Category Archives: Spatial IT/GIS

Container 42: So Smart it Knows All the Answers

Container 42 and digital twins: the answer to life, the universe and how the Port of Rotterdam is transforming infrastructure management and operations. Editor’s Note: If you think the term “digital twin” is yet another high concept being foisted on surveyors and geospatial professionals in AEC, then you are not alone. But you are hearing...

Hydraulics in the Cloud

The City of Durham prepares for growth by collecting and leveraging data through a web-based GIS—to create a hydraulic model for its wastewater collection system. Durham, North Carolina is experiencing a growth rate it has never before known, with more people moving in, per capita, than all but three other cities in the country. Durham’s...

Unity Reveals Reflect

Reflect by Unity is like … the gamification of BIM? Imagine you get an email message that reads, “We’re reviewing the Alderson building model. See you in 10 mins?” Seeing this, you take a large slurp of hazelnut latte and put on your VR goggles and hand grips. Suddenly, you are transported (digitally) inside a...

Flex! Bad Elf and Higher Precision

I took a new GPS mapping receiver out to the field for a test drive and found out that it is also a full GNSS survey rover. GNSS mapping peripheral-maker Bad Elf recently introduced a full survey-grade rover—and a unique pricing model. Surveyors might not be familiar with the name Bad Elf, but in the...

Using Real Road Signs in GIS

At the moment, I am doing a little work with the construction industry that requires road signs and markings placed on a map to show where signs need to move as the site(s) moves through different phases. Now, a real cartographer nerd would say that good graphics and symbolization would negate the need for placing...

What Is PostGIS Day?

For the last 20 years, we have celebrated GIS day along with Esri. It is a great opportunity to get people who haven’t used GIS or mapping before in your office to have a look at what you do and maybe share a map cake (Note: It is traditional for GIS professionals to make a...