Introducing XMap 6 – A New Generation of GIS
XMap 6 software is a multi-tiered offering designed to automate GIS data distribution and synchronization processes while also providing robust GIS analysis capabilities. The three product options are XMap 6 GIS Enterprise, XMap 6 GIS Editor, and XMap 6 Professional.
While each product version is targeted to a specific user level, they all include the following:
- SQL Server 2005
- MrSID and GeoTIFF raster imagery import support, for access to free aerial imagery
- Phone Data 2009 USA/Canada residential and business phone numbers
- The latest DeLorme advancements in-vehicle GPS navigation
- Enhanced support for the Earthmate GPS PN-20 & PN-40
- NetLink for in-program access to DeLorme's library of high resolution imagery, USGS 1:24,000 quads, NOAA nautical charts, and other raster datasets
XMap 6 delivers advanced GIS tools to anything from one-person offices to vast natural resource/energy firms with extensive field deployments. With XMap 6, GIS managers can more efficiently provide their mobile field force with controlled access to centrally stored GIS data, from remote, connected, or disconnected environments. In addition, XMap provides mobile technicians with powerful tools to visualize business infrastructure against DeLorme topographic maps and aerial imagery, or scanned images from other sources. XMap 6 can be leveraged to distribute GIS data stored in ESRI, AutoCAD, GE Smallworld and other GIS sytems.
XMap at Work
Cape Elizabeth, Maine Land Trust adopts XMap for GIS Needs
Christopher Franklin, Executive Director Cape Elizabeth Land Trust
 When our local land trust began looking at potential GIS and GPS products to assist our conservation efforts we considered both the ESRI family of products (ArcView, ArcEditor…) and several other products. Partially due to our Southern Maine location we also explored the Delorme products, as their global headquarters are only 20 minutes up the road.
From the outset our experience with Delorme was very encouraging. Their XMap software contained all of the functionality we desired, and appeared to be more intuitive than the products I had used during an ESRI training program. After receiving a comprehensive ‘tour’ of the program’s functionality at the Delorme headquarters we signed on.
SPECIAL OFFER
Buy an Earthmate Blue Logger GPS today for under $100 – 33% off the regular price
The Earthmate Blue Logger is arguably the most versatile GPS receiver that DeLorme has ever produced. This remarkable device can wirelessly transmit a GPS signal to virtually any Bluetooth enabled computer or PDA, turning your laptop, Palm, or Windows Mobile device into a portable navigation tool.
The pocket-sized Blue Logger is also a powerful standalone data collector. Simply turn it on and, as soon as it picks up a GPS fix, it will begin to record its location, speed, and more, at a distance or time interval that is established using the included Blue Logger Manager software. The collected data is downloaded wirelessly in one of a number of formats and can be easily imported, displayed, and managed in XMap.
The Blue Logger GPS has been used in a wide variety of applications including:
- Monitoring fleet movements
- Creating trail and road networks
- Managing highway maintenance crews
- Mapping forest stands
- Recording vehicle location and speed
Click here for more information on the Earthmate Blue Logger GPS and to order yours today.
XMap Q & A
 I noticed that you
have Public Land
Survey Data for most
of the country; do
you plan to add the
Texas Public Land Survey data to
this list?
The Texas Public Land Survey is distinct from the Public Land Survey System that covers most of the rest of the U.S. and was originally designed as a hybrid of the PLSS and the Spanish land grants system. While PLSS data can often be downloaded for free from various federal and state agencies, the Texas data is not as readily available.
DeLorme recently entered into an agreement with the Railroad Commission of Texas, a state agency that regulates the energy and utility sectors and that provides a variety of datasets for these industries. Through this agreement DeLorme will make available several GIS layers preformatted in XMap openspace format. These include oil and gas pipelines, well locations, and Public Survey polygons.
The Public Survey data is available for use in any edition of XMap 5.* or 6 and includes clearly defined boundaries and labels. Users of XMap Professional cannot change the color of the polygons, the style of the label, or any of the other characteristics of the layer; however, users of either the GIS Editor or Enterprise versions of XMap can modify the layer in numerous ways. For instance, the polygon color can be changed, the labels can be removed or edited, additional queries can be built, and selected areas within the layer can be highlighted and used to create a new layer. For details on how to perform any of these functions, refer to the Help system in XMap.
For more information, email Rob Hathaway
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Where on Eartha?
After a short summer hiatus, the DeLorme Professional Newsletter is back, along with the much-requested Where on Eartha contest. In May, we asked you to identify the capital city and the corresponding country indicated by the red push pin and, as always there was an overwhelming response.
The first randomly selected entrant who correctly named the city of Djibouti in the country of the same name was Debbie Hannah of Hannah & Hannah Petroleum Geologists from Cookville, TN. Debbie will shortly be receiving a copy of the newly released XMap 6 Professional along with an Earthmate USB GPS receiver.
This month we travel to a national capital with a renowned seafaring tradition, whose historic influence on cultural, political and economic geography is evident around the globe. If you think you know the name of the city and the country within which is lies, send your response in an email to contest@delorme.com before
August 31, 2008 and you could be the next XMap winner.
Need Imagery for use in XMap?
Visit any GIS data archive [link: GIS resources page] and you will soon learn how important aerial imagery has become as a resource for GIS applications. XMap 6 offers access to imagery in the most commonly used formats, MrSID and GeoTIFF, with additional formats likely to be added in future releases of XMap.
A good starting point for locating imagery is the Geospatial Data Gateway hosted by the USDA. Click the Get Data button and walk through the wizard to select and area of interest and the specific datasets required. Imagery is downloaded in MrSID format, which can be added to your XMap project using the Map Data functionality.
Did You Know...
Did you know that you can talk to XMap and it can talk back to you? While it may not pass muster as stimulating conversation and it’s unlikely to provide company during the monotony of a long road trip, the voice command capability of XMap allows you to control certain components of the software using verbal instructions.
Most of the voice commands recognized by XMap relate to in-vehicle routing and GPS tracking and offer the opportunity to use the navigation capabilities of the software without touching your laptop’s keyboard or track pad or even looking at the screen. Quite literally, you can keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road, while being efficiently directed to your destination.
In order to make use of the voice command function, your laptop computer should be equipped with speakers and a microphone and they need to be enabled using the appropriate control panel. In the Options area of XMap, accessed from the toolbar at the top of the screen, the Voice Settings tab offers several setup choices. For instance you can select from a list of voices that wi ll be used by XMap to communicate routing and location information. Both male and female voices are available. Also, you can choose to begin each command with a designed word or phrase. Selecting this option is recommended as it reduces the likelihood of the voice recognition engine hearing a command from another sound source such your car radio.
Before venturing out to try the voice recognition feature within XMap, take some time to walk through the DeLorme voice training system in the Options window. This allows the voice recognition engine to learn the nuances of your dialect and will significantly improve voice recognition performance.
We Want to Meet You!
Visit us at these upcoming events:
Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association – World Rail Expo
Salt Lake City, UT
September 21-23, 2008
GITA Oil & Gas Conference
Houston, TX
September 21-24, 2008
Cancelled due to hurricane damage
Stop by the DeLorme booth and enter to win a drawing for a DeLorme product.
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