QUARTERLY LOCATION BUSINESS NEWS Here are the most interesting or important articles from the Web, according to Location SmartBrief readers:
LOCATION ECOSYSTEM
1. Purdue University to Create Hub for Geospatial Data Hosting 11/27/2013
Purdue University researchers are launching a four-year project that will allow anyone to input geospatial data and create multilayer maps to help the public and policymakers make more informed decisions on topics such as disaster management, land use and environmental protection. The $4.5 million project is funded by the National Science Foundation and aims to make sophisticated analytical and modeling tools available through the Web and allow sharing. http://bit.ly/1epDvMR
2. GAO: Car Navigation Systems Fail to Disclose Data Uses 01/08/2014
In-car navigation services including OnStar and Google Maps are not doing enough to let customers know what data are being collected about their vehicles’ location, according to a U.S. Government Accountability Office report. Nine of 10 companies included in the report share location data with third parties but do not give consumers the option to delete data or provide specific information about why it’s collected. http://bit.ly/1fl75AT
3. Google Axes “Accidental” Privacy Control Panel for Android 12/18/2013
Google’s latest Android operating system release eliminated an experimental privacy control panel that allowed users to prevent mobile applications from gaining certain permissions such as access to location data. Google told the Electronic Frontier Foundation the feature was released accidentally and noted the privacy controls made it so some apps didn’t work. http://bit.ly/1biuGD6
INDUSTRY APPLICATIONS
1. U.S. Agency to Undertake Global Map for Predicting Disasters 11/20/2013
The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency is looking to build a map of the globe that combines physical location with demographic, environmental risk factors and political climate data so the U.S. military can better respond to humanitarian disasters and terrorist threats. http://bit.ly/1acQi5A
2. Geo-targeted Ad Growth is Expected to Surge as Marketers Realize Advantages 11/06/2013
Spending on geo-targeted mobile ads is expected to reach $725 million this year and more than triple to $2.74 billion by 2017, according to an estimate by BIA/Kelsey. “We’re seeing enormous interest in this type of marketing from mainstream brands, far more than we did 18-24 months ago. Brands are realizing that consumers are increasingly using the mobile device to navigate the physical world…” said Alistair Goodman, CEO of Placecast, a location-based advertising provider. http://bit.ly/1gC1jjI
3. Gamers Help Boost the World’s Crop Production with Mapping Game 12/04/2013
A new game from Geo-Wiki called Cropland Capture lets gamers play a part in helping to map the world’s farmland, and potential farmland, by identifying areas on aerial photographs. “We know, for example, in Africa, there are huge yield gaps. This means you could produce much more food in certain places in Africa, but we don’t even know where exactly the cropland is,” said project leader Steffen Fritz, adding that the results of the game will be the first steps in creating an accurate global crop map. In the first week, gamers surveyed 65,000 square kilometers of land. http://bit.ly/1ik6p1p
BUSINESS AND STRATEGY PLANNING
1. How Location Analytics are Changing Sales Strategies 11/20/2013
Location analytics are providing businesses with several new strategic avenues for improving sales, Linda Hecht of Esri writes. More detailed maps help businesses spot trends by layering demographic, sales and lifestyle information, while map-based analytics can offer precise answers to spatial queries. http://bit.ly/1gC1jjI
2. Viewpoint: Location Functions Shouldn’t Take Over a Mobile App 01/08/2014
Mobile location data companies often try to promise too much and end up confusing consumers, brands and application developers alike, Esri head of research and development Amber Case said. “When done well, (adding location to an application) is beautiful. But often people want to do too much and it ends up falling apart,” she says. “Simpler is better.” http://bit.ly/1fl75AT
3. Esri to Open Up Geotrigger to App and Software Developers 11/13/2013
Esri will release an application programming interface and software development kit for its ArcGIS Geotrigger service later this month to allow developers to create apps based on the service. Developers can use the API to build a geofence around a Starbucks that sends nearby users a notification or alert that can be sent to utility workers of hazards in a particular area, Esri research and development director Amber Case said. http://bit.ly/MLbp4Q
