BMS Powers iVision with Esri's ArcGIS Platform

(February 10, 2015/Redlands, Calif.) Esri® announces that BMS, the U.S. reinsurance brokering arm of Minova Insurance Group, has integrated the ArcGIS platform into its award-winning carrier solution, iVision™.

iVision is based on specific input from BMS clients on how they want to use a spatial analytics platform in their own workflow. Assisted by Esri partner GeoDecisions, BMS created the solution to provide carriers with a way to reduce claims handling expenses, manage large loss exposures, and understand a policy's portfolio loss correlation before it is bound.

For more information, visit the Esri web site.

In July 2013, iVision received an Esri Special Achievement in GIS Award.

GeoDecisions’ experienced staff of professional consultants, analysts, and developers support clients worldwide. Fundamental to the company’s award-winning approach is the integration of spatial information to empower existing systems and processes. GeoDecisions’ philosophy is based on an enterprisewide approach to the integration of diverse information technologies, data formats, and systems. We are proud to be an Esri Gold-tier Business Partner and ISO 9001:2008 Certified.

GeoDecisions’ Federal GIS Focus Includes Traffic Noise Model Enhancements

(February 10, 2015/Washington, D.C.) GeoDecisions featured a cutting-edge Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) traffic noise model (TNM) application at Booth #621 during the Esri® Federal GIS Conference in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 9-10, 2015. An information technology (IT) company specializing in geospatial solutions, GeoDecisions is developing a suite of new interfaces to enhance the accessibility of FHWA’s highway noise modeling toolset.

FHWA’s TNM is a calculation model required for new road projects that receive federal funding. GeoDecisions improvements involve developing a standalone desktop application that allows highway designers to define infrastructure elements, projected traffic characteristics, and noise abatement features. Users run the noise model to determine the impacts of proposed mitigation techniques on noise levels, and then choose 2-D plan, 3-D, and section views of resulting features for visual analysis and presentation. Reports are automated to print or export.

In addition to the standalone application, GeoDecisions is developing three separate software extensions to access the TNM through programs used by departments of transportation and traffic consultants. Compatible platforms include Esri’s ArcGIS®, Autodesk’s AutoCAD®, and Bentley’s MicroStation®. This approach eliminates the need to purchase specialized, licensed software in addition to tools that highway designers already use.

“Our collaboration with FHWA results in significantly increased availability and accessibility of these important highway design tools,” said Kevin Switala, GISP, vice president of federal and international sales and delivery with GeoDecisions. “These new interfaces will enable engineers to more easily present noise abatement plans to the public as well.”

Switala and GeoDecisions President Brendan Wesdock, M.C.P., GISP, attended the Esri Federal GIS event to discuss the TNM project, a snow route planning application, IRRIS, and other federal geospatial solutions.

In January 2015, GeoDecisions Technical Architect Naveed Sami also was invited by the FHWA to demonstrate the noise model application during the Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.

Stand-alone application where users can quickly adjust design object parameters

An example of highway noise barrier design, showing application features, plan, and 3-D views

GeoDecisions’ experienced staff of professional consultants, analysts, and developers support clients worldwide. Fundamental to the company’s award-winning approach is the integration of spatial information to empower existing systems and processes. GeoDecisions’ philosophy is based on an enterprisewide approach to the integration of diverse information technologies, data formats, and systems.

We are proud to be an Esri Gold-tier Business Partner and ISO 9001:2008 Certified.

GeoDecisions Plows Ahead with PennDOT GIS Enhancements

(January 21, 2015/Harrisburg, Pa.) A geographic information system (GIS)-based snow route planning application is making headlines with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Developed for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) by GeoDecisions, an information technology (IT) company specializing in geospatial solutions, the application is helping PennDOT staff enhance public service, efficiently combat Old Man Winter, and potentially save millions in the process.

In the January 2015 edition of FHWA’s GIS in Transportation Newsletter, Sandra Tosca, PE, PennDOT district executive for Engineering District 3-0, describes how PennDOT’s new snow route application assesses winter operations. The system addresses transportation route data gaps and improves snow route mapping.

“PennDOT identified snow maps as the most cumbersome project for GIS operators because of the need to reconcile erroneous location references,” said Tosca. “In addition, there was no way to develop statewide maps that could be used to identify routing efficiencies across county lines.” Through their snow route planning application, PennDOT is tackling these data management and mapping issues.

The application’s geospatial IT approach enabled PennDOT to generate reports and metrics to better assess its 11 engineering districts and focus on process improvements. For more snow route project facts and figures including projected cost savings, read Tosca’s FHWA article.

GeoDecisions’ experienced staff of professional consultants, analysts, and developers support clients worldwide. Fundamental to the company’s award-winning approach is the integration of spatial information to empower existing systems and processes. GeoDecisions’ philosophy is based on an enterprisewide approach to the integration of diverse information technologies, data formats, and systems.

We are proud to be an Esri Gold-tier Business Partner and ISO 9001:2008 Certified.

GeoDecisions’ Portfolio Company Fishidy.com Hooks Investment Capital, Gannett Fleming Support, Launches As Independent Company

(August 12, 2014/Madison, Wisc.) Fishidy, Inc., received $1.5 million in Series A investment, led by Chicago-based angel investment group, Hyde Park Angels, and has closed its first round of outside financing. Developed jointly with GeoDecisions, an information technology (IT) company specializing in geospatial and enterprise geographic information system (GIS) solutions, Fishidy is a leading provider of map-based, on-the-water fishing information and a social networking hub for anglers across the U.S.

“Outside financing will accelerate our goals of customer acquisition and new product development, building upon our existing base of 150,000 members attained during the past 15 months,” said Brendan Wesdock, GeoDecisions president and Fishidy board member.

In addition to Hyde Park Angels, 15 individual investors and investment groups rounded out Fishidy’s remaining financing commitments, including Gannett Fleming, the Wisconsin Super Angel Fund, Brightstar Wisconsin, The Gialamas Company, Inc., Better Angels of Bozeman, Montana, Michigan-based Bryan Johnson, and Jeff Rusinow. Fishidy also can leverage its Qualified New Business Venture Tax credits as part of the closing.

Partnered with Walmart to provide local fishing information to its customers, Fishidy is one of Gannett Fleming’s first Collaborative Research and Innovation Center (CRIC) initiatives. “We took Fishidy from being a good idea, all the way through incubation, to the point now where it is a separately-run company,” said Wesdock. “Fishidy is a true success story in innovation.”

In April, Fishidy won the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce “Pressure Chamber” business pitch contest, earning Fishidy President Brian Jensen a trip to Silicon Valley, California, to pitch in front of U.S. venture capital firms. “Moving forward, Fishidy.com is a social media and geospatial platform with incredible potential,” said Wesdock. “It is not only making waves in the anglers’ technology market, but can be expanded for hunters and outdoorsmen.”

For more information, visit www.fishidy.com.

GeoDecisions’ experienced staff of professional consultants, analysts, and developers support clients worldwide. Fundamental to the company’s award-winning approach is the integration of spatial information to empower existing systems and processes. GeoDecisions’ philosophy is based on an enterprisewide approach to the integration of diverse information technologies, data formats, and systems.

We are proud to be an Esri Gold-tier Business Partner and ISO 9001:2008 Certified.