Weekly GEOINT Community News

Community Continues to Support Natural Disaster Response Efforts; Discount for Live Online Augmented Reality Course; ManTech to Acquire InfoZen; LizardTech Awarded U.S. Patent for LiDAR Point Cloud Compression

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Community Continues to Support Natural Disaster Response Efforts

The GEOINT Community continues to support response efforts following the series of natural disasters that have occurred in the past weeks. Esri released an interactive impact summary map of the 7.1 magnitude earthquake that struck Central Mexico last week. This analysis, built in the “Enrich Layer” in ArcGIS Online, also presents a Shakemap of the earthquake.

DigitalGlobe released high-resolution satellite imagery showing the impact of the earthquake in Mexico City. Images include collapsed buildings near Parque Espana and Rancho del Arco and rescue teams at the Enrique Rebsamen School. DigitalGlobe separately released pre- and post-earthquake imagery of affected areas through its Open Data Program.

On Friday, DigitalGlobe also released images showing in high resolution the damage Hurricane Maria caused on the island of Dominica. The company is also working to capture and make available imagery of Puerto Rico once cloud cover lifts over the region. DigitalGlobe’s tomnod crowdsourcing platform has also kicked off a campaign in support of Hurricane Maria response.

Live Online Training Course: AR and the Future of Work

Tech authors and futurists Robert Scoble and Shel Israel will produce a live online training course called “AR and the Future of Work” based on their recent best-selling book The Fourth Transformation. The course will be held Monday, Oct. 2, and is intended for executives seeking to understand how and why AR will transform their businesses. The standard rate for the class is $247, with a discounted rate of $147 for those who register before Sept. 29. Register here and enter the code GSIF1 for a $20 discount.

ManTech to Acquire InfoZen

ManTech International will acquire IT company InfoZen in a $180 million deal expected to close next month. InfoZen’s portfolio will bolster ManTech’s already strong footprint in the homeland security and aerospace marketplaces as well as grow Mantech’s cloud migration and agile development capabilities.

LizardTech Awarded U.S. Patent for LiDAR Point Cloud Compression

Software solutions provider LizardTech was awarded a U.S. patent for the lossless compression of LiDAR point clouds. LizardTech’s flagship software, GeoExpress, uses wavelet transformation algorithms to compress LiDAR data to MrSID and LAZ formats with no content loss. These algorithms can be licensed via the LizardTech SDK for integration with third-party geospatial solutions.

SpaceX Files to Trademark “Starlink” Satellite Network

SpaceX filed to trademark the name “Starlink” for a satellite network that will provide low-cost broadband internet access worldwide. The trademark also included provisions for remote sensing and aerial photography services. Elon Musk first announced the satellite project in 2015, and Geekwire reports prototype satellites could be launched as early as this year.

Peer Intel

UK Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach has been appointed the new NATO Chairman of the Military Committee, the Alliance’s senior military office position. Peach led a long and successful military career after joining the Royal Air Force in 1977, commanding the UK’s intervention in Libya and becoming first Commander of UK Joint Forces in 2011. He will succeed Czech General Petr Pavel as Chairman in June 2018.

Photo Credit: DigitalGlobe

Weekly GEOINT Community News

Peraton announced its completion of the acquisition of Perspecta Inc, Norwegian Space Agency launches new NorSat-3 maritime tracking microsatellite, TCarta created products for two project pilots to enable NOAA to test the use of SDB, and more.

Weekly GEOINT Community News

Dr. Stacey Dixon of NGA nominated by the President as Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, NRO to sign deals with commercial providers of satellite radar imagery, and more.

Weekly GEOINT Community News

BlackSky’s Newest Satellite Delivers First Insights Within 24 Hours, startups selected for NGA program, Lockheed Martin And Omnispace Explore Space-Based 5G Global Network, and more.