NETGroup's Cadnet Information Systems division recently changed its name to NETGroup GeoSystems.

According to divisional managing director Pieter Grobbelaar, "Over the past five years the division's focus has shifted almost entirely from mainly CAD work to geographical information systems (GIS), geospatial information technology (GIT) and web-based, multifunctional, integrated geographic solutions".

As a result of this shift, says Grobbelaar, "It became necessary to reflect the true nature of the division in our name. The name 'Cadnet' reflected a mapping and drafting focus, whereas 'GeoSystems' has a much broader, more IT-oriented relevance." GeoSystems is one of the divisions in the NETGroup stable, which includes Utility Engineering's specialist divisions that focus on the markets for electricity, water, telecommunications and field-to-office services. GeoSystems' much larger market includes application services in the fields of agriculture, commercial services, energy, the environment, exploration, geology, government, the military, telecommunications, tourism, transport and water.

GeoSystems makes use of, amongst others, specialist software developers that use databases such as ORACLE, MS SQL and MS Access to develop, implement and maintain various systems, including document management, streetlight meter management and revenue management systems. Moreover, GeoSystems combines the technology of relational database management systems and high-performance computer graphics to manage graphically referenced data, thereby developing and creating digital data sets for various GIS applications.

GeoSystems has still maintained its high-level CAD skills, thereby enabling it to deliver high-quality maps in both digital and hard-copy format. Recent projects undertaken by GeoSystems include the establishment of a nation-wide GIS for plotting and monitoring crime statistics for the South African Police Services; telecommunications-related projects in Nigeria, Uganda and Tanzania; the development of AM/FM and GIS tools to support long-term electricity planning in Nigeria in conjunction with Netplan; the capturing of enumerator areas for Stats SA; a municipal business information solution using the web environment; commercial mapping applications by means of MapIT; and GIS for Windhoek.

For more information contact Pieter Grobbelaar, GeoSystems, 012 345 8020, pwg@netgroup.ws