Darron Pustam

Open source has come a long way from its UNIX beginnings and the early Netscape browser days, persistently poking and prodding its way into technology and even societal models. Open source is an enabler, morphing the development environment’s persona. But what is open source, and how is it impacting the direction of GIS?

Did you know you can tap into the power and capabilities of the latest release of ArcGIS for Desktop for as little as $100 per year? That’s about 27 cents a day—a smart investment in your future.

After two decades of studying information systems, I am still amazed by GIS—both its eagerness to make the most of and play with the latest technological advances, and the pervasiveness with which it subtly takes root in new arenas. One of its most fascinating applications is in ocean science.

Maps created in ArcGIS Online can be a valuable tool for your organization. A simple but powerful feature of ArcGIS Online is the fact that these maps can be embedded in your website.

ArcGIS Online gives users a free personal account to create, store, share and manage maps, applications, and data on a cloud-based system. For surveyors who have avoided using GIS in the past due to the high cost of software, this online tool represents a valuable opportunity. But what’s the best way to get started if you’ve never used it before?

Does your firm have a dedicated business analyst? If not, you may be missing out on valuable opportunities to pursue new initatives and increase client satisfaction.

The article "Changing Directions" in POB's January issue mainly focused on the internal aspects of a surveying business and its macro environment. But who and what, exactly, creates business opportunity?

This year the New York State Association of Professional Land Surveyors held their 53rd annual conference in the beautiful city of Saratoga Springs, N.Y. It was great to see so many attendees.

To be successful, today's companies require tactics involving innovation, creativity and business savvy. Survey firms need avant-garde business strategies rather than reactive and symptomatic fixes. Such strategies require the fusion of the geo-technical profession and business perception.