Q & A with Global Technical Systems
EIGS recently visited with Harley Garrett of Global Technical Systems to learn more about the company, their business, and future endeavors. Global Technical Systems is an active member of the EIGS geospatial technology cluster of the Magnolia Business Alliance (MBA).
The Sensor:
Tell our readers about Global Technical Systems and your role with the company.
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Commentary From: Michael Liu, Sr. Vice President, Dutko Worldwide
As predicted in my comments of last month, no government shut down has occurred as yet. But things will get dicey as March ends. That’s when the U.S. will come close to hitting its current $14.3 trillion debt limit. It’s conceivable that the debt limit could be breached on the same day that the next stop gap appropriations bill terminates (right now projected to be around April 6, 2011). There could even be a bizarre scenario where the end of the next ‘continuing resolution,’ breaking of the debt limit ceiling and income tax filing day all occur on April 15th. Is Rod (Twilight Zone) Serling still among us?
Finding common ground is even more difficult with big issues threatening to divide and confront the White House and Congress. If Ghaddafi succeeds in remaining in power, who will get the blame? If gas continues its climb, will the Carter effect engulf this White House? And if the public sector unions after Wisconsin and Ohio, balk at any further perceived erosion of “rights” or strength through a reduction in federal work force, how much room will be left to the Administration to negotiate significant cuts in federal spending for both of what remains of FFY 2011 and the upcoming FFY 2012? Finally, the affect of the tragedy in Japan could be profound in regard to the global economy in combination with continued unrest in the Middle East.
Implications of current events include the following:
- If you are working under a contract under the 2011 budget, try to get as much of it paid for as soon as possible.
- As mentioned in last month’s commentary, public and private sector managers of programs associated with the 2005 and 2006 hurricanes better do all they can to get them out of the “pipeline” of the federal agencies that are the source of those funds, and into facilities or accounts that are beyond the reach of the federal agencies, the Office of Management of Budget and Congress. Take note of the following true story: Public Housing Authorities have been allocated, by formula, an annual amount for “operating reserves.” Many housing authorities, as part of formal budgeting plans with HUD’s knowledge, allow reserves to accumulate to a level where they can cost effectively leverage these dollars with private sector financing to accomplish much needed rehabilitation of their housing stock. Under the current continuing resolution environment and proposed FFY 2012 budget by the Administration, HUD has told Public Housing Authorities that these funds cannot be spent except under special circumstances and that indeed much of these funds will be transferred to a different public housing account at the start of the next fiscal year. In other words, if you didn’t use it, you are going to lose it.
- As for opportunities associated with the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, similar to the immediate period after Katrina, tread cautiously in pursuit of business through the U.S. Government. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) which is coordinating assistance is being swamped with calls from wannabe vendors. If you have a service, product or expertise that can help, offering pro–bono or volunteer assistance now may be the best way to lay the groundwork for securing longer term contracts. Of course, not all companies have the ability to make such an offer of help, but if you can, it is a strategy worth serious consideration.
USDA Introduces Online Atlas of Rural and Small–Town America
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced the debut of an online mapping tool that captures a broad range of demographic, economic, and agricultural data on rural areas across the United States. The Atlas of Rural and Small-town America, developed by USDA's Economic Research Service, provides county-level mapping of over 60 statistical indicators depicting conditions and trends across different types of nonmetro regions. Read more.
Magnolia Business Alliance is hosting a 3 Day Business Seminar entitled:
Sparking Success: Full-Throttle Business
Featuring:
- Incorporation Workshop and Assistance
- Business Plan Development and Review Branding
- Government Contracting
- Accounting and Financial Management
- Human Resources
- Intellectual Property
For further information about this event, please call (228) 295-7117 or email info@magnolia-ba.biz.
Image of the Month
This image from a DigitalGlobe satellite illustrates the reach of the devastating tsunami that struck Minamisoma in Fukushima prefecture. The water in this image from March 12 reached 1.5 miles from the coast, according to DigitalGlobe.
Credit: DigitalGlobe
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Items of Interest
Govt GIS portal chief now CIO of Taiwan’s third largest city
FutureGov Magazine
Chang Chung–chi, who was previously Section Chief at Ministry of the Interior’s Information Centre in charge of the planning, implementation and maintenance of Taiwan Geospatial One–Stop Portal (TGOS), …
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Did you know that Esri recently awarded grants of geographic information system (GIS) technology and training to 4–H clubs across the United States, assisting club members in their research of local environmental and social issues? “The use of Esri’s GIS technology helps youth become more spatially literate and engaged in their communities at an earlier age,” said Esther Worker, Esri youth and community education manager. “Current projects allow members to experience their communities in new ways through problem solving with geographic thinking and tools. Today’s 4–H youth are asking relevant questions; acquiring, examining, and analyzing data; and acting on their findings. GIS technology is helping 4–H empower young people to reach their full potential as tomorrow’s leaders.” Read more
Doing Business in Mississippi
Delta State to present 6th Annual International Business Symposium
Delta State University and the College of Business will present the 6th Annual International Business Symposium a two day event Monday, April 4th and Tuesday, April 5th.
The general session is scheduled for Monday, April 4th from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. in Jobe Hall Auditorium on the main campus. The event will continue on Tuesday, April 5th with two question and answer sessions (9:25 a.m. – 10:40 a.m. and 10:50 a.m. – 12:05 p.m.).
The theme of this year’s event is ”Network Globally: Achieve Greatness“ and is aimed at emphasizing the importance of creating a global network to achieve one’s highest goals.
Congratulations
Congratulations to NVision Solutions, Inc., as the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) named them a 2011 winner of the Nunn–Perry Award. DOD selected NVision as one of 9 recipients out of the approximately 137 Mentor–Protégé agreements currently active. This award is named in honor of both former Senator Sam Nunn, who sponsored legislation to create the Defense Department's Mentor–Protégé Program, and former Secretary of Defense William Perry in recognition of his implementation of the program.
Technology In The News
Information is power as agencies track beetles, trees and dollars
Worcester Telegram
“We decided to use this aerial sketch map system as a way to track the information on the ground,” said William R. Frament, remote sensing specialist for the USDA Forest Service. Those tracking the beetle devastation in the city use a tablet computer …
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EIGS in the News
DigitalGlobe Expects 25 Percent Commercial Sales Growth in 2011
Space News
Satellite Earth imagery provider DigitalGlobe on Feb. 28 said it expects its commercial business to grow faster than its dominant US government revenue base in 2011 as the government’s fiscal situation puts downward …
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Sports Security Center to Conduct Table Top Exercise at …
USM.edu
To assist in that process, NCS4 has partnered with Regal Decision System on the evacuation planning tool and NVision Solutions for geospatial aspects in the …
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the full article]
Global Perspectives
Japan and Libya – remote sensing as well as danger to aviation’s history in …
Seattle Post Intelligencer (blog)
Libya as well as the earthquake and tsunami affected areas of Japan have no doubt undergone remote sensing with the use of all manner of aircraft and spacecraft. Though this remote sensing isn't an exact substitute for trained dogs or rescuers it has …
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Quartz Deposits may Leave a Clue About Impending Earthquakes
MedIndia
The scientists found a link between quartz deposits and geologic events by using remote sensing technology. They said that the presence of quartz deposits points to a weakness in the earth’s crust. This may be the reason for natural disasters like …
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Performing Below Par
Express Buzz
NEW DELHI: Three of the seven remote sensing satellites of India, engaged in collective thematic data used for planning in disaster management and areas like agriculture, have underperformed, the auditors have revealed criticising failure to earn …
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Greetings!
