Paris, 28 September 2009


EFITA newsletter / 430 / European Federation for Information Technology in Agriculture, Food and the Environment


To read this newsletter on the efita.net web site...
See: http://www.efita.net?d=6706


“Bing Maps”: a presentation by PROGIS at MICROSOFT ReMix 09 conference for Web-Designer and Web-Developer
1 October 20009 – VIENNA

With Bing Maps, Microsoft provides geographical map material as it may be used for a large variety of tasks. You will learn about visions and which possibilities there are implemented already.

PROGIS will present “WinGIS”, the geographic information system (GIS) for developers and will show on examples how you can develop with our developer component AX-Win and the embedded Bing-technology your own applications and how you may profit from them.


We would be pleased to welcome you in Vienna and to break with you new grounds. Details to the event are on the bottom of this email.

In the following we describe some of the features to give an impression on the manifold possibilities.

> WinGIS – The GIS system for developers
WinGIS, the geographic information system of PROGIS Software GmbH includes a wide range of GIS functions, numerous interfaces to (external) geographic data sources and databases and several modules (GPS support, ISO module, thematic maps, raster transformation, …) but there is also the possibility to simply connect the GIS system to an existing (database) application by using the ActiveX control AXWinGIS.

This solution is perfect for developers who are searching for simple possibilities to extend their database / application with the functions and features of a powerful GIS system.

> Development tool – AXWinGIS
The ActiveX control AXWinGIS enables developers to easily connect their applications to the geographic information system WinGIS.

The huge function library provides access to the whole WinGIS function set and the full control over the user interface. The connection between the database tables to GIS layers and from one table record to the corresponding GIS object is realized by a unique ID (PROGIS-ID). Hence it is easily possible to complement existing data with geographic object information (e.g. polygon data, GPS tracks / points…).

> WinGIS Canvas
The “canvas” functionality makes it possible to intergrate the WinGIS graphic window (the map) directly into to user interface of the application.
To solve the problem of not or hardly available geo data (aerial images, cadastre data…) we extended WinGIS with the effective functionalities of the…

> Bing Maps embedded Module
We realized a direct connection from WinGIS to Microsoft Bing Maps (former Virtual Earth) system.
Bing Maps is integrated into WinGIS as a module. The need to buy geographic data becomes unnecessary in most cases as the Bing Maps embedded module provides an area-wide basic geography already.

In the current state of development there are available 3 different types of 2D maps:
- Arial images / satellite images
- Arial images / satellite images with labels (roads, cities, …)
- Road map

If you want to get additional views you can use the Bing Maps export to convert the GIS project into a HTML document which enables also a 3D view or the birds view.

Already existing geo data (images, DXF, PDF documents) can be converted into the Bing Maps system and stored on a server by using the MS MapCruncher application. So it is possible to combine the Microsoft geo data with your own data over the same interface.

> Import / Export interfaces
A large set of import and export functions (with database support) enables the quick integration of existing geographic data into WinGIS. The most common GIS and CAD formats are supported: ArcView SHP, ArcInfo E00, AutoCAD DXF, MapInfo MIF, ASCII, Google KML, Bing Maps HTML and a free configurable import for GPS data.

> Internal database - IDB
 The internal Database (IDB) is a database module which is bases on MS Access and integrated into the WinGIS user interface. One geographical layer is connected to one table in the IDB. The IDB also provides import and export interfaces to external data sources via ADO. The IDB includes functions to create thematic maps, charts, annotations and ISO models.

Come to Vienna: Additionally to the theoretical introduction of AX-WinGIS the GIS-developer component and Bing-technology we will show you some best practice samples in agriculture and risk-management. The session is hold in German with English spoken power-point-presentation

See: http://www.microsoft.com/austria/remix/index.aspx

Contact: Karin STROBL
E-mail: strobl(a)progis.com


9th Wageningen International Conference on Chain and Network Management - Track 14: Supply networks as complex adaptive systems
26 May - 28 May 2010 - WAGENINGEN, The Netherlands
International chains and networks are not getting any simpler. Instead of centralized control, there is ever more mutual influence between companies, governments, NGOs and individuals that has to be taken into account. This state of affairs calls for new approaches in research.
One of these is the generative perspective: simulate the system under study by modelling the constituent parts and generic constraints to see if real or intended system behaviours can be generated. Generative approaches to the study of complex adaptive systems include agent-based modelling and simulation gaming. Both methods are rapidly gaining application. The session invites contributions about applications of these methods to chain and network management.
Reference disciplines could include economics, computer science, organizational behaviour, management or others.
We kindly invite you to submit an abstract (max 500 words) on one of the above mentioned or related themes, via our online submission system. Please find the abstract submission requirements and instructions here.
Submission deadline: 11 October 2009
See: http://www.wicanem2010.nl
Submission deadline: 11 October 2009.
Contacts: Gert Jan HOFSTEDE & Tim VERWAART – Wageningen University
E-mail: gerjan.hofstede(a)wur.nl ; tim.verwaart(a)wur.nl


10th International Conference on Precision Agriculture
2nd Call for Abstracts, Registration Opens, Tours and Accommodations - September 21st, 2009
The 10th International Conference on Precision Agriculture (ICPA) will be held at the Hyatt Regency Tech Center in Denver, Colorado from July 18-21, 2010.
See: http://www.icpaonline.org

>>> Call for Abstracts
Only 40 days left before the abstracts submission deadline, Oct 30th, 2009, for the 10th International Conference on Precision Agriculture. Abstracts may be submitted online at http://icpaonline.org/submissionregistration/. Abstracts will be reviewed for suitability based on scientific content and clarity. Abstracts meeting these criteria will be accepted for presentation as either oral or poster presentations at the Conference. Abstracts are limited to no more than 300 words. Authors of accepted abstracts will be entitled to present their research at the Conference after payment of registration fees. They will also be entitled to submit full papers (more details later) for the Conference Proceedings in February of 2010. Conference Proceedings will be published on CD-ROMs and will be available at the conference. Questions pertaining to abstract submissions should be addressed to abstracts(a)icpaonline.org
See: http://icpaonline.org/Messaging/EmailDisplay.php?MsgID=42


Knowledge Networking for Rural Development in Asia/Pacific Region (ENRAP) (from ICT Update)
ENRAP, an IFAD-IDRC programme, leverages a growing body of useful information generated by development projects and made available on the internet. The programme, now in its third phase and running until 2010, is designed to bring the benefits of accessing and sharing global information resources to IFAD-supported rural development projects in the Asia/Pacific region. Effective use of internet and electronic communication by project staff and, ultimately, by project communities will contribute to the empowerment of rural people and help them better address their development objectives.
See: http://www.enrap.org/index.php?module=htmlpages&func=display&pid=5


Respuesta en un exámen de Química

La siguiente pregunta fue hecha en un examen trimestral de química en la Universidad Complutense de Madrid.

La respuesta de uno de los estudiantes fue tan 'profunda' que el profesor quiso compartirla con sus colegas, vía internet; razón por la cual podemos todos disfrutar de ella.

Pregunta: ¿Es el Infierno exotérmico (desprende calor) o endotérmico (lo absorbe)?

La mayoría de estudiantes escribieron sus comentarios sobre la Ley de Boyle (el gas se enfría cuando se expande y se calienta cuando se comprime).

Un estudiante, sin embargo, escribió lo siguiente:
En primer lugar, necesitamos saber en qué medida la masa total del Infierno varía con el tiempo. Para ello hemos de saber a qué ritmo entran las almas en el Infierno y a qué ritmo salen. Tengo sin embargo entendido que, una vez dentro del Infierno, las almas ya no salen de él. Por lo tanto, no se producen salidas. En cuanto a cuántas almas entran, veamos lo que dicen las diferentes religiones: la mayoría de ellas declaran que si no perteneces a ellas, irás al Infierno. Dado que hay más de una religión que así se expresa y dado que la gente no pertenece a más de una, podemos concluir que todas las almas van al Infierno.

Con las tasas de nacimientos y muertes existentes, podemos deducir que el número de almas en el Infierno crece de forma exponencial.

Veamos ahora cómo varía el volumen del Infierno: según la Ley de Boyle, para que la temperatura y la presión del Infierno se mantengan estables, el volumen debe expandirse en proporción a la entrada de almas. Hay dos posibilidades:

1. Si el Infierno se expande a una velocidad menor que la de entrada de almas, la temperatura y la presión en el Infierno se incrementarán hasta que éste se desintegre.

2. Si el Infierno se expande a una velocidad mayor que la de la entrada de almas, la temperatura y la presión disminuirán hasta que el Infierno se congele. ¿Qué posibilidad es la verdadera? Si aceptamos lo que me dijo Ana en mi primer año de carrera ('hará frío en el Infierno antes de que me acueste contigo'), y teniendo en cuenta que me acosté con ella ayer noche, la posibilidad número 2 es la verdadera y por tanto daremos como cierto que el Infierno es exotérmico y que ya está congelado. El corolario de esta teoría es que, dado que el Infierno ya está congelado, ya no acepta más almas y está, por tanto, extinguido; dejando al Cielo como única prueba de la existencia de un ser divino, lo que explica por qué, anoche, Ana no paraba de gritar '¡Oh, Dios mío! '.

Contact: I. KITRON
E-mail: kitron1(a)terra.com.br


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