RockyMountainGeo GIS Blog

Trimble Juno 3D Review

noreply@blogger.com (Alex Mahrou) — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 05:12:00 +0000

So I got my hands on the new Juno 3D a few weeks ago. Now I'm thinking to myself, how the am I supposed to review this thing? When I get my hands on the latest and greatest Trimble device, I will set up a gauntlet of accuracy tests-- but this is a Juno. You don't get a Juno for accuracy. You see the paradigm is shifting... In a world where geographic data needs to be both timely and accurate, more folks are realizing that the timely aspect is becoming much more important. What good is super spatially accurate data if it can't get to the decision makers in a timely fashion?

When I was in the Gulf of Mexico during the Oil Spill, and subsequent emergency responses since, the main goal was to get dots on the map as soon as possible. It's not just to appease the public or some folks in D.C., instead it's about showing folks that you are actively working to assess the situation-- it's proof that you are doing your job.

The new Juno is the way to go for GIS Data Collection in Emergency Responses and other scenarios which require the real-time picture of any given situation.

Hardware

The new Juno comes in two models, one with phone functionality, and one without-- the 3D and 3B respectively. There are a few more frills on the 3D besides the modem hardly worth mentioning, like Microsoft Office Mobile.

The thing is much more durable than previous models. In fact, I believe that the previous years models didn't even include an IP rating. The new Juno 3D and 3B are IP54 rated, which is quite an improvement, given that the price point of this device has not changed.

When you hold it in your hand, you know it's much more durable than its predecessors, but it's still small enough to fit in your pocket. The 5mp camera is much improved as well (up from 3mp from its predecessor).

One interesting tidbit, the 3D comes with a flash on the camera whereas the 3B is without one.

Datasheet Link

GPS

The receiver is a 12 channel L1 only SiRF receiver. I was really hoping for a dual-constellation (GLONNASS capable) receiver on this device, as you can even find that on the iPhone 4S. It's scary to think that a professional mapper is running around with one less satellite constellation than a teenager checking into a coffee shop using FourSquare-- but I guess you could make the argument that it's not the quantity of satellites, it's the quality of processing. Or maybe there really is no excuse for this. It's time to get dual-constellations in this box-- it would literally make it a rockstar.

3.5G Modem/Phone

The phone / modem equipment is standard on the 3D. I love how Trimble does not jump on the AT&T bandwagon and call HPSA+ hardware 4G. However, they probably should, as everyone else is doing it. Personally, If I were to purchase a new Juno, I would opt for the 3B, as the 3D device does not qualify as my daily driver phone-- it would have big shoes to fill from my Nexus S 4G. I'd rather pair the Juno 3B device with a Verizon MiFi for a few reasons:

Cheaper cost of hardware $799 for 3B vs $1099 for 3D.
I can use a Verizon MiFi to connect multiple devices.
Field devices have a season, and I'd rather not carry the cost of an AT&T contract when I'm not using it.
Lack of support. There's barely any documentation out there from Trimble on where/how to purchase a sim card, and what plan to get. This is unacceptable from a product management perspective-- but I digress. I'll get off of my soap box.

Battery

This is the best battery that I've seen in an MGIS device... ever. I used the unit on and off for a few weeks and only charged it once. Of course, the way a blogger uses a device is much different than the average field user. But lets just say that you'll easily pull a day + battery life with full usage of this device. The battery is huge. It's a 3060mAh Lithium-Ion Cell, which equates to a large, enduring power plant given the size of this device.

Test Preface

For my tests, I really just tested the precision and the accuracy of the Juno. For such a low price point (under $1100.00 for the best model), I really wanted to get a feel for positional accuracy of this thing. Trimble specs it at 2-5 Real-Time with SBAS (WAAS in USA), and 1-3 Meters post-processed. I know from experience that Trimble is extremely conservative on their accuracy statements, the units will almost always outperform specifications.

Test 1

For my first test, I tested precision. Anyone can easily do this at home. Just bust out some measuring tape, lay it on the ground and take shots at predetermined values. For my test I set up for one minute on 0' and one minute on 10'. I measured using SBAS and post-processed. The results were surprisingly good.

The Real-time SBAS was the best, yielding ~ 2.34' of error.

Post-Processed was not far behind

Test 2

For my next test, I went out and collected a few NGS monuments to test the Accuracy of the device. Maybe I was a little hard on the Juno in my Modem section above, so to even the playing field, I decided to go heads up with my Nexus S 4G just to see how the GPS's performed against each other. In short order, I quickly found that my smartphone just can't even compare when it comes to accuracy. The Juno was hitting 3.6 feet away from the monument in Real-Time (with SBAS), whilst the Nexus S 4G was hitting 36 feet away from the monument-- thats a 10x difference. So let's level the playing field, Trimble has much less ground to cover in the smartphone game than smartphones have to cover in the precision GPS game.

I hit up two NGS Monuments: Designations JOG and COMMITMENT near my house. I occupied each monument for 60 seconds and just placed the Juno directly on top of the monument. I then post processed the results. The Juno did not surprise me-- it hit the 3 - 3.2 ft spec consistently.

What's even better was the 3-Dimensional accuracy of this receiver. You see when I test a GPS, I just don't test 2d performance or vertical performance-- I test 3-Dimensional performance, because we live in a 3D world. The Juno consistently hit within 4 - 5 feet in three-dimensional space during my tests. Below is the spreadsheet to prove it (see NGS Monuments).

NGS Monument Results

Conclusion

I believe that this is the best value in Mobile GIS right now. iPhones, Androids, and Windows Phone 7 devices using ArcGIS for Smartphones are on the verge of disrupting the Mobile GIS Low-End in hardware sales. This hardware release is a testament to that. Technology will get cheaper with smartphones, accuracy will improve, perhaps new positioning technology might come out left field and really disrupt the precision game-- you just never know these days.

This device is the ultimate Emergency Response Hardware, hands-down. I happen to be judging from a purely consumer perspective. However, if a giant oil spill or flood were to happen I'd want a fleet of these devices (probably with the modem and ArcGIS Mobile) to survey the scene, and provide timely information to the people who need it most.

Given the parlance of this technological time, It's extremely dangerous to label this device as a high-end phone-- lead with the GPS. Why do I muddy the water of my Juno review with these facts? Because the Juno is Trimble's low-end entrant. The 3d model that I've had my hands on is actually a phone. In a world on phones, Trimble really has a challenge. Its entrant has a price point of just under $1100 dollars, it isn't running Android, iOS, or Windows Phone-- its running Windows embedded, and yes it still necessitates a stylus.

But I believe that Trimble has a shorter distance to go in the phone world than smartphones have to go in the Precision Space. Esri (a close business partner of Trimble's) has already built a bridge into these ecosystems with their smartphone apps and api's. There will be a convergence. Mark my word, Dual-constellation receivers will be the norm on smartphones in the next years to come-- thus helping accuracy on this low-end platform. This is an opportunity. Perhaps the next itteration of this product doesn't need to be a box, it needs to be an app.

If I got something wrong, or if you'd like to contribute to the conversation, please leave comments.

Google Glasses as GIS Tools

noreply@blogger.com (Alex Mahrou) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:24:00 +0000

Nick Bilton, from the NY Times recently posted an article about a new product from Google called Google glasses.

In his article, he talks about how these glasses will use augmented reality to play location-based games, display advertisements, connect with friends, etc. What I found missing from this conversation and subsequent conversations around the web, was the perspective on how geospatial developers would be able to exploit the power of this new medium through an api.

Wouldn't it be great if this could be used as a field tool to help us "literally visualize" the assets in our geospatial datasets?

Imagine a first responder, ambulance driver, police officer being able to know for sure that the address they pulled up at is indeed the right one? What kind of information or data about this property would be useful for this first responder? Given the fact that we already have these E911 datasets, we could take it a step further by integrating them with this tool.

Imagine integrating this tool with a BIM, and arming a firefighter with the ability to navigate through an area with poor to no visibility-- safely.

How about utility companies? Surely it would be nice if they could drive right up to an asset, visualize it in real-time, and update the asset database more easily.

What I'm speaking about already exists. However the tools that accomplish these tasks are in the form of Toughbooks strapped to the inside of a vehicle, or a pda that can be a hindrance during a critical moment that you would need both of your hands. The underlying datasets that these existing tools pull from already exist-- they are curated by Geospatial professionals in our field. In addition, one would assume that these glasses would integrate with the Maps API, which happens to be the most popular Google api in the world right now-- for which many organizations have already confidently embraced.

The tools to exploit these datasets might change form factors one day; and I believe these Google Glasses are a good tool to bridge the gap between augmented reality and GIS.

Cheers,

Alex Mahrou

The definition of dead...

noreply@blogger.com (Alex Mahrou) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:02:00 +0000

There has been much talk in the tech community about how Flash, (and to some extent Silverlight) is now dead. This is amid announcements from Adobe, that they are discontinuing support for flash mobile. The GIS community tends to adopt technology on the coattails of the greater tech communities' adoptions.

Some talking heads in the greater tech community are proclaiming that Flash is dead! Silverlight is dead! Now as one would expect, some GIS talking heads are analogously shouting flex is dead! Silverlight is dead! The folks in the community who are shouting these things are usually GIS Entrepreneurs who have heavily-vested their incomes on custom (non-out-of-the-box) solutions.-- Not that there is anything wrong with that...

I'll point you to a tweet from a tech podcaster/journalist that I follow, Joshua Topolsky, "Pronouncing something as dead, is usually a sign that it is very much alive."

HTML5 is the future. It's non-proprietary, more foot-loose, and it will allow for much more flexibility when designing applications that run in the mobile space. However, Flex/Flash, and Silverlight are in the present-tense-- which is not in the past. Therefore, I would not call it dead. Stop calling things dead. It's cute, and you'll definitely get some attention for it. However it shows an utter ignorance as to how things are currently working in the present-tense.

I seriously doubt that the Esri UC will be filled with HTML5-only apps. Get with the times man. You've saddled up on the "it's dead" tech bandwagon and tried to to apply its ridiculous principles to the present-tense in GIS. Those attending the Esri UC should be looking at the problems that are solved using GIS. It would be a shame if people were fixated on how current or hip the platform is that gets you there. These are the same dudes who are leading the no-sql, no-gis boutique movements to no-where.

Esri's been very smart in their approach to the community talk of HTML5 and the future of their platforms. They have not proclaimed anything as dead, and they have seen that HTML5 is part of the future landscape.

Many in the community cite Google as leading the charge for HTML5. Whilst Google is a huge backer of HTML5, there's a reality check-- In the PRESENT-TENSE a little Geospatial app called Street-View (not sure if you've heard of it) on Google Maps, still leverages Adobe Flash.

This landscape is in-fact changing. There's a really good podcast by Directions Mag how far we have come, and what we might expect from HTML5.

I look forward expanding my horizons in GIS by learning how to leverage/customize apps that run on HTML5 in the FUTURE. However I'm currently (Present-tense) building geospatial web applications that run on Adobe Flex. The environment fits my clients needs, and there is great support from a community of developers that's building widgets on top of this platform.

My only point in writing this little post, is to hopefully arm folks with enough ammunition the next time they hear someone say "that's dead". There is a difference between the Past, Present, and Future. Don't believe all the hype. HTML5 is the future, however it has not gained a critical mass in Geospatial usage. Be proud of your Flex/Silverlight apps. They are allowing you to share information that helps to solve todays problems in the PRESENT-TENSE. So long as they continue to do this, there is no reason why you should abandon them. You'll never hear me proclaim that any technology is dead.-- It's always good to keep your options open, use tools that solve todays problems, and keep abreast of what's on the horizon.

A very smart past co-worker of mine told me something that stuck with me years ago, "Never apply technology for technology's sake".

Cheers,

Alex

Geospatially Inspired Podcasts for your Career and your Goals

noreply@blogger.com (Alex Mahrou) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 05:23:00 +0000

Off from a long hiatus from blogging, tweeting and social media in general, I've been a little inspired to write. I listen to many podcasts on my train ride to work every day. As far as Geospatial is concerned, there are really two that I listen to all of the time-- The Directions Magazine Podcast, and A Very Spatial Podcast.

To be completely honest, in the past few months neither podcast has thoroughly succeeded in really covering topics that have piqued my interest-- until this week. Just a few days ago Very Spatial podcast episode 321's main topic was "Random Thoughts on programming and geospatial." I've never heard Jesse, Sue, and Frank speak about something with such vigor. This was just a great conversation between experts in our field.

If you are interested in where to start if you are interested in programming for GIS, you should listen to this podcast.

Coincidentally, Directions Mag just published a podcast: "Top Skills Needed to be Successful in a GIS Career". This was also an amazing discussion between two very admired experts in our field who's opinions I trust-- Adena Schutzburg and Joe Francica. They laid out their top five skills that they believed folks needed to be successful in our field.

Note: This podcast was a result of the Directions Mag editors' reactions to Joseph Kerski's Esri Education Blog post titled "The Top 5 Skills Needed to be Successful in a GIS Career". Below I'll outline Joseph's, Adena's, and Joe's lists...

Joseph Kerski

Curiosity
Ability to work with data (know how to gather, analyze, and display data)
Understanding Geographic Foundations (projections, datums, topology, models, databases)
Adaptability
Communications

Joe Francica

Communication
Programmatic Skills
Problem Solving
Spatial Thinking
Become an Expert in a specific discipline (urban planning, environmental science, geology)

Adena Schutzburg

Communication
Ability to teach yourself
Work well in a team
Takes action (point out wrong or missing information)
Look to get better all of the time

My list

Passion
Communication
Self-Starter
Ingenious
Well-Read

1. These are all great insights and opinions. I chose Passion as my number one, because it really dovetails into the other skills. If you are getting into this industry because you gathered from a popular magazine job article that GIS is a growing industry that can provide a paycheck, then you will flounder your potential advancement without having passion.

2. Communication is such an important part of this job. Not only must you be good at writing to score and further along a job (think resumes, cover letters, email correspondence), you must really be an astute listener in this field. The best attribute that any cartographer can have is the ability to shut up, grab a pen and paper, and listen to the requirements of the person needing the map. A skilled cartographer will also know what questions to ask a person to further nail down their mapping requirements.

3. You have to be a self-starter. This one requires little explanation.

4. Inventive, adaptable, clever, resourceful-- all of these are attributes of an ingenious individual. Someone who is passionate and ingenious regarding all things Geospatial is someone that I want to do business with.

5. Be well-read. Keep abreast of the technology by reading papers, attending conferences when you can, and networking with your peers in the industry. Staying abreast of the ever-changing conventions and technology is very important.

In Closing

I did differ from Joe Francica a little in his last skill set needed. He stated that in order to succeed, you should also have another discipline to be an expert in: such as Geology, Environmental Science, Urban Planning, etc in order to succeed. I respectfully appreciate this opinion, as GIS is truly an interdisciplinary practice. After all, we don't make maps and analyze data just for the sake of doing it-- it's to solve real-world problems that span a myriad of disciplines.

However, I would warn that if you have one passion, and that passion is the science of "where things are", regardless of discipline, then be the GIS Expert. Stay within a purely spatial career tract. The chances are that you will pick up conventions, practices, theories, and know-how regarding some of the aforementioned disciplines along the way.

Directions Magazine: Top 5 Skills needed to be successful in a GIS Career

A Very Spatial Podcast: Random Thoughts on Programming and Geospatial

Cheers,

Alex

Lightsquared & GPS- A "Balanced" View

noreply@blogger.com (Alex Mahrou) — Wed, 25 May 2011 22:26:00 +0000

Just last Monday, I published an article in Directions Magazine entitled "Whats' the deal with the Lightsquared/GPS clash?". Within an hour of publishing, I get an email from someone I don't know, and they tell me that I should have told a different story. How polite of them (see below).

I thought it strange to receive an email from a stranger telling me what to do-- who did not provide any reference to the company that they worked for in their signature. Also, they just copied and pasted text from a Lightsquared press release into the email.

I decided to research this person's contact information and learned that they work for a PR firm in the telecom industry located just outside of Washington D.C.(must be a coincidence, right?) This person also used to be a Vice President at a very prominent Wireless company which shall remain nameless.

I told this person that they were free to share their opinion in the "comments" section of the article (which they never did).

Here is my public response:

Your communication to me insinuates that my article lacks a "balanced view". I am having a hard time coming to grips with how scientific proof of interference and the laws of physics fail to provide a "balanced view." Therefore, I'll point you, and anyone else reading my text to an upcoming webinar on May 26th hosted by the real industry experts at GPSWorld.
Also, if my article paints a picture that this network's venture is lacking in credibility and organized business practice, then let me show you that people smarter than this "garage blogger" share the same opinion (GigaOm).

The Bottom Line

Things are coming out every day to further shed light on this topic. Just the day before yesterday, articles abounded on the Internet about how Lightsquared has now tap-danced on their public FAQ-- changing the 2011 launch date to 2012. They claimed it was a "misunderstanding".

In closing, proponents might tell you that Lightsquared has spent millions designing filters (to be applied to GPS receivers) that would negate all interference between the two technologies. This might be true. However as a GPS user, can you imagine the time, energy, and money it would take to retrofit every single legacy precision GPS unit out there with a filter so that this company can wholesale 4G LTE services for profit?

Get involved at Saveourgps.org

What's the deal with the Lightsquared/GPS clash?

Don't forget to register for the GPSWorld webinar tomorrow for a balanced view from industry experts.

"No one should approach the temple of science with the soul of a money changer." ~Thomas Browne

Cheers,

Alex Mahrou

P.S. Leave comments, don't email me...

How I passed the Esri ArcGIS Desktop Associate Exam

noreply@blogger.com (Alex Mahrou) — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 18:39:00 +0000

Back in January, I posted my plan on how I would prepare for the new Esri ArcGIS Desktop Associate exam. I told you guys that I was planning to take the exam in February. My plans were put on hold due to the business of life. I tore my acl/meniscus skiing, juggled a few employment/contract opportunities, and planned a wedding. I ended up taking the exam on 4/21/11, and just received an email today telling me how to check my results online. I passed the exam! Before I tell you how I passed the exam, I would like to start by letting people know that I have agreed (and you will as well when you take the exam) to the ESRI CERTIFICATION NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENT which in essence binds me to the following:

You are expressly prohibited from disclosing, publishing, reproducing, or transmitting any exam and any related information including, without limitation, questions and answers; worksheets, computations, drawings, and diagrams; length or number of exam segments or questions; or any communication, including oral communication, regarding or related to the exam (known collectively as "Proprietary Information"), in whole or in part, in any form or by any means—oral, written, electronic, or mechanical—for any purpose. A disclosure of Proprietary Information by any means in violation of this Agreement undermines the integrity and security of the Certification Program. (Direct Quote from the NDA)

So, now that this is out of the way, let's talk about my secret weapon: eGIS Associates ArcGIS Desktop Associate Certification Exam Prep online. The course met for a total of 4 x 4 hour sessions (16 total hours) that were spread between a Monday and a Thursday. Tripp Corbin, the author and instructor for the course uses GoToTraining to conduct the class, which was awesome. I've outlined below what made this prep class so invaluable to my preparation.

Review Exams

The course included ~7 interactive review exams that were peppered throughout the span of the training. It served as a great way to keep you on target during the training. While none of the questions in these review exams are copied from the real exams (Tripp is bound by the same Nondisclosure Agreement mentioned above), they do give some idea what to expect and prepare you for the testing environment. The Practice exams are timed the exams as if they were the real thing. According to Tripp, the review exam questions were developed using the sample questions posted on the Esri website as well review questions used in many of the recommended Esri training classes as a guide. Tripp also distributes the exams, PDF lectures, and videos of the training to you after the training, which served as a huge study tool for me.

Live Demonstrations

This is not a power point presentation spanning four days. A considerable amount of the training was performed with live demonstrations in ArcGIS Desktop. One facet of the Esri exam is to test your knowledge of the new features in and functionality introduced in the software. Tripp made sure to cover ALL of the new features, menus, functionality and tools in ArcGIS Desktop 10 via live demonstrations.

Progressive Lecture Style

Tripp has a lecture style that builds your knowledge progressively on ArcGIS Desktop. This is not a "how to pass an exam class"; instead it is a class that teaches you the best practices, methods, tools, and theory surrounding the latest release of ArcGIS Desktop 10.

The class is divided into nine lectures. Tripp spent a considerable amount of time on the new features of the software, including Data Driven Pages, Data Formats, New Toolbars, the new Editing Environment, and Data Validation.

Besides covering features of the software, this course provided a whole lecture on Projections and Coordinate systems. Anyone who knows me personally knows that I'm an accuracy snob. It's due to the fact that I've stood over the shoulders of too many GIS Analyst watching them choose coordinate transformations at the flip of a coin.

Tripp, just like me, understands that a true grasp of Projections and Coordinate Systems is vital to the acumen of any aspiring GIS'er. The lecture on Coordinate Systems and Projections covered not only program-specific functions, but general theory as well. I had to write a blurb about the inclusion of this vital lecture from this course. There are not enough people "in the know" evangelizing on this subject, and it was refreshing to learn that this course helps to drive these concepts home.

ArcGIS Jeopardy!
That's right, ArcGIS Jeopardy. Tripp finishes the course with an all inclusive game of Jeopardy. It's an open forum where you can virtually raise your hand in GoToTraining to answer the questions. This was probably the most fun part of the class. Don't be shy, you are competing with your classmates! Watson eat your heart out.

Summary

I can't tell you what's on the test, but I can tell you should be prepared to challenge your knowledge regarding features and functions specific to the latest release of ArcGIS. Button pushers beware, you will also need to embody knowledge on Geospatial concepts and theory to succeed. I passed the exam, and this is how I prepared. Know the software, and comprehend the spatial principles that the software adheres to. If you are on the fence with certification, take a look at my blog post "10 Questions to Ask When Choosing a GIS Certification".

More Information:

eGIS Associates Class Schedule
How I'm Preparing for the ArcGIS Desktop 10 Associate Exam
10 Questions to Ask When Choosing a GIS Certification

Happy Mapping,

Alex Mahrou

Quick News Round-up

noreply@blogger.com (Alex Mahrou) — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 06:36:00 +0000

I had to post a quick round-up on my reactions to some big news in the industry this week.

Apple is not storing your every move if you have an iPhone or iPad. Will Clarke over on his blog showed that it's probably mapping cell phone tower locations for use with aGPS. I learned a few things from today's scaremongering:

You can score an interview on Where 2.0 with very little vetting and research
People find a table filled with lat/longs/ on a mobile device and privacy concerns go viral quite fast.
This opens up a new project for crowd-sourcing the locations of cell phone towers.
Location based tech is everywhere, and the General Public still does not understand the technology behind the devices and services that we use everyday.
Never let the truth get in the way of a juicy story!

Google announced Google Earth Builder (fast-forward to minute 4:48). A cloud platform for building maps. They admitted that they will competitively price this new service with similar services offered by Esri. Here's my take.... I think that competition in this space is good. It will force the legacy market dominator (Esri) to innovate to maintain. Google has a long way to go however. People have their criticisms of Esri, however they have a burgeoning Reseller, Business Partner, development, and distribution network that embraces the product. Google does not have this sort of organized channel on the Geospatial side. You are always greeted with an internal "contact sales" door, when trying to learn more about Google Enterprise Geospatial Offerings.

In fact, many companies have built solutions that leverage cloud storage, and the Google Maps API interface. This play might serve to alienate those aforementioned shops and their solutions.

Remember how you could buy the Nexus One direct from Google? Boy was that a success.

This play is a long time coming however. Google needed a way to bridge the gap for its users between obtaining data, authoring a map, and sharing it in a sexy browser window without hiring a kml/python/php/mysql Gypsy to do so. There were hints in fusion tables, and "my maps" that the potential for something better to come along existed. Looking good with this new offering won't be too hard. Working on a way to integrate tools for geographic analysis into this new product is the biggest challenge and should be their ongoing focus. Here is a link to a Directions Magazine article that outlines the new product.

GeoExplorer 6000 Review (Part 1 - Canopy Challenge)

noreply@blogger.com (Alex Mahrou) — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 05:12:00 +0000

The internet tends to be a place of 'ADD' and short-lived attention spans when it comes to readers looking at content (trust me, I'm guilty). That's why I'm deciding to publish my review of the new GeoExplorer^® 6000 into four parts. Tiny bite size pieces are the way to go, given today's hustle and bustle.

Welcome to part 1. On a cold snowy morning some few weeks ago, I took my GeoExplorer^® 6000 loaner (from Seiler Instruments) out to meet Tim Smith, the National Park Service's GPS Program Coordinator. If anyone knows about GPS under canopy, it's this guy. Around a foot of snow had fallen overnight in beautiful Conifer, Colorado helping to load up the evergreen trees around our GPS test course. The loaded canopy can be a GPS unit's worst nightmare. I thought to myself, "This was exactly how I'd like to put this unit through it's paces".

We occupied a total of three monuments. All of them were shot in with a survey-grade total station. The horizontal and vertical coordinates were of very high accuracy. Besides the GeoExplorer^®, we hooked up a Zephyr antenna, and dialed in to the Trimble^® VRSNow™ service.

VRSNow™ Coverage USA

For those of you who aren't familiar with VRSNow™, it's an ever growing GPS correction service that utilizes a network of GPS Base Stations around the world. The stations are owned and operated by Trimble^® and select Trimble^® Partners. Whilst this is not the first GeoExplorer^® to support real-time VRS™ technology, this is the fist GeoExplorer^® to ever have the option for a built-in modem. This allowed for easy access to the VRS™ corrections without the need of a separate phone or modem.

I'm lucky enough to have the Colorado VRSNow™ network in my backyard, so you bet I'm going to tap into those corrections! This test under canopy will also not only put the GeoExplorer^® 6000 to the test, but also put the VRSNow™ network to the test. In addition to the standard survey-corrections, the network outputs a stream just for GIS corrections called H-Star™, which is priced way cheaper than survey corrections. Our testing on this day was actually outside of the network, with the closest GPS Base Station being in Waterton Canyon (see map below). Thus, the solution that we were getting was extrapolated vs an interpolated network solution.

We sat on each monument for around 180 positions (@ 1 position/second). Points 3 and 4 (see map) were probably the hardest as they were deep under canopy. The GeoExplorer^® performed flawlessly. Clicking on one of the icons in the map will yield a report. 2D (horizontal) accuracy is stated on the datasheet at decimeter. But I don't live in a 2D world. I wanted to see 3D accuracy. So the graphs and reports that I've tabulated for this exercise show 3D displacements in space from observed positions to the known survey monument. If you click on one of the icons in the Google Earth pane below, you will see the 3D displacements.

Give the map around 20 Seconds to load the data

Give the map around 20 Seconds to load the data |View NPS Test in a larger map

If you want a better view of the 3D displacement data, you can look at the links below. The pretty yellow, green, and red graphics are actual shots of the points in space with site lines connected to the monument. Keep in mind that this was under heavy canopy. Also keep in mind that the pictures below might look like a huge fountain of positions, when in reality all are well under the total length of a standard no.2 pencil (~18 cm).

Below is a spreadsheet reporting the displacements for the features that were averaged from the positions. I'd say that the GeoExplorer^® 6000 performs pretty good under canopy. What do you think?

Are you mad that I'm not showing post-processed results? It's not my job as a blogger to make friends. :-p Occasionally, I'll have to drag you kicking and screaming into the future. It's time to hop on the real-time train my friend. This is where Mobile GIS is headed. Post-processed results are accurate, but only on a map. When you go back out in the field, you are back to Autonomous GPS, SBAS with line-of-site, or NDGPS with a beacon (other options do exist).

Try explaining how your 'post-processed mapped' curb stop shut-off valve could not be found in real-time during a critical situation involving busted pipes, six feet of snow, wee hours of the night, and a seriously unhappy on-call field crew. In the world of real-time accuracy, there is no issue.

As always, If I got something wrong, or if you would like to add to the conversation, please comment!

Much thanks to Tim Smith, Eric Bock, Jay Riester, Lanny Schnipper, and Joseph from the Trimble Support crew for all of your help. Believe it or not, you all helped in some form or fashion with this post.

Stay tuned for part 2 of my review. I'll cover in-depth how the GeoExplorer^® 6000 performed in the urban canyons of Downtown Denver.

-Cheers

Alex Mahrou

GeoExplorer, VRSNow, VRS, H-Star, & Trimble are Trademarks of Trimble Navigation Ltd.

GeoExplorer 6000 Review Preview

noreply@blogger.com (Alex Mahrou) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 04:50:00 +0000

I just wanted to post a preview for my upcoming review of the GeoExplorer 6000 series. I've been a little busy lately with other work (go figure.) In my previous post, I outlined the history of the GeoExplorer Series, and promised an in-depth review.

I received my GeoExplorer last week from Seiler Instruments (Thanks Jay and Lanny!) and just finished my final test last Sunday 3/20/11. Here is what I've performed for my testing....

Canopy Testing: Tim Smith at the NPS loaned me his Saturday and his GPS Test course at his house in Conifer, CO for this test.
Urban Canyon: I drove around the streets of downtown Denver streaming a Polyline feature in TerraSync. This was probably the hardest test.
Quick static occupations of NGS Control around the Greater Denver Area. Just to see how accurate this receiver would be against known control that a surveyor would reference.
Relative Precision: I set out some measuring tape in Washington Park in Denver and measured set lengths of 10 feet. I tested the VRSNow network as well as the beta test the new little known about NGS CORS NTRIP streaming service.

For all of my tests, I used VRSNow or the NGS Streaming Service. There is so much more to share! However I'll just post a preview below of my Downtown Streaming test. Trimble had a dataset that they used in their GeoExplorer 6000 series webinar for downtown. I wanted to see just how repeatable this sort of data was. I used an external Zephyr Antenna (Provided by Frontier Precision) and VRS. Note: You will need the Google Earth Plugin to view the frame below. What you are seeing below has not been edited or post-processed, that's the beauty of VRS and Floodlight! Trying to pull off a polyline like this in the first pass used to be a pain; that's no longer the case with this receiver's technology.

If you want to be the first to read my independent review when it's ready, follow me on Twitter, grab the RSS feed, or get on the email list!

View Larger Map

So stay tuned for the Official review. It should be up soon!

Trimble GeoExplorer Timeline

noreply@blogger.com (Alex Mahrou) — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 06:30:00 +0000

The new GeoExplorer^® 6000 Series was just released on February 17th, 2011. We are now coming close to 15 years of the GeoExplorer^® series. I thought it prudent to create a timeline for this product's history and notable specification changes. There will undoubtedly be GeoExplorer^® 6000 vs 3000 vs GeoXH^® vs GeoXT^® inquiries as this new product is researched by the prospective market. Take heed, as this timeline might make some feel like old-timers to the game of Mobile GIS. It is amazing how far the hardware has come. The original GeoExplorer^® I/II (circa 1996) boasted 250Kb of storage, a 6 Channel GPS Receiver, and AA Batteries (not included). Fast forward to 2011 and the New GeoExplorer^® 6000 Series is boasting 2Gb of Storage, 220 Channel GPS Receiver, and a new technology branded Floodlight^®. Floodlight will surely set this product apart from the competition as it accomplishes more than just adding support for Glonass. Click here for a tech brief on the new Floodlight^® technology from Trimble.

This product has undergone some radical changes that have helped it to keep pace with the times. Did you know that the GeoExplorer^® 3 (Circa 2001) was the only GeoExplorer^® to ever sport a digital compass? The accuracy has gone from an at best 2 meters PP to 4 inches. Did you know that the new GeoExplorer^® 6000 series has a barometer? No, it's not used to forecast the weather! This is undoubtedly the best GeoExplorer^® to hit the market yet, and I'm excited by it's release.

I made this timeline as a primer for my upcoming blog post that will dissect all of the specs on the new GeoExplorer^® 6000 series, so I don't want to give too much of my research away. (stay tuned!)

If Trimble sticks to it's 3 year product cycle release schedule, then what do you think that we would expect for 2014? Do you think that they should scrap the Microsoft mobile OS in favor of an Android or iOS platform? Do you have any Mobile GIS stories of yore with any of the older devices listed above? Leave some comments!

Here is a link to a print-quality timeline for you to hang on your office wall.

http://cloud.rockymountaingeo.com/RockyMountaingeoTimeline85x11_.pdf

GeoExplorer, EVEREST, Floodlight, GeoXT, GeoXH, & GeoXM are Trademarks of Trimble Navigation Ltd.

The post and it's containing document were created using publicly available content. RockyMountainGeo makes no claim to the validity or completeness of the information herein. If I got something wrong do me a professional courtesy and let me know directly with an email, or leave a comment.

How I'm preparing for the ArcGIS Desktop Associate Exam

noreply@blogger.com (Alex Mahrou) — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 04:27:00 +0000

I plan on taking the ArcGIS Desktop Associate Exam in early February 2011. Until then, I've devised a plan to prepare for it. I'm sticking to this strict schedule. If everything works out according to plan and I pass, I'll change the title to this post "How to pass the ArcGIS Desktop Associate Exam" :-).

First things first, I examined the "Training Resources" tab on the ESRI Technical Certification | ArcGIS Desktop Associate webpage.

Under the "Web Training" and "Training Seminars" sections, 'Editing in ArcGIS Desktop 10' and 'Using ArcMap in ArcGIS 10', 'Geocoding in ArcGIS 10', and 'Introduction to ArcGIS Explorer Online' are all FREE of CHARGE. Then, upon some more digging I found some more free seminars and virtual campus courses. Now take heed here, there are 100's of hours of free training online, so try to prioritize your selection.

My next step was to download a 60 day evaluation copy of ArcGIS along with the tutorial data DVD. The install includes an ArcEditor license, as well as an evaluation to 10 popular extensions.

Third, my ultimate insurance policy, take an online training. I looked around for anyone offering an online training on ArcGIS desktop exam preparation, and I found the eGIS Associates ArcGIS Desktop Exam Prep class.

Why do I call this an insurance policy? Well if you read my blog post comparing GIS certifications, you would learn that if you fail an ESRI Certification Course, you can take it up to three times. However, you will be charged for each subsequent test.

The Keck & Wood class is led by Trip Corbin, who is a certified ArcGIS Desktop Associate, GISP, and an award-winning ESRI instructor. The cost of signing up for the online training is worth the extra confidence that I will have to pass the test the first time, and get this sought after cert as soon as possible.

Summary:

Scour the ESRI website for free virtual campus courses and seminars
Download a 60 Day evaluation of ArcGIS desktop
Sign up for some online training

Please leave comments on how you are preparing or how you have passed any of the ESRI certification tests. Check back with me mid February, and I'll let you know how my plan went!

Geospatial tech gets mainstream with the Kinect

noreply@blogger.com (Alex Mahrou) — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 17:01:00 +0000

Many of us in the Geospatial profession are quite proud of the niche that we celebrate due to the nature of expertise required to operate the hardware and software tools of our trade. Then occasionally a product comes out for mass consumption, like the Kinect, that makes us re-think not only the applications of our trade, but also the tools that we are using around the applications.

LiDAR sensors run the gamut of budgets. Now you can have one for a few hundred bucks. Now I am by no means saying that the Kinect will replace professional LiDAR systems and their applications. But what I am stating is that new applications for this technology can come to bear through mass consumption; Microsoft is now doing for LiDAR what Google did for maps.

A cursory search on Google for "Kinect Hacks" yields a plethora of videos, blog posts, technical how-to's, and graduate student projects. Here are some projects from academia.

Here's a link to the Open Source Drivers for the Kinect. Microsoft is not too pleased by this, and is hinting that they will introduce the official drivers soon.

Is Geospatial becoming less niche? I don't think so. Technologies like Google Earth, Google Maps, and the Kinect spark interest and curiosity whilst providing a budgetary means of application. This will bring more users, developers, and audience into our realm.

Why do I still attribute a Geospatial label to this technology? Because they are still 3d points in space that have meaning, attributes, and relationships. That's where a Geospatial skill-set will be more important than ever.

As I am writing this article Johnny Chung Lee, the man behind your favorite Wiimote hacks, and the key researcher at Microsoft behind the Kinect, has now been swooped up by Google as a "rapid evauator". I am on the edge of my seat now.

High-Accuracy GIS on your iPhone or Android–What it would take

noreply@blogger.com (Alex Mahrou) — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 20:31:00 +0000

Do you own an Android-Powered smartphone or iPhone? Then you are helping to create the combined market share dominance that these two platforms are now celebrating; and it appears Android is inching ahead of the iPhone as of Q3 2010.

Where am I going with this metric? Currently, if your GIS data needs to be at least sub-meter and comes from handheld mapping grade GPS instruments (I’ll just focus on Trimble here), the supported operating systems are Windows Mobile, XP, 7 or some variant of Windows CE. For field collection software, you might be running Trimble TerraSync, Esri ArcPad w/GPSCorrect, ArcGIS Mobile, Cartopac, or a custom solution built on Pathfinder Tools SDK; all of which run solely in a Microsoft Environment.

I’ll pose a scenario; what if Trimble released an SDK or field collection software that would run on iOS or Android? This scenario should not be that far fetched. Let’s look at the facts; ESRI has released ArcGIS for iOS with plans of following up with an Android equivalent in March 2011. These ArcGIS for Smartphones apps are designed to work with the onboard Smartphone GPS (which by no means is at least sub-meter). Trimble’s bread and butter is mostly hardware. Trimble has a suite of standalone GPS Receivers that work over Bluetooth (ProXRT, ProXT, ProXH). The aforementioned GPS receivers are only missing one thing, a data collector, which could be an Android or iOS device.

Here’s 6 reasons why Trimble should want to write a GPS software for the iOS and Android platforms:

Some of these devices are getting activated at a rate of 300,000 handsets per day.
Both the Android and iOS environments are ripe with thousands of developers who could utilize a Trimble SDK for custom applications.
Both the Android and iOS environments are ripe with millions of users (like you and me) who would utilize the software.
This software would serve as a monkey’s-paw into further standalone Trimble GPS sales, because the software would be designed to utilize a Bluetooth connection to a high accuracy GPS receiver.
Because Android devices and iPhones necessitate internet data plans pre-configured, this would also be a monkey’s-paw into real-time technology workflows that utilize VRS and connected databases.
Trimble could utilize the Android marketplace and iTunes for software distribution.

This workflow would necessitate using range-poles or backpack units as well. Which is fine from an accuracy perspective because the antenna is always above the user. The nuts and bolts of this software would be that it would need to contain Bluetooth drivers for stand-alone Trimble GPS receivers such as the ProXRT, ProXH, and ProXT.

What are your thoughts?

Please fill out the poll to the right. Do you think that Trimble should release an SDK or software package for high-accuracy GIS field data collection on Android or iOS? Please leave comments if you are moved to share your opinion! If you find this conversation interesting, share it.

10 Questions To Ask When Choosing a GIS Certification

noreply@blogger.com (Alex Mahrou) — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 06:24:00 +0000

We now have a few different types of GIS Certifications to choose from when it comes to the Geospatial Field. These are ten questions that everyone should consider when choosing and comparing Certifications. This article is meant as a guide to help the GIS community to navigate through the many options available to them when attempting to bring their talents to bear through obtaining a certification.
There are no right or wrong answers to these questions. This is only meant to help you to understand which certification/s might be best for you given your current professional situation. We will compare and contrast the ASPRS, Esri, and GISP certifications. (Disclaimer: I am not the sole expert on this topic, so please leave comments if you would like to add to the conversation.)

How many years of work experience do I need for this certification?

GISP: You will need at least four full-time equivalent years of professional GIS Experience
Esri: None
ASPRS

Certified Mapping Scientist: Three Years in a specialty category
Certified GIS/LIS Technologist: Three years experience, two of which are in a specialty category.

Are there different tracts within this certification?

GISP: None
Esri: There are two levels of certification: Associate and Professional. They cover 7 areas of expertise. (Note: There is not a Professional lever Certification for “Enterprise Administration”)
ASPRS: You can choose Certified Mapping Scientist or Certified GIS/LIS Technologist

Is there an educational requirement?

GISP: The educational requirement measures College Degrees earned, GIS related courses and workshops, and conference attendance. However it is almost impossible to fulfill this requirement without at least a bachelors degree, as this will account for two-thirds of the total educational requirement.
Esri: None
ASPRS: Education can be used in lieu of professional experience.

Is there an examination?

GISP: No
Esri: There are a total of thirteen exams available to any prospective applicant.
ASPRS: Written examination following peer review and approval

Is this a vendor neutral certification?

GISP: Yes
Esri: No. The certifications are based on Esri products.
ASPRS: Yes

What is the cost?

GISP: $250.00
Esri: $225.00 per exam
ASPRS:

Certified Mapping Scientist

$275.00 ASPRS Members
$400.00 Non-Members

Certified GIS/LIS Technologist

$150.00 ASPRS Members
$275.00 Non-Members

What are the re-certification guidelines?

GISP: Every five years one must re-certify. The renewal requirements are measured by GIS courses and conference attendance, contributions to the profession, and work experience since your last certification.
Esri: Not sure. One can assume that you would need to re-certify when a new softare suite version is released.*
ASPRS: Perpetual certification for life. However to remain on the “Active certification List”, you must re-certify every five years.

What is the cost to re-certify?

GISP: $115.00
Esri: Not sure. Since there is no documentation on re-certification, one can assume that the cost would be the same as certification.*
ASPRS:

Certified Mapping Scientist

$150 ASPRS Members
$275.00 Non-Members

Certified GIS/LIS Technologist

$100.00 ASPRS Members
$150.00 Non-Member

Where do I go for more information?

GISP: http://gisci.org
Esri: http://training.esri.com/certification/
ASPRS: http://www.asprs.org/membership/certification/certification_guidelines.html

Which one is best for me?

This is obviously an open-ended question, and cause for much debate around the community lately. Here are my closing observations...

GISP: This should be the ultimate goal or anyone seeking a GIS professional certification. It's already written into many RFP's and job descriptions, and I doubt that will change any time soon. The certification is portfolio/education/contribution based. Whilst there is no exam to take, you should set aside much time to recall all educational and professional achievements earned up to this point in your Geospatial Career.

Esri: Comparing the Esri Certifications to ASPRS or GISP is like comparing apples and oranges. The Esri cert is meant to only prove technical expertise on Esri's suite of products. How this cert will find it's way into RFP's and Job Descriptions is yet to be seen. However, one can assume that it absolutely will. Therefore, if you already operate Esri software in your current position and you are looking to further improve your resume, DO IT. There is no peer review, experience/education/community contribution requirement; but don't be fooled, the tests are very challenging. Also, because there is no educational/professional experience requirement, this is the best option for students as well.

ASPRS: Offering two levels of certification is great. The perpetual membership is nice as well. If you are considering this certification, it would be best to become a member of the ASPRS ($135.00) before submitting an application, as you'll get deep discounts in certification the right to vote and hold office, discounts on ASPRS conference registration fees, group insurance policy, eligibility for awards, and discounts off ASPRS publications.

*Assumptions on the Esri re-certification process are unconfirmed, as I could not find information on the Esri site regarding this. In full disclosure I have an inquiry to the ESRI Training Team regarding this topic.

What am I pursuing? I am going to attempt the Esri technical certification for ArcGIS, Enterprise System Design Associate, and of course my GISP certification. The last thing that I'd like to say is that I'd like to see the ESRI cert incorporate geodesy questions. There are unfortunately too many people in our industry (GISP's included) that have no sense of the evolution of NAD83, and vertical datums as well.

Happy Mapping!

Google Maps gets more personal

noreply@blogger.com (Alex Mahrou) — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 23:34:00 +0000

There are a myriad of articles about Google Maps and how it is affecting our privacy. Well, Google upped the ante today with Body Browser from Google Labs. All joking aside, this is not an invasion of privacy, but instead a really great showcase of how we can use a mapping api, WebGL, and a little creativity, to create an amazing application.

There are 6 layers that you can set transparency for. I'm not a an anatomy guy but the layers appear to be:

Skin and Clothes
Muscular System
Skeletal System
Other Organs (Respiratory, digestive, ect.)
Cardiovascular System
Nervous System

What does this have to do with maps? Every location, perspective, and layer transparency has a unique URL, which means you can zoom in on a specific spot on the body, set your layer view, and then just send the address in your browser to someone else and they will be able to see the exact same thing!
Try it. First download Google Chrome Beta, then click on this link (you should see the a picture that is similar to the screen shot above)
Not only is this a fun, but the possibilities for health care and education are endless!

2010 ESRI UC "10 Things to know about GIS Project Management"

noreply@blogger.com (Alex Mahrou) — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 16:47:00 +0000

The 2010 ESRI UC is a wonderful experience for any avid GISer. You get saturated with GIS knowledge, and use cases. It can be overwhelming if you don't have a plan. One session that I planned on attending weeks before I arrived was "10 Things to know about GIS Project Management"

This presentation was given by ESRI Senior Project Managers, Gerry Clancy (21 years with ESRI) and Glenn Berger. If you have the time, I sincerely encourage you to watch the video from start to finish. Below the video, I've paraphrased the presentation from my notebook if you don't have time to listen to the whole video.

This was by far my most valuable take-away from the conference.

Courtesy of ESRI

1. Define a clear vision and success criteria

a. Identify your champion

b. Define “what you are trying to build”

c. How does the client define success?

d. Are you creating a new process or replacing one?

2. Identify and Involve Stakeholders

a. Who is funding this?

b. Who will be impacted?

c. Who will provide resources?

d. Who will determine success?

e. Decision Makers?

f. Who does not support the project?

g. Engage these people early and often

3. Gather Requirements

a. Place requirements in context

b. Conduct interviews & workshops

i. w/IT/end-users/project managers

c. Model the existing “as-is” process

d. Model the future business process

i. How can it be streamlined?

ii. Validate asap

iii. How will the future business process interact w/ other systems?

e. Do not be judgemental

i. Prioritize

ii. Break things into manageable chunks w/Functional, Data, and Non-functional meetings

4. Manage Change

a. Pay attention to scope, budget, and time

5. Identify and Monitor Risks

a. Internal/External Staff

b. Software Release Schedules

c. Hardware Failures

6. Use a phased implementation approach (agile)

a. 4,8,12 week increments

b. Use Project Management Software (MS Project)

7. Promote Communication

a. Create a communication plan

8. Do not get enamored with the technology

a. Remember what you are trying to deliver (be careful of shiny objects!)

9. Engage the IT department (key stakeholders)

a. Understand policy and standards

b. Hardare & Network impacts

c. Security Model

d. Who will support the system?

e. Plan to educate and train the staff

10. Keep it simple

a. Identify the business rhythms and processes

b. Design and build for the 90% use case, not the 10%

c. Don’t reinvent the wheel

Links

Original Video from Conference Proceedings

Vail Resorts utilizes location based tech, social media, and skiing stats into a Mobile Application

noreply@blogger.com (Alex Mahrou) — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 22:18:00 +0000

Image Courtesy: skiingmag.com
Vail has upped the ante with their new application Epic Mix application. The application utilizes the preexisting RF-scanners at the base of every lift, the RF tags build into season passes and PEAKS cards. You can use the smartphone app to track your statistics (vertical feet logged, days skied, locations skied, etc.). One can assume that this will not only be good for sharing stats with friends, but also a way for families to track the kiddos on the mountain.

It will be available at Breckenridge, Keystone, Vail, Beaver Creek, and Heavenly Resorts by Christmas 2010.

Supported Mobile Platforms:

Android
iPhone

EpicMix

Visa Application On the iPhone, changes the game in Location Based Shopping Tech

noreply@blogger.com (Alex Mahrou) — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 18:22:00 +0000

Visa Inc. (NYSE: V): Announced today that they will now have an app on the iTunes app store whereby Visa Account holders can download the app on their iPhone, utilize location-based-technology, and take advantage of Merchant Offers near them. According to the Visa press release, "The application uses location-based technology to provide consumers with a map and directions to a nearby retailer where they can redeem merchant offers."

You can find a list of participating merchants at www.visa.com/mobile. The technology under the hood was gained through a partnership with Montise pcl (LSE: MONI.L).

This is an extremely smart business move in the midst of the holiday shopping season.

SOURCE: Visa Press Release

Google Mobile Maps with 3D buildings

noreply@blogger.com (Alex Mahrou) — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 02:38:00 +0000

Google Maps 5.0 is running on the Google Nexus S. 3d maps on a mobile platform. This feature is going to be part of Gingerbread, however the bottleneck of its success would be hardware limitations on other phones.

ESRI Technical Certification

noreply@blogger.com (Alex Mahrou) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 21:40:00 +0000

Redlands, California - ESRI announced that it will be providing a new technical certification for GIS Professionals. Currently, there are a few different certifications available for aspiring GIS professionals who would like to help their CV's, and prove more relevance in the industry; GISP, ASPRS, included. (Forgive me if I'm forgetting any others.)

The ESRI Technical Certification program offers three different tracts for professionals, with two levels of examination available in each; Associate and Professional:

Desktop

ArcGIS Desktop

Developer

ArcGIS Desktop Developer
Web Application Developer
Mobile Developer

Enterprise

Enterprise Geodatabase Management
Enterprise System Design
Enterprise Administration

The exams will open January 17th 2011. ESRI has partnered with Pearson VUE for hosting the exams. That means that you'll have to go into one of the 5,000 testing centers to take an exam.

ESRI has taken certification to the next level. The GIS certification landscape is now even further diversified. So study up and prepare. There is no doubt that these will show up on RFP's, Job Descriptions, and the like.