Federal projects and their funding often bring significant revenue to private geospatial companies. In the current economy, that's likely to change. Are companies that lose out on this funding prepared to "pivot" toward more commercial customers?

"You are beginning to see some of the companies in the geospatial domain really begin to think about what their business model is and change it and I think all of this is a direct result of these impending budget cuts, which we have known for some time."

Joe Francica,
Editor-in-Chief
Directions Magazine
To listen to a brief podcast related to this topic, visit directionsmag.com

Cancellation of Contract

On Nov. 20, the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) announced the cancellation of the highly-anticipated Geospatial Data Services (GDS) Foundation GEOINT (FG) contract. Estimates place the multi-award Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract value in excess of $500 million over 5 years making it one of the largest geospatial analysis operations in the world. NGA released the solicitation to replace the existing Global Geospatial Intelligence (GGI) contract. In a cancellation letter issued on the FedBizOpps website, NGA indicated the agency would re-evaluate its needs and reissue another solicitation at an unspecified future date.

The cancellation letter can be located at the following website: https://www.fbo.gov.

Remote sensing aids in heritage protection: experts
Shanghai Daily

BEIJING (Xinhua) -- Remote sensing is playing a more important role in the preservation of world heritage, experts said Wednesday at the ongoing fourth International Conference on Remote Sensing in Archaeology. Patrick Mckeever, a geologist… Read more, shanghaidaily.com.

China successfully launches remote sensing satellite
China.org.cn

The Yaogan XVI remote-sensing satellite was developed by an affiliate research institute of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. It has been designed for a variety of uses, including technological experimentation, land resource… Read more, china.org.cn/ .

Profile: NGA CIO Keith Littlefield
ExecutiveGov

Dr. Keith Littlefield serves as chief information officer at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the Springfield, Va.-based mapping agency led by Letitia Long. Before joining NGA, Littlefield served as associate deputy director of national… Read more, executivegov.com.

Did You Know?

Did you know FEMA is utilizing geospatial satellite imagery to see into areas most damaged by Hurricane Sandy to help qualify storm survivors for two months of rental assistance? The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), the agency that provides the U.S. intelligence community with mapping and other geospatial information, said on Oct. 30 that it had embedded teams with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as Sandy approached the U.S. The agency said its recovery support efforts would include damage assessments of the affected areas that help FEMA and first responders manage response levels effectively. Read more, gsnmagazine.com/

EIGS IN THE NEWS
 

A Geospatial Tech Hub Puts Mississippi on Map
Terra.com

The EIGS cluster, designated one of 10 SBA clusters through a 2010 pilot program, has been around since 1998. In the mid-90s, the federal and state… Read more, directionsmag.com

Global Perspectives
 

South Sudan To Establish A GIS Mapping System
Oye! Times

Geographic information system (GIS) is a system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present all types of geographical data. It is the merging of cartography, statistical analysis, and database technology. According to one of… Read more, oyetimes.com

How many Russian Earth observation satellites will be in orbit by 2015?
The Voice of Russia

This remote sensing satellite was to replace the Resurs-DK №1spacecraft launched in 2006, which has already gone beyond its warranty period. Roskosmos plans to restore the group of remote sensing satellites by 2015-17, but apparently new spacecraft… Read more, english.ruvr.ru

GIS Day: Geocaches Treasure Hunt Launched
Bernews

In celebration of this year's GIS Day, the Bermuda Government's Geographic Information System (GIS) Committee and the Department of Conservation Services is launching a series of GIS themed Geocaches as part of a real world treasure hunting game… Read more, bernews.com

  EIGS Perspective (Full text)

The Sensor: Can you tell our readers about Lime Pi Digital including its history and your role with the company?

Whitney: Lime Pi Digital was formed to help other businesses grow using the latest digital and analytic marketing techniques. I started to develop businesses early in the Internet. I have over 10 years of experience marketing and analyzing organic, paid, social and viral campaigns for web properties. This depth of experience is key to understanding where web marketing concepts originated and where a company should focus for long term success.

The Sensor: What have been some of the bigger accomplishments for Lime Pi?

Whitney: Lime Pi Digital is really proud of the connections it has made with Google. We are currently a Google Certified AdWords Partner and an Authorized Google Apps Reseller.

The Sensor: In order to give our readers a better idea about Lime Pi, tell us about your customer base.

Whitney: We have a diverse client set. We have a variety of B2B and B2C customers ranging from contractors, builders, services, restaurants, e-commerce and organizations. We specifically target customers who look to achieve certain goals from their web properties and need to increase their reach, sales, and impact using a unified digital marketing approach.

The Sensor: As a small business, you are used to facing challenges every day, but tell us about the challenges the company has faced over the last several years in this volatile economy.

Whitney: One of the biggest challenges Lime Pi Digital has faced is the country's harsh economic situation. Companies are less willing to make investments, even those with clear return on investment, in uncertain economic times. Customers who braved the economy were able to see demonstrable results even during this difficult financial time.

The Sensor: Lime Pi Digital will be the first business to locate in the Magnolia Business Alliance's incubator for small businesses, the Waveland Business Incubator. What other benefits and value do you think EIGS and MBA can provide to Lime Pi Digital?

Whitney: Lime Pi Digital looks to grow relationships with partners in EIGS and MBA to create strategic areas of growth. There are a lot of opportunities for amazing growth and development in our areas, but a creative cluster with various skills sets will be key to substantial and real economic growth. Lime Pi Digital would love to see a diverse and strong set of technological companies growing their businesses right here on Coleman Avenue in Waveland, MS.

The Sensor: What do you see on the horizon for Lime Pi Digital?

Whitney: As we continue to grow, we look to add new offerings of applications and services designed to help our customers close more business from the web.

About Lime Pi Digital: Lime Pi Digital's main focus is on cloud based marketing, organic Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Cost Per Click Management (CPC), AdWords Account Management, search engine friendly Web Design, Social Media Implementation & Management, Web Tracking & Analysis, Lead Capture & Acquisition, Web Site Upgrades and Web Site Repairs. Lime Pi strives to solve customer's information delivery, capture and branding issues with one collaborative and cohesive plan. For more information visit limepi.com or contact Chad Whitney at Chad.whitney@limepi.com, 985-326-9321.