The Harlow Report-GIS
2025 Edition
ISSN 0742-468XSince 1978
On-line Since 2000
GIS News Snippets
For the week of
October 6, 2025
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A “Harlow Report” From October 6, 2024
Charting Geospatial Technology's Impact On Supply Chains
by Shravan Kumarw
For the supply chain sector, geospatial technology is proving to be a cornerstone solution to navigating geopolitical and climate disasters, such as the recent Red Sea blockade or the devastating earthquake in Japan. Can this technology reduce risk?
In recent years, particularly alongside the advent of AI, there's been a boom in demand and interest for geospatial technology. One example is soaring demand in Saudi Arabia—recent insights from PwC reveal that the geospatial analytics market will reach $570 million by 2029.
This is because, for the supply chain sector, geospatial technology is proving to be a cornerstone solution to navigating geopolitical and climate disasters, such as the recent Red Sea blockade or the devastating earthquake in Japan.
Let's hone in on the specific benefits of this constantly evolving technology and how organizations can best leverage it to transform their supply chain management.
Read full story at EMSNow…
Now back to 2025
A Whole New Way to Work #onEarth: Introducing Google Earth's New Professional Plans
by Brian Ho & Patrik Blohm&eacit;
Discover Google Earth's new professional plans with AI-powered data, advanced analysis, and Gemini insights—built for planners, designers & decision makers.
Summary
Google Earth introduces Professional and Professional Advanced plans, now part of the Google Maps Platform, designed for planners, designers, and decision-makers. These plans offer AI-powered data layers, including U.S. census tracts, land surface temperature, and unique Google data like EV charging station density, enhancing geospatial analysis and visualization.
The Professional plan supports up to 500 building and solar designs monthly on 25-acre sites, while Professional Advanced handles 1,000 designs on 100-acre sites. Enhanced 3D mapping, GIS analysis, and cloud-based collaboration via Google Drive streamline workflows.
Gemini capabilities, now available to all U.S. web users, enable natural language queries for rapid geospatial insights, such as mapping skyscrapers or heat wave trends, integrating Street View and data tables for actionable results.
Advancements in Parcel Mapping Tools — Part 1
by Linda M. Foster
Whether a parcel map is created for an engineering project, land development, valuation, tax assessment, land administration and management, for a subdivision, city, county, or whole country, the tools to create and manage them have dramatically improved.
Summary
Parcel mapping, whether for a few or millions of parcels, adheres to the same principles as individual surveys: fidelity to physical evidence, records, case law, and adjoining parcels. Beyond mere geometry, maps must reflect evidence and records accurately. Historically, ink-and-paper maps included text notes, but digital maps now store attributes in databases linked to source documents.
Parcel maps serve diverse purposes, from tax assessments with lower precision to survey-quality maps for engineering. Cadastral maps, acting as legal title registries in some countries, demand high accuracy, incorporating physical evidence, recorded titles, and coordinate geometry (COGO). Modern GIS, like Esri's Parcel Fabric, enhances large-scale parcel management with high-fidelity geometry and robust database integration.
Read full story at xYht…
Korea to Test High-Precision, Real-Time GPS Service That Doesn't Need Internet
by Yoon Min-sik
South Korea will launch a test operation of a new GPS-based positioning service in October that works without an internet connection
Summary
South Korea will launch a test of the Gridded Virtual Reference Station (G-VRS) in October, a GPS-based positioning service offering centimeter-level accuracy without internet. Ideal for remote areas like islands or fast-moving vehicles, G-VRS complements existing Virtual Reference Station systems that rely on internet connectivity.
Developed by the National Geographic Information Institute, G-VRS supports applications like drone delivery, pest control, and automated driving using Global Navigation Satellite System data. It matches the accuracy of current VRS systems.
The system includes GNSS control points nationwide, with 103 planned by year-end, including new installations on islands like Ulleungdo, enhancing coverage in remote regions.
Read full story at Korea Herald…
Science on the Move: Auburn's Mobile Geo Explorer Lab Inspires Young Students
by Cassandra Galindo
A 35-foot solar-powered RV doubles as a mobile science lab to provide immersive geoscience education for K—12 students.
Summary
Geo Explorer Auburn, a 35-foot solar-powered RV, brings hands-on geoscience education to Alabama's K–12 students. Equipped with VR headsets, interactive sandboxes, and microscopes, the mobile lab makes concepts like topography and weather tangible, aligning with state and national science standards.
Launched in September 2025, it targets under-resourced schools, fostering STEM interest through stations exploring Earth systems, geographic scales, and human-environment interactions. Students engage with tools like ArcGIS StoryMaps and drones, sparking curiosity and career aspirations.
Professor Timothy Hawthorne, founder, emphasizes creating unforgettable science experiences to build students' science identities. With plans for expansion, including a lab in Belize, Geo Explorer Auburn redefines accessible STEM education.
Read full story at Esri ArcWatch…
Why GIS Matters: Importance of GIS in Mapping, Data and Smart Cities
by Information
What makes GIS important in today's digital-first world? They will look at the role GIS plays in mapping, data analysis, and the development of the connected cities of the future.
Summary
Geographic Information Systems revolutionize mapping by offering dynamic, real-time digital environments, surpassing traditional static maps. GIS enables insights into environmental changes, population trends, and future development, vital for construction, environmental monitoring, public safety, and infrastructure.
In Austin, Texas, GIS services from firms like Pape-Dawson Engineers support rapid urban growth through advanced spatial analysis, database management, and custom applications, enhancing infrastructure and sustainable planning.
GIS integrates diverse datasets, aiding public health in tracking disease outbreaks and utilities in optimizing energy use. In smart cities, GIS underpins traffic management, public safety, and environmental monitoring, making connected, efficient urban systems a reality. Future GIS advancements with AI and IoT will further transform decision-making across industries.
Read full story at Euroreporter…
Industry News
In Government
Government Pacing Toward Increased IT Contract Spending Despite DOGE Cuts
by Frank Konkel
A new administration and new priorities haven't slowed the federal government's spend on IT.
Summary
Federal IT contract spending is projected to reach a record $130 billion in fiscal 2025, surpassing the previous year's $126 billion despite efforts by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to cut costs.
This increase is driven by factors like continuing resolutions and the Big, Beautiful Bill Act, which injected billions into agencies like Homeland Security. However, challenges such as high vacancy rates for contracting officers and potential government shutdowns could impact spending.
Read full story at GovExec…
State Department Hopes to Use Agentic AI to Assist Employee Tasks, CIO Says
by Natalie Alms
That kind of autonomous action would go beyond the current capabilities of the agency' AI chatbot, StateChat.
Summary
The State Department is advancing its use of AI, moving beyond its generative AI chatbot, StateChat, which assists 45,000–50,000 employees with tasks like translations and policy navigation. Chief Information Officer Kelly Fletcher aims to deploy AI agents that autonomously handle tasks, such as submitting leave slips, to reduce administrative burdens. These agents, unlike passive chatbots, could perform complex, long-term tasks, with Anthropic projecting such capabilities by 2026–2027.
Despite benefits like increased productivity, agentic AI poses risks, including oversight challenges and potential job displacement. Adoption requires extensive training, as Fletcher noted, to ensure employees understand and effectively use these tools, which will be embedded across administrative and mission-critical functions, including cybersecurity and health record navigation.
Read full story at NextGov…
When Trust Becomes a Weapon: Government Leaders Face Evolving Phishing Attacks
by Mac Avancena
Listen (06:28)
ZipLine, discovered by Check Point Research, demonstrates how hackers can use an organization's inbound contact channels against them.
Summary
Phishing has evolved from crude emails to sophisticated social engineering, with campaigns like ZipLine targeting U.S. manufacturing and supply chains. Unlike traditional phishing, ZipLine attackers use public 'Contact Us' forms to trick victims into initiating contact, bypassing security filters.
Over weeks, they build trust through professional exchanges, delivering malware via ZIP files disguised as NDAs or AI-themed lures. This threatens intellectual property, financial stability, and critical infrastructure. Defenders must monitor all inbound channels, educate employees, verify contacts, and enhance security with multifactor authentication and advanced attachment analysis. As phishing weaponizes trust, layered security is essential to protect government and economic resilience.
Read full story at StateTech…
In Technology
Ditch Your Passwords: Why Passkeys Are the Future of Online Security
by Kim Key
Passkeys are revolutionizing the way we secure our online accounts, with the potential to eliminate passwords altogether. We explain why they offer stronger protection for your digital life and how you can start using them.
Summary
Passkeys, developed by the FIDO Alliance, replace passwords with a secure, passwordless authentication method using public and private keys. They're unguessable, phishing-resistant, and immune to data breach theft, as private keys stay on your device or in services like iCloud. Microsoft, for instance, removed passwords from its Authenticator app, prioritizing passkeys.
However, passkeys aren't flawless. Security expert Trevor Hilligoss notes that cookie hijacking via malware can bypass authentication. Users can mitigate this by setting short cookie expiration times. Passkeys also face challenges like device dependency and confusing terminology, sometimes mistaken for 2FA methods.
Password managers like NordPass and Proton Pass simplify passkey management, ensuring easy access across devices.
Read full story at PCMag…
How to Use a Password Manager to Share Your Logins After You Die
by Jacob Roach
Your logins will live on after you pass on. Make sure they end up in the right hands.
Summary
Planning your digital legacy is as crucial as managing physical assets. Without a plan, your online accounts — from banking to social media — may become inaccessible or erased. Services like Apple and Facebook offer legacy contacts, but most platforms don't, often requiring court orders for access.
Password managers like Proton Pass, 1Password, and NordPass simplify digital legacy with emergency access features. Proton Pass grants account-wide access, 1Password provides a secure Emergency Kit, and NordPass allows read-only access after a seven-day wait. These tools also store vehicle info, software licenses, and 2FA details, ensuring your digital assets are secure and transferable.
Read full story at Wired…
No, AI Isn't Stealing Your Tech Job — It's Just Transforming It
by Joe Mckendrick
Few roles are at risk of total replacement by AI, but change is still happening fast, and hybrid skill sets are the new norm.
Summary
Technology professionals' early adoption of artificial intelligence is a “harbinger of change” for the entire workforce, according to a recent BCG report. AI is moving faster than corporate strategies, transforming roles in software development (81% impact), data, and IT infrastructure. While few jobs face outright replacement, the nature of these roles is rapidly evolving.
The report suggests AI is elevating tech professionals, shifting engineers' focus to the “why” and “what,” and turning designers into “architects of AI–powered products.” This evolution is leading to blurred boundaries between engineering, product, and design. The BCG team outlines three stages of adoption–Tool–based, Workflow transformation, and Agent–led orchestration–stressing that employees who combine hybrid skill sets with AI fluency will become the norm.
In Utilities
For Data Center Contracts, It's All About the Fine Print
by Sebastian Obando
Regulation, tariffs, labor shortages, supply chain issues and “sophisticated power and utility needs” are complicating data center development, say contract attorneys.
Summary
The U.S. data center construction boom, exemplified by major investments from companies like Apple and CoreWeave, offers lucrative opportunities but carries significant risks for contractors.
These projects, often using “Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC)” models, involve simple structures with highly sophisticated power and utility needs and are increasingly built onfast-track delivery schedules to meet AI demand. This speed, coupled with remote locations, magnifies the potential for labor shortages and safety incidents, according to construction attorneys.
Key challenges include supply chain volatility – particularly for copper, transformers, and specialized cooling refrigerants – requiring contractors to use price acceleration or tariff-specific clauses. Furthermore, managing compliance for the specialized workforce and ensuring cybersecurity for highly sensitive design documents add layers of complexity to these high-profit, high-risk contracts.
Read full story at UtilityDive…
How Are Most Utility-Scale Batteries Actually Being Used?
by Sean Wolfe
Insight from the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows that a certain battery use case is overwhelmingly popular.
Summary
Utility-scale batteries in the U.S. are primarily used for price arbitrage, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration's 2023 survey. This involves buying electricity when prices are low, storing it, and selling when prices are high, accounting for 66% of battery capacity, with 41% primarily for arbitrage.
Frequency regulation, maintaining the grid's 60-cycle frequency, is the next common use at 24%. Other uses include storing excess renewable energy, peak shaving, and load following. The EIA notes a shift from frequency regulation to arbitrage, with battery capacity expected to triple by 2028, adding 35,953 MW.
California's battery boom, driven by state mandates and a favorable market, contrasts with Texas, where limited market opportunities and short-duration batteries focus on ancillary services.
Read full story at Pwer Engineering…
Utilities' Climate Pledges Exposed as Greenwashing
by Marybeth Collins
Most U.S. utilities now advertise climate commitments, but the Dirty Truth Report 2025 finds that these pledges rarely translate into action. Of the 75 utilities analyzed, 65 had public climate goals, yet more than half still earned an F grade. Only three utilities received an A.
Summary
The Dirty Truth Report 2025 reveals that most U.S. utilities' climate pledges are greenwashing, with many setting distant net-zero goals without actionable plans.
The report highlights that only utilities with ambitious, near-term goals, like Xcel Energy's 80% emissions reduction by 2030, demonstrate measurable progress. This greenwashing misleads investors and exposes ratepayers to rising costs, particularly impacting low-income and minority households.
Read full story at Environment+Energy Leader…