The Harlow Report-GIS
2025 Edition
ISSN 0742-468XSince 1978
On-line Since 2000
GIS News Snippets
For the week of
July 28, 2025
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A “Harlow Report” From July 29, 2024
Mapping the Future : Trends and Innovations in the Geospatial Solutions Market Forecast, 2021-2031
by Allied Analytics LLP
According to a new report published by Allied Market Research the global market size of geospatial solutions industry was valued at $432 billion in 2021, and is projected to reach $1,457.7 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 13.1% from 2022 to 2031.
Key Findings:
By solution type, the services segment is anticipated to exhibit significant growth in the near future.
By technology, the scanning segment is anticipated to exhibit significant growth in the near future.
By application, the geovisualization segment is anticipated to exhibit significant growth in the near future.
By end-use, the infrastructural development segment is anticipated to exhibit significant growth in the near future.
By region, Asia-Pacific is anticipated to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period.
North America is expected to dominate the global geospatial solutions market in 2021. Rise in investments in the defense sector and technological advancements in the telecommunication industry acts as key driving forces for the geospatial analytics market in North America. In addition, implementation of LBS-enabled drones for border security and monitoring high-risk situation by federal agencies, government, and nongovernment organizations is expected to boost the market investment for these services. Advanced sensors onboard satellites provide reliable, cost-effective, and impartial information about variety of vegetation and hydrological parameters at various spatial resolutions.
Read full story at newswire…
Now back to 2025
Building a Resilient Future
by Ordnance Survey
How Ordnance Survey underpins the nation's positioning infrastructure
As Great Britain's national mapping service, Ordnance Survey (OS) has long been synonymous with precision and trust. But in today's increasingly connected and vulnerable world, our role is extending beyond geospatial data and mapping. We are at the forefront of building a resilient Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) framework — one that underpins everything from emergency services and financial systems to transport networks and national security.
What is positioning and why is it important?
Positioning services underpin so much of what we rely on — often invisibly. It means knowing exactly where something is on Earth, usually in geographic coordinates like latitude, longitude and height.
It's what allows systems to track movement, guide navigation, or align data across different technologies. Whether it's a delivery van, an ambulance or a piece of national infrastructure, accurate positioning ensures everything is where it's supposed to be — and that decisions based on location are reliable.
Read full story at Ordnance Survey…
How the US Geological Survey Embraced GIS for a New Digital Age of Mapping
by Esri
The US Geological Survey's National Geospatial Program embraced geographic information systems to build new solutions that meet user needs.
The US Geological Survey (USGS), which has been mapping the nation's vast landscape since 1879, has been undergoing a digital transformation to get maps to people where they are and when they need them—online and on demand.
Two key results are the Event Support Maps (ESMs), which acts as a central hub of information during natural disasters, and topoBuilder, which allows anyone online to request a digital file of a custom topographic map.
Historically, USGS sold only printed maps but eventually made them available for purchase online to print or download. Topographic maps became a signature product of USGS, providing everyone—from experts to those with a casual interest in topographic maps—with the ability to use them however needed.
Motivated by rapid technological advances, staff within USGS's National Geospatial Program (NGP) began modernizing the organization's disaster response and topographic mapping programs by using geographic information system (GIS) technology and ArcGIS self-service tools. Using ArcGIS technologies, USGS could produce custom maps, share information with non-GIS users, and both streamline and automate production workflows.
“We can leverage the latest USGS data on the fly, and new maps can be generated fast for rapid response,” said Michael Tischler, PhD, director of the National Geospatial Program.
Read full story at Esri…
Investing in Mobile Mapping: Why, What, How, When? Hexagon Explains Everything You Need to Know
by Hexagon Blog
Discover why you should invest in a mobile mapping solution, how this technology is already helping customers around the world, and which system to choose.
Businesses around the world are starting to take advantage of new and improved mobile mapping systems. These advanced systems provide exceptional efficiency and accuracy, and they enhance the safety of projects, all while offering versatility and innovation to project delivery.
The business of surveying has changed for the better, making it more inclusive and accessible to non-surveyors. In the past, this kind of advanced technology was only available to big businesses and those teams with extensive technical knowledge. But companies such as Hexagon have changed this by providing comprehensive, time-saving, cost-efficient solutions for all; from the surveyor who is just starting out to the multi-national managing projects worth billions. Everyone can make better, more informed decisions.
In this blog, we'll explain why you should invest in a mobile mapping solution, how this technology is already helping customers around the world, which system to choose, and how Hexagon is supporting individuals and businesses at all levels.
Read full story at Hexagon Geosystems…
Local Governments Use GIS to Find and Fix Inaccessible Sidewalks, Curb Ramps
by Keely Quinlan
The two Midwest cities are using GIS, artificial intelligence and lidar to make fix accessibility issues with their curb ramps and sidewalks.
To prioritize the repair of inaccessible public infrastructure like cracked sidewalks and degrading curb ramps, local governments in the Midwest are turning to data and geographic information systems.
Two neighboring governments — Lawrence, Kansas and Douglas County, Nebraska, which houses Omaha, the state's most populous city — are using mapping software from Esri, paired with other technologies, such as artificial intelligence tools and lidar, to ensure their curb ramps and sidewalks are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The 1990 law prohibits discrimination against those with disabilities by guaranteeing that public accommodations and commercial and government facilities are accessible to all.
Under the ADA, the two governments are responsible for maintaining hundreds of miles of sidewalks and thousands of curb ramps. By not fixing them, they face costly liability issues and ADA violations. But to manually identify infrastructure in need of repair, Douglas County officials estimated, the effort would take about 1,000 man hours.
Read full story at StateScoop…
Rivian Is Getting a New Navigation System With Google Maps
by Google Blog
In collaboration with Rivian, we're excited to announce Rivian Navigation with Google Maps, a brand new navigation system for Rivian drivers that uses Google Maps Auto SDK.
The Auto SDK lets automakers design their own navigation system and build customized features, while taking advantage of Google Maps' technology and comprehensive information.
This means that Rivian drivers can now use Google Maps' trusted routing, ETAs, traffic insights, satellite imagery and helpful information about places in their vehicles &M while keeping Rivian's unique in-car design and features like EV charging stop planning and Charging Scores.
Rivian Navigation with Google Maps begins rolling out to all Rivian owners today. And we're working with other automakers to create their own custom navigation experiences with the Auto SDK.
Read full story at Google Maps Blog…
Industry News
In Government
GSA Unveils New Unified Procurement Strategy
by Alexandra Kelley
The General Services Administration aims to streamline the federal buyer-seller relationship with the launch of the new initiative.
The General Services Administration launched its latest effort to overhaul the federal government technology acquisition process … with the announcement of its new OneGov Strategy.
As part of the agency' updated mission to modernize federal agency purchasing, the OneGov Strategy is a multi-phase plan, the first iteration of which intends to provide agencies with access to IT tools with standardized terms and pricing. According to a GSA press release, the agency aims to foster a direct relationship between government procurers and original equipment manufacturers, rather than how agencies “historically purchased software through resellers.”
“The OneGov Strategy is a bold step forward for President Trump's GSA and our mission to be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars,” GSA Acting Administrator Stephen Ehikian said in the press release.“ It's about acting as one — aligning to our scale, standards, and security to meet the needs of today's government while preparing for the future.
Read full story at NextGov…
Microsoft to Stop Using Engineers in China for Tech Support of US Military, Hegseth Orders Review
by Stephen Nellis
Microsoft … said it will stop using China-based engineers to provide technical assistance to the U.S. military after a report in investigative journalism outlet ProPublica sparked questions from a U.S. senator and prompted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to order a two-week review of Pentagon cloud deals.
Microsoft, a major contractor to the U.S. government, has had its systems breached by Chinese and Russian hackers. It told ProPublica it disclosed its practices to the U.S. government during an authorization process.
On Friday, Microsoft spokesperson Frank Shaw said on social media website X the company changed how it supports U.S. government customers “in response to concerns raised earlier this week ... to assure that no China-based engineering teams are providing technical assistance” for services used by the Pentagon.
Earlier on Friday, Senator Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican who chairs the chamber's intelligence committee and also serves on its armed services committee, sent a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth about Microsoft's reported practices.
Read full story at Reuters…
VA Launches a Departmentwide “Review of Its Mission” As It Seeks Changes to Its Operations
by Eric Katz
Veterans Affairs is no longer planning mass layoffs, but major changes still expected.
VA plans to have cut 30,000 employees by the end of September, down from its original plan of chopping 80,000 workers and eliminating the need for “large-scale” reductions in force. The department is now launching a “VA-wide review of its mission” and structure, Christopher Syrek, the department's chief of staff said in a memorandum last week, with the aim of improving operational efficiency.
Syrek noted the memo formally canceled the one he sent out in March, which established the goal of 80,000 cuts through layoffs. He said the new review will be informed by the process of preparing for RIFs, suggesting VA “gained a host of new ideas for better serving veterans” and it will continue to use its authority to reorganize. While “arge-scale” RIFs are off the table, he said, “VA is not done improving and continues to pursue organizational reform.”
Read full story at GovExec…
In Technology
6 Ways to Protect Your Passport and Other Travel Docs From Cybercriminals - Before It's Too Late
by Lance Whitney
Electronic copies of travel documents are hot commodities on the dark web. Here's how to safeguard yours.
You may think that your physical passport, boarding passes, and ID cards are protected from theft as long as you keep them safe and secure. But that's not necessarily the case. If those documents are scanned or stored in the cloud, they're just as vulnerable as other types of files.
A new report from NordVPN describes how your travel documents can be accessed and exploited and what you can do to better protect them.
<9>How your travel documents end up for sale on the dark web<9>Based on a joint project between NordVPN and international eSIM provider Saily, the report uncovered the following ways that your passport and other travel documents can end up for sale on the dark web.
- Info-stealers . Are electronic copies of your sensitive travel documents stored or synced on your mobile device? If so, hackers could deploy malware designed to steal those files.
- Compromised travel sites . Airlines and travel agencies often scan your passport and other files to store them electronically. A criminal who hacks into a vulnerable server or website can access those scans and hawk them on the dark web.
- Fraudulent travel sites . Criminals can also set up phony websites that look like legitimate airline check-in pages. Using the right phishing techniques, they can trick you into providing personal information and uploading your travel documents.
- Unsecured cloud storage . Do you ever save your travel documents in the cloud for convenience? If the access isn't secure or the file permissions are too loose, those documents are easily accessible. In the report, NordVPN cited a trick called Google dorking in which criminals use advanced search queries to track down exposed files.
- Physical theft . People can lose their physical passports and ID cards or improperly discard their unused boarding passes. In that event, a criminal who finds the documents could scan them and place them for sale on the dark web.
Read full story at ZDNET…
Google Chrome Ends Support for macOS Big Sur
by Roman Loyola
Google will stop updating the browser with bug fixes and security patches.
Google has announced that version 138 of its Chrome browser for Mac is the last version that can run on macOS 11 Big Sur. According to a support document, Big Sur is “outside of its support window with Apple,” and that “running on a supported operating system is essential to maintaining security.”
Chrome is currently at version 138. According to Google's Chrome roadmap, version 139 is currently in beta and is expected to be released by the end of this month. Chrome 139 requires macOS 12 Monterey or later. Users of Chrome on Big Sur will start to see a “warning infobar” to inform them of the end of support. It's unclear whether the infobar will be persistent or a one-time warning.
Read full story at MacWorld…
What Happens If You Stay on Windows 10 After Support Ends?
by Yoona Wagener
Sticking with it after the EOS deadline could mean security risks and compatibility headaches
If you're a Windows 10 user, the day you've been dreading is quickly approaching: On October 14, Microsoft will end all updates and support.
If you're dragging your feet or don't plan to upgrade to Windows 11 before October 14, don't wait any longer to make a transition plan. Sticking with Windows 10 is risky and might leave your machine obsolete. Upgrading or repurposing your PC are more viable options.
Read full story at Lifewire…
In Utilities
Governing AI in Utilities: Insights From West Monroe's AI Summit
by Maria Quimpo, Director and Betsy Soehren Jones
The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) presents both opportunities and risks for the utility sector.
The U.S. government has laid a strong foundation for AI governance through key initiatives led by organizations like NIST (the National Institute of Standards and Technology) and MITRE (a nonprofit known for advancing cybersecurity and public interest technologies):
- AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0): Published by NIST in January 2023, it provides guidelines for managing AI risks across design, development, and deployment.
- Executive Order 14110: Issued in October 2023, it directed over 50 federal entities to take more than 100 actions to ensure AI is deployed safely and responsibly.
- NIST AI 100-5: Released in July 2024, it emphasizes global cooperation on AI standards, transparency, and risk management.
MITRE has emerged as a critical voice in AI governance, particularly in cybersecurity.
Read full story at UtilityDive…
This $900 Million Solar Farm in Texas Is Going 100% to Data Centers
by Michelle Lewis
Meta locks in 100% of the power from Enbridge's new $900 million Texas solar farm to run its data centers on clean energy by 2027.
Enbridge is going big on solar again in Texas, and Meta is snapping up all the solar power it can get.
Last month, Electrek reported that the Canadian oil and gas pipeline giant just launched its first solar farm in Texas. Now it's given the green light to Clear Fork, a 600 megawatt (MW) utility-scale solar farm already under construction near San Antonio. The project is expected to come online in summer 2027.
Once it's up and running, every bit of Clear Fork's electricity will go to Meta Platforms under a long-term contract. Meta will use the solar power to help run its energy-hungry data centers entirely on clean energy.
Read full story at Electrek…
Trump Nominates 4 to Tennessee Valley Authority Board After Firing Biden Picks
by Associated Press
The selections follow Trump's firing of three Biden-nominated board members since late March. The board normally has nine members and requires five to make a quorum. It currently has three.
President Donald Trump announced four nominees for the Tennessee Valley Authority's board, which for months has not had enough members to take many actions because Trump fired some of former President Joe Biden's picks.
TVA is the nation's largest public utility and provides power to more than 10 million people across seven southern states.
The White House said Trump's nominees for the federal utility are Tennesseans Lee Beaman, Mitch Graves and Jeff Hagood; and Randall Jones of Alabama.
The selections follow Trump's firing of three Biden-nominated board members since late March. The board normally has nine members and requires five to make a quorum. It currently has three. Trump's picks would not be seated until the U.S. Senate confirms them.
Read full story at Power Engineering/Factor This…