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The 2007 Legislative session has come to a close, and Senate Bill 461 has reached another milestone: it has been passed by both houses. The final stop for the bill is the Governor’s Office. You can read the full text of the IndianaMap legislation on Bill Info. If signed, the bill will:
- Establish a Geographic Information Officer for the state
- Define framework data
- Create statewide data integration plans and data exchange agreements between all levels of government
- Require standards to promote data interoperability
Two very good resources for storm and weather effects have recently been made available by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).
The Storm Data Resource Guide can be downloaded at www.csc.noaa.gov/storm_info/guide.html and outlines current weather-related internet resources in a one-page reference document. The Guide organizes these data sources into time-phased categories: before, during, and after the storm.
The second NOAA resource is the Storm Mapping Tutorial, which can be downloaded at www.csc.noaa.gov/storm_info/tutorial.html. This detailed tutorial covers a wealth of valuable weather data that NOAA creates and distributes before, during, and after hurricanes. Examples include rainfall forecasts, flash flood warnings, wind speed forecasts, and cumulative rainfall estimates. Many of these datasets are available through NOAA but are scattered over many websites and are in different formats. This tutorial guides users, click by click, through the process of downloading, converting, and displaying the data in GIS.
From the Northwest Indiana GIS Forum…
The Indiana Geological Survey (IGS) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are undertaking an update of the Lake Rim IMS site. Over the next year, IGS will redesign the viewer application and coordinate an update of the data layers.
While the Lake Rim GIS internet mapping website is of particular interest to those of us in Northwest Indiana, we realize that there may be other non-local users of the website, and we would like to hear from you as well. Please visit the website http://129.79.145.5/arcims/lrim/index.html to view its current functionality.
The Lake Rim development team requests your comments and suggestions for the Lake Rim redesign. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey below so your suggestions can be included in the new site.
May 24, 2007, 9am-3:45pm
Indiana State Library
If you use data, especially federal or state data, this is your conference. Featuring presentations by the US Census Bureau, the Indiana Business Research Center, the Indiana State Library, the Indiana Geographic Information Council, and a keynote address by Morton Marcus, this event has something for everyone, regardless of number-crunching experience.
Presentations will be given on many topics, including: the American Community Survey, Census 2010, GIS projects in Indiana, Indiana State Documents, Census "101", and the STATS Indiana website.
For an agenda, or to register online, visit www.statelib.lib.in.us/www/isl/sdc/may2407conference.html
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem encloses the tomb in which Jesus was said to have been buried. Over the centuries, the church was destroyed and restored many times. See how archeologists used photogrammetry to solve the mystery of this edifice. Go to www.pbs.org/wnet/secrets/case_tomb and click on “Clues and Evidence.”
Another 63 scenes of ASTER data have been added to the IndianaView GloVis server. These include images from June through December 2006, and a few for 2001 and 2002. The data are all in hdf file format. If you have trouble reading the data in this format, you can use MultiSpec (http://dynamo.ecn.purdue.edu/~biehl/MultiSpec/) to read and display the images and convert them to GeoTiff format.
An additional type of data has been added to the IndianaView GloVis server: the declassified Corona data (from the sensor menu, select De-classified image: Corona). These are black & White images collected on September 25, 1965. They start around Monroe County and go well into the state of Ohio. Another nine scenes will be added in the future, and will cover the majority of southeast Indiana. These data are not registered to any projection; however, there are 12 or so control points in the GeoTIFF files to provide some tie points to latitude/longitude.
The 1987 amendments to the Clean Water Act identified urban storm water runoff as a source of water pollution. The amendments - and Indiana statute - also recognize the need to study sources of water pollution like runoff. The challenge for counties and cities with urban runoff was to meet compliance requirements, and develop a long-term water quality analysis plan.
The Monroe County Planning Department used GIS to do just that.
They completed a stream assessment showing where runoff originates, indicates land use on each property, and determines which water bodies are affected by the runoff. This combined data provides a baseline for future comparison, and is a key component in analyzing the effects of land use on water quality over time.
Results of the study are available to the public at www.co.monroe.in.us/planning/data.html
By Adena Schutzberg
There's been a lot of coverage of Google's recent announcement a KML search capability from Google Earth and Google Search. Michael Jones, Google's Chief Technologist for Google Earth, Maps, Local answered some questions to clarify what it does, how it works and explored some of its implications for searching for geodata.
Read the full interview in Directions Magazine
October 29, 2007
Westin Hotel, Ottawa, Ontario
www.rdx.glc.org
The Great Lakes Regional Data Exchange (RDX) is a regional conference focusing on collaborative technology-based approaches to addressing Great Lakes related issues. The rapidly growing ability to collect information about the lakes and the region’s environment and infrastructure present new opportunities for science and management, but require additional measures to ensure data that are being collected are able to be shared and compared at a regional level. This conference is intended to address these needs by helping colleagues share information about their Great Lakes data collection and management programs, with a focus on finding ways to improve collaboration among organizations.
My Maps is a new feature of Google Maps that enables users to create custom maps for personal use or sharing. With this release, Google is bringing maps mashups to the mainstream. My Maps allows users to mark locations on a map from a library of icons; draw lines and shapes to highlight paths and areas; add text, photos, or YouTube/Google Videos to a map; add HTML for further personalization; and view their maps in Google Earth.
Users can choose to make their maps unlisted (for personal use or sharing by email) or public (accessible through Google Maps search along with maps shared by other web sites in the KML format). My Maps users can also store maps they have created or viewed when signed into their Google account.
IGIC is pleased to announce a new series of educational events: the 2007 Webinars. Webinars combine live online demonstrations with a conference call, letting you fill your brain without ever leaving your office.
The first webinar will be held June 1st. Upcoming topics will include surveyors’ online tie cards, a series on cartography, conservation tools, and more!
Surveyor Tie Card Project: Online Access and Use
Friday, June 1st, 1:30-2:30pm
WEBINAR
FREE
Scanned copies of surveyor's section corner description cards (also called tie cards or tie sheets) are being added to the GIS Atlas for Indiana, an online mapping website. The scanned images are available on the new "surveyor tie card - map layer," which allows surveyors, engineers and the public to see this information online. Three counties have already posted their tie cards to the site, affording them secure offsite storage and countywide access to the information.
At this online event, attendees will:
- · Get step-by-step instructions on how to use the new surveyor tie card layer
- · Learn tips and tricks for getting the most out of the new layer and the GIS Atlas
- · Learn how your county can participate in the project
To learn more about this project, championed by the IGIC Geodetic Control Workgroup, visit the project information pages.
Registrants will receive an email with login information and phone number one week prior to the event. Note: This is not a toll-free phone call, long distance charges may apply.
Project Management Methods for Making Credible Maps
Thursday, June 14th, 1:00-3:30pm
Indiana State Library, History Reference Room, Indianapolis
FREE
How can you make maps that are convincing and reliable? How can you make sure that the knowledge you have is passed on accurately? What can you do if your organization's mapping guru leaves? Cele Morris of the Northwest Indiana Center for Data Analysis and Jeremy Webber of IUPUI make a business case to illustrate the value of metadata as a geospatial data and project management resource.
Team Navigation!™ and Treasure Hunts!
Friday, July 13th, 1:00-3:30pm
Indiana State Library, History Reference Room, Indianapolis
FREE
This unique presentation will engage participants in fun, practical ways of using maps as real navigation tools. It will begin with a Treasure Hunt, using a Treasure Map and a secret puzzle to find a Treasure Chest! Participants, lead by Jeff Coates of TrueNorth and Associates, will learn about:
- · How you can easily make accurate maps using aerial photographs available on the internet
- · How to read and use a topo map
- · Fun interactive ways to introduce maps to others
- · How to use map and compass together as a navigational tool
- · More about the family sport of orienteering
- · How to have a little fun actually navigating!
Water, Water, Everywhere: Hydrology Data and You
Friday, July 20, 2007 9:00-3:30pm
Lawrenceburg, IN
FREE
This Road Show features speakers from around the state presenting on Indiana’s hydrology and other related data, and demonstrating GIS analysis tools and techniques. Topics will include:
- · The Indiana hydrologic monitoring network
- · Web-based streamflow applications
- · Using online soils resources
- · Groundwater data in GIS-based analysis
- · Incorporating land cover, elevation and soil data into hydrogeology models
- · Water pollution tools and analysis
- · Floodmap modernization and its effect on residents
Speakers include experts from government, universities and the private sector. The event is free, and lunch will be provided.
Exploring Statewide GIS Resources
Tuesday, November 13th, 1:00-3:30pm
Indiana State Library, History Reference Room, Indianapolis
FREE
This seminar will include a review and exploration of the considerable resources that are available to Indiana GIS users through the Indiana Geographic Information Council. These resources include opportunities for networking, education for both new and experienced GIS users, guidelines that can help users more effectively develop projects within their communities, and much more. The seminar will also provide an opportunity for participants to share their thoughts and ideas regarding how IGIC can best support the needs of GIS across Indiana. The presenter for this seminar will be Jill Saligoe-Simmel, PhD.