Archives
18/04
A 4.6 magnitude aftershock shook the Midwest at 11:14 a.m. this Friday morning, on the heels of a 5.2 magnitude quake at 5:37 a.m.
http://pasadena.wr.usgs.gov/shake/cus/STORE/X2008qza6/ciim_display.html
http://pasadena.wr.usgs.gov/shake/cus/STORE/X2008qza6/ciim_display.html
18/04
Indiana Firm on the front cover of ASPRS Journal with DiMAC 2.0 Digital Camera imagery.
http://www.asprs.org/publications/pers/2008journal/april/index.html
http://www.asprs.org/publications/pers/2008journal/april/index.html
18/04
New maps allow for better customer service, City Utilities’ non-residential customer stormwater billing more accurate
Fort Wayne, Ind. – Fort Wayne City Utilities and Public Works Geographic Information Systems Department earned the Indiana Geographic Information Council’s 2008 Excellence in GIS Award for large cities for work the department did to improve maps used by the City’s stormwater utility.
In 2005, the State of Indiana GIS Council received a $6 million grant to produce orthophotographs for the entire State. Orthophotographs are aerial photos that are enhanced to remove distortions such as camera tilt. Orthophotos are adjusted to allow for a consistent measurement scale throughout the entire photo, so the photos can be used as maps and can provide the base for many other informational layers and features in a geographic information system.
The Fort Wayne City Utilities and Public Works GIS Department used these enhanced aerial photographs to update maps used by the City’s stormwater utility to more accurately show the amount of impervious or hard surface areas for each City Utilities’ non-residential customer.
By using the state’s maps, City Utilities saved about $100,000. The GIS department hired four summer interns last year to analyze the state’s orthophotographs and convert them into local maps for individual properties within the City. The hard surface shown on the individual property maps form the basis for the stormwater utility bill that non-residential properties receive.
“The GIS Department was recognized for finding a straightforward and inexpensive way to update our stormwater maps and make them more accurate,” said City Utilities GIS Manager Kevin Holle. “Fort Wayne uses maps to determine stormwater billing for all non-residential properties in Fort Wayne. We had been relying on aerial photos from 1989. We knew that many businesses had added or removed hard surfaces since then, and we needed updated information to make our billing correct, but we didn’t have a lot of money to spend.”
Non-residential properties in the City pay a stormwater utility fee based on the amount of impervious or hard surface on the property – including rooftops, parking lots and sidewalks. The hard surface is measured based on the orthophotograph and is converted into a number of Equivalent Residential Units. The property then pays a bill based on the number of ERUs.
“The completed project resulted in a net increase of $88,000 per year for the Fort Wayne stormwater utility,” said Holle. “It also allows our staff members to be more responsive to the public. The new accurate hard surface boundaries can now be viewed electronically by employees at their desks. More departments will now be able to give citizens accurate information about their stormwater bills, so citizens should not have to be ‘passed around’ from department to department to get an answer.”
The award was presented to Holle and the GIS employees at a ceremony in Indianapolis in late February. “Indiana is recognized as a national leader in supporting the development and use of GIS tools,” Holle said. “So this is a very prestigious award for Fort Wayne to win.”
Fort Wayne, Ind. – Fort Wayne City Utilities and Public Works Geographic Information Systems Department earned the Indiana Geographic Information Council’s 2008 Excellence in GIS Award for large cities for work the department did to improve maps used by the City’s stormwater utility.
In 2005, the State of Indiana GIS Council received a $6 million grant to produce orthophotographs for the entire State. Orthophotographs are aerial photos that are enhanced to remove distortions such as camera tilt. Orthophotos are adjusted to allow for a consistent measurement scale throughout the entire photo, so the photos can be used as maps and can provide the base for many other informational layers and features in a geographic information system.
The Fort Wayne City Utilities and Public Works GIS Department used these enhanced aerial photographs to update maps used by the City’s stormwater utility to more accurately show the amount of impervious or hard surface areas for each City Utilities’ non-residential customer.
By using the state’s maps, City Utilities saved about $100,000. The GIS department hired four summer interns last year to analyze the state’s orthophotographs and convert them into local maps for individual properties within the City. The hard surface shown on the individual property maps form the basis for the stormwater utility bill that non-residential properties receive.
“The GIS Department was recognized for finding a straightforward and inexpensive way to update our stormwater maps and make them more accurate,” said City Utilities GIS Manager Kevin Holle. “Fort Wayne uses maps to determine stormwater billing for all non-residential properties in Fort Wayne. We had been relying on aerial photos from 1989. We knew that many businesses had added or removed hard surfaces since then, and we needed updated information to make our billing correct, but we didn’t have a lot of money to spend.”
Non-residential properties in the City pay a stormwater utility fee based on the amount of impervious or hard surface on the property – including rooftops, parking lots and sidewalks. The hard surface is measured based on the orthophotograph and is converted into a number of Equivalent Residential Units. The property then pays a bill based on the number of ERUs.
“The completed project resulted in a net increase of $88,000 per year for the Fort Wayne stormwater utility,” said Holle. “It also allows our staff members to be more responsive to the public. The new accurate hard surface boundaries can now be viewed electronically by employees at their desks. More departments will now be able to give citizens accurate information about their stormwater bills, so citizens should not have to be ‘passed around’ from department to department to get an answer.”
The award was presented to Holle and the GIS employees at a ceremony in Indianapolis in late February. “Indiana is recognized as a national leader in supporting the development and use of GIS tools,” Holle said. “So this is a very prestigious award for Fort Wayne to win.”
18/04
http://www.slis.indiana.edu/faculty/hekbia/S603-GIS.htm
Course Number: S603 (L595)
Suggested Title: Modeling in GIS
Number of credits: 1.5
Instructor: Hamid R. Ekbia
Time: First Summer Session
Room: LI002
Description:
The main motivation for this workshop (and others of its kind) is what could be roughly called the Spatial turn in the current academic and intellectual thinking. As in various other areas of behavioral and social sciences, students and scholars in information science, library science, cognitive science, and public administration increasingly find themselves dealing with behaviors and phenomena with a strong spatial component. The spatial turn is technologically manifested in the pervasive use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), which has already entered the activities of people with diverse interests and goals. This equally applies to those interested in modeling and simulation, analysis and design, or operation and planning - e.g., in information organization and visualization, resource matching and management (in health, environment, education, etc.), disaster response and relief operations, and policy and decision-making. With GIS, for example, one can link information (attributes) to location data, such as scientific papers to people, people to universities, and universities to locations. One can then layer that information to get a better understanding of how information as an embodied phenomenon moves around in geographic space. What layers are chosen depends on what questions need to be answered. Traditionally the spatial dimension is dealt with, if at all, in an implicit manner by incorporating an abstract space in models and analyses. GIS, however, makes it possible to include space explicitly, giving a more Realistic character to analytic and modeling work.
This workshop serves as an introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS), with an emphasis on modeling techniques. The purpose of the workshop is to introduce modeling techniques in GIS to students in the above disciplines. The workshop will follow a case-based approach, where techniques will be taught by using domain-specific examples. Each session of the workshop will introduce a major topic in GIS modeling as well as an example GIS model in a domain relevant to student interests. LIS MLS students will benefit by learning about common digital data sources of geographic information available in the United States, their formats, and uses. MIS and cognitive science students will learn techniques for spatial analysis and modeling, and SPEA students will learn about GIS applications in public administration, city government, and environmental protection, etc.
Course Number: S603 (L595)
Suggested Title: Modeling in GIS
Number of credits: 1.5
Instructor: Hamid R. Ekbia
Time: First Summer Session
Room: LI002
Description:
The main motivation for this workshop (and others of its kind) is what could be roughly called the Spatial turn in the current academic and intellectual thinking. As in various other areas of behavioral and social sciences, students and scholars in information science, library science, cognitive science, and public administration increasingly find themselves dealing with behaviors and phenomena with a strong spatial component. The spatial turn is technologically manifested in the pervasive use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), which has already entered the activities of people with diverse interests and goals. This equally applies to those interested in modeling and simulation, analysis and design, or operation and planning - e.g., in information organization and visualization, resource matching and management (in health, environment, education, etc.), disaster response and relief operations, and policy and decision-making. With GIS, for example, one can link information (attributes) to location data, such as scientific papers to people, people to universities, and universities to locations. One can then layer that information to get a better understanding of how information as an embodied phenomenon moves around in geographic space. What layers are chosen depends on what questions need to be answered. Traditionally the spatial dimension is dealt with, if at all, in an implicit manner by incorporating an abstract space in models and analyses. GIS, however, makes it possible to include space explicitly, giving a more Realistic character to analytic and modeling work.
This workshop serves as an introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS), with an emphasis on modeling techniques. The purpose of the workshop is to introduce modeling techniques in GIS to students in the above disciplines. The workshop will follow a case-based approach, where techniques will be taught by using domain-specific examples. Each session of the workshop will introduce a major topic in GIS modeling as well as an example GIS model in a domain relevant to student interests. LIS MLS students will benefit by learning about common digital data sources of geographic information available in the United States, their formats, and uses. MIS and cognitive science students will learn techniques for spatial analysis and modeling, and SPEA students will learn about GIS applications in public administration, city government, and environmental protection, etc.
18/04
The Census Bureau published the 2010 Census final criteria for census tracts, block groups, census county divisions (CCDs) and census designated places (CDPs) in the Federal Register.
"Census County Division and Equivalent Entities Program for the 2010 Census--Final Criteria," (2/8/08):
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-2348.pdf
The CCD notice announces the Census Bureau's decision to retain CCDs as a statistical geographic entity for use in tabulating and presenting data.
"Census Designated Place (CDP) Program for the 2010 Census--Final Criteria," (2/13/08)
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-2667.pdf
“Census Tract Program for the 2010 Decennial Census--Final Criteria"
(3/14/08):
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-5076.pdf
"Census Block Group Program for the 2010 Decennial Census--Final Criteria"
(3/14/08):
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-5075.pdf
The block group notice announces the Census Bureau's decision that the minimum population threshold for block groups will continue to be 600 persons.
All notices will also be available via the Census Bureau's Participant Statistical Areas Program page at:
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/psap2010/psap2010_main.html
Questions and requests for further information should be addressed to the Geographic Standards and Criteria Branch, Geography Division, Census Bureau via e-mail at or telephone at 301-763-3056.
"Census County Division and Equivalent Entities Program for the 2010 Census--Final Criteria," (2/8/08):
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-2348.pdf
The CCD notice announces the Census Bureau's decision to retain CCDs as a statistical geographic entity for use in tabulating and presenting data.
"Census Designated Place (CDP) Program for the 2010 Census--Final Criteria," (2/13/08)
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-2667.pdf
“Census Tract Program for the 2010 Decennial Census--Final Criteria"
(3/14/08):
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-5076.pdf
"Census Block Group Program for the 2010 Decennial Census--Final Criteria"
(3/14/08):
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-5075.pdf
The block group notice announces the Census Bureau's decision that the minimum population threshold for block groups will continue to be 600 persons.
All notices will also be available via the Census Bureau's Participant Statistical Areas Program page at:
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/psap2010/psap2010_main.html
Questions and requests for further information should be addressed to the Geographic Standards and Criteria Branch, Geography Division, Census Bureau via e-mail at
18/04
May 13th, 2008 and May 14th, 2008 (8:30 am - 4:30 pm)
Note: These are one day workshops. Participants choose which one day to attend.
New Horizons Computer Training Center
11611 N. Meridian Street, Ste 200
Carmel, IN 46032
Register/More Info If you are unable to follow the link, please visit www.nur-online.com
Audience: Beginners, anyone interested in mapping their community
Registration Fee: $495 (Credit Cards, Checks, Purchase Orders Accepted)
Participants will learn to use ArcGIS 9.2 to do the following:
Creating thematic maps
Participants will learn to create thematic maps of their own data, and display spatial trends in information.
Address mapping (geocoding)
Participants will learn to map addresses of their clients, their projects or incidents such as crime or disease.
Download and map Census & American Community Survey data
Participants will learn to extract and map current Census data such as poverty, race, language, population,
transportation, education and workforce characteristics.
Participants will also learn to:
Conduct spatial queries
Download free shapefiles
Create well designed maps
Mapping techniques transferable to all other communities. Exercises are designed for beginners. Intermediate Excel skills required.
Note: These are one day workshops. Participants choose which one day to attend.
New Horizons Computer Training Center
11611 N. Meridian Street, Ste 200
Carmel, IN 46032
Register/More Info If you are unable to follow the link, please visit www.nur-online.com
Audience: Beginners, anyone interested in mapping their community
Registration Fee: $495 (Credit Cards, Checks, Purchase Orders Accepted)
Participants will learn to use ArcGIS 9.2 to do the following:
Creating thematic maps
Participants will learn to create thematic maps of their own data, and display spatial trends in information.
Address mapping (geocoding)
Participants will learn to map addresses of their clients, their projects or incidents such as crime or disease.
Download and map Census & American Community Survey data
Participants will learn to extract and map current Census data such as poverty, race, language, population,
transportation, education and workforce characteristics.
Participants will also learn to:
Conduct spatial queries
Download free shapefiles
Create well designed maps
Mapping techniques transferable to all other communities. Exercises are designed for beginners. Intermediate Excel skills required.
18/04
The Framework Web Feature Services are offered by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) in support of the development of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI). Selected Framework data themes were redeployed by the USGS from their native database formats to services that conform to the Open Geospatial Consortium's (OGC) Web Feature Service (WFS) and Geography Markup Language for Simple Features (GML) specifications and the FGDC/ANSI Geographic Information Framework Data Content Standards. These services provide query and retrieval of specific Framework features and their attributes into a form usable for analysis in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). In addition, a Web Map Service (WMS) is provided to allow users to visualize the data content as a graphical image.
The initial data content for the NSDI Framework Data Services includes selected features from the Hydrography, Transportation and Governmental Unit Framework Data Themes. The data provided through this service are maintained for currency with the source data and systems using OGC Standards-Based WFS Transactions submitted by the USGS.
Please see the links below for information regarding service access, suggested usability guidelines, information schemas, specifications and free clients & utilities. Currently, an understanding of OGC Web Services Standards is important for the effective utilization of the NSDI Framework Data Services. Therefore; it is strongly recommended that users read the Usability Document before using the service. It not only includes general guidelines, but also instructions specific to the use of the service in clients such as Google Earth and The Carbon Project's CarbonArc Extension for ESRI's ArcGIS. Finally, to provide feedback or ask questions regarding the use of the service, please visit and register for the NSDI Framework Data Services Discussion Forum hosted by The Carbon Project at http://www.thecarbonportal.net.
SERVICE ACCESS
WFS Services: http://frameworkwfs.usgs.gov/framework/wfs/wfs.cgi
WMS Services: http://frameworkwfs.usgs.gov/framework/wms/cubeserv.cgi
The initial data content for the NSDI Framework Data Services includes selected features from the Hydrography, Transportation and Governmental Unit Framework Data Themes. The data provided through this service are maintained for currency with the source data and systems using OGC Standards-Based WFS Transactions submitted by the USGS.
Please see the links below for information regarding service access, suggested usability guidelines, information schemas, specifications and free clients & utilities. Currently, an understanding of OGC Web Services Standards is important for the effective utilization of the NSDI Framework Data Services. Therefore; it is strongly recommended that users read the Usability Document before using the service. It not only includes general guidelines, but also instructions specific to the use of the service in clients such as Google Earth and The Carbon Project's CarbonArc Extension for ESRI's ArcGIS. Finally, to provide feedback or ask questions regarding the use of the service, please visit and register for the NSDI Framework Data Services Discussion Forum hosted by The Carbon Project at http://www.thecarbonportal.net.
SERVICE ACCESS
WFS Services: http://frameworkwfs.usgs.gov/framework/wfs/wfs.cgi
WMS Services: http://frameworkwfs.usgs.gov/framework/wms/cubeserv.cgi
17/04
Don't Duck Metadata!
Are you currently involved in creating or using geospatial data?
Is it important for you to be able to locate data for your projects?
If so, join us for the half day training session outlined below and learn how to create geospatial metadata.
This training session will provide participants with an overview of metadata, and instruction on metadata fundamentals.
Co-Sponsors:
Northwest Indiana Center for Data & Analysis at IUN
And
Northwest Indiana GIS Forum
Cordially invite you to the following FREE Training Session:
An Introduction to Metadata
Location: Indiana University Northwest – Room 230 - GIS Lab, – Library, 2nd Floor
Place: Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
The following topics will be covered:
What is Metadata?
Why is It Important?
What are Metadata Standards?
Tips for Writing Effective Metadata
Using ArcCatalog to Create a Metadata Template for your Organization (Hands on exercise)
Support for this training is provided by the 2007 Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) Cooperative Agreement Program (CAP).
There is no registration fee for the metadata training; however, seating is limited. If you would like to attend, or would like more information, please send a message with a) your contact information, and b) your organizational affiliation to Cele Morris at: cmorris@iun.edu
Cele Morris
Research Analyst
Northwest Indiana Center for Data & Analysis
Indiana University Northwest
cmorris@iun.edu
219-981-5612
fax: 219-980-6558
Are you currently involved in creating or using geospatial data?
Is it important for you to be able to locate data for your projects?
If so, join us for the half day training session outlined below and learn how to create geospatial metadata.
This training session will provide participants with an overview of metadata, and instruction on metadata fundamentals.
Co-Sponsors:
Northwest Indiana Center for Data & Analysis at IUN
And
Northwest Indiana GIS Forum
Cordially invite you to the following FREE Training Session:
An Introduction to Metadata
Location: Indiana University Northwest – Room 230 - GIS Lab, – Library, 2nd Floor
Place: Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
The following topics will be covered:
What is Metadata?
Why is It Important?
What are Metadata Standards?
Tips for Writing Effective Metadata
Using ArcCatalog to Create a Metadata Template for your Organization (Hands on exercise)
Support for this training is provided by the 2007 Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) Cooperative Agreement Program (CAP).
There is no registration fee for the metadata training; however, seating is limited. If you would like to attend, or would like more information, please send a message with a) your contact information, and b) your organizational affiliation to Cele Morris at: cmorris@iun.edu
Cele Morris
Research Analyst
Northwest Indiana Center for Data & Analysis
Indiana University Northwest
cmorris@iun.edu
219-981-5612
fax: 219-980-6558
17/04
May 16th, 2008 1:00-3:30pm, Indiana State Library, History Reference Room, Indianapolis
IGIC Members: FREE
Nonmembers: $20
Join Sally Letsinger of the Indiana Geological Survey to learn how you can use GIS to estimate runoff potential; analyze conservation plans; calculate groundwater flow rates; or predict how fast contaminants will move through a stream system. Topics will include:
• Elevation-derived hydrography data
• Resources for hydrology datasets
• Groundwater data in GIS-based analysis
• Incorporating land cover, elevation and soil data into hydrogeology models
IGIC Members: FREE
Nonmembers: $20
Join Sally Letsinger of the Indiana Geological Survey to learn how you can use GIS to estimate runoff potential; analyze conservation plans; calculate groundwater flow rates; or predict how fast contaminants will move through a stream system. Topics will include:
• Elevation-derived hydrography data
• Resources for hydrology datasets
• Groundwater data in GIS-based analysis
• Incorporating land cover, elevation and soil data into hydrogeology models
16/04
You may download Service Pack 5 at:
http://support.esri.com/index.cfm?fa=downloads.patchesServicePacks.viewPatch&PID=17&MetaID=1377
http://support.esri.com/index.cfm?fa=downloads.patchesServicePacks.viewPatch&PID=17&MetaID=1377
03/04
April 11, 2008, 8:00 - 11:00 am
The Westin Hotel
50 S. Capital Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Sanborn is hosting a free LiDAR Seminar: Make the most of your data. It will feature a brief introduction tothe basics of LiDAR, its latest technology developments, and a comprehensive overview of application trends. There will also be a live software demo for customizable 3D and cross section viewing.
Register at http://www.sanborn.com/lidarseminar2008/
The Westin Hotel
50 S. Capital Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Sanborn is hosting a free LiDAR Seminar: Make the most of your data. It will feature a brief introduction tothe basics of LiDAR, its latest technology developments, and a comprehensive overview of application trends. There will also be a live software demo for customizable 3D and cross section viewing.
Register at http://www.sanborn.com/lidarseminar2008/