SpatialNews Press Release

Global Geomatics™ Joins French Systems Integrator Générale d'Infographie in Contract Win

www.globalgeo.com

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French Ministry of Defense To Use Global Geomatics’ MapFusion™ Software

Montreal, February 12, 2002 Global Geomatics Inc. announced today that it has been awarded a contract to deploy its new MapFusion GIS (geographic information systems) interoperability software within the French Ministry of Defense (the Délégation Générale pour l’Armement DGA). French systems integrator Générale d'Infographie, who won the award from the French government, selected MapFusion because it provides the best solution for reading multiple geodata formats without the need for complex and time-consuming translation a project requirement.

Mastery of geographic terrain is a critical element of successful military engagements. But GIS systems, which offer great benefits to battlefield operations, require special skills and training to operate. As a result, field troops and military office personnel are often not aware of or able to take advantage of the benefits GIS data offers. The new MapFusion-based system will change this scenario, as French Air Force, Army, and other Defense Ministry personnel will be able to access geospatial information created by different agencies and in different formats. The resulting solution will allow French military personnel to learn first-hand about the benefits of geospatial information an important step in helping them deploy it in the field.

With MapFusion, users will have a visualization tool that can access nearly 80 different geodata formats and that will provide a multi-window, graphical interface through which they can simultaneously view different types of geodata, different theaters of defense, or different scales of data. The new software replaces a previous system that restricted access to such GIS data. The Ministry hopes that raising the awareness and acceptance of geographic information will expand the use of strategic geodata in mission preparation and review software, information and control systems, and embedded technologies, ultimately improving the success of military engagements.

“This is a unique installation for the French military, in that it is designed to be not only a visualization tool, but also a learning instrument. Through MapFusion, many military users who have no GIS skills will be able to see first-hand how powerful and important geodata can be for their defense operations,” said Gilles Clement, president and founder of Global Geomatics.

“MapFusion was a key element in winning this contract,” said Eric Pennors, defense business manager of Générale d'Infographie. “Without MapFusion’s commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) design, the project would have been too costly and time-consuming to build, because it would have required developing everything from raw code. Additionally, MapFusion already supported all the different GIS military formats this project required.”

MapFusion permits access to geospatial data from diverse sources and formats without requiring complex pre-processing or time-consuming translations. MapFusion’s “on-the-fly” ability to access, visualize, share, and disseminate GIS data across the Internet or IP-based intranets, means that even non-GIS specialists can reap benefits from geospatial data created by other departments or organizations. MapFusion seamlessly and dynamically merges heterogeneous and distributed geospatial data files into a single map literally “fusing” maps together. Multiple vector or raster files regardless of their source coordinate systems or formats can be combined to form a single map. The product uniformly displays tactical overlays atop geospatial data from any source.

MapFusion supports interoperability between prevalent geospatial military standards including VPF, RPF, ADRG, and DTED, as well as among popular GIS business packages from ESRI®, IBM® Informix™, Intergraph®, MapInfo®, ObjectFX™, Oracle®, and Virtual Prototypes™. It can also retrieve data from proprietary and open GIS file formats. MapFusion operates on Microsoft® Windows® 98/NT/2000, Sun™ Microsystems Solaris™, and Linux®, and is based on the Open Geospatial Datastore Interface (OGDI) and the Geographic Library Transfer Protocol (GLTP), which were developed in collaboration with defence scientists at the Canadian Department of National Defense.

ABOUT GLOBAL GEOMATICS INC.

Founded in 1989, Global Geomatics develops interoperable geomatics software solutions that facilitate wide access and rapid diffusion of geospatial data across the Internet and corporate intranets. Based in Montreal, Québec, the company has offices or representation in Canada, the United States, Europe and the Pacific Rim. Global Geomatics’ software is used by military, civil defense and commercial organizations all over the world. Today, it services over 150 companies in 25 different countries, either directly or in conjunction with its partners. Defense clientele include: the US Air Force, the US Army, DGA France, DND Canada, Lockheed Martin, Dassault Data Service, Lawrence Livermore National Labs, and Logicon-TASC. Commercial customers include GlobeXplorer, the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s Office of Geographic Information, and France’s IGN (National Geographic Institute). Alliances exist with IBM, ObjectFX, Lizard Tech, and others. To see Global Geomatics’ technology in action, visit www.globexplorer.com . Additional information on Global Geomatics is available at www.globalgeo.com .

About Générale d'Infographie

Founded in 1991, Générale d’Infographie is part of the GTIE Group and employs 90 engineers in Paris (Le Pecq), Le Mans, Lyon, Toulouse, Amiens and Strasbourg, France. Générale d’Infographie is a leading software editor and systems integrator dedicated to Geographical Information Systems (GIS). The company offers a full range of surveys and consulting services in order to provide customers with the most appropriate solutions and ensure training, assistance and maintenance for evolving and long term applications. Générale d’Infographie also designs and develops targeted vertical applications which are fully integrated into the enterprise IT system. Its wide range of GIS software and services covers the following key markets: environment, network management, local authorities, telecommunications, industry and services, transportation and defense. For more information, visit the company’s web site: www.generale-infographie.fr .

Global Geomatics and MapFusion are trademarks of Global Geomatics Inc. All other trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners.

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Feb 13, 2002 Jun 26, 2002