INTERGEO 2008 opened under rainy skies in the northern city of Bremen, Germany with the theme ‘Knowledge and action for planet earth’. With 478 exhibitors from 29 countries in attendance, presentations included reference to the changing world, climatic threats and the need for authoritative data to meet these challenges – a theme V1 Magazine has also been promoting over the last year.
Hagen Graeff, President of the DVW (German Society for Geodesy, Geoinformation and Land Management) said, “Geoinformation facilitates knowledge and action for planet earth.” The first day of the INTERGEO Congress focused on environmental issues including renewable energies, coastal management, risk and geodata management.
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Prof. Heinz-Otto Peitgen, scientist and mathematician spoke on the topic of ‘Order in chaos, chaos in order – man’s self perception in the 21st century.” The DVW .V awarded the GIS Best Practice Award, for the first time. The Osnabruck University of Applied Sciences received the award for its project SUN-AREA that provides a quick and easy method for determining if a rooftop can be be used for solar panels effectively.
Basis Software, Inc. has developed the Surphaser, a 3D laser scanner that is capable of scanning up to 800,000 points per second. The scanner;s resolution is so high that it provides images of weld joints, cracks and can show the threads of a bolt. Used for indoor and outdoor use it is useful for engineering, dimensional control, preservation and architecture applications. Cyclomedia has developed ‘cycloramas’ or large-scale images derived from their visualisation technology. Capable of travelling at 80 kmh while collecting data, this technology, based on their Digital Cyclorama Recorder (DCR-7), enables faster collection while also including the software to geometrically mosaic and edit the images.
{sidebar id=221 align=left} On the imaging front, I spoke with Klaus J. Neumann, product manager hardware for Intergraph about their new RMK D digital airborne camera, which is a significant milestone in the aerial imaging business. Neumann explained that last year Intergraph sold 26 DMC aerial camera’s last year, but the new RMK D is designed for smaller projects. In effect the new camera is half the cost, yet offering medium format precision and metrics. Priced at around $500,000 USD the RMK D enables smaller businesses and cities, for example, to enter into the digital market where they were previously unable to do so. The camera has 50% less footprint than a DMC its unique 3D feature data collection capabilities , including NIR (RGB + NIR – 14 Bit), enable a transition path. Intergraph also provides image processing software and Flight Management Software for the camera, although these can be purchased from other manufacturer’s.
Infotech is providing Geospatial Data Management Services and is increasingly focusing upon SMART GRIDS that connect utility information and operations, along with intelligence. The company meets industry standards for CMMi Level 5, ISO 9001:2000 {sidebar id=222 aligh=left} and ISO 27001 while also what Infotech calls – Global Delivery Model (GDM). Recent projects have included e.on Bayern AG and the Project DEEF where Infotech delivered data management services.
Dal Pont Luca of VIRTUALGEO gave me one of the best demonstrations of a product I have had in along time. He is passionate about his product and excited, which is good to see. Cloud Cube 2009 is an add-in for handling point cloud information. With the product, running in AutoCAD 2008 in this demonstration, Luca was able to process point cloud information in a multitude of ways, not only editing the information, but slicing it across axis and regenerating information. Capable of handling GPS, point clouds, lidar and other data, the software handles up to 700 million points. Now if I could only get him to show me how to put together the cloud cube box he gave me in the marketing material…
Jerry Huang explained SuperGeo’s SuperGIS product. The software consists of a full GIS line based on the core SuperGIS Desktop. Different modules can be purchased and used through the Desktop GIS including Spatial Analyst, Spatial Statistical {sidebar id=223 align=right} Analyst, Biodiversity Analyst, Network Analyst, Tracking and Topology Analyst. There are also add-ons to extend the range of data sources that can be consumed. A developer kit and Mobile GIS offering are also available. The SuperGIS 3 lineup is oriented toward web services and server architectures. Based in Taiwan, Huang tells me that SuperGIS is attempting to enter the European and other markets at the present time.
INTERMAP was present at INTERGEO 2008 and I had the chance to sit down with Kevin Thomas. He explained that NEXTMap Europe will be completed March 31, 2009 and that France will be finished end of November with Italy end of January. The completed product will provide a continuous DTM for the entire of Europe for the first time at high resolution. The key point about this product is the fact that it includes rigorous error checking and maintains accuracy and precision. The company is offering a series of educational web services online now. Other work involves risk management, consumer electronics and in-car driver assistance systems that are based on DTM data. Also included is work in the heavy transport industry and Thomas explained that considerable work involves what he referred to as ‘ECO-routing’ – based on fuel efficiency and routing distances and carbon credits.
{sidebar id=224 align=right} PCI Geomatics manufacture and distribute Geomatica 10 – an image centric software. The product includes advanced processing and transformation of spatial data, an ortho-engine for mosaicking and DEM extraction, over 250 processing functions for raster and vector operations and supports ORACLE 10g. Craig Alleva explained that customers for the product include mining and earth sciences, agriculture, forestry, utilities and intelligence agencies among others. The product features a graphic Modeler as part of the engine that allows user’s to connect operations in a visual manner. I saw this in action and was able to connect different processing algorithms into the workflow simply by connecting them graphically. Users can watch the model perform and small bars change colour as the workflow progresses.
REDUCT Pipeline Mapping Systems presented their pipeline mapping system DR-HDD-4.2, which includes a flexible wheeled device that fits into almost any size pipeline and travels its length mapping the inclination, position, bend radius and other features found. The system comes with software that enables users to export data directly to AutoCAD, MicroStation and Excel. In pactice the system would be able to compare pipeline locations and inspections between instances of running the wheel. Jenoptik of Jena, Germany manufacturers and presents a number of different spaceborne scanners in the VIS/NIR and SWIR wavelength ranges including the JSS S4, S6 and JSS95. Swath width exceeds 70 km with 6.5 m pixel size.
ESRI Geoinformatik GmbH is based in Kranzberg near Munich and the company is the official distributor of ESRI products in Germany and Switzerland. Although these two locations are separate legal entities, they operate together, providing services with offices also in Hannover, Leipzig, Bonn, and Wiesbaden as well as Zurich and Nyon near Geneva. At INTERGEO the {sidebar id=225 align=left}company exhibited its full products line including the latest ArcGIS 9.3 software. A new market branding was in effect for the first time, that I saw, under the title ‘Think 360’. Think 360 is an initiative based on the integrated nature of the ESRI product line as it mixes and crosses with OGC standards, CAD, Google, Virtual Earth, JavaScript, PostgreSQL etc. and meeting the needs of a large number of industry sectors. Finally, ESRI Geoinformatik partners with conterra who were exhibiting their sdi suite including – terraCatalog, mapClient, securityManager, serviceMonitor and terrainServer. ESRI Geoinformatik publishes arcAKTUELL magazine, which often contains interesting articles from across Deutsche speaking countries.
The Leibniz-Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research was present and is heavily involved in modeling landscape agricultural processes using GIS tools. NEWAL-NET is an effort to integrate geodata for numerical modeling including geometry, topology and semantics. The centre has numerous projects running, and I noticed their reference to openLandscapes – the knowledge collection for landscape science. Governance of landscapes and ecological frameworks for sustainability are also included. Several tools have been developed for landscape assessments including SAMT – a tool for spatial analysis and modeling.
Alberding GmbH produces the NtripS 05 GNSS Box, a GNSS box for a continuously operating GNSS reference station. Based on Linux, the manufacturer suggests the system has higher security. Various models of hardware can be integrated with the product including Javad, Novatel, Leica Geosystems and so on. Ntrip protocol is included for use on the internet. CosiFan Computersysteme introduces the ST5111WP tablet PC that is used for field data work and includes GPS handling capability. GIS data can be readily handled in wireless mode and the model is completely waterproof.
I met with Peter Rummel of Autodesk Deutschland as well as Geoff Zeiss and Doug Eberhard of Autodesk who are based in North America. Along with Josef Strobl of the Centre for Geoinformatics in Salzburg, Austria, they gave a media presentation on {sidebar id=226 align=right}the topic of ‘Digital Cities’ explaining how the integration of GIS, CAD and 3D models are coming together to drive the development of 3D Digital Cities. More recently Autodesk has acquired the company 3D Geo GmbH based in Potsdam who have developed a series of products useful for the production of 3D city geospatial solutions. These models enable users to participate in and understand city planning prior to development, thereby saving cost and increasing efficiency through pre-planning and enhanced communication.
SATEL develops wireless radios and their products connect energy systems, water utilities, vehicles and other IT related connects across wireless space. Included are VHF and UHF modems as well as satellite based modems. Network Management Systems (NMS) monitor communications and diagnostics are included. The company also manufacturers ‘license free’ modems that can be used by anyone, anywhere, anytime. The public transport system for Helsinki, Finland is using SATEL modems for delivering data across the network. This includes signal control and GPS data. Paul Verhaere of East View Cartographic explained to me what that company is involved in. I’ve assumed they are map resellers, but learnt they are far more than that. With a military background, he was able to explain how the company is involved in creating new maps around the world and operates its own cartographic publishing capability.
Carlson Survey 2009 is now available for AutoCAD, IntelliCAD and Embedded into AutoCAD. New features include area labels, ability to place buildings within lots, more closely able to work with ESRI, a drawing explorer as well as a new EDM calibration function. Meanwhile, Carlson Civil includes RoadNET, SiteNET and LotNET. If you run these products atop AutoCAD Map3D then you effectively couple GIS into them.
Richard Zambuni and Ana Blanco of Bentley explained all of the activity happening at that company. With its recent re-organisation, Bentley has solidified its message around ‘Sustaining Infrastructure’ and has been coordinating activity across sectors to unify the message presented. The recent changes to the company branding are an indication of those changes. A {sidebar id=227 align=left} considerable amount of activity is focused on issues relating to water loss. Bentley has considerable expertise in the area of water management and the understanding of water networks and has developed predictive capability for estimating water loss across city networks. There is considerable activity relating to the new MicroStation V8 XM edition. Bentley has been accumulating other companies for the last many years, quietly building a portfolio that spans the engineering industry, offering expertise and a number of solutions – all sitting atop the MicroStation platform. This is a powerful combination of flexibility to meet infrastructure needs and worth investigating. Land management and cadastral information handling are also effectively handled by Bentley.
Cadcorp has re-branded and Julia Smith of the company points out that we can expect the company to be venturing into mainland European markets more aggressively. Their newly developed ALKIS functions for GIS are indicative of this and the Cadcorp SIS product can handle upward of 150 formats. GeognoSIS.NET can move data to a fat or thin client and development kits for the software are also available. GML and coordinate transformations are also handled within the products.
Data Grid manufactures the Cameleon GNSS receiver. This receiver is uniquely styled, and is suitable for machine guidance and GIS work. The Monitor model is WAAS/EGNOS enabled and competitively priced. It can be used for personal use or vehicle tracking and navigation. The GEOID is processed within the GNSS and centimeter accuracy is easily attainable. The marketing material from this company is interesting to read. They base their products on animals behavior.
Summary: All in all INTERGEO remains as one of the largest geo-related conferences in the world. It is heavy on surveying related devices and software, and therefore data capture and activities surrounding the processing of data (lidar, laser and measurement). By developing a theme focused on sustainability for this year’s event, data users and manufacturers are further exploring ‘what’ they are doing with the data they are capturing and ‘why’ they are doing it – connecting the dots. I was surprised this year to see few new products announced at INTERGEO as represented by the lack of press releases in the Press Room for the event. INTERGEO remains the largest German language event and is the largest in Europe in terms of surveying, geodesy and geoinformation. It is hard to go to INTERGEO and not come away with new ideas, awareness and appreciation for this industry.
