The Harlow Report-GIS
2025 Edition
ISSN 0742-468XSince 1978
On-line Since 2000
GIS News Snippets
For the week of
September 22, 2025
Remember When?
A “Harlow Report” From September 23 2024
Making Sense of Sensors
Making Sense of Sensors
by Matt Collins
With each passing year, there are more and more industries taking advantage of UAV technology to streamline workflows and open up new potential offerings for their customers.
With each passing year, there are more and more industries taking advantage of UAV technology to streamline workflows and open up new potential offerings for their customers. Even though it’s still a relatively new sector, the drone industry is rapidly expanding in adopters for a number of different reasons. For one thing, hobby drones are becoming more accessible, making it easier for people to imagine how the technology can be used in their businesses. Regulations are also starting to clear up and allow for more innovation. The hardware is also becoming easier to use and move around to different sites, making drones much more practical than even five years ago
Perhaps even more important than all of these advancements has been the improvements in payload sensors. Drones alone, of course, are not going to provide value for most use cases; it’s the payloads that are able to be attached and collect crucial data that lead to the ROI for all of these industries. Today, many data collecting sensors have been improved to the point where their size can be significantly reduced without sacrificing power. As a result, these sensors can now easily be carried by drones for long enough flight times to complete crucial missions, and in some cases UAVs can carry multiple sensors to produce an even more complete dataset.
Today, there are so many options for sensors that it can be overwhelming for newcomers to the industry to know what they should be utilizing for their work. Below, you can find a quick outline of the most popular sensors featured on drones today.
Read full story at Commercial UAV News…
Now back to 2025
Esri Establishes Esri MX as a Geospatial Innovation Center for Mexico with Local Leadership
by Esri Press Release
Esri announced the establishment of Esri Mexico (Esri MX), which will assume all Esri products and services from longtime distributor Sistemas de Información Geográfica Sociedad Anónima (SIGSA).
Summary
Established in 1980, SIGSA shaped Mexico's geospatial landscape with GIS solutions. Esri MX, led by CEO Paola Salmán, former head of Esri business at SIGSA, will operate under local leadership to deliver tailored geospatial solutions addressing Mexico's challenges in urban planning, public safety, and more.
Jack Dangermond, Esri president, praised SIGSA's legacy, stating Esri MX will build on this foundation to empower communities. Esri MX aims to enhance GIS access, foster partnerships, and drive innovation across industries like government and transportation, promoting data-driven decision-making and resilience.
Google Maps Exemplifies A Three-Hour Mirror of Digital Dependency
by Qaiser Sultan
The Google Maps app faced a significant outage in some regions, leaving users unable to access navigation and location-based services.
Summary
On September 11, 2025, Google Maps suffered a three-hour blackout, stranding thousands and exposing society's reliance on digital navigation. Over 4,000 users reported “Cannot reach server” errors on Downdetector, as Google's Maps and Navigation SDKs failed, disrupting apps on Android and iOS. This outage highlighted the erosion of human navigation skills, replaced by a blue dot on screens.
With Google Maps holding 67% of the global navigation market, its failure revealed corporate control over human mobility. While affluent users turned to alternatives like Waze, gig economy workers faced income losses, underscoring digital inequities. This incident, following a June 2025 Google Cloud outage, exposed the fragility of our tech-dependent infrastructure.
New in Google Earth: Advanced Data Layers to Power Your Professional Projects #onEarth
by Alaina Adams and Jenica Rawtani, Google Earth Product Managers
Whether you're improving transportation in your community or deciding where to enhance greenspace, great decisions start with great data.
Summary
Google Earth has introduced advanced data layers and new data table functionality for professionals. These tools, available in the U.S., enable users to analyze and visualize geospatial data, making it easier to make informed decisions in various industries.
The new features are available to explore for free during the Experimental phase and will be Generally Available on October 1.
Read full story at Medium…
The Future of Car Insurance with GIS-Driven Risk Assessment
by Staff
Car insurance is changing fast. It used to be pretty basic
Summary
Car insurance companies are increasingly using GIS (geographic information systems) to assess risk more accurately. GIS data, including weather, accident history, and road conditions, allows insurers to tailor premiums based on specific locations and driving patterns. While offering benefits like faster claims processing and usage-based insurance, challenges such as privacy concerns and data coverage remain.
Read full story at TimesDaily…
What UAV Pilots Need to Know About GIS Deliverables
by Matt Collins
As veterans in the UAV industry will know, we are long past the point where being able to simply fly your drone is enough to sustain a successful business in today’s world.
Summary
Successful pilots need additional industry knowledge, especially in areas like Geographic Information Systems (GIS), to differentiate themselves. While not requiring expert-level GIS knowledge, a baseline understanding of what customers need for deliverables and how drone data integrates into GIS workflows is crucial.
GIS is a framework for gathering, managing, and analyzing spatial data. For UAV pilots, this means their captured imagery, point clouds, and models become part of a larger dataset used for real-world decision-making. Key considerations include correct georeferencing using coordinate systems and map projections, often improved by ground control points (GCPs) or RTK/PPK workflows. File formats like GeoTIFFs and LAS point clouds, along with comprehensive metadata, are also vital for seamless integration into GIS platforms.
Understanding GIS allows drone service providers to offer more valuable and marketable services across various sectors, from construction and utilities to environmental monitoring. This foundational knowledge helps pilots provide data that integrates smoothly into client workflows, transforming them from mere service providers into go-to partners for high-value projects.
Read full story at Commercial UAV News…
Industry News
In Government
AI in Government: Bracing for Transformational Impact
by Joe Markwith
Today's AI is just the on-ramp. Tomorrow's AI will come much faster, and the public sector must prepare for this transformation now.
Listen (06:41)
Summary
State and local governments face a critical juncture in adopting artificial intelligence (AI), with decisions in the next two years potentially shaping public service for decades. Leaders must strategically implement AI to avoid wasting resources on ineffective projects that erode trust.
AI impacts fiscal stewardship, workforce dynamics, and public trust, which is currently low, with only one-third of people excited about AI, per the Edelman Trust Barometer. Successful adoption requires cross-functional coalitions to prevent oversight failures, robust change management led by chief AI officers, and AI sandboxes for safe experimentation. Governments must balance calculated risks with transparent communication to build trust and align AI initiatives with measurable outcomes.
Read full story at StateTech…
Microsoft Dodges EU Fine by Unbundling Teams From Office.
by Barbara Moens
EU probe came after complaint by Slack in 2020
Summary
The article describes how Microsoft avoided an EU fine by unbundling Teams from Office.
The EU regulator was satisfied with Microsoft's concessions, which included extending the separation of Teams and Office for seven years and providing more information on interoperability.
Read full story at arsTechnica…
Treasury, GSA Partner to Reward Feds Who ID Wasteful Contract Spending
by Frank Konkel
Parts of the program could eventually expand beyond the Treasury Department.
Summary
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) finalized the “rule of many,” enhancing federal hiring flexibility. Enacted via the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act, it merges the “rule of three,” limiting managers to three top candidates, with category rating’s broader applicant pools. The rule allows managers to rank all candidates without restrictive categories, using skills assessments for merit-based selections.
This complements reforms like shared certifications across agencies. OPM also adjusted the “three considerations rule,” allowing removal of multiple applicants after three selections, capped to avoid eliminating most candidates. Effective November 7, 2025, agencies must comply by March 9, 2026.
Read full story at NextGov/FCW…
In Technology
Google Loses Ad Tech Monopoly Trial, Faces Additional Breakups
by Ashley Belanger
Google plans to appeal as DOJ seeks to untether ad products.
Summary
The article describes the outcome of the DOJ's lawsuit against Google for its ad tech monopolies.
The DOJ won two out of three claims, finding that Google illegally held monopolies in the publisher ad server and ad exchange markets. Google plans to appeal the decision.
Microsoft's AI Chief Says Machine Consciousness Is an 'Illusion'
by Pihu Yadav
Mustafa Suleyman says that designing AI systems to exceed human intelligence—and to mimic behavior that suggests consciousness—would be “dangerous and misguided.”
Summary
Microsoft’s AI Chief, Mustafa Suleyman, warns that the greatest risk in artificial intelligence isn’t rogue machines but the human tendency to perceive them as conscious beings. In an interview with WIRED, the DeepMind co-founder stated that building AI systems that simulate feelings or self-awareness could dangerously mislead people. Suleyman argued that this “illusion” of machine consciousness could distract from AI’s true purpose—to serve humanity.
He rejects the notion that AI could independently develop consciousness, insisting such traits are always deliberately engineered. The responsibility therefore rests on developers not to deceive users. While Suleyman doesn’t currently favor regulation, he advocates for industry-wide norms to ensure AI remains firmly under human control and doesn’t acquire its own will. He believes that as the simulation of sentience becomes more plausible, society must engage with this new reality.
Read full story at Wired…
Windows 10 End of Life
by Western Kentucky University ITS Service Desk
This article references WKU specific items, but the basics will be about the same for most organizations
Summary
Microsoft's official end of support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, poses a security risk for un-updated devices. To mitigate this, WKU ITS will begin locking Windows 10 computers in the weeks leading up to the deadline. Users will receive an error message and must contact the ITS Service Desk.
If a computer is Windows 11-compatible, it will be unlocked and upgraded. Otherwise, it will be temporarily unlocked for data transfer before being permanently taken out of service on October 14 in compliance with university security requirements. All departments should review machines under their responsibility and plan for necessary upgrades or replacements well in advance.
In Utilities
California Zeroes Out Funding for World's 'Largest Virtual Power Plant'
by Meris Lutz
Advocates say gutting grid reliability programs threatens to undermine the state' progress.
Summary
California lawmakers passed an energy package without funding for two grid reliability programs, Demand Side Grid Support (DSGS) and Distributed Electricity Backup Assets (DEBA), despite a $12 billion budget shortfall. These programs, critical for dispatching batteries, EVs, and solar during grid stress, face uncertainty, potentially halting progress toward a resilient grid.
The package reauthorizes the “cap and invest” program but omits DSGS and DEBA funding, previously expected at over $400 million through 2028. Advocates warn this threatens grid reliability, despite the programs' success, like dispatching 500 MW in a July test. The bills await Gov. Newsom's signature, with hopes for future funding to support a cleaner, reliable grid.
Read full story at Utility Dive…
Discover How Utilities Are Creating New Opportunities With AI, DERMS, Wildfire Resilience and More at DTECH Northeast
by Jeremiah Karpowicz
Finding the right solutions requires a regional approach, which means better understanding the specific issues and opportunities that exist across the Northeast.
Summary
DTECH® Northeast, set for November 17–19, 2025, in Boston, addresses unique utility challenges in the Northeast, such as integrating DERs, AI solutions, extreme weather, and clean energy demands. The event features keynotes and sessions tackling regional grid developments, with leaders like Judy Chang discussing balanced rates and industry practices.
AI is transforming utility operations, enhancing reliability and fieldwork efficiency, as explored in panels with experts from National Grid and Eversource. Con Edison's advanced Demand Response Management System showcases automated enrollment and battery integration. National Grid's agile DERMS approach prioritizes customers, while sessions on wildfire resilience and data-driven strategies offer actionable insights for utilities nationwide.
Read full story at FactorThis…
Four Utility Takeaways From the West Coast Utility Best Practices Symposium
by Jeremiah Karpowicz
The West Coast Utility Best Practices Symposium brought together energy stakeholders to discuss how they're navigating industry challenges
Summary
Utilities across the U.S. face diverse challenges, including aging infrastructure, shifting demands, and evolving customer expectations. The West Coast Utility Best Practices Symposium highlighted a proactive mindset to transform these into opportunities.
Key takeaways include adapting to customers' demands for transparency and innovation, as seen with smart thermostats and enhanced community engagement. The Northeast faces unique issues like electrification and severe weather, addressed at DTECH® Northeast, November 17–19, 2025, in Boston. New demand from data centers and EVs requires innovative planning, moving beyond historical data. Finally, breaking down silos, as exemplified by PG&E's Dublin Innovation Center, fosters collaboration, enabling effective integration of technologies like AI to enhance efficiency and customer experience.
Read full story at Renewable Energy World…