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   GeoSpeak
 
The Nevada Geographic Information Society Newsletter 
Volume IV, Issue i                                                                                January 2011
In This Issue
NGIF
GIS Day 2010
2011 NGIS Conference
New GIS Tools
"CityMaps"
Address Map Book
SMAC News
Professional Development
Mobile GIS Solutions
Technical Tip: Geotagging Photos
GIS Humor
Global Green
E-Bulletin Board
Good afternoon,

Welcome fellow GIS professionals!  We hope that the New Year has started out on a high note and that 2011 will be a year of growth and success for everyone.

Within the newsletter you will find articles that highlight successes and support of the GIS field, as well as a variety of other interesting topics.  Beginning with the January issue, we have added a new column, "Professional Development," which will include tips and ideas for managing and enhancing your work life.
 

We hope you enjoy this publication and we look forward to receiving information from you in the future.  Please share your GIS related experiences and ideas!  The information you contribute is a valuable resource to us all. 

 
The GeoSpeak Team
 
 
Nevada Geographic Information Foundation Established and Granted Tax-Exempt Status  
  
Contributed by:  Tim Spear, GIS Coordinator, GISP 

After nearly a decade of persistent hard work by many individuals, the Nevada Geographic Information Foundation (NGIF) was granted IRS 501c3 status on September 1, 2010.  This status now recognizes the NGIF as an official outlet where taxable donations can be obtained for supporting GIS education.

 

The founding purpose of the NGIF is to provide assistance in covering a portion of the expenses in a student's education and training in geospatial technologies.  NGIF scholarship applications are open to both individuals and organizations.  Now that IRS 501c3 status has been obtained, direct charitable donations and fund-raising efforts will permit NGIF growth, and allow the foundation to support a wider range of scholarship applicants.

 

NGIF logo (brown)Great outcomes usually start with great ideas, and the NGIF is no exception.  Gary Johnson, current NGIF Treasurer, recognizes the contributions of many individuals that ultimately allowed this NGIF dream to become a reality.  "The original concept belonged to Art Ehrenberg (current NGIF Board Member) who envisioned the Nevada Geographic Information Systems Society (NGIS) as an outlet to grant scholarships pertaining to GIS education.  After eight years of continued efforts by many individuals, current NGIF President Tommie Weckesser took on the challenge."  Mrs. Weckesser contacted the Foundation Group, which is an organization that assists groups going through the IRS process of obtaining 501c3 status.

 

The Foundation Group provided not only the document preparation aspect of the IRS process, but assisted the NGIS with the details of how to structure a nonprofit mission.  After the NGIS Board determined another avenue was needed to accomplish the goal of providing scholarships, the creation of the NGIF began.  The NGIF was initially funded by NGIS with a $7,000 contribution.

 

Mr. Johnson commented that the NGIF owes much gratitude to many individuals who kept the dream alive during recent years.  "A big thank you should go out to Art Ehrenberg, Jan Gould, Matt Setty, Lori Peltz-Lewis, Mark O'Brien, Ron Hess, Tommie Weckesser, Pat Guiberson, Kyle Anderson, Lisa Desautels, and Richard Wells."

 

More detailed information about the NGIF's history and contribution protocols can be obtained from www.nvgif.org. 

 

Thank you to Gary Johnson and Matt Krok for providing information.

 

GIS Day 2010 in the Silver State

 

Contributed by:  Debora Taylor, GeoSpeak Editor

 

As many of you may know, GIS Day is celebrated annually on an international basis on the Wednesday during Geography Awareness Week.  "The National Geographic GISDay_2010Society has sponsored Geography Awareness Week since 1987 to promote geographic literacy in schools, communities, and organizations." This event is the perfect opportunity for those in the GIS field to share the wonder and excitement of GIS!  There are innumerable ways to bring GIS to your community; thereby, providing education and promoting interest in GIS and its capabilities.  In 2010, a number of organizations participated in local GIS Day festivities.  Here are the highlights received by the NGIS of a few events conducted in the "Silver State."

 

City of Las Vegas

GIS experts from the City of Las Vegas' Public Works and Information Technologies departments recently visited Hyde Park Middle School and Desert Pines High School to educate students about the role of GIS in the community, including fire preplans, neighborhood indicators, park inventory, and pavement management. City GIS Staff also hosted a Map Gallery for employees and citizens at City Hall.

 

City of Mesquite

2010 marked the second time the City of Mesquite's GIS Team (Planning and Environmental Resources Department) presented GIS technology and concepts to elementary school students in Bunkerville and Mesquite.  The City's GIS staff conducted a GIS presentation for approximately 250 fifth graders at Bowler and Virgin Valley Elementary Schools. Tim Spear (GIS Coordinator) and Charlie Proper (Assistant Planner) played a video of how GIS technologies were used in Asia within the engineering, medical and public safety professions. The presentation concluded with a Goggle Earth game. Students guessed the location of famous sites around the globe based on visual and verbal clues. GIS Staff stressed the importance of continuing education, and answered many intriguing questions posed by the students.

 

City of Henderson

Employees from multiple departments within the City of Henderson collaborated to develop a video in support of GIS Day.  For many years, the City has participated in GIS Day by educating children, hosting map galleries and open houses, and various other efforts.  GIS Day Committee Chairman, Scott Woodbury, initiated the video concept for 2010 hoping to share GIS with an even greater number of people than in the past.  Committee chairman and members Andrea Adams, Kalvan Hone, Matt Krok, Brendan Lee, Debbi Taylor, Peter Thompson, Ross Weckesser, and Tommie Weckesser developed written material and interviewed City employees and the community about GIS. Committee member Ron Poblete was the videographer.  The video focused on how "GIS Saves Time, Resources, Money, and Lives." 

  

If you were not able to participate in 2010, now is the time to plan for GIS Day 2011, to be held on November 16.  Any event will be welcomed--map galleries, public

CoLV 2010 Map Gallery
City of Las Vegas Map Gallery. Photo �Robert M. Agnew, All Rights Reserved.

announcements, school presentations, videos, and more.  Be creative or modify the ideas of others to fit your organization.  Many resources are available to aid you in your planning and your presentation.  One new resource, Thinkfinity, has developed multiple GIS related lesson plans, ready for use to educate elementary aged children. 

 

Everyone involved enjoys the GIS Day experience and the rewards are many! Remember to share your festivity details with others by registering your GIS Day event. 

 

Many THANKS to all who participated in GIS Day 2010!  Special thanks to Richard Wells (City of Las Vegas) and Tim Spear (City of Mesquite) for sharing event details.  

  

Source(s):  gisday.com; thinkfinity.org 

 

Northern Nevada Gearing up for 2011 NGIS Conference
 
Contributed by:  Debora Taylor, GeoSpeak Editor

 

The 21st Annual Nevada Geographic Information Society (NGIS) Conference is scheduled for May 9 - 11, 2011 in Reno, Nevada at the town's "newest hot spot" the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa.  The Conference Committee is busy planning 2011_service_manthe details, so save the date and plan to attend this opportunity for education, product research, and networking.

 

This year's theme "GIS - At Your Service" epitomizes the GIS field.  Through the work of GIS professionals everywhere, service is provided that supports the efforts of many. GIS is truly a tool that has a seemingly infinite number of applications.  

 

Although the conference is a few months away, it is time to gather your ideas and submit papers and posters.  This year there are several unique ways that you may present pertinent topics.  One example is the "flash talk," which is a very short, concise presentation lasting no more than five minutes.  This is a great way to participate in the conference if you haven't done so in the past.  The NGIS also encourages everyone to submit entries into the poster session.  Three categories are available:  Artographic, Cartographic, and Smartographic.  This year you may submit a poster for a small fee, even if you are unable to attend the conference.

 

The NGIS hopes you will attend the conference in Reno.  Plan to review the conference particulars on the web now and in the future for updates.  This conference, like those in the past has something for everyone regardless of their specific duties or level of expertise.

 

Thank you to Moni Fox for providing conference information.

 

New GIS Tools Available for Download
 
Contributed by:  Tom Dilts, University of Nevada Reno

 

The Great Basin Landscape Ecology Lab at the University of Nevada Reno conducts research in a variety of areas, including pinyon-juniper woodland expansion, riparian restoration, and cheatgrass invasion.  What these varied projects have in common is that they all have a spatial component, and the use of GIS is central to nearly every research project that the lab undertakes.  One of the by-products of these research projects is the development of new GIS tools that can be used to derive new information or automate the processing of data.  These tools are freely available for download off of the ESRI website as well as the Great Basin Landscape Ecology Lab website.  Included below are a few of the new tools available.

 

The Landscape Similarity Toolbox was developed to help public agency land managers conduct landscape-level experiments using a before-after-control-impact framework.  This framework requires pairing treatment sites, such as prescribed fire, chaining, logging, or controlled grazing, with an untreated control site.  The Landscape Similarity Toolbox aids land managers by generating maps showing the similarity between the treatment site and potential control sites.  Details of the tools, including the algorithms are described in detail in a forthcoming article in the Journal Ecography.

 

Tom Dilts article
Photo courtesy of Tom Dilts.

Predicting habitat of riparian plants and animals is challenging because of the typically narrow linear nature of riparian areas and the large effects on soil moisture that result from small differences in elevation.  LIDAR has emerged as a solution because of its high horizontal and vertical resolution.  The Riparian Topography Toolbox calculates topographic indices that can be used as proxies for depth to groundwater and flooding.  These indices have been used successfully to predict the distribution of plant communities along the Walker River here in Nevada.

 

The Topography Toolbox contains a suite of tools for generating topographic indices, such topographic convergence index, topographic position index, and solar radiation index.  Like their riparian counterparts these tools are useful for predicting species occurrence.

 

The PRISM Data Helper is a convenient model that facilitates working with climate data downloaded from the PRISM Group's website.  It greatly reduces the number of steps required to bring this data into ArcGIS.  All of the tools mentioned in this article are freely available at http://www.cabnr.unr.edu/weisberg/downloads/. 

 
GIS at your Fingertips with "CityMaps"
  

Contributed by: Debora Taylor, GeoSpeak Editor

 

The City of Henderson has developed multiple interactive map applications ("CityMaps") that provide subject specific information in an easy-to-use format.  

CoH Flex zoning
Zoning Flex Interactive Map.

They are available both internally to employees and externally to the public via the City's web site.  These maps provide a wealth of GIS information including: zoning, land use, political areas, home owners associations, business licenses, parks, school locations and attendance zones, watering groups, and community points of interest, all in a very user-friendly, aesthetically pleasing environment.  The applications include basic searches such as address, intersection, and parcel number, as well as more content specific searches such as parks with a certain amenity or business licenses with a word in their name, e.g. "sushi."

 

In 2009, Brendan Lee of the Department of Information Technology at the City of Henderson began investigating the development of new applications using Adobe Flex API. This development became a necessity as technology changed and previous software applications were no longer supportable.  During the development process Mr. Lee investigated additional resources to support the new applications including: Flex code, ESRI API for Flex, and Flex Builder.  This software includes many options and increased functionality.  It maximizes the usage of resources and is much more robust than traditional non web-based applications.  The advantages of Flex Applications ("CityMaps") include: fast processing, compatible with all major browsers and platforms, and more functions and features may be created using less code.  Presently, the only possible drawback is that some mobile devices do not support this technology.

 

Before the creation of Flex Applications, the City utilized ArcIMS web applications (developed by an outside vendor) that experienced limited usage due to their slowness and the fact that they were not user-friendly.  Other products publicly available included static maps and datasets.  Internally, employees had access to the in-house application CityView.  While these products are still accessible they have a more limited use; whereas, the new Flex applications provide aerial imagery, ease of operation, and a variety of other GIS information that users can zoom in and out on, query, identify, and print to name a few.

 

CoH Flex parks
Parks Flex Interactive Map.

"CityMaps" utilizing Adobe Flex technology is the newest addition to the City of Henderson's suite of GIS products. These applications join the numerous maps and datasets available to the public on the City's web site.  In order to showcase the interactive map applications, the GIS portion of Henderson's web site has been redesigned. At present, eight interactive map applications are available, with more planned for the future. Take the time to check out these new GIS products, they can be valuable tools in your professional and/or personal life.

 

 

Thank you to Brendan Lee for the application imagery and the interview opportunity! 

A GIS Solution for Planning Evolution: 
The City of Mesquite's Address Map Book 
  

Contributed by:  Tim Spear, GIS Coordinator, GISP

 

Background

Mesquite logoThe City of Mesquite, Nevada has developed from its humble origin in the late 1800s as a Mormon outpost, to a prominent retirement and recreation destination.  Due to Mesquite's small size, the City's GIS is constrained by budgetary and staffing issues.  Regardless, Mesquite's planning challenges often parallel those of larger municipalities.  One of these challenges involved the community and management expectations of a quality, hardcopy map series that could be referenced within an office or field environment.

 

Mesquite began using GIS technology in 1995 and the first map series product was produced in CADD in 1996.  This product eventually became referred to as the City's Address Map Book.  Although this product was a success among customers, the CADD product was extremely labor intensive and required base data storage in CADD and GIS formats.  As the City's development began to increase, and GIS applications expanded, it became apparent to the city's planning staff that a better software solution was required.

 

Address Map Book Production with ESRI Production Mapping

In September 2008, the city purchased the MPS-Atlas Module (now a component of ESRI Production Mapping) to better serve the community's Address Map Book needs.  Mesquite's Address Map Book has a somewhat unique history.  This mapping product has become the "answer book" as a reference guide, and is utilized by city government, emergency services, local utilities, developers, real-estate professionals and outdoor enthusiasts.  Each entity has a different primary use of the book.

 

Until Mesquite's automatic vehicle locator (AVL) project is fully implemented, 911 dispatchers utilize the Address Map Book to route ambulance, police and fire personnel to a specified address.  Logically, this mapping product emphasizes address and street names.  Utility companies utilize this reference to familiarize drivers with new road and subdivision development, in addition to estimating service call scheduling.  Developers and real-estate professionals primarily use the Address Map Book for work crew scheduling and the designation of material staging areas.  Despite future AVL advances, the GIS staff was informed that this cartographic product will continue to be utilized as a Plan B in the advent of a citywide network failure.  Because of the diverse usage of this mapping product, many design issues had to be resolved.

 

User and management expectations presented specific product design issues that fall outside the normal use of a map series product.  Small page size and oversized binding margins required complete address and road annotation within an 8"x7" graphic window.  Other requirements included creating dynamic tables of features specific to each individual map page.  Initial label clutter was virtually eliminated by using the Maplex labeling engine within ArcGIS.  The finished Address Map Book product contains three sections.  Section One contains citywide reference graphics

Mesquite Map Book
Excerpt of map from Address Map Book.

and detailed information on streets and subdivisions.  Section Two illustrates an overview of each city grid tile and highlights addresses, street names and subdivision boundaries.  Section Three displays each of the 145 subdivisions in greater detail. 

 

Since 2000, approximately 500 copies of the spiral bound Address Map Book product have been sold or distributed within Mesquite.  The City also began selling digital copies in 2010.  Although this product has become more informative with each successive version, the real benefit of using ESRI's Production Mapping can be directly associated with improvements in the City's Planning and Environmental Resources Department.

 

Planning Benefits Achieved Through the Address Map Book Process

Mesquite's GIS staff quickly identified several additional benefits from using ESRI software to produce the Address Map Book.  Despite the fact the City's GIS is not yet a full Enterprise GIS, this cartographic process greatly assisted GIS with the identification of key processes that were not fully noted in the monthly GIS maintenance process.

 

Perhaps the most unheralded benefit to the map series process involved the underlying databases themselves.  The Production Mapping process assisted GIS staff by enhancing the relationships between tabular and spatial datasets.  Recently, Mesquite developed a custom application for building permits (Citywide Applications or CWA).  When a contractor or resident applies for a building permit, CWA verifies the submitted information against the databases, which ensures accurate permit information is collected. 

 

In order to ensure crucial GIS files and relational databases are updated, planning staff constructed a monthly GIS task calendar.  This resultant task list and associated documentation serve as an excellent cross-training tool among GIS and planning staff.  Maintaining the databases monthly has allowed the city to streamline existing databases, simplify the spatial editing process and eliminate the need for legacy or redundant data tables.  Because this process has increased the efficiency of the City's GIS, benefits are passed along to the public in the form of more accurate mapping products. 

 

Because of the success of the entire Address Map Book process, maps series products have been expanded in the Public Works Department to illustrate updates to streetlight and sewer development.  The Fire Department now requests a specialized map series to highlight emergency access routes and fire hydrants.  Planning and Environmental Resources recently expanded map series services to produce detailed zoning graphics.

 

Although, Mesquite's GIS obviously utilizes only a portion of ESRI's Production Mapping functionality, the GIS staff recommends that interested users explore how this software may assist an existing Enterprise GIS.  More information on ESRI's Production Mapping can be obtained from their web site.

 
News from the State Mapping Advisory Committee 
 

Contributed by:  Ron Hess, University of Nevada Reno 

 

For over two decades, I have enjoyed working on a variety of digital map datasets, image acquisitions, and coordination projects with the various members of the Nevada State Mapping Advisory Committee (SMAC). However, I will be leaving the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology in February 2011. Jon Price, SMAC Chair, has appointed Jennifer Mauldin to be Executive Secretary of the SMAC effective upon my departure next month. Jennifer is an Information Systems Specialist and Lead Cartographer at the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology. She is an effective project supervisor, proficient in a variety of software applications including the ArcGIS suite, well organized, a good facilitator, and an excellent cartographer. She will do well with this new posting. Jennifer's contact information is:

        Jennifer Mauldin

        Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology

        Mail Stop 178

        University of Nevada

        Reno, NV 89557-0178

        Email: [email protected]

        Phone: 775-682-8759

 

Other staffing changes include the upcoming retirement of Tom Sturm this summer. Tom has been the USGS-Nevada State Liaison for a very, very, long time and his expertise will be missed. Over the years, Tom has been very effective in putting together cooperative projects between a variety of federal agencies and State and local agencies that have achieved many of the high priority mapping requirements that have been identified by SMAC.

 

Over the next several months Carol Ostergren, a Geographer with the USGS, will be transitioning into Tom's position as USGS-Nevada State Liaison. Carol has worked on a number of USGS cooperative projects and committees over the years and is currently a USGS-California State Liaison. Carol's contact information is:

        Carol Ostergren

        US Geological Survey National Geospatial Program

        3020 State University Drive East, Suite 4003

        Sacramento, CA 95819

        Email: [email protected]         

        Phone:  916-278-9510 or 916-278-9473 (fax)

 

If you have any questions, or just want to introduce yourself, please feel free to contact Jennifer or Carol directly. And as usual, feel free to contact me at 775-784-6692 or via email at [email protected] or Jon Price at [email protected].

 

Please visit the Nevada State Mapping Advisory Committee web site:   

        http://www.nbmg.unr.edu/smac/smac.htm.  

 

The NGIS extends a special thank you to Ron for his excellent service to the SMAC organization and his support of GIS!  Best of luck in all your future endeavors!

 

Professional Development:  Organizing the Email Inbox 
  

Today's society is extremely media intensive and without solid organizational practices one may become overwhelmed with information.  It is especially important to establish sound practices when dealing with professional emails.  And, with a little practice and a few easy steps, instead of "drowning in email" you'll be "safely on dry land!"

 

TO BEGIN: 

1.  Create an "ACTION" folder or label in your email.  Emails that require

     action(other than just replying, filing, etc.) will be filed here.

2.  Start and commit to a new policy.  Every new email that is received

     will follow the rules in the next section.  No more allowing the inbox to

     pile up!

 

RULES:

1.  Process from the top down.  When opening your email, process the

     inbox completely. Start with the top email in your inbox and open it.

     Take one of the following actions, in this preferred order:

     1.  DELETE.  Use liberally!

     2.  ARCHIVE.  In case you need it later.

     3.  QUICK REPLY.  Four sentences or less, then archive.

     4.  ADD TO ACTION LIST.  If you don't have a list, start one. Then

          file in yourAction Folder.  This includes long replies, which should

          be as limited as possible.  By taking one of these four actions,

          you'll dispose of every email!

2.  Go to the next email and take quick action, and so forth.  Don't

     spend longer than 20 seconds on any one email. By processing quickly,

     you'll be finished with your inbox in minutes!

3.  When processing is complete, begin Action emails, time permitting.

      You may choose to do the Action emails now or later.

 

That's it!  Pretty simple, right?  Remember any change, even change that will benefit you is just that, a change and it may be uncomfortable at first.  Give the change a chance and yourself time to adjust.  The benefits from following these email organizing rules will become invaluable.  Look for long-term email management tips in the April issue. 

 

Source:  Leo Babauta, zenhabits.com 

 

GeoCollaboration and Mobile GIS Solutions Workshop 
  

 
Workshop Description
This workshop will enable participants to review several different approaches to mobile GIS solutions. We'll review GeoCollaboration opportunities and the features of mobile solutions and then discuss potential solutions that could fit the requirements for attendee's organizations. You will learn how to use the various applications, and also how to add additional data to extend the capabilities of your GIS infrastructure. 
 
Instructor Information
Brad Tatham has been a GIS instructor and consultant since 1994 and has been responsible for creating custom courses and providing ESRI Authorized Instruction.
He has taught over 4,000 students in the use of Desktop GIS, GPS and mobile units. 
 
Workshop Objectives
GIS software combined with mobile data capture solutions can eliminate technology boundaries for access to GIS data and allow for mobile data collection by end users. GIS professionals can distribute their data in manageable formats thus leveraging their investment in geospatial data. Mobile data collection solutions provide for access to and creation of geospatial features and data by public works, planning, appraisers, emergency responders, operational managers, associated support personnel and the general public -many who have no background in GIS or databases. These solutions provide intra agency and inter agency coordination for workflow requirements as well as a better understanding of the roles and responsibilities of each.

By enabling and expanding the base from which spatial information can easily be captured and providing the capability for an ongoing dialogue decisions can be reached for planning purposes as well as in times of disaster and emergency events that can save lives and protect infrastructure and property. 

Communication between the agencies and or the general public allows for access to existing data with the ability to input new data and comments in a spatial context. Objectives of agencies can then provide for interactive solutions that fit for those in the field and allow for evaluation by those who manage agencies or determine the solutions to events that could happen, events developing and for post event response.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:
     1. Describe several approaches to mobile GIS 
     2. Differentiate the approaches by function and usability in completing tasks
     3. Understand the opportunities and underlying limitations of field GIS work
     4. Discuss the role of programmers, GIS professionals/users, and field workers
         mobile GIS
     5. Describe the end results of data gathering and version control
 
Dates/Times, Location and Cost:
Dates and locations arranged by request.
Cost $75 each (requires 6 individual registrations for the location requested) or
$500 for up to 12 participants.

For more information on these Workshops: 
Email [email protected] or Contact GIS Services -
Barbara Stoddard Training Coordinator, Phone 520.971.7622.  

Information provided by:  Bill Timmins, Director GIS Services

 

Technical Tip:  Geotagging Photos 
  
Contributed by:  Willy Lynch, Mining Industry Specialist, ESRI Energy-Mining Industry Team
 
Geotagging photos is now even easier with ArcPhoto for ArcGIS10!
My newest FREE favorite tool for using ArcGIS10 for geologic mapping is the ArcPhoto extension for ArcGIS10 available from the ESRI Resources Center.

I learned about the power of geotagging photos for geologic map making a few years ago from the Geologic Froth blog of Dr. Kyle House.  He continues to work with digital geologic mapping and can be followed at: http://geofroth.posterous.com/

Now that usage of GPS enabled cameras is increasingly common, the ArcPhoto tool from the ESRI Applications Prototype Lab can be used with your new photos, which already contain the geotag information or you can quickly add geotags to your old photos.  The extension comes with HELP documentation and a sample tutorial to get you started. 

Check it out and if you find it useful, consider going to the ESRI Ideas Website to cast a vote to have ArcPhoto included in a future release of ArcGIS.  To vote for ArcPhoto, choose the Idea Title: "Maps with Geo-Tagged Photos!!!!."

Geotagging by Lynch
Example (above) of ArcPhoto for managing and working with geotagged photos in ArcGIS10.  Photos downloaded from NV Digital Dirt collection, using the PICASA download tools to ensure files have complete geotags. 

Got humor?

 

 

Need a good laugh to brighten your day?   

 

Studies show that laughter does benefit your heart health!  So read on and start laughing!

 

What do you call a USGS quadrangle with green water, blue forests, and all the names spelled backwards?

A topo-illogical map.

 

What kind of projection do three out of four ear, nose, and throat specialists prefer?

A sinus-oidal map projection.

 

Why is a lifeguard like a polar stereographic projection?

The lifeguard is a tan gent and the polar stereographic projection is tangent.

 

What kind of contours can see in the dark?

Illuminated contours.

 

What is the difference between a tub full of freezing water and a depth contour?

One is an icy bath and the other is an isobath.

 

AND. . . if people think you must be a geek to find humor in these jokes, perhaps you are, but remember you're in excellent company with the rest of us in the GIS field (smile).

 

Source:  gishumor.com  

 

Global Green

Looking for ways to be "greener" in 2011?  There are many things you and/or your family can do.  Many of the ideas now and in the future can be almost effortless, but all can make a difference and help the environment; some will even save you money!
  • Choose Energy Star Appliances.  Need a new appliance in the future?  Energy Star products meet a high level of energy efficiency, which can translate into savings on electric bills.  So consider the long-term energy savings when you are comparing costs on appliances.
  • Use Rapidly Renewable Flooring Materials.  Planning to remodel?  Investigate the newest flooring materials.  Many are affordable, durable, and rich-looking and made from grasses and trees that mature in half of the time (or less!) than it takes hardwoods to reach market size.                 
  • Install Floor and Ceiling Insulation.  NV Energy recommends that homes have a minimum of an R30 - R38 insulation in the attic and R19 in the sub-floor.  Checking/installing the insulation in your home now will also be less uncomfortable than in the spring or summer months.

Have a "green" tip you would like to share?  Send it to [email protected] and it may be included in a future issue.


Sources:  US Green Building Council (USGBC), NV Energy

 
E-Bulletin Board
 
E-Bulletin Board
KUDOS TO:
Rich Pugliese, GIS Manager at Converse Consultants and his staff for providing assistance to UNLV Civil Engineering students.  When the request to NGIS was received for "professional guidance," Mr. Pugliese volunteered to help. Students were invited to the Converse Consultants office in Las Vegas and taught how to mosaic grids, create contours, and calculate volume and cut/fill. With this knowledge and the datasets that were provided, the students had the tools to complete their Senior Design Project!  Many thanks to all involved!

HAVE YOU RECEIVED A PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION LATELY?
If so let us know, we'd like to share your good news with the NGIS membership!  Email us your name, certification/licensure received (e.g. GISP, P.E.), date received, etc.  We'll include the information in a future issue of GeoSpeak.

PLEASE UPDATE YOUR NGIS MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION.
Now is a great time to verify your membership data to ensure you continue to receive all the interesting NGIS correspondence!  Please follow these simple steps provided by Gary Johnson, NGIS Treasurer:
  • Go to www.ngis.org
  • Go to the Membership tab
  • Enter your email address  (if you have changed email addresses, enter the old one AND if this is a new email, make sure you go into your old email address and UNSUBSCRIBE so NGIS does not send information to an invalid address.)
  • An email will now be sent to you with instructions on how-to-update your membership
  • Follow the links to your profile and make your edits 

SUBMIT CALENDAR ITEMS NOW!

The NGIS now has an Event Calendar on the web. Email your event information to [email protected]

 

GEOSPEAK ON THE WEB.
Remember to check out GeoSpeak on the web.  Quarterly issues are posted on the NGIS web site.
 

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.

 

Email your GIS related articles, technical tips, upcoming events, and other pertinent information for inclusion in GeoSpeak.  Look for the next issue in April 2011.

 
Thank you for your support!

NGIS Officers & Board Members

Officers:

President, Eric Ingbar (Gnomon)

Vice President, Matt Krok, GISP (City of Henderson)

Past President, Richard Wells, GISP (City of Las Vegas)

Treasurer, Gary Johnson, GISP (University of Nevada, Reno)

Secretary, Karin Hagan (Kleinfelder)

 

Board Officers for the 2009 - 2011 period:

Mark O'Brien, GISP (Bureau of Land Management)

Adam Johnson, (City of Sparks)

Rich Pugliese, (Converse Consultants)

 

Board Officers for the 2010 - 2012 period:

Moni Fox, GISP (Washoe County)

Steve Mesa, (National Geospatial Intelligence Agency)

Tom Wussow, (Monsen Engineering)

 

GeoSpeak Team Members

 

Editor, Debora Taylor (City of Henderson)

Assistant Editor, Tim Spear, GISP (City of Mesquite)
 
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