Information Release: eBlogger:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAEOTeht7-w

To all my fellow group members, a relatively new service (Vertical Response) is now linked onto my website. I urge you to go to www.beltair.org, click on the ‘Link’ page and go to Vertical Response. What this will do is send you over to VR’s ‘Opt-In page that allows us to email each other and avoid issues of SPAM.

This capability allows you to contact BAII and ask questions more specific to your needs. Or, your can send me emails via the contact page available on the website. If you by chance, have come across any of my blogs, you are now familiar with my service to provide elevated imaging in support of your various projects. In this case of the construction projects around this region, BAII would be able to provide task progress and completion imaging. Call us, email us or use the ‘Opt-In’ to allow us to send you updates and newsletters of any all developments concerning elevated imaging.

Michael Belt
contact@beltair.org
619.674.9905

Still here and still toughing it out....

Well, we're into October of this difficult business year and it's time for me to send out another post to reiterate my intention to weather this economic downturn. I do elevated imaging and I own and operate BAII - Beltair Industries, Inc (http://www.beltair.org/) in the San Diego, CA area.. This method of imaging is similar to aerial photography except more flexible in nearly any category of imaging, at a price much more reasonable than the traditional air asset program.

For twenty years, I worked military intelligence systems, especially imaging systems. I then, went on to retire from the US Army and for a decade, continued my career in imaging technology as a systems engineer. Over time, I decided to strike out on my own and start BAII. I reasoned that in the hubbub of a fast moving city like San Diego, there is room for entreprenurial innovations that yield necessary services. There are issues of infrastructure, area modernization, litigation, and other common day-to-day issues that can be understood with photography.

In last month's blog, I mentioned that I was open to a co-op type of arrangement to gather related but non-competing businesses. Something like BAII and a realtor, or landscaper, or a transportion. Although the uptake on my offer has been slow, I can still see the symbiosis of this idea. In any event, drop by my website and check out what application may work for you and/or your projects. Or take the shortcut and go to Youtube and see the BAII video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAEOTeht7-w

Co Op in the San Diego area

As I woke up this morning, I was thinking about the business climate in the San Diego, Ca area and the economy. Things in this state, city and region of the country are as scary, slow, and uncertain as I've ever seen it. Businesses, even long established ones, are slowing down, going out of operation and laying people off. The politicians and policy makers at any federal agency you can name, tell us that the economy and the business climate is making a comeback. California, has now one of the largest unemployment rates in the nation - at nearly 12% , making it to one of the top ten in the nation.

Despite being a leader in business and innovation - California is experiencing a downturn which it has not been accustom to in a long time. Faith in what we're being told is heard to generate or even stand behind. There are real problems happening to real people and employed workers living on what's left of our taxpayer money haven't convince the vast majority that things are getting better. It's been kinda like telling a drowning person, already submerged and fighting for air that help is 'only' 6 minutes away. Not comforting when blackout is only 3 - 4 minutes.

The remedy is going to be a series of small remedies. Small businesses are going to have to come together and support each other in a way that the state nor the federal government can match. At first blush, the businesses may not have a great deal to do with another. But every business is also a consumer; in order to operate, the business has to have supplies and services. California is also, one of the country's most expensive places to start up a small business. So, a first step is to cut down on overhead and increase capability in services or product. A co op may assist in this; however, I understand most people are resistant to the co op option for any number of reasons - some real and some imagined. But the benefits can be and are many. An immediate benefit is the reduction in cost of things like advertising, or getting group prices on local products while simultaneously increasing participation in the business community. In effect, the local community fights to keep each other afloat a little longer.

If you have a small business and are worried that you would be only using your dollars to support your competitor, I can't say that is not a real concern. However, in joining a co op, there are conditions that support the well-being and growth of it's members. Not only that, this arrangement does not have to be a binding contract that you must enter and stay with an agreed set of time of conditions. Your co op can be whatever you imagine it to be. Beltair Industries, Inc; located int the San Diego area, intends to initiate a co op of related but not necessarily the same businesses. Some may join when they see how it benefits other small businesses. Or the co op may become a competitor with teeth that they may feel. But, in any event, I put out the request that any business or person that may be interested contact me at contact@beltair.org

or visit me at http://www.beltair.org/. Go to Facebook; there are all kinds of like ideas - they may not be called a co op, but the idea is virtually the same.

In addition visit the Youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAEOTeht7-w. Some potential members: real estate agencies, construction mangement companies, state agencies like CALTRANS, environmental/conservation groups, litigation professionals, landscaping services, archealogical and agricultural firms may offer some idea I have not thought of yet. And the list is not limited to these suggestions I just put forth. For now, the sky's the limit on this efforts. Just spending a lazy Sunday thinking....

Why I try

04 September 09

As I'm driving home from my day job the other day, I’m grateful to even have one in today's climate, I’m sure I still want my own business. I am a firm believer that ice can be sold to Eskimos if two elements are present... desire and opportunity. After all, Eskimos do buy refrigerators.

BeltAir Industries, Inc. (BAII) is a company that does elevated photography (www.beltair.org). Very similar to aerial photography, elevated photography is an example in innovation. While the need of aerial photography needs no invention. How we get it, does. This innovation is to satellites is what prop-driven commuter planes are to big, fast, shiny airliners. There is still a vital need; the commuters can do things that the airliners can't.

Some of you may feel services like Google Earth (tm) will make my service obsolete before I even get started. With Google Earth (tm), you can get an impressive image over nearly every square foot of the earth. But the devil is in the details. Satellite imagery has two very real problems. The picture could be 5 years old or more and changes are not captured - especially in the case rapid developments of an auto accident.

More subtle, is the ability to capture synoptic information. There is the pre-start of a project, the start, mid-schedule developments and finally, the completion. Photographic documentation of each stage of development is performed. It would be pure luck to get that level of coverage from a satellite or airborne operation.

Next is detail; the satellite images now available are very impressive. However, by law, satellite imagery open to public viewing can only be allowed to be so good, as not to give away national capability. Elevated imaging is also supported by the serendipitous use of engineering quality software.

My reason for not losing faith and determination is because need was demonstrated on that ride home I was at the light of a heavily used intersection. A local TV channel news van with a telescoping mast with cameras and sensors – was capturing a major modification to an interstate on-ramp. If images, available from the services like Google Earth would have solved the problem, then why was this service necessary?

Finally, there is the issue of entreprenuerialship that is the spirit, the creation of jobs, the lifeblood of business, and commerce in this country. In a conversation with another friend I was told that if I couldn't compete with services like Google, then I should not even get started with starting my own service. That struck me as odd; according to his view - when Burger King moves into a local neighborhood - all sales of home barbeque grills should stop. Little guys like me should not even try if they don't have billions of dollars at their disposal. I don't believe that. See what aerial imaging can do, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAEOTeht7-w.