DigiTerra® Information Services Ltd, based in Budapest (Hungary), develops and sells GIS software products that are recognised as highly efficient tools of vector and raster geoinformatics.

Based on its developers' educational background, the company has become an expert in innovative GIS applications for agriculture, forestry and environmental service since its foundation back to 1996. As all important farming processes of forestry or agriculture are connected to spatial registry, as opposed to its competitors' applications, all DigiTerra solutions are based on digital maps. Unique development projects, industry specific solutions and out-of-the-box software products at attractive prices have made DigiTerra to local market leader in agro-geoinformation.

DigiTerra Explorer: mobile GIS software

The company's main out-of-the-box GIS application is DigiTerra Explorer, a mobile GIS and field mapping software, comparable with ESRI's ArcPad.

- It has been sold worldwide through reseller partners and used by thousands of government and private customers since 2000.

- The current version 6, introduced at INTERGEO 2009, is available in 3 functionally structured editions in order to meet different customer groups' needs.

Major competitive advantages of the software are:

• Unique graphical engine for fast processing of large raster and vector files even on mobile devices
• Will be delivered on SD-card to provide device-independent use
• Integrated with laser range finder, cable locator, camera
• Adjustable data collection sheets without programming
• Excellent price-value proportion

Main user groups of the software are farmers, foresters, field surveyors, public utility companies, geographers, archeologists - basically everyone, who uses a handheld GPS receiver for displaying digital maps and capturing field data.

For additional information and more detailed description of different application areas have a look at the following customer stories:

British Gardens surveyed by DigiTerra Explorer:
http://www.amerisurv.com/content/view/5098

Plotting retaining walls with DigiTerra Explorer:
http://www.digiterra.hu/en/newsevents/case-studies/
127-scott-wilson-group-plcuse-digiterra-explorer.html

Vegetation management with DigiTerra Explorer:
http://www.digiterra.hu/en/newsevents/case-studies/
125-fountains-plc-uk-works-with-digiterra-explorer.html

Further Information

1) Development projects

Built on a reliable and still flexible core GIS engine, DigiTerra has been involved in the following unique development projects ordered by different government organisations:

Land Parcel Identification System
After joining the EU, it was necessary to prepare a comprehensive GIS system in order to manage agricultural subsidies linked to the parcels. The software displays digital maps recorded by remote sensing, and supports the customer service work-flow by browsing the geographical data, filling registration forms and printing individual maps for each customer.

Ragweed Information System
Ragweed is a widely spread, dangerous plant that causes allergic reactions. In order to decrease the level of human allergy, the Government decided to set up a GIS-based protection system. In the first stage, infected areas will be detected by remote sensing, and then field surveyors localise the plant with GPS measurements. Finally, the plant will be extinguished and the owners of the infected parcels have to pay a penalty.
DigiTerra has developed a comprehensive information system, with both desktop and mobile software applications. Based on the remote sensing, local maps will be distributed to the surveyors, who have all the necessary information on their PDA's with GPS receivers. During the field work they verify the presence of ragweed and measure the infected area. Collected data will be transferred to a centralised database, which is connected to the property registration system. Official process of extinguishing the ragweed will be carried out based on this information.

On-the-spot control system
Before paying area based agricultural subsidy to the farmers, a government organisation controls whether the parcels' size specified in the application form matches with the reality. DigiTerra has developed a combination of desktop and mobile GIS software. Local surveyors receive each morning a data package from the central database with the information about the area to be controlled on the given day. Maps and all necessary information will be displayed on a mobile computer with GPS receiver, that enables surveyors to carry out their daily job. Results of the measurements will be uploaded to the central database by the end of the day. Subsidies will be paid or rejected based on these control measurements.

2) International sales cooperation strategy

International recognition has been increasing since 2007 when DigiTerra concluded a distribution agreement with Magellan/Ashtech (http://pro.magellangps.com/en/news/releases/viewRelease.asp?id=597). As a result, DigiTerra Explorer is available in the international distribution network of this large GPS producing partner.

This cooperation has been followed by a development agreement with Topcon, consequently nowadays all Topcon handheld GPS receivers have been integrated with the software (http://www.topcon-positioning.eu/index.asp?pageid=d9bc1474cd4a46caab4ec5af32570fde).

Since 2009 interested Topcon dealers have widen their product portfolio with DigiTerra Explorer. This year, negotiations with Trimble are in progress, aiming that also Trimble handheld receivers become fully compatible with DigiTerra Explorer.

In the UK, Ormston Technology represents DigiTerra as an exclusive value added reseller partner. Ormston has specific knowledge in several industry sectors using field survey, which is necessary to consult individual companies, prepare customised data collections sheets or maps, deliver tailored solution in larger GIS projects, train and support customers.

About Ormston Technology

Established in 1987, Ormston Technology Ltd continues to gain an enviable reputation as one of the UK's leading providers of high precision positioning and navigation equipment. In recent years, the Company has specialised in the provision of professional GNSS systems and Software packages to the Land Survey, Civil Engineering, GIS, Commercial Fishing, Marine Survey and Offshore sectors.

Ormston's in house design and development team has been responsible for a number of innovative own brand products including tidal monitoring, data acquisition, mobile communication and data telemetry systems based on state of the art technology. These skills allow the Company to offer a complete package, providing customers with bespoke solutions and specific training.