AgTerra Technologies of Sheridan, Wyoming announces the release of MapItFast, new mapping software for Android tablet and smartphone devices. MapItFast allows users to easily map points, lines, and areas (including user labels and descriptions) based upon their current GPS location. Features are placed on background street maps and/or aerial imagery. Pictures from any camera may also be included.

According to Alan Telck, president of AgTerra Technologies, “The MapItFast app is designed for users who need a quick and easy way to map without expensive, cumbersome hardware and technically challenging software. MapItFast users can create professional and detailed maps without calling on a GIS expert. Furthermore, people are able to use the smartphone or tablet they are already comfortable with to get the job done.”

MapItFast only requires a GPS for creating maps on the device; however if a cellular data or Internet connection is available, MapItFast engines allow all map elements to be instantly available to project participants anywhere in the world. Maps may be securely shared, analyzed and edited online and even exported to formats that allow the data to be used in other GIS software systems such as Google Earth and ArcGIS.

MapItFast is an ideal mapping solution for outdoor based activities such as inspections and surveys, wildfire and disaster response, utility work, crop scouting, mobile asset tracking, wildlife management, oil and gas fieldwork, rangeland monitoring, weed and pest projects, and even outdoor recreational activities such as hiking, biking, horseback riding, geocaching and hunting.

AgTerra Technologies, Inc. of Sheridan, Wyoming is a solutions provider delivering data collection and information systems technology to the agriculture and natural resource industries. The company’s solutions help businesses ease the challenges of data collection, management, and distribution of information; leading to better decision-making, increased workforce productivity and greater value to their patrons.

Source:http://www.marketwatch.com/story/agterra-launches-new-mapping-software-2012-02-21

When the news broke that a computer program not only helped predict, but also catch someone suspected of burglarizing a Lorain home, many people began picturing scenes out of the movie Minority report, where police knew someone would commit a crime before they actually did.

“It’s not a Magic 8 ball,” Sgt. Mike Failing said of the software that allowed the department to predict the burglary that led to the arrest of Kelly Rice,48, of Lorain.

The software, which is a complex mapping program, allows Failing to load all crimes in Lorain into the map.

“We can now track all of our crime through it,” he said. Every morning, Failing said the previous days reports are uploaded to the program and from there he can look for patterns in certain crimes, such as burglaries.

On Dec. 8, Lorain police officers Juan Rodriguez and Zachary Ferenez remembered a prediction Failing came out with a day before when they pulled over Rice for a traffic violation.

As they searched him for weapons they discovered women’s jewelry in Rice’s pockets, according to a police report.

The day before, Failing predicted, with the help of the software, that a home on the west side would be broken into on Tuesday or Thursday between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., and the person would also have woman’s jewelry.

At 10:50 a.m. on Thursday officers arrested Rice after finding a child’s identification card, a woman’s purse and jewelry.

“We sort through it (the programs findings) and can look at the patterns,” he said.

This new software, which was bought with grant money, is helping the department adjust their crime-fighting operations.

Source:http://morningjournal.com/articles/2012/01/03/news/doc4f027652bea27115031585.txt

New mapping software on the state’s website will allow citizens to draw up proposed districts without having to calculate the impact on the number of constituents in each district every time a boundary is shifted, the Deseret News of Salt Lake City reported.

Legislative policy analyst Leif Elder said he tested the new software with the average citizen in mind.

“It’ll give them a chance to do that and say, ‘Here’s what I would propose.’ I think that’s a good thing,” he said.

Elder is scheduled to demonstrate a similar software program for lawmakers during the first meeting of the Legislature’s Redistricting Committee on Monday in Salt Lake City.

But whether the novelty of being able to map out new boundaries boosts interest in redistricting remains to be seen, said Gigi Brandt, vice president of the League of Women Voters of Utah.

“For some, it won’t make any difference,” she said. “But I would hope younger people who are more computer savvy, they’ll want to play with it.”

A new group, Represent Me Utah, is trying to keep the pressure on lawmakers to fairly redraw district boundaries. The group includes Republicans, Democrats and independents.

A decade ago, the state was accused of gerrymandering by some. Critics cite the 2nd District congressional seat still held by Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, which shifted from mainly the Salt Lake City area to include large swaths of rural Utah.

Kelli Lundgren, co-chairwoman of Represent Me Utah, said the user-friendly mapping software will be welcomed.

“I’m excited they are doing that for the public,” she said. “But what I would love to see is that they actually use input from it.”

The final decision is up to the Legislature, which is expected to be called into special session by Gov. Gary Herbert later this year to approve new boundaries.

The new mapping software should be available soon on the state’s website.

Source:http://www.dailyjournal.net/view/story/e9ebcf9832f643758517665331cafd80/UT–Redistricting-Utah/

In the near future, residents will be able to access a high-tech, detailed map of the entire town online, as the town is investing nearly $20,000 in a geographical information system that will make certain information accessible to the public.

With the new GIS system, the highway and water departments, as well as the assessor’s office and development office, will also have full access to help with their day-to-day activities. Highway Supervisor Jim Fletcher said that the system will be especially useful in emergency situations for locating pipes, drains and curb stops, which can be hard to find when buried under snow.

“Instead of using metal detectors, we’ll be able to go out with a GPS,” Fletcher said.
The department will be provided with two handheld units for location purposes. The GIS system can provide detailed information on the depth and measurements of pipes, which would be useful for future project planning, Fletcher said, adding that the service will hopefully be implemented by spring of 2011.

The town had $40,000 budgeted for an imaging-services purchase in 2010. This decision needed to be made before the end of this year — otherwise, the funds would no longer be earmarked for the purchase. The Town Board sat through presentations for two different service providers, settling on the system that uses a collaboration of services from Systems Development Group, Fountain Spatial and Way Point Technology for $19,700, said town assessor Don Collins. An additional $1,000 will need to be paid annually for service and maintenance, he said.

Collins said the service will have information on every parcel of land, from measurements to zoning. It’ll be up to each department what information it would like to release to the public, Collins said — currently, deed, acreage, zoning and assessment information already is made available through the town’s website. A current GIS system provides outlines of properties, but the new system will have satellite imaging.

Typically, GIS can be difficult to navigate for the layperson, Collins said, but this system is user-friendly to the point that the public will be able to use it.

“We would have control over what we release to the general public, and between the departments we would have more information than we presently.

Source:-http://www.mpnnow.com/ontario_county/x2135337852/Town-of-Canandaigua-to-purchase-advanced-mapping-software