URISA News May/ June 2009

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NEWS

Issue 231 May/June 2009

Interested in experiencing Solutions toChallenges (and an infrastructure tour of Disneyland, while youre at it)? Get itall at the URISA International 2009 An -nual Conference and Exposition in Ana -heim, CA, September 29 October 2.

This years event will uphold thesolid educational and networkingtraditions from years past, in addition tobringing new methods of engagement.

Attendees can contribute to,versus just participate in, this yearsexperience. Cy Smith, AssociateConference Chair and Chair of theCoalition of Geospatial Organizations(COGO), will be dynamically-facilitatingdiscussion and continuity throughoutthe conference. Hilary Perkins, URISAInternational President, is promotingthe use of social networking tools, suchas Twitter and Facebook, to tweet andBLOG about individual and collectivesessions in real-time. Danielle Ayan,Program Chair, is repackagingconference categories to have meaning

for the masses. The new focus ison geospatial solutions for Healthy,Growing, Safe, Educated and BestManaged Communities. In addition,an innovative track of 7-minute Quick

URISA H ads Su yS u h r Ca i r ia!

Hits will be videographed to captureand bring the intellectual capital of URISA Internationals notable speakersto the world via post-conferenceInternet publication.

Many talents and ideas from the

Conference Committee and URISAInternational staff have been channeled for this event, led by Mike Lovett,Conference Chair. The 2009 ConferenceCommittee has been especiallycreative, generating session titles anddescriptions such as Slimming Down

With GIS and Driving a HybridIntegration.

Below is a sampler platter of additional topics being offered:

The Assoc ia t ion fo r GIS Profess iona l s

IN THIS ISSUE

3 Pre ident Col mn

5 Wh t in N me?

6 BOOK REVIEW

10 Welcome New uRIsaMember

n Federal Stimulus Funding, Parts Iand II

n Core Competencies for GeospatialTechnicians

n Essentials of GIS Programs andProject Management

n Enterprise GIS

Distinguished keynote speakersinclude Dr. Barry Wellar, MCIP, GISPand URISA Past President (1978)and Michael Byrne, Californias firstGeographic Information Officer (GIO).

No doubt, this is a lean economyand travel is often limited or restricted.

Yet, this annual conference, inparticular, offers value to geospatialprofessionals unmatched by anyremote or online activity. Whereelse can you have access to over 500peers/colleagues, Mickey Mouse, 70geospatial solutions to challenges andthe ability to engage with the sourcesof those solutions directly within 3-5days?

More information: http://www.urisa.org

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Import nt uRIsaD te to Remember

ConfeRenCeS

Ju 58, 2009URISAs GIS in Public Health ConferenceProvidence, RI

August 46, 2009URISA/NENA Addressing ConferenceProvidence, RI

S pt mb r 29oct b r 2, 200947th Annual URISA Conference &Exposition

Anaheim, CA

n v mb r 1618, 2009GIS in Transit ConferenceSt Petersburg, FL

D c mb r 711, 2009URISA Leadership AcademySeattle, WA

The Urban and Regional InformationSystems Association (URISA) is thepremier professional association for those involved in improving our urbanand regional environments through theeffective use of information technology.Professionals in planning, economicdevelopment, information systems,emergency services, natural resources,public works, transportation, and other departments within state and localgovernment have depended on URISA

for professional development andeducational needs since 1963. Throughits international, national and localchapter operations, URISA serves nearly8,000 professionals.

AboutPRESIDENT Hilary Perkins, GISP AICP-East-WestGateway Council of Governments, St. Louis,[email protected]

PRESIDENT-ELECT Kathrine Cargo, GISP-Orleans ParishCommunication District

[email protected] PAST-PRESIDENT Susan Johnson-Charlotte Mecklenburg [email protected]

SECRETARY Cynthia Braddock-Boulder County (CO)

Assessor's Of [email protected]

TREASURER Greg Babinski, GISP-King County (WA) GISCenter [email protected]

Clare Brown, GISP-Montgomery WatsonHarza, New Orleans, [email protected]

J. Allison Butler, GISP, AICP,MilePost Zero, Orlando, [email protected]

Michael W Lovett, GISP-CDM Camp Dresser & McKee, Maitland, [email protected]

Sandra K Majewski-Las Vegas Metro [email protected]

Juna Papajorgji, GISP - Alachua County (FL)

jpapajorgji@alachua. .usKaren RM Stewart, GISP-ESRI Canada,

Vancouver, [email protected]

Geney Terry, GISP-El Dorado County (CA)[email protected]

uRIsa He dq rter 1460 Renaissance Drive, Suite 305Park Ridge, IL 60068Phone: 847-824-6300Fax: [email protected]://www.urisa.org

Wendy Nel onExec tive [email protected]

Article submissions, calendar items and industry news should be sent [email protected]

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Hilary E. H. Perkins,GISP, AICP, East-West Gateway Council of

Governments

PReSIDentS ColUmnPr s a i 2.0By Hil ry E. H. Perkin , GIsP, aICP

The URISA Board of Directors, staff, anddedicated volunteers continue to moveour organization forward to better serveGIS Professionals. As the industry evolvesand grows, so too is URISA growing tocontinually provide quality services to our members. One product of this commit -ment is the URISA Leadership Academy(ULA). The ULA is a ve day program -the only leadership training program of its type - tailored to industry leaders andpractitioners faced with unique challeng -es of GIS leadership and management,

and who want to make a positive impactleveraging the power of GIS. The ULArepresents part of URISAs commitmentto provide quality professional develop -ment training to GIS Professionals as their careers advance.

To register for the 2009 ULA, to be held December 7-11 in Seattle, please visit www.urisa.org/ula.

As GIS Professionals, we are often calledupon to present information about our programs, budgets, plans for growth, or to convey technical information to thepublic and to decision makers. As our careers advance, the general content of these presentations may change, but theopportunity to speak in public remainsa constant presence. As GIS Profession -als, we have something important atstake when we stand up to present to aroom whether that room is lled withdecision makers or students effectivelycommunicating the knowledge that you

have is critical.How much professional development

training have you had in effectivelycommunicating through public speaking?If youve had any at all, thats wonderful.Most of us learn by sitting down in

front of PowerPoint and creating slidedecks. Thats not a very good way todevelop effective presentations. Breakingcomplicated technical informationdown into palatable portions can be a

challenge. Often what we most want todo is to spark creativity, maybe generatea few laughs, have a conversation, andbuild a real, human connection.

The reality is that most of us stinkat making effective presentations. And- this will come as no surprise - our audiences know it. We also know why:we read the slides, we jam so much textonto a single slide that it is impossible for the audience to read or understand it, wedont make good color and font choices,we load down slides with distracting

moving text and graphics, and we createcomplex diagrams or charts that are alsoimpossible to read.

Consider that rarely is the merepassing on of information a satisfactoryobjective from the standpoint of theaudience, you are there to persuade.So there are three big picture items tothink about when preparing a talk thateffectively conveys information: content,preparation, and style. Content isthe technical information you want topresent. Preparation is what you need to

do to be ready for your audience. Style ishow you get that message across.

Imagine youve been asked to makea presentation. Before sitting downat the computer to start drafting your slide deck, stop. Start analog. Start bymaking sure you understand the scopeand the purpose of the presentation andhow it fits into a larger scope. Take sometime to think about who your audiencewill be and of their expectations of

you. Consider what you want out of thepresentation. The main points you wantto articulate should flow from there.Keep in mind that you dont need to do a

full data dump to make your audienceunderstand, so work to cull out the mainpoints. Your audience needs informationthat is current, concisely presented, andthat they can use immediately.

This is an appropriate time tostart thinking about making your case.Research third-party facts and figuresto add credibility to your argument.

Provide information or tips you wish youhad known when you first encounteredthe problem or project. Offer suggestions that might be transferable toother applications (techniques, problems,pitfalls). As you go through your preparation, think about your audiencesobjectives and what controversiesmight arise, and be prepared to answer them. Its OK to say you dont knowthe answer to a question just be sureto say you will find an answer and getback to them, and do it. Finally, preparea strong conclusion during which youask something from the audience. Thismight include a request for input or help,or perhaps a challenge for them to thinkabout and consider.

To prepare for your presentation, Ihave but one word of advice: practice,practice, practice. Practicing calmsthe nerves and helps you convey aconfident and knowledgeable personato the audience. A confident presenter projects a stage presence, keeps eyecontact with the audience, and is dressedappropriately. Keep in mind that your audience is looking forward to what youhave to say, and likely do not want you to

fall flat.

Other lide prep r tion tip :n Make sure font, font size, bullets, and

formatting are consistent betweenslides

continued on page 4

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st y connected:Twitter info: @URISAFacebook info: http://tinyurl.com/

URISAAnnual Official URISA International Conference

BLOG: http://urisaannualconference.wordpress.com/

Tremendo th nk to the 2009

Con erence Committee:Jason Amadori, GISP, Data Transfer

Solutions - Orlando, FLCarl Anderson, GISP, Fulton County -

Atlanta, GAKathrine Cargo, GISP, Orleans Parish

Communications District - NewOrleans, LA

Tom Conry, Fairfax County - Fairfax, VARandy Fusaro, US Census Bureau -

Washington, DC Alex Hepp, Pictometry International -

Rochester, NY Allen Ibaugh, GISP, Data Transfer

Solutions - Orlando, FL Wansoo Im, Vertices, LLC - New

Brunswick, NJ Al Little, City of Hamilton - Hamilton,

ON, Canada

Lisa Lubeley, GISP, Dudek - Encinitas, CATwyla McDermott, GISP, City of Charlotte

- Charlotte, NCBill Mumbleau, GISP, Kleinfelder -

Redlands, CAClaudia Paskauskas, GISP, East Central

Florida Regional Planning Council, Altamonte Springs, FL

Hilary Perkins, GISP, AICP, East-WestGateway Council of Governments,St. Louis, MO

Jonathan Posner, GISP, CDM - Irvine, CAMilo Robinson, Federal Geographic Data

Committee - Reston, VAMark Sievers, AICP, Sievers & Associates

-Altamonte Springs, FLKen Sipos, GISP, City of Philadelphia -

Philadelphia, PAKaren Stewart, GISP, ESRI Canada -

Vancouver, BC, CanadaMohammed Tariq, GISP, Peak Technology

Solutions - Washington DCGeney Terry, GISP, El Dorado County -

Placerville, CAJoe Tricarico, Rutgers University -

Camden, NJMichael Waltuch, GISP, ESRI - New York,

NY

Tobias Wolf, GISP, HDR - San Diego, CAMike Lovett, GISPDanielle Ayan, GISPCy Smith, GISP

To volunteer for the 2010 Conference Com-mittee (Orlando, FL), please contact Wendy Nelson, URISA International Executive Direc-tor.

n Overuse of special effects suchas animation and sounds maymake your presentation cutesyand could negatively impact your credibility

avoid cronymPowerPoint is a visual aid. It is the infor -mation you want to convey that is critical,not the marvelous things you can makePowerPoint do. Focus on the information

you want to convey, not the words onthe slides. Dont place the bulk of your content on the slides, leave it for your actual presentation and use the slidesmerely as reminders. Please dont readthe slides to your audience. The slidedeck should not make a lot of sense with -out your talk, and thats really the point.

Your PowerPoint should not carry theday - the content of your speech should.Slides are the most effective when usedto present basic information, and not toconvey passion and enthusiasm for your subject. Your words do that.

As GIS Professionals, our ability topresent in public plays a significant partin career success. Start early, do it often,and retain a measure of self-awarenessduring the presentation. Afterwards,

reflect on the successful aspects of your presentation and about ways to eliminateproblems areas. Over time, you will havedeveloped a genuine life skill.

Im about to embark on writing aURISA publication on making effectivepresentations. What tips do youhave to communicate complicatedinformation? What annoys you mostabout some presentations? Email meat [email protected], or twitter @HilaryPerkins, and let me know your thoughts!

Pre ident Col mncontinued from page

Tip: Bring n dmini tr tor or otherdeci ion-m ker to the con erence,invite them to he r pertinent content

nd introd ce them to key people o inf ence.

uRIsa 2009continued from page 1

V u r opp r u i y URISA n ws edi r URISAs Publications Committee is looking for a member volunteer to serve asEditor of URISA News. This individual will serve as the Content Manager of thenewsletter, soliciting and/or writing articles of interest to the URISA membership.URISA staff will continue to be responsible for the logistical aspects of thepublication (design, printing, distribution, etc.) and will also provide advertisingand regular columns, including association news. If you are interested, or wouldlike to recommend someone for this volunteer activity, please contact WendyNelson at [email protected], 847/824-6300.

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So what is in a name? I have been fol-

lowing a very spirited discussion aboutthe GISP certi cation on an online forumand have been intrigued by much of thediscussion as well as a bit taken abackat how vehemently some still criticizethe GISP. I was an early advocate of thiscerti cation and participated in the dis -cussion leading up to it. I, for one, haveembraced the GISP and quickly applied

for certi cation when it came available.Just recently, I renewed my certi cation.

Why is it important to me? Maybe a little

background is in order.I started in this field when it was

even more vaguely defined than it is now.I was a student in Landscape Architectureand a strong advocate of a designprocess put for by a Landscape Architectnamed Ian McHarg. If you are using aGIS for overlay analysis of multiple spatiallayers to determine preferred areas of land use, you are following the approachMcHarg described in his book DesignWith Nature (1969, Natural History Press).The problem that I was finding withMcHargs concept was that the analysisand results were extremely laboriousto quantify. It involved extensive use of a calculator and a planimeter. Then, Itook a course offered in the School of Forest Resources at North Carolina State(where I was earning my MLA) known asComputer Cartography. The combinationof my passion for McHargs principalsand the promise of spatial analysis was adefining moment in my life. I had foundmy lifes work. It wasnt in design, itwas in something people were callingGIS. I finished out my work for my MLAbecause at that time, there were nodegrees in GIS. In fact, the geographydepartment didnt even use it. (A study of the evolution of GIS might help explain

Wha s i a na ?By Kim McDono gh, GIsP

why some of us see the logic behindNOT having an exam based certification.But, that is not what my intention is withthis letter.)

Since finding my passion, I haveenthusiastically pursued it for over 28 years. It has carried me into areasof knowledge I never would haveimagined in 1981. I have grown with thetechnology and, with time, saw what Idid as more than just a set of skills. I havehad to at least become familiar with, if not master, not just the technological

components of GIS, but the science of the users that are trying to use it. Thenthere were also legal aspects of its use.Not for GIS specifically, but the process itwas being used to improve. To manageGIS effectively for parcel mapping, I hadto understand the particular demands of that use. Then digital ortho-photographybecame viable and I had to becomeknowledgeable about photogrammetry.Now, I work in a department of transportation and have had to take inlinear referencing systems and dynamicsegmentation. We store the spatialdata in a very large relational databaseand have to support two different GISplatforms as well as a CAD. And so I haveto ask, how would a test evaluate myability to effectively bring GIS into thesemyriad processes AND convince them totalk to each other?

So why even pay the money justto put 4 letters after my name? (I wasactually asked this by one individual.) For me, it was important to establish thatrecognition. I knew it would do nothingto enhance my career or increase mypay. But, I found this certification to bethe first one that at least attempted torecognize all of my career work, and notjust a particular aspect of it. I had lookedat all the other certifications availableto me and they all were closely tied to aspecific aspect of my career or a relativelysmall skill set. The only one that reallyseemed to fit me was the GISP.

So, do those 4 letters mean I ammore qualified that someone withoutthem? Not necessarily. They do indicatethat I have documented a history in theprofession as well as a dedication togrow as the profession evolves and toadhere to a documented code of ethics.

A Surveying License does not makeone a good surveyor. It does establisha minimum level of competency and alegal liability. But, surveying has at leasta few hundred or even a few thousand

years of history to help define it as a

profession with a very specific skill set.In our countrys early history, it waspretty easy for someone to claim thelabel of Surveyor. But the professionevolved and over time a rigorousset of requirements, as well as legalresponsibilities, were established thatdefined who could be a surveyor andwhat they were supposed to do.

GIS, as a profession, is just a baby. We still have a lot of growing to doand I believe our certification will growwith it. Some sort of testing will likelybe introduced down the road, but Isee that as being relevant to specificspecialties within GIS, similar to whatwe see with Engineering and medicine.But, there likely will always be someGIS practitioners that dont see thevalue in those four letters of GISP. ThatsOK, we can never be all things to allpeople. Really, over time, the real valueof the GISP will not be established bya rigorous exam. The value of the GISPwill be established by those of us thatchoose that path of recognition. If welive up to the spirit and intent of theGISP, over time, its value will increase.The certification process will improveand become more rigorous in more thanone way. But for now, we at least have abeginning. Those four letters mean a lotto quite a few of us. What they mean tothe rest of the world is up to us who haveearned them.

a o april 25, 2009,there re 4,471 GIsP .

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GIS tu ria Upda d r ArcGIS 9.3W rkb k r ArcVi w 9, third edi i

BooK ReVIeW

Written By Wilpen L. Gorr nd Kri tens. K r l ndEsRI Pre380 New York st.Redl nd, Ca 92373-8100IsBN: 9781589482050456 p ge

It was particularly dif cult to review atutorial in ArcGIS having worked in the

eld of GIS for over 15 years using ESRIsoftware. I tried to review this book andgo through each chapter of the tutorial

as though I was a novice in GIS. I wastrying to analyze the book from the per -spective of an intern learning the basicsin GIS and thought that the book waseasy to read for a beginner.

GIS Tutorial is a result of several years of testing and practice. It hadbeen used for several years at CarnegieMellon University before it waspublished by ESRI Press. Over the years,the feedback from the students and theteachers has helped to strengthen thetutorial. The authors have also received

feedback from academia that has usedthe book at other teaching institutions.The book has been further tested bya team from ESRI before it went intopublication.

The book is perfect for a trainingroom. For a self learner, there areinstructions at the end of the book toload data and install software. If a user already has ArcGIS 9.3 installed on thedesktop, they are all set to begin thetutorial.

The book has 11 chapters andChapter 1 is a general introduction to

ArcMap software. The chapter describeshow to add and browse for layers,how to turn them on and change their properties. It also elucidates the basicuse of each of the tools in the main toolbar like zoom, pan, identify and select.Towards the end of the chapter it tells

you how to save using relative pathnames instead of absolute path names

which is really necessary for a studentwho may be working on differentcomputers while working through thetutorial. It is an essential tip for any user.

Chapter 2 is about how to make amap and actually covers all the major aspects of creating a map. It startswith how to add a layer, change itsproperties, create group layers andguides the user to be able to create achorpleth map. Chorpleth maps arecolored or shaded maps to display dataattributes.

Chapter 3 guides a studentthrough all the essential elements of map making and printing maps. Ampleillustrations in the unit explain theprocess of adding legends and other map elements. An additional tip for acomplete beginner would be to have apanel explaining the browse directorysymbol. I think many people who arenew to computing are taking this classto enter the world of GIS technicians or data recorders and precise tips wouldbe helpful. The chapter describes howto export data to excel, create graphsand add the same to the map layout.

Chapter 4 dwells into the basics of geodatabases, the default data layer for

ArcGIS. There are instructions on howto create a database, import shapefiles,add fields, delete fields, calculate fieldvalues, join layers and export layers. Allbasic ArcCatalog utilities are also brieflydiscussed in this chapter.

Chapter 5 provides tips on howto add data to your map document

from different data portals availableon the internet. It goes on to describethe different major formats in whichGIS data is available like shapefiles,coverages, interchange files, annotationlayers, cad files and xy event files.There are useful illustrations on how toconvert from one format to another.There are notes on how to identify andchange map projections. I think a littledetail on basics of map projections

would be valuable. There areinstructions on how to view metadata for data layers and how to import andview different types of attribute files.

Chapter 6 concentrates ondigitizing and editing a layer. Itexplains how to create an empty layer in ArcCatalog, add it in ArcMap andedit it. It expounds on how to digitizea new polygon and how to edit anexisting one, move vertex points andadd more vertex points. The tools onthe advanced edit tool bar have been

given a brief introduction. Along withpolygon editing, steps to create anew point layer and line layer using

ArcCatalog and ArcMap are mentioned.The chapter has directions to createan attribute table. Snapping, animportant feature in digitizing has beengiven sufficient coverage. Digitizingusing aerials as backgrounds has beenexplained well in the unit.

Chapter 7 is focused on geocoding,an important aspect of GIS used ineveryday applications. Various waysto geocode have been elaborated on.The first example illustrates geocodingby zip code. Notes to build an addresslocator are accompanied by plentyof visual diagrams. The section onGeocoding by streets has been laidout in detail. There are three ways toaccomplish this: 1) by address locator 2) by manual individual addressentries and 3) by geocoding a batchof addresses. Correction of unmatchedaddresses by manual interaction isreferenced as well.

Chapters 8 and 9 discuss spatialqueries and analysis extensively. Oneof the major methods of spatial queryis to select by attributes through theattribute dialog box. The selectioncould be displayed on the map andeven converted to a shape file. Steps touse the select feature tool and clip toolhave been discussed. The dissolve and

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Do you want to develop or fne-tune your skills as a GIS leader? Do you want to make a positive impact in your organization? Make plans to attend the URISA Leadership Academy in Seattle this December.

Visit www.urisa.org/ula for details today.

GISCI GISP Points for Attending Part I of the ULA = 0.63 EDU Points.Points for attending the full ULA = 1.25 EDU Points.

What was the most valuable part o your attendance at the ULA? Networking with other professionals who deal with the same issues I have. This is the

rst time Ive been able to interact with, almost exclusively, GIS managers, coordinatorsand GIOs.

Comprehensive and organized interchange of experiences being facilitated by experi -

enced professionals that work in the same eld I do.

It was a great experience!

The ULA will only presented one time in 2009dont miss it!

fiv Days targ dGIS leADeRSHIP tRAInInG

augh by GIS l ad rs!

uRIsa Le der hip ac demyDecember 7-11, 2009se ttle, Wa

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append tools for geoprocessing havebeen given major coverage. In one of the illustrations for the append tool boxthere is an instructional step to select aschema type, I think more explanationon this would be very effective. Thedetails on model builder at the end of Chapter eight are very significant inthe world of automation. An additionaltip here on how to save the modelin script format would have beenabsolutely great. Chapter nine takesthe student into an in depth look intospatial analysis. It enlightens the reader about the buffer tool. The chapter explains how to buffer around pointsand polygons and lines. The chapter ends with a detailed explanation of

apportionment (make splits of) and thevariety of statistical and spatial analysiswhich can be done with the aid of thistool.

Chapter 10 is on 3D analyst, anextension of the ArcGIS software. Ithink this chapter has some immenselyuseful directions for any user to beginworking with 3D analyst. I substitutedthe data with data from our own countyand it worked perfectly. The chapter begins with how to add 3D to ArcMapand create triangular irregular network

(TIN). It guides the user through eachof the major tools. For example thenavigate tool lets you drag the map toview the scene from different angles.It lets you drape other features over itand create 3d buildings from buildingsdata. With 3d analyst you can also flythrough a scene and create multipleviews. While you fly through a sceneit can be recorded by clicking on theanimation option. The animation can bealso exported to a 3D video. One canadd other 3D symbols like trees.

The last chapter in the book dealswith Spatial Analyst, another extensionof ArcGIS. It covers some basic uses of the extension like creating hillshades,density maps and scatter plots. I thinka little explanation of raster data in thebeginning of the chapter would help.Spatial Analyst and 3D Analyst are thetwo chapters which are for the moreadvanced user and the addition of thesechapters in the present edition of the

book takes the student to a differentlevel of expertise.

This book is meticulously laidout and at the end of this elevenchapter course the reader would bewell educated to use ArcGIS 9.3 atan intermediate level. Instructions toinstall data and software should be in

Chapter one, in that way the user doesnot fumble for it. I think all the chaptersshould have more explicit snapshotsof the symbology dialog box. Theassignments at the end of the chapter are thoughtfully designed and everystudent using the book should work onthese diligently. I recommend it highlyas a text book in all centers of learningand should continue to be used topromote GIS skills in middle and highschools.

Reviewed by: Chaula Jain, GISP, Mecklen-burg County Government

BooK ReVIeW

GIs T tori l or Homel nd sec rityWritten By s n Lindell R dkeEddie H neb thEsRI Pre380 New York st.Redl nd, Ca 92373-8100423 P ge , P perb ck IsBN 978-1-58948-188- 6

At rst glance one might mistake thisbook as a textbook for a class on thevarious uses of GIS in a homeland se -curity context; however its usefulnessextends outside of homeland securityoperations. This book is designed insuch a manner that someone with littleor no knowledge of GIS could start fromthe basics (learning the ArcGIS inter -

face and the various types of data) andcontinue to build upon those skills untilthey had suf cient knowledge to utilizeGIS for homeland security operations.

What allows this book to stand out fromtextbooks is the step-by-step scenario-based instructions that allow users toaccumulate GIS skills at their own pacewithout the need for an instructor-ledclass.

Perhaps the strongest point of this

book in a tutorial sense is the way theexercises integrate the acquisition of data from a variety of sources. Thebook of course comes with the standarddata disk needed to complete exercises,but some of the exercises require thatthe user explore data acquisition over the internet through sites that offer data

pertinent to homeland security. Whilethe data acquisition techniques utilizedwill likely offer little to the experiencedGIS user, it can certainly allowbeginning and intermediate users togain an understanding of the multitudeof data sources that are available. Thisaspect of the book alone extends itsusefulness to a variety of subfieldsthat utilize GIS (rather than justhomeland security). This book may beof particular interests to organizationswhose users regularly interact with stateand federal agencies to obtain dataeither directly or through web-mappingapplications.

GIS Tutorial for Homeland Secur ity is divided into 7 chapters. The first 2chapters provide an introduction tothe uses of GIS in a homeland securitycontext and demonstrate how suchdata can be visualized. The remaining5 chapters guide the user throughscenarios specific to steps withinhomeland security (Prepare, Prevent,

Protect, Respond, and Recover). Each of the chapters features a robust exercisethat allows the user to experienceexactly how GIS can be implemented toassist in the tasks associated with eachstep. Throughout the book users gainhands-on knowledge of how to utilizevarious tools within GIS and experiencein how their results can be presentedin various formats. The exercises donot focus solely on ArcMap, but alsoextend to the other programs in the

ArcGIS suite. The scenarios featured in

the book range from preparing for thepossibility of a chemical or explosiveattack to restoring critical services

following an earthquake. Although this book is useful in

a variety of settings (including as anaddition to any GIS users referencelibrary), it is well designed for use inan academic setting. The introductionoffers a comprehensive set of notes

for instructors on how the book

Book Reviewcontinued from page 6

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can be implemented in a varietyof educational settings (includingvarying semester lengths). Includedon the books data CD is a set of 7 PowerPoint presentations thatsummarize the concepts conveyed ineach chapter. The presentations alsoprovide introductory information for

the scenarios. The books authorspropose two situations in which thebook can be utilized as a textbook. Inthe first situation, the authors suggestthe book as an application resource

for a course in GIS applications inhomeland security. In the secondsituation, the authors suggest the bookas a professional development tool for homeland security administrators, firstresponders, and GIS professionals.

It is important to understandthat GIS Tutorial for Homeland Security reserves most of its potential for those users who are just sitting downto use ArcGIS for the first time andneed a primer that can get them upand running with the program. Of particular interest to the new user is the 180-day evaluation copy of

ArcView 9.3 that comes packagedwith the book. Some of the scenariospresented would be helpful to eventhe more experienced users as theydemonstrate how GIS can be integrated

into homeland security measures rather than leaving it up to the user to bridgethe gap. The chapters are divided intosections that allow the user to digestthe information and allow them to learnthe material without having to make ittheir sole focus. If you have an interestin homeland security this book willshow you the potential of GIS. Eventhose outside of homeland security cantake advantage of this books simplistic

format to expand upon their currentknowledge and pick up a few new skills.

Reviewed by: Josh OConner ( [email protected])

R gis r Sup r-earr URISA 2009 i

A ah i a dSav Big ($150)!URISA is offering members a

sup r- ar registration rate this year.

The Super Early rate (by June 15)is $470

Early rate is $545 Regular member rate (after

August 26) is $620.

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Mapping Your Community Workshops: An Introduction to GIS and Community Analysis

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Business Partner

* These are One-Day Workshops (8:30am-4:30pm)

July 15/16 Olympia, WAJuly 17 Seattle, WAJuly 22 Nashville, TNJuly 24 Memphis, TNJuly 29 Charleston, NC

July 31 Louisville, KYAugust 5 Burlington, VT

Great for Beginners and anyone interestedin mapping their community! Government Agencies,Non-Profits, Environmental and Advocacy Groups, etc

$495Only

FREE ArcGIS (ArcView 9.3.1) software 60-day trial CD set

May/June 2009

URISA News 9


10/12

WelCome neW URISA memBeRS

feDeRAl AGenCy memBeRU.S. Census Bureau

CoRPoRAte memBeRS

P a i u C rp ra m b r ESRI

G d C rp ra m b rsCDMData Transfer Solutions, LLC

Michael Baker Corporation

BC AssessmentManatronMerrick & CompanyOGInfo.com, LLCPictometryPinnacle Mapping Technologies, Inc.Pixxures, Inc.The Sidwell Company

BUSIneSS memBeRS

Si v r Busi ss m b rsInner Corridor Technologies/ Teach Me GISeGPS Solutions Inc

Colorado CustomWare, Inc. (CCI)Geotek MappingGeoWise LimitedGIS Innovations LTD.Kessler GISMGP, Inc.

Munsys, Inc.North River Geographic Systems, Inc.Open Technology GroupOrion Technology Inc.Spatial Data ResearchSpatial Focus Inc.Tetra TechTyler Technologies Eagle Computer Division

Wellar Consulting

D vid al ord,Providence, Baton Rouge, LAD vid ar ,Cook County, Chicago, IL

Felici B rker,Cook County, Chicago, IL

a ron Bowm n,Atlanta, GA

alex Brown,University of Massachusetts -Lowell, Lowell, MA

Willi m Brown,University of Illinois, Urbana, IL

M tthew B ch n n,BGC Engineering,Vancouver, BC Canada

Kevin N. C pone,GISP, Murrieta, CA

Pete Coventry,Boulder, CO

Chri tin Di chinger,Harris County Public Health & Environmental Services, Houston, TX

s r D nl p,Minnesota Department of Health, Saint Paul, MN

R ndy P. Edw rd ,GISP, Redmond, WA

D rrin F rmer,Weston Solutions Inc, Auburn,CA

F zl y s F r q e,GISP, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS

D vid Fein tein,RS&H, Houston, TX

Kry t l Forgenie,CDM - Camp Dresser & McKee Inc., Jacksonville, FL

R mon G llego ,Rio Hondo College,Whittier, CA

Deni e G rner,Jackson, NJ

Kimberly Gri om,Amador County GIS Division, Jackson, CA

Joe G idry,Putnam County IT-GIS, Palatka, FL

Bri n W. H ll,GISP, Wooster, OH Yvonne N H rding,GISP, Concord, NC

Lowell Hebert,Providence, Baton Rouge, LA

Mile Henrik en,Coeur D Alene, ID

al n Hob cheid,Cook County, Chicago, IL

Wigberto Ingente,Cook County, Chicago, IL

amit J cob,Central Informatics Organization, Manama, Bahrain

Bri n J me ,University of Colorado Denver,Denver, CO

M ryEllen Komn th,Paramount Citrus,Delano, CA

Ell Ji nghong Li,City of Rowlett, Rowlett,TX

soren en Li m,Suite 6 Studio, Rockville, MD

s m nth M rder,Brown University,Providence, RI

K ren McF rl nd,Renton, WA

Lori McG ire,Providence, Baton Rouge, LA

Z ch ry M ilm n,Florida State University,Tallahassee, FL

anthony Myer ,City of Naples, Naples, FL

M ndy Nyerge ,CDM - Camp Dresser & McKee Inc., Fort Lauderdale, FL

P r mdeep Oberoi,Athens, GA

Vincent O ier,Burtonsville, MD

Ti ny Perrin,Weston Solutions Inc, Austin,TX

Willi m Picken ,Jefferson County - Alabama,Birmingham, AL

W rren Robert ,Rio Hondo College, Whittier,CA

M tthew Robin on,Shoreland Inc,Milwaukee, WI

Jeremy s i ,Providence, Irving, TX

Kelli schonher,GEObispo, San Luis Obispo,CA

Keith smith,Pulaski County, Little Rock, AR

Vincent J sori no,GISP, Staten Island, NY

s n T r m n,Cook County Government,Chicago, IL

Donn nn Vi ne ki,City of Renton, Renton,WA

10 May/June 2009

URISA News


11/12

Free Member hip or 2010!

Mark Gatti, GIS Supervisor for theDelaware Valley Regional PlanningCommission in Philadelphia, recentlyparticipated in the online URISA

member survey and was randomlyselected to win a free membership

for 2010. Congratulations Mark andthanks to everyone who participatedin the survey!

Preconference Work hop : Introduction to Next Generation 9-1-1 Addresses and IS/GIS Implementation: Key to GIS Success Advanced GIS Exhibits & Networking Opportunities

Keynote addre :Cheryl Benjamin - New York State Of ce of Cyber Security & Critical Infrastruc -ture CoordinationClo ing Plen ry addre :Improving the Geographic Information Used by NYCs Public Safety Agencies -

Jim Hall, GISP

Import nt se ion Incl ding: Address Data for the PSAP: Creating and Maintaining Good MSAG Data GIS and Next Generation 9-1-1 Address Systems and Assignment Practices Addressing Strategies Across Multiple Jurisdictions Improving Address Quality: Standardization and Automation

Visit www.urisa.org for conference details and registration information!

uRIsa/NENa2009 addre ingConferencea g t 4-6, 2009Providence, Rhode I l nd

The only conference whereGIS professionals, addressingcoordinators, 9-1-1 and emergencyresponse specialists come together for education and networking.

May/June 2009

URISA News 11


12/12

Urban & Regional Information Systems A ssociation

1460 Renaissance Drive, Suite 305Park Ridge, IL 60068

NONPROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDURISA

Business Directory

Your business card advertisement can be seen here for $50 per issue.

Calendar !Mark Your

May/June 2009

Easy RFP DistributionRemember to email your technology-

related RFPs to [email protected] for FREEdistribution to URISAs corporate andbusiness members. Save lots of time andeffort. We have a list of contacts who arepleased to receive your RFPs. Take advantage of this free service often!

Digital Orthophotography Digital Planimetric and

Topographic Mapping Aerial Photography LiDARGIS Services

Specializing inphotogrammetric and GISservices since 1954

www.surdex.com

520 Spirit of St. Louis Blvd.Chesterfield, MO 63005tel 636-368-4400

URISA 2009

July 6-August 27, 2009

For more information:(951) 827-5804

[email protected]/geo

12th Annual

GIS Summer SchoolIntensive Residential Program

Comprehensive 24-unitcurriculum

Software training Networking events/tours

Apply now for admission.Early enrollment discount.Limited enrollment.

URISA News May/ June 2009

Documents

Transcript of URISA News May/ June 2009