Eric D. Colburn, PLS

Here’s a cool video of the Vienna City Hall (Rathaus) based on LIDAR data, Orthophoto, Terrestial images and Cadastral map. Nice music, too! Read the rest of this entry →

Here’s a neat video I came across showing Microsoft Street Slide browsing of street-level imagery.

The Microsoft Research YouTube Channel has this to say about this video:

“Street Slide is a novel browsing interface for street-level imagery that combines the best aspects of the immersive nature of “bubbles” with the overview provided by multiperspective strip panoramas, figures to attract significant interest, in large part because of the ingenious way in which Microsoft Researchers tackle problems with current street-side imagery on the web.”

After the Jump, Watch the Video and Read the rest of this entry →

Professional Land Surveyor News

Yesterday, January 18, 2009, Reuters India reported from Beijing, China that over the past weekend China launched the third BeiDou (Big Dipper) or Compass satellite in an effort to build its own global satellite positioning (GPS) system. This latest satellite is part of  a proposed constellation of 35 Chinese GPS satellites to be in orbit by the year 2020.

China is competing in space with the United States and Russia, and in addition to these BeiDou or COMPASS satellites also has plans to land on the Moon in 2012. While this instills a great deal of national pride within China, and is increasing the prominence of China in the space arena, this initiative and the overall China space program has alarmed some western counterparts. Within the region, rival India, in response to China’s space ambitions, is now working to increase India’s space program.

As reported, the China BeiDou or COMPASS GPS network will provide the following services:

• Read the rest of this entry →

According to Newsy, the online video news service, which cites WWLTV, CNN, FOX News, The Times-Picayune, and WDSU as sources, the Army Corps of Engineers Blamed for Katrina Flooding.

For the first time since the 2005 disaster the government has been held liable for the 2005 disaster by a lower court judge, who has ruled that the Army Corps of Engineers failed in preparation for Hurricane Katrina.

Professional Land Surveyor Source

Newsy

How cool is this!

3D laser scanners were used in the new Radiohead music video of their song “House Of Cards”. I remember the first time I saw a demonstration of a 3D laser scanner, where the conference room and a mans upper torso and head were scanned, and thinking “this is really cool!” – Apparently it’s Rock and Roll cool!

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Topcons new fully Integrated 3D Laser and Digital Imagery Mobile Mapping System for GIS data collection, the IP-S2.

IP-S2 features:

• High definition mobile 3D mapping
• Dual frequency GNSS tracking
• High Accuracy 6-Axis IMU Integration
• Odometry inputs from on-board vehicle CAN bus or wheel encoders
• Supports multiple laser scanner models for operator and application flexibility

Watch the Topcon P-S2 3D Laser and Digital Imagery Mobile Mapping System for GIS Data Collection:

Read the rest of this entry →

ESRI president Jack Dangermond video at the 2009 Where 2.0 Conference in San Jose, California, talking about Realizing Spatial Intelligence on the GeoWeb. Covered in his talk is:

• GeoWeb.
• WebGIS
• Cartographic Knowledge
• Geographic Knowledge Created in GIS Environments.
• Data and Web Services.
• Sharing of Geographic Knowledge.
• Spatially Integrated Thinking to a Broader Society
• Leveraging Investments Developing Basemaps.
• Leveraging Investments Developing Thematic Datasets.
• Leveraging Investments Developing other Spatial Assets.

Watch the video. Read the rest of this entry →

Professional Land Surveyor Source:YouTube – 3D AutoCAD completed residential project.

Here is a video I found on NECN.com about how Autodesk and Autodesk 3-D design software, like AutoCAD Civil 3D, is benefiting from the Federal Stimulus plan to put Americans back to work improving our nation’s highways.

In this video, Autodesk manager Richard Humphrey talks about accountability and transparency as a requirement of the stimulus plan and how Autodesk tools, like AutoCAD Civil 3D, help to achieve that by pre-planning and using virtual reality like design reviews prior to commencing construction activities, eliminating potential issues and reducing overall construction costs.

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Autodesk’s Lynn Allen gives an overview of Autodesk University Online, which provides members with access to great on-demand presentations, resources and more. http://au.autodesk.com

Professional Land Surveyor Source: Autodesk University’s YouTube Channel