Our Geospatial Proposition

“We are all collectors and we are all sensors able to take part in the disciplined sharing of data. Disciplined sharing will save money and lives.”

Robert Burkhardt, Army Geospatial Information Officer, puts the value proposition for using Geospatial applications in no uncertain terms.

GEOSPATIAL…

Is it satellite images of the Earth with clarity down to 1 meter, providing you detail you never thought possible?

Is it 3D visualizations of street view images with all landmarks, buildings and businesses identified?

Is it having intelligent search capabilities on your handheld or Smartphone so you can turn these satellite and 3D images into useful, actionable information?

Is it an application of technology where you become an active participant as both a consumer and creator of information—at the same time?

Geospatial embraces all of these life-changing applications—and promises to deliver much, much more.

For example, some applications—like using your Smartphone to search and locate the nearest java hut—are embraced by users millions of times a day right now.

Others—like having a full 3D visualization of all existing infrastructure including gas, electricity, water and communications layered on one map—while available, are just starting to ramp up.

These topics—along with demonstrations designed to get you involved—are what the Army’s Geospatial Information Officer and Google, Autodesk, GeoEye and DLT Solutions experts discussed with government and industry during GeoSpatial Day in Washington, DC this past June.

Life Changing Applications

Robert Burkhardt is the Army Geospatial Information Officer (GIO) and Director of the U.S. Army’s Geospatial Center in Alexandria, Virginia.

He told the audience many agencies are facing challenges accessing Geospatial data and then once they get it, finding the best way of deploying the data.

“Data of all kinds—text, video, voice, imagery—is streaming through networks right now at blazing speeds. In fact, there is so much data being created and transmitted at all levels, that many feel we are flat overwhelmed,” said Burkhardt.

But rather than be overwhelmed, Burkhardt urged the audience to look at the positive side; that the worlds of Geospatial, 3D visualization, storage and communications are converging—and you are the beneficiary.

“This overwhelmingly has a good side. We have greater detail and 3D imagery and you can pick it up on your iPhone, Droid or Blackberry,” said Burkhardt. “This is revolutionary and will change the way we do our normal business.”

One big change Burkhardt mentioned is in the area of data availability.

“We want to separate the data from all the applications, from the software, and hardware. We want to make it independent; then you can write apps based on data, not the proprietary hardware or software you may be using.” This is a key concept for standards and necessary to cut costs.

Convergence: The Enabler

Geoff Zeiss from Autodesk was extremely upbeat as he explained the ongoing convergence of Geospatial, engineering design and 3D visualization technologies. This involves intelligent models such as BIM (Building Information Modeling), which not only enable better design, but also sustainable design. In the future these capabilities will be used to help model and design entire sustainable cities.

“This is what this makes this stuff exciting. It makes it possible to prepare simulations showing the impact of a project and explain complex ideas clearly to people who are non-technical,” explained Zeiss.

“If you are a city, state or the federal government, if you want to be able to convey to non-technical or the public what the implications are, a two minute video is much more effective than a 1,000 AutoCAD drawings.”

Geospatial makes interaction with the government more transparent and it is much easier for government administrators to explain and show to people what is happening with key projects added Zeiss.

Geospatial Value Proposition

“Geospatially the future is going to be streaming information in real-time to handheld devices—my Droid or iPhone--making local information relevant when you are standing on a street corner,” said Google Earth Product Specialist Mike Evanoff.

“Another geospatial driver is the mass participation and mass adoption, which was not possible not that long ago,” noted Evanoff. “Millions of people around the world now are not only consumers of GIS but are also contributors adding data and updating information.

“For example, using Google MapMaker—within 72 hours after the Haiti earthquake—citizen contributors starting adding roads, streets and other points of interest; within a short amount of time you have a fully populated outstanding quality map of Port Au Prince,” said Evanoff.

GeoEye owns two satellites and provides much of Geospatial’s raw materials. Web delivery tools are GeoEye’s fastest growing delivery systems and it has changed the dynamic.

Steve Miller from GeoEye noted you used to have to have a data custodian to enter and extract data from a system. “With web delivery tools and services platforms that complement the efforts of Google, now you have the ability to deliver information and you don’t have to be a professional to use it, you just have to be a consumer.”

DLT’s Jim Helou urged the audience to not let “what you perceive the technology is today be a limit as to what you want to do tomorrow.” There are lots of creative minds building today’s tools and tomorrow’s building blocks. “Let’s not let the tools and how they are packaged today to be limiting, we need open communication and creativity to break new barriers.”

Army GIO Burkhardt stated the GeoSpatial value proposition in no uncertain terms.

“We are all collectors and we are all sensors able to take part in the “disciplined sharing of data,” declared Burkhardt. “Disciplined sharing will save money and lives.” ■