GREENWOOD VILLAGE, COLORADO, June 30, 2010 - MapMart, the most extensive online source of mapping and image data sets, today announced the availability of wind speed and solar irradiance data to complement existing MapMart data sets. These new GIS data layers were created by 3TIER, a global leader in renewable energy information services.

3TIER’s GIS data layers detail wind and solar energy potential across the U.S. They can be combined with third-party layers, such as land ownership, population density, topography, and transmission and transportation infrastructure to identify optimal locations for renewable energy development. They enable spatial analysis ranging from quick and simple to highly complex. The 3TIER data sets are available now for purchase from the MapMart.com data portal.

“The wind or solar resource is the fuel of a renewable energy project,” said Gwen Bender, product manager at 3TIER. “Having that information available spatially enables users to combine it with the other critical variables that affect the viability of a renewable energy site. Users can quickly hone in on the most promising locations, while also identifying potential red flags early in the process. This type of analysis is key to successfully siting wind and solar projects.”

3TIER, which provides renewable resource assessment and forecasting services to the world’s largest developers, uses state-of-the art science to derive the resource data found in the GIS data layers. Wind speed values were determined using a physics-based numerical weather prediction modeling approach, which simulates the interaction between the earth’s surface and the entire atmosphere. Solar irradiance values are based on over a decade of 2 arc-minute resolution satellite imagery from around the world, and processed using a combination of in-house research and peer-reviewed algorithms. The data are compatible with a wide variety of software packages, and data customization is also available.

“We are pleased to introduce 3TIER into the MapMart family of data for users all over the world,” said Rebecca Murray, product manager for MapMart. “As many of the more obvious locations for renewable energy are exploited, developers increasingly need to rely on data to find the best of the next tier. MapMart now offers them a range of products to do that effectively.”

MapMart sells a wide variety of U.S. and International geospatial data sets, with additional data coming online daily that can be complemented by the 3TIER wind and solar data to serve a variety of purposes. Some of the products currently available include:

•        DigitalGlobe Satellite and Aerial Imagery
•        GeoEye Satellite Imagery
•        SPOT Imagery
•        RapidEye Imagery
•        Aerials Express Imagery
•        Microsoft Imagery
•        Pictometry International Oblique and Orthogonal Imagery
•        Terrametrics TruEarth Imagery
•        Harris Globe15 and Conus10 Imagery
•        DeLorme World and North American Street data
•        EASI Demographics
•        Intermap DEM data
•        HIDEM worldwide DEM data

About MapMart

Headquartered in Greenwood Village (Denver), Colorado, MapMart is a division of IntraSearch Inc., a full-service mapping and imagery solutions provider. The MapMart online store and Mapmart On-Demand® Toolbar provide customers with immediate access to terabytes of archived and up-to-date geospatial data products including satellite and aerial photography, topographic and street maps, digital elevation models (DEMs), vector maps and census plus demographic databases. For more information, visit www.mapmart.com. Or contact Rebecca Murray at 303-759-5050 x175 or Email Contact.

About 3TIER

Founded in 1999, Seattle-based 3TIER is one of the largest independent providers of wind, solar and hydro energy assessment and power forecasting worldwide. People around the world turn to 3TIER when they want the best scientific information to make decisions about renewable energy projects — from the prospecting stage to operations. For more information, visit www.3tier.com.