The Harlow Report-GIS
2024 Edition
ISSN 0742-468XSince 1978
On-line Since 2000
GIS News Snippets
For the week of
February 19, 2024
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A "Harlow Report" From February 20, 2023
How to Leverage GIS Data
by Sara Lacey, David Taylor, James Parker
Web-based geographic information system software enables utilities to manage aspects of their assets in a contextual, visual and map-based database.
Web-based geographic information systems are powerful tools, offering vital information for asset management and new capital projects. Today, utilities can access these data-rich resources for specific and evolving needs. Utilities of all sizes can benefit from purchasing rapid turnaround mapping solutions that provide exactly the data interpretation and analysis they need, for exactly the amount of time they need it.
Many consultants now build and host geographic information system (GIS) applications in a secure cloud environment for users such as utilities and municipalities. These agencies and organizations can access the geospatial and technology expertise they need to manage data and dashboards without the burden of system ownership, which saves time and money and keeps staff focused on operations. These web-based solutions can aid in documenting inspections, tracking maintenance schedules, managing outages and emergency response activities, and overseeing improvement and expansion projects.
Read full story at T&D World…
Now back to 2024
Appdome unveils Geo Compliance suite to thwart spoofing and enhance mobile app security
by Helpnet Security Sta
Appdome unveiled its new Geo Compliance feature set, allowing mobile brands to trust the user's location and detect location spoofing, fake GPS apps, VPN use, SIM swaps and other methods used to circumvent geo restrictions in mobile applications.
Mobile application commerce continues to rise rapidly. The geo-location integrity of the mobile end user and transaction data is critical. In many cases, Know-Your-Customer (KYC) policies, regulations like business licensing, advertising restrictions, consumer safety and privacy all rely on valid geographic data and restrictions in mobile apps. On top of that, mobile brands need a greater array of signals to detect fraud. They also need to ensure malicious users are not faking their mobile location to bypass geo restrictions or obtain access to offer inventory and services outside of an approved geography.
Read full story at HelpNet Security…
Are Geo-Based Map Services the Future of Local Tourism?
by Sushant Wason
Digital maps have evolved beyond their original navigational purpose. They are now integral parts of diverse platforms that enhance social interactions and drive business strategies around local tourism experiences.
… Integrating user-generated content, such as geotagged photos, into GIS has helped understand tourist behavior. This information is insightful for tourism marketers and planners, allowing them to understand travel patterns and preferences better. This data-driven approach helps identify popular attractions, optimal visitation times, and areas of interest, which are essential for managing crowds, targeted marketing, and enhancing visitor satisfaction.
Read full story at TechTimes…
The Quest to Map the Great Indoors
by Franco Faraudo
The quest to map building interiors addresses not just the challenge of navigation but also safety and operational efficiency in densely inhabited spaces
Since the dawn of civilizations, humans have created maps, beginning with the earliest ones in Mesopotamia around 600 BC. …Today, nearly all of the world's surface, except for some areas in Antarctica and the deepest ocean parts, has been mapped. However, the interiors of buildings, where people spend most of their time, remain largely undocumented.
Mapping the insides of buildings serves more than just the human desire to record our surroundings; it has significant practical benefits. One major advantage is improved navigation.
Read full story at propmodo…
Trimble and DroneDeploy Introduce Premier Positioning Accuracy
by Trimble Press Release
RTX-based cloud positioning service expands project opportunities for drone mapping
Trimble announced the integration of the Trimble Applanix POSPac Cloud© post-processed kinematic (PPK) GNSS positioning service, featuring CenterPoint© RTX, with the drone mapping and data collection capabilities of DroneDeploy's reality capture platform. With the Trimble cloud positioning service, DroneDeploy customers can expect centimeter-level accuracy and an automated, streamlined workflow when performing reality capture with drones.
To achieve centimeter-level accuracy with its high-accuracy offering, DroneDeploy worked with Trimble and its Applanix POSPac Cloud PPK service using Trimble post-processed CenterPoint RTX. The easy-to-use cloud API enables the post-processing of GNSS kinematic positions based on dual-frequency observables logged by the drone and CenterPoint RTX.
Read full story at Trimble…
What are the Key Trends and Advancements in GIS?
by CIO Applications Staff
Innovations like machine learning algorithms and drone-based data processing are creating more opportunities for GIS applications in businesses and other areas..
… Every aspect of our lives is seeing an increase in GIS technologies. Let's examine the newest developments and trends in GIS. Geographic information systems (GIS) have advanced significantly in recent years, and data collection, analysis, and visualization methods have become more effective.
Innovations like machine learning algorithms and drone-based data processing are creating more opportunities for GIS applications in businesses and other areas. GIS technology is becoming more widely available thanks to several technologies, such as:
Read full story at CIO Applications…
Industry News
In Government
FEMA goes to new alignment for disaster response support contract
by Ross Wilkers
The current iteration of the Public Assistance - Technical Assistance Contract has three companies, while the new version will have four and also splits up the work by geography
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded four companies positions on a potential five-year contract vehicle for technical and professional services in support of FEMA's responses to presidentially-declared disasters and emergencies.
Each awardee has a ceiling of more than $500 million with the work divided up by their assigned geographic zones for this fifth iteration of the Public Assistance - Technical Assistance Contract, also known as PA-TAC V.
Read full story at Washington Technology…
Smart City Tech Focuses on Efficiency, Safety, Privacy
by Skip Descant
Tools like smart streetlights help cities understand what's going on at the ground level, but as solutions advance, officials say they should be easy to stand up and keep public privacy top of mind.
Many of the questions from city leaders involve how data is transported and stored, said Mike Grigsby, director of business development at Ubicquia, a smart city technology company. Other firms in the space include Aclima, which makes sensors that collect air quality data, and Samsara, an IoT platform that aims to improve urban safety and efficiency.
Read full story at GovTech…
Top Cyber, Intelligence Chiefs to Call Out China as Leading Cyber Threat
by David Dimolfetta
Researchers and officials have previously designated China as a clandestine, preparatory operator in cyberspace, quietly breaching and securing systems to use to their advantage at a later time.
Top cyber and intelligence chiefs are expected to deliver a stern message about the scale and threat of Chinese cyber activity against the U.S. at a high-profile hearing, a former White House cybersecurity official and other analysts told Nextgov/FCW.
Read full story at NextGov…
In Technology
What Are LLMs, and How Are They Used in Generative AI?
by Lucas Mearian
Large language models are the algorithmic basis for chatbots like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Bard. The technology is tied back to billions -- even trillions -- of parameters that can make them both inaccurate and non-specific for vertical industry use. Here's what LLMs are and how they work.
… LLMs are a type of AI that are currently trained on a massive trove of articles, Wikipedia entries, books, internet-based resources and other input to produce human-like responses to natural language queries. That's an immense amount of data. But LLMs are poised to shrink, not grow, as vendors seek to customize them for specific uses that don't need the massive data sets used by today's most popular models.
Read full story at ComputerWorld…
What Is A Mobile SDK And Why It's Important
by Georgia Bartlett
A Mobile Software Development Kit, or Mobile SDK for short, is a collection of pre-built software tools, libraries, and resources for apps.
In today's fast-paced and technology-driven world, mobile applications have become an integral part of our lives. From communication and entertainment to productivity and healthcare, mobile apps play a crucial role in enhancing our daily experiences. Behind the scenes, software development kits (SDKs) power the creation and integration of these apps, enabling developers to leverage the full potential of mobile devices. But what exactly is a mobile SDK? How does it work? And why is it essential for app development?
Read full story at N ewsReports…
Your Long Password Is Still Easy to Crack
by Emily Price
Turns out, your long password might not be as secure as you think.
… As TechRadar reports, Specops Software finds that even passwords topping 15 characters can be circumvented by attackers. While longer passwords are often more difficult to guess and crack through brute force and hybrid dictionary attacks, the longer length doesn't protect the passwords from phishing attacks or password-reuse issues. Those 15-character passwords came in eighth in the company's list of common lengths for compromised passwords.
Read full story at PCMag…
In Utilities
NPPD Begins Process to Add New Generation for Future Growth
by Paul Ciampoli
Nebraska Public Power District, which continues to see substantial load growth, has begun the process of adding new generation capacity to NPPD's resource mix, following board approval of a capital budget item Feb. 8.
NPPD Economic Development Manager Nicole Sedlacek noted, "There has been a recent and sharp increase in new ag, ag industrial, and data center loads siting their facilities in Nebraska, due in part to the affordable and reliable electric service provided by the public power entities that serve Nebraska."
The new generation resources are targeted to be installed by 2027 and would include the following:
- 50 MW of battery storage located near NPPD's Ainsworth Wind Energy Facility
- 50 MW of battery storage capacity purchased from an existing privately-owned wind facility
- 216 MW of dual fuel reciprocating internal combustion engines that would use natural gas as a primary fuel source and have the option to utilize diesel
- 420 MW of dual fuel combustion turbines that would use natural gas as a primary fuel source and have the option to utilize diesel
The new generation increases diversity in NPPD's overall fleet and provides a balance of operating flexibility and cost, it said.
Read full story at Public Power Now…
US Reliability Commission warns of bulk EV charging's grid impact
by Yusuf Latief
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation has cautioned against the impacts of electric vehicle (EV) charging on BPS reliability.
In NERC's Potential Bulk Power System Impact of Electric Vehicle Chargers white paper, the Corporation calls for greater cross-sector collaboration due to significant load growth, projected by the Energy Information Agency (EIA) to 2050, estimating that EV sales will grow to add millions of vehicles each year.
The paper states that as EVs become more numerous, their charging characteristics, such as where and how they charge, will have an increasing effect on the grid.
Read full story at Smart Energy International…
Utilities Say They're Ready for AI. Where Should They Start?
by Staff
Nearly three-quarters of energy and utility companies have implemented or are exploring using AI in their operations, a study found.
At DISTRIBUTECH International 2024, taking place in Orlando, Florida Feb. 26-29, IBM will unveil the results of a study into how energy and utility leaders view AI. The study, conducted by Morning Consult, is based on interviews with 2,342 IT professionals across 20 countries.
Nearly three-quarters of energy and utility companies have implemented or are exploring using AI in their operations, the study found. And while utilities are often cast as laggards for their perceived slow embrace of emerging technology, an earlier IBM study found that energy and resources CEOs are embracing AI opportunities at a higher rate than their global peers.
Read full story at Power Grid International…