Mapping solar potential

By Spatial Source on 10 May, 2011

A new software can calculate the solar potential of roof areas, to find the most efficient position to install solar panels. The software, created by GTA Geoinformatik GmbH and known as tridicon SOLAR, uses a digital surface model of roof tops – generated by stereo aerial images or LiDAR data – to create […]

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TomTom to sell aggregate GPS data

By Spatial Source on 10 May, 2011

TomTom recently copped some flack from its Dutch users when they sold aggregate location data to authorities, which in turn were using the data to place speed traps. This week, it seems like TomTom Australia is about to do the same thing, with plans to make data collected about its customers’ journeys – […]

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Australia and South Africa vie for massive radio telescope project

By Spatial Source on 10 May, 2011

The ambitious, unprecedentedly vast Square Kilometre Array project should open up new realms in astrophysics, reports John Matson in the Scientific American. But will it live up to its name? The Boolardy homestead in Murchison, WA, is occupied by a rotating cast of engineers, construction workers, scientists and, now, four North American reporters […]

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Best of the Blogs, 10 May 2011

By Spatial Source on 10 May, 2011

The opener of this piece from Big Think is what really drew me in: ‘Every map holds a promise, and hides a lie.’ The piece examines the way that the cartographic techniques used in a Berlin transport network map, produced by the East German government during the cold war, mixes information with propaganda. […]

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Ozri 2011

By Spatial Source on 4 May, 2011

Organised by Esri Australia, Ozri is a user conference for professionals within the spatial industry to come together, collaborate, learn and be inspired. WHEN: 2011-10-12 to 2011-10-14WHERE: Melbourne Convention and Exhibition CentreSTATE: VICCOUNTRY: AUS The countdown has begun: Ozri, one of the largest geospatial events on the Asia Pacific calendar, will be held at the […]

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Australian geological data now available to all

By Spatial Source on 3 May, 2011

Mining industry explorers, earthquake and climate change scientists and members of the public can now access geospatial information about Australia's geology through a new open-access network. The new open-access network of geospatial data and its supporting infrastructure – known as the Spatial Information Services Stack (SISS) – has been developed and launched by […]

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Centimetre-accurate mobile phone location data to help emergency services

By Spatial Source on 3 May, 2011

A new emergency tracker that could provide centimetre location accuracy for mobile phone calls to 000 is being tested by Queensland utility Ergon Energy. The tracker requires small, portable GPS base stations to be mounted on poles, but also requires mobile phones to have a new chip installed in them. Ergon Eneregy […]

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Information session on ABS’ new statistical geography standard

By Spatial Source on 3 May, 2011

The ABS is introducing a new Statistical Geography Standard from July 2011. Known as the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS), the new standard means that changes over time are minimised, assisting in the maintenance of quality time-series data. In addition the ASGS, together with improved methods, will allow for more accurate 'correspondences' to […]

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Esri signs agreement with NAVTEQ

By Spatial Source on 3 May, 2011

Esri has signed an agreement with maps, traffic and location data provider NAVTEQ to provide worldwide map data on ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Data Appliance, in order to provide up-to-date base map data for routing and other location tasks to its clients. ArcGIS Online provides a platform to find, share, and organise geographic […]

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New start-up promises early detection of water infrastructure leaks

By Spatial Source on 3 May, 2011

An Israeli-based start-up, TaKaDu, aims to reduce water loss for utility companies caused by leaking infrastructure. Cities in the developed world lose anywhere between 10-30% of drinking water through leaky infrastructure. In a country with limited water supplies, this loss is more than just dollars going down the sink (excuse the pun); it […]

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