New GIS-enabled Technologies and Applications

Gary Zhang MRF Geosystems Corporation

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HTML5-based Vector Map Serving

Why Choose HTML5?

• Use one server to send vector maps to multiple browsers for desktops and smartphones – Internet Explorer, Firefox – Safari for iOS (iPhone and iPad) – Chrome for Android

• Performance – 2 Second Response Time – Vector map - Better map quality

• Technical Trend – HTML5 is the future – No plug-in required

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HTML5-based Road Video Serving

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Work Alone Safety Solution

• Use the SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger to support your work alone safety procedures – The supervisor can view all the employees’

locations on a map – The supervisor can dispatch the nearest employee

or resident to respond to an emergency – $150 hardware one time fee – $150 per year for tracking services – This solution can also be used by farmers

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Work Alone Safety Solution Integrated with Autodial

• The employee can push the “custom” button. • The GIS website can start a timer. • If the employee does not push “Check-in”

button within the specified time, the GIS website will call emergency response people with the location of the employee.

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GIS-based Emergency Notification Solution

• Integrate an autodialing system into GIS • Simply drawing a polygon on the map and the

system will send mass notification through – Short Message Service – Voice Call – 5000 calls/min – 9 cents per call.

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GIS-based Emergency Notification Solution

• Compared with alternatives: – Mail

• 63 cents for each mail • Takes days to arrive

– Door knocking • No fun when it is -30 degrees

– Manual calling • Time consuming

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Integrating AVL with GIS

• Which road has been snow-cleared? • Which road has been graveled? • What area has been sprayed with what kind of

pesticides? • What was the weather condition when the

spraying was done?

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Is 1-second GPS refresh possible?

• Yes. • We did a test using:

– TELUS AVL – Onboard computer with Cellular internet connection – GPS position is taken each second, sent to the server,

then displayed on the map. • Why 1-second refresh?

– Most AVLs refresh per minute. – With 1-second refresh, the dispatcher can provide

driving directions over the phone to better respond to emergencies.

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AVL and GIS Integration When There is no Cell Phone Signal

• Many counties in Alberta have cell phone blind spots.

• We have tested Global Star Satellite Phones • Sending or receiving simple email notifications

could take 20 to 50 seconds.

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Field GIS

• Consists of a field computer and a GIS Application – Field computer (Algiz 7)

• Rugged Design • Windows 7

– GIS Application • Easy to use • Designed for field work • Web-GIS User Interface

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Weed/Asset Inspection

Weed inspection • Display basic map layers (i.e. parcels and roads) • Capture a weed polygon with the built-in GPS • Take pictures of the weeds • Record the weed, growth status, habitat,

from a pre-defined pick lists • Easily create a weed inspection report

in PDF

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GIS+Sprayer: Online Mode

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GIS+Sprayer: Offline Mode

Cloud-based GIS?

• Pros: – Offers flexibility (computing power, bandwidth,

storage, etc.) – Pay only for the usage (You could make your

website available between 8am and 5pm to save cost)

• Cons: – Cost is similar to dedicated server hosting – US Patriot Act

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Acknowledgement

• MRF’s GIS technologies were developed with the financial support from TECTERRA Inc. and TRTech.

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