The Harlow Report-GIS
2024 Edition
ISSN 0742-468XSince 1978
On-line Since 2000
GIS News Snippets
For the week of
June 24, 2024
Remember When?
A "Harlow Report" From July 3, 2023
Geospatial AI?
by Chris Harlow
This is what I wrote last year. What would you add or delete if you wrote about Geospatial AI this year?
Geospatial AI is still a new field, but it has the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with the world around us. It has the potential to make our cities smarter, our transportation more efficient, and our natural resources more sustainable.
Lately, you can hardly flip through a social media thread, read a tech magazine, or listen to a podcast without entering into the over-hyped world of artificial intelligence. Some will tell you it is the greatest thing to happen to humanity; others will tell you we are all doomed. The good news is that we are in under the protected umbrella of GIS, so it won't affect us. Right? Not so fast! With a small amount of research, here is what I see happening to GIS as it collides with AI.
When AI meets GIS the result is “Geospatial AI.” This is the application of artificial intelligence (AI) to geographic information systems (GIS). It uses AI techniques to analyze and interpret spatial data, and to automate tasks that would be difficult or impossible to do manually.
While some of us are pondering the inner secrets of a parcel number, Geospatial AI is already being used in a variety of industries. Here are just five examples:
1. In transportation, Geospatial AI is being used to:
- Improve traffic management by predicting traffic patterns and optimizing routes.
- Optimize delivery routes by taking into account traffic conditions, weather, and delivery times.
- Predict demand for public transportation by analyzing historical ridership data.
2. In agriculture, Geospatial AI is being used to:
- Monitor crop health by analyzing satellite imagery and weather data.
- Optimize irrigation by using sensors to track soil moisture levels.
- Predict yields by analyzing historical crop data.
3. In natural resource management, Geospatial AI is being used to:
- Track deforestation by analyzing satellite imagery.
- Monitor water quality by analyzing water samples.
- Predict wildfires by analyzing weather data and vegetation indices.
4. In disaster management, Geospatial AI is being used to:
- Assess damage after a disaster by analyzing satellite imagery and social media data.
- Track the movement of people and goods after a disaster.
- Predict the impact of a disaster by analyzing historical data.
5. In public safety, Geospatial AI is being used to:
- Identify crime hotspots by analyzing crime data.
- Track suspects by analyzing CCTV footage and social media data.
- Predict terrorist attacks by analyzing social media data and open-source intelligence.
No doubt, I missed any number of other valid examples. Geospatial AI seems to be expanding faster than I can type. As the field continues to grow, we can expect to see even more innovative and exciting applications of Geospatial AI in the years to come. Hopefully, we'll use the technology for the better good and not just to prove that Earth, indeed, is flat.
Now back to 2024
Chrome to Get Smarter About Geolocation Detection on Windows 11/10
by Staff
No More Confusion: Clear Geolocation Messages in Chrome for Windows
Many websites use geolocation to provide location–based services, like weather forecasts or nearby restaurants. But what happens when you've disabled geolocation on your Windows system and a website requests your location?
Previously, Chrome might not have provided a clear explanation for why it couldn''t access your location. This new update to Chrome integrates with Windows'system–level location permission, offering a more informative message in these situations.
Read full story at Windowsreport…
Best GIS Certificates Online Of 2024
by Garrett Andrews
If you're looking for a career that's everywhere, a GIS certificate might be right up your alley.
… You can get started on this career path with an online GIS certificate program. These hyper–focused academic certificates can typically be completed in under a year, and many schools offer them remotely.
Earning a GIS certificate online can help you level up your career without committing to a four-year college degree. In this article, we'l explore 10 options and discuss how to choose the right program.
Read full story at Forbes…
Navigating the Future of Location-Aware App Development
by Julie Bailey
Location-aware application development is facing a significant transformation. Discover how to navigate its market trends and challenges here.
A 2022 report revealed the global positioning system (GPS) market revenue recorded $94.25 billion. This figure is projected to increase with a 16.1 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) until 2030.
Location-based services lead the market share of this revenue.
Location-based services involve location–aware applications. As the segment continues to dominate the GPS market, it's good news for developers and new entrants seeking to deploy location-aware apps.
However, location-aware app development is facing significant changes. Navigating the trends and challenges can be challenging, particularly for new entrants.
This guide will help you understand how location-aware applications work.
Read full story at NetNewsLedger…
Transoft Solutions Introduces AeroCENTRAL: SaaS Solution to Bridge the Gap Between Airside Planning and Operations
by Press Release
Transoft Solutions announced a new addition to their aviation product portfolio that bridges the gap between airside planning and operations.
AeroCENTRAL, the company's first SaaS solution for the aviation industry, allows users to share key airside infrastructural and operational information across teams and departments, through a single, centralized system. Scalable and easily accessible by various stakeholders, the platform hosts specialized applications for operational and technical planning tasks.… AeroCENTRAL allows users to incorporate existing data, such as details from Transoft's AviPLAN software, with additional technical and operational data, into a single platform. The platform can also connect to external geographic information systems (GIS) and Airport Operational Databases (AODB).
Read full story at Transoft Solutions…
Why GIS Technology Alone Isn't Enough for Broadband Infrastructure Mapping
by Dustin Heath
The landscape for broadband deployment is increasingly data-centric and efficient. Here's how you can stay ahead of the curve with broadband infrastructure mapping.
In the Fast-Evolving World of Broadband Infrastructure, the Importance of Accurate Data Cannot Be Overstated. Recent Guidance From the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Underscores This Necessity, Emphasizing That Precise and Reliable Data Are Crucial in the Planning and Design of Broadband Networks.
While Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Have Traditionally Played a Significant Role in Mapping and Planning, Their True Potential Is Unlocked When Combined With Advanced Technologies Like Drones and Data Analytics to Create a Truly Future-Proof and Efficient Broadband Network. Dustin Heath, as Director, Engineering Services at CHR Solutions, Is at the Forefront of Pioneering New Technologies, Directing Training Initiatives, and Strategically Managing Contractor Resources. Since Joining CHR Solutions in 2016 as a CAD Manager, Dustin has consistently demonstrated his deep-rooted expertise in GIS, construction, and engineering, propelling the company towards innovation and excellence. Dustin Heath, Director, Engineering Services, CHR Solutions
The role of traditional GIS
Traditional GIS tools, such as Google Earth or Autodesk's AutoCAD, have long been used in broadband planning. These tools are excellent for visualizing geographical data and providing a broad overview of potential project areas. However, there are some limitations, which include:
Read full story at Broadband Communities News…
Industry News
In Government
Firewall as a Service Fortifies State and Local Governments in the Cloud
by Adam Stone
Public sector agencies can access enhanced cybersecurity capabilities with FWaaS.
As state and local governments adopt cloud resources, they need to remain attuned to cyber resilience. To that end, Firewall as a Service can play an important role in defending against cyberattacks.
Within the broader category of Infrastructure as a Service, FWaaS works much like a hardware-based firewall, except that it's based in the cloud. This approach offers the ability to scale quickly as a network expands and to maintain a solid layer of protection with less hands-on effort.
What Is FWaaS?
FWaaS is a firewall solution delivered as a cloud-based service. This approach provides hyperscale, next-generation firewall capabilities, “including web filtering, advanced threat protection, intrusion prevention system, and Domain Name System security,” says Alexandra Mehat, product marketing director for secure access service edge (SASE) at Fortinet.
Read full story at StateTech…
State Exec Named California's Next Chief Data Officer
by Dennis Noone
Gov. Gavin Newsom has named Jason Lally, deputy director of Data Services and Engineering at the state Office of Data and Innovation
Jason Lally, an expert in data and its use in government, has been named California's chief data officer, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday.
Lally's role is in the Office of Data and Innovation (ODI), part of the Government Operations Agency. He reports to ODI Director Jeffery Marino.
Before his appointment, Lally had served since January 2023 as deputy director of Data Services and Engineering at ODI; before that, he had been deputy chief data officer since 2022.
Read full story at GovTech…
Veterans Health Administration Creates New Office to Streamline Tech Initiatives
by Edward Graham
The Veterans Health Administration has combined a number of its existing programs into one office to serve as the agency's “central coordinator of digital health strategy and execution.”
The Department of Veterans Affairs''Veterans Health Administration has moved a number of its technology-focused components under the authority of a new Digital Health Office, or DHO, according to VA officials.
A VA spokesperson told Nextgov/FCW that DHO was launched on June 2 and was created as part of a VHA Central Office optimization effort that first began in April 2023. They added that the new component “brings together VH''s offices of connected care, population health and health informatics — as well as its strategic initiatives lab and artificial intelligence programs and personnel.”
Read full story at NextGov/FCW…
In Technology
Adobe Sued by U.S. Government for Allegedly Making Canceling Online Subscriptions “an Obstacle Course”
by Todd Spangler
The U.S. government alleged in a lawsuit that Adobe took steps to make it harder to cancel online subscriptions.
Steps that Adobe allegedly took to make it hard to cancel online subscriptions weren't just annoying — they were illegal, according to the U.S. government.
The U.S. Justice Department and the FTC filed a lawsuit Monday against Adobe and two of its execs, alleging that they imposed a hidden early termination fee on millions of online subscribers and that Adobe forced subscribers to navigate “a complex and challenging cancellation process designed to deter them from cancelling subscriptions they no longer wanted.” A redacted copy of the complaint is at this link.
Read full story at Variey…
Apple's Fancy New CarPlay Will Only Work Wirelessly
by Nilay Patel
In two videos detailing how next-gen CarPlay will work, Apple revealed the system will run many features locally on the car and only some remotely on the phone.
Apple's been talking about its next generation of CarPlay for two years now with very little to show for it -- the system is designed to unify the interfaces on every screen in your car, including the instrument cluster, but so far, only Aston Martin and Porsche have said they'll ship cars with the system, without any specific dates in the mix.
And the public response from the rest of the industry toward next-gen CarPlay has been pretty cool overall. I talk to car CEOs on Decoder quite often, and most of them seem fairly skeptical about allowing Apple to get between them and their customers. “We have Apple CarPlay,"”Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Kllenius told me in April. “If, for some of the functions, you feel more comfortable with that and will switch back and forth, be my guest. But to give up the whole cockpit head unit — in our case, a passenger screen and everything — to somebody else? The answer is no.”
Read full story at The Verge…
Google Chrome Can Now Read Aloud Your Web Pages in 12 Different Languages
by Sandip Chakraborty
The new “Listen to this page” feature allows Google Chrome users to listen to their favourite web pages, and is currently available in the Android version of the app.
Google Chrome for Android has been working on the Text to Speech (TTS) functionality in the last few months, which converts text into natural-sounding speech using an API, with the help of generative AI. Now, Google is rolling out a “Listen to this page” feature that can read an entire webpage from the Google Chrome app.
As reported by 9to5Google, this feature is currently available on Chrome for Android version 125 and is expected to be released for all stable users in the coming weeks. You need to tap on the “Listen to this page” option, users need to click on the three-dot menu on the Chrome Android app, just below the Translate option.
With this feature, you can listen to the entire page with certain media controls also available. Further, the media player can play, pause, fast forward up to 4x, or skip or rewind ten seconds, and even change the preferred voice.
Read full story at Money Control…
In Utilities
Data Centers Offer Energy Peril and Promise, With the Midwest Increasingly in the Crosshairs
by Kari Lydersen
A massive Microsoft complex in Wisconsin hypercharges debate over data center'' impacts on energy reliability.
Southeastern Wisconsin and the Chicago area are emerging as major players in the national data center explosion, most notably with Microsoft's $3.3 billion planned data complex near Racine, Wisconsin.Clean energy advocates in the region say data centers pose both a risk and an opportunity, as they can put major stress on the grid, prolong the lives of coal plants and spark new natural gas plants, but also facilitate significant renewable energy investment. Wisconsin utility We Energies, for example, cited demand from data centers in its recent requests to the Public Service Commission for 1,300 MW of new gas generation. …
The organization Data Center Map shows more than a hundred data centers in the Chicago area and a handful in Southeastern Wisconsin, often located on the site of former coal plants or industrial operations.
Read full story at Energy News Network…
On the Verge of a New Age, Electricity and AI Share the Future
by Llewellyn King
A new age in the human experience on Earth is underway. It is an age of change as profound — and possibly more so — than the Industrial Revolution, when the steam engine introduced the concept of post-animal labor, known as shaft horsepower.
Artificial intelligence in this new age is infiltrating all areas of human endeavor. Some things will change totally, like work: It will end much menial work and a whole tranche of white-collar jobs. Some things it will enhance beyond imagination, like medicine and associated longevity.
Some AI will threaten, some it will annihilate.
It will test our understanding of the truth in a post-fact world. The veracity of every claim will be subject to investigation, from what happened in history to current election results.
Read full story at EnergyCentral…
US Army Seeks Nuclear Microreactors for Reliable On-Site Generation
by Brian Martucci
US Army Seeks Nuclear Microreactors for Reliable On-Site Generation
The U.S. Army is seeking proposals by June 21 for prototype onsite microreactor power plants that can begin operations at an Army installation in the continental United States by the end of 2030, the Defense Innovation Unit said on June 5.
The U.S. Army currently relies on off-site electricity providers to obtain energy, creating “mission risks due to disruptions from extreme weather and cybersecurity attacks,” DIU said in the RFI.
To address operational challenges posed by intermittent renewables and battery storage installations, the Army seeks “a novel approach using recent advances in the nuclear industry that can provide continuous/reliable power regardless of weather conditions,” DIU said.
Read full story at UtilityDive…