14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft's mapping service, Virtual Earth, has returned to the media's attention with an announcement made by the Redmond company, which said that NGA, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, will use the platform for its applications.
The NGA will implement Microsoft Virtual Earth to provide geospatial support for humanitarian, peacekeeping and national-security efforts.
Geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) is the exploitation and analysis of imagery and geospatial information to describe, assess and visually depict physical features and geographically referenced activities on the Earth.
"NGA is collaborating with Microsoft to accelerate the introduction of commercial virtual solutions into the GEOINT arena. This relationship will enable NGA to cooperate in the development of Microsoft's mapping software and to explore commercial software solutions," said retired Air Force Lt. Gen. James R. Clapper Jr., director of the NGA.
Microsoft believes that as a result of the collaboration between the two entities, the Virtual Earth will significantly improve.
"Microsoft is honored to work with the world's foremost mapping organization - we have much to learn from them," said Craig Mundie, chief technical officer of advanced strategies and policy at Microsoft.
"We believe the combination of our experience delivering Web services with NGA's unparalleled knowledge of the geospatial domain will significantly advance the creation of a truly virtual Earth," he added.
MSN Virtual Earth was launched as beta in July 2005.