a device’s location with its status and other important information. For example, information such as the position of a valve or the setting of a switch can be displayed on a map that provides context at macro levels while enabling users to drill down to high levels of detail. The approach delivers key inputs to support informed decisions and efficient business processes.
The geospatial industry has used IoT concepts for decades. Networks of GPS receivers use the internet to share and distribute data to produce accurate positioning in real time. The information can be accessed using wired or wireless internet connections, dedicated networks or satellite downlinks. Spatial information — location together with the velocity and direction of any motion — provides key inputs for a wide variety of applications. continued…