I recently read an article in the December 6, 2010, issue of Time magazine. Futurist Ray Kurzweil was asked the following question: “Is it a mistake to use the events of the recent past as a method of predicting the future?” His answer has me reconsidering my thoughts about the future of geospatial technology. Essentially, his idea is that we tend to think linearly when... read more
With this being my last column in 2010, I'm going to look back at the five significant GPS/GNSS events in 2010 that affected the surveying, mapping, engineering, construction and natural resource users. Each of these had, or could've had a significant affect on your GPS activities. read more
Two Seemingly Unrelated Conferences Linked by GIS and GISP By Art Kalinski, GISP In November I attended the Rocket City GIS Conference and the seemingly unrelated Interservice / Industry Training, Simulation, and Education Conference (I/ITSEC). Rocket City GIS The Rocket City GIS Conference was organized by Joe Francica of Directions Media. As Conference Chairman, Joe picked an impressive venue, the... read more
Last week, I wrote about the unpredictable software development landscape for tablet computers and smartphones. The iOS (iPhone/iPad) has firmly established its presence, Android is picking up steam like locomotive, and Windows Phone 7 is making its debut. I heard from a few readers. One in particular was an employee in a larger enterprise. He bent my ear about “working in the... read more
Excerpt: "The articles in the May and June issues of GPS World on the origins of GPS by Drs. Bradford Parkinson and Stephen Powers presented a detailed view of the people involved in the development of the GPS Program. This view on the origin of GPS essentially begins with the so-called “Lonely Halls” meeting where Dr. Parkinson and a group of Air Force officers invented the GPS concept that was subsequently developed by the teams of people discussed in some detail." PLUS: Brad Parkinson replies. read more
Industry analysts estimate that Apple will sell as many as 43.7 million iPads in 2011. Apple reported it shipped 4.2 million iPads in the third quarter, ending September 25. This has certainly created chaos in the tablet computer business that has been relatively quiet for more than a decade. Predictably, with Apple shipping these kinds of numbers, it has stimulated... read more
The Russian Federal Space Agency announced that the December 5 launch of three GLONASS satellites ended in failure when the Proton rocket's Block DM upper stage and its three payloads crashed into the Pacific Ocean about 1,500 kilometers, or 932 miles, northwest of Honolulu, according to reports. Although an investigation will look into the exact cause of the failure, early unconfirmed reports indicate a software error. read more
Last month, the Management Association for Private Photogrammetric Surveyors (MAPPS) issued a position letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urging the FCC to “use extreme caution and not implement any enforcement or broad regulation that would have a harmful affect on the broad private geospatial community.” The concern MAPPS has is valid and I support their position stated in their letter.... read more
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