The MAPPS awards recognize outstanding work performed by private firms in the geospatial community and in the MAPPS membership. 

An elegant LiDAR Showcase Event hosted by Riegl USA in Hangar 9 at the Kissimmee Gateway Airport formed the backdrop for the reception honoring the winners of the MAPPS 2010 Geospatial Products and Services Excellence Awards on November 17. The awards recognize outstanding work performed by private firms in the geospatial community and in the MAPPS membership. The awards were presented by POB Editor Christine Grahl, who served on the judging panel.

This year’s winner’s are:

• Airborne and Satellite Data Acquisition: Photo Science, Humboldt Bay Echosystem Mapping. This project presented extremely complex challenges that required the development of a new flight planning application (now being evaluated as a national model) and also required the team to execute all acquisition within an extremely narrow one-day window.
• Photogrammetry/Elevation Data Generation: Michael Baker Jr. Inc. (Baker), U.S. Bureau of Census – Accurate Coordinate Datasets Collection. Baker’s ability to coordinate multiple resources and overcome a multitude of challenges to deliver such a large project ahead of schedule, under budget and with a 99.6 percent first-time acceptance rate on deliverables is worthy of acclaim. Baker was chosen due to the overall size and complexity of the project as well as the client recommendation.
• Remote Sensing: Woolpert, City of Columbus 2009 Impervious Surface Program. The firm’s use of technology to provide an accurate and cost-effective solution for the City of Columbus deserves acknowledgement. Although data fusion is not new, this project resulted in a highly accurate and cost-effective product that will benefit the city for years to come.
• GIS/IT: The Sidwell Co., Improved Geospatial Cadastral Mapping with GIS Integration. The complexity of capturing and structuring an array of data for 220,000 properties in Charlotte County made this project a “stand-out” that earned Sidwell this award.
• Small Projects: KAPPA Mapping, Tenants Harbor Buoy Counting Project.Kappa Mapping had the challenge of counting lobster pots around Tenants Harbor, Maine, a job traditionally done from boats where it’s extremely difficult to see small objects, such as buoys, marking the location of the pots. KAPPA Mapping’s photogrammetry provided accurate counts and disclosed that the number of lobster pots far exceeded the number counted visually. The firm provided an innovative solution to a problem that was of concern to the Maine Department of Marine Resources.
• Technology Innovation: Vexcel Imaging/Microsoft, Ultracam L/LP. This camera is noteworthy from a technology standpoint but also for the advantages it can offer to the photogrammetric community. It is designed to bring digital data acquisition to the smaller mapping firms by offering a solution that is low cost and accurate for mapping purposes.

The judges also selected a grand award winner to be honored for Project of the Year. Michael Baker Jr. Inc. was chosen due to its adept handling of the very large and complex U.S. Census Bureau project as well as the extremely high level of client satisfaction.

“All of the entries this year demonstrated innovation, creative problem solving, successful technology application and proficient project management, making it difficult to choose the winners,” Grahl said. “These six finalists are truly representative of excellence in geospatial services and products.”

The winners will be featured in POB’s January issue. For more information about MAPPS, visit www.mapps.org.