Archives
16/08
On Saturday afternoon (August 15, 2009) 18 teams fanned out across downtown Indianapolis to participate in IGIC's first-ever orienteering (urban navigation) event. The event had each team hunt down checkpoints using maps and compasses to solve realistic challenges and improve their group decision-making, problem-solving, listening and communication skills. The teams were made up of IGIC board members and their families, Boy Scout Troops, and our Corporate Sponsors. The team from Cannon IV took top honors for finding the most checkpoints, solving the final puzzle and finding the hidden key to open the prize treasure chest.
I would like to thank Janet Tomlin from the IGIC staff and Jeff Coates from TrueNorth and Associates for all their hard work in putting together this first-ever IGIC fund raising event. I would also like to thank all our participants for both their participation and fund raising donations, and a special thank you to the following event sponsors who contributed both money and prizes to our event:
$300 Contributors:
Butler, Fairman & Seufert
Indiana 811
Pinnacle Mapping Technologies, Inc.
Woolpert, Inc.
$200 Contributor:
Citizens Energy Group
$100 Contributors:
39 Degrees North
Cannon IV
Central Indiana Chapter of the Indiana Society of Professional Land Surveyor’s
Christopher B. Burke Engineering, LTD
Continental Mapping Consultants
Duke Energy
GRW Aerial Survey, Inc.
Indiana Pipeline Awareness Association
MJ Harden
Sanborn
Prize Donations:
Amish Acres
Courtyard by Marriott, Bloomington
Duke Energy
ESRI
Indiana Historical Bureau
IGIC
We hope to do this again next year! We will be evaluating the results and getting feedback from both our participants and sponsors. In the coming days we will also post more information and pictures from Saturday's event on the IGIC web site.
I would like to thank Janet Tomlin from the IGIC staff and Jeff Coates from TrueNorth and Associates for all their hard work in putting together this first-ever IGIC fund raising event. I would also like to thank all our participants for both their participation and fund raising donations, and a special thank you to the following event sponsors who contributed both money and prizes to our event:
$300 Contributors:
Butler, Fairman & Seufert
Indiana 811
Pinnacle Mapping Technologies, Inc.
Woolpert, Inc.
$200 Contributor:
Citizens Energy Group
$100 Contributors:
39 Degrees North
Cannon IV
Central Indiana Chapter of the Indiana Society of Professional Land Surveyor’s
Christopher B. Burke Engineering, LTD
Continental Mapping Consultants
Duke Energy
GRW Aerial Survey, Inc.
Indiana Pipeline Awareness Association
MJ Harden
Sanborn
Prize Donations:
Amish Acres
Courtyard by Marriott, Bloomington
Duke Energy
ESRI
Indiana Historical Bureau
IGIC
We hope to do this again next year! We will be evaluating the results and getting feedback from both our participants and sponsors. In the coming days we will also post more information and pictures from Saturday's event on the IGIC web site.
15/08
IGIC board member Anna Radue, Indiana University UITS, attended the ESRI International User's Conference in San Diego, CA last month. When she came back she shared with me the following two presentations from the keynote and plenary sessions:
(1) Maryland's Governor Martin O’Malley presented on the State's themes - “One Maryland, One Map”, and “State of Maryland – Leading the Way to Transparent Government Using GIS”. The Governor gave a very informative presentation at the opening regarding using GIS to manage government.
(2) Hernando DeSoto, an international economist who has pioneered the development of cadastral systems in the developing world. He argues that parcel boundaries are the foundation for the market economy – “something which sticks out to organize everything else”.
Anna told me that these presentation were of specific interest to her because they made her step back and reflect on what we are doing here in Indiana.
I feel these presentation both mirror and reinforce Indiana's statewide efforts in the development of the IndianaMap and our current data sharing initiative with local government. But they can also challenge us to do more!
Thanks to ESRI, we can view many of the presentations from the 2009 UC at the following link: http://www.esri.com/events/uc/agenda/plenary.html
Direct links to the two presentations Anna recommended are below:
Governor Martin O’Malley's Presentation
Hernando DeSoto’s Presentation
(1) Maryland's Governor Martin O’Malley presented on the State's themes - “One Maryland, One Map”, and “State of Maryland – Leading the Way to Transparent Government Using GIS”. The Governor gave a very informative presentation at the opening regarding using GIS to manage government.
(2) Hernando DeSoto, an international economist who has pioneered the development of cadastral systems in the developing world. He argues that parcel boundaries are the foundation for the market economy – “something which sticks out to organize everything else”.
Anna told me that these presentation were of specific interest to her because they made her step back and reflect on what we are doing here in Indiana.
I feel these presentation both mirror and reinforce Indiana's statewide efforts in the development of the IndianaMap and our current data sharing initiative with local government. But they can also challenge us to do more!
Thanks to ESRI, we can view many of the presentations from the 2009 UC at the following link: http://www.esri.com/events/uc/agenda/plenary.html
Direct links to the two presentations Anna recommended are below:
Governor Martin O’Malley's Presentation
Hernando DeSoto’s Presentation
12/08
The development of Indiana Statewide GIS programs and funding can be directly supported and leveraged by National GIS legislation, programs and funding.
Our partners at the National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC) http://www.nsgic.org have been very active this year working to advocate a number of nationwide geospatial data programs and policy issues. IGIC commends NSGIC in these efforts, but we need to figure our how we can help these efforts to support geospatial advancements in Indiana!
So why are federal government legislation and programs so important to the geospatial community? The recently published "Virtual America - A Stimulating Technology" advocacy document from NSGIC provides some real-world examples of how our thriving geospatial industry "owes its very existence to enlightened policy decisions by the United States government over the past 30 years." What would our nationwide geospatial fabric look like without the U.S. Census Bureau DIME and TIGER mapping efforts, or the U.S. Air Force Navstar GPS program, or the GIS Enterprise and Internet software innovations that have been developed and funded through numerous federal programs?
Learning from the past, NSGIC wisely calls for our leaders to take the next steps to create new geospatial policy to help address today's challenges. Geospatial data and technology can support our national efforts to fix our infrastructure, climate, heath care, homeland security, health pandemics, energy independence, economic/mortgage crisis, and many other problems we face today. In the NSGIC document they identify and advocate three opportunities that the federal government can take to provide almost immediate assistance to help address these problems:
* Develop and fund a reoccurring national imagery program (Imagery for the Nation -IFTN) with partnership and buy-up options for all levels of government.
* Remove Title 13 privacy restrictions on U.S. Census Bureau and U.S.Postal Service address points, and work with state and local governments to create and maintain a national address file.
* Revamp the FGDC and NSDI to create an inclusive partnership that empowers equal representation from all levels of government, the private sector and public to eliminate "silos" of information, duplication of efforts and saves everyone money.
It is apparent to me that IF the federal government were to act on these three initiatives it could be very helpful to all of Indiana's current State and Local government geospatial initiatives. With reoccurring nation-wide geospatial data programs in place with base level funding for two key framework data layers like orthophotography and address points the benefits would be quickly realized and become apparent to everyone. With a revamped FGDC and NSDI that promotes partnerships and stewardship at all levels of government, the development of additional nationwide framework layers like elevation data, parcels, road centerlines, local boundaries, local-resolution hydrography, height-modernization, and critical infrastructure would not be far behind.
The good news is that action by our leaders may not be far off:
* Recently the Congressional Research Service published a detailed report on geospatial governance - http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40625.pdf
* A Congressional oversight hearing on "Federal Geospatial Data Management" was held on July 23. The hearing was webcast live and archived on the Committee's Web site at http://resourcescommittee.house.gov.
* Immediately following this hearing the subcommittee held another hearing on House Resolution 2489 (AmericaView Geospatial Imagery Mapping Program Act). H.R. 2489 (Herseth Sandlin): To authorize a comprehensive national cooperative geospatial imagery mapping program through the United States Geological Survey, to promote use of the program for education, workforce training and development, and applied research, and to support Federal, State, tribal, and local government programs. "AmericaView Geospatial Imagery Mapping Program Act."
* The Congressional Research Services (CRS) has released a report on "Issues Regarding a National Land Parcel Database." According to the Summary section of the report, cadastre -- land parcel data -- is an important part of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure. To view the full report (click here).
* Government Computer News Web site recently published a story – Is a national GIS on the map? outlining a number of national geospatial initiatives.
I encourage you to read the NSGIC and Congressional Research Service publications and view the webcasts of the two Congressional hearings. You can also track NSGIC's legislative initiatives on their blog http://www.nsgic.org/blog/, and you can follow IGIC's legislative initiatives from our newsletter http://www.igic.org/news/ and from our Legislative Committee web page http://igic.org/committees/leg.html.
Our partners at the National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC) http://www.nsgic.org have been very active this year working to advocate a number of nationwide geospatial data programs and policy issues. IGIC commends NSGIC in these efforts, but we need to figure our how we can help these efforts to support geospatial advancements in Indiana!
So why are federal government legislation and programs so important to the geospatial community? The recently published "Virtual America - A Stimulating Technology" advocacy document from NSGIC provides some real-world examples of how our thriving geospatial industry "owes its very existence to enlightened policy decisions by the United States government over the past 30 years." What would our nationwide geospatial fabric look like without the U.S. Census Bureau DIME and TIGER mapping efforts, or the U.S. Air Force Navstar GPS program, or the GIS Enterprise and Internet software innovations that have been developed and funded through numerous federal programs?
Learning from the past, NSGIC wisely calls for our leaders to take the next steps to create new geospatial policy to help address today's challenges. Geospatial data and technology can support our national efforts to fix our infrastructure, climate, heath care, homeland security, health pandemics, energy independence, economic/mortgage crisis, and many other problems we face today. In the NSGIC document they identify and advocate three opportunities that the federal government can take to provide almost immediate assistance to help address these problems:
* Develop and fund a reoccurring national imagery program (Imagery for the Nation -IFTN) with partnership and buy-up options for all levels of government.
* Remove Title 13 privacy restrictions on U.S. Census Bureau and U.S.Postal Service address points, and work with state and local governments to create and maintain a national address file.
* Revamp the FGDC and NSDI to create an inclusive partnership that empowers equal representation from all levels of government, the private sector and public to eliminate "silos" of information, duplication of efforts and saves everyone money.
It is apparent to me that IF the federal government were to act on these three initiatives it could be very helpful to all of Indiana's current State and Local government geospatial initiatives. With reoccurring nation-wide geospatial data programs in place with base level funding for two key framework data layers like orthophotography and address points the benefits would be quickly realized and become apparent to everyone. With a revamped FGDC and NSDI that promotes partnerships and stewardship at all levels of government, the development of additional nationwide framework layers like elevation data, parcels, road centerlines, local boundaries, local-resolution hydrography, height-modernization, and critical infrastructure would not be far behind.
The good news is that action by our leaders may not be far off:
* Recently the Congressional Research Service published a detailed report on geospatial governance - http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40625.pdf
* A Congressional oversight hearing on "Federal Geospatial Data Management" was held on July 23. The hearing was webcast live and archived on the Committee's Web site at http://resourcescommittee.house.gov.
* Immediately following this hearing the subcommittee held another hearing on House Resolution 2489 (AmericaView Geospatial Imagery Mapping Program Act). H.R. 2489 (Herseth Sandlin): To authorize a comprehensive national cooperative geospatial imagery mapping program through the United States Geological Survey, to promote use of the program for education, workforce training and development, and applied research, and to support Federal, State, tribal, and local government programs. "AmericaView Geospatial Imagery Mapping Program Act."
* The Congressional Research Services (CRS) has released a report on "Issues Regarding a National Land Parcel Database." According to the Summary section of the report, cadastre -- land parcel data -- is an important part of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure. To view the full report (click here).
* Government Computer News Web site recently published a story – Is a national GIS on the map? outlining a number of national geospatial initiatives.
I encourage you to read the NSGIC and Congressional Research Service publications and view the webcasts of the two Congressional hearings. You can also track NSGIC's legislative initiatives on their blog http://www.nsgic.org/blog/, and you can follow IGIC's legislative initiatives from our newsletter http://www.igic.org/news/ and from our Legislative Committee web page http://igic.org/committees/leg.html.
10/08
The folks at VerySpatial (http://veryspatial.com) interviewed both Mark DeMulder and Larry Sugarbaker about the USGS The National Map program at the ESRI User Conference last month. Our IndianMap framework data layer web services are directly harvested by the The National Map.
Over the last few years, the direction and efforts of the USGS's The National Map program has been a little confusing to both its end-users and partners. Both interviews provide some very interesting information that puts many things in perspective with respect to the development and direction of the The National Map program.
A VerySpatial Podcast – Episode 210 (July 26, 2009) interview with Mark DeMulder of the USGS. DeMulder is the USGS Chief of The National Geospatial Program (NGP) and is the technical architect for The National Map. This interview is approximately 17 minutes long and starts at 8:22 in the podcast. Click here to download and listen to the podcast:
http://media.libsyn.com/media/avsp/AVSP_Episode210.mp3
A VerySpatial Podcast – Episode 212 (August 9, 2009) interview with Larry Sugarbaker of the USGS. Sugarbaker is the Strategic Advisor for The National Map program. This interview is approximately 23 minutes long and starts at 5:32 in the podcast. Click here to download and listen to the podcast:
http://cdn1.libsyn.com/avsp/AVSP_Episode212.mp3
For more details on The National Map program and the history of the USGS topographic mapping program can be found at http://nationalmap.gov/index.html
Over the last few years, the direction and efforts of the USGS's The National Map program has been a little confusing to both its end-users and partners. Both interviews provide some very interesting information that puts many things in perspective with respect to the development and direction of the The National Map program.
A VerySpatial Podcast – Episode 210 (July 26, 2009) interview with Mark DeMulder of the USGS. DeMulder is the USGS Chief of The National Geospatial Program (NGP) and is the technical architect for The National Map. This interview is approximately 17 minutes long and starts at 8:22 in the podcast. Click here to download and listen to the podcast:
http://media.libsyn.com/media/avsp/AVSP_Episode210.mp3
A VerySpatial Podcast – Episode 212 (August 9, 2009) interview with Larry Sugarbaker of the USGS. Sugarbaker is the Strategic Advisor for The National Map program. This interview is approximately 23 minutes long and starts at 5:32 in the podcast. Click here to download and listen to the podcast:
http://cdn1.libsyn.com/avsp/AVSP_Episode212.mp3
For more details on The National Map program and the history of the USGS topographic mapping program can be found at http://nationalmap.gov/index.html
09/08
Many involved in GIS may not be aware of changes that will take place in the not-so-distant future involving metadata….yikes! There, I’ve said it. Metadata is a subject that can generate considerable fear among the hale and hearty. It’s the less glamorous aspect of GIS that people usually choose not to discuss, but it is an absolute must if you plan to share geospatial data. Metadata describe the content, quality, and condition of geospatial data. Better yet, when metadata is standardized, one can easily find specific dataset information of particular interest quickly.
Before I get to the breaking news, here’s just a bit of background. The first U.S. standard for metadata created by the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) http://www.fgdc.gov/metadata, the Content Standard for Geospatial Metadata (CSDGM), was approved in 1994 and revised in 1998. It can include over 300 possible pieces of information to fully document a dataset. Since the creation of the standard, numerous tools and training materials have been introduced in an attempt to make the process of metadata compilation less tedious. Some tools are so handy that they automatically extract some metadata elements directly from the dataset.
In 2003 the international GIS community developed and approved a metadata standard (ISO 19115) through the International Organization of Standards (ISO). As a member of ISO, the U.S. must make changes to its current standard to adhere to 19115. Each participating nation can create an individualized ‘profile’ by customizing the standard, with the requirement that it includes the 22 core elements. Thus, the U.S. and Canada joined forces to create a common geospatial metadata profile. The North American Profile was published this July and supports the objectives of ISO 19115. The goal of the North American Profile (http://www.fgdc.gov/nap/metadata/nap-press-release.pdf) is to arrive at an ISO 19115 profile which meets the geospatial needs of both the US and Canada. To do so, the NAP team established specific methods and approaches that would guide NAP development. Copies of either the ISO 19115 or NAP can be purchased through the American National Standards Institute.
Why a new standard? Think of ISO 19115 as a way to upgrade the standard to today’s technology. There are more ways to access geospatial data today than there were in the 90’s. The new standard provides a schema for describing: geospatial web services, individual dataset descriptions, data catalogs, and clearinghouse activities. It applies to multiple levels of geographic information: datasets, dataset series, individual data features, and individual feature (attribute) properties. The content of ISO 19115 strongly resembles the ‘sections’ of the CSDGM. ISO 19115 provides information about the geographic data or service like: identification, extent, quality, spatial schema, temporal schema, spatial reference, and distribution.
So, how will this change affect Indiana? It means that down the road the FGDC will begin encouraging the transition from the CSDGM to the ISO 19115 based North American Profile. This will happen after appropriate tools for metadata creation and/or capture have been created (many are being developed and tested now). ESRI is one of the leaders in this and as many may be aware, already have an ISO tool included with their software. Eventually there will be a patch from ESRI updating ArcCatalog to include a NAP metadata collection tool. As the Federal Geographic Data Committee begin work on a new manual and training materials, they encourage the continued use of the CSDGM to compile metadata. If you need access to a fee metadata tool, the Indiana Geological Survey provides an online application at the following location: http://igs.indiana.edu/metadata/index.cfm.
Indiana has little to worry about. The Indiana Geological Survey has been doing a splendid job following the CSDGM to document the datasets residing on the IndianaMap. They are including the ISO theme keywords necessary for catalog searching/accessing metadata records currently recommended by the FGDC as the first step to getting ready for the transition. Any future changes in map service hardware, software or hosting should keep metadata issues in mind.
Final Notes: Before you get all excited to download and read this new standard, be warned it is not free. A single copy can be purchased for $30.00 from the American National Standards Institute at:
http://webstore.ansi.org/RecordDetail.aspx?sku=INCITS+453-2009
Before I get to the breaking news, here’s just a bit of background. The first U.S. standard for metadata created by the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) http://www.fgdc.gov/metadata, the Content Standard for Geospatial Metadata (CSDGM), was approved in 1994 and revised in 1998. It can include over 300 possible pieces of information to fully document a dataset. Since the creation of the standard, numerous tools and training materials have been introduced in an attempt to make the process of metadata compilation less tedious. Some tools are so handy that they automatically extract some metadata elements directly from the dataset.
In 2003 the international GIS community developed and approved a metadata standard (ISO 19115) through the International Organization of Standards (ISO). As a member of ISO, the U.S. must make changes to its current standard to adhere to 19115. Each participating nation can create an individualized ‘profile’ by customizing the standard, with the requirement that it includes the 22 core elements. Thus, the U.S. and Canada joined forces to create a common geospatial metadata profile. The North American Profile was published this July and supports the objectives of ISO 19115. The goal of the North American Profile (http://www.fgdc.gov/nap/metadata/nap-press-release.pdf) is to arrive at an ISO 19115 profile which meets the geospatial needs of both the US and Canada. To do so, the NAP team established specific methods and approaches that would guide NAP development. Copies of either the ISO 19115 or NAP can be purchased through the American National Standards Institute.
Why a new standard? Think of ISO 19115 as a way to upgrade the standard to today’s technology. There are more ways to access geospatial data today than there were in the 90’s. The new standard provides a schema for describing: geospatial web services, individual dataset descriptions, data catalogs, and clearinghouse activities. It applies to multiple levels of geographic information: datasets, dataset series, individual data features, and individual feature (attribute) properties. The content of ISO 19115 strongly resembles the ‘sections’ of the CSDGM. ISO 19115 provides information about the geographic data or service like: identification, extent, quality, spatial schema, temporal schema, spatial reference, and distribution.
So, how will this change affect Indiana? It means that down the road the FGDC will begin encouraging the transition from the CSDGM to the ISO 19115 based North American Profile. This will happen after appropriate tools for metadata creation and/or capture have been created (many are being developed and tested now). ESRI is one of the leaders in this and as many may be aware, already have an ISO tool included with their software. Eventually there will be a patch from ESRI updating ArcCatalog to include a NAP metadata collection tool. As the Federal Geographic Data Committee begin work on a new manual and training materials, they encourage the continued use of the CSDGM to compile metadata. If you need access to a fee metadata tool, the Indiana Geological Survey provides an online application at the following location: http://igs.indiana.edu/metadata/index.cfm.
Indiana has little to worry about. The Indiana Geological Survey has been doing a splendid job following the CSDGM to document the datasets residing on the IndianaMap. They are including the ISO theme keywords necessary for catalog searching/accessing metadata records currently recommended by the FGDC as the first step to getting ready for the transition. Any future changes in map service hardware, software or hosting should keep metadata issues in mind.
Final Notes: Before you get all excited to download and read this new standard, be warned it is not free. A single copy can be purchased for $30.00 from the American National Standards Institute at:
http://webstore.ansi.org/RecordDetail.aspx?sku=INCITS+453-2009
08/08
U.S. EPA Region 5 announces more than $121 million in Recovery Act Funds for water
infrastructure projects in Indiana to boost economy, create jobs and
protect public health.
CHICAGO (JULY 14, 2009) - In a move that stands to create jobs, boost local
economies, improve aging drinking water and wastewater infrastructure and
protect human health and the environment for people in the State of
Indiana, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded more
than $121 million to the Indiana Finance Authority. This new infusion of
money provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will
help the state and local governments finance many of the overdue
improvements to water projects that are essential to protecting public
health and the environment across the state.
"EPA is pleased to provide more than $121 million in Recovery Act funds for
much needed improvements to Indiana's aging drinking water and waste water
infrastructure, including sewer systems," said Bharat Mathur, Acting
Regional Administrator. "This money will protect human health and improve
water quality while helping to create good jobs in the state."
The Recovery Act funds will go to the state's Clean Water and Drinking
Water State Revolving Funds programs.
The Clean Water State Revolving Fund program will receive $94,447,500. It
provides low-interest loans for water quality protection projects for
wastewater treatment, non-point source pollution control, and watershed
management. The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program will receive
$27,212,000. It provides low-interest loans for drinking water systems to
finance infrastructure improvements. The program also emphasizes providing
funds to small and disadvantaged communities and to programs that encourage
pollution prevention as a tool for ensuring safe drinking water.
An unprecedented $6 billion dollars will be awarded to fund water and
wastewater infrastructure projects across the country under the Recovery
Act in the form of low-interest loans, principal forgiveness and grants. At
least 20 percent of the funds provided under the Recovery Act are to be
used for green infrastructure, water and energy efficiency improvements and
other environmentally innovative projects.
President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
on February 17, 2009, and has directed that the Recovery Act be implemented
with unprecedented transparency and accountability. To that end, the
American people can see how every dollar is being invested at Recovery.gov.
Information on EPA's implementation of the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009 visit http://www.epa.gov/recovery
infrastructure projects in Indiana to boost economy, create jobs and
protect public health.
CHICAGO (JULY 14, 2009) - In a move that stands to create jobs, boost local
economies, improve aging drinking water and wastewater infrastructure and
protect human health and the environment for people in the State of
Indiana, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded more
than $121 million to the Indiana Finance Authority. This new infusion of
money provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will
help the state and local governments finance many of the overdue
improvements to water projects that are essential to protecting public
health and the environment across the state.
"EPA is pleased to provide more than $121 million in Recovery Act funds for
much needed improvements to Indiana's aging drinking water and waste water
infrastructure, including sewer systems," said Bharat Mathur, Acting
Regional Administrator. "This money will protect human health and improve
water quality while helping to create good jobs in the state."
The Recovery Act funds will go to the state's Clean Water and Drinking
Water State Revolving Funds programs.
The Clean Water State Revolving Fund program will receive $94,447,500. It
provides low-interest loans for water quality protection projects for
wastewater treatment, non-point source pollution control, and watershed
management. The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program will receive
$27,212,000. It provides low-interest loans for drinking water systems to
finance infrastructure improvements. The program also emphasizes providing
funds to small and disadvantaged communities and to programs that encourage
pollution prevention as a tool for ensuring safe drinking water.
An unprecedented $6 billion dollars will be awarded to fund water and
wastewater infrastructure projects across the country under the Recovery
Act in the form of low-interest loans, principal forgiveness and grants. At
least 20 percent of the funds provided under the Recovery Act are to be
used for green infrastructure, water and energy efficiency improvements and
other environmentally innovative projects.
President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
on February 17, 2009, and has directed that the Recovery Act be implemented
with unprecedented transparency and accountability. To that end, the
American people can see how every dollar is being invested at Recovery.gov.
Information on EPA's implementation of the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009 visit http://www.epa.gov/recovery
07/08
In the Summer 2009 issue of ArcUser Magazine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN is highlighted for teaching students how to use off-the-shelf GIS data and software to support their classes in soil science. Purdue University professor Darrell G Schultz and assistant professor Phillip R. Owens use IndianaMap data available from the Indiana Geological Survey and the Indiana Spatial Data Portal at UITS to access orthophotography, digital elevation model, soils, and others data to teach their students. The full story can be viewed at http://www.esri.com/news/arcuser/0609/purduedirt.html .
07/08
Harvest More with GIS is The Schneider Corporations theme for their 2009 User Conference to be held at their Indianapolis, IN Headquarters at:
8901 Otis Ave.
Indianapolis, IN 46216
Current Schneider customers with support agreements can register up to 4 people for free, additional attendees are $49. Attendees without support agreements can attend for $149 each. For more information click here.
8901 Otis Ave.
Indianapolis, IN 46216
Current Schneider customers with support agreements can register up to 4 people for free, additional attendees are $49. Attendees without support agreements can attend for $149 each. For more information click here.
06/08
Just in case you've been living under a rock, or maybe have been on vacation - ESRI recently released their latest version of their FREE ArcGIS Explorer software. This new release from ESRI represents a very significant advancement in both functionality and ease-to-use for non-GIS professionals to access, visualize, use and present geospatial information.
IGIC continues to seek-out and promote any free and easy-to-use GIS tools that can help expand both the business community and general publics access to geospatial information. The IndianaMap (our premier project) currently makes over 200 layers of statewide geospatial information available on-line for viewing, down loading, and as web services (http://www.indianamap.org). In 2005 & 2006 as part of Indiana's statewide orthophotography project, we made Indiana's new imagery and framework data layers readily available and usable through custom ESRI ArcReader and DDTI AccuGlobe viewing applications, and by sharing our imagery with Google Map/Earth, and Microsoft VirtualEarth.
I'm very excited about ESRI's new ArcGIS Explorer 900 product. This new software provides the best functionality from these other tools through a easy-to-use ribbon interface, provides both 2D maps and 3D globe options, provides easy access to pre-published maps/globes, layer packages and web services, allows custom mash-ups with your own data, allows API (.NET programming) customization, plus gives the user the ability to create and save dynamic/interactive map presentations.
Click here to view a brief product demo from the ESRI User Conference plenary session:
http://gisupdates.esri.com/video/uc2009/UC09_6_Explorer_Demo_Dev_Te.wmv
Click here to go to ESRI's ArcGIS Explorer product blog for more information and links to download ArcGIS Explorer 900:
http://blogs.esri.com/Info/blogs/arcgisexplorerblog/archive/2009/08/13/what-s-new-in-arcgis-explorer.aspx
IGIC continues to seek-out and promote any free and easy-to-use GIS tools that can help expand both the business community and general publics access to geospatial information. The IndianaMap (our premier project) currently makes over 200 layers of statewide geospatial information available on-line for viewing, down loading, and as web services (http://www.indianamap.org). In 2005 & 2006 as part of Indiana's statewide orthophotography project, we made Indiana's new imagery and framework data layers readily available and usable through custom ESRI ArcReader and DDTI AccuGlobe viewing applications, and by sharing our imagery with Google Map/Earth, and Microsoft VirtualEarth.
I'm very excited about ESRI's new ArcGIS Explorer 900 product. This new software provides the best functionality from these other tools through a easy-to-use ribbon interface, provides both 2D maps and 3D globe options, provides easy access to pre-published maps/globes, layer packages and web services, allows custom mash-ups with your own data, allows API (.NET programming) customization, plus gives the user the ability to create and save dynamic/interactive map presentations.
Click here to view a brief product demo from the ESRI User Conference plenary session:
http://gisupdates.esri.com/video/uc2009/UC09_6_Explorer_Demo_Dev_Te.wmv
Click here to go to ESRI's ArcGIS Explorer product blog for more information and links to download ArcGIS Explorer 900:
http://blogs.esri.com/Info/blogs/arcgisexplorerblog/archive/2009/08/13/what-s-new-in-arcgis-explorer.aspx