August 2005 Newsletter
Midwest Arc Users Group Conference
The call for abstracts for presentations at the Midwest Arc Users Group Conference has been extended to August
6. The conference, which will take place October 5-7 in Bloomington, Indiana, will include hands-on workshops,
exhibitors, session tracts, and poster gallery.
To submit an abstract for your presentation (25-minute limit please), send an email to Matt Riggs
mriggs@cripe.biz that includes:
- Presentation Title (no more than 10 words)
- Presentation Description (no more than 100 words)
- List of any special requirements (Internet, etc.)
- Short biographies for all presenters (no more than 25 words each)
- Contact information (name, phone, fax, address, email)
2005 Orthophotography Update
Project managers at IMAGIS have finished reviewing the pilot data received in June. After some adjustments,
the acquisition contractor, EarthData, has been given the green light to begin delivering tiles for the rest
of Indiana. Negotiations for the QA/QC contract are still under way.
Now available on the Orthophotgraphy Project webpages: The original Acquisition and Quality Assurance/Quality
Control Requests for Proposal.
Click here
to download a copy.
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IGIC Awarded Planning Grant
The Indiana Geographic Information Council has been awarded a 2005 CAP Grant from the Federal Geographic
Data Committee. The grant will provide funds to develop plans for
framework data layers for the IndianaMap, including technical and financial components. Look for
upcoming events related to this project at the IGIC website.
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Comings and Goings
EJ McNaughton has been elected interim Secretary of IGIC, filling the position recently vacated by Roger
Koelpin. EJ is no stranger to IGIC leadership, having formerly served as At-Large Officer of the
council, and currently as chair of the annual Conference Committee. Welcome back, EJ.
Clifford Ong, formerly of Krieg Devault, LLC and the Indiana Counter-Terrorism and Security Council,
has resigned from the IGIC board. His contributions both in State government and the private sector
in support of GIS have been invaluable. Best of luck with your relocation.
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Watershed Exhibit at State Museum
A new exhibit at the Indiana State Museum lets you select a storm that dumps more than half a-foot of rain
across the state, flooding river banks and sending millions of gallons of water gushing through the
state's watersheds. Developed by the Center for Earth and Environmental Science (CEES) at IUPUI and
the Pervasive Technology Labs at Indiana University, the display is called "Watching Your Watershed."
It is located on the third floor of the museum in Tomorrow's Indiana, an area of the museum that demonstrates
how choices made today will influence the future. Read the full press release at the
CEES website.
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Saving Hoosier Forests
We're beginning a series of articles highlighting how people are using GIS to improve the quality of
life for all Hoosiers. For the full story,
click here.
The Forestry division of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources strives to maintain healthy woodlands
in the state on both public and private lands. Battling virulent, sometimes invasive pests is a large part
of that responsibility. In 2004, the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) was identified in Indiana. The larvae of this
Asian beetle have devastated the ash population, already killing more than 8 million trees in Michigan.
Ohio and Indiana.
Using their GIS, the forestry division is able to act quickly and decisively to counter the infestation
by destructive pests like EAB. Forestry and other Department of Natural Resources staff survey the forested
areas, examining trees and looking for D-shaped holes that indicate EAB infestation. If they find evidence
of EAB activity in a tree, they will relay the GPS coordinates back to the office, where GIS staff
"lights it up." The coordinates are plugged into the GIS - which includes digital aerial photography
of the state - and a half-mile buffer zone is drawn around each infested point. Staff use the
photography in the GIS to plan and organize work areas for survey crews to mark every ash
tree for removal and destruction.
Using the GIS improves the chances of eradicating and preventing further spread of EAB. It has
reduced the time spent analyzing problem areas, planning a response, and enacting those plans. It has also
improved communication and relations within the agency and the general public.
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Education Brief
More of the popular GIS Seminars and Road Shows are being planned for October and November. Organizers
are working to determine topics and locations. Check the INGISI calendar regularly for updates.
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URISA Task Force Recommendations
URISA's 3 C's (Cooperation, Coordination and Collaboration) Task Force has released its report and
recommendations for review by the GIS community. The Task Force was formed in 2002 to "help raise
awareness about the issues related to realization of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure
(NSDI) and to contribute to the NSDI development." View the full report at the
URISA website.
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