Weekly GEOINT Community News

Continental Mapping Awarded NGA JANUS Contracts

Continental Mapping Consultants received two 10-year prime contracts valued at a total of $570 million under the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s JANUS program. Continental Mapping will perform geomatics elevation and aeronautical feature mapping for the agency. 

DoD Creates Joint Artificial Intelligence Center

The Pentagon has created a Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC) to unify AI research and development efforts throughout the Department of Defense. The Center’s launch is in response to the accelerating AI race with China and Russia, and will establish standards for the Department’s tools, data, processes, and technology. DoD CIO Dana Deasy will oversee the JAIC’s initiatives, the first of which will be Project Maven.

AFWERX Opens Center in Texas

The Air Force’s AFWERX Innovation Group opened a new location in Austin, Texas, providing tools and training as well as connecting airmen with startups and entrepreneurs that can help realize their ideas. The Austin location was chosen for the city’s thriving tech community, specifically in virtual reality and artificial intelligence. Additionally, DIUx and the Army Research Laboratory both have locations nearby.

Penn State Launches Graduate Certificate in Geospatial Programming

Penn State University launched a new graduate certificate in geospatial programming and web map development, designed to prepare software developers, coders, and web engineers for professional GIS and remote sensing work. The certificate requires 15 credits and familiarizes students with script automation for spatial analysis, map application development, and data science.

Esri and the University of Redlands Offer Spatial Business Initiative

Esri and the University of Redlands School of Business partnered to launch the Spatial Business Initiative, an education, research, and advisory program to maximize understanding and use of geospatial technologies in the commercial sector. The initiative is funded by a grant from Esri, and will offer an online MBA and certificate in location analytics, an annual research conference, training sessions, and an Esri Press book.

Peer Intel

The General Services Administration’s 18F named Angela Colter its new executive director. Colter was formerly director of strategy for 18F.

Maxar’s DigitalGlobe hired Mike Edwards, a former executive at Northrop Grumman, as vice president and senior adviser for defense programs. He’ll lead work with the U.S. military and other defense contractors.

Photo Credit: Continental Mapping Consultants