July 2007 Newsletter
Judge Rules on MAPPS Lawsuit
In mid-June, a Federal judge issued a long-awaited decision on the lawsuit brought by MAPPS against the Federal
government. The lawsuit was about the meaning of the Brooks Act regarding definitions of surveying and mapping,
the extent to which Federal contracting activities must follow Qualifications-Based Selection rules, and whether
the work must be performed under the responsible charge of a licensed professional. The judge ruled in favor of
the government, finding that "plaintiffs lack the requisite standing to maintain this action" because individual
surveyors or their firms did not suffer an "injury in fact."
The ruling, on procedural grounds, leaves most of the substantive issues unresolved and the door open to further
litigation. Both sides believe that the game is not over. While the coalition that formed to oppose the lawsuit
hails the ruling as a defeat for the plaintiffs, MAPPS also claims vindication in some of the judge's findings.
Get both sides of the story from
MAPPS
American Association of Geographers
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Imagery for the Nation Update
From the National States' Geographic Information Council…
The National States' Geographic Information Council (NSGIC) has released the first in an ongoing series of
updates on the Imagery for the Nation initiative. Some of the highlights are listed below. A complete version
is available at on the
IGIC website
The Cost Benefit Analysis - "Just the Facts"
Early in 2006, it was apparent that a full cost benefit analysis (CBA) would be required to justify funding for this
initiative. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) agreed to fund the CBA.
USDA managed the contracting and awarded the project to Perot Systems, Inc. in the Fall of 2006. A management team
was provided by USGS and USDA to oversee the work of the contractor. That team also includes members of NSGIC.
In-person interviews and detailed surveys were conducted in January 2007 with entities that represent the private sector
users, photogrammetric companies, and local, state, and Federal government agencies. In addition to the in-person
interviews, information from NSGIC's 2006 IFTN web-based survey was used to provide a more complete picture of the
number of orthoimagery acquisition programs and the level of government expenditures. Combining the results of these
surveys allowed Perot Systems to project "Current State" expenditures for municipal, county, state and Federal programs.
Basing the cost benefit analysis only on the programs actually surveyed is an extremely conservative approach that avoids
any inflation in the benefit numbers. This conservative approach is being used throughout the CBA process to ensure that
it is regarded as a highly credible document.
Elsewhere in the CBA, the management team is projecting realistic phase-in and acceptance rates for IFTN. IFTN will
never meet 100% of the imagery needs of government. Nor will it be accepted by all agencies that could use it's products.
The management team has also addressed these facts to ensure that the CBA will be credible.
How likely is it for IFTN to be funded?
Even skeptics of the program acknowledge that it will probably "happen." Given the state of the national budget, we
all know that funding this initiative is an uphill battle.
During their respective Washington meetings in March 2007, both MAPPS and NSGIC members advocated for IFTN when
they made their "Hill" visits. That fact was not lost on the Congressional staff that heard from both organizations.
Following those visits, NSGIC offered new language to authorize the National Agricultural Imagery Program (NAIP)
component of IFTN in the Farm Bill which is currently going through "mark-up." By providing clear language, and conducting
follow-up visits, NSGIC hopes to stimulate Congressional interest in fully funding the NAIP component of the program.
The NDOP Committee has requested that FGDC's Steering Committee appoint an Executive Committee to identify realistic funding
options for IFTN. Hopefully, they will also serve as a catalyst to ensure full funding in the President's budget for IFTN.
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National Land Parcel Data: A Vision for the Future
Committee on Land Parcel Databases: A National Vision, National Research Council
The National Research Council has just released a report with a vision and recommendations for achieving a nationally
integrated land parcel database. The nine recommendations and entire report can be viewed online for free, and is
available also for purchase. The principles of a national parcel database are relevant to Indiana both for its
potential impact and as a model of best practices for our own local and state programs.
"Private ownership of land is a foundation of the financial, legal, and real estate systems of our society.
Furthermore, open access to information about ownership and use of land has always been a cornerstone of our
democracy and free enterprise system. In a modern land information system, land parcel databases describe a
combination of the rights, interests, ownership and value of property. Parcel data (also known as cadastral data)
is the most appropriate level of geographic detail for a host of decisions and actions relating to the development
of land, business activities, regulatory compliance, emergency response, law enforcement and logistical support.
Parcel data are also critical to the analysis of natural hazard risk, transportation needs and even environmental issues."
This report is timely for the Indiana GIS community as we move forward with the development of the IndianaMap:
http://books.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11978#toc
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Nuclear Blast (Almost) from the Past
History Detectives take on aerial photography
October 14th, 1962, an American U2 reconnaissance jet takes pictures of what look like Soviet missiles in Cuba.
Photo interpreters in Washington think they're nuclear missiles that could hit cities deep inside the U.S. The
interpreters recheck their measurements and compare their data to everything they know about the Russian arsenal.
The implication of these images is terrifying. If these are Soviet missiles, the world may be on the brink of
nuclear war. But one critical question looms large - how can President Kennedy be sure the photos are accurate?
Read more about the "secret star of the missile crisis - 3D aerial photography" on the
History Detectives website
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Sharing the Glory
Address and street data is used, verified and corrected by many different agencies at all levels of government.
This was the case in Hamilton County, where inaccurate and outdated information was being corrected by individual
cities and towns. The question was how to efficiently and effectively share that improved data between all the
cities and towns, County, and public safety officials?
The Hamilton County Local Government GIS Technical Advisory Group (HAGTAG) was formed to facilitate coordination between
governments in this fast-growing county. Members recognized the importance of having and sharing critical data, and began
developing a multi-user geodatabase to address those needs. The database is shared over a countywide fiber optic network,
and accessed by users in the Hamilton County Sheriffs' Office, Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville and Westfield. Users in each
location are responsible for editing the geodatabase and maps seen by all.
The first project to be implemented in this system was the Distributed Maintenance of 911 Address Data. The project involved
multiple technicians simultaneously editing map layers for street centerlines and address points. This moved maintenance
of the data much closer to the people who first receive it. New address and street data is incorporated into the system
more accurately and sooner than ever before; in some cases, six months sooner.
With the new system, Computer Aided Dispatch operators can send police to the correct address immediately; Mobile Data
Computers used by fire departments have up-to-date maps of new subdivisions; and the Communications Center can confidently
coordinate response to emergencies that span municipal boundaries.
The success of the Distributed Maintenance of 911 Address Data Project can be seen daily in the correct, accurate, and
up-to-date address point data and street centerline maps used by emergency personnel throughout Hamilton County. It
exemplifies how cooperation and pooling resources can benefit everyone involved, including the citizens of Hamilton County.
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Wiped Off the Map - Greensburg, Kansas
From the Kansas Association of Mappers (KAM)
"The stories in newspapers nationwide said: 'At 9:45pm on Friday, May 4, 2007, the lives of the nearly 1,400 citizens
of Greensburg, KS were changed forever'. What they should have said was: 'What happened on May 4, 2007 will change the
lives of 2.7 million people forever'. Why? Because the entire state of Kansas will feel the impact of the awesome tornado
that devastated the town - today, tomorrow, and for years to come. This story is to exemplify the obstacles that a few of
our fellow KAM members had to face in order to "rebuild" the City."
Read the story of D.J. McMurry, a resident of Greensburg and GIS Professional, and how he struggled to respond to the
devastation of his town.
http://www.kam.to/Greensburg_Article.pdf
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GIS for Archaeology
From GIS Monitor…
Beyond 2D and 3D, GIS can also be used to map in 4D! The fourth dimension, of course, is time, and the
application archaeology: start with a surface survey, then dig to add stratigraphic control and peel back
layers of time. That is how Shinu Abraham, an assistant professor in the Anthropology Department at Saint
Lawrence University, is planning to ultimately use the GIS that she is beginning to set up to organize and analyze
ceramic fragments at an archaeological site. Because she is not trained in GIS, she partnered with a colleague who
is, Carol Cady, also on the university's faculty. Ultimately, Abraham hopes to add GIS to her archaeological skill
set and use it routinely in her work.
Read more at the
GIS Monitor Archive.
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If I Had a Big Enough Lever
Often, collecting data is only the first step. After you know where everyone lives, you need a mechanism to share
that information with other organizations that need to know, too. Those organizations, in turn, may have information
you need. Once you know who has what, the next priority becomes figuring out how to leverage those resources; fostering
collaborations that take advantage of work that has already been done, rather than wasting time and money starting from
the ground up every time.
The City of Terre Haute and Vigo County recognized that by working together they could not only acquire more data, they
could also get that information back out to the public.
The City and County initially hired a contractor to develop a plan for their data sharing process. The plan called for
the City to keep records on utilities, with the County responsible for parcels and property ownership. They converted all
the existing paper maps and documents, and linked those files to digital maps that could be shared electronically.
Today, the City of Terre Haute has access to updated parcel and ownership information on a daily basis; Vigo County can
see and use utility information for planning and analysis. The taxpayers only pay for the information to be collected once,
and shared between the two agencies, and can access much of the information online at the combined
City-County website.
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Presenter Kits
GIS has a substantial learning curve. Even in cases where the trainer is an expert, communicating the
importance and potential of these tools can be daunting. The IGIC's Education & Outreach Committee, with
help from a grant from IndianaView, has developed a series of materials to assist both experts and novices
in conveying the benefits of this technology.
In addition to a very general introduction to GIS, committee members created PowerPoint presentations focusing on
their professional areas of expertise. The presentations include:
- What is GIS?
- Geospatial Technology for Education
- GIS for Economic Development
- GIS for Health & Safety
- GIS for Good Government
Each presentation includes a notes section written by people experienced speaking with decision-makers in that field.
The notes explain the slide contents in detail, and give advice on how best to approach the topic. The
presentations are designed to be customized by the presenter based on the audience's interests and level
of experience with the technology.
All these materials have been incorporated into a new section of the IGIC website called "Presenter Kits." The page
has links to download these presentations, plus a series of flyers.
Visit the
Classes & Seminars pages to take advantage of these materials.
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In Brief
Online Geoding
Know someone who needs to do batch geocoding, but doesn't have the software to do it? Check out
www.batchgeocode.com, a great alternative if you don't have a big software budget.
New Data on the GIS Atlas
The GIS Atlas for Indiana has added data on hospitals, rural clinics, libraries and museums, plus an online tutorial on how
to use the site's latest tools.
Disaster Management Refresher Course
Need to brush up on disaster management, or want to bring someone else up to speed? Check out this site for some excellent
training materials:
http://www.itc.nl/unu/dgim/unedra/refresher.asp
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Classes & Seminars
Team Navigation!™ and Treasure Hunts!
Friday, July 13th, 1:00-3:30pm, Indiana State Library, History Reference Room, Indianapolis
FREE
Register
This unique presentation will engage participants in fun, practical ways of using maps as real navigation tools.
It will begin with a Treasure Hunt, using a Treasure Map and a secret puzzle to find a Treasure Chest!
Participants, lead by Jeff Coates of TrueNorth and Associates, will learn about:
- How you can easily make accurate maps using aerial photographs available on the internet
- How to read and use a topo map
- Fun interactive ways to introduce maps to others
- How to use map and compass together as a navigational tool
- More about the family sport of orienteering
- How to have a little fun actually navigating!
Indiana Conservation Tool
Wednesday, August 8th, 1:30-2:30pm
WEBINAR
IGIC Members: FREE
Non-members: $10
Register
Have you ever struggled with how to identify areas with high conservation value? Now there is a tool that can help you do just that!
The Indiana Biodiversity Initiative has developed a computer-based planning methodology called the Indiana
Conservation Tool. It is ideal for anyone interested in using science-based information to identify critical
areas for plant and animal conservation.
Staff from IBI will be giving an online demonstration of the free tool, which can be used to:
- Guide the use of federal, state and local funding for conservation and restoration
- Advise land use managers and planners in the coordination of conservation strategies
- Provide citizens and decision-makers with information to develop strategies to conserve Indiana's biodiversity
(plants, animals, and the ecological functions they perform)
Registrants will receive an email with login information and phone number one week prior to the event. Note: This is
not a toll-free phone call, long distance charges may apply.
Using GIS to Identify and Understand Wetlands
Friday, August 17th, 1:00-3:30pm, Indiana State Library, 140 N. Senate Ave, History Reference Room, Indianapolis
IGIC Members: FREE
Nonmembers: $20
Register
Wetlands are a crucial part of Indiana's natural environment. But how can you protect them if you don't
know where they are or how they work?
James Robb of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management will walk you through using the statewide 2005
color infrared photography to identify wetlands. Bob Barr and Jeremy Webber of IUPUI have used high-resolution
digital elevation models to demonstrate the connectivity of "isolated" wetlands and primary headwater streams.
Their presentation illustrates an example of surface hydrology modeling applied to the Ritchey Woods Natural
Area, Hamilton County, Indiana.
Making More Visually Pleasing Maps: Applied Cartography and Visualization - NEW
Thursday, September 13th, 1:30-2:30
WEBINAR
IGIC Members: FREE
Non-members: $10
Register
All maps are created with a specific purpose in mind; that purpose can be more clearly understood by the viewer
if you use the principals of thematic cartography and geographic visualization. Jeremy Webber from the IUPUI
Geography Department will share his techniques for making more visually pleasing maps. Portions of this online
presentation will be demonstrated in the ArcMap Environment, though the techniques can be applied in most GIS environments.
Concepts to be covered at this online event:
- Symbolizing data
- Displaying data upon aerial photography and hill shaded elevation relief
- How to use color to your benefit
- Cartographic design and output
Registrants will receive an email with login information and phone number one week prior to the event. Note: This is
not a toll-free phone call, long distance charges may apply.
Exploring Statewide GIS Resources
Tuesday, November 13th, 1:00-3:30pm, Indiana State Library, History Reference Room, Indianapolis
FREE
Register
This seminar will include a review and exploration of the considerable resources that are available to Indiana
GIS users through the Indiana Geographic Information Council. These resources include opportunities for networking,
education for both new and experienced GIS users, guidelines that can help users more effectively develop projects
within their communities, and much more. The seminar will also provide an opportunity for participants to share
their thoughts and ideas regarding how IGIC can best support the needs of GIS across Indiana. The presenter for
this seminar will be Jill Saligoe-Simmel, PhD.
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