Issue 1

October - November 2002

Editorial - Jon Fairall

Features

Trends in GIS - Jon Fairall

It may be in the doldrums, but the GIS sector is looking good. The spatial industry is being pulled in many different directions at once, but the upswing in work will create a bigger industry.

Imitating the Masters - Bruce Harvey

Artists use shadow and light to create the illusion of three dimensions. But analysis of the technique of some of the greatest artists shows that no possible combination of light sources could have created this pattern in real life. How did they do it?

In Search of Qualified Approval - Hazel Baker

The system that supports the accreditation of surveyors, and other land information professionals, is being overhauled. While it is not clear exactly how the new system will work yet, it is clear that the elements of professional recognition and accreditation will be unbundled.

Search and Rescue - Paul Grad

The new search and rescue regime promises much. Given the right equipment, mariners should never be lost again. When they activate their distress beacons, search authorities will know within minutes.

Higher and Higher - Jean Rueger

Students on a final year camp took part in an experiment to test two different methods of height determination.The results show that it still a question of choosing the best tools for the job.

The Shire Report - Jonathon Powers

Convincing councils that spatial technology is the way of the future is no longer the problem. With such a broad range of solutions available, its now up to the industry to help each council choose a system that fits its specific needs, while keeping its employees and residents happy.

Poisoned Soil - Louise Thomas

Faster, cheaper, simpler -scientists are combining gene technology with GIS to study toxicity in soils. Mapping the soil in this way enables researchers to identify the nature of contaminants in a fraction of the time, at about 20% of the cost.

Software for the Surveyor

This year's directory of surveying software shows that the tools continue to become faster and more efficient. New technologies, such as terrestrial laser scanners will broaden surveyors' horizons and Bluetooth is just around the corner.

Mine Integration - William Smith

Cost control has always been a major factor in the mining industry, so that even when the industry is depressed, it's a good market for new technology provided that technology can be justified on the bottomline. Machine guidance is just such a technology, but only if it is seen as an extension of the mine's existing IT system.

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(This page last modified on 17 October 2002)