The Harlow Report-GIS
2024 Edition
ISSN 0742-468XSince 1978
On-line Since 2000
GIS News Snippets
For the week of
April 15, 2024
Remember When?
A “Harlow Report” From April 17, 2023
As GIS Tech Continues to Grow, Here Are Some Things to Look For
by Chris Harlow
Believe it or not, GIS technology is over 60 years old. The technology has had a long and steady history of growth—until now. As our advances in the tech industry rapidly expand, so will the pace of GIS growth.
The foundations were laid by the work of Roger Tomlinson, acknowledged as the “father of GIS.” He is credited with enabling the first computerized-GIS through his work on the Canada Geographic Information System in 1963. Commercialized by companies such as Synercom, Intergraph, IBM, Etak, Google, Mapquest, AppleMaps, and, of course, Esri, GIS began its slow incursion to our everyday lives.
Today, GIS technology widely accepted as a necessary technology in the government and private sectors alike. Pushed by new technologies, often merging with GIS, expect to see a faster pace of growth.
Some of the top trends in GIS technology are:
Big Data & Machine Learning:
One of the biggest trends in GIS right now is big data. With the advent of cloud computing, companies are able to store massive amounts of data in the cloud. These large datasets allow them to analyze patterns and make predictions based on the data. The other major trend in GIS right now involves machine learning, which is a branch of artificial intelligence that enables computers to learn from data and improve their performance.
Virtual Reality & Augmented Reality:
VR and AR are relatively new in the geospatial industry but their use will help grow the sector immensely. VR is a technology that creates a simulated environment that users can interact with using special devices such as headsets and controllers. AR is a technology that overlays digital information onto the real world using devices such as smartphones and glasses. VR and AR can be used to create immersive experiences for GIS users, such as exploring 3D models of landscapes, buildings, infrastructure and more. They can also be used to enhance situational awareness, training, education and entertainment.
On the other hand, AR has had a relatively slow adaptation to date. Furthermore, the near religious elation over AI has overshadowed the tech world's interest in AR. It may be a while before your end user, let alone the CEO, snaps on a pair of smart glasses or head mounted displays.
3D Printing:
3D printing is a technology that creates physical objects from digital models by depositing layers of material on top of each other. 3D printing can be used to create tangible maps and models of geospatial data, such as terrain, buildings, landmarks and more.
Blockchain Technology:
Blockchain creates a distributed ledger of transactions that is secure, transparent and immutable. Blockchain can be used to store and share geospatial data in a decentralized way, without relying on intermediaries or central authorities. Blockchain can also be used to verify the provenance and quality of geospatial data, as well as to enable smart contracts and transactions based on geospatial conditions.
These are some of the latest trends in GIS technology that are shaping the future of this field. Keep in mind that not all these ideas will not be adapted at the same speed, if adapted at all. My experience in the tech world is that out of nowhere, a new, distruptive technology will appear, changing how we do things. In the lifetime of GIS I've witness these changes.
Today, we do we can do much of the GIS work on our smart phones and print a map wirelessly in a minute or so. Remember, before Thomlinson's work, and Jack Dangermond's GIS evangelism, we relied on paper maps that once unfolded were a challenge to refold!
While I've outlined four promising trends in GIS, who knows what the next shiny tech object wil be?
Now back to 2024
Landsat Explorer: Traversing Time and Geography with Remote Sensing
by ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World
Picture a world where the hidden becomes visible and our planet's unseen layers are revealed in a new light. This is the world that scientists began to explore in the mid-20th century, transcending human vision to uncover Earth's secret patterns and phenomena. From physicists to agricultural scientists, these pioneers ventured into the realm of new wavelengths, opening a window to a previously invisible world
Multispectral imaging, a key tool for the Landsat program, marked a leap in how we observe our planet. It captures data in wavelengths that are beyond the narrow band of light that humans can see, revealing aspects and details of the earth's surface that are not observable in true-color photographs. This can provide unique perspectives for different features such as vegetation, soil, and water.
“With multispectral data, we can see the glow of photosynthetic activity of vegetation in the Amazon rainforest, examine crop health in southeast Asia agricultural areas, explore wildfire scars in Africa, and measure the retreat of Arctic glaciers,” said Kate Fickas, Esri's director of imagery and remote sensing solutions.
Read full story at Esri…
AI in Google Maps: 6 Features You Can't Miss Out
by Dave Andre
New development of AI in Google Maps: 6 Features You Can't Miss Out. Read on to learn how you can integerates this into your daily life.
Google Maps leads the charge with its integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI), bringing users a suite of features that redefine our interaction with maps. From immersive 3D visuals to real-time information, these six AI-powered enhancements are set to elevate your mapping experience.
- Immersive View: Your Pre-Travel Crystal Ball
- Lens in Maps: The World Through a Digital Lens
- Advanced Navigation: Beyond Basic Directions
- Aerial View API: A Bird's-Eye Perspective
- Photo-First Results: A Visual Journey
- AI-Powered Spontaneity: Embrace the Unexpected
Read full story at AllAboutAI…
Maxar Intelligence Awarded Phase 4 of U.S. Army's One World Terrain Contract
by Maxar Press Release
Integrated space infrastructure and Earth intelligence capabilities that make global change visible, information actionable and space accessible.
Maxar Intelligence, a provider of secure, precise, geospatial intelligence, was awarded Phase 4 of the U.S. Army's One World Terrain (OWT) prototype Other Transaction Agreement contract.
The OWT program delivers 3D global terrain capability and associated information services that support a fully accessible virtual representation of the physical Earth through the Army network. OWT is a key component of the Army's Synthetic Training Environment (STE), which provides a realistic, common and automatically generated global geospatial dataset for simulation based collective training, mission rehearsal and mission execution at the point of need.
Read full story at Maxar…
NOAA's New Geodetic Datum
by Juan B. Plaza
Replacing NAD 83 and NAVD 88 have been in the works for a long time; now the change is getting near
The surveying and geospatial communities in the United States have been using geodetic datums that were designed and implemented at a time when the Global Positioning System (GPS) was in its infancy. Yes, we are referring to NAD 83 and NAVD 88, the horizontal and vertical geodetic datums that have been in use for decades. Well, changes are coming to the nation's positioning infrastructure and all our geospatial data.
The National Geodetic Survey (NGS), which sits within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is responsible for defining, maintaining, and providing access to this positioning infrastructure, called the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS). Since 2007, NGS has been working to overhaul the NSRS as part of a herculean modernization program. Horizontal positions are currently defined by the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83). This will be replaced by four tectonic plate-fixed terrestrial reference frames, which will provide latitude, longitude, and ellipsoid height information referenced to specific epochs in time.
Read full story at xyHt…
What is Geomarketing? And How to Get Started
by PlotProjects Blog
If you're not using geomarketing you're missing out on a major opportunity. This conversion-boosting strategy is used by businesses across the globe to reach the right audience and skyrocket sales. But what exactly is it? And how do you get started? This quick Q&A guide will tell you more.
Geomarketing means incorporating geographical data into your marketing to deliver promotional messages relevant to your target audience's location. A mix of 'geographic' and 'marketing', geomarketing is a game-changer for businesses who want to power their marketing strategy with location insights.
For example, suppose you're planning to open a new store. A geomarketing analysis can can help you answer key questions like where your target audience is most concentrated, and where you have a strong (or lacking) market presence
Read full story at PlotProjects…
Industry News
In Government
Role of Technology in the Government and Public Sector Undertakings
by Staff
The role of technology in government and the public sector has been a strong catalyst for India's rapid digitization.
Technology has become an important facilitator for businesses in today's world. It has a highly insightful role in driving optimization and efficiency across all sectors today, including the public and private sectors. CIOs from Government & PSUs have implemented niche technologies to drive innovation and transformation within the country. Tech adoption is observed as an investment in keeping the country competitive in an ever-changing global economy.
Depending on progressive technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, robotics, machine learning, and augmented reality have helped drive sustained growth within the public sector. This persistent strive through automation, and the digitalization of services is leading to significant social, economic, technological, & environmental outcomes. The role of technology in government and the public sector is to improve various processes.
Read full story at AeoLogic…
Technology in the Public Sector and the Future of Government Work
by Sara Hinkley
This report explores how governments use technology, what drives technology adoption, and how technologies affect public sector workers and the delivery of public services. Using examples across local, state, and federal governments, the report finds that transparency and accountability have lagged behind rapid technology adoption in the wake of COVID-19, and that public sector workers play a critical role in ensuring that technology is used to strengthen the ability of governments to provide quality and equitable public services.
With the exception of the military, government has been generally slower to adopt technology than the private sector. Reasons for this include lack of funding, higher public scrutiny, complex contracting processes, lack of internal IT capacity, and agency fragmentation. The slow pace of technology adoption in some cases has led to both costly and cumbersome service provision; the vision of digital government outlined by federal policymakers in the 1990s has yet to be realized.
Read full story at UC Berkeley…
States, Feds at Odds Over Low-Cost Broadband Option
by Kery Murakami
Virginia says it's unlawful to set a price for how much a company receiving federal broadband grants can charge low-income households. The feds disagree. They are withholding funding until the state sets a limit.
In late December, states submitted plans for how they would use the federal funding to build out broadband. After reviewing Virginia's, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration told the state it needed to be more specific. In order to be approved to receive the first batch of its $1.4 billion in Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment, or BEAD funding, NTIA said Virginia--which only calls for companies to provide an “affordable”option--has to set an “exact” limit on how much companies can charge low-income households.
Read full story at Route Fifty…
In Technology
These 10 Windows Features Will Disappear Soon
by Thomas Joos
Here's a rundown of everything on its last legs, from Windows Mail to WordPad and more.
Microsoft not only introduces new features or programs with Windows updates, it also removes obsolete functions.
Many people don't notice this until they need a specific feature or the outdated program. One example is WordPad, which will soon be removed from Windows, or Windows-to-Go and the Homegroup.
Read full story at PCWorld…
Google's New AI Video Generator Is More HR Than Hollywood
by Pranav Dixit
Google Vids punches up corporate presentations with AI
For most of us, creating documents, spreadsheets and slide decks is an inescapable part of work life in 2024. What's not is creating videos. That's something Google would like to change. On Tuesday, the company announced Google Vids, a video creation app for work that the company says can make everyone a "great storyteller" using the power of AI.
Vids uses Gemini, Google's latest AI model, to quickly create videos for the workplace. Type in a prompt, feed in some documents, pictures, and videos, and sit back and relax as Vids generates an entire storyboard, script, music and voiceover.
Read full story at engadget…
How to Find Your Motherboard Model on Windows, macOS, and Linux
by David Nield
Find out your motherboard make and model--with or without opening up the computer.
Finding out the motherboard make and model inside your computer isn't always the easiest of challenges: Unlike, say, your graphics card, it's not listed in the Device Manager--and not everyone wants to be opening up their desktop (or laptop) to take a peek at the circuitry inside. There are all kinds of reasons why you might want to know your motherboard make and model, whether you're troubleshooting problems, thinking about upgrading your computer, or selling it on to someone else. Here's how to find out the key information on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Read full story at Lifehacker…
In Utilities
Drones That Charge on Power Lines May Not Be the Best Idea
by Kris Holt
A quadcopter was able to inspect and charge from power lines for five cycles over two hours
Battery life has long been a key limiting factor in drone use. Although there are commercial models that can stay aloft for 45 minutes or longer on a single charge, being able to keep drones in the air for longer would be helpful for many purposes. Researchers at the University of Southern Denmark have been working on that issue for several years by developing drones that can recharge directly from power lines.
This time around, the scientists attached a gripper system to a Tarot 650 Sport drone, which they customized with a electric quadcopter propulsion system, an autopilot module and other components. When the drone's systems detect that the battery is running low, the device employs its camera and millimeter-wave radar system to pinpoint the closest power line, as New Atlas notes.
Read full story at engadget…
Energy CIO Clarifies Role of AI in Modernization Agenda
by Alexandra Kelley
The agency's CIO Ann D”nkin said she wants people to be able to “use AI in the best way possible to support operations."
Officials at the Department of Energy are taking a methodical approach to incorporating generative artificial intelligence into its modernization agenda as the agency looks to leverage software tools under smart, safe guidance.
Ann Dunkin, Energy's chief information officer, discussed her agency's objectives regarding the adoption of AI systems for internal use during a Fed Gov Today interview.
Read full story at NextGov/FCW…
U.S. Nuclear Industry Upbeat on Small Reactors, Despite Setback
by Thomas Urbain
While China and Russia already have operational small reactors, the United States is ahead of Europe in this area of nuclear power.
Despite the recent cancellation of a next-generation U.S. nuclear plant, backers of the carbon-free power source remain hopeful new projects will come online by the end of the decade.
Late last year, the U.S. energy company NuScale announced it was pulling the plug on a small modular reactor (SMR) project in the western state of Idaho.
Read full story at Japan Times…