Trimble Introduces Forestry SOLO 360 Desktop Extension for ESRI's ArcGIS

Software Facilitates Data Transfer and Review Between Field and Office

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Sept. 23, 2010—Trimble (NASDAQ:TRMB) introduced today the Trimble® SOLO 360 Toolbar for ArcGIS. The desktop toolbar extension for ArcGIS facilitates data exchange between Trimble's SOLO Forest field application and ArcGIS by providing a data check-out and check-in type of workflow. Foresters and field data professionals now have a convenient way to easily check data out of ArcGIS for in-field inspections, maintenance, or new data collection using rules and schemes that follow existing business rules and feature definitions. SOLO 360 exports a personal geodatabase for use within SOLO Forest to edit and/or add data and then imports the information back into the geodatabase.

"Trimble Forestry's SOLO 360 enables customers that are using the ArcGIS to transport office data into the field using SOLO Forest. No longer are individuals chained to their desks doing data manipulation. SOLO 360 allows them to take their desktop GIS data with them," said Matt Linderman, area manager for Trimble's Forestry Automation Business. "There are many advantages to managing GIS data collection using a check-out and check-in type of workflow. Eliminating data redundancy, compartmentalizing data collection tasks, and verifying collected data on check-in are some of the benefits that SOLO 360 offers. The toolbar can make using data in the field much easier and more structured for our customers and the data management process." 

Trimble SOLO 360 for ArcGIS allows users to:

• Maintain Geodatabase (GDB) structure. Existing business rules and data collection fields are preserved and are used to drive data collection in the field.
  
• Review field edits at management level before accepting changes. GIS administrators or other parties ultimately responsible for data integrity can review any changes before committing them during the check-in process.
  
• Create SOLO Feature Codes directly from the GDB. The feature code file in SOLO Forest is automatically generated during check-out which will mimic the data structure in the personal geodatabase.
  
• Create a GDB from SOLO Feature Codes. For users not currently taking advantage of the geodatabase in ArcGIS, users can easily create a blank template from their existing SOLO Feature Codes.
  
• Crop images and associated feature classes from the area in view. Selecting data extents for check out is as simple as zooming to the area of interest.
  
• Create SOLO Project File (.spf) directly from ArcGIS. Data is conveniently packaged into a compressed file to be sent to the data collector for unpacking and data collection.
  
• Better control over data quality. Informative menus provide detailed information about added/deleted data, changes to coordinate geometry or feature attributes.

SOLO Forest is a mobile GIS application designed for easy and efficient GIS data collection in the field and is used in a variety of industries. With built-in tools such as buffering, split/merge polygon, and easy plot/point navigation, SOLO Forest offers many tools that aren't offered today in other mobile GIS applications. The SOLO 360 Toolbar for the desktop is available now through Trimble's Forestry Automation Business Area. For more information, call Trimble Forestry Automation at (541) 752-9000.

Trimble Forestry Automation Business develops solutions and applies technology to manage transportation, control supply chain costs and increase overall efficiency in the forestry industry. Trimble's solutions include a suite of software products and specially-designed rugged computers to meet the real-time needs of the user.

About Trimble

Trimble applies technology to make field and mobile workers in businesses and government significantly more productive. Solutions are focused on applications requiring positioning or location, including surveying, construction, agriculture, fleet and asset management, public safety and mapping. In addition to utilizing positioning technologies such as GPS, lasers and optics, Trimble solutions may include software content specific to the needs of the user. Wireless technologies are utilized to deliver the solution to the user in the field and to ensure communication between the field and the office. Founded in 1978, Trimble is headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif.