Geospatial

• [New] An air quality layer will join Google Maps' existing options - which includes traffic and satellite views - in Australia, India, and the US in the coming months.
• [New] GPS and heart rate monitoring might be today's must-have features, but tomorrow's include ECG measurements, which are found on the Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 and Fitbit Sense.
• [New] Orolia will continue as a world leader in Resilient Positioning, Navigation and Timing and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) solutions for military and commercial applications worldwide.
• [New] The weather layer will have a worldwide release, while the air quality layer initially launched in Australia, India, and the United States.
• [New] Britain will soon deploy its new aircraft carrier, the HMS Queen Elizabeth, to the Indo-Pacific to ensure freedom of navigation against China, its systemic competitor.
• [New] Google will be adding eco-friendly driving routes, as well as air quality and weather updates, in the coming months.
• [New] Eco-friendly driving routes - A new routing model will enable Google Maps to automatically select the route with the lowest carbon emissions footprint.
• [New] Google plans to launch the weather layer globally and launch the air quality layer first in Australia, India, and the US.
• [New] GHGSat Inc, a Canadian company that hopes to become the global reference for remote sensing of greenhouse gases, uses satellite technology to monitor leaks.
• [New] Earth observation and remote sensing systems are becoming increasingly vital as countries seek tools to address threats posed by extreme weather conditions and climate change.
• While Iran is rejecting any direct talks for now without US concessions on lifting crude oil and other economic sanctions, the scheduled Vienna talks could lay out the road map for an eventual deal.
• For a nationwide service, South Korea will establish a cooperative system with broadcasting, information and communication sectors to provide precise standard-time information and expand it to other industries to prevent disruptions in national infrastructure even when GPS is suspended.
• To be available on Android and iOS, the weather layer will be made available globally, while the air quality layer will launch in Australia, the US, and India, with plans to see it expanded in other countries.
• As the world's wealthiest economies, strong leadership is needed from the G7 nations to advance rapidly the next generation climate technologies that will be needed in the next 10 to 30 years to create the net zero world of 2050.
• Registration of pink salt as a GI of Pakistan will promote and enhance national and international trade, stimulate global demand and attract premium price for Pakistan.
• Google's big maps update also includes other features that will roll out in the coming months, like air quality information, integration with grocery stores for curbside pickup, and an option to select the most eco-friendly route when driving.
• Low emission zones on Google Maps will launch in June in Germany, France, Spain and the U.K. on Android and iOS.
• Talking about air quality, Google Maps will get a new eco-friendly routing option that lets you pick the driving route that produces the least CO2, and it will finally feature support for low emission zones, a feature of many a European City.
• The weather layer will be available globally on Android and iOS in the coming months, with the air quality layer only launching for Australia, India and the U.S. at first.
• European powers are even buying into the US strategy and its myth that China is a threat to commercial freedom of navigation.
• The ODx technology will be a rapid, cost effective point of care testing solution for use by GPs as well as hospital emergency departments and specialist clinics around the world.

Last updated: 11 April 2021