This list has just about all of the top developments that spring to mind for me, namely the US's Open Government directive, momentum from all of the climate change events of this year, and the way crowdsourcing continues to gain more respect. In fact, on the topic of crowdsourcing, ISciences has blogged about several geo-crowdsourcing tools this year ([url]http://geoserver.isciences.com/DataBlog/?p=580[/url], [url]=http://geoserver.isciences.com/DataBlog/?p=623[/url], and [url]http://geoserver.isciences.com/DataBlog/?p=1070[/url]).
The one development I would add would be the City of Toronto's successful release of all of their geospatial data (http://www.toronto.ca/open/catalogue.htm). It will be interesting to see if more of Canada follows.
Articles 
Features Top 10 of 2009
Features Top 10 of 2009
Written by Vector1Media Monday, 21 December 2009 00:00
In the spirit of end-of-year reflections, Vector1 Media editors Jeff Thurston and Matt Ball looked back over the past 12 months to come up with the top developments of 2009 that will have strong implications for geospatial industry growth and diversity in the coming years. Making the list are software updates, bold initiatives, mapping-oriented geopolitical wrangling, policy directives and imagery platforms. Read the full list and please add your own observations via comments.
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Ordnance Survey Data to Become Open - In an announcement alongside Tim Berners-Lee, founder of the World Wide Web, Gordon Brown, the prime minister of the United Kingdom, announced that Ordnance Survey Data would be made available freely on the Web. This includes only mid-level data (1:10,000 to 1:50,000), but the quality of OS data at any scale far exceeds what other countries provide for free. This development came about due to the growing interest in government transparency. The future of Ordnance Survey is still in the balance after this announcement, with more details pending.
Framework Agreement - The signing of a Framework Agreement by ESA, GMES and EUMETSAT in July of 2009 effectively tied space resources to operational terrestrial resources for the study of environment and climate change. "This Resolution states that GMES is a user-driven initiative that must aim to maximise the use of existing space and non-space observation capacities and services in Europe, including EUMETSAT."
Crowd-Sourced Data Gains Ground - Open Street Map (OSM), geospatial data that is generated by affiliated volunteers, gained considerable momentum throughout 2009. The quality of this data rivals some of the best quality licensed data that can be found online, particularly in urban cores. The momentum for this crowd-sourced resource seems unstoppable, but the development of free Ordnance Survey data marks some future concern with the potential erosion of the market that prompted its start.
Google Maps Data API - Coming out only recently, the Google Data API essentially ties query to the map within a cloud environment. To really make a map intelligent requires that it can be queried by objects and attributes within a geospatial database, which in this case is in the cloud. Potentially this opens the door to querying 3D objects within maps, such as construction sites and digital city environments. It will be interesting to see how further - development occurs.
Open Government Initiative - The directive that was announced in early December furthers the move toward greater transparency from the federal government, and demands that federal agencies open their data to the American people. The availablity of data from disparate agencies may finally help break down geospatial data barriers between agencies, leading to a more unified data set that the people integrate and build upon.
Intergraph RMK DT - This camera is a new medium-format digital aerial camera that reaches a price point suitable for smaller cities and organisations wishing to move from film to digital technologies. The RMK DT camera incorporates many of the advantages the earlier DMC provided. It can be used with IMU systems such as those from Applanix and IGI. This camera is a game changer and it also includes space within its body for future development such as other sensors.
Climate Momentum - With climate change talks recently culminating in Copenhagen, there's a growing interest in monitoring global emissions. The greatest progress in these talks surrounded Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, which requires geospatial analysis of tropica forests. While the talks were disapointin overall for lack of consensus and forward momentum, some progress was made, and the role of geospatial technology as a means for solutions was affirmed.
ESRI - Microsoft Agreement - Back in March ESRI announced a new agreement with Microsoft that would provide GIS users with greater opportunities. "Our agreement with Microsoft defines a pattern of sharing geospatial data on the Web that promises to grow the GIS community," says ESRI President Jack Dangermond. "By bringing Virtual Earth into their GIS projects, people will have a greater opportunity to perform spatial analysis based on dynamic data." This agreement ties excellence in GIS together with excellence in web mapping atop the operating system.
Bentley Expert Designer V8i - This product extends across the entire water, gas, electric and communication utilities. It provides a toolset with high flexibility for design and management and can be used with MicroStation V8i, Bentley Electric V8i, Bentley Gas V8i, Bentley Water V8i, GE Energy’s Smallworld, and ESRI’s ArcGIS. The product effectively couples design to utilities while allowing for a high degree of collaboration.
Stimulus Funds - While much of the impact of this spending has yet to be felt, there were significant allocations for geospatial data creation in the unprecedented spending bills that were passed into law early this year. Stimulus is a global phenomenon in light of the global recession, and spatial data infrastructure has benefitted in the shadows of other infrastructure spending.
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