2007 July 12

This issue sponsored by

Professional Surveyor Magazine

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Editor's Introduction

This week I report on two releases by Autodesk and discuss computer-aided facilities management. Plus, 26 press releases (more than usual due to last week's holiday).

— Matteo Luccio

Autodesk Launches MapGuide Enterprise 2008 and Topobase 2008

On Tuesday, Autodesk unveiled MapGuide Enterprise 2008 and Topobase 2008, two products that enable organizations to share location, design and enterprise information across departments. For Autodesk's list of features and benefits, click here. According to the company, MapGuide Enterprise 2008, which uses the Internet to deliver data, builds on its support for open source software "to help public agencies, utilities and telecommunications customers extend the reach and value of geospatial information and knowledge through their organizations and beyond." Topobase 2008, which includes a new module for the gas industry, incorporates MapGuide Enterprise and AutoCAD Map 3D 2008 capabilities, as well as Oracle Spatial database technology.

Autodesk is playing up its interactions with the open source community. Lisa Campbell, Vice President of Autodesk Geospatial, says that "Autodesk MapGuide Enterprise 2008 reflects the open source community's input on the features most important to organizations, such as native support for Google Earth, while new Topobase 2008 features apply those enhancements to the specific requirements of utility companies."

Read more…

GIS and Computer-Aided Facilities Management (CAFM)

GIS Monitor often explores the relationship between GIS and other classes of software, such as CAD. I recently discussed the relationship between GIS and Computer-Aided Facilities Management (CAFM) — which integrates CAD and database management technology to manage room-, floor- and building-level spatial information — with David Jordani, President of the Jordani Consulting Group (JCG). The firm provides information technology consulting and systems integration services to facility management, building design, and construction industry professionals.

Every large organization that owns or manages facilities requires an enterprise-wide approach to make data about these facilities available to all of its information systems and databases — in support of such business processes as maintenance and operations, real estate/property, human resources, capital planning, inventory services, and information services. When thoughtfully planned and implemented, using a consistent spatial model, such enterprise solutions yield a large return on investment.

Since the early 1990s, JCG has been developing GIS tools as an alternative to traditional CAFM. Both GIS and CAFM systems are concerned with spatial data management and can be used regardless of scale — whether to describe a single room or large tracts of land. Unlike CAFM, however, GIS can also perform spatial analysis and geographic navigation and provides the opportunity to integrate infrastructure management with room-level detail, allowing planners to pinpoint the impact of various projects on building occupants.

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University of Minnesota project

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News Briefs

Please note: I have neither edited nor verified the content of these press releases.

  1. CONTRACTS & COLLABORATIONS

    1. New Leica fieldPro-Compatible 3D Plant Design Technology Now Available for Rapid Data Capture

    2. 1Spatial Announce Acquisitions in Ireland and Scotland

    3. Merrick & Company Awarded Missouri River Orthophotography and LiDAR Project

    4. Washington State Department of Transportation Selects GeoDecisions and Marshall for GIS Services

    5. Tensing Completes Mobile GIS Testing on Windows Vista

    6. UN-Habitat Signs Agreement with ITC

    7. Louisiana Increases Online Traffic Video Coverage of Primary Hurricane Evacuation Routes with TrafficLand

    8. DHS Selects Pixia Corp. as a Baseline Component to Serve Geospatial Imagery for Disaster Preparedness and Response

    9. Topcon, Two Major Dealers Form World's Largest Positioning Products Provider

    10. PTV and SAP Extend Partnership: Users Benefit From Joint Development of Software Components

    11. Paypal Partners With GPShopper And Introduces Paypal Mobile Checkout

    12. TC Technology Announces Strategic Partnership with Origin GeoSystems

    13. U.S. Geological Survey Makes Topographic Maps Available Using GeoPDF

    14. Timmons Group Selected by Montgomery County, Ohio to Implement Cityworks Enterprise Maintenance Management Solution

    15. City of Grand Rapids, Michigan Implements Pictometry Technology

    16. Two GIS Companies From Pacific Northwest Merge To Meet Growing National & International Demand For Products And Solutions

  2. PRODUCTS & SERVICES

    1. ESRI's Mapping Center Web Site Helps GIS Users Make Better Maps

    2. GeoAge Fast Software Expands Import / Export Capabilities

    3. Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging Enhances Leica TITAN

    4. The Geoinformation Group Adds Near Infrared Imagery To Cities Revealed Portfolio

    5. Digital Maps Of Germany, Austria and Switzerland Updated

  3. CONFERENCES & TRAINING

    1. Spatial Data Infrastructure Seminar at Map Asia 2007

    2. GITA Extends Call for Papers Deadline for Geospatial Infrastructure Solutions Conference 31

    3. 'Mapping California Communities' Workshop Provides Introduction to GIS and Community Analysis

  4. PEOPLE

    1. MAPPS Endorses Nine Members for National Geospatial Advisory Committee

  5. OTHER

    1. GeoWeb 2007 Launches Online GeoWeb Resource

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Matteo Luccio, Editor
GIS Monitor

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