Research into making Global Positioning Systems (GPS) more reliable and accurate has turned to camera technology and mathematical algorithms that its creator says will make navigation cheaper and simpler. The research is being done by Dr. Michael Milford at Queensland University of Technology. The approach of visual navigation algorithms is being called SeqSLAM (Sequence Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping), and uses local best match and sequence recognition components to determine locations.
Written by Matt Ball Thursday, 16 February 2012 19:52
A study released today from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, and the United Nations Environment Programme points to the potential for Asia to lead the world in green growth. The report "Green Growth, Resources and Resilience: Environmental Sustainability in Asia and the Pacific," provides new insights into resource use and low-carbon growth in Asia. The timing gives policymakers support for their preparations for the 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio +20).
As more Asians move toward cities, there is a growing need to plan, build, manage and operate more efficient transportation systems. Railways are high on the priority list for new projects. The infrastructure investment for these projects continues to employ large numbers of surveyors and will continue to do so for some time to come. Many civil engineering professionals are being employed to perform land title surveys, setting of boundaries, design of structures, reporting to stakeholders and so on.
The Queensland government has recently provided a Community Intelligence Map (CIM) that provides a portal for the public to search for information when disasters happen. The map is an adjunct of the Total Opeartional Mapping (TOM) system that the Queensland disaster and emergency management organization uses during emergencies.
Sea ice is an important contributor to global climate changes. Specifically, sea ice thickness helps to understand ocean circulation and heat transfer. The ability to capture more information about global sea ice thickness has advanced considerably and remote sensing satellites are now providing key measurement capabilities and results.
