Business news for the week of 8 April 2009

Past news briefs

New Software Release from ffA
7 April 2009—ffA has released a new version of its 3D seismic analysis and volume interpretation application, SVI Pro 2009.

SVI Pro’s 2009 interactive facies classification module provides an interpreter-driven method for seismic facies analysis. It is the first 3D seismic analysis application to be enabled by graphics processing unit (GPU) computing technology.

Golden Software announces Surfer 9 with transparency and GeoTIFF support
7 April 2009—Golden Software has upgraded its Surfer contouring and 3D mapping package with the ability to apply transparency to solid colors, map layers, fill patterns, and images. Users have full control over the opacity percentage. Surfer also boasts the ability to import and export georeferenced image files. Users can create fully rendered 3D surfaces and overlay aerial photography, satellite imagery, and other images on these 3D surfaces with real world coordinates.

Two other upgrades to Surfer 9 are: (1) The ability to convert the projection of data in the worksheet and the ability to access individual items in a base map. (2) Users can now project and convert their data from more than 1500 predefined coordinate systems or define their own custom projection or datum with the push of a button. In addition, Surfer offers full customization of base maps by allowing users to interactively add, remove, or edit individual items in their base maps.

Golden Software has also enhanced Surfer’s capacity with the ability to calculate the length and area of lines and areas in a base map. Post maps have also been improved with the user now able to move individual post map labels with the mouse and the ability to save classes for a classed post map to a file for future use. Surfer 9 is fully compatible with other software. It imports and exports data files in all popular formats, including new import formats such as LizardTech's MrSID format and ER Mapper’s ECW format, new grid formats such as Arc/Info ADF, Banded Grid BIL, ER Mapper Grid ERS, and ZMAP, and new export formats including PDF, EPS, and 3D SHP.

Surfer’s functionality can be integrated with any ActiveX Automation-compatible software. Visual Basic, C++, and Perl scripts can be used to call Surfer to automate repetitive functions. In addition, final projects can be copied and pasted into other common programs, such as word processing or presentation software.