Monday, November 10. 2008

Experts: Satellites Not Great in Finding Downed Planes in Rough Terrain

The Press-Enterprise (San Bernardino) has a reality check article highlighting how satellite imagery and other remote sensing tools are just not that helpful in finding survivors (or even wreckage) of downed planes in rough terrain. Recent efforts to find ex-Israeli paratrooper David Katz and Steve Fossett were unsuccessful even with experimental radar and infrared tools. In the end, people in the area found the two crash sites. John Pike of Global Security has the last word:

With Fossett, they mounted a pretty good-sized effort. Most people aren't worth that much money," Pike said. "I would look for the development of more rugged (crash-activated) beacons.

(Not sure what's going on with the map accompanying the article...)

GIS, Photos Help Las Vegas to Reneg on Wal-mart Liquor License

A part-time poly sci professor at UNLV took the lead in warning the planning commission about how the many alcohol retailers in his neighborhood already cause much of the crime and vandalism in his neighborhood of Stewart Place. But the City Council voted 7-0 to ok a liquor license for Wal-mart. So, David Dupalo got tough. He worked pointed to work by University of California, Riverside researcher Robert Nash Parker in addressing the City Council that shows how "Parker used Geographical Information System (GIS) technology and found that the higher the density of alcohol outlets within a geographic area, the more likely the area was to be plagued by gang violence.". He took pictures of the impact of drunk drivers on property in his neighborhood. He noted that within approximately a 1.2-mile radius of his housing development, at least 85 businesses are licensed to sell liquor. And, in the end, the Mayor moved the Council change its mind. It did: 7-0 against the Wal-mart liquor license.

- The UNLV Rebel Yell

India to Launch "country’s first indigenous geomatics software" in December

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) developed the software, which includes GIS, image analysis and GPS support. It does not yet have a name, for now it's called ‘Indigenous GIS and IP Software’ or IGIS. It also has no price, but will be "competitive." Reviews have been positive at least from ISRO staffers. Why launch an in-country solution? It will:

- be more compatible with Indian satellites
- save money
- make India self-reliant in geo-software

India Express states that much of the geospatial industry's Rs 950 million in 2006-07 went to "foreign players like ESRI, AutoDesk, Bentley Systems, Leica Geosystems, InterGraph and PCI Geomatics."

It's interesting India didn't develop an open source source solution.

TeleNav offers Connected GPS; Berkeley/Nokia Work Traffic via Cell Phones

TeleNav is known as the company that provides voice directions on your cell phone. Now it's in the hardware business with the $300 TeleNav Shotgun. That includes 3 months of service - monthly service starts at $11 and packages are available. It's a connected solution, not using wi-fi, as the Dash Express (the company is now out of the hardware biz) did but rather GPRS (cell network).

Continue reading "TeleNav offers Connected GPS; Berkeley/Nokia Work Traffic via Cell Phones"

Why didn't (put name here) think of that?

You've been there - at the beginning of the day to drop off your (or someone else's) kid at school or at the end of the day to pick him or her up? You know the chaos? The challenge to park and then find the youngster? The stress?

Here's an idea out of the UK: Have kids find parking locations a five minute walk from school. That way the adult and the child get some exercise. Brilliant! And, the children are using measuring wheel (not sure why since this sounds like a time, not a distance idea) to find such locations.

- Northumberland Gazette