The software packages used in mobile mapping have been designed to run on particular operating systems. There are currently several of these: Palm, Windows CE (Pocket PC), Casio and Epoc. Windows CE and Palm have the lion's share of the market.
In addition, a number of companies, especially in the surveying industry, have developed their own software packages for data management that can only be used on their own proprietary operating systems. For instance, Trimble has developed Pathfinder Office, a software package for GIS data management designed specifically to be used with GPS Pathfinder and GeoExplorer systems. These systems are typically for high-end data collectors.
However, it is possible to use markup languages to build applications that do not depend on any specific operating system. Jon Harris, the managing director of software development house Infomaster, is so confident this is the way things will pan out he is gambling his next product on the success of HTML, so that users can do all their mapping in a web browser.
Meanwhile, others are pumping resources into developing an operating system that will be usable on all wireless information devices. Symbian is one such development.
A brief survey of available mapping software shows that this is a minority view; on the other hand, there really doesn't appear to be a majority view. In fact, one of the most exciting things about mobility mapping is that this is a field where everything is still possible.
Arc Second
Arc Second recently released its newest version of its mobile CAD software, PocketCAD Pro version 4.0.
AutoDesk technology forms the backend software.
Enquiries to Michelle Rudiman micheller@arcsecond.com on +1-703-435-5400, or www.arcsecond.com
Autodesk
Autodesk has a few software packages designed for mobile mapping, such as LocationLogic, OnSite View and OnSite Enterprise.
Onsite View is designed for basic viewing of DWG or DXF drawings in 2D, with some simple querying, such as measuring.
The company has just released its OnSite Enterprise 2, a software package for mobile mapping in a Windows CE environment.
The product has been designed for industries with large or diverse mobile workforces - such as utilities, government agencies, and communications companies.
It allows users to connect their personal digital assistants remotely to their company's server. Hence users can access, analyse and update data remotely, without data integration and duplication issues.
The OnSite mobile software packages are designed so that data changes made on the portable devices can be uploaded to conventional Autodesk products such as AutoCAD 2000i. For this reason they work in a similar operating system: Windows CE and Palm.
LocationLogic is a location-based services platform designed to deliver location-based applications to wired, mobile and wireless users.
Enquiries to Gil Norrie on +61-2-9844-8005.
Earthsoft
EarthSoft has created a field data collection software package for the Palm and Windows CE operating systems called Pocket EQuIS. It is based on the PC version of EQuIS.
Report data manager, a tool within the software, allows users to view, analyse and edit data collected in the field.
The program can connect to the Internet using Pocket PC's Internet Explorer, so the data can be entered and uploaded into EQuIS Enterprise across the web.
GPS can be connected, allowing measurements to be viewed live on the PDA.
Further information at www.earthsoft.com
ESRI
ESRI offers ArcPad, which was originally developed by RIA Terrasystems in Melbourne and was bought by ESRI about 18 months ago. It was designed for a Windows CE operating system.
It is essentially a viewer of raster and vector data and has a simple editor that can display GPS information live. For instance, it can display vectors over an aerial photo show- ing a user's current position read from a differential GPS. Editing functions include adding layers, ID points and features.
The company also offers ArcIMS as a mobile software mapping solution. This software can deliver maps to devices using ArcPad and wireless application protocol ready devices, such as mobile phones.
Enquiries ph: +61-3-9867-0420.
Infomaster
Local GIS software vendor Jon Harris, from Infomaster, is developing a solution that uses a thin client colour PDA, where all the processing is done on the server. For this solution the client PDA needs to communicate wirelessly with the server on a continual basis.
'Our aim is to allow asset management field staff to be wirelessly connected to the corporate systems while in the field,' says Harris. 'Wireless will revolutionise field operations and have far greater impact than mobile phones did during the last decade,' he says.
The company's solutions will run completely in an HTML format. The software will be device-independent, except that it will need a browser that understands HTML. 'We don't want to develop device-dependent technology, because the devices themselves are changing so rapidly,' says Harris.
'Providing these solutions to our clients is going to change the way they do GIS work in the field, such as asset mapping. Currently most of our clients are still using paper in the field. That will no longer be necessary. We will have a demonstration system ready in the near future,' says Harris.
Enquiries ph: +61-2-9567-7366.
IntelliWhere
IntelliWhere develops mobile mapping software called Genie. IntelliWhere is a sub-group of Intergraph's GIS and Mapping division. Genie is designed to present maps on mobile phones and PDAs.
The software can give navigation instructions on a 'where is' query or a 'find the nearest' query. The mobile device can find the nearest point of interest using a GPS or by users typing in their location.
Genie can present maps of almost every kind, from simple black and white vector graphics to colour aerial photographs. The software can also give location information in short messaging service or text format.
Enquiries to Milan Usal on +61-2-9888-9900.
Maptek
Maptek developed software for the Palm operating system designed to be used with Magellan's newest GPS unit, which connects to a Palm V, Vx, or a Handspring PDA.
The software allows users to view latitude and longitude, AMG84, MGA94, altitude, speed, heading and bearing. Users can store waypoints and routes of linked waypoints.
Users can estimate time of arrival using the software, based on heading, bearing and speed. The software allows users to zoom in to zones of interest.
The company has developed the software so that it can be used in mining and exploration applications. For instance, executives foresee that clients will use it to log field samples, display drill-holes, tracks and other features.
Enquiries to Dan Elvey dan.elvey@perth.maptek.com.au on +61-8-9328-4111; fax: +61-8-9328-4422.
Mapsoft
Mapsoft develops miniCAD, a package designed for field surveyors. The software was originally used in a DOS environment. The company has been developing the software for a Windows CE environment for about a year.
Enquiries ph: +61-2-9899-5845.
MapInfo
MapInfo has a number of mobile mapping software products, including MapInHand, MapXtend, MapInsight, Location Management Platform (LMP) and the mobile Internet platform, miAware.
MapInHand is the solution for users in the field. It uses Oracle 8i to enable organisations to supply field staff with real-time access to data using PDAs such as Palm computers. However, users would have to have a mobile phone with an infra-red input/output so that the PDA could 'talk' to the server.
In an interview with Spatial Business Newsletter, Marc McKedie, MapInfo's Asia-Pacific technical adviser, demonstrated MapInHand, presenting raster maps on a Palm computer. The maps were delivered from a server in Hong Kong through his Nokia mobile phone.
MapXtend Java edition allows people to develop applications to run on wireless mobile computers. It is an extension of MapInfo's MapXtreme Mapping Server.
Enquiries on: +61-2-9437-6255.
Open Spatial Technologies
This Sydney based company is developing a mobile GIS application: Munsys on top of Autodesk's OnSite View and OnSite Enterprise. The package is designed for water and electrical utilities and municipal councils.
The software has many of the standard features of a mobile GIS. Users can view raster and vector data, add new arcs and features to the arcs. It also allows users to attach voice data to geographical features, such as point data.
Users can update the data wirelessly either by GSM or 3G phone connection, or via a wireless local area network. Corrections are stored in a redline markup language.
Enquiries to Ian Edwards on +61-2-9889-0066.
ParallelGraphics
ParallelGraphics' solution to mobile mapping is Pocket Cortona. It allows users to view virtual reality modelling language (VRML) across the Internet on wireless devices such as PDAs and mobile phones. VRML is a standard language for describing interactive 3D objects across the Internet.
Pocket Cortona supports Java Script, so it can run Java applets, which are commonly used on the Internet. It can work on devices that run Windows CE 3.x.
Sokkia
Sokkia has two packages for mobile mapping: midas GIS and midas GIS lite. They are designed respectively for tablets and palm-sized computers.
Midas GIS lite runs in a Windows CE operating system. The company is marketing the software to be used with Compaq iPaq and GPS readings from either free-to-air beacons or Omnistar signals. Hence the software can show different GPS readings, from single point positioning to real-time kinematic GPS.
However, the company would prefer people to use its own GPS technology, such as the Axis dGPS.
Midas GIS is also marketed to combine with Axis. In fact it can also be used with total stations and laser rangefinders. A planning module allows users to assess the GPS's satellite visibility and geometry.
Midas GIS allows users to collect point, line and area features then create, edit and query field data. Users can add their own vector or raster background maps. Users can import and export data for common programs such as ArcView, MapInfo and AutoCAD.
The company encourages people to use the Fujitsu Pen Computer Kit for Midas GIS.
Enquiries ph: +61-2-9638-0055.
SophSys
SophSys, a US-based provider of software solutions and Oracle database consulting services, recently released its new mobile computing software, SherpaPad. It is a tool for streamlining the estimating process, commonly needed by drafters and engineers.
It runs on portable pen-based computers and PCs in a Windows operating system.
StarPal
StarPal, developed in the US, is a Windows CE GIS that allows users to edit data in a number of common GIS formats, such as MapInfo and ESRI. Users can add data such as points, lines, and boundaries. A bitmap can be used as a background image.
Enquiries to John Koles (Micronics) on +61-8-9344-8808; or Peter Butlin (Sagem Australasia) on +61-2-9315-3534.
Topcon
Topcon Positioning Systems develops FieldFace, a GIS for Psion Series 5: a PDA that has its own operating system called Epoc. The software, designed for surveyors, allows them to navigate from one target to another, log positions and apply the required stakeout accuracy in real time.
The package is designed much like a standard GIS in that it allows text attributes to be assigned to features and it supports Spatial Data Transfer Standard vector maps. SDTS is a common map format supported by the US Geological Survey, who provide maps for US territory free of charge.
Enquiries ph: +61-2-9817-4666.
Trimble
TerraSync software is a GIS data collection and data maintenance tool that runs on a user-supplied Pocket PC or Windows CE device. The software is designed to integrate seamlessly with industry-standard GIS, such as ESRI formats, and other Trimble products, such as GPS Pathfinder Pocket.
The TerraSync software's design and quality control functions allow users to create settings and collection methods to suit their needs. Users can collect point, line and area features with attribute information in real time. The software has a real-time map display that supports raster background maps, and maps from the ArcIMS and Open GIS Internet servers.
The software automatically marks the data so that when users merge the data back into the GIS they know what has changed.
Enquiries to Gary Haora on +61-7-3216-0044.
