Automated Mapping/Facilities Management
Automated Mapping and Facilities Management or AM/FM is part of the Geographic Information System (GIS). The term GIS was coined by the Ottawa (Canada) based geographer Dr. Roger Tomlinson, and was applied by him to a method of computerized map-making that he himself designed in the 1960s.
At the time Dr. Tomlinson developed this ingenious system of combining the topographic features of a region with an interactive map, computers were still in the stage of infancy. Since then, however, with the advances in computer science like CAD (Computer Aided Design) and other advanced software available now, the storage and analysis of spatial information has been revolutionized.
Automated Mapping and Facilities Management has become the most valuable tool in improving not only the everyday operations of all kinds of utility services, but also to governing agencies of a state or region as well as business organizations who can share their respective detailed maps with each other, saving precious time and money. The utilities, for example, can closely model their networks using raster images and CAD drawings in their GIS database using the topological characteristics of an area. As a result, there maybe fewer power outages and service stoppages.
The far reaching impact of Automated Mapping and Facilities Management and GIS can be gauged by the fact that corporations, governments and relief organizations all over the world are using this technology to successfully analyze and implement development projects by accurately mapping the underlying landscape of a region. Among the many benefits thus accrued, AM/FM also proves helpful for businesses to embark on retail promotional campaigns and for relief agencies to mount responses to various kinds of emergencies.
Last but not the least, GIS paved the way for numerous cartographic innovations, the manifestation of which you may realize if you’ve ever used a Google Map!
AM-FM is a blog launched to salute these pioneers, and later inventors and researchers, who have made our lives a whole lot better in many ways and we’ll do our tiny bit in bringing to you all that is related to AM/FM/GIS in order to do that. Your own constructive input in this endeavor is wholly welcome.