PDF Maps app to aid firefighting and emergency response efforts

TORONTO (October 27, 2015)—The United States Forest Service (USFS) fights wildfires and other natural disasters in more than 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, totaling an estimated 193 million acres or 30% of all federally-managed lands. The USFS Geospatial Management Office (GMO) is responsible for the implementation of the Forest Service geospatial program which includes using technologies such as geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, cartography, geodesy, and global positioning systems (GPS).

Every year thousands of acres of forests are engulfed in fires. Recognizing the benefits of geospatial technology, the USFS GMO has included Avenza System Inc.’s award-winning PDF Maps mobile app in order to deliver interactive digital maps to fire fighters and emergency response teams situated in forests across the United States and its territories.

The centered blue GPS position on an operations map pinpoints the user’s location on Avenza’s PDF Maps app used on an iPad (Photo cred: Carl Beyerhelm)

With increased use of digital solutions, the USFS benefits from Avenza’s PDF Maps app geospatial technology in enabling its thousands of fire-fighters and support personnel. The PDF Maps app aids emergency response teams who use digital devices for work in the field. The PDF Maps app provides constant access to geographic information and points of interest, with additional interactive features such as measuring, place marking and location tagging. Avenza’s PDF Maps app operates without the risk of lost reception due to cell tower proximity and does not rely on an internet connection to use map data. It uses GPS to obtain and display an accurate position on the ground regardless of network connectivity.

“Accessing maps on mobile devices ensure responders have accurate and current geographic information while they’re out in the field,” said Carl Zulick, Geospatial Information Officer, USFS. “Avenza’s PDF Maps app makes it possible for teams to use any map digitally without requiring a data connection while involved in an emergency situation. Since the maps are location-aware and interactive, we can capture real-time data, photos, and locations. This data can be shared to assess the situation and make necessary strategic changes and improve situational awareness.”

The PDF Maps app is available now on the iTunes App Store and Google Play Store free of charge for personal recreational use. A Windows version is currently in public beta release. Commercial, government and academic use licensing is available for a nominal annual fee. For more information about PDF Maps, visit the Avenza website at https://avenza.com or the PDF Maps website at http://www.pdf-maps.com. Pricing of each map is set by the publisher and free maps remain free to users through the PDF Maps app in-app store. Commercial use licensing starts at US$49 per year and drops on a per-device basis as deployment numbers increase.

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 as well as the PDF Maps mobile mapping system. In addition to software offerings for Mac and Windows users, Avenza offers value-added data sets, product training and consulting services. For more information, visit the Avenza website at www.avenza.com.

Contacts:
Christine Simmons
LFPR Public Relations – www.lfpr.com
(for Avenza Systems Inc.)
949-502-6200 ext. 320
christines@lfpr.com

PDF Maps app provides additional platform for a growing base of digital users to access more than 120,000 current and historic US Topo maps

TORONTO, ON, (September 1, 2015)— Providing science for a changing world, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) continues to support the delivery of its digital maps through Avenza Systems Inc.‘s popular, award-winning PDF Maps app. The wider selection of more than 120,000 US Topo maps on a popular digital mapping platform provides digital users access to USGS’ rich map content, and extends its reach with a growing base of mobile consumers.

With the digital map user base continuing to rise year after year, USGS map users benefit from Avenza’s PDF Maps app geospatial technology. The app currently aids a growing number of people who reference digital devices for work or recreation. Travelers, recreationists, scientists and conservation and environmental decision makers already make use of USGS topo maps but the expanded use of the maps via the PDF Maps app provides current USGS topo map users the ability to digitally access maps in areas with little to no internet reception and input notes and images within the map all while tracking current position.

The USGS produces Topo maps on a continuous basis with more than 18,000 revised quadrangles produced every year. Currently, thousands of maps from USGS’s extensive library are now available in Avenza’s PDF Maps database including the most current variations that reflect the changing landscape of the country. Many historical maps can also be accessed with thousands more dating back 130 years being added in the near future. The app provides constant access to geographic information and points of interest, with additional interactive features such as measuring, place marking and location tagging. Avenza’s PDF Maps app operates without the risk of lost reception due to cell tower proximity, making it the ultimate traveling tool since it does not rely on an internet connection to use map data and obtain and display location.

“Distinguished map publishers like the USGS fully recognize the shift to digital and how consumers are accessing and consuming information that was once static and digitally implementing it into their daily lives and making it more interactive,” said Ted Florence, president of Avenza Systems Inc. “Avenza’s PDF Maps app is an example of how a digital tool can expand the utility of a map beyond location guidance; it is also a tool to capture an experience in real-time. As the industry continues to evolve to fit into the world of a mobile consumer, we look forward to strengthening our ties with groups like the USGS.

PDF Maps app 2.6 is available now on the iTunes App Store free of charge for personal and private use. PDF Maps app is also available for use with Android devices in the Google Play Store free of charge for personal non-commercial use. A Windows version is currently in public beta targeted for a release later this year. Commercial, government and academic use licensing is available for a nominal annual fee. For more information about PDF Maps, visit the Avenza website at https://avenza.com or the PDF Maps website at http://www.pdf-maps.com. Pricing of each map is set by the publisher and free maps remain free to users through the PDF Maps app in-app store.

For more information on USGS Topo products, visit the website at http://nationalmap.gov/ustopo

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 as well as the PDF Maps mobile mapping system. In addition to software offerings for Mac and Windows users, Avenza offers value-added data sets, product training and consulting services. For more information, visit the Avenza website at www.avenza.com.

Contacts:
Christine Simmons
LFPR Public Relations
www.lfpr.com
(for Avenza Systems Inc.)
949-502-6200 ext. 320

PDF Maps 2.6 for iOS Provides Consumers More Purchasing Choices With Map Bundles Including New York-New Jersey Trail Conference

TORONTO, ON (August 25, 2015)— Avenza Systems Inc., the leading developer of cartographic software — such as MAPublisher for Adobe Illustrator and Geographic Imager geospatial tools for Adobe Photoshop — announced the latest version of PDF Maps 2.6 for iOS devices. This release introduces Map Bundles available for purchase in the PDF Maps Store. Map publishers can now group multiple maps together to create map bundles and offer them for sale, giving consumers more purchasing options, an opportunity to save money, and an improved shopping experience.

The PDF Maps app takes advantage of geospatial technology that allows travelers to view and measure real world locations and attributes. Paired together with mobile devices that utilize GPS, such as an iPhone, the PDF Maps app provides constant access to geographic locations and even points of interest without the risk of losing reception due to cell tower proximity. This makes it the ultimate travel accessory for any activity in areas where internet bandwidth is not available or while roaming outside one’s data zone. Key features and capabilities of PDF Maps 2.6 include:

• Introducing Map Bundles in the PDF Maps Store, download and purchase collections of maps
• Improved OpenStreetMap search results
• Option to disable placemark aggregation
• German, Russian, Japanese and Chinese localization
• New online help available through Settings
• Line units are now uniform and will display in the current units in the Measure tool as opposed to being set individually
• Data recorded on maps without georeferencing is no longer supported as a result of major database changes. Export data prior to upgrading to save recorded data.

“As a company that strives to help our industry evolve and grow in a digital environment, we’re listening to our map publisher’s requests and have created map bundles to provide them with additional sales opportunities. This also reaffirms our commitment to make it easy for consumers to obtain maps,” said Ted Florence, president, Avenza Systems Inc. “We’re excited to see the continued growth of PDF Maps, not just as a product, but as a valuable tool that aids consumers in exploring the world as well as helps commercial users solve problems. We hope the latest features of PDF Maps 2.6 help make a difference.”

“The availability of New York-New Jersey Trail Conference maps in the PDF Maps Store has continued to provide an additional platform that consumers can easily access digitally while providing an interactive way to experience our rich content, especially with the latest version of PDF Maps,” said Jeremy Apgar, cartographer, New York-New Jersey Trail Conference. “Map bundles are an excellent way to purchase multiple maps and provide a tremendous value. We’re excited that we can continue to provide accurate and detailed maps to PDF Maps app users.”

Currently, Avenza’s vast PDF Maps app library covering maps for domestic and international destinations includes more than 100,000 maps organized by country, state and area. All maps available through the in-app iTunes-like map store offer the following capabilities:

• Access and load maps through in-app purchase, iTunes File Sharing, Wi-Fi or cellular network to read maps anytime
• Access and interact with saved maps without the need for a live network connection (offline)
• View your location on the PDF map using the built-in GPS device or via Wi-Fi triangulation
• Find coordinates of any location in the map, including the ability to type in coordinates to search
• Display coordinates as Lat/Long (WGS84), Lat/Long (Map Default), Northing/Easting, or Military Grid Reference System (MGRS/United States National Grid (USNG)
• Support for GeoTIFF files to create tiles similar to how a geospatial PDF is tiled
• Map rendering in higher resolution
• Overlay Google search results
• Add waypoints and collect/record information about locations, including photos
• Measure distances and areas
• Open current map extents in the Maps app
• Quickly view, zoom and pan maps using gestures (pinch, drag and flick, double tap)
• Change pin colors, position and label names

PDF Maps app 2.6 is available now on the iTunes App Store free of charge for personal and private use. PDF Maps app is also available for use with Android devices in the Google Play Store free of charge for personal non-commercial use. A Windows version is currently in public beta. Commercial, government and academic use licensing is available for a nominal annual fee. For more information about PDF Maps, visit the Avenza website at www.avenza.com or the PDF Maps website at www.pdf-maps.com. Pricing of each map is set by the publisher and free maps remain free to users through the PDF Maps app in-app store.

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 as well as the PDF Maps mobile mapping system. In addition to software offerings for Mac and Windows users, Avenza offers value-added data sets, product training and consulting services. For more information, visit the Avenza website at www.avenza.com.

– Cartographic add-on now compatible with Adobe Illustrator Creative Cloud™ 2015 –

Toronto, ON, August 6, 2015 – Avenza Systems Inc., producers of the PDF Maps app for mobile devices and geospatial plug-ins for Adobe Creative Cloud, including Geographic Imager® for Adobe Photoshop®, is pleased to announce the release of MAPublisher 9.6 for Adobe Illustrator. This latest update includes many new features and is fully compatible with the recently released Adobe Illustrator Creative Cloud 2015. This release also introduces map package export compatible with the PDF Maps mobile app and the upload of map packages directly to the PDF Maps digital map store.

“We’re delighted to release MAPublisher 9.6 to ensure our users are using the latest map making tools with the newest features of Adobe Illustrator Creative Cloud 2015,” said Ted Florence, President of Avenza. “An important addition to an already full-featured cartographic tool lineup is the ability to create map packages for the PDF Maps app,” he added. “These map packages can be loaded directly into the app by anybody wanting to use custom maps. Map publishers can easily upload map packages directly to the map store from Adobe Illustrator, making it easier to publish and sell maps, and has become a complete platform that benefits both map users and makers alike.”

Enhancements and new features of MAPublisher 9.6

• Fully compatible with Adobe Illustrator Creative Cloud 2015 on both Windows (32-bit and 64-bit) and Mac
• New ability to export a map package compatible with the PDF Maps app. Map publishers can upload map packages directly to the PDF Maps Store
• Optimized Export Document to Web Tiles for faster tile export
• New text utility that curves text to lines of latitude
• Compatible with FME Desktop 2015 for MAPublisher FME Auto
• Various user interface and performance enhancements to improve usability

More about MAPublisher for Adobe Illustrator

MAPublisher for Adobe Illustrator is powerful map production software for creating high-quality maps from GIS data. MAPublisher cartographic tools leverage the superior graphic design capabilities of Adobe Illustrator to manipulate GIS data and to produce both print-ready and online maps with accuracy and efficiency.

MAPublisher 9.6 is available free of charge to all MAPublisher users with an active maintenance subscription and as an upgrade for non-maintenance users at US$599. New commercial licenses are US$1399. MAPublisher FME Auto and MAPublisher LabelPro are also available as add-ons to MAPublisher 9.6 at prices starting at US$399 per license. Academic, floating and volume pricing are also available. Prices include one year of full maintenance. Visit www.avenza.com/mapublisher for more details.

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 to make better maps. In addition to software offerings for Mac and Windows users, Avenza offers value-added data sets, product training and consulting services, as well as the PDF Maps app for purchasing and using maps on iPhones, iPads and iPod Touch devices. Visit www.avenza.com for more details.

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

Powerful geospatial imaging tools now supports Adobe Photoshop CC 2015

Toronto, ON, July 8, 2015 – Avenza Systems Inc., producers of MAPublisher® cartographic software for Adobe Illustrator® and the popular PDF Maps mobile app, is pleased to announce the release of Geographic Imager 5.0 for Adobe Photoshop. This latest release is compatible with Adobe Photoshop Creative Cloud 2015 for both Windows and Mac. Among the many new features, the Georeference tool has been redesigned to provide more flexibility and interactivity when referencing and rectifying images. This release also introduces map package export compatible with the PDF Maps mobile app and the upload of map packages directly to the PDF Maps digital map store.

“We’ve been working diligently on this release of Geographic Imager to allow users to work with their spatial imagery and data in Adobe Photoshop Creative Cloud 2015,” said Ted Florence, President of Avenza. “Geographic Imager is an excellent add-on to Photoshop and proves to be a competitive geospatial image editing platform for many GIS professionals in the industry,“ he added. “We’re looking forward to continuing to develop new tools for the Creative Cloud platform to improve productivity and to streamline workflows.”

Additional Geographic Imager 5.0 features

• Fully compatible with Adobe Photoshop CC 2015
• Redesigned Georeference tool: reference with online maps, coordinate system detection, and improved rectification process
• New export DEM formats: ArcInfo ASCII Grid and BIL
• New online help and help integrated into dialogs
• New ability to export a PDF Maps package and upload it directly to the PDF Maps digital map store
• New ability to record operations, errors, and messages to event log
• New mosaic options including ability to apply blending mode and place mosaic layers above destination layer
• Optimized Export to Web Tiles and now includes image interpolation methods and support for OpenStreetMap and TileMill
• Enhanced scripting support now includes WMS import
• New Preferences interface and options
• Various other bug fixes and user experience enhancements

More about Geographic Imager for Adobe Photoshop

Geographic Imager is software for Adobe Photoshop that leverages the superior image editing capabilities of the world’s premier raster-based image editing software and transforms it into a powerful geospatial production tool. Work with satellite imagery, aerial photography, orthophotos, and DEMs in GeoTIFF and other major GIS image formats using Adobe Photoshop features such as transparencies, filters, and image adjustments while maintaining georeferencing and support for hundreds of coordinate systems and projections.

Geographic Imager 5.0 is immediately available and free of charge to all current Geographic Imager Maintenance Program members and at US$319 for non-maintenance upgrades. New fixed licenses start at US$699. Geographic Imager Basic licenses start at US$99. Academic, floating and volume license pricing are also available. Geographic Imager 5.0 is compatible with Adobe Photoshop CS6, CC 2014 and CC 2015. Adobe Photoshop CS5 and CC are deprecated in this release.

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 and for working with spatial imagery. In addition to software offerings for Mac, Windows and Apple mobile device users, Avenza offers value-added data sets, product training and consulting services. Visit www.avenza.com for more details.

For further information contact:
416-487-5116
info@avenza.com
www.avenza.com

Version 2.5 for iOS Highlights Pan and Zoom Features Needed for Detailed Course Plotting and Navigation

TORONTO, (June 16, 2015)— Avenza Systems Inc., a leading developer of cartographic software –including MAPublisher® for Adobe® Illustrator® and Geographic Imager® geospatial tools for Adobe Photoshop®– announced PDF Maps app 2.5 for iOS devices with enhanced features. A distinguishing technology in its own right, Avenza’s PDF Maps app and mobile solution is now used for both personal and commercial purposes and incorporates more detailed functions commonly needed when tracking, plotting points, navigating and collecting data in areas where internet service is unavailable. To date, Avenza’s PDF Maps app has grown its commercial side to more than 30,000 regular users.

Paired together with mobile devices that utilize GPS, such as a smartphone or tablet, the PDF Maps app provides constant access to geographic locations without the risk of losing reception due to cell tower proximity. Over the years, the app initially attracted the attention of recreational users such as hikers who traveled through rugged areas. Today, PDF Maps app has developed a growing list of commercial users globally, including the military, wild fire units, search and rescue teams, and conservation groups that use the app to record data, document with images and share detailed navigation points with others quickly and easily. Based on the various types of environments the app is being applied in, Avenza has further developed its latest features based on the feedback and specifications of its users. This includes:

• Enhanced navigation – ability to establish both GPS position and compass
• Measurement – tools to calculate distances, size and areas
• Map use – capable of overlaying search engine results on any map for offline use
• Map Collections – convenient map searching tools including the ability to pan and zoom between maps
• Personalization – ability to load a user’s own geospatial PDF, GeoPDF®, GeoTIFF, JPG and TIFF maps and imagery from a file system, Dropbox, URL, or email

“Avenza’s PDF Maps app has always been popular with the recreational groups who often use the free app for use while in the air, on land or sea excursions. The mapping resource has helped many novice and expert outdoor enthusiasts navigate through areas where most digital maps fail in the details,” said Ted Florence, president, Avenza Systems Inc. “Recently, the popularity experienced on the recreational side is now being felt on the commercial end as many organizations that work in remote areas, and require use of their own custom maps and drawings on smartphones or tablets, need the ability to locate themselves and make notations and share information on detailed maps quickly. Avenza is excited to see the growth of PDF Maps, not just as a product, but as a valuable tool that is aiding commercial users such as conservation teams and similar groups. We hope the latest features of PDF Maps app 2.5 helps make a difference in their work.”

Currently, Avenza’s vast PDF Maps app library covering maps for domestic and international destinations includes more than 100,000 maps organized by country, state and area. All maps available through the in-app iTunes-like map store offer the following capabilities:

• Access and load maps through in-app purchase, iTunes File Sharing, Wi-Fi or cellular network to read maps anytime
• Access and interact with saved maps without the need for a live network connection (offline)
• View your location on the PDF map using the built-in GPS device or via Wi-Fi triangulation
• Find coordinate of any location in the map, including the ability to type in a coordinate to search
• Display coordinates as Lat/Long (WGS84), Lat/Long (Map Default), Northing/Easting, or Military Grid Reference System (MGRS/United States National Grid (USNG)
• Support for GeoTIFF files to create tiles similar to how a geospatial PDF is tiled
• Map rendering in higher resolution
• Overlay Google search results
• Add waypoints and collect/record information about locations, including photos
• Measure distances and areas
• Open current map extents in the Maps app
• Quickly view, zoom and pan maps using gestures (pinch, drag and flick, double tap)
• Change pin colors, position and label names

PDF Maps app 2.5 is available now on the iTunes App Store free of charge for personal and private use. PDF Maps app is also available for use with Android devices in the Google Play Store free of charge for personal non-commercial use. A Windows version is currently in public beta targeted for a release later this year. Commercial, government and academic use licensing is available for a nominal annual fee. For more information about PDF Maps, visit the Avenza website at https://avenza.com or the PDF Maps website at http://www.pdf-maps.com/. Pricing of each map is set by the publisher and free maps remain free to users through the PDF Maps app in-app store.

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 as well as the PDF Maps mobile mapping system. In addition to software offerings for Mac and Windows users, Avenza offers value-added data sets, product training and consulting services. For more information, visit the Avenza website at https://avenza.com.

Addition of Outdoor Recreation Maps Highlights Digital Options for Outdoor Enthusiasts on 100th Anniversary of National Geographic’s Cartographic Division

TORONTO (March 17, 2015)—National Geographic Maps, celebrating 100 years as one of the most trusted names in cartography, will make available hundreds of maps from its Trails Illustrated line through Avenza Systems Inc.’s popular, award-winning PDF Maps app. The addition of these maps, the most popular outdoor recreation maps in North America, augments the PDF Maps app digital map database by incorporating trail maps from a world-renowned source. It also increases National Geographic Maps’ reach within the mobile consumer market, giving more consumers than ever access to the Trails Illustrated line. Trail maps from many of America’s most popular national parks have already been uploaded to the app, including Yosemite, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Zion and Great Smoky Mountains.

With many Ranger Districts throughout the country discontinuing visitor services, Avenza’s PDF Maps app provides an alternative for outdoor enthusiasts planning a trip in remote areas where Internet service is not always available to stream detailed map content. Using National Geographic’s line of detailed recreation maps, PDF Maps app users can purchase, download and save maps on GPS-enabled devices such as Android- and iOS-based phones and tablets. At their destination, park visitors can use the app to find and mark their location directly on the National Geographic map they’ve downloaded. They can take advantage of various interactive features, such as location tagging; dropping waypoints/pinpoints on points of interest; attaching images and notes; and tracking routes, distance and elevation — all while offline.

“National Geographic has a century long history of creating accurate, detailed maps used by travelers, explorers and map lovers across the globe. Today’s technologies allow us to continue that history in the digital realm, expanding the ways consumers can acquire and use our maps,” said Daniel Ortiz, vice president and general manager, National Geographic Maps. “As we celebrate 100 years of National Geographic mapmaking, we are excited to bring the popular Trails Illustrated map line to Avenza’s PDF Map app users.”

Avenza’s PDF Maps app provides constant access to geographic information and points of interest, with additional interactive tools such as measuring, place marking and location tagging. PDF Maps operates without the risk of lost reception due to cell tower proximity, making it the ultimate traveling tool, as it does not rely on an Internet connection.

“Avenza’s PDF Maps app provides the ability for anyone to share map-related information by documenting locations with customized notes, photos and descriptions,” said Ted Florence, president of Avenza Systems Inc. “This expands the utility of a map beyond location guidance, as it is also a tool to share experiences and locales. We continue to strengthen our community of map publishers while further advancing the mapping tools consumers demand, and we look forward to seeing how the industry evolves in an ever-mobile community.”

Avenza’s PDF Maps app is available now on the iTunes App Store and the Google Play Store, free of charge for personal use, with a Windows version coming soon. National Geographic maps can be accessed via the PDF Maps in-app store. For more information about PDF Maps, visit the Avenza website at www.avenza.com/pdf-maps or www.pdf-maps.com. Pricing of each map is set by the publisher, and free maps remain free to users through the PDF Maps app in-app store.

About National Geographic Maps

National Geographic Maps was established as a division of the National Geographic Society in 1915 and has been producing maps for National Geographic magazine and other Society media for 100 years. National Geographic Maps publishes wall maps, outdoor recreation maps, travel maps, interactive maps, atlases and globes that inspire people to care about and explore their world. For more information, visit www.natgeomaps.com.

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 as well as the PDF Maps mobile mapping system. In addition to software offerings for Mac and Windows users, Avenza offers value-added data sets, product training and consulting services. For more information, visit the Avenza website at www.avenza.com.

Contacts:
Christine Simmons / Shana Starr
LFPR Public Relations – www.lfpr.com (for Avenza)
949-502-6200 ext. 320/209
Christines@lfpr.com.com / Shanas@lfpr.com

Kelsey Flora
National Geographic
202-828-8023
kflora@ngs.org

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