Archives
29/03
WE HAVE A NEW LOOK! If you have not been to our newly designed IGIC web site in the last few weeks, you need to check us out!
Our old web site was graciously hosted at no charge by the State of Indiana [Access Indiana]. That was why when you typed in http://www.igic.org you were redirected to http://www.in.gov/igic.
If you have this old in.gov URL bookmarked it will redirect you to our new igic.org domain. This old URL will work for the next few weeks, but you should change your bookmark to http://www.igic.org.
Once we get the bugs worked out of the new site, expect to see us adding new content and functionality to the site. We are also in the process of updating our other primary URL for the IndianaMap http://www.indianaMap.org. Right now the IndianaMap URL points to a project page under igic.org, but later this year the IndianaMap will move and expand as its own unique domain.
Please let us know what you think. All suggestions and comments are welcome! info@igic.org
Our old web site was graciously hosted at no charge by the State of Indiana [Access Indiana]. That was why when you typed in http://www.igic.org you were redirected to http://www.in.gov/igic.
If you have this old in.gov URL bookmarked it will redirect you to our new igic.org domain. This old URL will work for the next few weeks, but you should change your bookmark to http://www.igic.org.
Once we get the bugs worked out of the new site, expect to see us adding new content and functionality to the site. We are also in the process of updating our other primary URL for the IndianaMap http://www.indianaMap.org. Right now the IndianaMap URL points to a project page under igic.org, but later this year the IndianaMap will move and expand as its own unique domain.
Please let us know what you think. All suggestions and comments are welcome! info@igic.org
29/03
This headline is probably not new news to many of us actively working with geospatial data and technology, but it is sure good to hear it from an independent and authoritative source. The high cost to produce geospatial data and the perceived value of this data puts it in a unique category where many governments see digital mapping data as an asset to hold tightly, or to charge additional fees to recover their data maintenance costs.
There are many good reasons for GIS data to be open and accessible, but it is encouraging to see what this article shows about the “cost recovery” argument that is commonly used. The author reports that a national parcel layer service provider has identified the following as possible mechanisms contributing to tax base growth in open-records counties:
Does Open Access to Digital Cadastre Stimulate the Economy?
There are many good reasons for GIS data to be open and accessible, but it is encouraging to see what this article shows about the “cost recovery” argument that is commonly used. The author reports that a national parcel layer service provider has identified the following as possible mechanisms contributing to tax base growth in open-records counties:
Improved Real Estate Information Operations
Attraction of Outside Economic Development Dollars
Long-Term Improvement in the Built Environment
Reduced Insurance Premiums
And the bottom line is, when tax revenues were compared between open-records and closed-records counties, the increased property tax revenue in the open-counties was greater, and paid for the maintenance of the digital map without charging cost recovery fees. To download the full article click here:Attraction of Outside Economic Development Dollars
Long-Term Improvement in the Built Environment
Reduced Insurance Premiums
Does Open Access to Digital Cadastre Stimulate the Economy?
28/03
To date 52 Counties have signed the Data Sharing Agreement to become partners in the IndianaMap Data Sharing Initiative. The counties are: Adams, Bartholomew, Cass, Clark, Clay, Daviess, Dearborn, Delaware, Dubois, Fayette, Fountain, Grant, Hamilton, Harrison, Hendricks, Henry, Howard, Jasper, Jefferson, Jennings, Johnson, Kosciusko, Lagrange, LaPorte, Madison, Marion, Miami, Monroe, Noble, Orange, Owen, Perry, Pike, Posey, Pulaski, Putnam, Ripley, Scott, Shelby, Spencer, St. Joseph, Starke, Steuben, Tippecanoe, Tipton, Vanderburgh, Vigo, Wabash, Washington, Wayne, Wells and Whitley.
We pushed out a press release to announce reaching this milestone earlier this month and it was picked up by a number geospatial industry news outlets. One I found particularly interesting is the discussion of our press release on the 3/22/2009 Very Spatial Podcast. Our News Story is discussed within the first 10 minutes of show. Click here to hear their comments.
If your County is still shown in yellow on this map, we encourage you to meet with your County Commissioners and discuss with them the importance and value of your counties participation. To help the local county staff have a conversation with their Commissioner's we sent a data sharing booklet out to these remaining counties. If you would like some of these booklets, please call or email Janet Tomlin at the IGIC office (317)234-2924.
If your County is still shown in yellow on this map, we encourage you to meet with your County Commissioners and discuss with them the importance and value of your counties participation. To help the local county staff have a conversation with their Commissioner's we sent a data sharing booklet out to these remaining counties. If you would like some of these booklets, please call or email Janet Tomlin at the IGIC office (317)234-2924.
Grant Status
The grant submittal process for the County EMA Directors to obtain local funding to support this effort continues. To help the EMA Directors accurately and quickly submit their "2007 LETPP WebGIS" grant requests, Roger Koelpin at the Indiana Department of Homeland Security has provided them with on-line templates in their iGMS system. For more details click here.
The grant submittal process for the County EMA Directors to obtain local funding to support this effort continues. To help the EMA Directors accurately and quickly submit their "2007 LETPP WebGIS" grant requests, Roger Koelpin at the Indiana Department of Homeland Security has provided them with on-line templates in their iGMS system. For more details click here.
28/03
Contributed by John Milburn
Most of you are probably aware of the proposed legislation in California that would have required "internet mapping sites" to blur images of churches, schools, etc. It is my understanding that the hearing to discuss this bill was canceled earlier this week at the request of the bill's author.
In Missouri, there is proposed legislation that, on its face, at least would limit the use of GIS to anyone but surveyors. Directions magazine details a well-written letter that MAPPS has sent to the state senator who has proposed the legislation.
As the applications for spatial technology increases, so will the amount of legislation attempting to regulate how spatial data is collected, distributed and used. However, much of this legislation will be drafted by policymakers who do not fully understand either the technology or the proposed legislation's overall implications.
Google recently launched its Street View in the UK. According to the BBC, this resulted in requests to have certain images removed. What I don't understand is why the media typically portrays Google's removal of these images in such a negative manner. For example, this article from the BBC website suggests certain images were "mistakes" and states that Google was "forced to pull" images. However, the images were collected from public streets - how are these images a mistake? With respect to the removal of images, it appears to me that Google is doing exactly what people wanted, and what Google has said it will do.
A recent article from Asian Surveying and Mapping on how surveyors are being disciplined, and in some cases sued, in Texas in connection with flood damage that was incurred as a result of Hurricane Ike. According to the article:
"Some of the damage in the US was due to flooding, where housing had been built below the Base Flood Level. This is a contour defined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to correspond to a 100-year flood level. The position of the BFL was fixed by the National Geodetic Survey long ago and marked by concrete and brass monuments.
In the 1980s, FEMA re-measured the contour and found that the flood plain was about a meter above the old marks. It issued a new map, which became the document of reference for insurance companies and other authorities.
But no one told the surveyors, and they didn't ask. They continued to rely on the old elevations. This meant that people who thought their new homes were being built above flood level were actually building a meter below it. The practical effect was to allow about 20 homes near the small town of LaBelle to be built in the flood plain. This mattered when Hurricane Ike hit the Texas coast.
Not only were these homes below the flood level and wet, they had no flood insurance. To add to the homeowners' nightmare, FEMA would not permit them to rebuild their homes because they were in the flood plain." (This [story] is a good reason for projects like the IndianaMap).
John Milburn
Hancock County GIS Coordinator
(317) 477-1150
jmilburn@hancockcoingov.org
Most of you are probably aware of the proposed legislation in California that would have required "internet mapping sites" to blur images of churches, schools, etc. It is my understanding that the hearing to discuss this bill was canceled earlier this week at the request of the bill's author.
In Missouri, there is proposed legislation that, on its face, at least would limit the use of GIS to anyone but surveyors. Directions magazine details a well-written letter that MAPPS has sent to the state senator who has proposed the legislation.
As the applications for spatial technology increases, so will the amount of legislation attempting to regulate how spatial data is collected, distributed and used. However, much of this legislation will be drafted by policymakers who do not fully understand either the technology or the proposed legislation's overall implications.
Google recently launched its Street View in the UK. According to the BBC, this resulted in requests to have certain images removed. What I don't understand is why the media typically portrays Google's removal of these images in such a negative manner. For example, this article from the BBC website suggests certain images were "mistakes" and states that Google was "forced to pull" images. However, the images were collected from public streets - how are these images a mistake? With respect to the removal of images, it appears to me that Google is doing exactly what people wanted, and what Google has said it will do.
A recent article from Asian Surveying and Mapping on how surveyors are being disciplined, and in some cases sued, in Texas in connection with flood damage that was incurred as a result of Hurricane Ike. According to the article:
"Some of the damage in the US was due to flooding, where housing had been built below the Base Flood Level. This is a contour defined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to correspond to a 100-year flood level. The position of the BFL was fixed by the National Geodetic Survey long ago and marked by concrete and brass monuments.
In the 1980s, FEMA re-measured the contour and found that the flood plain was about a meter above the old marks. It issued a new map, which became the document of reference for insurance companies and other authorities.
But no one told the surveyors, and they didn't ask. They continued to rely on the old elevations. This meant that people who thought their new homes were being built above flood level were actually building a meter below it. The practical effect was to allow about 20 homes near the small town of LaBelle to be built in the flood plain. This mattered when Hurricane Ike hit the Texas coast.
Not only were these homes below the flood level and wet, they had no flood insurance. To add to the homeowners' nightmare, FEMA would not permit them to rebuild their homes because they were in the flood plain." (This [story] is a good reason for projects like the IndianaMap).
John Milburn
Hancock County GIS Coordinator
(317) 477-1150
jmilburn@hancockcoingov.org
28/03
With the release of ArcGIS 9.3, ESRI has replaced the Introduction to ArcGIS 1 and Introduction to ArcGIS 2 class with the ArcGIS Desktop II and ArcGIS Desktop III classes. Irv Goldblatt, Indiana Department of Environmental Management, has received authorization from ESRI to teach these classes and has scheduled classes for January through June, 2009. These classes are available to anyone from a public agency for the only the cost of materials (see below).
The April – June 2009, GIS Training Schedule (conducted at Indiana State Library Rm. 428):
1April 22 – 24 Desktop II (7 class openings as of 3/23/2009)
2May 19 – 21 Desktop II (10 class openings as of 3/23/2009)
3June 17 – 18 Desktop III (4 class openings as of 3/23/2009)
Prices for the classes are $165.40 for the three day ArcGIS Desktop II: Tools and Functionality class and $110.40 for the two day ArcGIS Desktop III: GIS Workflows and Analysis class.
More information about these classes can be found at:
http://training.esri.com/gateway/index.cfm?fa=catalog.courseDetail&CourseID=50111385_9.X (Desktop II)
http://training.esri.com/gateway/index.cfm?fa=catalog.courseDetail&CourseID=50111422_9.X (Desktop III)
ESRI has expanded their courses as part of the training restructure and shifted some of the lessons in Introduction to ArcGIS 1 the new Desktop I: Getting Started with GIS class and in a free Web based training class, Getting started with GIS. Currently there are no ESRI Authorized Instructors within State government for the Desktop I class. We therefore strongly recommend any prospective student that does not have some experience with ArcGIS and is planning on taking the Desktop II class, to complete the Getting Started in GIS Web training at the following link: http://training.esri.com/acb2000/showdetl.cfm?DID=6&Product_ID=915
Note that ArcGIS software is necessary to complete the course exercises. ArcGIS installation can be requested from IOT for state employees. Internal agency training approval procedures may also be required for state employees.
Tracy Allen, Indiana Office of Technology, coordinates the training for GIS. She can be contacted at tallen@iot.in.gov or 317-234-5988.
The April – June 2009, GIS Training Schedule (conducted at Indiana State Library Rm. 428):
1April 22 – 24 Desktop II (7 class openings as of 3/23/2009)
2May 19 – 21 Desktop II (10 class openings as of 3/23/2009)
3June 17 – 18 Desktop III (4 class openings as of 3/23/2009)
Prices for the classes are $165.40 for the three day ArcGIS Desktop II: Tools and Functionality class and $110.40 for the two day ArcGIS Desktop III: GIS Workflows and Analysis class.
More information about these classes can be found at:
http://training.esri.com/gateway/index.cfm?fa=catalog.courseDetail&CourseID=50111385_9.X (Desktop II)
http://training.esri.com/gateway/index.cfm?fa=catalog.courseDetail&CourseID=50111422_9.X (Desktop III)
ESRI has expanded their courses as part of the training restructure and shifted some of the lessons in Introduction to ArcGIS 1 the new Desktop I: Getting Started with GIS class and in a free Web based training class, Getting started with GIS. Currently there are no ESRI Authorized Instructors within State government for the Desktop I class. We therefore strongly recommend any prospective student that does not have some experience with ArcGIS and is planning on taking the Desktop II class, to complete the Getting Started in GIS Web training at the following link: http://training.esri.com/acb2000/showdetl.cfm?DID=6&Product_ID=915
Note that ArcGIS software is necessary to complete the course exercises. ArcGIS installation can be requested from IOT for state employees. Internal agency training approval procedures may also be required for state employees.
Tracy Allen, Indiana Office of Technology, coordinates the training for GIS. She can be contacted at tallen@iot.in.gov or 317-234-5988.
27/03
The Indiana State Library State Data Center will be giving a presentation on the basics of locating Census information at the Block Level - Monday, May 11th, 2pm – 3pm, in Room 428 of the library.
How do you get that population number for your next report, paper, or grant application? The U.S. Census Bureau, of course! The Census divides counties into Census Tracts, then into smaller Block Groups which hold Census Blocks. Data provided at the Block level is best for analyzing the population at the neighborhood level. This workshop will walk you through using Census maps online and the American FactFinder website to find data on Age, Race & ethnicity, Income level, Employment Status, and more. We will use examples of Blocks and Block Groups within Marion County.
For more information contact: Katie Springer, State Data Center Coordinator, Indiana State Library, kspringer@library.in.gov
How do you get that population number for your next report, paper, or grant application? The U.S. Census Bureau, of course! The Census divides counties into Census Tracts, then into smaller Block Groups which hold Census Blocks. Data provided at the Block level is best for analyzing the population at the neighborhood level. This workshop will walk you through using Census maps online and the American FactFinder website to find data on Age, Race & ethnicity, Income level, Employment Status, and more. We will use examples of Blocks and Block Groups within Marion County.
For more information contact: Katie Springer, State Data Center Coordinator, Indiana State Library, kspringer@library.in.gov
26/03
We live in the Global Location Age. “Where am I?” is being replaced by, “Where am I in relation to everything else?”
Penn State Public Broadcasting is developing the Geospatial Revolution Project, an integrated public service media and outreach initiative on the brave new world of digital mapping.
The project will include a 60-minute public television broadcast program, a structured outreach initiative with educational partners, a chaptered program DVD including educational toolkit components, and a website with information and additional resources.
See the trailer for the program at http://geospatialrevolution.psu.edu.
Penn State Public Broadcasting is developing the Geospatial Revolution Project, an integrated public service media and outreach initiative on the brave new world of digital mapping.
The project will include a 60-minute public television broadcast program, a structured outreach initiative with educational partners, a chaptered program DVD including educational toolkit components, and a website with information and additional resources.
See the trailer for the program at http://geospatialrevolution.psu.edu.
26/03
The American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) is celebrating its 75th Anniversary throughout 2009. I'm proud to say that I've been a member of ASPRS for the last 33 of those 75 years. ASPRS has always been at the forefront of providing direction and leadership for the mapping science disciplines of photogrammetry, remote sensing, and GIS. ASPRS's PE&RS Journal in world renound for reporting on the advances in research and development in geospatial technology that matter to us working in this industry.
In celebration of their 75th Anniversary, ASPRS is publishing a number of ASPRS Films (video clips) on the ASPRS web site and on YouTube to document the history of the society and technology, and to commemorate the accomplishments of ASPRS members who are some of the pioneers of this industry.
In celebration of their 75th Anniversary, ASPRS is publishing a number of ASPRS Films (video clips) on the ASPRS web site and on YouTube to document the history of the society and technology, and to commemorate the accomplishments of ASPRS members who are some of the pioneers of this industry.
11/03
Alaska Satellite Facility (ASF) at the University of Alaska Fairbanks announced an opportunity to obtain up to 20 free Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) scenes. The scenes may be any combination of data from the PRISM, AVNIR-2, or PALSAR sensors aboard the ALOS spacecraft.
Proposals are solicited for the following three categories:
Validation of ALOS Data Applications
Earth Science and Remote-Sensing Applications
Educational Products
Participation is open to college and K-12 educators, members of non-governmental organizations, and others involved in the non-commercial use of remote-sensing data. Support is limited to data access, rather than research funding.
Download the complete announcement at www.igic.org/temp/AADN_AO_2009.pdf
Though the document says the proposal deadline is February 27th, but it has been pushed back to end of business on March 30th.
Proposals are solicited for the following three categories:
Validation of ALOS Data Applications
Earth Science and Remote-Sensing Applications
Educational Products
Participation is open to college and K-12 educators, members of non-governmental organizations, and others involved in the non-commercial use of remote-sensing data. Support is limited to data access, rather than research funding.
Download the complete announcement at www.igic.org/temp/AADN_AO_2009.pdf
Though the document says the proposal deadline is February 27th, but it has been pushed back to end of business on March 30th.
10/03
Visit www.igic.org/jobs for more information on these and other job and internship opportunities.
Student Forestry Technician
The Hoosier National Forest will be hiring a student to fill a summer position. The selected applicant will serve as a GS-5 Forestry Technician on either the Brownstown Ranger District in Bedford or at the Tell City Ranger District, in Tell City. Closing date: April 20, 2009.
GIS Analyst
The Indiana National Guard Joint Forces at Camp Atterbury is seeking an analyst to assist the State and Training Site Master Planners to create, modify and maintain GIS data layers, create GIS applications and serve as the technical expert for GIS development. Closing date: March 12, 2009.
Student Forestry Technician
The Hoosier National Forest will be hiring a student to fill a summer position. The selected applicant will serve as a GS-5 Forestry Technician on either the Brownstown Ranger District in Bedford or at the Tell City Ranger District, in Tell City. Closing date: April 20, 2009.
GIS Analyst
The Indiana National Guard Joint Forces at Camp Atterbury is seeking an analyst to assist the State and Training Site Master Planners to create, modify and maintain GIS data layers, create GIS applications and serve as the technical expert for GIS development. Closing date: March 12, 2009.