BSDI is the technology, standards, access system and protocols necessary to harmonise all of the Sultanate’s geospatial databases and make them available on the internet. It is facilitated by the Ministry of Development and led by the Department of Survey in partnership with the Land and Town and Country Planning. BSDI will publish base layers of geographic data such as elevations, transportation systems and water bodies that provide context and reference information for Brunei Darussalam. www.brunei-online.com

India’s first Digital Environmental interactive Atlas is just a click away. It is a compilation of categorised thematic maps on green (forest, biodiversity), blue (water resources) and brown (air pollution) environmental issues and provides flexibility and versatility for users to visualise environment spatial data using simple GIS functionalities. All the maps presented and displayed in the Atlas are in Pressure – State – Impact – Response framework. The Atlas will be a source for accurate, timely and accessible information on the state of environment. pib.nic.in

Malaysian Remote Sensing Agency shall be using remote sensing technology to prepare dengue risk map. “The idea came about when we realised that current approaches are only used to address the issue after it had already happened. So we thought of preventing it before it happened by narrowing down the likely areas to be affected before the dengue outbreak even occur red,” said Dr. Darus, Director General of MACRES. The map, which is expected to be ready by the end of the year, would identify dengue “hot-spots” on a monthly basis. www.nst.com.my/

A couple from Pennsylvania, US have sued Google, saying pictures of their home on Google’s ‘Street View’ feature violated their privacy, devalued their property and caused them mental suffering. Street View allows users to view highly detailed, panaromic ground-level photos by clicking on a map. Google is facing a court action. According to Google, the website is happy to remove images if property owners ‘cite a good reason’ and can show ownership of the property depicted. www.asmmag.com/news/858

Pictometry International Corp., a leading provider of georeferenced aerial image libraries, has settled its lawsuit with Aerial Cartographics of America; Ofek Aerial Photography International; and Greenman- Pedersen Inc., with Ofek admitting patent infringement. www.pictometry.com

A new, high-resolution, interactive map of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels has found that the emissions aren’t all what it was thought as SE USA is much larger source of emission than NE USA as it was assumed. According to Prof. Gurney of Purdue University, the maps and system, called Vulcan, show CO2 emissions at more than 100 times more detail than was available before. Data on carbon dioxide emissions were reported, in the best cases, monthly at the level of an entire state. The Vulcan model examines CO2 emissions at local levels on an hourly basis. http://www.eas.purdue. edu/carbon/vulcan, www.eurekalert.org

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) will develop a mapping and information system for the Bagmati Watershed. Under an agreement with the National Trust for Nature Conservation, ICIMOD will acquire data, maps and documents which will contribute to developing a comprehensive plan of action for restoration and management of the river system.

Every inch of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park forests will be watched by distant satellites. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) will install the GISbased software surveillance network, GeoVun, in the Borivali forests. TCS, along with Conservation Action Trust (CAT) and WTI Advanced Technology Limited, has signed an MOU with the Government of Maharashtra, India. The system will allow the users to identify best routes for patrolling, perform spatial analysis and produce reports by integrating all maps and tables.

Yahoo! India for the first time has introduced maps in local Indian languages and walking directions available at http:// in.maps.yahoo.com/. Besides maps in local language of the place it has a user-friendly display; walking directions from any point in the city; accessible via email etc.

Policymakers, potential private investors and the public have received valuable new information to help identify fault-lines and the potential location of undiscovered water, oil and gas, and non-fuel mineral resources in Afghanistan. The data was collected by U.S. Geological Survey scientists who flew over Afghanistan conducting an airborne geophysical and photographic survey of the country. USGS scientists worked with the Naval Research Laboratory, Afghanistan Geological Survey, Afghanistan Head Office for Geodesy and Cartography, personnel from the NRL Scientific Development Squadron ONE (VXS-1), Afghanistan Ministry of Mines and Industry, and the Canadian Forces Mapping and Charting Establishment.