Cloud Computing

In early December Editor in Chief Joe Francica got an exclusive first look at Intergraph's totally retooled and integrated software solutions for GIS, remote sensing, photogrammetry and server-based options. This review of the geospatial product suite is based on extensive interviews with Intergraph's product managers and first-hand demonstrations granted exclusively to Directions Magazine.

As we move into 2013, Directions Magazine will deliver many more options for readers who want choices in how they get their news. See what's coming!

Directions Magazine’s Editor in Chief Joe Francica and Executive Editor Adena Schutzberg evaluate their predictions for 2012 and look ahead. Can they keep up the pace for 2013 and do their bold predictions offer insights into the trends that will shape the geospatial marketplace next year?

Each year Executive Editor Adena Schutzberg picks out 10 events, ideas, themes, products, etc. that stood out over the preceding 12 months.

URISA’s 50th anniversary event, GIS-Pro 2012, celebrated the past in a respectful, conservative way with familiar themes, presenters and awardees. Executive Editor Adena Schutzberg asks, does this provide a glimpse into its next 50 years?

Local governments have been quite successful in capitalizing on the applications of geospatial technology to improve citizen services and recognize savings, and businesses across industries can benefit from following their lead.  This article is a quick look at how web mapping is helping government improve communications and services.

Douglas County, Nebraska currently has a good deal of its enterprise GIS running in the cloud. GIS coordinator Michael Schonlau describes the process of moving into the cloud and what he and his colleagues have learned along the way.

Pitney Bowes Software’s legacy is rooted in MapInfo’s desktop solutions, but the company offers more than that. Its server and Web-based applications aimed at a broader set of users are worth a closer look. Editor in Chief Joe Francica describes the architecture and packaging of these solutions.

After some years of hype about cloud computing in general, the geospatial technology sector is seeing the emergence of a variety of interesting cloud-based geospatial products and services. Andes Consulting principal, Ignacio Guerrero, reviews the landscape of “the geospatial cloud” to provide a sense of the current state of the art.

Maintaining and scaling a GIS server can be challenging.  In today’s economy, state and local governments and non-governmental organizations struggle with shrinking public budgets and fewer resources. Rod Erickson of Next Tier Concepts provides provides a solution using Software-as-a Service (SaaS).