Archives
30/04
Why would the State of Indiana invest in a CORS network and then make it available for both government and commercial use? Because it's good for the future of Indiana.
In a story posed recently on the GISLounge web site, the world-wide market for Global Positioning System (GPS) and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) products for use in GIS Mapping is estimated grow significantly. Read more here.
In a story posed recently on the GISLounge web site, the world-wide market for Global Positioning System (GPS) and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) products for use in GIS Mapping is estimated grow significantly. Read more here.
30/04
Contributed by: Carol Rogers, Deputy Director and CIO of the Indiana Business Research Center, Indiana University
Director of the U.S. Census Bureau Dr. Robert Groves announced the final 2010 Census mail participation rates on April 28: http://www.visualwebcaster.com/event.asp?id=68805
Director of the U.S. Census Bureau Dr. Robert Groves announced the final 2010 Census mail participation rates on April 28: http://www.visualwebcaster.com/event.asp?id=68805
Indiana Rocks
With a national participation rate at 72%, Indiana's participation in this phase of the census was excellent, finishing is the top 3, with 78% of Hoosier Households sending in their census forms. In the top 50 places in the U.S., Carmel, IN came in 5th and Clay Township came in 6th, both with an 85% response rate.
We are now entering the census phase known as Non-Response Follow-Up. This phase involves trying to account for the roughly 48 million households across the U.S. that did not mail back their Census form. The Census Bureau will be sending approximately 635,000 census takers out to count these non-responding households.
WHAT INFORMATION ARE WE COLLECTING? 10 questions isn’t going to yield much data...
- Total population (by age, by race, by sex)
- Living in housing units (owned or rented) or in group quarters( dorms, nursing homes, jails, prisons)
But, the data collected from the Census in 2010 will provide critical benchmarks of...
- HOW MANY live in our jurisdictions
- How MANY homes, institutions and structures are there and where are they
So when will be see the results of the 2010 Census? Here is a broad timeline...
- 2010 – By law, the Census Bureau must deliver the national and state counts to the President by the end of the year
- 2011 - P.L.94-171 files (so-called) will be delivered to Indiana by March 2011 (IBRC will make these data available ASAP after delivery.)
- 2011 through 2012 - a variety of statistical products and geo-products will be released.
To view an interactive map to see how your local community did, click here - http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/
With a national participation rate at 72%, Indiana's participation in this phase of the census was excellent, finishing is the top 3, with 78% of Hoosier Households sending in their census forms. In the top 50 places in the U.S., Carmel, IN came in 5th and Clay Township came in 6th, both with an 85% response rate.
We are now entering the census phase known as Non-Response Follow-Up. This phase involves trying to account for the roughly 48 million households across the U.S. that did not mail back their Census form. The Census Bureau will be sending approximately 635,000 census takers out to count these non-responding households.
WHAT INFORMATION ARE WE COLLECTING? 10 questions isn’t going to yield much data...
- Total population (by age, by race, by sex)
- Living in housing units (owned or rented) or in group quarters( dorms, nursing homes, jails, prisons)
But, the data collected from the Census in 2010 will provide critical benchmarks of...
- HOW MANY live in our jurisdictions
- How MANY homes, institutions and structures are there and where are they
So when will be see the results of the 2010 Census? Here is a broad timeline...
- 2010 – By law, the Census Bureau must deliver the national and state counts to the President by the end of the year
- 2011 - P.L.94-171 files (so-called) will be delivered to Indiana by March 2011 (IBRC will make these data available ASAP after delivery.)
- 2011 through 2012 - a variety of statistical products and geo-products will be released.
To view an interactive map to see how your local community did, click here - http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/
30/04
In a new Pew Research Center report on public usage of government websites, Government agencies have begun to open up their data to the public, and a surprisingly large number of citizens are showing interest.
In a recent presentation Jim Sparks, GIO for the State of Indiana spoke about how these new Obama administration Open Government directives designed to provide more access to public information to help drive innovation, support accountability and transparency "are not new to Indiana's GIS community, and that we have been doing this for more than 10 years, and should be proud of our IndianaMap efforts and be a model for other states."
Some key findings of the Pew Research Center report report include:
Data driven – Efforts by government agencies to post their data online are resonating with citizens. Fully 40% of online adults went online in the preceding year to access data and information about government.
Organized around new online platforms – Citizen interactions with government are moving beyond the website. Nearly one third (31%) of online adults use online platforms such as blogs, social networking sites, email, online video or text messaging to get government information.
Participatory – Americans are not simply going online for data and information; they want to share their personal views on the business of government. Nearly one quarter (23%) of internet users participate in the online debate around government policies or issues, with much of this discussion occurring outside of official government channels.
For more details on the Pew Research Center report click here.
Other Efforts:
Interestingly, the U.S. is not the only country using the Internet to make data available for free. In a related (and somewhat surprising) news story, the United Kingdom's Ordnance Survey, which has been a long time advocate of selling their data, is now giving away map data for free. The UK is even taking their own data.gov.uk efforts one step further, by promoting and in some cases licensing back applications built by private organizations that add value to their raw data.
As an example, a number of applications are currently promoted for geocoding and geolocating specific resources: http://data.gov.uk/apps/list
In a recent presentation Jim Sparks, GIO for the State of Indiana spoke about how these new Obama administration Open Government directives designed to provide more access to public information to help drive innovation, support accountability and transparency "are not new to Indiana's GIS community, and that we have been doing this for more than 10 years, and should be proud of our IndianaMap efforts and be a model for other states."
Some key findings of the Pew Research Center report report include:
Data driven – Efforts by government agencies to post their data online are resonating with citizens. Fully 40% of online adults went online in the preceding year to access data and information about government.
Organized around new online platforms – Citizen interactions with government are moving beyond the website. Nearly one third (31%) of online adults use online platforms such as blogs, social networking sites, email, online video or text messaging to get government information.
Participatory – Americans are not simply going online for data and information; they want to share their personal views on the business of government. Nearly one quarter (23%) of internet users participate in the online debate around government policies or issues, with much of this discussion occurring outside of official government channels.
For more details on the Pew Research Center report click here.
Other Efforts:
Interestingly, the U.S. is not the only country using the Internet to make data available for free. In a related (and somewhat surprising) news story, the United Kingdom's Ordnance Survey, which has been a long time advocate of selling their data, is now giving away map data for free. The UK is even taking their own data.gov.uk efforts one step further, by promoting and in some cases licensing back applications built by private organizations that add value to their raw data.
As an example, a number of applications are currently promoted for geocoding and geolocating specific resources: http://data.gov.uk/apps/list
30/04
Contributed by Steven Hook, Noble Co. GIS Coordinator, and IGIC Past President
ESRI is about to release its next major update to the ArcGIS product line. With a release date set for June 2010, the pre-release version of ArcGIS 10 is available for download by those of the user community participating in the Beta program. One is made aware to apparent changes in the user interface. This brief report provides comments on what to expect with ArcGIS Desktop 10.
The way one interacts with the user interface has changed. The user interface now provides the ability to hide the table of contents. This helpful feature provides more map real estate. Some of the menu items are rearranged or gone. ArcCatalog is now included as a dock able window inside ArcMap. This provides for efficient management and retrieval of needed datasets; however, previewing a dataset is only possible using a thumbnail preview.
The ArcGIS Desktop Help has been revised. The help is now divided into categories based on one’s interaction with the software. Sections have been written to assist developers and production staff. One section provides a brief review of GIS basics for new GIS users while another section provides information of the most typical GIS editing procedures.
Editing has changed at release 10. There is a new concept of templates for creating new features. The previous editing work flow, which included selecting a target and a task, is no longer necessary. Map documents are now associated with a specific data source, say a file geodatabase. When you edit, you chose a template for a feature layer and the source is already determined for you. Editing tasks are made available based on the type of feature layer you are working with. The snapping environment has changed by inclusion of a new snapping toolbar. Snapping is now determined on-the-fly. There is the option to use classic snapping if you don’t like change. Finally, parcels can now be maintained by use of parcel fabrics without the need for the ArcGIS Survey Analyst extension.
Here are some final comments on my review of ArcGIS Desktop 10 pre-release version. If you use Crystal Reports for report generation, this has changed at release 10. ArcGIS Desktop now includes its own report writer. The Crystal Report wizard is no longer included. This may make it difficult to utilize existing Crystal Reports you may be currently using. Also, customizing ArcGIS Desktop 10 has changed. ArcGIS 10 will be the last version to support VBA. Extending the interface is now possible with the use of Add-Ins. It is reported that this change will make extending the products easier by the developer community. Finally, the license manager has changed. ArcGIS products no longer rely on the Flex LM License manager. A new manager has been designed and appears to make the management of licenses easier.
This has been a brief overview of the pre-release version of ArcGIS Desktop 10. Only time will tell if this release will be considered a perfect “10.”
ESRI is about to release its next major update to the ArcGIS product line. With a release date set for June 2010, the pre-release version of ArcGIS 10 is available for download by those of the user community participating in the Beta program. One is made aware to apparent changes in the user interface. This brief report provides comments on what to expect with ArcGIS Desktop 10.
The way one interacts with the user interface has changed. The user interface now provides the ability to hide the table of contents. This helpful feature provides more map real estate. Some of the menu items are rearranged or gone. ArcCatalog is now included as a dock able window inside ArcMap. This provides for efficient management and retrieval of needed datasets; however, previewing a dataset is only possible using a thumbnail preview.
The ArcGIS Desktop Help has been revised. The help is now divided into categories based on one’s interaction with the software. Sections have been written to assist developers and production staff. One section provides a brief review of GIS basics for new GIS users while another section provides information of the most typical GIS editing procedures.
Editing has changed at release 10. There is a new concept of templates for creating new features. The previous editing work flow, which included selecting a target and a task, is no longer necessary. Map documents are now associated with a specific data source, say a file geodatabase. When you edit, you chose a template for a feature layer and the source is already determined for you. Editing tasks are made available based on the type of feature layer you are working with. The snapping environment has changed by inclusion of a new snapping toolbar. Snapping is now determined on-the-fly. There is the option to use classic snapping if you don’t like change. Finally, parcels can now be maintained by use of parcel fabrics without the need for the ArcGIS Survey Analyst extension.
Here are some final comments on my review of ArcGIS Desktop 10 pre-release version. If you use Crystal Reports for report generation, this has changed at release 10. ArcGIS Desktop now includes its own report writer. The Crystal Report wizard is no longer included. This may make it difficult to utilize existing Crystal Reports you may be currently using. Also, customizing ArcGIS Desktop 10 has changed. ArcGIS 10 will be the last version to support VBA. Extending the interface is now possible with the use of Add-Ins. It is reported that this change will make extending the products easier by the developer community. Finally, the license manager has changed. ArcGIS products no longer rely on the Flex LM License manager. A new manager has been designed and appears to make the management of licenses easier.
This has been a brief overview of the pre-release version of ArcGIS Desktop 10. Only time will tell if this release will be considered a perfect “10.”
22/04
Contributed by: Larry Biehl, IndianaView Coordinator, Purdue University, Information Technology at Purdue (ITaP), West Lafayette, IN
Happy Earth Day! There is a documentary airing tonight on the National Geographic Chanel on satellite remote sensing. I am not sure whether it will cover all land, ocean and atmospheric remote sensing but it looks like it could be interesting. Here is some more information:
National Geographic Chanel
Naked Science: Earth from Above
Thursday April 22 9:00 PM
In the last 50 years there has been a quiet revolution - thanks to satellites. Today there are hundreds of active robotic spacecraft orbiting the Earth. Earth From Above reveals how satellite technology allows not just a new view of Earth but a radical new understanding of our planet. These sentinels in space led to many important discoveries. In some way, this program is a detective story - where satellites provide new insights in natural phenomena. They enable scientists to actually watch Earths seasons and follow climate changes around the globe. But satellites also serve in more practical ways. Without satellites no weather forecast: by tracking hurricanes they help predict the paths of these storms, thus even save lives - as by spotting bush fires in Africa. Overall, satellites provide a unique, exciting and invaluable perspective of our planet.
Happy Earth Day! There is a documentary airing tonight on the National Geographic Chanel on satellite remote sensing. I am not sure whether it will cover all land, ocean and atmospheric remote sensing but it looks like it could be interesting. Here is some more information:
National Geographic Chanel
Naked Science: Earth from Above
Thursday April 22 9:00 PM
In the last 50 years there has been a quiet revolution - thanks to satellites. Today there are hundreds of active robotic spacecraft orbiting the Earth. Earth From Above reveals how satellite technology allows not just a new view of Earth but a radical new understanding of our planet. These sentinels in space led to many important discoveries. In some way, this program is a detective story - where satellites provide new insights in natural phenomena. They enable scientists to actually watch Earths seasons and follow climate changes around the globe. But satellites also serve in more practical ways. Without satellites no weather forecast: by tracking hurricanes they help predict the paths of these storms, thus even save lives - as by spotting bush fires in Africa. Overall, satellites provide a unique, exciting and invaluable perspective of our planet.
To watch a preview click here
22/04
Submitted by: Kathy Kozenski/Geography Educators' Network of Indiana (GENI), a request from Dagmar Budikova, Ph.D., Regional Councilor of the West Lakes Division, Association of American Geographers (AAG).
One of AAG's recent initiatives is to reconnect with geographers who may work "alone" within programs in higher education in a university, a 2-year or community college, private or public. The AAG is referring to such individuals as Stand Alone GEographers (SAGEs).
Over the next several months, we would like to collect information that will help build a database of stand alone geographers across our region for the AAG, and obtain a list of geography programs offered at 2-year and community colleges. We at West Lakes will use this information to build a website that will contain an interactive map that will show where geography programs/teachers in higher education are located, information that may have important use in areas such as student recruitment. More importantly, however, the database will help us keep you updated on relevant happenings at the AAG.
The AAG and our division would greatly appreciate your help in this initiative and would like to ask that you forward your name, contact information including e-mail address, affiliation including home department, and teaching responsibilities to dbudiko@ilstu.edu. Feel free to forward this message to anyone across the West Lakes Division whom you may know to be either a stand alone geographer, or in a 2-year or community college teaching geography. The member states include Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and the Michigan Peninsula.
Thank you for considering our request and for your participation.
Sincerely,
Dagmar Budikova, PhD
Regional Councilor, West Lakes Division of the AAG.
Dagmar Budikova, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Geography
Department of Geography-Geology
Illinois State University
206 Felmley Hall of Science
Normal, IL, 61790-4400
dbudiko@ilstu.edu
Ph: 1-309-438-7643
Fax: 1-309-438-5310
One of AAG's recent initiatives is to reconnect with geographers who may work "alone" within programs in higher education in a university, a 2-year or community college, private or public. The AAG is referring to such individuals as Stand Alone GEographers (SAGEs).
Over the next several months, we would like to collect information that will help build a database of stand alone geographers across our region for the AAG, and obtain a list of geography programs offered at 2-year and community colleges. We at West Lakes will use this information to build a website that will contain an interactive map that will show where geography programs/teachers in higher education are located, information that may have important use in areas such as student recruitment. More importantly, however, the database will help us keep you updated on relevant happenings at the AAG.
The AAG and our division would greatly appreciate your help in this initiative and would like to ask that you forward your name, contact information including e-mail address, affiliation including home department, and teaching responsibilities to dbudiko@ilstu.edu. Feel free to forward this message to anyone across the West Lakes Division whom you may know to be either a stand alone geographer, or in a 2-year or community college teaching geography. The member states include Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and the Michigan Peninsula.
Thank you for considering our request and for your participation.
Sincerely,
Dagmar Budikova, PhD
Regional Councilor, West Lakes Division of the AAG.
Dagmar Budikova, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Geography
Department of Geography-Geology
Illinois State University
206 Felmley Hall of Science
Normal, IL, 61790-4400
dbudiko@ilstu.edu
Ph: 1-309-438-7643
Fax: 1-309-438-5310