PERSPECTIVES

How can geospatial technologies contribute to more livable cities?

"Spatial information allows us to understand cities better and to make better decisions about them as a result. Technologies that create, manage, analyse and represent that information are fundamental tools supporting 21st century living spaces. The city of tomorrow will be built upon a foundation of sustainable processes that will generate cleaner air, water and higher energy efficiency while delivering revolutionary transportation systems and quantifiable numbers to prove quality living exists."

Jeff Thurston, Editor, EMEA and Russia, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

"Livability is the component of sustainability that recognizes the pleasure we gain gain from our surroundings when the factors of economy, society and environment are all considered. Underlying this question of geospatial’s contribution to livability is the issue of design versus management, with CAD tools traditionally used on the design part of the livability question, and geospatial tools traditionally involved on the management side. There’s a growing trend of “convergence” taking place that has these two tool sets coming together. On the one hand, you have CAD firms establishing large-scale city models with comprehensive data sets that overlap the GIS space, and on the other you have GIS companies speaking of adding design functionality. "

Matt Ball, Editor, Americas/Asia-Pacific, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

TOP STORIES

FEATURES

• Results of Open Geospatial Consortium Spatial Data Quality Survey Available to Participants
• Intergraph® Presents its New Medium-Format Digital Aerial Camera at INTERGEO 2008
• FME Enables Easier Access to AutoCAD Map 3D Object Data
• Intermap Technologies Awarded $2.1 Million Contract
• ITT Imaging System Launched Aboard GeoEye-1
• Cadcorp and Progeos Corporation Sign US Business Partner Agreement
• Report: The Cadastral Parcel in NSDI’s and in INSPIRE
• Interior Secretary Kempthorne Receives Making a Difference Award
• ESDI-Netplus: Announcement for the Identification and Analysis of SDI Best Practices
• IFC-BIM Exchange Support Forum Available

TOP FIVE LINKS OF THE WEEK 

Jeff's Top Five Links of the Week

1. act2 - energy efficient cities: The project fits in the climate and energy policies developed in the five act2 communities. It promotes the large-scale energy efficiency integration in new constructions and refurbishments as well as the mainstreaming of renewable energy systems.
2. INSPIRE Conference 2008 - Download presentations on topics related spatial data infrastrusture, harmonisation and spatial information from the recnelty held conference in Maribor, Slovenia.
3. AGL - The Land and Water Development Division is concerned with the development of technology, strategy and policy, and the provision of advisory and technical services to FAO Members to ensure a more productive and efficient use of land and water resources and plant nutrients in order to meet present and future food and agriculture demands on a sustainable basis.
4. CircularFloor - CirculaFloor is a locomotion interface using a group of movable tiles. The movable tiles employ holonomic mechanism that achieves omni-directional motion. Circulation of the tiles enables the user to walk in virtual environment while his/her position is maintained.
5. Geothermal Education Office

Matt's Top Five Links of the Week

1. Worldmapper - A collection of world maps, where territories are re-sized on each map according to the subject of interest.
2. Globalization and World Cities Research Network - Investigating the modern phenomenon of world cities through a global intellectual commons.
3. Iraqi Marshlands Observation System - The UNEP portal that documents the restoration of the Iraqi Marshlands.
4. Alliance to Save Energy - Promotes energy efficiency as a means to a healthier climate, cleaner environment and greater security.
5. Jason and the Secret Climate Change War - This feature on Times Online provides background on scientific inquiry into climate change that dates back 30 years.

   
Reader´s Links of the Week

Submit suggested links to anything you would like to recommend that fellow readers do, see or read via e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it '; document.write( '' ); document.write( addy_text17570 ); document.write( '<\/a>' ); //--> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

INTERVIEW

Exploring ESRI’s Science Initiatives

The geographic information system approach of ESRI has long had ties to science. Recently, ESRI placed more emphasis on this role by designating senior executive David Maguire as chief scientist. V1 editor Matt Ball sat down with Maguire at the ESRI User Conference in San Diego to speak about the science initiatives at the company, both in terms of technology frontiers and research and development priorities

HEADLINE NEWS

CALENDAR

• Climate Skills Few and Far Between at Australian Universities
• Green-collar Jobs Are the Biggest Prize
• Older Forests Are Important Carbon Sinks, research reveals
• Happy Mannahatta Day!
• Ancient French Map Shows Dokdo as Korean Land
• Scientists Have Eyes and Ears on Indian Ocean Surface
• Across An Unmapped Land
• World’s Longest Subsea High-voltage Link Opened
• Pentagon Approves Plans for Two Imagery Satellites
• Scientists Develop Model To Map Continental Margins
• Project to Map India in Three Dimensions
• Canadian Consulting Engineers Say Sustainable Development Should be Key Election Issue

REVIEWS

 Book Review: Understanding Dynamics of Geographic Domains

Geographic dynamics is concerned with the study and application of geographic information from creation through to geocomputation and visualisation.  A group from the University Consortium of Geographic Information Science (UCGIS) met with intelligence and non-government participants. That workshop resulted in the book Understanding Dynamics of Geographic Domains, a collection of articles edited by Kathleen Stewart Hornsby and May Yuan. The book includes discussions on the dynamics of change as a means for creating, computing, synthesizing and visualising geographic phenomena.

Book Review: Cultural Landscape: Assessment, Protection, Shaping

Cultural Landscape: Assessment, Protection, Shaping is the first monograph volume in a series as part of the international project “Protecting Historical Cultural Landscapes to Strengthen Regional Identities and Local Economies” and is partially funded by the European Union Programme INTERREG III B CADSES. The volume is edited by Jozef Hernik and Jacek M. Pijanowski and provides an overview of projects and research related to understanding landscapes from a cultural perspective. The work is unique because it also includes spatial considerations that contribute to landscape developments and change within cultures.   
   

TOP FIVE BLOG POSTS OF THE WEEK 

VECTOR ONE

SPATIAL SUSTAIN

1. Photosynth as a Platform for Digital City Creation
2. GIS Visualisation 20' Storm Surge
3. China Mapped Like Sim City
4. Editorial: Turning SDI Into a Geospatial Collider
5. Pipelines Map - Europe and Russia

1. Growing Need for Highly Accurate Mapping
2. Satellites Tracked in Google Earth
3. Imagery Sources Declassified for Disaster Response
4. Latest Friedman Book Offers Input Opportunity
5. Two New Defense-Operated Imagery Satellites Planned
   

BOOKSTORE

A System for Survival (2002)

By Allan Falconer and Joyce Foresman

This book describes examples of how GIS has been crucial in many democratic governance and civil liberty programs, and serves to help make people more aware of how geographic technologies can play a creative and constructive role as we deal with the monumental challenges humanity faces.

The Visual Story, Second Edition (2007)

  By Bruce Block

No matter what kind of visual storyteller you are, Bruce Block explains how visual narrative works in a way that is clear and accessible.

Hot, Flat, and Crowded (2008)

  By Thomas L,Friedman

Friedman explains how global warming, rapidly growing populations, and the astonishing expansion of the world’s middle class through globalization have produced a planet that is “hot, flat, and crowded.”