Pitney Bowes Grows India Research Lab/Hub

The plan is to triple the head count (not noted what it is now) over the next 18 months. The center has been there for 18 months.

- ITNewsOnline

OneGeology: GSDI for Rocks

As we ponder visions for SDIs and GSDI, the geologists will launch theirs in just a few days. The OneGeology project aims to unites geological information for the entire world on the Web. Sixteen countries are already serving data and the British Geological Survey is leading the way. From the project website:

OneGeology is an international initiative of the geological surveys of the world and a flagship project of the ‘International Year of Planet Earth’. Its aim is to create dynamic geological map data of the world available via the web.

So, what’s the tech? No magic; just WMS. The site even offers a cookbook that details how to serve up your data in WMS via open source MapServer. And the future vision, if I understand correctly is support for GeoSciML.

The map of participants (80, the latest to join is Rwanda) and those already serving data is here.

The launch will be at the International Geological Congress (IGC) in Oslo, Norway, 6th -14th August 2008. This is the model I hope many other international (even local) “interest groups” can use to share their data. Go geologists!!

- BBC

OneGeology-One Geological Map for the World

Geology goes mainstream. In an effort by the world’s geological survey’s, and led by the British Geological Survey, the mission of the OneGeology project is to "create a dynamic digital geological map data for the world" according to the project’s website. Contributions come from many organizations and information on a WMS Service Registry is available. The BBC interviews the project’s director, Ian Jackson, who discusses the efforts to help policy makers intelligently discuss the impact of natural resource depletion and climate change.

Access to subsurface geology of approximately 36 countries and regions are available at the OneGeology online portal.

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RTC Launches TrailLink.com Nationwide Trail (bike, foot, horse) Map

The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy launched TrailLink.com, a nationwide interactive map of bike routes and off-road bike trails. Besides the ability to find trails by name location and use (bike, horse, ski, etc.), and surface (grass, asphalt, sand, etc.), the site is looking for visitors to contribute by GPSing trails.

The site requires login for interactive maps of the trails and provides results in list form, with no map. The national map provides point locations for one more trails, but you must zoom in manually (Google Maps mashup) to get to a scale where the route can be drawn. One other concern: at least in my world “trail” means “woods.” We call our “trail” a “path,” aka “The Bike Path,” “the Community Path,” though of course it’s officially the Minuteman Bike Trail.

“We’re excited about the success of our mapping initiative to date,” said Frederick Schaedtler, RTC director of information technology. “We now have GIS coverage in all 50 states, including most high-density urban areas.”

I’m not sure what that means, exactly.

- BostonChannel.com

Workforce education in logistics

The Alameda Transportation and Logistics Academic Support Initiative (ATLAS) “is an innovative program designed to create career path employment for East Bay residents in warehousing and logistics (truck driving, supply chain management, GIS/GPS/RFID technologies, etc.).” Tied in with the local community college district and the City College of San Francisco the aim is to get folks on the road to good jobs in these areas. This is indeed another geo area in which the world needs well-trained individuals.

My brother and I both earned college money working summers in a local warehouse (SKYR, a manufacturer of skiwear and turtlenecks). I was a “picker” (picking out orders for retailers) and he as a “packer”(putting the stuff in boxes). Our boss, Fred, had a degree in something called “Traffic” according to the diploma on his wall. At the time it was just a summer job (and a very demanding one, as we worked 4 day 10 hour shifts) but now I know more about how that part of the operating can cost or save the company money depending on how it’s done. With enhanced technologies, far more cost savings is possible than when I was there.

- Alameda Sun