Sharing information technology solutions to urban and regional challenges since 1963.
Issue 210
November/December 2005 Urban and Regional InformationNEWSNEWS Systems Association URISA 2005 Conference Highlights – Finding the Harmony
URISA’s 43rd Annual Conference took place in Kansas City, "Lively debates and discussions on timely topics with Missouri in October. The conference was a great success with folks in differing geographic areas.” timely educational sessions and invaluable networking. Visit the URISA website for a comprehensive look at this year’s con- ference and make plans to attend next year’s conference in URISA British Vancouver! Columbia is awarded Outstanding Chapter of the Year.
Bilaal Rajan (9 year old philanthropist) addressed the opening session.
GISCorps volunteers were recognized for their great work. “I am a new member to URISA and I found this conference excellent for networking. Everyone had a Everyone was very helpful great time at the which allowed me to get the Tuesday Night Social! most from the conference.”
Dianne Haley presented Lyna Wiggins with the prestigious Horwood Award. Wednesday’s Summit was an active working discussion.
IN THIS ISSUE About
5 People, Technology, Policy and Compassion
6 Welcome New Members The Urban and Regional Information 7 Industry News Systems Association (URISA) is the premier professional association for those involved in improving our urban 8 Arizona’s Counter Terrorism Information Center and regional environments through the (ACTIC) Is Getting A Leg Up On Terrorism effective use of information technology. Professionals in planning, economic 10 URISA’s GIS Hall of Fame Profile development, information systems, emergency services, natural resources, public works, transportation, and other departments within state and local government have depended on URISA for professional development and educational needs since 1963. Through Important URISA URISA Board its international, national and local PRESIDENT chapter operations, URISA serves nearly Dates to Remember Cindy Domenico, Boulder County (CO) 8,000 professionals. Assessor [email protected] December 31, 2005 2006 membership renewal payments PRESIDENT-ELECT Ed Wells, GISP, DC Office of the CTO URISA Headquarters due [email protected] 1460 Renaissance Drive, Suite 305 Park Ridge, IL 60068 IMMEDIATE PAST-PRESIDENT January 6, 2006 Dianne M. Haley, BSc, MScGIS, GISP, Alberta Phone: 847‑824‑6300 Abstract submissions due for URISA’s Energy and Utilities Board Fax: 847‑824‑6363 [email protected] 44th Annual Conference – Vancouver, BC [email protected] TREASURER http://www.urisa.org Allen Ibaugh, Data Transfer Solutions, February 19-22, 2006 Orlando, FL Integrating GIS & CAMA Conference [email protected] Orlando, FL SECRETARY Wendy Francis Kathrine Cargo, Orleans Parish (LA) Executive Director Communications District [email protected] September 26-29, 2006 [email protected] URISA’s 44th Annual Conference Eric Bohard, GISP, Clackamas County (OR) Vancouver, BC [email protected] Article submissions, calendar items Ingrid Bruce, City of Rancho Cucamonga, CA and industry news should be sent to [email protected] [email protected] Shoreh Elhami, GISP, Delaware County (OH) Auditors Office [email protected] Stephen W. Kinzy, GISP, ESRI-St Louis [email protected] Lisa Lubeley, GISP, City of San Diego, CA [email protected] Zhong-Ren Peng, University of Wisconsin School of Architecture & Urban Planning [email protected] Cy Smith, GISP, State of Oregon Geospatial Enterprise Office [email protected]
November/December 2005 • URISA News URISA’s New Website: Status Report Lessons Learned Information Sharing (LLIS.gov) is the U.S. De- partment of Homeland Security’s (DHS) national network of Lessons Learned and Much progress is being made on Best Practices designed to help emergency response providers and homeland URISA’s new website. The design was security officials prevent, prepare for, and respond to acts of terrorism and other finalized and the content outline has disasters. LLIS.gov helps to improve homeland security nationwide by allowing been established. Members-only dis- local, state and federal officials to tap into a wealth of front-line expertise on the cussion forums, collaborative tools, most effective planning, training, and operational practices across all homeland and numerous resources will make the security functional areas. The 16,000 strong LLIS.gov membership includes veri- site your first stop for professional de- fied emergency response providers and homeland security officials at the local, velopment needs. state, and federal levels as well as private sector representatives. The system uses A huge thanks to Eric Bohard strong encryption and active site monitoring to protect all information housed and Dan Zeazas from Clackamas on the system, including the identities of authorized users, and the directory of County, OR and also Tom Kimpel responders and homeland security officials that have access to the system. LLIS. from Portland State University. They gov also includes secure email and message boards to exchange information in took possession of the new web server real-time. and set-up the technical end of the LLIS.gov is interested in developing a community of interest module site. The server is on its way back to dedicated to the applicability of GIS to the field of homeland security. State URISA headquarters and we’ll soon and local emergency organizations are increasingly incorporating geospatial be populating the site and will have technologies and data to prepare, prevent, respond and recover from terrorist a much stronger web presence. Stay activity. In the preparedness phase, emergency planners and responders need tuned… current, accurate, and easily accessible information to ensure the readiness of teams to respond. It is also an important component in strategy development, the mapping and analysis of critical infrastructure vulnerabilities, and public URISA’s Professional Development health surveillance capabilities. GIS can provide a means to prevent terrorist Program activity by detecting and analyzing patterns of threats and possible attacks, and sharing that intelligence. During response and recovery, geospatial information After a productive meeting in Kansas is used to provide a dynamic common operating picture, coordinate and City, the Professional Development track emergency assets, enhance 911 capabilities, understand event impacts, Program is underway! Soon, we’ll be accurately estimate damage, locate safety zones for quarantine or detention, and asking for your input in developing facilitate recovery. a mentoring program, a volunteer The LLIS.gov Team is interested in receiving contributions detailing how program, and a comprehensive focus responders, state and local governments, and private organizations are using GIS on “management soft skills” that our applications for the benefit of the emergency response and homeland security members may need to fine-tune as communities. This could include mapping possible vulnerabilities in critical their careers progress and responsibili- infrastructure, or using GIS tools to formulate terrorist scenarios, discern crime ties change. statistics and patterns, or determine evacuation traffic flows. A dedicated LLIS.gov GIS module will provide geospatial practitioners and professionals with a forum in which they can share data, communicate and collaborate with each other. The module will also seek to promote the applicability of geospatial capabilities in the homeland security realm. The LLIS GIS team welcomes your submissions and Abstract Submissions Due for suggestions. URISA Vancouver by Contact: January 6, 2006! Jordan Richie 202-452-6977 [email protected]
Congratulations
to Leon MacIsaac of the City of St Johns (NL) Planning Department and Ryan Latimer of the Metro Nashville (TN) Planning Department! They filled out the post-conference attendee survey online and were randomly selected to receive a complimentary registration to the 2006 conference.
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Our Kansas City conference last month (NACo), the National States Geographic reinforced the concept of the power Information Council (NSGIC) and the of good people with great ideas. The Federal Geographic Data Committee image of overlapping circles of people, Cindy Domenico (FGDC). The Summit’s goal was to technology, policy and compassion kept further encourage cooperation in the coming to mind during the week. Here development of the NSDI. An overview are key conference highlights that in- of URISA’s 2003 Summit was followed spired me. by presentations on NSDI initiatives and GISCorps: Throughout the successful collaborations. The following conference we celebrated the invaluable breakout topics were discussed in interest contributions made by the GISCorps groups: 1: How to Encourage Local in their compassionate expression of and the Northern California Chapter Governments to Use NSDI Standards the value of our technical abilities in was recognized for its accomplishments & Methods 2: How to Aggregate and the world we serve—in Indonesia, during its first year of existence. Integrate Local and Regional Data Afghanistan, and in Hurricane Katrina The Addressing Standard: An Repositories 3: Creating the Value relief in Mississippi and Louisiana. update on the progress of the standard Proposition 4: What NSGIC, NACo, Learning about how these volunteers highlighted the dynamic collaborative URISA, IAAO, and other organizations have taken their professional abilities and process by which the standard is being Can Do to Support the Goal of the expressed them in a way that changed developed. The objective is to create NSDI. Action plans were developed in people's lives was an inspiration to a single street address data standard each group. For example in Group 4, we everyone. It underscored the power of that will consist of four parts: content, discussed the strengths each organization GIS to save lives, to improve lives, to classification, quality and transfer. URISA brings to the table and explored bring services where they are needed, submitted a formal proposal to the opportunities for finding common and to raise the sights in emerging Federal Geographic Data Committee ground. The event brought together over nations. The world got the message of (FGDC) and began the project in April. a hundred participants and resulted in a the power of GIS through the actions of The standard is intended to provide best broad-based collaboration coming out of the GISCorps in times and locations of practices for defining street address date the meeting. If you would like to join the desperate need. content and classes, setting standards conversation on any one of these topics, Australian interface: Duncan and tests of street address data quality, please watch the URISA website for an Brooks, Manager, Spatial Solutions, and facilitating exchange of street update. Department of Infrastructure, brought address data files. The results of this URISA conferences are the place us greetings, wisdom and a different collaborative process will be submitted where people bring the good work they perspective from the experience of through the FGDC’s formal standards are doing and share it with enthusiasm; Australia’s Spatial Sciences Institute. approval process. If they are accepted, great ideas emerge in this kind of We learned about SSI’s growing young the Census Bureau will maintain the environment. That is what happened professionals program, and Duncan standard. The second draft standard, in Kansas City. And those overlapping emphasized SSI’s strong interest in completed in record time, is now posted circles? The organization at the our GIS Certification Institute and on the URISA website for your review intersection of technology, compassion, GISCorps. The mutually beneficial and comment. people, and policy is URISA. Where connection was strengthened in all the Our Past Presidents: We had those four circles intercept, that’s where conversations with Duncan throughout thirteen past presidents participating in URISA members are. I’m writing to you the conference. our conference this year. What a vital today with great excitement about Our Chapters: Chapter leaders part of the organization they are! As we the year ahead of us. My question shared ideas, successes and challenges of talked about URISA’s growth over the to you, my amazing colleagues and the past year in one of the best-attended years, I was reminded that even as we friends, is: How shall we capitalize on Chapters Leaders Forums to date. What become enamored with technology, it is the new awareness of the value of our tremendous energy and resources are people who make it all work. profession? How would you like to be in action in our chapters! The British The Fed Summit II: This special involved? Let us know at info@URISA. Columbia URISA Chapter received the event was jointly organized by URISA, org or email me directly at cdomenico@ Outstanding Chapter of the Year Award the National Association of Counties co.boulder.co.us.
November/December • URISA News
Welcome New Members
Jochen Albrecht, Hunter College, New York, NY Arika Ligmann-Zielinska, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA Tessa Allberg, City of McKinney, Mc Kinney, TX Corporate Members Lucia Barbato, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX Nathan Mattox, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO BAE SYSTEMS ADR Leonard Barnhill, George Butler Associates Inc, Bentley Systems, Inc. Lenexa, KS David Maxwell, Southern Utah University, Cedar City, UT Bowne Management Systems, Inc. Marian Batton, Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson, Sparks, MD Donald Mc Kenna, Seminole County Public Burns & McDonnell Engineering Works, Fern Park, FL Shriram Bhutada, City of Longview, Longview, TX CDM Dan Melton, University of Missouri Kansas City, Dell Michael Bieberitz, HNTB, Chicago, IL Kansas City, MO DeLorme Greg Boyd, Results Engineering, Westerville, Jeffrey Motz, City of Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa, AL OH ESRI Arfaa Mujeeb, New Jersey Meadowlands Keri Brennan, The Schneider Corporation, Commission, Lyndhurst, NJ Federal Geographic Data Committee Indianapolis, IN Kathleen Murphy, WaterOne, Lenexa, KS Geographic Technologies Group Mark Castenson, Warren County, Indianola, IA Kevin O’Connell, Colorado CustomWare Inc, GRW Aerial Surveys Don Compton, Fort Collins, CO Fort Collins, CO ISC Justin Cure, City of Longview, Longview, TX Thomas Pagh, i-Ten Associates Inc, Portland, OR KCI Technologies Patti Day, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Anthony Palizzi, Spacient Technologies, Inc, Kucera International, Inc. Fox Point, WI Highlands Ranch, CO Manatron Lee Ann Deuben, University of Illinois - Cindy Post, GISmo Solutions Ltd, Edmonton, MD Atlantic Technologies Chicago, Chicago, IL AB Canada Merrick & Company Eric Dickens, City of Ormond Beach, Ormond Jeff Rodda, Iowa Counties Information Beach, FL Technology, Des Moines, IA Mobile Video Services, Inc. PCI Geomatics Mark Edney, Henderson County, Emily Ross, City of Sumter-County Planning Hendersonville, NC Commission, Sumter, SC Pinnacle Mapping Technologies, Inc. Pascha Enzi, Parker, CO James Russell, Summit Data Services LLC, Robinson Engineering, Ltd. Sarah Falzarano, Grand Canyon National Golden, CO Rolta International Park, Flagstaff, AZ William Sawyer, Applied Technologies Inc, The Schneider Corporation Boston, MA Terry Girouard, Cape Doset, NU Canada The Sidwell Company David Scherf, Ulster County Environmental Anna Goldberg, MGP Information Systems, Space Imaging Markham, ON Canada Management Council, Stone Ridge, NY Surdex Corporation Donna Goldstein, Palm Beach County, West Amanda Schwoegler, Wisconsin Dept of Palm Beach, FL Natural Resources, Madison, WI Brian Hansen, City of Yuba City, Yuba City, CA Scott Skraban, Orange County Government, Business Members Orlando, FL Chad Hartley, University of Colorado, Colorado Causeway Data Communications Ltd. Chad Smith, Lincoln, NE Springs, CO Colorado CustomWare, Inc. Todd Smith, City of Midland, Midland, TX Kirk Hayer, City of Commerce City, Broomfield, CO Curiosity Quest Lonnie Hearne, SimWright Inc, Franklin, TN Peter Southwood, Autodesk Inc, San Rafael, CA Data Transfer Solutions, LLC Louis Hill, Conroe, TX David Stearns, NAVTEQ, Overland Park, KS Tyler Technologies Eagle Computer Division Jean Ihm, Oracle, Nashua, NH Dean Stites, Orange County Government, EarthData Orlando, FL Sean Jackson, Elections Canada, Ottawa, ON Geographic Mapping Consultants Canada Fazilet Tanrikulu, Massachusetts Institute of GIS Planning, Inc. Steve Kampf, East Lansing, MI Technology, Cambridge, MA Hartman & Associates Patrick Keegan, City of Evanston, Evanston, IL Bruce Taylor, Clayton County, Morrow, GA InnovaTeq Kelley Kiser, AGL Resources, Douglasville, GA Robert Thomas, City of Woodland, Woodland, CA Juniper GIS Josh Knauer, MAYA Design, Inc, Pittsburgh, PA Suzanne Vachon, Port of Long Beach, Long Beach, CA Kessler GIS Jeremy Kulm, Walla Walla, WA Eric White, Aerial Data Service, Tulsa, OK Layton Graphics Branden Kurgan, Ohio State University, MGP, Inc. Columbus, OH Kevin Willis, Lake County Board of County Commissioners, Tavares, FL Orion Technology Inc. Patricia Lankey, Lucas County, Toledo, OH David Yun, City of San Luis Obispo, San Luis Spatial Focus, Inc. Brett Lavender, Clayton County Technical Obispo, CA Support, Jonesboro, GA Systems Design, Inc. Traverse PC
November/December 2005 • URISA News Industry News
NovaLIS Technologies Limited recently an- imagery was also made available through an ER Mapper to enable a state public health agency to perform RNAs nounced that it has filed for protection under the Image Web Server and ESRI(r) ArcIMS(r) based website in response to disasters without federal help from the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act. The Company is developed by PlanSight of Rumely, Michigan accessible Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). taking this action so that it can address its financial at http://katrina.webblake.com/. The imagery is also difficulties primarily arising from its unprofitable US available through Google Earth. The City of Valdez, Alaska has selected Geographic operations. While under protection from creditors, Technologies Group, Inc. (GTG) for an Enterprise GIS the Company will be reviewing its entire operation The Project Safe Neighborhoods Mapping and Analysis (E-GIS) User Needs Analysis and Strategic Implemen- and will assess all of the options available to it, in- Program (PSNMAP) received a 2005 Digital Government tation Plan; this plan will have a Homeland Security cluding its possible sale, such that the best outcome Achievement Award (DGAA) from the Center for Digital component. GTG was selected for multiple software can be achieved for its stakeholders. Government. GeoDecisions developed the application contracts. The following products purchased from in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO), GTG include – City of Westerville, Ohio – LGdispatch; Digital Data Technologies, Inc. (DDTI®) an- Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The national DGAA pro- City of Avon Park, Florida – LGfires; St. Lucie County, nounces the continued success of the AccuGlobe gram recognizes outstanding agency and department Florida –LGaddress; City of Farmington, New Mexico 2004 GIS ALOHA (Area Locations of Hazardous At- Web sites and applications that enhance information –LGviewer; Tyler County, Texas – LGaddress; City mospheres) plug-in. This plug-in provides an inter- interactions, transactions, and/or services. It is produced of Marietta, California –LGmobile, LGdispatch, & face between DDTI’s free AccuGlobe GIS software in conjunction with the Center’s annual Best of the Web LGcrimes; and Union County, Georgia – (GISmo. and the also free ALOHA program (http://www.epa. awards program, which collectively received more than gov/ceppo/cameo/aloha.htm) for the easy plotting 350 entries in 2005. Varion Systems, the software development and of airborne chemical dispersion plumes. ALOHA was value-added reseller division of GeoAnalytics, has developed as a free product by the EPA’s Chemical Manatron, Inc. announced that it has acquired substan- been hired by the Des Moines County, Iowa GIS Com- Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Office tially all of the assets of Plexis Group, LLC and assumed mission to implement PV.Web 2.1 to deploy GIS data (CEPPO) and the National Oceanic and Atmo- the obligations of its current software, support and and tools to County staff and its constituents. spheric Administration Office of the Response and service contracts effective November 1, 2005. Formed Restoration (NOAA), to assist front-line chemical in 2000 as a subsidiary of Beam, Longest & Neff, LLC, a Merrick & Company is pleased to announce a new emergency planners and respondents. 50-year-old engineering company, Plexis is an Indiana contract with the Department of Public Works in Utah based company which has long standing relationships County, Utah to provide DigitalGlobe’s (Longmont, CO) In response to the 7.6 magnitude earthquake that with 20 Indiana counties, 13 of whom are current Com- 61-centimeter Ortho Photo Ready natural color satellite occurred October 8, in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan, puter Assisted Mass Appraisal (CAMA) software clients. imagery of the entire county annually for three years. ESRI is providing a number of GIS support services Plexis also provides property tax and GIS software and designed to assist responding agencies and victims. related services to its client base. Digital Data Technologies, Inc. (DDTI®) has an- The quake rippled throughout South Asia, destroy- nounced the addition of the Defiance County Auditor’s ing entire communities, killing tens of thousands of EarthData announced the acquisition of operations from website to DDTI’s catalog of hosted websites. DDTI people, and injuring or displacing tens of thousands LJT & Associates’ wholly-owned remote sensing unit, currently hosts over forty individualized websites fea- more. ESRI and its distributors in Pakistan, India, and Emerge Remote Sensing Services, Inc. (Emerge), an turing real property data, real estate tax information, Afghanistan are actively supporting relief efforts by Andover, MA-based provider of digital orthorectified mosaic colorized property sketches, property record cards providing temporary keycodes, on-site support, and imagery products. Assets conveyed as part of the acquisition and various GIS information. other assistance that can be acquired within one include digital aerial sensors, computer hardware, mapping business day and is available to any organization backlog, and a business portfolio that encompasses both Pictometry International Corp. announced that regardless of its GIS platform. Logistics in the area government and private sector customers. the Lee County, FL Property Appraiser has renewed pose major challenges, and mapping services are in its licensing agreement with the company to provide high demand to assist with coordination. Intergraph announced an OEM agreement with Skyline updated aerial images and software on an annual Software Systems to integrate Skyline’s 3D visualization basis. Lee County Property Appraiser Kenneth M. Computer Associates International. Inc. and Rol- technology within Intergraph’s GeoMedia product line. Wilkinson, CFA, has been one of the most progressive ta International, Inc. announced an expanded and Under the agreement, GeoMedia users will have 3D users of the technology in the nation. The software definitive agreement to provide expert implementa- visualization for an entire range of geospatial informa- and imagery enables his staff to have state-of-the-art tion, customization and integration services to CA tion from digital elevation models to high-resolution appraisal technology that helps provide exceptional customers across North America. The agreement imagery and geospatial features such as road networks, visual information, helping Lee County Property Ap- to use Rolta’s onshore and offshore resources will infrastructure and other points of interest. praisers to better serve their community. Through supplement services provided by CA Technology Wilkinson’s efforts, the residents of Lee County, Florida Services’ internal staff across the full spectrum of have access to view Pictometry images of their proper- CA’s data security, network and systems manage- People News ties on the Lee County Property Appraiser’s website. ment and service management solutions. Tony Spicci, GIS Supervisor for the Missouri Department “Having the ability to share the oblique aerial photos of Conservation is now President of NSGIC following the from Pictometry allows us to better communicate how BSC, a multidisciplinary engineering, planning, and organization’s annual conference in late September. Stu we value the properties than we could with traditional, environmental consulting firm, announced today Davis, State of Ohio, is now President-Elect and Zsolt orthogonal photos,” said Wilkinson. that it has acquired Rice & Associates, Inc. (Rice), Nagy, State of North Carolina, is now Past-President an engineering consulting firm headquartered in of NSGIC. Mobile Video has been awarded a contract by the Raleigh, North Carolina. BSC and Rice will oper- Williamson County Appraisal District to collect data ate as the newly-named BSC Rice Associates as it Neal Carpenter has been named president and CEO of and images for approximately 121,000 parcels in the continues its professional services practice under The Sidwell Company. His career with Sidwell began Austin-Round Rock metro area. The project is expected the existing local leadership. in 1978. Brett Black was recently appointed account to be completed in the Spring of 2006. As part of the manager for the company’s photogrammetry sales and project, Mobile Video’s field verification crews will ImageAmerica provided rapid access to up-to-date Arron Lee was promoted to manager of production for capture street-view images of all improved parcels imagery of the Hurricane Katrina disaster area. Us- photogrammetry. while the address of each structure is verified. As part ing the latest digital camera system, along with the of the project, the Appraisal District will also receive a ER Mapper’s ECW compression, ImageAmerica was Jeff Young is the new director of business development geographic x-y coordinate for each property imaged. able to deliver imagery to government emergency for SANZ Geospatial Solutions Group. services teams for their coordinated relief efforts. Tyler Technologies Eagle Division reported that Images were acquired with ImageAmerica’s high- Sevier County (Richfield), UT has signed a contract to resolution DDP-2 digital camera system. 700 square Project Awards purchase EagleSoftware for multiple county offices. ESRI and business partner Bradshaw Consulting Ser- miles of high-quality six-inch digital aerial imagery vices, Inc. (BCS), announce the successful completion of New Orleans and the surrounding area were The Sidwell Company has been awarded a contract of Rapid Response Project 516, a North Carolina Public captured and fully orthorectified and mosaicked by Carroll County, Iowa for photogrammetry services. Health Regional Surveillance Teams (PHRST) project that in a 24 hour period. The data was delivered to the Marshall County, Indiana also awarded Sidwell a establishes mobile GIS Rapid Needs Assessment (RNA) ca- emergency operation center in Baton Rouge. The contract for comprehensive GIS services. pabilities statewide. The mobile GIS application is the first
November/December • URISA News
Arizona’s Counter Terrorism Information Center (ACTIC) Is Getting A Leg Up On Terrorism By Jim Romeo
Between 1,200 and 1,500 illegal mi- Sharon Nicholson, GIS Coordinator “unstructured” and not consolidated grants each year. That is what 2,400 for Arizona’s Department of Public in one place. Geographic Text Search Border Patrol Agents are trying to con- Safety Enforcement Bureau. “We must gives structure to this information in trol and minimize along the southern establish a statewide integrated justice a format that is useful to the end-user border of the United States. system that links the information of such technology. This technology However, 370 miles of the 2,000 systems used by federal, state, local, utilizes data that is non-public and miles of this border resides in Arizona. and tribal criminal justice entities proprietary to law enforcement and As such, the state is implementing a (police, corrections, courts) in such a intelligence professionals, as well as full court press to improve their control way to support the identification of publicly available data. Proprietary of illegal migrants and to reduce the emerging terrorism related trends”. data and public data may not be incidence of any terrorist infiltration Information sharing has become a organized or structured in a way that it within this risk. There have been key priority and technology is helping can be utilized or accessed. intelligence reports and talk among them meet that priority. Following The process of collecting and homeland defense authorities that if an the July 7 London bombings, disseminating information is key Al-Quaida leader or terrorist cell were counterterrorism specialists with ACTIC to their counterterrorism strategy. to permeate the United States they just contacted every police department According to Nicholson, there is may choose Arizona’s southern border. in the state. The specialists explained a great need in the intelligence Risk in this region is so severe that how an analogous situation in Arizona community to have information nearby New Mexico recently declared would affect the state. processed that would bring the a state of emergency as smugglers and greatest value to law enforcement and drug runners are causing havoc with Standing Guard For Suspicious other public safety professionals who local residents. Many say that Arizona Circumstances are close to the terrorist threat. is a flagship of counterterrorism According to Governor Janet Napolita- “The intelligence cycle, whether and has been on the vanguard of no’s Homeland Security Plan: “Efforts for counter terrorism or for any specific measures to proactively build to detect, prevent and respond to other field, involves consumers of intelligence to be used to fight the war terrorism and other critical incidents information that direct the planning of on terror. are and will continue to be part of the collection of data (raw intelligence).” Arizona has fully embraced the everyday operations that comprise says Nicholson. “After collection, it use of technology by utilizing software Arizona state government”. Specifically is processed and analyzed to produce created by MetaCarta, Inc. Their the review concluded that “the data finished intelligence that is provided software allows information to be information systems used by federal, to the consumers. The processing used in conjunction with GIS software. state, local and Important information may be spatially tribal public displayed on a map for first responders safety entities as well as many different public safety were not linked personnel in the state. The software and therefore implementation and use is being unable to coordinated through Arizona’s Counter identify trends Terrorism Information Center (ACTIC). and suspicious “Although the State of Arizona circumstances faces a greater challenge with border that may be related issues than many other states, indicative of an the state of Arizona faces the same emerging terror- anti-terrorism issues that any other ist threat.” major region of the United States Locally faces such as detection, prevention, there is and responding to acts of terrorism public data and other critical incidents” says available that is
November/December 2005 • URISA News “What’s unique about this see the plume, but you could also see technology is that it utilizes other unstructured data about those unstructured data”, according to areas such as EPA reports and news Randy Ridley, vice president and reports about what has been built general manager, public sector, for downstream from that location. MetaCarta, Inc. Ridley emphasizes Arizona’s Nicholson believes that this is very unique. Ridley goes that this technology is instrumental on to point out that such technology in fueling the technology trend to fills in the holes in unstructured data combat terrorism. to include such information found “One of the areas that provided on local media web sites, surveillance the somewhat unanticipated value, reports, and emergency management was support of the operations planning data. All such information is collected for our officers.” explains Nicholson. and presented by linking it to its “There are situations where it is not geographic origin and making it practical for officers to have constant available across the enterprise. physical access to an area of concern. Doing this allows the intelligence The GTS proved to be an excellent tool efforts to focus on all the valuable to monitor such areas by collecting information that resides at the and analyzing open source information local level and make it available as such as articles from local newspapers intelligence to all in their counter for a specific area of responsibility. In terrorism effort – be they local or not. one such investigation, GTS not only Arizona’s counter terrorism provided this geographic view of this and analysis phases provide insight efforts include some 28 different information, but also saved time and into what needs to be collected in organizations at the Federal, state and money by reducing by two or three the next round. The ability to exploit local level. Consolidation has been a trips, the number of times officers had and analyze both structured data and mantra for information dissemination to travel to a particular difficult area unstructured content in a geospatial of homeland defense efforts. Lessons to collect information before a specific view is critical to the intelligence cycle learned from 9-11 and earlier indicated operation.” and understanding what intelligence that one agency or department was needs to be gathered.” not privy to that of another. This growing need for collaboration of information isn’t A Complete Picture just unique to Arizona. “Although In today’s culture of a terrorist threat, the State of Arizona faces a greater information that is complete, accurate challenge with border related issues and generated quickly truly adds value than many other states, Arizona faces to a first responder. It provides that the same anti-terrorism issues that any responder with a complete picture and other major region of the United States that’s what Arizona is banking on. Closing in on 1,000! faces such as detection, prevention, Let’s say you’re planning a As of October 25, the list of GISPs and responding to acts of terrorism response to a toxic waste fire at a has reached 907. and other critical incidents” she petroleum depot. Not only could you For more information, adds. “We must establish a statewide www.gisci.org. integrated justice system that links the information systems used by all of the URISA DIGEST parties.” Duncan Brooks from the Spatial Data found in an organized Let us know if you do not receive Sciences Institute sent along the database such as criminal records and the twice-monthly URISA Digest following to share: “I was sent this crime reports is structured. However in your inbox. Perhaps we have link to an interview with Chris Bell- information such as news reports from an incorrect email address in your man (Tim Barker’s SSI Presidential television station and newspaper web membership record. The Digest predecessor), it gives a good back- sites as well as emails from various law contains more timely information ground into the SSI and it may be enforcement agencies is not structured and announcements about URISA of interest to some of your URISA and isn’t normally accessible from programs and more. Email info@ members.” one workstation. This is where the urisa.org to make sure you’re http://www.directionsmag.com/ar- sophistication of the search technology included in future distributions! ticle.php?article_id=1991 comes in.
November/December • URISA News
URISA’s GIS Hall of Fame Profile: Harvard Lab for Computer Graphics and Spatial Analysis
The Harvard Laboratory for Com- were CALFORM (late 1960s), SYMVU The Urban and Regional Information puter Graphics and Spatial Analysis (late 1960s), GRID (late 1960s), Systems Association has established laid its foundation with the develop- Polyvrt (early 1970s) and ODYSSEY the GIS Hall of Fame to recognize and ment of general purpose mapping (mid 1970s). honor the most esteemed leaders of software in the mid-1960s by How- It is clear that the lab was the geospatial community. To be con- ard Fisher. important in the development sidered for the GIS Hall of Fame, an in- A GIS-type course was taught of what has evolved in GIS. The dividual’s or an organization’s record of in 1966 that used SYMAP in a contributions of the lab included the contribution to the advancement of the landscape-planning study. SYMAP training of many creative students industry demonstrates creative think- was invented in Chicago and then and researchers who left the lab to ing and actions, vision and innovation, Fisher moved to Harvard where make greater advances elsewhere. inspiring leadership, perseverance, SYMAP and GIS evolved into many While Fisher clearly had the and community mindedness. In ad- other things. The educational and vision of what GIS would come dition, nominees must serve as a role research program grew through to mean in the realms of physical model for those who follow. URISA Hall the 60s, 70s and the 80s with GIS design, commerce, and resource of Fame Laureates are individuals or approach and automated mapping management, it’s very difficult to organizations whose pioneering work systems with development of image what GIS would have become has moved the geospatial industry in a databases. Apart from the SYMAP, without him and the Lab he created better, stronger direction. other Harvard packages, which were at Harvard.” equally important in the developing The first inductees into URISA’s GIS field of GIS and spatial data analysis, Hall of Fame are Edgar Horwood, Ian McHarg, Roger Tomlinson, Jack Dan- germond, Nancy Tosta, and the Har- vard Lab for Computer Graphics and Spatial Analysis. In this issue of URISA News, we will learn more about the Harvard Lab for Computer Graphics More from Jack Dangermond: and Spatial Analysis. “I had the great fortune to have Howard Fisher as a mentor and friend while I was a student at the Graduate School of Design in the late 60’s. I had studied planning at Minnesota, and followed Fisher to the GSD and became a re- searcher at the Lab. for Computer Graphics and Spatial Analysis at Harvard. He was an amazing intellect, and was responsible for cultivating the exceptionally creative and supportive research environment which the Lab became. His pro- tégée and successor Allan Schmidt maintained this environment into the 80’s. Rosters of the Lab’s members and associates have become a who’s who list of major research contributors in the fields of Planning and GIS. Carl Steinitz has trained a generation of landscape architects and planners. GSD students Laurie Jordan, and Bruce Rado, founded ERDAS after their exposure to the Lab. Steinitz’s teaching partner Dave Sinton got Intergraph going in the GIS arena, and his student Dana Tomlin created the very popular Map Analysis package. Scott Morehouse, hired by Lab to produce ODYSSEY joined me at ESRI and became the lead architect for ArcInfo and ArcGIS. Others at ESRI who came from the Lab include, Duane Niemeyer – ESRI Defense Manager, Hugh Keegan – manager of ESRI prototype, Mark Sorenson – ESRI GIS system designing and is now President of his own GIS company. The list of GIS inven- tors who worked at the Lab is long and distinguished, and it is a delight to meet their students and see their names in publications and journals. It never fails to ignite fond memories of my time at the Lab."
10 November/December 2005 • URISA News Announcing: URISA’s Online Publications Subscription Service
The Publications Subscription Service areas: Digital Aerial Imagery Guidelines. Subscription Service will be the ability is an exciting new benefit for URISA You can read, print or download the to interact with authors and other members. It offers unlimited access (via PDF file of the publication and explore readers through an online discussion a unique log-in and password) to the a number of other resources. This board. Ask questions, suggest new URISA library for the cost of a single pa- content area will grow as authors and content…perhaps even become per publication. For just $35 per year, subscribers turn the page into a portal an author yourself. The electronic you can enhance your URISA member- for information about the topic. When publication mechanism allows URISA ship with numerous URISA publications the discussion forums are added, fluid to accommodate many topics and previously available for sale only on a discussion will accompany the book publication types for which it previously per-copy basis. along with useful links. When sections did not have a production mechanism: It would cost more than $550 to of the publication need an overhaul, short case studies, classroom videos, purchase all of the current publications they can be updated without waiting workshop sessions, opinion pieces, and included in the subscription service, for a lengthy re-printing and production magazine-length papers. A number but the benefit is much more than cycle. of new and significantly updated the actual books. The service offers Equally as exciting is the ability documents are being created now for a number of advanced features, like for URISA’s online publications release through the URISA Publications interaction with authors and access to to include color illustrations and Subscription Service. online publications as they are created. advanced presentation mechanisms, As a special service to our student You can become more than a reader. like hyperlinks and embedded videos. members, we will create a section for You can participate in the creation and These new electronic publications publication of student research papers, updating of leading-edge publications will allow for rapid updating, perhaps reports, and projects. or provide a review of any topic- using ideas and content submitted by Take advantage of the opportunity relevant publication, even those sold by readers like you! URISA will be able to to sign up for the URISA Subscription others. offer new versions of its publications as Service when you renew your Go to www.urisa.org/Pubs_ soon as updated content is generated, membership. It is your ticket to the Subscription_Service/2publications.htm and not have to wait for the previous future of industry publications. Sign up for a list of publications that will initially edition to sell out. for access directly on your dues renewal be included in the service. There is also To many members, the most invoice. The option will also be available a SAMPLE link to one of the content valuable part of the new Publications as a separate purchase.
Ten Things to do on a Rainy Day in Vancouver
1. Have a brolly custom-made at of the exotic plants are startling 8. Take a trek to the remote east-end The Umbrella Shop (1106 West when contrasted with the gloomy dockside location of The Cannery Broadway.) Ask Glen Flader for weather outside the glass dome. Restaurant. Two fireplaces, one a tour of the workroom and see 5. Do lunch in a temperate rainforest of the city’s best wine list and a the Singer sewing machines his at Lighthouse Park with wilderness baker’s dozen of honestly prepared, grandfather used when he started guide and Culinary Olympics chef, seafood choices make this a winner the business 65 years ago. www. Manfred Scholermann. www. in inclement weather. www. TheUmbrellaShop.com rockwoodadventures.com CannerySeafood.com 2. Enter the realm of the unexplored. 6. Warm your insides with a tongue- 9. Select some reading material Take an X-Tour to see where the tingling Jalapeno or Chile pepper- from the 1.2 million books at the actual scenes were shot for some of and-chocolate gelato from La Casa coliseum-like Library Square. the 118 X-Files episodes filmed in Gelato, the only retailer in the 10. Visit the Vancouver Art Gallery’s Vancouver. www.x-tour.com world with over 388 gelato flavours permanent collection representing 3. Roll out your sleeping bag and to choose from. www.lacasagelato. the most comprehensive resource
overnight next to the beluga com for visual Vancouver, British Columbia whales tank at the Vancouver 7. Enjoy the tranquility of afternoon culture September 26-29, 2006 Aquarium Marine Science Centre. tea by the fire in the Bacchus in British www.vanaqua.org Lounge of the Wedgewood Hotel; Columbia. 4. Visit the Bloedel Conservatory www.WedgewoodHotel.com or the in Queen Elizabeth Park. The Fish House in Stanley Park www. tropical heat and brilliant colours fishhousestanleypark.com
November/December • URISA News 11 Business Directory November/December 2005
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