This was the view of many participants at the Geospatial Workshop 2011, the first event of its kind organized in Riyadh by a leading GIS company. This technology is designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage and present all types of geographically referenced data. It merges cartography (mapmaking), statistical analysis and database technology, which is used in a wide array of private and public sector entities. This includes archaeology, geography, remote sensing, land surveying, public utility management, urban planning, emergency management, environmental contamination, landscape architecture, navigation and aerial video filming, natural resource management, precision agriculture and photogrammetry. A large number of officials from ministries, government agencies and construction companies participated in the day-long workshop. There were also representatives from the General Commission for Survey (GCS), Ar-Riyadh Development Authority (ADA), Saudi Geological Survey, King Saud University, King Abdullah City for Technology and Sciences (KACST), Ministry of Defense and Aviation, Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME), Ministry of Interior, General Directorate of Military Survey (GDMS), Military Survey Department (MSD), Ministry of Electricity and Water, Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs (MOMRA) and prominent construction and survey companies. A number of national and international speakers presented papers at the workshop organized jointly by the Riyadh-based Kirra for Mapping and GIS and its multinational partner Trimble. “It is heartening to note that the pace of this technological change has been significant in Saudi Arabia,” said one speaker. Another prominent speaker noted that it was encouraging to see that Saudi Arabia has ventured into the geospatial field by assimilating the technology into planning, managing and monitoring of natural resources and employing it in areas such as utilities, infrastructure and agriculture among others. “Geospatial has a big role to play in the development sector in making our developmental planning more efficient and its implementation more effective,” he said. Long term policy, cost effective technology and user confidence are the vital factors, which if addressed, would provide a major fillip to geospatial development in Saudi Arabia, he added. “GIS has a huge potential for future development and therefore there is a need to take proactive steps to advance geospatial technologies in a bigger way. Opportunities are tremendous and we shall leave no stone unturned in revolutionizing our industry using geospatial,” he commented. Karl-Ludwig Lothhammer, Regional Sales Manager for Inpho, a software development, highlighted Trimble products and services. “We have introduced eCognition a latest addition to the Trimble family. The eCognition software employs a flexible approach to image analysis solution creation and adaptation,” he explained. Tahir Shafiq, Regional Manager for Applanix/MX-8, underscored the importance of the mapping system and geospatial imaging system. He said that the MX8 Mobile Spatial Imaging System is an advanced mobile data capture system that combines imaging and laser scanning capabilities to measure objects in 3D to produce 3D, 4D and 5D data sets for spatial imaging projects. The technology offers a scope of services that surveyors, engineers, mapping and geospatial professionals could benefit from and enhance their business potential. “The system is ideal for modeling, inventory, inspection, encroachment analysis, and asset management for roadways, bridges, railway, utilities, and other infrastructure,” Shafiq explained. The digital sensor system, he added is a fully integrated mapping system camera equipped with a flight management system and metric imaging software that supports future maintenance work. Tobias Toeig, Regional Sales Manager for Europe Middle East and Africa (EMEA), said Trimble Aerial Camera and Trimble Harrier are premier imaging and laser scanning systems for corridor and project mapping. The Trimble Harrier Corridor Mapping Systems sets a new standard for digital image acquisition and laser scanning. Designed for both aircraft and helicopter operations, the Trimble Harrier 56 is ideal for corridor mapping, project mapping, and remote sensing. Incorporating a wide-angle, full-waveform digitization airborne laser scanner, the Trimble Harrier 56 enables one to extract the most comprehensive information. The laser scanner's 160 kHz effective measurement rate (60 degree scan angle) delivers high point density on the ground to provide detailed modeling data needed for precise planning, engineering, and monitoring applications. The Trimble Harrier 68i camera offers corridor mapping system, which adds variety of standards for digital image acquisition and laser scanning. “It is one of those high definition cameras that captures the ground while flying in the air at a typical maximum altitude of 1,600 meters,” Toeig said. Dennis Belgrado, Area Sales Manager for MGIS, spoke about the latest trend in mapping and the GIS field. He updated the participants about evolving GIS technology and Trimble Handheld GIS field Data Collector. Andreas Kuehmen, Regional Sales Manager for eCognition highlighted the role of eCognition software, saying that the program basically offers object-based image analysis. “It is the solution of choice for industry leading data providers for nearly a decade,” he said while elaborating on eCognition Developer, eCognition Architect and eCognition Server software. Muhammad Asif, Senior Director of Operations and Marketing, KIRRA, said modern technologies were developing at a rapid pace. “Technologies that were unthinkable a few years ago are being implemented today. We are living in an era of science and the geospatial is constantly striving to offer better options for users,” he said. Fahad Anad Alanazi, Director of Marketing at Kirra, underscored the significance of the GIS industry saying that it is helping other industries realize their goals and remain competitive. Kirra and Universal Geomatics organized an awards ceremony on the sidelines of the workshop to recognize the efforts of companies in the GIS industry.
