New York, New York, Jan. 16, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As part of an ongoing global growth initiative, Microdrones^[1] has acquired Aircam UAV Technology (“Aircam”), a 64 employee Chinese company with its main location in Foshan, an hour-drive from Guangzhou in Southern China, and a branch in Beijing. Aircam has developed a large Chinese and Southeast Asian customer base with a focus on surveying & mapping, utilities, and oil & gas industries.

Aircam will be fully integrated with the Microdrones business, brand and leadership team. The Aircam brand and corporate identity will change to
Microdrones, and all aspects of the business will be directed by the Microdrones global leadership team. 

Microdrones and Aircam have a long history of working together. Microdrones President Vivien Heriard Dubreuil explains, “For the past decade, Microdrones and Aircam have shared a strong distribution relationship, selling and supporting Microdrones systems to professionals throughout the continent."

Although Microdrones professional drones have been available in Asia (though Aircam) since 2008, Microdrones now has a direct, local presence in the market. Microdrones technology, products and solutions^[2] will be available to customers throughout Asia, subject to applicable export control and regulations.

“We’re talking about business oriented, field-proven solutions that will help end-users make better business decisions.” says Heriard Dubreuil, adding...

Miami, Jan. 16, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Miami International Map Fair, the longest continuously running map fair in the world, will return to HistoryMiami Museum February 2-3, 2019. Over 35 leading map dealers from across the globe and the United States, including some from Florida, will gather to display and retail an unparalleled selection of original antique maps, charts, town plans and atlases. Thousands of maps from the 16th century to present day, ranging in price from $25 to over $250,000, will be on display offering something unique for the first time buyer, as well as the seasoned collector. 

One of the rarest maps on display will be the only surviving example of The Gutierrez Map of the New World in Private Hands.  This rare separately published map extends from Florida and Texas in the north to just south of the Amazon River.  It was published in Antwerp by Hieronymous Cock, from the cartographic work of Spain’s Diego Gutierrez, in 1562.

“HistoryMiami is proud to host one of the largest and most prestigious events of its kind in the world, highlighting the history and wonder of cartography,” explains Jorge Zamanillo, Executive Director of HistoryMiami Museum. “Each year, the map...

Enhancements Include Flexible Pricing and Easier App Deployment Experience

REDLANDS, Calif. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — January 16, 2019 — Esri^[1], the global leader in location intelligence, today announced major changes to ArcGIS for Developers, providing an enhanced mapping experience that is more accessible and affordable. These changes include a new pay-as-you-go plan for all of Esri's location-based services, a decrease in the price of routing transactions, and a new commercial app deployment experience for developers.

This new experience brings the power of mapping to all developers and provides greater simplicity and flexibility. Esri has introduced a new monthly payment structure for the Builder plan in its developer subscription. The Builder plan is now offered at a monthly subscription rate of $125. Esri has also introduced a 10 percent discount on existing annual Builder plan subscriptions. Customers who currently have an annual Builder plan subscription can continue to pay annually or switch to paying monthly.

"In addition to our existing subscription plans, we have introduced a new pay-as-you-go model that enables developers to pay only for services and transactions that they use," said David Cardella, Esri product manager for developer technologies. "Developers can now access dozens of different maps from our Living Atlas, store their data securely, route, and geocode, as well as create...

RFI responses will be used to further advance the guidance provided by the DHS S&T Next Generation First Responder Handbook.

15 January 2019: The Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) has issued a Request For Information concerning the commercial product feasibility of the guidance for first responder body-worn sensor technology developed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T) in its Next Generation First Responder (NGFR) Handbook^[1]. Results of the RFI responses will be analyzed and documented, then used to further advance the NGFR Handbook.

One aspect of public safety is to support first responders by keeping them connected to response commanders and aware of any information about themselves and their environment that helps them to stay safe and do their jobs effectively. The SmartHub design developed in the NGFR Handbook combines both communications and sensors as wearable components that can provide such support in the context of city infrastructure, policies, and practices that enable their functionality.

OGC and DHS seek information on whether the current Handbook provides sufficient guidance and a feasible design to support SmartHub devices as vendor offerings, city procurements, deployed responder resources, and sustainable public safety capabilities.

A critical...

Learn What Spatial Data Analysis Can Do for You and Your Career

January 16, 2019 -- Join us to learn why companies throughout the world use GIS as a fundamental part of the decision making process. You’ll learn how data-driven maps and spatial analysis tools help people detect patterns, make predictions, and solve problems.

Course at a Glance

• Hands-on exercises, short video lectures, quizzes, and discussion
• Six weeks, two to three hours of study per week
• Certificate of completion
• Course dates: February 6 - March 20, 2019

Please note: This February 2019 course covers the same material and includes selected exercises from past offerings of Going Places with Spatial Analysis. Students will explore spatial analysis with the newest version of ArcGIS Online, Esri's cloud-based mapping and analysis solution.

Register Now^[1]...

NORCROSS, GA., January 15, 2019 – Hexagon’s Geospatial division, a world leader in high performance geospatial solutions, is proud to announce the V2018.1 release of the Luciad Portfolio.

V2018.1 focuses on further expanding 3D capabilities and includes additional data formats and standards for users in military and maritime domains. To accommodate organizations’ expanding geospatial data, LuciadFusion introduces a RESTful API to automate the entire process of data crawling.

Both the server and desktop solution, LuciadFusion and LuciadLightspeed, have added support for the E57 point cloud format and automate point cloud data optimization through the Tiling Engine API.

LuciadLightspeed now includes Inland Electronic Navigational Charts and updated support for military symbology with the US Department of Defense Joint Military Symbology Standard and the NATO Joint Military Symbology Standard APP-6D icons. The Military Symbology component from the browser solution, LuciadRIA, is now fully compatible with 3D WebGL maps.

Users of LuciadRIA can put their pencils away, as they can now draw a multitude of complex lines and military tactical graphics in 2D and 3D in the browser.

Responding to the announcement, Hexagon’s Geospatial division President, Mladen Stojic said, “The additional 3D capabilities of Luciad V2018.1 support our vision for a Smart Digital Reality, empowering users to unlock the power of advanced geospatial analytics and visualizations.”

According...

WALTHAM, Mass., Jan. 15, 2019 — (PRNewswire) — Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN^[1]) was awarded the following two contracts as announced by the Department of Defense on December 21, 2018^[2].

Raytheon Corp., McKinney, Texas, was awarded a $59,211,905 cost-plus fixed-fee and firm-fixed- price contract for Reaper MQ-9 sensors contractor logistics support. This contract provides for program management, contractor-filed service-representative support, depot repair, depot maintenance, sustaining engineering support, supply and logistics support, configuration management, tech data maintenance, software maintenance, inventory control point, and warehouse support for the MQ-9 sensors. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds are being obligated in the amount of $37,779,873 at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA8528-19-C-0002).

About Raytheon
Raytheon Company, with 2017 sales of $25 billion and 64,000 employees, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, civil government and cybersecurity solutions. With a history of innovation spanning 96 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration, C5I^™ products and services, sensing, effects, and mission support for customers in more than 80 countries. Raytheon^[3] is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts. Follow us on Twitter^[4].

www.raytheon.com^[5]...

SAN DIEGO — (BUSINESS WIRE) — January 15, 2019 — General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), the leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, radars, electro-optic and related mission systems, announced today that it has teamed with five Belgium-based businesses as part of an industrial collaboration effort with the Belgian aerospace and defense industry. Team SkyGuardian Belgium includes GA-ASI, SABCA, Thales Belgium, Esterline, DronePort, and satellite communication technology company Newtec.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190115005198/en/^[1]

The Government of Belgium recently announced the selection of MQ-9B SkyGuardian^TM to meet the RPA requirements of Belgian Defense. GA-ASI’s MQ-9B has also been selected by the Royal Air Force for its PROTECTOR RG Mk1 program.

“GA-ASI looks forward to working with our Belgian teammates to make the MQ-9B procurement a success,” said Linden Blue, CEO, GA-ASI. “We are very pleased to be joined in this endeavor by SABCA, Thales, Esterline, DronePort, and Newtec.”

GA-ASI and SABCA signed an MOU that...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Jan. 15, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Quantum Spatial, Inc. (QSI), the nation’s largest independent geospatial analytics firm, will showcase its cutting-edge applications for surveying and mapping, using high-resolution topographic and bathymetric LiDAR and hyperspectral imagery, during GeoWeek, January 25-31 in Denver. QSI will feature numerous projects that include remote sensing and advanced analytics for a wide range of uses, including the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 3D Elevation Program, emergency response and planning, forestry inventory and utility vegetation management.
^[1]

GeoWeek brings together the MAPPS Winter Conference (January 25-28), the International LiDAR Mapping Forum (January 28-30) and ASPRS Annual Conference (January 27-30) at the Hyatt Regency in Denver.

"QSI continues to expand its capabilities to help our clients gain even more valuable insights for managing their businesses, protecting natural resources and responding in emergency situations," said QSI CEO Robert Hickey. "During GeoWeek, we will share contributions of our LiDAR surveys to the 3DEP program and many other applications, as well as how we are integrating topobathymetric LiDAR surveys to examine onshore, near shore and riverine environments."

International LiDAR Mapping Forum
At ILMF, QSI will be featured in the exhibit hall and during educational sessions, including:...