GeoSpeak
The Nevada Geographic Information Society Newsletter April 2010 |
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This is our first newsletter for the year. Unfortunately, a combination of problems led to the cancellation of what was planned for January 2010. We hope you will accept our apologies and that you will enjoy this issue--jam packed with a variety of articles that are technical, informative, thought-provoking, even humorous (we all need a little humor in our lives).
And so, without further adieu, we present the April 2010 issue of the NGIS newsletter, GeoSpeak.
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NGIS Board Positions Open in June
Interested in becoming an NGIS Board Member? If so, a few offices will be available after the NGIS Conference in June 2010.
For additional information and to express your interest in serving with this exciting group, please contact current NGIS President, Richard Wells via email.
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| NGIS Celebrates 20 Years of Collaboration!
Contributed by: Debora Taylor, City of Henderson
The 20th Annual NGIS Conference to be held in Las Vegas at Sam's Town Hotel & Gambling Hall is only two months away! From June 23 - 25, Wednesday - Friday, conference attendees will have the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge by learning about new technologies and applications, as well as the chance to socialize and network with peers.
Registration is still available at a reduced rate until June 1st. All registration materials
2010 winning logo. | may be accessed via the NGIS web site. In addition to the regular conference activities and programs, this year pre-conference workshops and tours are scheduled. During the registration process, sign up for a tour of the Nevada Test Site, visit the Fusion Center and Springs Preserve or take advantage of a two-day session with the USNG. Some activities are free, while others require a small additional fee to cover transportation costs. Space is limited for these unique sessions so do not delay registration any longer.
The Conference Committee is working industriously to provide an exciting experience that truly embodies this year's theme of "GIS Goes Platinum in the Silver State - Celebrating 20 Years of Collaboration." Many presentations are already scheduled, including ones on the Census and ArcGIS 10.0, but there is room for more and still time to submit. Poster entries are also being requested and may be entered up until the first day of the conference. Of course, there will be numerous social activities, including the ever popular bowling night, so there will be many opportunities to catch up with old friends and make new ones.
Congratulations go to ELIZABETH LOPEZ from G.C. Wallace Companies for her winning logo entry. Ms. Lopez's entry will be the cornerstone of many conference materials and she will be presented with a free registration for her efforts. This year a record number of entries were received and the competition was fierce. The NGIS would like to extend a special thank you to Elizabeth Lopez and everyone who submitted a logo for consideration: Brett Bingham GISP, SRK Consulting; Rosemarie Buzzetta GISP, Southwest Gas Corp.; John Ellis; Moni Fox GISP, Washoe County; Jay Johnson GISP, Michael Baker Corp.; Brandy Martinelli, State of NV, Division of Water Resources; and Dixie Rudebusch GISP, Washoe County.
The excitement is mounting for this special anniversary event of the NGIS! Please visit NGIS for all your conference needs and make plans to attend the celebration!
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City of Sparks Launches Police Mapper
Contributed by: Adam Johnson, City of Sparks
The City of Sparks Geospatial Technologies Office, along with the Sparks Police Department have recently launched a new incident mapping web application. The application allows officers and the general public to have a better understanding of what is happening in the City of Sparks. Utilizing ESRI's ArcGIS Server and the FLEX API users can select a date range and type of incidents to search for. The results are displayed either on a map or in a table.
There are two versions of the application:
The version available to the public allows users to run queries on incidents that are one day old. This version has general information about the type and location of the incident. If a user requires more information they can bring the incident number into the Sparks Police Department and the Records Section can pull the more detailed information.
The internal version of the application is for use inside the Sparks Police Department. This version of the application has also been extended for use in the police cars. Users can see "active" incidents in a "command overview" type setting. This internal application also contains detailed information about the incidents, which include the exact address, any comments entered into the system by the dispatcher, and if the incident is active. Users can also see the units currently assigned to the call.
Both versions of the application have been in use for three months and everyone is discovering more ways to use the data all the time. Public users are able to quickly see what is happening around where they live or where they may be looking to move. Neighborhood Watch Programs are able to identify the types of crimes they should keep a better look out for. Police personnel are using the application to recognize trends and are able to spend more time working cases and not having to sift through huge amounts of data. The application launch has been a huge success! Check out the application for yourself via the City of Sparks Police Department.
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Inventorying and Digitizing Historic Aerial Photography
Contributed by: Laura Steadman, National Park Service
Remote sensing technologies are important tools for analyzing and understanding the world in which we live. A crucial aspect of remote sensing analysis is the ability to detect change, both spatially and temporally. While modern satellite imagery can provide high-resolution data, it has only been available for the last couple of decades. Aerial photography, however, has been acquired in a fairly standardized manner for many decades. Many resource management agencies have printed aerial photographs from the 1980s, 1970s, 1960s, and even the 1950s. These images contribute valuable data for understanding landscape changes and have the potential to extend baseline data used for ecological monitoring back in time. However, very few of these datasets are available in digital format.
While the most accurate technique for conversion of aerials to digital format utilizes the original negatives, doing so requires specialized equipment and can be quite expensive. Often, the negatives are lost or not readily available. Although many older aerial prints are in less than pristine condition due to field use and the ravages of time, they can still provide valuable historical data about landscapes. Scanning available prints with a professional-grade flatbed scanner can be a suitable avenue for creating an archive of the aerials, as well as making them available for GIS analysis.
The Mojave Desert Inventory & Monitoring Network (MOJN), which conducts ecological inventory and monitoring of natural resources within seven National Park Service units, has recently begun the process of inventorying and digitizing aerial photography for the Parks. This project is intended to provide Parks with an inventory of their aerial photographs, a digital version of these datasets for both archival and analysis purposes, and save wear and tear on the original hardcopy photography. Work on this project started with Great Basin National Park in east central Nevada.
 Great Basin National Park and the MOJN staff conducted a physical inventory of print aerials at the park. A total of 463 unique photographs in ten different datasets were discovered. These datasets provide a temporal range from 2003 back to 1954. After completing the inventory, MOJN staff scanned the photographs at 600 DPI. This resolution was determined to be the optimal compromise between scan quality and file size. Depending on the size of the print, either a flat-bed or a large-format scanner was used. After being scanned, images were organized, and FGDC-compliant metadata was created for each dataset. This digital archive of raw images serves to preserve the data contained in the aerial photographs and also makes them available for GIS use.
In order to see each dataset's spatial extent and the relationship of individual photographs to each other, indices (shapefiles) were created. This allowed MOJN staff to quickly identify individual images of interest based on spatial location, without the intensive labor or time required by full orthorectification. Particular images of interest may then be edited and rectified as needed. In the future, if orthorectification of all images within a dataset is desired, the index shapefile will serve as a guide to speed the process. The general process used by MOJN staff to create these index shapefiles is:
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All images in a dataset were roughly georeferenced (four Ground Control Points), then loaded into an unmanaged raster catalog.
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A layer file was then created from the raster catalog. Attribute fields were added as needed (e.g., dataset year, flight information, camera focal length).
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Next, the layer file was converted to a shapefile.
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Lastly, FGDC-compliant metadata was created for the shapefile. These index shapefiles have been stored with the raw image archive.
Valuable knowledge and experience gained from completing the inventorying and  digitization project for Great Basin National Park will be used to develop a standard operating procedure, which will streamline the process for other NPS units in the network. Index shapefiles were found to be highly useful in this process. Coordination has begun with other National Parks in the network to conduct inventories. Park and MOJN staff are excited about the expanded potential for landscape and vegetation change analysis that these aerial datasets bring to network monitoring activities.
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| Need Data, Check Keck
Contributed by: Tim Spear, City of Mesquite
Unknown to many GIS people within the State of Nevada, there exists an internet site that provides free and interesting GIS data. Housed within the University of Nevada, Reno, the William Myron Keck Earth Sciences and Mining Research Information Center was designed to provide researchers with a variety of geospatial data resources. The URL is http://keck.library.unr.edu/ and upon opening the site, users can easily navigate through the following categories: Maps & Geo-images, Interactive Maps, GIS and Visualization Software, Geographic Metadata, Synthetic Aperture Radar Data of Venus, Laser Altimetry Data from Mars Global Surveyor, Specialized Mining Indexes and Databases, and Other Nevada GIS & Geospatial Information.
The site was initiated in 1997 and funded by a $450,000 grant from the W.M. Keck Foundation (discussed later). Current staffing is funded by the University of Nevada, Reno library budget. Most of the geospatial data on the site was contributed by various Nevada state and federal agencies including, but not limited to, the Nevada Department of Transportation, Bureau of Land Management, and the U.S. Geological Survey. Although this site is geared towards the professional geologist, there are many types of data that the typical GIS user will certainly find interesting.
 GIS users can browse a large archive of historic topo maps, valuable quad and DEM data, and a variety of remotely sensed data. Although the site's visualization software is designed around ArcView 3.3, ArcGIS 9.1, and ArcInfo 9.1, the site is currently undergoing a re-design and new data deliveries are expected sometime within 2010. In addition to the available data, this site also provides popular links to other data sources within the state.
Because most of the data is contributed, anyone interested in supplying information to the W.M. Keck Earth Sciences and Mining Research Information Center should contact Duncan Aldrich. Staff is currently seeking quality aerial photography and other imagery related data. Although this site provides impressive services to the scientific community, it is but one small part of the much larger W.M. Keck Foundation.
The Keck Foundation & Grant Opportunities
The W.M. Keck Foundation was established in 1954 by Mr. Keck (1880-1964). Beginning as an oil field worker, Keck learned the oil business from the ground up and his keen business sense allowed him to found The Superior Oil Company in 1921. In 1979, the W.M. Keck trust totaled over $43 million making it one of the largest foundations in the country. Keck established his charitable foundation with the vision of supporting scientific discoveries and new technologies. Since 1979, the Foundation has increased its assets from $250 million to more than $1 billion, and has disbursed grants totaling more than $1 billion.
The Keck Foundation will initiate major grants pertaining to significant endeavors that may ultimately benefit the human condition. Grants include the W.M. Keck Observatory, the Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Sciences (Claremont College Consortium - Claremont, CA) and the Institute for Space Studies (California Institute of Technology). The foundation primarily makes grants to research institutions and accredited institutions of higher learning in the fields of science, research, and medicine.
Because GIS is rapidly expanding into new arenas to study and improve the human condition, grant requirements and additional contact information can be obtained by visiting the W.M. Keck Foundation. |
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Disconnected Editing with the Access Geodatabase
Contributed by: Mark Morrison, Michael Baker Jr. Corp, Reno, NV
In order to provide flexible GIS editing capability during prolonged periods of database maintenance, the GIS staff at Michael Baker Jr. Corp. (Reno, NV) utilize the Access geodatabase for their disconnected editing needs.
 When a disconnected editing Access personal geodatabase is created, many tables are built that allow the software to duplicate the contents of the parent geodatabase and keep track of the changes that are made to the child. Of these tables, three will be explained in further detail; GDB_Replicas, GDB_ObjectClasses, and GDB_ReplicaChanges. These are the tables that allow the parent-child match, log the editable feature classes and track all modifications.
The GDB_Replicas table shows the ParentID of the version to which the child is supposed to be "checked in." This ID is the control that prevents a child personal geodatabase from being checked into the incorrect parent version. The GDB_ObjectClasses table lists all of the object classes (features, tables, and topologies). This table assigns an ID to each object class, groups them by datasetID and lists the subtype field. The ID field is one of the most important elements in decoding the GDB_ReplicaChanges table. Exploring the GDB_ReplicaChanges table presents GIS users with many possibilities for bypassing the normal check-in process without losing data.
Although decoding these tables may initially prove tricky, detailed queries can be developed within the Access geodatabase to take advantage of the programming environment. Such queries can easily select features to be deleted or added for each object class.
Decoding the Access geodatabase in this manner has allowed our staff to acquire added flexibility when dealing with long periods of disconnected editing sessions. For more technical specifics into decoding the Access geodatabase, please contact Mark Morrison.
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Can the Ideal GISP Exist?
Contributed by Tim Spear, City of Mesquite
The original focus of this article was to determine what constitutes a well-rounded GIS Professional (GISP) by today's industry standards. Amidst internet research and discussions with industry professionals, it became readily apparent that perhaps the "ideal" GISP cannot exist. Why? Well, imagine losing your job after seven years and tripping over the following job announcement at 2:00 am while watching Star Trek:
"Seeking GIS Analyst to join progressive work unit. The applicant should possess ten years of ArcGIS experience (Desktop and Workstation - Windows/Unix) and be proficient within the following areas: database design, web development, spatial analysis, programming, network administration, remote sensing, project management, physical science, modeling, statistics and technical writing. Experience within the following fields: Law Enforcement, Engineering, Education, Environmental Law, Planning, Geology, Forestry, Botany, Archaeology, Oceanography, Hydrology, Real Estate and Physics is preferred. Experience in Horticulture and desktop publishing highly desirable. Salary range dependent on qualifications."
Although the above job announcement is ridiculously fictitious, most of the GIS veterans I spoke with felt overwhelmed with the ongoing development of GIS technologies and how difficult it has become to keep current within the field. Younger GIS professionals seem to have the advantage regarding web applications and experience with newer modules, but fear they lack the diverse experience that most employers are seeking. A few of my GISP contacts were so entrenched in management or politics that they can now do little more than open a drawing file as technology continues to pass them by. So what makes one GISP better than another? How is the talent level of the individual quantified?
I find it amazing that a field as quantitative as GIS lacks a method of grading, ranking or judging the professional capabilities of a GISP. Although the GIS Certification  Institute has provided a GISP certification procedure since 2004, and many universities now offer GIS certification programs, it is unlikely that a single exam could be developed to grade a GISP due to the diverse range of specialty areas within the field. One GISP, whom I hold in very high regard, confided in me that he missed the very first question on a GIS test that was considered a senior college level exam. The question was, "the word pixel is an abbreviation of what two words?" I was amazed that such a question was on the exam, but then even more amazed that I had to think about it before giving the answer! If you don't know the answer, do not be alarmed. Four of the five people I asked did not know the correct answer while averaging almost 13 years in the GIS field. I could almost hear the air being let out of the "ego balloons". "What the heck (loosely translated) does that have to do with being good at my GIS job" was the typical response. Actually, this was a very good question and perhaps strikes at the heart of this topic.
When trying to rate a GISP, perhaps qualitative factors should be considered including key personality traits or ideologies that most GIS people seem to share. Based on my observations, these factors often include:
- Obtaining a moderate to high level of satisfaction from their GIS position,
- Enjoying the challenges of performing a wide range of support tasks,
- Genuinely enjoy helping others with their work,
- Embracing the unknown pertaining to rapid technological advances,
- Accepting the fact that most critical GIS work goes unheralded,
- Having very manageable professional egos, and my favorite,
- Willingness to accept working in a field not well understood by those they support.
Because it is unlikely these traits can be quantified, I suppose we should continue to believe in our meager abilities and realize that perhaps the strongest binding force among GISPs is the diversity each of us brings to the table. All of the GIS personnel I spoke with tended to have an extremely diverse educational and professional background resulting from beginning their careers in other fields. So, shelve your ego and feel good about the GIS tasks you perform for your various companies, agencies, educational facilities, research centers or government entities. Take advantage of any free training that may come your way, appreciate having dual monitors, share what you know and learn, be suspicious of anyone claiming their data is perfect and continue to spell check your metadata (you are creating metadata, right?).
So, the next time you are up late at night browsing GIS job announcements that seek the ideal GISP, don't begin to doubt your own professional prowess. Make a list of  areas in which you are highly proficient and ask your GIS contacts to do the same. I guarantee the lists will be almost as unique as the individuals making them. Diversity of backgrounds, applications, and perceptions lend themselves to the field of GIS perhaps more than any other technical discipline. This is why quantifying GIS talent may be impossible to do and perhaps why the ideal GISP is conceptual in nature and probably cannot exist.
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New GeoPDF Topographic Image Maps
Contributed by Ronald H. Hess, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, UNR
The new 1:24,000 scale, GeoPDF Topographic Image Maps are NOW AVAILABLE!
1:24,000 of Kalamazoo Creek. | These 1:24,000 scale topographic image maps, in GeoPDF format, are considered a beta version. The final version for Nevada is scheduled for release in 2012. The image base of these maps is the Nevada National Agricultural Image Program (NAIP) photography, flown in 2006. These preliminary versions do not include contours, hydrographic features, or Township/Range lines. They DO include layers for roads, names, and a UTM NAD 83 grid. The GeoPDF format is an extension to the Adobe PDF file format enabling GIS functionality and layering within standard PDF files. These maps currently exist only over BLM lands. Those quads that are over or cut by U.S. Forest Service, Department of Defense (Nellis Air Force Range), or Department of Energy lands are generally not covered.
If you need additional assistance or have problems viewing these maps contact Ron Hess via email.
The maps and the search engine are made available to the public through the Keck Earth Sciences & Mining Research Information Center Web Site, Library, University of Nevada Reno, and the Nevada State Mapping Advisory Committee. Maps are also available at the U.S. Geological Survey Map Store. Other topographic map products in digital raster graphic (DRG) format and various other imagery products can still be found on the main Keck web site page.
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Curious About ArcGIS 10.0?
For those GIS users who were unable to attend last summer's conference in San Diego, or are otherwise too busy to snoop around the Internet, a major re-design of ArcGIS will be coming with the release of ArcGIS 10.0 (formerly referred to as ArcGIS 9.4).
ArcGIS desktop has been designed to provide improved drawing performance, easier access to most commonly used geoprocessing tools, better ways to locate and use symbols, and the new ability to execute geoprocessing in the background while continuing to interact with the map.
Map production capabilities will be enhanced by the creation of new geoprocessing tools for multi-scale map production. New map book functionality will also be added, including dynamic layout for text elements. New web editing tools in ArcGIS Server 10.0 will allow a variety of users to contribute content to a geodatabase.
Additional major enhancements include improved 2D and 3D editing, a new search service in ArcGIS Server, improved Model Builder functionality, new types of graphs for visualizing analysis results, on-the-fly image processing and mosaicing, easier ability to manage ArcGIS Desktop licenses, enhanced Python scripting for automating tasks and analyses, and the visualization and management of time-aware data.
Many entities participating in the ESRI beta software testing program have reported their excitement and positive results with the new release. For a more thorough look at ArcGIS 10.0 enhancements, please visit ESRI or ArcNews.
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Technical Tips
As we try to produce more with less and in less time, program shortcuts may be the answer you have been looking for. All the shortcuts listed will work with versions 9.2 and 9.3 of the ESRI ArcGIS software.
 In the ArcCatalog tree, drag and drop your most frequently used coordinate systems into the top level of the Coordinate Systems folder for quick access to them on dialog boxes.
- F5: Will refresh and redraw the display.
- F9: Will suspend the map's drawing.
- F11: In the Table of Contents, will Activate the data frame.
- F12 (or Enter): In the Table of Contents, will open the Properties dialog box of a selected item.
Remember to email your TECHNICAL TIPS to GeoSpeak today!
Source: ESRI |
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Is the NGIS a Good Luck Charm for Local Sports Teams?
Contributed by: Debora Taylor, City of Henderson
Could the NGIS be a good luck charm? It certainly seems possible based on recent events. Last year the NGIS sponsored a group outing to cheer on the Las Vegas 51s, local AAA baseball team. The event was a hit in more ways than one. Since then, group members have been cheering on the Las Vegas Wranglers ice hockey team with great results!
NGIS Hockey Fans. | On February 4, 2010, excitement was high as over twenty members of the NGIS, including family and friends attended an ice hockey game between the Wranglers and the Idaho Steelheads. The game was tight in the Orleans Stadium and the NGIS group witnessed awesome plays, but the teams were evenly matched and the game ended in a tie. As the game went into overtime, the crowd of over 3,000 fans rallied around the home team and cheered them on to victory. The Wranglers stole the game in overtime with a final score of 5-4!
When the chance to attend another Wranglers game presented itself, NGIS members, family, and friends jumped at the opportunity. The Orleans Hotel & Casino extended a two for one ticket offer to the NGIS as a way of thanking them for their support. On March 18, 2010, with over twenty NGIS members, family, and friends in the crowd once again, the Wranglers matched up with the Alaska Aces and fought it out. In yet another evenly matched game, the home team favorite scored a winning goal in overtime to beat the Aces 8-7 in front of over 4,000 screaming fans.
During both events, the NGIS organization, attending members and guests were acknowledged on the stadium screen and given a "SHOUT-OUT" opportunity during the game. Goooooo NGIS!
Future NGIS hosted activities are in the works and all members and their guests are welcome to participate. With group discounts, cost to each person is low, so it is a great opportunity for everyone to enjoy a fun-filled evening and a chance to make new friends. Hopefully, we will see the NGIS continue to bring good luck to local Nevada teams!
Thank you to Eugene (Geno) Astarita, Clark County GIS Management Office for the game photos.
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Contributed by: Tim Spear, City of Mesquite
 The GIS profession has drastically changed over the last twenty years. With technology advancements and new software developments, those new to the field may not be familiar with commonplace jargon or procedures in years past. Those who have been involved in GIS for many years can appreciate the humor and perhaps get a chuckle as we look back and REMEMBER WHEN: - Someone needed help with "six," which was really the Unix "vi" editor
- Shaded relief was created by hand
- Topology seemed to be easier to fix in Workstation
- There was a Label Regions command in Workstation
- Monitors were monochrome
- AMLs allowed you to track everything in a graphic preparation
- There was cursor programming in AML
- A separate workstation was used for Word Perfect
- There was no metadata
- Graphics were created in ArcPlot
- There were Iomega zip drives
- A layer WAS a layer
- There was a manual color ramp
- Coverages had to be exported to an .e00 and not just copied out of Windows
- Quality Control was performed on data and was made perfect before delivery
- LUTs were used
- Arc Help was found in the spiral bound or notebook binder ESRI books
- A GIS helpline call took over a week
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Breaking News: Change to NGIS Bylaws
During the NGIS Board Meeting on April 19, 2010 the Board agreed to change one article of the bylaws. Final voting on this matter will take place during the business meeting in June 2010 at the NGIS Conference. If the membership vote concurs with the Board's decision, the bylaws will be changed at that time.
Current bylaws:
ARTICLE V. Officers and Directors
SECTION 2. Board of Directors
G. Meeting of the Board of Directors
2. Other Regular Meetings. All other regular meetings
of the Board shall be held in such place and at such time
as determined by the Board, provided a (10) day written
notice is sent to each board member .
Summary of proposed change to bylaws:
Meeting of the Board of Directors. In the old version there was no specific number of meetings required; whereas, the new version requires a minimum number of four quarterly meetings throughout the year.
Board passed Amendment to read as follows:
ARTICLE V. Officers and Directors
SECTION 2. Board of Directors
G. Meeting of the Board of Directors
2. Regular Meetings. In addition to designated
meetings, the Board will hold a minimum of (4)
quarterly meetings throughout the year. The place and
time of such meetings will be determined by the Board,
provided a (10) day written notice is sent to each board
member.
Curious about other NGIS Bylaws, review them on the NGIS web site.
Thank you to Matt Krok, City of Henderson, for the information he provided. |
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GIS Day 2009 Recap
Contributed by: Debora Taylor, City of Henderson
 On November 18, 2009, GIS professionals around the globe celebrated the 11th Annual GIS Day. Part of National Geographic's Geography Awareness Week it is an opportunity to share knowledge and demonstrate the importance of GIS in society.
Locally, Jim Gibbons, Nevada Governor, issued a Proclamation in Support of Statewide GIS Day Activities. The Governor called GIS professionals "unsung heroes, who contribute to the safety and security of our state."
All across the state, many of these "heroes" participated in a variety of activities and events in support of GIS Day. Highlights of celebrations were received from numerous agencies and are included below:
· Washoe County's GIS Day event was well attended and enjoyed by a diverse audience. For two weeks, a map gallery with over 25 maps contributed by public and private business was on display. The public, employees, and many local officials viewed the maps, especially during the monthly County Commission meeting. In addition to the map display, County employees spoke about GIS in the 4-H, how the local fire agencies value GIS, Crime Tracking, and protecting our local wells. The article photo, provided by Moni Fox, shows a portion of the map gallery.
· The City of Henderson hosted an Open House for the public and employees. The purpose was to display and explain how GIS is used within every department of the City. The event was a huge success and a great showcase for the City's GIS talent; participants and attendees enjoyed themselves immensely. Matt Krok chaired the event and was supported by Andrea Adams, Brendan Lee, Debora Taylor, Erika Provost, John Ritsko, Peter Thompson, Ross Weckesser, Safa Egilmez, Scott Woodbury, and Tommie Weckesser. Each GIS department shared maps and application demonstrations and question/answer sessions were conducted. Geo-type games were played and prizes were awarded to the winners.
· At the Clark County Government Center in Las Vegas, over thirty large mounted maps, highlighting numerous cartography talents, were on display to the public and employees during the entire Geography Awareness Week. This collaborative, multi-agency event was hosted by Clark County Comprehensive Planning and facilitated by Rose Broderick. Participants from Clark County, the City of Mesquite, and private companies worked together to provide a variety of exhibits in support of GIS Day. Those from Clark County agencies included: Eugene Astarita, Anthony Azua, Lee Bice, Deb Evancik, Fred Gryczkowski, Chris La May, Eddie Lucero, Tina Pierson, Jeff Truby, and Wendy C. Yoda. From the City of Mesquite: Aaron Baker, Catherine Lorbeer, Charlie Proper, Tim Spear, and John Willis. From private companies: Richard E. Pugliese II of Converse Consultants and Vicky Roberts of GC Wallace Inc.
· Since 2003, bilingual presentations, led by Jorge Morteo, in local schools have been an important part of the City of Las Vegas' GIS Day program. In addition to the school events, the City's GIS was featured on the local "City Scene" program. The program included an interview with NGIS President Richard Wells and the video was aired on local television and YouTube. The video was a great tool for raising awareness of GIS technology and the role it plays in city government. The Las Vegas City Council also honored GIS Day in a special presentation at their meeting conducted on November 18th.
Washoe County 2010 Map Gallery. | Overall, GIS Day was a resounding success in the State of Nevada! The NGIS extends their thanks to everyone who participated in any capacity for their efforts, which promoted the field of GIS and educated many about the usage of GIS. As we all know, GIS provides information crucial to decision making that ultimately provides a better understanding of our world!
Mark Your Calendar!
GIS Day 2010 will be November 17. It is never too early to start planning. For inspiration, review how other organizations and individuals celebrated last year or download materials to help organize events, both large and small.
AND please share all your GIS Day and other GIS related events with GeoSpeak, we would love to include them in a future issue!
Thanks go to Rose Broderick, Clark County, and Moni Fox, Washoe County, for providing event information!
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| Global Green
Spring is in the air and now is the time to prepare for the year ahead. Enviro-friendly ideas can save money and conserve limited resources.
- Tune up Heating and Cooling Systems: Having these systems checked every two years will identify wear and tear and make sure the unit is operating efficiently. If the unit is on the ground, ensure the area around it is kept free of debris and no impediments to air flow exist. Cleaning or replacing the filter every month will also help the system to function optimally, which will reduce energy bills.
- Reduce Water Use: Incorporate native plants in a landscape plan and
 minimize usage of turf grass. The use of native plants will require less water, fertilizer, and pesticides as they have adapted to the soil and climate in Nevada.
- "Natural Air Conditioning": Planting trees around the home will not only beautify, but will provide shade and wind protection; thereby, helping to lower the temperature inside the home.
- Use Nontoxic Gardening Techniques: Instead of using costly and dangerous chemical fertilizers and pesticides, use more natural and earth friendly products. Reducing and/or eliminating usage of these types of products will have a positive effect on the air quality, drinking water, and health.
Sources: US Green Building Council (USGBC) and NV Energy.
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E-Bulletin Board
The NGIS extends its thanks to everyone who has supported GIS events, all of which advance our profession. Our thanks to everyone who has taken the time to share their GIS knowledge with peers, students, and our organization's newsletter and "hats off" to all the GIS volunteers--you definitely make a difference! THANK YOU!
 "Everything is related to everything else, but near things are more related than distant things." Tobler's First Law of Geography
Want a chance to test your knowledge of Geography? Compete with your friends and determine who is Geo "King" or "Queen." Take the geo test and learn more here.
If your email, employer, etc. has changed, please update your NGIS membership information. This will ensure that you continue to receive all the information from NGIS. To do this visit NGIS and select "Membership." Please share this information with your colleagues who may have moved on to new opportunities.
Within the next few weeks, you'll be able to access GeoSpeak on the NGIS web site. Check it out in early May 2010.
NEWSLETTER DISCLAIMER: The information, views, and opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily state or reflect the views of the Nevada Geographic Information Society (NGIS). The NGIS and GeoSpeak do not express or imply any warranty or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information in this newsletter and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays of this information.
Remember to email your GIS related articles, technical tips, upcoming events, and other pertinent information for inclusion in GeoSpeak. Look for the next issue in July 2010.
Thank you for your support!
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NGIS Board Members
President, Richard Wells, GISP (City of Las Vegas)
Vice President, Eric Ingbar (Gnomon)
Past President, Pat Guiberson (University of Nevada, Reno)
Treasurer, Gary Johnson, GISP (University of Nevada, Reno)
Secretary, Karin Hagan (Kleinfelder)
Board Officers for the 2008 - 2010 period:
Art Ehrenberg, GISP (Southern Nevada Water Authority)
Sonya Wilson, GISP (Clark County Department of Aviation)
Moni Fox, GISP (Washoe County)
Board Officers for the 2009-2011 period:
Mark O'Brien, GISP (Bureau of Land Management)
Adam Johnson (City of Sparks)
Matt Krok, GISP (City of Henderson)
GeoSpeak Team Members
Editor, Debora Taylor (City of Henderson)
Assistant Editor, Tim Spear, GISP (City of Mesquite) |
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