Dear Reader,<p>


GRASS, for Geographic Resources Analysis Support System, is perhaps the best-kept secret in "free" GIS systems.  Dr. Richard Shepard, a member of the GRASS development team, contributes an overview of this robust system in his feature at <a href="http://www.directionsmag.com/features.asp?featureid=34">http://www.directionsmag.com/features.asp?featureid=34</a><p>


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Autodesk extended its internet strategy last week with the launch of a new design and GIS portal.  See our news story on this at<ahref="http://www.directionsmag.com/news.asp?NewsID=53"http://www.directionsmag.com/news.asp?NewsID=53</a><p>


This week's Woman in GIS features Meredith Williams, GIS Specialist of Branner Earth Science Library at Stanford University, at<a href="http://www.directionsmag.com/article.asp?ArticleID=64">http://www.directionsmag.com/article.asp?ArticleID=64</a><p>


In late breaking investment news, here are press releases concerning TeleAtlas' purchase of Etak <br>(<a href="http://www.directionsmag.com/pressreleases.asp?PressID=1676">http://www.directionsmag.com/pressreleases.asp?PressID=1676</a>) and Thompson Associates' investment in Anysite <a href="http://www.directionsmag.com/pressreleases.asp?PressID=1674">http://www.directionsmag.com/pressreleases.asp?PressID=1674</a><p>


Thanks for reading Directions Magazine, and be sure to tell a friend,