Welcome to this week's edition of the POB eNews ...

Readers of POB are familiar with the concept of teaming with other firms to utilize resources to the fullest. A prime example is found in A Winning Bet, featuring the second place winners of POB's 2008 Highlights in Surveying contest.  

More recently, two international companies have taken this concept to a new level. In April 2009, the U.K. firm Getmapping teamed with New Zealand-based NZ Aerial Mapping Limited (NZAM) so that both companies could have more-productive flying seasons using the best available digital camera technology. "Coming together from opposite ends of the Earth with diametrically opposed flying seasons enables us to bring far more resources to bear on both markets while at the same time providing far greater utilization of our significant and very expensive combined assets," said Mark Roberts, managing director of NZAM, in the news release.  

That makes good business sense. But the two companies apparently have excellent marketing instincts, too. In August, they landed a spot on the BBC's "One Show."

Until about six years ago, the video explains, many of Britain's military bases and secret installations were restricted from appearing on maps in order to prevent Cold War era espionage. "For all intents and purposes, it wouldn't exist," says a 30-year veteran surveyor for the government's mapping agency.  

But this type of government regulation is no longer possible. Perhaps due, in part, to Getmapping itself. Founded in 1999, the company says it's the first to have up-to-date nationwide coverage. It also pioneered online delivery of aerial photography.

Now, with updates to Google Earth, which marries aerial imagery of up to 12.5-cm resolution (including imagery by Getmapping) with satellite photography, anyone with access to the Internet can have a better-than-bird's-eye view of locations such as Britain's GCHQ Trident missiles storage site, a top-secret listening post, and the country's largest nuclear reactor.

While public access to highly sensitive imagery is, and will continue to be, a hotly debated topic, this comedic piece is nontheless an excellent testimony on how aerial mapping is changing the world. To view the 4:34-minute video, follow this link.

Have a great week,

Wendy Lyons
eNews Editor 

P.S. Earlier this year, the head of Google Earth defended the virtual mapping program against those who blame it for aiding acts of terrorism. "I don't really think it's tipping the balance in favor of the bad guys," John Hanke, director in charge of Google Earth and Google Maps, said in an interview . "The evilness is in the philosophies and the desires of those that want to do evil. They will use the tools at hand to do that, whether it's throwing a Molotov cocktail, or shooting a rifle or using some piece of technology as part of the process."

What do you think? I invite you to go to the online posting of this column on my Tangents blog and leave a comment.

Web Exclusives!

Exclusive Video! Check out POB's video interview with TPS President and CEO Ray O'Connor in A Renewed Focus. Also, don't miss the footage from the industry leadership panel during the ESRI Survey & Engineering GIS Summit in Conference Recap: Mapping the Future.  

POB's 2009 Specialty Software Survey
The Specialty Software Survey covers a wide range of applications, including hydrography, mapping and graphing solutions, legal description software and coordinate conversion software.

Scanning A Fishy Business  
by Douglas Denison and Brandon Walker, PE
The shores of the Great Lakes were once fringed with commercial fisheries that turned toward the bountiful resources of the lakes for food and a livelihood.  ...   

Surveying Shots
POB features more international Surveying Shots by Orlando Isidoro Novoa Vásquez, of Puerto Montt, Chile, including video footage of his rare encounter with a pudú, the world's smallest deer.

What is the biggest hurdle your firm faces in integrating GIS capabilities into your services?

• Expense; it's too costly for us to invest in the required software/tools, personnel and marketing.
• Time; we've scaled back on staff and find it difficult to carve out the time needed to pursue new initiatives.
• Knowledge; we don't feel confident in our ability to offer GIS services.
• Public perception; it's difficult to find clients who are willing to pay for these services.
• Interest; we're just not interested in branching out beyond our current area of expertise.

Take a moment to vote at www.pobonline.com. 

Trimble Introduces Trimble Access Software for Spatial Imaging 
Trimble Access is a streamlined field and office solution for surveyors and geospatial professionals that expedites spatial imaging data collection, processing, analysis, and project information delivery.

NEWEST ADDITION:

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Civil Engineering PE All-in-One Exam Guide covers all the material included on the Principles and Practice of Civil Engineering (PE-CIVIL) exam, given by the National Council of Examiners in Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). Presented in the Breadth and Depth format of the actual exam, this authoritative volume features equations, diagrams, exam preparation strategies, and practice questions with solutions. Detailed and comprehensive, this book serves as both a complete certification exam guide and an essential on-the-job reference.

FOLLOW THIS LINK for a complete description and to view the table of contents. Place your order online or by phone. To place your order by phone, 248/244-1275.   

Crew Chief needed for our Canonsburg, Pa., office. 

5+ years experience preferred. Proficient with Trimble GPS, Survey Controller, and Total Station.  Boundary, Construction, and Oil/Gas Surveys. 

Send resumes to jerron.atkin@westernls.com. 

Help NOAA Chart Its Future: NOAA's Next Generation Strategic Plan
NOAA seeks suggestions from its partners and stakeholders to help shape its Next Generation Strategic Plan. This is a chance for those inside and outside of NOAA to contribute to the direction of the agency for the next 25 years.

Geospatial Holdings Announces Joint Marketing Agreement with Topcon Positioning Systems
The purpose of the alliance is to jointly market Geospatial's Smart Probe Pipeline Mapping Technologies with Topcon's IP-S2, 3D above ground Mobile Mapping System.

GPS-Derived Heights Webinars
NOAA's National Geodetic Survey will present two Webinars on understanding and achieving GPS-derived orthometric heights at centimeter-level accuracy, based on NOAA Technical Memorandums NOS NGS-58 and 59.

ESRI and Trimble Launch 2009 Mobile Government Grant Program
ESRI and Trimble have launched the 2009 Mobile Government Grant Program. Grants will award hardware, software, and training with a value of $89,980 to 20 state and local government agencies in the United States.

CLICK for more Industry News.

Joke of the Week: 20 Truisms

1. There is a great need for sarcasm font.
2. Bad decisions make good stories.
3. How the heck are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
4. The only time I look forward to a red light is when I'm trying to finish a text.
5. Was learning cursive really necessary?
6. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.
7. Answering the same letter three times or more in a row on a Scantron test is absolutely petrifying.
8. Whenever someone says, "I'm not book smart, but I'm street smart," all I hear is, "I'm not real smart, but I'm imaginary smart."
9. CLICK to read on.

Problem of the Week: Hydrography Problems: Flow Measurement
Which of the following discharge rates and periods of time will most nearly accumulate 1 ac-ft?

A. 1 ft3 sec for 12 hr.
B. 25 gal/min for 24 hr.
C. 30 miner's in for 6 hr.
D. 50 gal/min for 8 hr.

Follow this link to access the rest of this week's Fun & Games.