The Harlow Report-GIS
2024 Edition
ISSN 0742-468XSince 1978
On-line Since 2000
GIS News Snippets
For the week of
January 22, 2024
Remember When?
A "Harlow Report" From January 23, 2023
HERE Introduces UniMap to Revolutionize How Maps Are Created, Updated and Used
by Here Press Release
UniMap produces up-to-date, comprehensive and unified map content at scale to serve automated driving, smart logistics and enterprise application
Digital maps just took a huge leap forward. At CES 2023, HERE Technologies, the world's leading location platform, unveiled UniMap, a revolutionary, highly automated mapping technology that enables rapid creation of digital maps and location products.
Read full story at Here…
Now back to 2024
How Geolocation Elevates Mobile Experiences
by Guest
Discover the transformative power of geolocation in mobile technology. From personalized experiences to revolutionizing industries, this comprehensive guide explores its potential for the future.
… This comprehensive article will show you the multifaceted dimensions of geolocation, its impact on various sectors, and its potential for the future of mobile technology.
Geolocation technology relies on a combination of Global Positioning System (GPS), Wi-Fi, and cellular network data to pinpoint the precise location of your mobile device. While GPS provides accurate outdoor positioning, Wi-Fi and cellular networks enhance accuracy, especially in urban environments and indoor spaces.
Read full story at Cellular News…
Mastering Data Mapping for Informed Decision-Making
by Ishu Singh Rajput
Data Mapping is a fundamental concept in the realm of data engineering and big data analytics.
In this article, we delve into the intricacies of mastering data mapping for informed decision-making, offering valuable insights for professionals navigating the complex landscape of data management.
Data Mapping, at its core, is the process of associating elements between two distinct data structures, allowing for seamless data exchange and integration. In practical terms, it's akin to translating information from one language to another, ensuring that data from various sources can be understood and utilized cohesively.
Read full story at Devdiscourse…
Social Media GIS: Revolutionizing the Way We Understand and Interact with Geospatial Data
by Staff
Social media GIS, also known as social media geospatial analysis, combines the vast amount of user-generated content on social media platforms with the spatial information provided by GIS.
… Social media GIS refers to the process of extracting, analyzing, and visualizing geospatial data from social media platforms. It involves the integration of location-based information from social media posts, such as geotagged tweets, Instagram photos, and Facebook check-ins, with GIS technology. By combining these two sources of data, social media GIS enables users to gain a deeper understanding of the spatial patterns and trends associated with social media activity.
One of the key advantages of social media GIS is its ability to provide real-time and near-real-time data.
Read full story at Pioneer Scoop…
Universities Shaping the Geographers of the Future
by Study International Staff
Climate change, global immigration, biodiversity loss - learn how to mitigate modern-day problems with a degree in geography from one of these four universities.
Pursuing a degree in geography is more than just learning to read a map - it involves studying the world and how humans interact with it. You gain insights into practical, social, economic and environmental issues, allowing you to address modern problems such as climate change, biodiversity loss, urban expansion and global inequality.
The degree consists of two focuses: physical and human.
Read full story at Study International…
What Are Indoor Maps? Indoor Mapping Software & Technology
by Lucy Bragg
Discover the world of indoor maps, where cutting-edge technology transforms floor plans into digital, interactive representations of indoor spaces.
… The core of indoor mapping lies in its ability to visualize (and often simplify) complex indoor spaces. This technology brings floor plans to life, making them easily comprehensible and accessible. Visualizing indoor maps enables users to gain a streamlined understanding of the layout and enhance overall spatial awareness.
Read full story at Mappedin…
Industry News
In Government
Experts Tell Congress How AI Can Help Agencies Improve Service Delivery
by Justin Doubleday
HSGAC Chairman Gary Peters says legislation is 'forthcoming' in the areas of customer service and AI.
Recruiting more technical talent, improving procurement processes and strong leadership will all be key if agencies are to move past the hype of artificial intelligence and use AI technologies to improve customer service delivery.
That's according to experts who testified before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Wednesday. Jennifer Pahlka, former U.S. deputy chief technology officer and founder of Code for America, said while government service delivery still lags behind the private sector, "it is getting better." But she said it has to improve even faster with the advent of AI.
Read full story at Federal News Network…
NASCIO Releases 'AI Blueprint' for State Agencies
by Mickey McCarter
Local governments also have prioritized generative artificial intelligence in 2024.
For the first time in the history of the National Association of State Chief Information Officers, artificial intelligence landed on its annual list of top 10 policy and technology priorities identified by state CIOs.
AI, machine learning and robotic process automation took No. 3 on the list of 2024 State CIO Top 10 Priorities, which NASCIO published in December. Around the same time, NASCIO published a report intended to assist state governments in development of AI roadmaps.
Read full story at StateTech…
What CA Gov. Newsom's Sweeping Budget Cuts Could Mean for IT
by Theo Douglas
California Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a $291.5 billion budget this week that proposed resolving a roughly $37.8 billion shortfall with cuts, delayed and deferred funding and by withdrawing $13 billion from state reserves.
The state technology department would receive substantially less funding than last year overall from Gov. Gavin Newsom's proposed 2024-2025 fiscal year state budget, with the unkindest cut -- more than half its potential decrease -- coming from the elimination of a key federal funding stream.
Read full story at GovTech…
In Technology
8 Helpful Hidden Features You Can Unlock in Microsoft Windows
by Christoph Hoffmann
Microsoft has hidden some tools and functions in Windows 10 and 11 and switched them off by default.
We will introduce you to these gems and show you how to activate them to unlock additional functions in the Home editions.
Not all functions of the operating system can be used, or so it seems. In fact, they are there, but they are deactivated by Microsoft by default, so you have to switch them on first. One example is Spotlight for configuring the lock screen.
Read full story at PCWorld…
Google Eliminating Cookies Could Protect Privacy. It Could Also Make Life More Annoying for You on the Internet
by Cody Mello-Klein
Without cookies, a common online tracking tool, advertisers face a crisis and will start looking for other ways to track your behavior and habits on the internet, experts say.
Originally created in the early days of the internet to help websites remember who you are during login, cookies and the ways they facilitate online tracking have become a massive privacy concern. Google eliminated third-party cookies for 1% of Chrome users, 30 million people, last week and aims to do so for all 3.2 billion of its users, according to Statista, by the end of 2024.
Read full story at Northeastern Global News…
How to Get an Apple Student Discount at Apple's Education Store
by Karen Haslam
Find out if you are eligible for Apple's education discount, how much you can save with Apple's student pricing, and how to buy from Apple's Education Store.
Students, teachers, and those who work for an educational institution, can save money on a new Mac, MacBook, or iPad by shopping at the Apple Education Store, which offers discounts all year round.
In this article, we will explain how much the Apple education discount is and who qualifies for an Apple student discount, before explaining how to get an Apple student discount at the Apple Education Store.
Read full story at MacWorld…
In Utilities
2024 Tech Trends: Here's What 2024 Holds in Store for Energy and Utilities
by Joe Kuehne
While cybersecurity is as important as ever, energy companies and utilities will spend 2024 prioritizing renewable options and the technology that supports them.
Throughout 2023, cyberattacks remained a persistent threat to the energy and utilities sector, and that trend will likely continue into 2024 and beyond. Cybersecurity must remain a top priority for energy companies and utilities, but they have new weapons at their disposal to protect themselves and their data.
Read full story at BizTech…
Or, Listen to the article …
9 US Power Sector Trends to Watch in 2024
by Robert Walton, Ethan Howland, Diana DiGangi, Larry Pearl, Kavya Balaraman and Emma Penrod
The U.S. march toward a decarbonized electric system will continue in 2024 as policymakers and others work to balance, climate, reliability, affordability and other goals.
The U.S. clean energy transition is expected to accelerate this year, buoyed by recent policy and other actions, but transmission and financing are among its challenges. The following is a snapshot of some of the major developments and trends expected in nine critical areas of the energy transition this year.
Read full story at UtilityDive…
Or, Listen to the article …
Misguided Energy Policy Could Sink America's Manufacturing Renaissance
by Kevin Kearns, president of the U.S. Business and Industry Council
Electricity demand -- which has been relatively stable for more than a decade -- is surging. The U.S. economy is embarking on a literal power trip, and the pace is likely to increase.
Consider that California's major utility, PG&E, expects the state's electricity demand to jump 7% in the next two decades. New York's electricity demand is on track to double by 2050. And Virginia's power demand is projected to jump 85% in just the next 15 years.
Why such huge increases? For starters, more and more data centers are going online across the country to support the needs of an increasingly digital world.Read full story at The Gazette…