ATLIS Geomatics

30th Annual Red River Basin Conference

admin — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 17:54:32 +0000

ATLIS is proud to be a Silver Sponsor at the 30th Annual Red River Basin Conference. For more details about the conference, please see below.

30th Annual Red River Basin Conference
Alerus Center
Grand Forks, North Dakota

Duration:
3 days

Event Link:
http://www.redriverbasincommission.org/

2012 MCDA Annual Conference

admin — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 17:47:18 +0000

ATLIS Geomatics will be exhibiting at the 2012 MCDA Annual Convention held at the Keystone Centre in Brandon, MB.

Please see details below for more information:

2012 MCDA Annual Convention
Brandon Keystone Centre
Brandon, MB Canada

Duration:
2 days

Event Link:

http://www.mcda.ca/mcda-conference

Streisand Seeks Court Help to Remove Aerial Photographs

admin — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 15:16:34 +0000

Are you involved in aerial photography or other projects involving the capture of remotely sensed data? Perhaps you better check that your not breaking any anti-privacy laws such as those designed to protect “celebrities” from the paparazzi! In California Kenneth Adelman, creator of the California Coastal Records Project, a scientific photographic database documenting the California coast has been hit with a SLAPP suit from Barbara Streisand (let me refer to her as the “whiny cry-baby and environmentalist impersonator” – are you gonna sue me for defaming your character Barbara?) . Apparently Streisand’s suit asserts that the inclusion of a single frame out of 12,200 that happens to contain elements of her sprawling Malibu blufftop estate invades her privacy, violates the “anti-paparazzi” statute, seeks to profit from her name, and threatens her security.

Imagine, this fantastic project to document, in exhaustive detail, the entire coastline of California is expected to leave gaping holes because Ms. Streisand is worried than any of us actually give a hoot about the ridiculously lavish landscape that she hides out in when she’s not slapping gag orders on other environmentalists that are apparently taking advantage of her.

I wonder if Streisand has her attorneys following up on a suit against NASA for capturing her property in 3D as part of the SRTM Global mapping mission or if they are contacting Space Imaging and warning them not to position their Ikonos Satellite above her nest! Pardon my sarcasm, however, I will be totally amazed if this case actually is decided in favor or Streisand, and I will be equally disgusted in the courts if they set such a ridiculous precedent.

To see the photos in question please see Click Here - location N34 00.65 – W118 47.24

Aerial photograph that Streisand seeks to remove(Image Credit: californiacoastline.org)

In response to her suit, Adelman has issued an anti-SLAPP response which asserts that Streisand’s lawsuit is without legal merit and was filed primarily to intimidate him and his wife into removing a picture of a Malibu coastal neighborhood that happens to contain elements of her blufftop estate. According to a press release, the Adelmans believe that the removal of any photographs or any other information from their web site would undermine its integrity and that their ability to create and maintain the database is well within their right of free speech protection guaranteed under the United States Constitution.Kudos to the developers of the California Coastal Records Project at www.californiacoastline.org and good luck in their efforts. This case has some serious implications that can have some profound impacts on the geospatial community. Imagine the task at hand if project developers are forced to remove images, photos, and maps of private property that appear in web maps, aerial photography, DOQs, satellite imagery, and other remotely sensed data products?

Originally posted on http://spatialnews.geocomm.com/features/bsphotos/index.html

Drone journalism set for takeoff

admin — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 19:09:06 +0000

Drone journalism set for takeoff – once they’re permitted to use our airspace

Drones already attract press attention, but soon journalists could be using them in their own work, says Duncan Jefferies

The Gatewing X100 revolutionary mapping drone prepped for launch.
Photograph: Wikipedia user Alainq.

It was a film that inspired Professor Matt Waite to set up the Drone Journalism Lab. It begins with a man walking across a field, carrying a large metal briefcase. He stops, opens it, revealing what looks like a model aircraft. Using a tablet computer, he selects part of the surrounding area on a digital map, then transfers the flight plan to the model aircraft and launches it into the sky. It flies on autopilot, taking thousands of pictures before landing in a pre-programmed zone. The man removes a memory stick from the device and uploads the data for processing. A few hours later, he’s viewing a high-definition terrain map compiled from the photos.

This isn’t a science fiction movie. It’s the product demo for the Gatewing X100, one of a number of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that anyone can buy today. These machines, commonly known as drones, are already used by the military, the police and the agricultural industry for a variety of purposes – some bloody, some benign and some seemingly designed to provoke people into quoting from George Orwell’s 1984.

But when Waite, an award-winning investigative reporter, stumbled across the X100 during a visit to a major geographical technology event, he was immediately struck by how it could be used for journalism.

“My reporter brain went ‘well there’s every tornado, every hurricane, I’ve ever covered’. This device would be able to do hyper-accurate damage-assessment maps in a matter of hours. With traditional reporting techniques, it takes days, if not weeks. We could rapidly change the way we cover disasters by using UAVs.”

He took out his credit card, hoping to buy an X100 and begin experimenting. But there were two problems: firstly, they cost around £40,000; secondly, it’s illegal to fly one in United States airspace. So Waite went home empty handed.

Still, he couldn’t shake the idea of using drones for journalism. So with the help of a $50,000 (£30,000) grant and the support of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, he founded the Drone Journalism Lab to explore the technical, ethical and legal issues.

Getting off the ground

Of course, bigger drones that can carry bulky news cameras and fly for long periods cost thousands of pounds more. But that’s still cheap compared with the cost of hiring a helicopter or plane to capture aerial footage.

“If you don’t have the kind of huge budget you need to keep a helicopter around all the time, then suddenly this becomes an interesting opportunity,” says Professor Robert G Picard, of the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, University of Oxford. The institute is staging a drone journalism workshop on 22 October.

However, the day when Sky News trades in its “SkyCopter” for a drone is still some way off. For starters, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regulations make it difficult to fly a drone in built-up areas – the very places where a news drone would be most effective. They can’t be flown further than 500 meters from the operator, or higher than 400 feet, which limits their usefulness for news gathering.

The situation could change in a few years time: a European Commission working paper released in September outlines plans to open up European civil airspace to unmanned drones by 2016 (a similar law will come into effect in 2015 in the US), which would allow them to operate alongside manned aircraft.

Some major media organisations are already experimenting with drone technology, though. The BBC’s research and development department has been working with Southampton University students to kit out a UAV with BBC broadcast cameras. And in Australia, where commercial drone activity has been licensed since 2002, the news programme 60 Minutes caused a stir last year when it flew a small UAV over an immigration detention centre.

But it’s activists, academics and a small army of DIY drone enthusiasts who are really driving the nascent drone journalism movement. For example, during the Occupy Wall Street protests, a modified Parrot AR II drone, dubbed the “occucopter“, was used to stream live footage over the internet. Protests in Poland and Moscow have also been filmed and photographed with drones.

Ethical questions

Of course, UAVs could also be used for less noble kinds of journalism, giving rise to a host of privacy and civil liberty issues. For example, one can easily imagine swarms of paparazzi drones following unfortunate celebrities, or hovering above their Hello-exclusive weddings. Nevertheless, Waite believes existing privacy laws will cover many of these eventualities.

“The question I often ask myself is this: is this a new ethical problem, or is this an old ethical problem involving new tools?” He says the furore over the topless photographs of Kate Middleton illustrates the point. “A lot of people beyond Buckingham Palace believe that was a pretty gross violation of privacy. So does the fact that a UAV could have been used change that at all? It doesn’t.”

Matthew Schroyer, a drone and data journalist, and the founder of the Professional Society of Drone Journalists, has created a drone journalism code of ethics wiki to encourage discussion of these issues. “I think we can meet the challenge together as a group if we abide by codes of conduct,” he says, adding: “There’s a lot of value to be had from these flying robots, as long as we use them ethically.”

Although drone journalism can’t take off properly while commercial restrictions remain in place, Waite believes this is also a blessing in disguise. “It [drone journalism] is not here yet because the law says it can’t be,” he says. “But that’s also a gift. The time we have between now and 2015 in the US, or anything from 2016 to 2020 in the EU, will give journalists the opportunity to really think about how they’re going to use this technology.”

Duncan Jefferies is a freelance journalist.

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AMM 2012 Annual Convention

admin — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 18:28:21 +0000

ATLIS Geomatics will be exhibiting at the 2012 AMM Convention held at the Winnipeg Convention Centre in Winnipeg, MB.

Please see details below for more information:

November 26-28, 2012

About the conference

This year’s Convention theme, “The Challenge of Change”, is truly representative of what municipal elected officials are facing not only Manitoba, but throughout Canada and beyond. There is growing pressure on our fragile infrastructure systems; yet the quest for balanced budgets is reducing, rather than increasing, funds to this area when municipalities need it the most. How then, do local governments create positive change – and respond to the needs of their citizens – during times of fiscal restraint?

That, of course, is the “challenge” for our Convention line-up to explore.

2012 Manitoba Minerals and Mines Conference

admin — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 18:25:49 +0000

ATLIS Geomatics will be exhibiting at the 2012 Manitoba Minerals and Mines conference held at the Winnipeg Convention Centre in Winnipeg, MB.

Please see details below for more information:

November 15-17, 2012

About the conference

No matter which facet of the mining industry you are involved in, the convention will have something of interest to you. The voices of industry, mining communities, Aboriginal leaders, government, investors and academics will offer insight on the latest developments, opportunities and challenges facing the exploration and mining sector. You will also find about the latest in products and services at the trade show, and can stake out your next investment opportunity at the property showcase.

The Manitoba Mining and Minerals Convention takes place November 15-17, 2012 at the Winnipeg Convention Centre, 375 York Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3C 3J3.

2012 MGUG Conferece – Platinum Sponsor

admin — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 02:45:04 +0000

About MGUG

MGUG is the Manitoba GIS Users Group for GIS professionals using geographic information
systems for spatial data management, analysis, and visualization. MGUG was formed to facilitate
communication between people working in all areas of GIS, the users group meets two to four
times per year to allow its members to learn more about current activities and technologies within
the industry and to network with their peers.

About ATLIS

ATLIS is Central Canada’s only professional aerial survey and mapping firm which offers a wide range of professional mapping capabilities and a team of professionals with over 100 years of combined experience.

With a continuous effort to provide Canada with the most accurate, most current and feature rich geospatial solutions, ATLIS continuously invests in sate-of-the art airborne sensors capable of acquiring rich aerial imagery and accurate 3D measurements of the ground, providing the end user with more accurate land data.

Today, ATLIS has grown into a highly respected mapping firm, focusing on helping companies achieve their full business value by leveraging the capabilities of aerial survey. Clients such as AECOM, McDonalds Restaurants of Canada, and Shaw Communications rely on ATLIS’s solutions to help increase business value with the most accurate, current and feature rich geospatial content.

ATLIS is selected to exhibit at TECTERRA Showcase 2012

admin — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 14:22:45 +0000

Join ATLIS at the TECTERRA Showcase 2012!

Please join us on June 21st for the TECTERRA Showcase 2012 being held at the Deerfoot Inn & Casino.

We are proud to be taking part in the Showcase and we will have a booth at the event, so we hope to see you there.

This year, the showcase includes product demonstrations, 40 exhibitors and will also feature a keynote presentation by Brett Wilson, formerly of Dragons’ Den from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM on June 21st.

To register for the event, click here: http://tecterra.eventbrite.com/

For more information about TECTERRA, visit their website at www.tecterra.com and we look forward to seeing you on June 21st.

ATLIS selects Calgary, AB for new sensor location

admin — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 15:40:14 +0000

ATLIS Geomatics invests in a second aerial digital stereo frame camera from Optech which has been chosen to be strategically position the in Calgary, AB. This sensor, the Optech CS-15000 will be available to ATLIS in Calgary by mid-July. Positioning the companies second digital stereo frame sensor in Alberta was the right choice because of an existing local production facility and a diverse geomatics industry.

We are very excited to add the Optech CS-15000 to our sensors as an additional option to provide quality photogrammeteric and aerial survey photography solutions. The sensor will provide superior image quality and a wide footprint to contribute to a quality product in fewer flight lines.- Daniel Brooker, VP of Business Development

In April, 2012 the Optech C-15000 won a Geospatial Technology Innovation Award in Photogrammetry 2012 presented in Amsterdam. The award recognizes exemplary innovation in the global geospatial industry and candidates for the award were selected through a preset evaluation process and judged by an international panel of experts.

The Optech CS-15000 was selected for the Innovation Award in Photogrammetry because it is the first large-format camera to include a patented field-replaceable shutter, interchangeable lenses and true FMC (Forward Motion Compensation) technology. The Optech CS-15000 introduces many new design features while significantly enhancing the original true FMC technology. With a large footprint of 15,000 pixels across by 10,000 pixels along the flight line and a precision sensor, it provides the best of both worlds: large area coverage with extraordinary image quality. The superior image data, upgradeability and minimized downtime will ensure maximum aerial mapping business profitability.

“The Optech CS-15000 is a revolutionary new sensor product, born from the collaborative efforts of remote sensing technology, electronics and photogrammetry experts in our US, EU and Canadian offices,” said Max Elbaz, President of Optech, Inc. “The Optech CS-15000 has been specifically designed to meet the needs of the airborne survey and mapping markets, and also to provide an effective replacement for film-based aerial cameras. The large ground coverage and next-generation motion compensation technology will maximize the value of our customers’ investment.”

The Optech CS-15000 has been specifically designed to meet the needs of the airborne survey and mapping markets, and also to provide an effective replacement for film-based aerial cameras. The large ground coverage and next-generation motion compensation technology will maximize the value of our customers’ investment. - Max Elbaz, President of Optech, Inc

ATLIS exhibiting at GeoAlberta 2012

admin — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 18:20:45 +0000

Come visit ATLIS Geomatics at the Coast Plaza hotel in Calgary, Alberta during May 7-9 for the GeoAlberta 2012 Conference.

Event Details:

GeoAlberta 2012
Coast Plaza Hotel
Calgary, AB Canada

Dates: May 7-9, 2012

Duration: 3 days

Booth: 8

Event Link: http://www.geoalberta.com/

About GeoAlberta 2012

Ga3 – Geospatial – anywhere, anytime for anyone!

Reflecting in the new world we live in!

Geospatial information has become part of everyday life and is a growing world wide phenomenon. No longer is Geospatial Information the preserve of highly skilled professionals, instead many people in society use it on a daily basis, sometimes unknowinly.

The entire field of web-based technologies and the development of Geospatial applications is an extremely dynamic cutting-edge area, and is an all encompassing theme for the 10th Anniversary of GeoAlberta!

The invention of real-time, interactive and mobile GPS/GIS technologies has created new real-time geographic analysis and real-time geography. Such developments have led to advances in the ways spatial information is collected, mapped and used by an expanding user community. They are now at the heart of a vast array of real-time interactive mobile computing, geolocation applications and asset management, along with wireless geographic services that are revolutionizing the role of geography and geospatial information in everyday society.

Discover how it all works together from traditional mapping and survey technology to new web technologies and smart devices. Learn from industry leaders how geospatial information is emerging, evolving and imminent in today’s society!