A report from the National Research Council suggests that NASA is not putting up satellites fast enough to support the needed basic science related to weather, climate and other challenges facing the U.S. and the rest of the world. The report warns that the U.S. constellation may drop to just one quarter its size in just a few years. What does this mean for geospatial technologists and how can we help fellow citizens to understand the value of this in-orbit infrastructure?

Two weeks ago the world learned about Zombie-based Learning, a geography teaching tool envisioned by a middle school teacher from Seattle. He used the crowdfunding site, Kickstarter, to ask the world to support his project. He had $5000 pledged in just four days. What other geography-related projects, educational and otherwise, are appearing on Kickstarter? What is getting funded? What isn't?

How do you put a value on geospatial technology? Does it just come down to revenue and profits? Or intrinsically is it more because critical information is held within the bounds of certain technology formats?

GeoEye and DigitalGlobe have been communicating via letter and press release over the last few days. The topic: who might acquire whom. As we go to press neither company has said "yes" but our editors feel wedding bells are likely. The U.S. federal government is both holding the shotgun and hoping to catch the bouquet.

Last week Google sold off its 3D sketching product, SketchUp, to Trimble. What is Trimble's plan? To move into near real-time 3D modeling? To move into BIM?

GIS software inertia involves the use of programs the same way for weeks, months and years without any change. Existing but not yet found or explored tools, new enhancements and workflows are left to gather electronic dust as users continue to do the same tasks, the same way. Why does this happen? Is it healthy for employees? Employers? How can the silent epidemic be eradicated?

This past weekend, the Commercial Mobile Alert System went “live.” FEMA and the FCC are collaborating in this effort based on previously developed systems, such as IPAWS and EAS, and implemented because of The WARN Act. The system supports nationwide as well as local emergencies. But commercial companies are providing both the backbone and the end user apps to either supplement or replace government-issued warnings. Who will win and why? Will the public understand the difference and will multiple apps be necessary or should there be just one?

This week we mull over the announcements and news from the Where Conference held last week in San Francisco. It’s supposed to be about the business of location. So how’s business? What’s hot? What’s old news?

Congressman Doug Lamborn (CO-05) has introduced a bill that would streamline federal bureaucracy dealing with map making. H.R 4233, Map it Once, Use it Many Times Act, would reform, consolidate, and reorganize federal geospatial activities. Our editors look at the bill, its implications and its future.

There are many proponents of data sharing, including the current U.S. president. But questions still linger about how best to deliver those data. Should organizations provide APIs and bulk data downloads? And, does what works for other kinds of data work as well for geodata?