Photobucket Newsletter: The Sensor

  January 2011

IN THIS ISSUE

EIGS Insight

Did You Know?

Company Spotlight

Washington Perspectives

Resource Spotlight

Image of the Month

Doing Business in Mississippi

Items of Interest

Upcoming Events

Seen & Heard

EIGS in the News

Global Perspectives

UPCOMING EVENTS

Technology Transfer Workshop
January 27, 2011
Waveland, MS

ESRI Federal User Conference
February 2–4, 2011
Washington, DC

GITA 2011 Geospatial Solutions Conference
April 10–14, 2011
Dallas, Texas

DID YOU KNOW?

Did you know Digital Globe received a contract that could last up to 10 years and be worth as much as $3.6 billion from the National Geospatial–Intelligence Agency to produce a new generation of satellite imagery?

As a result of the contract, Digital Globe said it would begin procurement and construction of its next satellite, WorldView–3, expected to launch by the end of 2014. Digital Globe expects to receive approximately $20.8 million per month for the first four years, increasing to $25 million per month for the remaining six years on the contract.

[Read the full article]

INFORMATION & IDEAS

For further information, or to submit story ideas, please contact [email protected].

SEEN & HEARD

MAPPS, the national association of private sector geospatial firms, has submitted comments to the Federal Trade Commission opposing regulatory language that would limit the collection, sharing or use of "precise geolocation data".

“The intent of the regulation drafted by the FTC staff – to protect personal privacy – is laudable, but in its current form, would result in a number of unintended consequences by severely limiting information collected by the geospatial community. This information is collected for government agencies to support government programs and to provide for commercial applications that consumers are demanding in the marketplace.”

Matt Hansen
Jeff Lovin
MAPPS President

[Read the full article]

LEGISLATIVE CORNER

The 2011 Regular Session has kicked off in Jackson and many are predicting the pending polls around elections for statewide office, including legislative posts, etc. will likely influence the climate for the session. “People will be almost in a threatening posture,” Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant said.

The 89–day session is set to conclude on Saturday, April 2nd.

For more information

The Enterprise for Innovative Geospatial Solutions, a program of the Magnolia Business Alliance. www.magnolia-ba.biz


Photobucket

EIGS Insight

Workshop to focus on SBIR and Company Success!
Contributor: Joe Graben, Director USM/BIAC

Serving as the Director of the University of Southern Mississippi’s Business and Innovation Assistance Center (USM/BIAC) and working with the Magnolia Business Alliance’s Enterprise for Geospatial Solutions (EIGS) Cluster program, I will be presenting a brief workshop January 27th on the topic of Technology Transfer and how to leverage the federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) programs to support a tech–based company’s innovation and overall business development. The federal government awards over $2.5 billion dollars annually in contracts and grants to small businesses to conduct technology application development projects supporting federal agencies in meeting their mission needs that also have commercial potential.

Understanding the role of technology transfer and its potential to support the overall business development strategy of a small tech-based firm is critical if a company is to maximize the benefits that an SBIR project can bring to its ultimate success. On the other hand, not understanding this role can lead to an SBIR or similar project being a side track down a dead end costing the company wasted time and resources resulting in significant opportunity cost.

In addition to discussing how technology transfer and the federal SBIR programs can assist companies in their development and growth, the workshop will include an update on recent changes in the federal SBIR programs an well as potential changes with the pending reauthorization of the programs by congress. To help explain how some of these changes are affecting NASA’s SBIR program here at Mississippi’s NASA Stennis Space Center, Mr. Ray Bryant, the NASA Stennis SBIR Program Manager will be on hand to provide comment.

Several EIGS members, among them NVision Solutions and WorldWinds, have successfully leveraged SBIR awards in support of their development and growth. The purpose of this workshop is to help guide others through this open door to opportunity. The workshop will be held at the Leo Seal Community Center next to Hancock Bank on Highway 90 in Waveland. The workshop will be from 10am to 11:30am with an opportunity to network afterwards. For additional information and to register for this event visit: www.magnolia-ba.biz.

For more information on USM/BIAC and its Mississippi Federal and State Technology (MS-FAST) partnership program supporting small businesses in competing in the federal SBIR programs visit: www.usm.edu/biac

Company Spotlight

PhotobucketQ & A with SELEX Galileo

EIGS recently visited with Darryl Davis of SELEX Galileo, one of the newest members of the EIGS geospatial technology cluster of the Magnolia Business Alliance (MBA). We talked about their company, products, and vision for the future.

The Sensor: Darryl, tell our readers a little about SELEX Galileo and what you do.

[READ MORE

Washington Perspective

Commentary From: Michael Liu, Sr. Vice President, Dutko Worldwide

As the 112th Congress gets down to business, the good news is that there is real appetitive to meet head–on big fiscal issues: the national debt, short and long–term limits on spending, reform of healthcare reform, and setting up new regulatory schemes for the financial services sector. Other flashpoints with major implications include regulation by the Federal Communications Commission of the internet, reach of regulatory powers of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and options for the future of FannieMae and FreddieMac. Overlay this with the approach of the hyper charged election year of 2012 where 23 Democratic seats and 10 Republican seats in the Senate will be up for grabs and the Presidency, with the GOP promising a free for all in its selection process for a nominee. (Of course all House seats will be subject to an election too.)

In short, there are unusually powerful and complex forces at work. The issues will be time consuming and draining on members of Congress, their staffs and the media. This environment will make it very challenging for issues NOT associated with the big concerns of the 112th Congress to garner substantive attention. And even if an issue is related to a major agenda item, it it’s impact is not viewed as “significant” (e.g., lacking in big budgetary impact in the hundreds of millions as a threshold) it will probably be passed over till the “next” session.

Ironically, a Congress that was profoundly affected in the November 2010 election by the disaffected will have little time and capacity to address issues from individuals and unorganized interest groups, even if such issues are legitimate and address a service or product gap in government, or correct an incongruity in the law.

So what to do if you have an issue that needs attending to by Congress or the Executive Branch of the federal government?

  1. Be aggressive and start your “lobbying” effort right now. Be straightforward in your “ask.” March is too late to get started.
  2. Be constant. Keep the phone alls and letters, and if you can afford it, your visits periodic. One conversation, no matter how pleasant won’t cut it.
  3. Find other interests that coincide with or support your issue. Building coalitions are especially important if you are seeking financial help in a world lacking earmarks.
  4. Do not rely only on working only with your home state’s congressional delegation. You need to find ways to build support from members of Congress from across the nation. Again for those seeking financial help, the change in rules regarding earmarks requires this kind of comprehensive view of the battlefield.
  5. Make sure you have hard evidence that supports your issue. Find ways to quantify benefits. Get third party experts to support your position in a documentable fashion. The competition for credibility is fierce.

Note: This advice has been gleaned from discussions over the last couple of weeks with key members of Congress and staff. This includes former senior officer of Dutko Worldwide, Gary Andres who was persuaded by the House Republican leadership to head the staff of the powerful House Committee on Energy and Commerce which has a role on almost all legislation that has any relation to business and energy.

Resource Spotlight

A Resource for Small Businesses
Contributor: Ellen K. Davis, Certified Small Business Specialist

Your small business started when you first believed you are GREAT at something. Sometime between now and then, you have learned you do not want to be a great hirer & firer, or a great debt collector, or a great compliance officer, or a great bookkeeper. You find out the hard way: If you don’t take care of (or completely ignore) the back end of your business, what you are GREAT at doing is irrelevant. So, 2011 is not much different than 2010. It’s the same–ole, same–ole. The majority of problems small business owners face is not dependent on the year; these problems are EVERY year and are dependent on your actions.
If you stand still there is only one way to go, and that’s backwards.
–Peter Shilton

Meet a difference–maker.
GoSmallBiz.com was founded by entrepreneur & NFL Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton in 1996. Today, GSB has grown to include more than 49,000 active members throughout North America. During this growth its mission has remained constant: To help entrepreneurs protect and grow their businesses by providing access to a comprehensive body of knowledge and tools targeted specifically at the micro business. GSB believes that even in tough economic times, smart business people can not only survive, but succeed, grow, and thrive by making smart decisions.

Without doubt, consulting an attorney before making a final decision in any area of your business constitutes smart decision–making. Better to be proactive and preventative than to be reactive and defensive. GSB has partnered with Pre–Paid Legal so you no longer have to worry about the cost of that consultation. You may call your Provider Law Firm whenever you have a question about such legal aspects of your business as: Termination, Contract review, Online sales tax, Joint ventures, Verbal contracts, Incorporation, Government compliance, Identity Theft issues, Bad check recovery, and Customer complaints, just to name a few. The subjects are limitless.

The Legal section at GoSmallBiz.com has gathered a long list of useful legal document templates, from commercial lease agreements to living wills, all to ensure you have access to the necessary documentation for the successful operation of your small business. We don’t make the decisions for you, but we do offer valuable insight to guide you to a decision that works for your business. Most importantly, you end the day confident you made not only the right decision, but also the right legal decision.

Let’s make 2011 not a good year, but a GREAT one! For more information, visit www.gosmallbiz.com. Or, feel free to contact me directly, [email protected]


ERDAS APOLLO

ERDAS APOLLO is the market–leading enterprise solution for managing and delivering massive volumes of distributed geospatial data and imagery. This server–based offering is available in three product tiers to suit a wide spectrum of organizations. For a more detailed list of What’s New or to register for an informative webinar showcasing new features, please visit www.erdas.com.

Community Maps Program

Through Esri’s Community Maps Program your organization can contribute its local geographic content to become part of a community map that Esri publishes and hosts online. Your data is integrated with data from other providers and then published through ArcGIS Online as a map service. The program builds multiscale basemaps of the world using the best data available from the GIS professionals who work in all kinds of organizations: cities, counties, countries and companies. The maps can benefit organizations by reducing the cost of making data widely available.
Source: ArcGIS Online

Geospatial Competency Model

The U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (ETA), has codified the education, training and skills employees need to be successful in the geospatial industry. They worked with industry and education leaders to develop the Geospatial Competency Model which has been designed to evolve along with changing skill requirements. Competency models can be a valuable resource to articulate workforce needs and define the requirements for employee success in a job or at different levels in a career. The ETA site contains a tool that allows managers, educators and others to tailor the model to meet their specific needs.
Source: Competency Model Clearinghouse

Image of the Month

Rare Snow in the Southern U.S.

Photobucket

The satellite image shows the view of snow across the southern United States on January 12, 2011. The swath of white follows the track of a winter storm that moved across the country between January 9 and January 11. The rare snow led governors in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee to declare emergencies. With snow ranging from several inches to more than a foot, the winter storm ultimately resulted in 49 of the 50 states have some snow cover. Credit: NASA EOS, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite

Items of Interest

TOP 10 Imagery–Related Events from the Past Decade
got geoint

For a quick look at events that shaped our lives, check out the top ten imagery–related events from the past decade, courtesy of Digital Globe.

[Read the full article]


2011 ASPRS Fellow Award Winners
SpatialNews.com

Paul D. Brooks and Kass Green have been named the 2011 ASPRS Fellow Award winners. The ASPRS designation of Fellow is conferred on active Society members who have performed exceptional service in advancing the science and use of the mapping sciences (photogrammetry, remote sensing, surveying, geographic information systems, and related disciplines). The designation of Fellow is awarded for pro�fessional excellence and for service to the Society. Candidates are nominated by other active members, recommended to the Fellows Committee, and elected by the ASPRS Board of Directors. Up to 0.3 percent of the Society’s active members may be elected as Fellows in any one year. The nominees must have made outstanding contributions in a recognized Society specialization whether in practice, research, development, administration, or education in the mapping sciences. Members of the Fellows Committee and the Executive Committee are ineligible for nomination. This year’s awards will be given in May at the ASPRS 2011 Annual Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

[Read the full article]

Did You Know

Protecting Consumer Data in 2011: Business Owners and Corporations Must Take Action or Be Held Liable
Contributor: Ellen K. Davis, Small Business Specialist

Did you know your business could be held liable if you haven’t held training for your employees to help protect consumer data from being compromised?

Identity Theft has quickly become the most common crime in the world. It’s no surprise legislation has been put into effect imposing penalties against businesses and corporations which allow consumer data in its possession to fall victim to breach or exposure. That doesn’t mean there are no surprises.

Why should all businesses, corporations, schools, financial institutions, hospitals, and governmental bodies be concerned about identity theft, FACTA– Red Flag Rules, Gramm Leach, Bliley Safeguard Rules, HIPPA, and state legislation?

Answer: Liability, both civil and criminal

Under Red Flag Rules, businesses must implement reasonable policies and procedures designed to detect, prevent, and mitigate the risk of identity theft, hold training for all employees, and exercise effective oversight of service provider arrangements. Your liability follows your data and small businesses are not exempt. If the client, customer, or vendor pays by personal check, or you have a copy of a driver’s license in the file, your business is required to comply. Non–compliance may subject your company, to federal and state fines, civil liability, class action lawsuits with no statutory limitation, and responsibility for actual losses.

Eight federal agencies and any state may enforce Gramm Leach, Bliley Safeguard Rules. This law applies to organizations that maintain personal financial information regarding their clients or customers. When schools collect financial information on Free–and–reduced lunch applications, they become subject to the Rules. When employers collect credit reports or background checks on new employees, they are collecting non–public information (NPI). NPI lost under the wrong set of circumstances may result in fines up to $1,000,000, up to 10 years jail time for executives, removal of management, and executives within an organization can be held accountable for non–compliance both civilly and criminally.

Kroll Identity Fraud Solutions, in partnership with Pre–Paid Legal, offers a solution. And it is at no direct cost to you, the business owner. The compliance process for your company begins with templates and written ID Theft security plans, provided by Wiley Rein, LLC. Next: mandatory trainings for employees on how they can protect your customers’ personal information, as well as themselves. This training is provided by an ADRS Certified Trainer. Ongoing training and support to the company, as well as optional Identity Theft program for employees, are also provided.

The goal is to provide a potential affirmative defense for your company and to decrease the risk of a breach or an exposure.

For more information, feel free to contact me directly, [email protected].

Doing Business in Mississippi

Doing Bsiness In Mississippi

William (Skip) Scaggs Named as Director of MDA's Existing Industry and Business Division

William (Skip) Scaggs recently joined the MDA team as director of the agency’s Existing Industry and Business Division (EIB).

A native of Meridian, Skip comes to MDA from the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation (EMBDC), where he served as manager of business development, responsible for recruiting new industry and directing the organization’s efforts to support existing industry.

A graduate of Meridian Community College and Stetson University in DeLand, Fla., Skip began his work in economic development as the manager of existing industry and international business at the Birmingham Area Chamber of Commerce. Skip then returned to Mississippi to serve as a trade specialist and business counselor at the Small Business Development Center and International Trade Center in Raymond.

In 1997, Skip joined the Mississippi Department of Economic and Community Development (now MDA), working with existing industries throughout the state to assist them in expanding sales through international trade. In 2001, Skip became the district director for the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, continuing his work with existing industry across the state while administering federal export promotion programs, before joining the EMBDC. MDA is pleased to welcome Skip.


MDA to Celebrate 75th Anniversary in March 2011

MDA is turning 75! In 2011, MDA will be celebrating its 75th anniversary and its more than seven decades of helping to diversify the state’s economy and create economic opportunities and prosperity for the residents of Mississippi. The agency will celebrate this significant milestone with an MEDC–sponsored reception on March 24, 2011, and will host an open house on March 25 at its offices in the Woolfolk Building in Jackson.

If you know of former MDA employees or others who might be interested in participating, please help spread the word. Reach out to them and ask them to email [email protected] to let the agency know of their interest and to share their contact information. MDA will be sending more information about the upcoming events to those individuals who have expressed an interest in participating.


EIGS in the News

Baker Receives MAPPS Grand Award for U.S. Bureau of Census ACDC Projectn
GISCafe

Michael Baker Jr., Inc., an engineering unit of Michael Baker Corporation (NYSE Amex: BKR), has been selected as Grand Award winner by the Management Association for Private Photogrammetric Surveyors (MAPPS) in its 4th Annual Geospatial Products and Services Excellence Awards competition. The award was presented to Baker at the MAPPS Fall Policy Conference in Kissimmee, Florida, for its performance on the U.S. Bureau of Census – Accurate Coordinate Datasets Collection (ACDC) project …

[Read the full article]


DigitalGlobe Enters Chinese Market
Spatial Source

DigitalGlobe is supplying imagery for navigation tools for three Chinese companies. The firm will supply China Mobile – the world’s largest mobile operator, with more than 500 million subscribers – high resolution, regularly refreshed imagery. The imagery from DigitalGlobe will be used in China Mobile’s turn–by–turn navigation service, GIS/fleet management service and standalone map viewer …

[Read the full article]


Global Perspectives
 

Cops Using New Device to Track Down Crime
Times of India

The police have adopted a novel method to track down criminals involved in crime in and around Patna with the introduction of Geographical Information System (GIS) by the state police headquarters …

[Read the full article]


India Plans 30 Earth Observation Satellites
Bernama

Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), said, a plan for the next ten years had already been …

[Read the full article]



 

Enterprise for Innovative Geospatial Solutions – www.mseigs.com

 
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