Geospatial Technology, Location Services, and Industry Leadership – Early 2005 Highlights

The IT Geo-Evolution and the Rise of Location Intelligence

In February 2005, David Kingsbury of Intergraph examined the growing convergence between geospatial technology and enterprise IT. As business leaders increasingly demanded stronger alignment between IT services and strategic decision-making, spatial visualization and location-based analysis emerged as essential components of effective asset management. The article positioned geographic information as a foundational capability within modern information systems.

Executive Perspectives and Industry Transitions

Editor-in-Chief Joe Francica conducted an executive interview with Jeff Meyers, President of Miner & Miner, following the company’s acquisition by Telvent. Miner & Miner, known for developing ArcFM, entered a new growth phase under Telvent’s ownership, expanding its reach in energy, transportation, and real-time traffic markets.

Hal Reid also interviewed Amar Hanspal, Vice President of Collaboration Services at Autodesk, discussing Buzzsaw, an online collaboration platform serving over 100,000 design and construction professionals. These executive conversations offered insight into strategic direction and product evolution within the GIS and design technology sectors.

Wireless, Location Services, and Market Shifts

Several articles addressed the accelerating role of wireless technologies and location-based services (LBS). Michael Shean explored the competitive implications of Wi-Fi expansion and its transformative impact on information exchange. Jason Angelides analyzed how E-911 infrastructure deployment in the United States positioned carriers to capitalize on emerging wireless location applications.

Microsoft’s MapPoint 2004 Fleet Edition was also highlighted following a licensing and pricing restructuring, designed to offer partners greater flexibility without introducing a new product version.

The Location Aware Enterprise

A recurring theme throughout early 2005 coverage was the concept of the “Location Aware Enterprise.” Alan Leidner’s second installment in the series examined how location intelligence supported emergency response efforts during the September 11 recovery operations in New York City. Multiple agencies collaborated using spatial data to coordinate response activities.

Susan Kalweit of Booz Allen Hamilton introduced the foundational concept in an earlier article, urging organizations to integrate geographic awareness across enterprise functions as a guiding business principle.

GIS and Disaster Response

The Indian Ocean tsunami prompted extensive GIS community mobilization. Directions Magazine staff reported on volunteer efforts and mapping resources supporting disaster relief operations. Volunteers from MapAction deployed to affected regions, producing critical maps under challenging field conditions.

Additional coverage addressed protective infrastructure concerns, including Kevin Coleman’s examination of water supply security in the context of terrorism risk.

Government, National Systems, and Census Applications

Lithuania’s post-independence reforms included development of a national cadastre system supported by GIS technology. The State Enterprise Centre of Register implemented ESRI software as a primary system component, strengthening land ownership documentation and property management.

Aymen A. Solyman detailed the use of GIS in distributing census data for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, illustrating how spatial databases enhance national statistical operations. Thomas J. Baerwald contributed insight into funding geography research through the National Science Foundation.

Data Integration, Analytics, and Decision Support

Konrad Dramowicz explored integrating OLAP cubes with GIS applications, demonstrating how multidimensional databases can support advanced locational data analysis. Moira Finn reported on forestry company JD Irving’s efforts to increase profitability by optimizing supply chain decision-making rather than investing in new capital assets.

Additional coverage included travel cost management tips for international professionals and updates on collaborative industry efforts.

Together, these articles from January and February 2005 reflect a period of rapid integration between geospatial systems and mainstream IT infrastructure. Themes of location intelligence, enterprise integration, wireless innovation, disaster response, and executive leadership illustrate how GIS was increasingly positioned not as a niche tool, but as a core strategic technology across industries.