GIS/ Mapping & Location Based Systems

ESRI has announced the availability of ArcGIS for AutoCAD, a free AutoCAD application that allows CAD users to visualise and query Geographic Information System (GIS) data within the CAD environment without conversion. ArcGIS for AutoCAD accesses dynamic geo-referenced ArcGIS Server map services and displays them in the AutoCAD drafting environment.

Citilabs has released its next-generation product line, Cube 5. This new version of Cube has been developed using ESRI's ArcGIS technology, providing software users with significant advancements in productivity, analysis and data-sharing. Cube users will now be able to store transportation networks as ESRI geodatabases, utilising ESRI feature classes. Citilabs says moving data back and forth between models and GIS has never been easier, saving transportation agencies and consultants time and money.

To further improve Geographic Information System (GIS) data access over the Web, ESRI has updated its GIS Portal Toolkit for ArcGIS. The toolkit is a free technology and services solution for implementing local, regional, national and global Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) portals. The toolkit gives users a website starter and all the functional capabilities needed to deploy a GIS portal for an organisation's SDI.

The new release of PTV MapServer, based on COM, provides updated maps with toll tables and environmental zones which are taken into account during the routing process. The tool also includes new features for routing and logistical optimisation methods and allows users to easily embed digital maps, route calculation or other geo- functionalities.

Germany-headquartered PTV claims that the current version of map&guide professional sets new standards for green logistics and transports and provides a wide range of additional useful features.

UK-headquartered CATS-i (Covert Asset Tracking Systems for the internet) has announced the CATSi which, the company claims, uses the smallest and lowest-profile components available to create an extremely small and thin GPS, GSM and RF tracking product

Navteq has released its new Map and Positioning Engine (MPE) Development Platform, a complete evaluation toolkit to accelerate the development of map-enhanced fuel efficiency and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) applications that are linked through the vehicle CAN bus or even embedded in another sensor or electronic control unit.

Topcon Positioning Systems (TPS) has announced an addition to its offering of high-accuracy, mobile mapping solutions. The IP-S2 HD Mapping System is a vehicle-mounted surveying and mapping system featuring a high-definition LiDAR scanner from Velodyne Lidar.