Monday, July 7. 2008

Autodesk wants you to know about Map 3D Extensions

These extensions (Autodesk calls them Toolkits, but the URL says extensions, which I think is more clear) aid Map 3D users in surveying and utility work. They are free to those on subscription as of June 27.

Autodesk shared these details (but not in a press release; interesting):

INDUSTRY TOOLKITS: Autodesk today announced the availability of three AutoCAD Map 3D Industry Toolkits aimed at helping Map 3D 2009 users working within the electric, water or wastewater utility industries to improve adherence to data standards and to increase drafting productivity for transmission and distribution system networks during data creation, acquisition and consolidation phases of a network design project.

With these industry-specific toolkits, utilities can leverage their existing investment in Autodesk technology to increase efficiency and data quality. Each toolkit includes industry data models and symbology specific to electric, water or wastewater utility operations. The toolkits enable utilities to quickly create and maintain consistency in drawings throughout a design project’s lifecycle. Utilities can:
§ Improve drafting productivity of facilities for new and experienced workers;
§ Define and apply data standardization and intelligence during the drafting process;
§ Seamlessly integrate data received from external contractors and other departments to match established standards; and
§ Easily prepare engineering/CAD data for GIS.

The toolkits can also help facilitate the transfer of information between utilities and external engineering firms. Engineering firms can easily work within industry standards, leading to improved engineering/CAD and GIS data integration as well as more effectively meeting client requirements.

SURVEYING TOOLS: The availability of new AutoCAD Map 3D Surveying Tools was also announced today. These tools provide Map 3D 2009 users with surface creation, improved point data support and additional coordinate geometry (COGO) functionality. Map 3D 2009 users can now create, visualize and analyze terrain models and improve design and as-built update processes when working with point data collected by surveying, scanning and GPS instruments and devices. The surveying tools are available exclusively for users of Map 3D 2009.

The utility ones offer data models, templates and documentation. Per the FAQ:

• Data models - A set of industry object classes and corresponding data attributes. For
example, an overhead conductor and the voltage carried by that conductor.
• A set of pre-configured industry symbols that are tied to the object classes.
• AutoCAD Map 3D drawing (DWT) and Object Classification template (XML) files.
• User documentation including User’s Guide, Workflows and Data Model Schema.
• Instructional videos

The survey tools actually offer new functionality. Per the FAQ:

• Improved point data support.
• Surface creation capabilities.
• Additional Coordinate Geometry (COGO) commands.
• Import and export support for LandXML.
• Preview Application Programming Interface (API).
• User documentation including User’s Guide and Developer’s Reference.

Loopt Launches Web, taxi-based videos to build the brand

The campaign launches today and is aimed at tech-savvy young consumers. The webisodes feature David Price, host of the Internet's "Middle Show," (never heard of it but apparently it's in the late night vein). He uses Loopt's mobile friend-finding technology as he travels around New York City. There's a Loopt ad and a plug from the host for Loopt around the episode.

New weekly episodes will appear for two month on social networks like YouTube, Facebook and MySpace and on TaxiTV in 6,000 New York taxi cabs. I'll be curious to see what the advertising mavens think of this.

- MediaPost

BizWeek on Making Collaborative Maps During Disasters

Google doesn't get the bulk of the electrons: GeoCommons, OpenStreetMap and Mapfacture do. They are referred to as "online hubs."

- Business Week

Quote of the Week

"It's all over. Bottom line is that there is just so much data and so few people to collect it and process it. It's a tough job. I wouldn't like to have it, quite frankly."

- OGC's Sam Bacharach on location errors in online maps, in an article about the misplacement of the Cohanzick Zoo in Bridgeton, New Jersey in the Press of Atlantic City.

TomTom CEO: We'll sell 15 million devices in 2008

Reuters reports:

The chief executive of navigation device maker TomTom NV (TOM2.AS: Quote, Profile, Research) expects to sell 15 million navigation devices in 2008 despite difficult economic conditions, Dutch daily De Telegraaf reported on Saturday.

Harold Goddijn knows of the economic downturn and rising gas prices, but feels confident. I'm surprised the GPS vendors haven't already started marketing the devices as money-savers to consumers.

Microsoft Debuts Behind the Maps Series

From reader Tim:

In case your scanning didn't nab this… a great 40 minute piece on what MSFT is doing with Vexcel technology.

The site explains this is the first in a series in a post from Mark Brown:

Welcome to the inaugural episode of a new video series called, "Behind The Maps". In this series we'll explore all of the technology that makes up Virtual Earth and meet the scientists and engineers who bring Virtual Earth to life.

In this episode we go to Graz, Austria and meet Michael Gruber who invented the UltraCam aerial camera and Bernhard Reitinger who created our UltraMap software. We'll spend some time getting the details on this camera and software and get an up close look at both.