Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/43993
NEWSLINK DigitalGlobe Launches Subscription Basemap Service DigitalGlobe unveiled a subscription service for Images such as this natural-color, high-resolution satellite image, featuring the damage of a probable FE-4 tornado that struck Tuscaloosa, Ala., on April 27, 2011, now can be purchased through the DigitalGlobe Global Basemap service. a Global Basemap to speed product delivery to its customers. The service is based on DigitalGlobe's ImageLibrary and is powered by a cloud-based platform. "Our goal was to create a service from which customers can get the relevant imagery they need, where, when and how they need it," said John Oechsle, DigitalGlobe's executive vice president. The company announced that Petroleos Mexicanos, the world's fourth-largest crude-oil producer, signed up to use Global Basemap to monitor and manage its operations in Mexico. USDA Launches Cloud-Based GIS Portal The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) developed the Enterprise Spatial Mapping Service (ESMS), a pro- totype geospatial Web portal built with Esri's Portal for ArcGIS software, managed by Esri, hosted on Amazon cloud technology, and operating within USDA's secure environment. The portal focuses on the display and analysis of USDA- owned data, with private cloud-based access to the GIS serving as a gateway to "authoritative" content for depart- ment users. The new service gives users a platform to create maps and apps using templates and Web-mapping interfaces, form groups to collaborate on projects, share maps and apps within the department, and embed maps and apps in custom Web pages or blogs. "ESMS empowers nontraditional GIS users, such as program analysts, economists and research communi- ties, to become confident in working with maps and GIS analytic capabilities as part of their work," said Stephen Lowe, chief geographic information officer for the USDA Enterprise Geospatial Management Office. "The GIS portal is cost-effective and provides rich resources. We anticipate that the service will extend, expand and enhance depart- mentwide use of spatial data and GIS competencies for a variety of tasks." A new cloud-based portal should allow users at USDA to more easily access map-related data and content such as precipitation information. 8 GEO W ORLD / SEPTEMBE R 2O11 USDA