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The concept of self-service GIS software has been elusive to date due to the increasing capability and complexity of the software toolset, the IT overhead for configuration and maintenance, and the need for training and skill acquisition in order to feel comfortable driving the software. While these constraints are certainly still a factor, the amount [...]
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Mark Monmonier’s book “How to Lie with Maps,” is a perennial favorite within the mapping community, not because it’s a tutorial for deception, but because it brings to light the inherent bias in most mapping efforts. As with most communication mediums, those in power control the message in the map, and can manipulate outcomes. In [...]
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The practice of full-cost accounting is gaining momentum as a means to provide a long-term view on public policy, planning decisions, and corporate social responsibility. This broader look at accounting includes both direct and indirect costs, providing a means of quantifying environmental, societal, and economic costs and benefits. This “triple bottom line” approach requires a [...]
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The idea of networked sensors informing systems for intelligent infrastructure to improve efficiency has been a topic of coverage here for a while, and it’s reaching a whole new mainstream momentum. Of course, much of this is due to the push of one high-profile vendor, with a sustained advertising campaign that promotes smarter water, smarter [...]
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A recent conversation with a marketing professional at a geospatial data provider sparked some thought about the construct of layers within GIS, and how layers have their limits. That conversation revolved around vendors and organizations that are so focused on the individual layers that they produce (whether its imagery, vector data, elevation, 3d buildings, roads, [...]
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The developing world has perhaps the greatest need for geospatial tools for mapping, planning and monitoring large infrastructure investments in order to advance their quality of life. Despite constrained resources, the scale of infrastructure ramp-up underway and ongoing in these parts of the world are inspiring, and geospatial tools are critical to make the most [...]
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Five years ago, in an interview with a leading CAD software executive, the distinction was made that CAD dealt with the firm realities of our built environment down to engineering-grade detail, and that GIS dealt with fuzzy issues such as wildlife migration. While pains were made to acknowledge the utility of both toolsets, the distinction [...]
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The model building power of LiDAR is still in its infancy, but judging by the explosion of hardware adoption, that won’t be the case for long. Today’s hardware does a good job of capturing a precise 3D reality from the air, from mobile platforms, and from stationary tripods from different perspectives and for different purposes, [...]
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