Thursday, November 20. 2008

GIS/Survey Companies Support Global Infrastructure Leadership Forum; Where are Infrastructure Software Vendors?

The 2nd Annual Global Infrastructure Leadership Forum is coming up in December. It's not something of which I've ever heard. Here's what will happen:

$400 billion worth of infrastructure projects, equivalent to 1% of world GDP, will be presented at the 2nd Annual Global Infrastructure Leadership Forum. The 100 projects, to be presented by their sponsors to an audience of 500 executives from more than 40 countries, is an attempt to identify those projects that will allow the world to build its way out of the current financial crisis.

So, I'd think the two software firms most likely to be involved would be Autodesk and Bentley. They both build their marketing and products around "infrastructure." They are not sponsors. Who is? ESRI. Leica. PA Consulting. There are many reasons these two firms may not be involved; I am simply surprised they are not.

- press release

Three GLONASS Birds to Launch on Christmas Day

Russia will launch the three satellites into its navigation constellation on December 25 from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan, Russia. (Santa should be back at the north pole by then, right?)

- Novosti

Regional Census Hiring Office Overwhelmed by Applicants

The office in Detroit is responsible for hiring census workers for Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia and its been basically overrun with applicants for the jobs which pay from $18.25-$19/hour. Applicants are asked to take a basic skills test (which includes map reading) and those who score highest are placed first. A sample is here.

Census is hiring in other parts of the country, too, gearing up for the 2010 count.

- Detroit News

Coke to Launch Google Map Xmas Light App (UK)

Among the advertising efforts of Coke UK is this:

A Google map application will also be sent to consumers that will allow users to get creative by decorating their own home or friends’ houses with sparkling virtual Christmas lights.

I'm not sure if this uses Street View (that'd be cool!) or if you simply add the lights on the map...but I'm pleased it's not another "map the holiday lights" app. That's getting old.

- Precision Marketing