Virginia Base Mapping Program 2011 & 2009 orthos

The Virginia Geographic Information Network - VGIN - has just released its updated ortho imagery web services (ArcGIS Server) to contain the images from the VBMP 2011 spring flight.  For the first time, these web services are accessible to GIS users without restriction or cost.  At the October 2011 VGIN Advisory Board meeting, the Board endorsed this action to further the data's utilization and to make the data more pervasive (Note:  digital copies of the 2011 orthos still require purchasing).  The web service can be accessed by pointing ArcGIS desktop to this URL.

With the delivery of the VBMP 2011 orthos, VGIN is releasing into the "public domain" the orthos from the 2009 VBMP orthophotography acquisition. For the 2009 VBMP orthos, localities now can use their own data distribution policies (instead of VGIN's).  These orthos can also be requested through VGIN (fees may apply for media and processing time).

Congress Asks NOAA to Consider Charging for Data

Note:  This is a repost from the Lea Shanley's Geodata Policy blog

David Malakoff, Science Magazine, December 2011 (Vol. 334, no. 6051, p. 1337)

For decades, scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have been carving satellite data into customized chunks that help other federal agencies solve some unusual problems—at no cost to the users. But faced with soaring NOAA satellite costs and a bleak budget outlook, lawmakers last month ordered the agency to explore ways of charging other federal agencies—and perhaps even some large consortiums of academic scientists that partner with government agencies—for its “specialized data products.” It’s time, they argue, for beneficiaries to help NOAA sustain a cash-strapped satellite program. A storm is brewing over the suggestion.

For full text of the article, visit Congress Asks NOAA to Consider Charging for Data.

Related articles

• NOAA app delivers aerial, satellite imagery to first responders’ mobile devices (geodatapolicy.wordpress.com)
• NOAA Environmental Satellites Win Funding (news.sciencemag.org)

GIS and Emergency Response - The Human Side

Jason Braunstein, GIS Manager for the Virginia Department of Forestry, recently wrote about the human side of being involved in emergency response as a GIS professional. In his case it was the recent wildfires in Texas. Read his personal account in Forestry's newsletter. It can be hard work and long hours, but Jason eloquently explains why it is worth it.

What's In A Map?

Officials at the Washington DC Metro system are updating their Metro Map for the first time in 36 years.  The map has become a well known symbol and reference - love it or hate it - for anyone traveling on the Metro subway system in the DC area.  The Washington Post has an article about what one can expect from the new map and also how they are seeking input to possible changes.

Cartographers will recognize some of the same decision points that go into making any map, such as what colors and symbology to utilize.  In many ways the Metro map is the face of the city and choosing colors that send a "welcome" message to visitors is important to Lance Wyman, the graphic designer who is redesigning his original map from 1976.  You can view the draft map and take an online survey to offer your perspective on the color and symbol choices.

And I am happy to report that there still is a North Arrow and a legend on the map!

Online Broadband Availability Map

The Governor's Office has published a press release about the new Virginia interactive Broadband Availability map, which can be accessed through Wired Virginia.  The mapping effort is a collaboration led by Deputy Secretary of Technology Karen Jackson and includes VITA's Virginia Geographic Information Network, Virginia Tech's Center for Geospatial Information Technology, and the Center for Innovative Technology.

The broadband map data represents the most current and comprehensive statewide view of broadband availability in Virginia.  Data is updated twice a year, spring and fall, to the National Telecommunications Information Agency..  The online map will also be updated after each federal submittal is completed.  The mapping application has some cool GIS features in it as well, including the ability to toggle between the VBMP statewide ortho and the ESRI base map, and ArcGIS Server web services for all data, and the geocoding web service for address look up.  If you haven't seen it yet give it a spin!

ESRI Makes Landsat GLS Archive Available as Image Services

ESRI has gone live with its Landsat Imagery services based upon the USGS/NASA Global Land survey (GLS) .

ESRI is publishing the 1975, 1990, 2000 and 2005 GLS datasets as image services that can be accessed in ArcGIS Dekstop, ArcGIS Online and in REST-based web applications. It has also made these services available in web viewers.

The datasets themselves can be viewed in various band combinations. ESRI has also provided a set of change products (GLSChange) than can be accessed just like the Landsat GLS imagery. The GLS and GLSChange services together provide an impressive data resource.

It is worth noting that the GLS datasets do not contain all available Landsat imagery but are global collections of selected high-quality scenes, more or less centered around the nominal year.

Best Practices for Local Government Geospatial Programs from NGAC

The National Geospatial Advisory Committee (NGAC) has issued a two-page best practices paper that lists four steps to building a successful local government GIS program:

1. Establish a geospatial program (including recommendations on planning and governance)
2. Develop and maintain data as an asset
3. Take an enterprise approach
4. Share with the public

This might serve as a good resource to assess your local government program and to justify its role or advocate its expansion.

VBMP 2011 Update -March 10

Sanborn was able to fly the Northern Virginia area this week, as some additional western areas, bringing the acquisition progress up to 47%

Communities flown at higher resolution this week include Arlington, Fairfax City, Lexington, Lynchburg, parts of Salem, Roanoke City, and Roanoke County.

VBMP 2011 Update – March 4, 2011

Sanborn has made good progress in acquiring the 2011 VBMP imagery, with over 15,800 images (38% of the total) now “in the can”. The Richmond and Virginia Beach areas are completed as is the West Block 4 (Roanoke, Lexington, Covington, Bedford Lynchburg, and Danville areas). Also some upgrades areas have been flown (Arlington, Fairfax, Hopewell, Powhatan, Lexington, Roanoke).

VBMP 2011 Orthophotography Flights Begin

Sanborn, under contract with VGIN, has started flying missions to acquire high-resolution digital imagery for Virginia. The 2011 Virginia Base Map Program was scheduled to acquire only the western half of the state, but funding from the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, allowed us to extend the area to include the urban areas of Northern Virginia, Richmond, and Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Hampton Roads. Thirty (30) local governments are leveraging the effort with resolution upgrades or area extensions. Flights for the Richmond area started today with the Virginia Beach area scheduled next.

GIS Professional (GISP) Certification - Proposed Changes to Certification



The GIS Certification Institute (GISCI) has an open comment period for proposed changes to GISP certification requirements, most notably the inclusion of an examination.

Note:  First heard on the NSGIC News Blog

Comment period is open February 1 - 28, 2011.

Press Release

Proposal

2010 US Census GIS Data Available for Download

The 2010 US Census TIGER/line shapefiles are now available for download - click here to download.
Data sets are both "state based" and "county based".  Be sure to read about the data sets so you understand what you are getting, as this data can be complicated at times.

New Place Name Commemorates Roanoke Physician

The U.S. Board on Geographic Names was created in 1890 to maintain uniform geographic place names. New place names can be proposed and after public review may be approved if certain criteria are met. On January 13th a new name was approved for Virginia. Hutcheson Ridge in Rockbridge County commemorates Dr. Robert S. Hutcheson, Jr. (1919-2003), a Lexington native and noted Roanoke physician. The 3,070 foot high, 1.2 mile long ridge is located at the southern end of Little North Mountain, on the north side of Goshen Pass.

Census Data - American Community Survey

Note - This is a re-post from the NSGIC News blog

Fast Online Census Maps

Posted: 20 Dec 2010 12:53 PM PST

Small area data is now available from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. A New York Times website provides instant mapping capability, nationwide for 22 demographic and housing variables. The site is called Mapping America. It is incredibly fast and easy to use.

Mountain Empire Regional GIS - MERG

The Mountain Empire Regional GIS (MERG) was officially launched yesterday Thursday, December 9, 2010 at the Southwest Higher Education Center in Abingdon, VA.  Nadine Culberson, Deputy County Administrator for Washington County welcomed everyone and introduced the keynote speaker Karen Jackson, Deputy Secretary of Technology for the Commonwealth of Virgina.  See press coverage by TriCities.com here.

The MERG project is a regional model in Virginia that demonstrates the benefits of collaboration amongst localities and state government by leveraging innovative tools in technology to improve data sharing and services. The project began when the counties of Lee, Russell, Scott, Smyth and Washington along with the City of Bristol identified a need to improve emergency response to 9-1-1 calls. The focus of the project was to design a system to share current GIS data across jurisdictional boundaries to enhance emergency response for mutual aid and regional responses, something that has hampered emergency response times in the past. The project received grant funds from the Virginia Wireless E-911 Services Board through the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) Grant Program.  The MERG system also shares the regionally aggregated GIS data to the Virginia Geographic Information Network, supporting VGIN's efforts to establish a statewide GIS Clearinghouse.

ESRI Technical Certification

On Tuesday ESRI announced some more steps in implementation of its Technical Certification program. The certification website lists qualifications, skills measured and training resources for a number of the planned certifications. Registration opens January 17, 2011. The cost of certification will be $225. Persons who took and passed a certification exam at the 2010 User Conference may now announce their certification.

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.