GIF 2010 Volume: 8 Issue: 5 (July/August)
FAA to Study Unmanned Aircraft in National Airspace
Insitu has signed a cooperative research development agreement yesterday with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), whereby Insitu will provide a ScanEagle unmanned aircraft system and related support hardware and data. The FAA will conduct research needed to guide the development of recommendations for integrating unmanned aircraft systems into the national airspace. The research will be managed by the Research and Technology Development Office and conducted at the William J. Hughes Technical Center in Atlantic City, N.J. As part of the agreement, Insitu will train FAA pilots and support staff to fly and maintain the system. Insitu will also supply documentation related to the ScanEagle UAS, including an open invitation for FAA personnel to visit Insitu to see firsthand how the company develops and manufactures its products. ScanEagle has been used in military operations, particularly in providing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and has flown more than 320,000 hours performing such missions. However, the ScanEagle can have practical benefits in civil applications as well.
Jill Vacek: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Nearly Unlimited CONUS Imagery Available to Government Agencies
Spot Image has announced a major data purchase agreement giving the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) nearly unlimited access to imagery collected by the SPOT 4 and 5 satellites over the Continental United States. In partnership with NASA and the Department of Agriculture, USGS may distribute the North American image data to U.S. civilian federal, state and local government agencies at no additional cost. Spot Image was awarded the one-year contract, which went into effect in December 2009, following a competitive bid process managed by USGS. Among the reasons for Spot Image’s selection is the fact that the SPOT satellites acquire mid- to high-resolution panchromatic and multispectral imagery. The mid-resolution SPOT data is similar to imagery acquired by the aging U.S. Landsat satellites. Under the agreement, USGS is now operating a SPOT-compatible ground receiving station using a SPOT Image-owned Terminal system. The SPOT 5 Terminal was installed in April 2010 at the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science Center in Sioux Falls, S.D., where Landsat data is currently processed and distributed. In a similar process, USGS receives, processes, and Web-enables the SPOT data and distributes it to qualifying federal, state and local agencies. Prior to installation of the station, Spot Image provided North American imagery for USGS via a high-speed data connection.
Jessi Dick: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
NGA to Use Crisis Event Service Satellite Imagery
The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and DigitalGlobe have reached an agreement on use of the company’s Crisis Event Service (CES) for a 12-month term. CES was launched by DigitalGlobe in July of last year to provide timely and accurate pre- and post-event satellite imagery to aid in emergency planning, response and recovery. Satellite imagery has proven to be a useful decision-support tool when on-ground accessibility is difficult or dangerous. Providing fast, Web-based access to pre-and post-event imagery, DigitalGlobe’s CES supports emergency preparedness risk and planning analysis, as well as damage assessment and recovery efforts for local, civil and federal governments, defense and homeland security, insurance and reinsurance agencies, and multinational and humanitarian agencies. CES has proven to be a critical tool for organizations and agencies looking to better understand the extent of damage following a disaster and inform decisions for relief efforts. CES was used extensively in the aftermath of the Haitian earthquake, as well as the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
Tactical Dispatch GIS Offers Access to Common Operating Picture
GeoLynx 911 Server is a Web-based tactical dispatch GIS from GeoComm. This dispatch mapping system is distributed across public safety networks providing users with secure access to a common operating picture of the jurisdiction’s geography and real-time public safety activity. GeoLynx 911 Server seamlessly connects PSAPs, responding agencies and mobile responders, increasing their ability to gather and share information, strategize, plan, mitigate, track and respond to emergencies. This offering also leverages emerging NG911 ESINets for application delivery and sharing, and provides NG911 additional data display. Built on ESRI ArcGIS Server and the ArcGIS Silverlight API, GeoLynx 911 Server can map live 911 calls, CAD calls for service, and Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) and sensor telemetry. GeoLynx 911 Server provides a secure, browser-based public safety tactical GIS to users without requiring heavy installation and ongoing synchronization of software and data on individual client computers. Benefits provided by GeoLynx 911 Server include streamlined application installation, maintenance, and data synchronization cutting out individual workstation touches, fast high quality mapping and GIS that can be shared across multiple PSAPs and ESINets, and a common situational awareness created for all users of the system. ♦
