Toronto, ON, May 25, 2005 – Avenza Systems Inc., producers of MAPublisher cartographic software and MAPdataUSA and MAPdataWorld GIS data products, is pleased to announce that it will support HarrysMaps of Switzerland and the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD) project to remap the city of Nairobi, Kenya.

Along with other supporters such as P’Auer Printing Inc, Adobe Systems Inc. and Yupo Europe GmbH, Avenza will provide software and services free of charge to this not-for-profit project whose ultimate goal is to provide local decision makers, authorities, investors and tourists with handy, high quality paper maps for daily use.

“MAPublisher will play an important role in the creation of the high-quality maps, set as our ultimate goal for this project” said Harry Keller of HarrysMaps, the chief cartographer and project supervisor. “We are all well aware of MAPublisher’s ability to easily and effortlessly create great maps and we are very pleased and thankful for Avenza’s support for this project”, he added.

MAPublisher will be used in the cartographic design and production work using data derived from the RCMRD’s processing of satellite imagery to create the most up-to-date GIS database possible.

“Avenza is always willing to support worthwhile projects in the developing world such as this one in Nairobi” said Ted Florence, President of Avenza. “We are pleased that MAPublisher will be used in this important project and we applaud the RCMRD’s endeavour to generate this new database and HarrysMaps’ initiative to produce the map for the city”, he added.

More about MAPublisher

MAPublisher is powerful map production software for creating cartographic-quality maps from GIS data. Developed as a suite of plug-ins for Adobe Illustrator and Xtras for Macromedia Freehand, MAPublisher leverages the superior graphics editing capabilities of these applications with the strength and power of GIS data.  Full details and downloadable demo versions are available at www.avenza.com.

More about Avenza Systems Inc.

Avenza Systems Inc. is an award-winning, privately held corporation that provides cartographers and GIS professionals with powerful software tools for making better maps. In addition to software offerings for Mac and Windows users, Avenza offers value-added data sets, product training and consulting services. Visit www.avenza.com for more details.

More about the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development

The Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development was established in Nairobi, Kenya in 1975 under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the then Organization of African Unity (OAU). It is a non-profit intergovernmental organization that currently has 14 member states in southern and eastern Africa. The centre’s main objectives are: to provide services in the fields of surveying, and mapping; to provide training for nationals of member states in surveying, mapping and remote sensing; and to provide advisory services on matters relating to surveying and mapping. More information can be found on the organization’s website at www.rcmrd.org

For further information:
Tel: 416-487-5116
Email: info@avenza.com
Web: www.avenza.com

Powerful mapmaking software now supports Adobe Illustrator Creative Suite 2

Toronto, ON, May 17, 2005 – Avenza Systems Inc., producers of MAPublisher cartographic software, and MAPdata USA, MAPdata World and MajorCities USA royalty-free GIS/cartographic data files, announces the release of MAPublisher 6.2.

MAPublisher 6.2 is the latest version of this powerful mapmaking software used to produce high quality maps from GIS data ensures compatibility with the new Adobe Creative Suite 2 (CS2) that was released earlier this month. All earlier versions of MAPublisher are not compatible with Illustrator CS2.

“The timely release of MAPublisher 6.2 (so soon after Adobe began shipping) is demonstrative of our continuing commitment to keep pace with the new releases from Adobe,” said Ted Florence, president of Avenza Systems. “We are also pleased to have taken this opportunity to include new functionality in response to customer requests”, he added.

In addition to being compatible with Adobe Illustrator CS2, CS and 10, MAPublisher 6.2 adds the ability to simultaneously export multiple Illustrator map layers to GIS data formats. Previous versions could only export single layers at a time.

MAPublisher 6.2 for Adobe Illustrator is a full product update that is free to all current MAPublisher Maintenance Program subscribers and replaces the current shipping version of MAPublisher 6.1 for all new customers. All other customers, including MAPublisher 6.x customers with expired maintenance, will be required to purchase this upgrade at the usual upgrade price. MAPublisher for FreeHand users can crossgrade for US$200 if they have maintenance or US$599 if they do not.

More about MAPublisher for Illustrator

MAPublisher for Illustrator is powerful map production software for creating cartographic-quality maps from GIS data. Developed as a suite of plug-ins for Adobe Illustrator, MAPublisher leverages the superior graphics capabilities of this graphics design software.  Avenza also offers MAPublisher 5.0 for FreeHand – a suite of Xtras that add mapmaking functionality to Macromedia Freehand 10 and MX. Full details are available at www.avenza.com.

More about Avenza Systems Inc.

Avenza Systems Inc. is an award-winning, privately held corporation that provides cartographers and GIS professionals with powerful software tools for making better maps. In addition to software offerings for Mac and Windows users, Avenza offers value-added data sets, product training and consulting services. Visit www.avenza.com for more details.
For further information:
Tel: 416-487-5116
Email: info@avenza.com
Web: www.avenza.com

Toronto, ON, April 25, 2005 – Avenza Systems Inc., producers of MAPublisher cartographic software, announces that the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong S.A.R., has chosen MAPublisher software for use in their remote sensing laboratory.

“MAPublisher will play an important role in the creation of high-quality maps within our department” said Prof. Jonathan Aitchison, Head of the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Hong Kong. “We feel that good map creation and cartography are important to any geographic or geologic exercise and we are excited about using MAPublisher to enhance those skills at our school”, he added.

MAPublisher will be primarily used in the Remote Sensing Laboratory. Staff and students, particularly those working on the geodynamics of Eastern Asia, will be able to take advantage of the graphics capabilities of MAPublisher to produce high-quality maps.

More about MAPublisher

MAPublisher is powerful map production software for creating cartographic-quality maps from GIS data. Developed as a suite of plug-ins for Adobe Illustrator and Xtras for Macromedia Freehand, MAPublisher leverages the superior graphics editing capabilities of these applications with the strength and power of GIS data.  Full details and downloadable demo versions are available at www.avenza.com.

More about Avenza Systems Inc.

Avenza Systems Inc. is a privately held, award-winning supplier of powerful map-making software and affordable geodata products.  The Company also offers product training and consulting services. Visit www.avenza.com for more details.

More about the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Hong Kong

The Department of Earth Sciences was recently established at the University of Hong Kong and is ideally situated on the margin of east Asia. Opportunities exist to undertake genuinely new research into the tectonic evolution of both ancient and modern orogenic systems in this fascinating area. The subtropical location and local geology of Hong Kong present significant challenges and employment opportunities for engineering and environmental geologists and are another major focus of the department.

For further information:
Tel: 416-487-5116
Email: info@avenza.com
Web: www.avenza.com

Powerful mapmaking software for Adobe Illustrator is now accessible via the Internet

Toronto, ON, April 19, 2005 – Avenza Systems Inc. is pleased to announce the immediate availability of Internet-accessible floating or networked licenses of MAPublisher 6 for Adobe Illustrator. MAPublisher 6 is feature-rich mapmaking software used to produce high quality maps from GIS data and the addition of Internet-accessible floating licenses make this powerful cartographic production environment even more efficient and workgroup-friendly. This new license format allows access to MAPublisher and all its functionality via remote access to a Windows, Mac or Linux server host using a normal Internet connection. It provides the perfect solution for users who travel, work offsite and/or for workgroups composed of decentralized personnel.

“The introduction of MAPublisher 6 floating licenses last year marked an exciting new era in MAPublisher licensing and we are now equally as excited to provide this new approach to software sharing.” said Ted Florence, president of Avenza Systems, “The MAPublisher Internet Floating license makes MAPublisher much more productive in small or large multi-user or multi-computer environments where all users are not in the same physical location and helps lower the overall deployment cost in such organizations.” he added.

Floating licenses are a wonderful cost-effective way of sharing software amongst multiple users in a networked environment and should be considered for any MAPublisher user environment in which more than one person uses MAPublisher or in which it is desired that more than one person has access to MAPublisher. Floating licenses are particularly useful for companies or academic labs with multiple users wherein not everyone uses the product at the same time. The MAPublisher Internet Floating License has all the features and benefits of a normal networked or floating license along with the added ability to remotely access it via the Internet.
MAPublisher is powerful map production software for creating cartographic-quality maps from GIS data. Developed as a suite of plug-ins for Adobe Illustrator and Macromedia Freehand, MAPublisher leverages the superior graphics editing capabilities of these applications with the strength and power of GIS data.  Full details and downloadable demo versions are available at www.avenza.com.

Features/Benefits of MAPublisher Internet Floating Licenses

• All the features and functionality of MAPublisher 6 for Adobe Illustrator are included.
• Access to the software via a remote Internet connection
• Empower multiple users and/or multiple computers without the cost of purchasing an individual specific license for each user or computer.
• Allows MAPublisher to be shared among an unlimited group of potential users. The actual MAPublisher client software can be installed on an unlimited number of computers and can be used on any combination of computers concurrently, up to a maximum set by the number of floating licenses purchased.
• Supports Windows, Mac and Linux servers.
• Supports mixed platform (Windows and Mac) client environments.
• Special laptop option enables users to borrow a license and take it on the road even when disconnected from the network.
• Additional client computers and/or users can be added at no extra cost.

More about MAPublisher 6 for Illustrator Floating Licenses

MAPublisher 6 for Illustrator is powerful map production software for creating cartographic-quality maps from GIS data. Developed as a suite of plug-ins for Adobe Illustrator 10 and CS, MAPublisher 6 leverages the superior graphics capabilities of this design software package.  Avenza also offers MAPublisher 5 for FreeHand – a suite of Xtras that adds mapmaking functionality to Macromedia Freehand 10 and MX.

MAPublisher floating licenses are available now directly from Avenza Systems or through the Avenza reseller network at prices ranging from US$1799. Internet-enable floating licenses start at US$1999. Users may also upgrade from fixed to floating licenses. Prices include 1 year of maintenance.  Customers who purchase a MAPublisher floating license on or before May 31, 2005 will receive a free upgrade to the Internet-enabled version. Full details are available at www.avenza.com.

More about Avenza Systems Inc.

Avenza Systems Inc. is an award-winning, privately held corporation that provides cartographers and GIS professionals with powerful software tools for making better maps. In addition to software offerings for Mac and Windows users, Avenza offers value-added data sets, product training and consulting services.   Visit www.avenza.com for more details.

For further information:
Tel: 416-487-5116
Email: info@avenza.com
Web: www.avenza.com

A public forum for cartography and design

Toronto, ON, April 6, 2005 – Avenza Systems Inc., producers of MAPublisher cartographic software, and MAPdata USA, MAPdata World and MajorCities USA royalty-free GIS/cartographic data files, announces that it has agreed to an exclusive sponsorship of the Cartotalk online discussion group for cartography and design.

“We have been looking for a suitable online forum of cartographic discussion to which to lend our support for some time now” said Ted Florence, president of Avenza. “Cartotalk is definitely a worthwhile and active forum and we are delighted to participate in its growth and to see it flourish as the main source of exchanging information on map-making subjects”, he added.

“The goal of Cartotalk was to create a forum for cartographers with an emphasis on the design aspects of cartography.  Avenza’s MAPublisher is widely recognized as an important tool in modern-day digital cartography and we are very pleased to have Avenza participate in Cartotalk to such a degree” said Nick Springer of Springer Cartographics, the administrator of Cartotalk. “We hope that Avenza’s involvement and support Cartotalk will help make it the primary portal for cartographers” he added.

More about MAPublisher

MAPublisher is powerful map production software for creating cartographic-quality maps from GIS data. Developed as a suite of plug-ins for Adobe Illustrator and Macromedia Freehand, MAPublisher leverages the superior graphics editing capabilities of these applications with the strength and power of GIS data.  Full details and downloadable demo versions are available at www.avenza.com.

More about Avenza Systems Inc.

Avenza Systems Inc. is a privately held, award-winning supplier of powerful map-making software and affordable geodata products.  The Company also offers product training and consulting services. Visit www.avenza.com for more details.

More about Cartotalk.com

Cartotalk is a public forum for cartography and design which includes sections on general cartographic news, a searchable discussion forum, an events calendar and related tutorials and tips. Cartotalk is maintained by Springer Cartographics of Crosswicks, NJ and can be found at www.cartotalk.com.

For further information:
Tel: 416-487-5116
Email: info@avenza.com
Web: www.avenza.com

3 part set of GIS map data covering the world at 1:15 million scale.

Toronto, ON, March 22, 2005 – Avenza Systems Inc., the developer of MAPublisher map production software and MAPdataUSA shapefile data for the United States , is pleased to announce the release of MAPdata World, a 3 part set of royalty-free GIS map data covering the world at 1:15 million scale.

This detailed world vector dataset was initially created by Avenza UK reseller and digital data experts, The XYZ Digital Map Co., Ltd., and was specially created / designed for Avenza and the MAPublisher user. As a result it contains many data and design elements you will not find anywhere else in a world data set.

MAPdata World comes complete with ESRI Arcview project and shapefiles, MapInfo tab and workspace files and a set of MAPublisher-optimized mid/mif files which have been fine tuned and simplified for optimum performance with MAPublisher, whether working in Adobe Illustrator or Macromedia FreeHand.

Vector data layers include towns, roads, railways, rivers, lakes, administration areas and lines, symbols and physical names. Raster contour and hillshading layers are also available. This is a royalty-free data set that allows for the unrestricted use of all files for the design and creation of maps for print and/or electronic distribution.

“MAPdata World is our response to customer requests for more high-quality and royalty-free map data that they can use with MAPublisher or their GIS,” said Ted Florence, president of Avenza Systems Inc. “This data set has everything you need to make detailed maps of the world or world regions whether for publication or for use with your GIS.,” he added.

Summary of MAPdata World features and benefits:

• royalty-free*
• ready for immediate use in your GIS or with MAPublisher
• cross-platform (Windows and Mac) compatibility
• presented in widely used GIS file formats
• optimized files for use with MAPublisher included
• includes national road and rail networks
• includes hydrologic features such as drainage, rivers and lakes
• includes up-to-date administrative boundaries
• raster hillshading and contours are included
• selected features include attributes for labeling
• project and workspace files contain labels set at pre-determined zoom levels for ease of viewing
• MAPublisher-optimized files include preset labels that can be used without further modifications

For complete product details and downloadable samples visit www.avenza.com

*certain restrictions apply. See website for details.

MAPdata World is available now direct from Avenza Systems Inc. and through Avenza’s worldwide reseller network at US$999 for the complete 3-format set or at US$599 for an individual file format.

More about MAPublisher

MAPublisher is powerful map production software for creating cartographic-quality maps from GIS data. Developed as a suite of plug-ins for Adobe Illustrator and Macromedia Freehand, MAPublisher leverages the superior graphics capabilities of these design packages with over 40 tools including import/export of major GIS file formats with all the attribute information intact and usable.

More about Avenza Systems Inc.

Avenza Systems Inc. is an award winning, privately held corporation that provides cartographers and GIS professionals with powerful software tools for making better maps.  In addition to software offerings for Mac and Windows users, the Company offers value-added data sets, product training and consulting services.   Visit www.avenza.com or call 416-487-5116 for more details.

More about The XYZ Digital Map Co., Ltd.

The XYZ Digital Map Co., Ltd., based in Scotland , are specialists in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and cartography. They supply map data for GIS users and the web as well as specializing in map creation and complete map and GIS database design and production services. Visit www.xyzmaps.com for more details.

For further information:
Tel: 416-487-5116
Email: info@avenza.com
Web: www.avenza.com

Toronto, ON, February 7, 2005 – Avenza Systems Inc., producers of MAPublisher cartographic software, announces that the School of Mathematical & Geospatial Sciences at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia has chosen the MAPublisher software for use in their cartographic lab.

“We have continually subscribed to the ideas that contemporary cartography education programmes must ensure that the ART is not excluded in the rush towards automation of the mapping process” said William Cartwright, Associate Professor of Multimedia Cartography. “Students in the bachelor of Applied Science in Multimedia Cartography have access to a wide range of mapping, GIS, multimedia and scientific software and the addition of  MAPublisher will complement these software packages and allow for us to realize the ART elements, by combining existing software and processes with the design and production capabilities that MAPublisher offers”, he added.

MAPublisher will be primarily used in the software lab by staff and students towards the degree. This 3 year program educates students who have an interest in multimedia technology and geographical visualization, and who wish to apply these interests to tasks involving the design and production of contemporary maps and geospatial products. The program then allows students to enter the bachelor of Applied Science in Geospatial Science (honours), where they are able to undertake a research programme that focuses on a contemporary cartography issue.  Students will be able to take advantage of the graphics capabilities of MAPublisher to produce high-quality maps.

More about MAPublisher

MAPublisher is powerful map production software for creating cartographic-quality maps from GIS data. Developed as a suite of plug-ins for Adobe Illustrator and Macromedia Freehand, MAPublisher leverages the superior graphics editing capabilities of these applications with the strength and power of GIS data.  Full details and downloadable demo versions are available at www.avenza.com.

More about Avenza Systems Inc.

Avenza Systems Inc. is a privately held, award-winning supplier of powerful map-making software and affordable geodata products.  The Company also offers product training and consulting services. Visit www.avenza.com for more details.

More about the RMIT School of Mathematical & Geospatial Sciences

The School of Mathematical & Geospatial Sciences at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology was created in 2004, combining the former Department of Geospatial Science with the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. It draws together disciplines involving the quantitative and qualitative visualization of data in a unique amalgam of expertise and application. As well as teaching its own undergraduate science degrees in Geomatics, Mathematics, Multimedia Cartography and Surveying, the School is a key provider of service teaching to other Schools of the RMIT University . The School also offers graduate programs at Graduate Diploma, masters and Doctoral level.

For further information:
Tel: 416-487-5116
Email: info@avenza.com
Web: www.avenza.com