Depiction is a new low-cost ($90) and web-based mapping platform that is aimed at the emergency response community. The founder, Mike Geersten, comes from Microsoft’s gaming division where he worked on Flight Simulator. The idea for Depiction arose in Geersten’s mind after he received numerous calls from government agencies asking to use Flight Simulator for real-life situations.
This online mapping platform allows you to import and integrate information from spreadsheets (CSV), GIS shape files, elevation data (DEM files), and images in JPG and BMP format. Creating new elements in the software allows you to interact with the map view, such as adding road barriers and rerouting evacuation routes.
The service also incorporates the ability to receive live reports via email, and have these update appear immediately on the map. In this way, a collaborative service can be made rather quickly to respond to an emergency.
Read about Depiction in Wired magazine here.
Here’s a demo of the tool in action.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi there,
If I may be so bold as to suggest a correction: Depiction is a desktop app, not an online tool. It does, however, allow you to access all kinds of data online if you’re connected to the internet.
And to clarify, the live reports feature for collaboration involves no subscription fee. You buy the product and you’re free to use it.
Thanks.
Thanks for this clarification, and sorry for my confusion. The fact that it’s a new desktop application escaped me, and seems all the more newsworthy. The desktop route is rarely seen these days, but certainly offers advantages. I like the online connection to data as a means to solve a continuing pain point of all geospatial applications.