The Harlow Report-GIS
2024 Edition
ISSN 0742-468XSince 1978
On-line Since 2000
GIS News Snippets
For the week of
July 29, 2024
Remember When?
A "Harlow Report" From July 31, 2023
Map SEO: Optimizing Maps for Better Search Engine Visibility
by SEO Link Building Service
In today's digital age, local businesses strive to optimize their online presence to attract more customers within their vicinity.
While traditional search engine optimization (SEO) techniques play a crucial role, it is equally important to focus on Map SEO. Map SEO, also known as Local SEO, aims to improve a business's visibility on online maps, directories, and search engine results pages (SERPs) when users search for products or services in a specific location.
Key Takeaway
Map SEO involves optimizing a business's presence on maps and directories to improve local search visibility, attract potential customers, and drive more foot traffic to physical locations.
Facts about Map SEO
Before diving into the strategies for successful Map SEO, let's explore some important facts about this optimization technique:
Google Maps dominates the map market, making it essential for businesses to focus on Google Maps SEO.
Read full story at NNN…
How GIS Helps Utilities Plan for Climate Change and Energy Transition
by Consultancy.uk Staff
Geographic Information Systems can help companies build digital maps of their assets, and supply real–time data about their use, enabling utility companies to plan and deliver important changes to their networks quickly and efficiently.
To find out more about the possibilities of GIS, we spoke with Jelmer Akkerman from Tensing.
Tensing is a consultancy firm which gives advice to utility companies, governmental agencies and other companies about the use of geographical information.
“In today's data-driven world, a lot of applications use location information, to the extent that we all have GIS in our pockets now, on our phones. The most common use case is probably Google Maps — so whenever you try to find your way down a new street or plan your route to a location, you're using GIS.”
… Akkerman asserts, “Most utilities companies are facing a huge process of workforce succession. Many members of senior teams are coming up to retirement age, and a lot of information — about cables in the ground, about substations, or pumping stations for water — is typically in the heads of those staff who are exiting. They have their knowhow from “back in the days” but now companies need to find a way to make that knowledge accessible to new staff.“ [Editor's Note; We said the same thing back in 1984 when I began dealing with GIS]
Read full story at Consultancy.uk…
Mapping the Future : Trends and Innovations in the Geospatial Solutions Market Forecast, 2021-2031
by Allied Analytics LLP
According to a new report published by Allied Market Research the global market size of geospatial solutions industry was valued at $432 billion in 2021, and is projected to reach $1,457.7 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 13.1% from 2022 to 2031.
Key Findings:
By solution type, the services segment is anticipated to exhibit significant growth in the near future.
By technology, the scanning segment is anticipated to exhibit significant growth in the near future.
By application, the geovisualization segment is anticipated to exhibit significant growth in the near future.
By end-use, the infrastructural development segment is anticipated to exhibit significant growth in the near future.
By region, Asia-Pacific is anticipated to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period.
North America is expected to dominate the global geospatial solutions market in 2021. Rise in investments in the defense sector and technological advancements in the telecommunication industry acts as key driving forces for the geospatial analytics market in North America. In addition, implementation of LBS-enabled drones for border security and monitoring high-risk situation by federal agencies, government, and nongovernment organizations is expected to boost the market investment for these services. Advanced sensors onboard satellites provide reliable, cost-effective, and impartial information about variety of vegetation and hydrological parameters at various spatial resolutions.
Read full story at newswires…
Apple Takes Direct Aim at Google With Surprising Launch of Apple Maps on the Web
by Michael Simon
Now you won't need an Apple device to use the best mapping service.
Apple Maps might have had an inauspicious start, but over the years it's gotten a whole lot better. Today, Apple Maps is as good or better than Google Maps, with stunning visuals, incredibly detailed topography, and rock–solid turn–by–turn directions and traffic updates. The only problem (other than a secret Duck Duck Go integration) is it only works on Apple devices.
Now the secret's out. Apple … launched Apple Maps on the web in beta, allowing anyone to use the service in a browser. Now, you won't need an Apple device to use Apple Maps, and many features are already available, including driving and walking directions; point-of-interest information including photos, hours, ratings, and reviews; ordering food directly from the Maps place card; and curated Guides to discover places to eat, shop, and explore in cities around the world. Additionally, Apple says the Look Around feature, which lets you explore 360-degree panoramic views of some places, will be available in the coming months.
… Apple Maps will presumably remain a free service available as an alternative to Google Maps. It is currently available in English with Safari and Chrome on Mac and iPad, as well as Chrome and Edge on Windows PCs.
Read full story at Macworld…
DATAMARK Technologies Reinforces Commitment to FCC's Next Generation 9-1-1 Regulations
by PRNewire
DATAMARK Technologies … , a Michael Baker International'sinnovative public safety geographic information systems (GIS) division, and Digital Data Technologies, LLC (DDT), today announced its current product alignment, as well as future development plans, in support of the Federal Communication Commission's (FCC)Report And Order Facilitating The Implementation Of Next Generation 9-1-1 Services.
“The recent action by the FCC is a groundbreaking advancement of our nation's 9-1-1 system – one that will help ensure that this emergency infrastructure functions effectively and supports the deployment of more advanced capabilities. These critical upgrades will ultimately help first responders and public safety personnel save lives,” said Mitch Pinkston, CEO at DATAMARK Technologies. “Our team at DATAMARK Technologies is committed to providing solutions that align with the new rules adopted by the FCC. We believe that accurate location information matters during an emergency call, and we will continue to do our part to make that a reality. Our team of experts is ready to help Originating Service Providers (OSPs) and 9-1-1 stakeholders navigate the critical timeline laid out in the Report and Order as we move toward the implementation of NG9-1-1 throughout the country.”
Read full story at MorningStar…
Why We Map the Deep (and Why You Should Care)
by Dawn Wright (Esri)
The following is an excerpt from a new book from Esri Press: Mapping the Deep
“Do you like to breathe?” This is what distinguished oceanographer and my longtime mentor Sylvia Earle (“Her Deepness”) sometimes asks skeptics who wonder why we study the deep. After all, they say, there' nothing down there— just some sand and rocks, right? Let' go to Mars instead!
No, Earle patiently explains: If the ocean and its organisms weren't in good health, we humans wouldn't be either. For starters, about 50 percent of the oxygen we breathe comes from organisms in the ocean. Marine photosynthesizers, such as seaweed and phytoplankton, use carbon dioxide, water, and energy from the sun to make food for themselves. In the process, they release oxygen into the atmosphere. If they weren't doing this, we wouldn't be breathing.
This cycle takes time. Most of the oxygen produced by the ocean is directly consumed by the microbes and creatures that live there, or consumed when organic matter falls to the seafloor. So about half the oxygen we breathe now comes from the slow accumulation of oxygen in the atmosphere over millions of years.
Read full story at Esri…
Industry News
In Government
N.D. CIO Greg Hoffman Takes a Whole-of-State Approach to IT
by Julia Edinger
The state's new CIO has worked with the North Dakota Information Technology department for nearly 20 years. Now, the relationships he has built will support and inform the implementation of his vision for IT.
New state CIO Greg Hoffman will leverage relationships he has built during nearly two decades at the North Dakota Information Technology (NDIT) department to advance the agency's technology priorities, from service delivery to emerging tech.
The state's former CIO Kuldip Mohanty announced his forthcoming departure in May, at which time Hoffman stepped up as interim CIO. Less than two months later, he was appointed as the state's permanent CIO; and, having served as deputy CIO since April 2022, he was no stranger to IT leadership.
Read full story at GovTech…
New US Cyber Official Wants 'Brutal Honesty' on Industry Collaboration Efforts
by David DiMolfetta
CISA's new cybersecurity official Jeff Greene wants to know where the agency can improve on collaboration efforts that have been previously criticized for their misdirection.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's newest official has a message for the private sector: tell us where we need to improve.
Jeff Greene, the newly appointed executive assistant director for the agency's cybersecurity division, told an audience of private sector participants at a Wednesday U.S. Chamber of Commerce event that CISA is conducting “open house” discussions about where the U.S. government and industry partners can improve their abilities to collaborate and share information on cyber threats.
The remarks come in the wake of reports from earlier this year that said a slew of private sector players have been pulling back from the Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative -- stood up by CISA in 2021 to encourage cyber firms to team up with the government to detect and deter hacking threats -- due to various management mishaps, including cases where CISA allegedly did not staff enough technical analysts for the program.
Read full story at Washington Technology…
State Procurement Offices Should Carefully Avoid Tech Fads
by Chadwick Stephens
Officials must weigh factors such as total cost of ownership and longevity when acquiring solutions.
Listen (06:13)
Artificial intelligence is everywhere these days. News media and advertising may leave you feeling pressured to join the crowd and be an early adopter. However, successful IT procurement involves engaging with a comprehensive list of stakeholders, conducting thorough research and careful implementation planning.
Emerging technologies often present unforeseen challenges and novel issues that procurement offices must be aware of and prepared for. Failure to do due diligence can lead to embarrassing or costly results. While chatbots are a common use of AI, Air Canada recently discovered that risks still exist when its chatbot hallucinated an incorrect answer on fares while working with a customer, leading to a lawsuit. Government technology breakdowns can have much more consequential impacts.
Read full story at StateTech…
In Technology
The Next Step in Our Fight Against Spyware
by Charley Snyder & Harold Chun
Today, Google joined an amicus brief to support raising the legal consequences for spyware vendors, protecting users online -- and shoring up U.S. national security.
Today, we joined several other U.S. technology companies in filing an amicus brief in Dada v NSO Group Technologies aimed at protecting journalists, civil society groups, software providers and people around the world from the dangers of spyware.
Although the use of spyware typically only affects a small number of people at a time, its wider impact ripples across society by contributing to threats to free speech, the free press and the integrity of elections worldwide. To protect those rights, and continue our litigation strategy of establishing legal precedent to stop bad actors from exploiting gray areas in the law, today's filing is meant to raise the consequences for spyware vendors and provide important legal recourse for victims.
Right now, many victims of spyware-enabled attacks are often using U.S.-based platforms -- like Android or iOS -- outside the United States. Our filing argues that victims of spyware-enabled attacks should be able to take legal action in the U.S. against spyware vendors under existing anti hacking laws -- even if they were hacked abroad. This is imperative to narrow the attack vectors exploited by spyware vendors -- and companies from GitHub to Microsoft agree.
Read full story at Google Blog…
Burglars Are Jamming Wi-Fi Security Cameras -- Here's What You Can Do
by Michael Crider
Tech-savvy thieves are finding new ways to circumvent wireless networked security cameras like Ring and Nest.
A Wi-Fi-connected security camera is an easy and technologically simple way to watch your home and give yourself a little peace of mind... or maybe you just like knowing the moment your Amazon packages arrive. Honestly, it's mostly the second thing.
But while Wi-Fi security cameras are meant to equip homeowners and apartment dwellers with thief-deterring measures, thieves are now using tech to even the playing field.
According to a tweet sent out by the Los Angeles Police Department's Wilshire division (spotted by Tom's Hardware), a small band of burglars is using Wi-Fi jamming devices to nullify wireless security cameras before breaking and entering.
Read full story at PCWorld…
Google U-Turn Over Long-Running Plan to Ditch Cookies
by Chris Vallance
In a surprise move Google has abandoned a plan it first announced four years ago to block third-party cookies from its Chrome internet browser.
… Google says it will instead pursue a new approach which will give users an "informed choice that applies across their web browsing" and is discussing next steps with regulators.
This suggests the firm is not abandoning its alternative approach to advertising, but will allow a third-party cookie based system to operate in parallel.
It ultimately means people will still see a pop-up asking them to turn cookies on or off in the future.
Read full story at BBC…
In Utilities
The Missing Link in the Energy Transition
by Nikki Chandler
Upgrading transmission lines to add capacity, along with working on the planning and permitting to build new ones are definitely huge steps in the right direction.
One of the thought leaders I follow, Larry Gasteiger, executive director of WIRES, mentioned on Linkedin this last week that "transmission is the missing link in the energy transition." I had never thought of it quite that simply, but after considering where we are in the United States right now, I think he is right.
First let's define “energy transition.” Deloitte defines it as being “the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources in an effort to reduce CO2 emissions.” It's one of those buzz phrases that you start to hear when you are in a certain industry, and it picks up steam after a while and can become clich to a certain extent. I think of energy transition for our industry as more than that shift from fossil fuels to renewables. To me, it's that shift, plus reliability (meeting the ever-increasing electricity demand), resiliency (the grid withstanding extreme weather) and security (grid protection from cyber and physical threats).
Read full story at T&D World…
Top 10 U.S. Transmission Line Owners by Miles
by Colton Wright
Explore the top 10 US transmission line owners since 2023, spanning 1,404 miles--equivalent to the drive from NYC to Miami. Discover their role in a resilient power grid.
Transmission lines are vital to the power grid's functionality, facilitating the efficient transport of electricity across long distances from generation sources to urban centers. They bolster grid resilience by enabling power redirection during disruptions, support load balancing and integration of diverse energy sources, promote economic efficiency through competition, and enable the implementation of modern grid technologies while accommodating future demands and electrification needs.
In total, the top 10 U.S. transmission line owners have 1,404.35 miles of transmission lines since 2023, which is approximately the driving distance from New York City to Miami, Florida. Here are the top 10 U.S. transmission line owners by miles since 2023:
Read full story at Enervus…
Twelve American Companies Will Help Expand Distributed Wind Across the Rural United States
by Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy
Companies Will Work To Boost Clean Energy Options for Farmers, Small Business Owners, and Electric Co-Ops With U.S. Department of Energy Competitiveness Improvement Project Funding
The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) announced plans to award $3.15 million to 12 American component suppliers and manufacturers of small- and medium-sized wind turbines as a part of the 2024 Competitiveness Improvement Project(CIP). These selections will advance distributed wind turbine technology through testing and commercialization, providing more certified technology options for clean energy deployment.
“DOE is working to ensure that farmers, rural small businesses, and electric cooperatives have more options for affordable, safe, and reliable clean energy systems,” said Jeff Marootian, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. “These investments in projects to expand rural distributed wind will also support U.S. energy independence, a cornerstone of the Biden-Harris Administration's clean energy goals.”
Read full story at Energy.gov…