February 27, 2012 - GeoConcept, the powerful and widely-used digital mapping and geographic information system from MapMechanics, has taken a significant stride forward with the UK launch of version 7.0.

GeoConcept is one of the world’s most advanced and widely-used geographic information systems, combining user-friendliness and versatility with power and sophistication.

The new version introduces a modern and intuitive interface; touch-screen capability for use on tablet PCs and other mobile devices; exciting new standard features such as 3D mapping; extended compatibility with third-party data and map file formats; and new options for outputting and sharing maps and geographic analysis.

GeoConcept 7.0 users will find a fully updated and intuitive Windows 7-style interface featuring the “ribbon” top menu bar similar to those seen in Microsoft’s Office 2010 products. This groups together links to many related functions, keeping them discreetly in view at all times.

The new version remains fully compatible with earlier versions of Microsoft Windows such as Vista, Server and XP, as well as with Windows 7.

File importing has been updated to allow data to be read directly from files in modern formats such as Microsoft’s .XLSX (Excel spreadsheet) and .ACCDB (Access database). GeoConcept 7.0 is also compatible with the geometries of Microsoft SQL Server 2008,  PostGIS 1.5 and Postgres SQL 9.0.

Touch-screen compatibility means users can now perform mapping and analytical tasks on tablet PCs with no separate keyboard and without the use of a mouse – ideal in field applications, and also for “whiteboard” interactive presentations at conferences and seminars or in the classroom.

GeoConcept’s 3D capability, previously available only on a limited and optional basis, has been extended and included as a standard feature from version 7.0. The system can now use data from terrain models to render mapping in three dimensions, giving extra impact to the display and making contours easier to understand. Users can toggle instantly between 2D ad 3D versions of these maps.

GeoConcept can also present thematic mapping information (coloured bar charts, for instance) in a 3D form to make relative volumes or sizes of related data easier to understand at a glance.

Thematic mapping has been updated in other ways, too. Data can now be grouped and sorted on the basis of numeric fields as well as text, and it is possible to save the results of ad hoc searches and retrieve them later.

GeoConcept 7.0 is also better at handling thematic mapping that incorporates multiple visual items (labels or legends, for instance), managing their size and placement intelligently.

It is much easier in GeoConcept 7.0 to create, save, output and share reports based on analysis of maps and data. For instance, if there is a requirement to calculate optimised territories and then output a series of maps zoomed in to show each territory, these maps can all be generated and output in the desired format in a single process. This automated approach supplements GeoConcept’s existing page layout tools, which are retained in the new version.

GeoConcept 7.0 can publish its reports in a variety of industry-standard formats, including PDF (Portable Document Format), CSV (comma-separated values), RTF (Rich Text Format) and TXT (plain text).

Geocoding (plotting map locations from address data) has been refined in GeoConcept 7.0, which makes it much easier to geocode addresses in countries that lack the UK’s detailed postcode system. Alternatively, GeoConcept can now geocode addresses directly from an address file such as NAVTEQ Streets that includes street number ranges. Users simply specify the source file and the field to geocode on; there is no need for a separate geocoding resource such as the Universal Geocoder used previously.

Queries, which are the basis of most geographical analysis, are even easier to create in GeoConcept 7.0, yet are also more versatile and interactive. For instance, in a network planning project there is a more logical and intuitive process for defining and saving the origin and destination points of a flow of people, materials or assets.

In topological queries, there are more choices when it comes to defining what is being searched for. For instance, users can define precisely whether they want search results to include only items where the outlines cross the selected area are included, or only items that are totally included  within the chosen area or those items where the centroids are included (regardless of where the outlines lie).

There are numerous other enhancements in GeoConcept 7.0. For instance, it’s faster and easier to set up access to WMS, WFS, and Bing  maps and metadata handling (saving and storing information about maps) is easier to set up, and the data can be stored in an industry-standard XML format for compatibility with other spatial or geographic management systems.

Finally, GeoConcept’s Widget Manager has been updated and expanded, and now includes a wide range of usability tools such as provision to save task lists on screen and to link to Google maps.

About MapMechanics

MapMechanics has been providing innovative solutions in logistics planning, sales and marketing, digital mapping and geographic analysis for over twenty years.

• MapMechanics distributes a wide range of data products including AA, NAVTEQ and Ordnance Survey digital mapping, as well as leading business and demographic datasets from many sources throughout the world. This data is listed on MapMechanics’ intuitive new transactional data web site, www.allmapdata.com, which is probably the most extensive and up-to-date listing of its kind in Britain.
• MapMechanics is the UK distributor of the GeoConcept geographic information system, which is used extensively in a diverse range of fields such as depot planning, retail planning, marketing, healthcare, environmental planning and management, transport and logistics, site selection and territory allocation, telematics and command and control applications, policing and broadcasting, and central and local government.
• MapMechanics develops, supplies and supports TruckStops, one of the world’s best-established routing and scheduling solutions, and its portfolio includes a wide range of optimisation solutions. Examples include specialist systems for optimising transport of full or part loads, for servicing a high density of calls on the same streets and for optimising use of pallet networks.  
• MapMechanics also uses digital map-based technologies to offer an extensive range of Web, desktop, paper and component solutions for a variety of business applications, from atlas production to business analysis, site selection, customer profiling and vehicle routing and scheduling.

Backing up its extensive product range, MapMechanics offers a comprehensive service of implementation support and training.



Contact:

Katy McKenna
MapMechanics
Canal Court, 155 High Street
Brentford, London, TW8 8JA
katy.mckenna@MapMechanics.com
Tel: +44 (020) 8568 7000
Fax:+44 (020) 8568 7400
Web: www.GeoXploit.com