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Galdos springboards to international success on GML standards
One of the first things we learn in school is the importance of sharing. Galdos Systems Inc. of Vancouver, British Columbia, is applying this lesson to deliver geographic information over the Internet and boost international sales.
The company has developed technology that enables users across the continent, or even around the world, to easily share and exchange geographic information. Known as geography markup language (GML), the technology enables geographic databases to stay in synch with one another, the key to the data sharing.
For instance, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is participating in a project to create a one-stop shop for geospatial data throughout the United States. Galdos is supplying its products and GML expertise to the project.
"We want to be able to display the data that exists within a variety of government departments at a variety of levels," says Mr. John Gunn, Road Framework Layer Project Manager with ODOT. "For example, we might want to generate a map that shows state, city, and county roads, even though the map data comes from three different sources. This capability will help in responding to emergencies, fighting fires, routing hazardous materials, and so on. Galdos is at the cutting edge of this technology, and they're pulling us in a direction that promises to benefit our organization and many others."
As well, the Korea Highway Corporation is using Galdos products to build an intelligent transportation system that will provide real-time traffic information. The system will let regional control centres and a national centre in Korea know about construction tie-ups, accidents, and traffic congestion in real time.
"Without international standards supported by real technology, penetrating international markets would be much harder," says Mr. Ron Lake, President of Galdos and the originator of GML technology. "With support from GeoConnections, both in terms of funding and promoting the GML standard, Galdos Systems has established partnerships in Korea, Spain, and the United States, and will shortly announce several new partnerships in Asia."
Good timing, hard work, and a helping hand
GML offers a standard way of encoding geographic information for movement across the Internet. GML enables users to deliver geographic information as distinct features, and then control how web browsers display those features. For instance, users can define things like roads or rivers, and describe their geometry, location, or extent-an important aspect of creating useful digital maps.
"It was partly good timing and partly lots of work on our part that GML has taken off like it has," says Mr. Lake. "GeoConnections has also been important because it's endorsed the standard and provided support to Galdos and other companies."
By adopting international standards, GeoConnections has encouraged organizations-both private and public-to employ standards such as GML. When other organizations adopt GML standards, Galdos gains operational examples that the company can use to attract international sales. Moreover, Galdos can see how the standards hold up in real-world applications.
"People are no longer just talking about what the standards should do," says Mr. Lake. "Now, they're actually using them, which helps us uncover opportunities for improvement."
Boosting competitiveness-and credibility
Galdos has benefited significantly from GeoConnections. Projects supported by the initiative have enabled this company-with 20 employees-to develop world-leading technology for geospatial data handling, and to pursue common standards for integrating geospatial data and services. These two components-advanced technology and international standards-are key to the company's current and future success.
"It would be much more difficult without GeoConnections," says Mr. Lake. "Developing a commercial product, as we're doing with our Geospatial Enterprise Suite, is a challenge. Until you show that a market exists, getting venture capitalists involved is difficult. And it's hard to show that a market exists until you have a product that customers are ready to buy. GeoConnections has helped us show that we have a commercial product, which has directly led to new business."
A world of market potential
Galdos has succeeded in making GML an OGC standard, and GML will soon be an ISO standard as well. Developments such as these have enabled Galdos and other Canadian companies to win customers throughout North America and around the world.
This type of international success underscores the value of GeoConnections in helping small Canadian companies to excel. Because as Ron Lake and Galdos are hoping, from small things, big things may one day come.
| GeoConnections is a national partnership initiative led by Natural Resources Canada to build the Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure (CGDI) and make Canada's geospatial databases, tools, and services readily accessible on-line. |