Wednesday, February 25. 2009

Lowenstein: The future of LBS is not subscription services

Mark Lowenstein writing at Fierce Wireless is trying to be upbeat about LBS, but really he isn't. "I am not optimistic that there is a large market for subscription-based LBS." That said, he does look at the four primary ways in which location services can be monetized as the industry goes forward:

app store (free/paid divided)
LBS as part of advertising/social networks
search
packaging of where user go (for multiple uses)

This is a nice reality check.

Complete Map of China Found at School Site Demolished by Earthquake

The earthquake destroyed the school and neighboring buildings, but left the map, painted on a ceramic wall was left intact. Some suggest it be part of the memorial for the May 12 quake that killed 1000 students at Beichuan High School.

- China.org

The National Map: Quad Sheet Factory

Mark DeMulder of USGS briefed NSGIC on The National Map this week. He started with why the program exists, citing three basic reasons:

- serves info to decision makers
- supports our science mission of USGS too
- cross-jurisdictional maps are useful in emergencies

He then moved on to what The National Map got from the Stimulus Bill. Right now, it looks like the program will receive $15 million to add to its typical $60 million budget.

He went on to focus on basically one use of The National Map that’ll start showing itself in the coming months: electronic topo quads.

Continue reading "The National Map: Quad Sheet Factory"

Old Poll, New Poll

Last month we asked: Which is your biggest challenge in doing your geo-related job?

There were 98 responses:

People 49%
Data 26%
Software/API/Language 16%
Hardware 7%
Something else 5%

Let's follow up on the "people" challenges with this weeks poll: What's your biggest "people" challenge in doing your geo-related job? Vote on the lower right hand site of the blog homepage.

Tuesday, February 24. 2009

Tracking LBS Apps on iPhone, Android

Bentley Offers Helping Hand to "Be Employable" for those Out of Work

Bentley Systems launched a campaign yesterday called "Be Employable" to support out of work infrastructure professionals with free online training and access to online software. The initiative, part of Bentley's "Be Careers Network," includes professional organizations and firms looking to support recruitment of trained AEC and geospatial technologists. I'll give Bentley credit; it's a great idea and this is the first I've seen of a program to help geospatial professionals who may be looking for work. In a time where there is a dearth of trained geospatial professionals this is an opportunity to develop skills that are highly employable.