Press Release

Cadcorp briefs UK users, shows complete MasterMap management solution

Over 70 clients and guests were in attendance at Senate House, London, for the 2002 Cadcorp User Group meeting. The day filled with a number of richly illustrated sessions which briefed users on the latest software developments from Cadcorp. Attendees represented a mix of organisations, many from local government, private sector, academia and the government agency DEFRA.

The previous years salient business was outlined by Mike O’Neil, Managing Director, Cadcorp. The recruitment of new business partners, over 20% growth in software licence sales and year on year revenue growth and profitability exhibited that Cadcorp, whilst a young, smaller GIS player, is capturing market share locally and internationally and is financially strong.

Of key importance on the day, was the emphasis on strategies for implementing Ordnance Survey MasterMap. Following a basic overview of the MasterMap product by Fiona Bruce of Ordnance Survey, Cadcorp staff headed by Martin Daly, Cadcorp’s technical director, carried out a complete overview of MasterMap implementation options. All demonstrations were carried out live using a number of MasterMap datasets ranging from Port Talbot to Brighton through to the whole of Scotland. The management and manipulation of thousands to tens of millions of TOIDS (unique items) was shown to the full.

Three approaches were outlined. First, the loading of MasterMap in its native GML 2.0 format into Cadcorp SIS using a free of charge ‘plug-in’ dataset. Suitable for individual use or management of smaller ‘chunks’ of MasterMap, this is a memory based route for loading the data directly into Cadcorp SIS and retains its full structural integrity. Secondly, for medium sized enterprises, a database loading solution which supported Microsoft Access 2000 and SQL-Server 2000 was introduced. Cadcorp is providing a utility called Cadcorp SIS MasterMap Loader free of charge to all purchasers of Cadcorp SIS Map Modeller. This is a wizard driven tool which controls the upload of MasterMap data in user controllable levels of detail to these common, low cost databases. Thirdly, for large enterprises the loading of data into Oracle 9i Spatial and Locator was demonstrated. Change only update (COD) management was also demonstrated. Significantly, Cadcorp showed the ability to pick Mastermap data at different points in time and display the data as it stood on that date.

The impact of this demonstration was to show users that Cadcorp has low cost, working MasterMap implementation solutions for different types of user in different sized organisations. The tools are simple to use, fully controllable and utilise standard product across the board. The MasterMap plug-in dataset simply loads the GML 2.0 or GZIP file native into Cadcorp SIS. In the case of the database storage approaches, Cadcorp SIS software is the client and the databases the repository. No unusual database adjustments are necessary and no ungainly middleware between Cadcorp SIS and the database is required.

Also shown was the next release of Cadcorp SIS, namely version 6. Highlights included continuous panning, which allows a smooth rolling scroll from one data view to another without any ‘white space’ and graphic redraw; support for ADO (Active Data Objects); a slick new database connection wizard to streamline database connectivity; and support for user defined ‘plug-in’ gazetteers. Furthermore, users can now input and output user defined naming conventions for Index Datasets. This means, for example, that any datum changes experienced over time can be adopted in Cadcorp SIS. To add to the 50+ graphic and data formats already supported 'out-of-the-box', new dataset capabilities include support for Oracle 9i data stored in the object relational model; a GML 2.0 plug-in dataset, an updated ECW plug-in to support ER Mapper Image Web Server; S57 - the hydrographic charting standard; updated SHP file support; PDF, SVG and the popular raster formats BIL, TIFF, LZW and GIF. In addition, a new data-source to allow data to be loaded into Cadcorp SIS using the Feature Manipulation Engine (FME) from Safe Software has been added.

Plug-in Gazetteers were the subject of a session in its own right. Mike Furby of Cadcorp demonstrated a new Gazetteer to be made available to Cadcorp SIS users which not only allows the creation and searching of address only gazetteers, but listings of non address based attributes. A demonstration of local authority environmental health data (noise complaints) was an ideal vehicle to put this across.

Web-GIS was a rich session which combined commercial examples of Cadcorp SIS Active Server Component (ASC), including examples from The Port of London, Medway Council, and States of Jersey. Also included were demonstrations of Cadcorp implementations of Open GIS WebMap Server, Feature Server and Terrain Server. These handle bitmaps, vectors and 3D data respectively. All three are OpenGIS conformant implementations of the latest Web standards from the Open GIS Consortium. Importantly, users can use Cadcorp SIS desktop products to view data distributed from these servers directly.

The latest member of the Cadcorp GIS software range. mSIS™ (mobile Spatial Information System) was presented by Chris Holcroft of Cadcorp. mSIS is a data capture application for the Pocket PC platform. The mSIS solution is supplied in two parts, a desktop based project management package – mSIS Office, plus the Pocket PC based data capture software. mSIS supports a number of formats including Cadcorp SDS, ESRI SHP and Ordnance Survey NTF, plus various raster formats including GeoTiff, TIFF, BMP, GIF and JPEG. Built using Microsoft COM objects, mSIS is OpenGIS conformant for Simple Features (vector data structures), Coordinate Transformation Services and Grid Coverages (raster data). It is the first and currently the only application in its class to offer this capability.

Users can set up their data capture projects, including non editable and editable map overlays, pens and brushes, viewing projection and attributes to capture using the mSIS Office package. This project information is then downloaded to the Pocket PC for use by the data collector in the field.

mSIS on the Pocket PC allows the user view geospatial data, to create and edit vector geometry and data attributes. It will link to any GPS receiver which supports NMEA 0183 formatted GPS messages and create GPS point, line and area vectors. Captured data can be uploaded easily to the mSIS Office.

Overall, this meeting, the latest in a number over recent years was a good opportunity for users to mix informally, share experiences and learn more about the intensive developments and ideas coming out of Cadcorp. Similar user events have been held in France, Sweden, Australia and Japan.

The same venue is to be used from June 10 to 14 when Cadcorp hosts the Open GIS Technical and Management Committee meetings. Around 100 delegates from around the world are expected to attend.

About Cadcorp SIS

Cadcorp SIS - Spatial Information System - is a suite of Windows-based and Web-enabled end user and developer digital mapping and geographic information system (GIS) software products. The suite comprises: Map Viewer, which provides support for over 45 graphic and data formats, thematics and hard copy; Map Manager, which provides the mainstream user the ability to view, explore, query, symbolise and print digital map and associated tabular data; Map Editor, which in addition to the facilities provided by Map Manager, provides the GIS data custodian with tools to view, manage and edit map and tabular data; and Map Modeller, which adds 3D modelling, terrain analysis and several thematic and analytic mapping tools.

Cadcorp ASC (Active Server Component) extends the functionality of Cadcorp SIS for use over the Internet or a company-wide intranet. It is a dynamic, server-side Web-based GIS, not merely a map publishing tool for pre-authored images. Cadcorp ASC provides a true, interactive Web-based solution for real time map creation and analysis.

About Cadcorp

Established in 1991, Cadcorp is a leading developer of digital mapping and geographic information systems (GIS) software. With offices in the USA and UK, Cadcorp’s distribution and VAR network stretches world-wide. The company also plays a pivotal technical role in the OpenGIS Consortium. Cadcorp SIS is the only complete product family to currently attain OpenGIS conformance certification.

Cadcorp SIS (Spatial Information System) is a range of software modules covering spatial data viewing, data management, data editing, data modelling and analysis. Cadcorp SIS ActiveX components are available for embedding into third party systems. Cadcorp ASC is an Internet/intranet developer toolkit designed for Web based GIS solutions.

Cadcorp SIS applications exist in municipal government, central government, emergency services, insurance, Oil & Natural Gas, mapping and surveying, commerce, broadcasting and many other markets.

ENDS

For further information, contact: Chris Holcroft, Tel: 01438 747996, e-mail: chrish@cadcorp.com

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