Celebrate Geography Awareness Week and GIS Day

"Geography Awareness Week" occurs this week November 14-20.  Learn more about this National Geographic Society sponsored activity at this link.

Today, Wednesday, November 17 is also "GIS Day".  This event is sponsored by organizations such as ESRI, the National Geographic Society, the Association of American Geographers, University Consortium for Geographic Information Science, the United States Geological Survey and the Library of Congress, has been embraced for several years by many localities in Virginia.  Events are occurring in Northern Virginia, Richmond area, Tidewater and more.  Check with your local jurisdiction to see if they are having an event and go out and support this interesting and fun activity.

FGDC Seeks Input on Geospatial Platform

The Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) is seeking input on its plan to modernize the National Spatial Data Infrastructure with The Geospatial Platform. As defined in the plan the Platform "... will offer a managed portfolio of common geospatial data, services and applications contributed and administered by trusted sources and hosted on a shared infrastructure".

The initiative is intended to increase information sharing across various levels of government and industry. The initiative will use a managed portfolio approach, be implemented using a service-oriented architecture, and will use open and interoperable standards and technology. The Platform will be governed by a Managing Partner and a Partner Network of federal, state, local and private sector organizations.

There is some confusion in the blogosphere over how the Platform relates to the National Map, the GeoLoB (Geospatial Line of Business), Data.gov, and the NOAA web mapping application for the BP Oil Spill response www.GeoPlatform.gov/GulfResponse. The FGDC plan explains the connections and notes that the existing NOAA application is a prototype for one type of application to be supported by the Platform. NOAA appears to be taking a larger role than in previous NSDI efforts that tended to be primarily USGS.

The Platform has been endorsed by the National Geospatial Advisory Committee. The FGDC is welcoming feedback on the plan via an IdeaScale website or by emails to geoplatformcomments@fgdc.gov through December 2010.

Geospatial Revolution Project Video - Episode Two is Released

Episode Two is now out on YouTube.  Click here to view on YouTube.  See version one from a previous GISVirginia Blog Post.

Geospatial Occupations Q & A - Part Two

See some of the questions and answers related to "Geospatial Jobs  and Job Titles" in Part Two of the webinar hosted by Penn State University and Directions Media.

Geospatial Occupations Questions and Answers

This is a repost of a Directions Magazine article that provides detailed answers to questions asked during a webinar held by Penn State University and Directions Media entitled "The New Geospatial Jobs and How to Be Ready for Them".

Part 1 Webinar was about the Geospatial Technology Competency Model (blogged here in a previous post), education and certification,  has been archived and can be downloaded.

Part 2 will be held Wednesday, October 27 and will address jobs and job titles

GIS Analyst Job Ranks Well in National Survey

CNN Money.com has published a Top Ten list of jobs in nine different categories.  In the "Low Stress" category, a GIS Analyst job has ranked fifth in the "least stressful" category, with an overall ranking of 97 out of 100 of the "Best Jobs in America 2010".  Read about the GIS Analyst ranking here.

Virginia Base Map iPhone app

VGIN has released its first application for the iPhone, called "VA Map", now available through the Apple App Store. The app highlights two VGIN services, the VBMP orthophotography and the Virginia Base Map. If you have an iPhone, go to the App Store and search for "VGIN" or "VITA" and download this free app and give it a test drive!