EIGS recently visited with Eddie Hanebuth, Founder and President of Digital Quest, to learn more about the company, the numerous products they offer, and the future direction of the company. Digital Quest is a member of the EIGS geospatial technology cluster of the Magnolia Business Alliance (MBA).
The Sensor:
Give our readers background information about Digital Quest and your role with the company.
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Commentary From: Michael Liu, Sr. Vice President, Dutko Worldwide
Desperation. Washington is desperate for answers, leadership, and solutions. As discussed here last month, negotiations on the debt and deficit went down to the wire; presidential politics played a major role in shaping the discussion; and the continuing turmoil in Euro Zone continues to add uncertainty to global financial markets. And don't count out the instability in the Middle East and Japan. It's significant that the Appropriations Committee Chairmen from the House and Senate were not named to the special committee on spending cuts. The good news is that they won't be able to play pork barrel politics in the special committee of which both are masters. The more important and worst news is that, without their fingerprints on the work of this committee both Rogers (House) and Inouye (Senate) won't feel compelled to necessarily comply with whatever blueprint the special committee comes up for the future. And this was no accident by leaders of both chambers who made the selections. Even desperate times do not cancel out political gamesmanship.
But desperation may allow states and private sector coalitions to take advantage of Washington's preoccupation with 'big issues' over the next few months. Of interest to the small business community are economic development programs administered by HUD, SBA, and EDA (Economic Development Agency) and USDA where regional offices or state and local government departments can play a key role in management of them. For example, this may be a time where community development block grant funds in Mississippi and Louisiana can be packaged in a fashion that will be much more accessible to companies on the Coast in the form of operating capital or lines of credit. But don't expect the government bureaucrats to come up with the ideas and initiative to make this happen. The private sector will have to organize and promote creative ways to make existing programs relevant for the challenging times we are in.
And if your idea can be sold as an agent for real job creation, with the right messenger, desperate government officials will listen. And for those of you in Mississippi, you'll have even more of an opportunity to create change with the advent of a new state administration coming into power in Jackson that will be desperate to get some early wins on the jobs front.
So start thinking, and get to the white boards!
Image of the Month
A Look Inside Hurricane Irene
The 2011 Atlantic hurricane season has been busy so far in terms of tropical storms with seven named storms; however, none of them have had a very large impact. Each has been small, short-lived or remained at sea, and none have intensified into a hurricane until Irene reached hurricane status this past week.
A recent GOES Satellite image of Hurricane Irene
Credit: NOAA
Items of Interest
Topo Analyst 1.0 Available Online
Starkville, MS-- Spatial Information Solutions, Inc. (SIS) released Topo Analyst 1.0 (TA 1.0), the second product in Map Accuracy Tools, and began delivering to customers in July. As of today, customers can purchase Topo Analyst directly from the SIS website by visiting
www.spatialis.com/. A sample Topo Analyst Report can also be viewed from this link by clicking Support Documents and opening the report.
TerraGo Technologies Raises $1.5M - cbl
Citybizlist (press release)
ATLANTA -- Geospatial software company TerraGo Technologies Inc. raised $1.5 million of a targeted $2.12 million in equity financing. The company previously raised about $7.57 million in a series of offerings over the past two years. …
Read more: www.atlanta.citybizlist.com
Louisiana Department of Natural Resources Receives International Acclaim
KATC Lafayette News
BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has been internationally recognized for its extraordinary use of global information system (GIS) technology in providing a vital service to industry and the citizens of Louisiana. …
Read more: www.katc.com
Did you know Geographic information systems (GIS) is one of the most widely used technologies across the globe and GIS professionals are in demand?
The U.S. government predicts GIS occupations will be in high demand in the next 10 years, while recruiting Web sites indicate GIS specialists can earn an annual salary up to $70,000. Now is a great time to be working on an online GIS degree to enter or move up in this rapidly growing field.
Read more: www.sfgate.com
SBC and Small Business Technology Expo Wrap-Up
The Magnolia Business Alliance recently hosted a two-day event which included a meeting of the Stennis Business Consortium (SBC) as well as the first Small Business Technology Expo. The meetings were held at Stennis Space Center and were both met with a lot of enthusiasm, with over 200 people in attendance and 25 exhibitors.
The SBC meeting featured speakers who focused on recent procurement awards from Hewlett Packard to Lockheed Martin. Stennis government agencies, prime contractors, and other technology organizations followed, focusing on opportunities for small businesses. The Mississippi Enterprise for Technology briefed the group on its Affiliate Program. Immediately following the SBC meeting, attending HUB Zone and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses were invited to present to Stennis government agencies and prime contractors.
The Small Business Technology Expo showcased the capabilities of a variety of small technology businesses with expertise in remote sensing, IT, engineering, project management, oceanography and meteorology, as well as a variety of other fields.
Many visiting companies indicated they plan to exhibit at the next event. For more information on these and other events, contact the Magnolia Business Alliance at 228.295.7117, or visit http://www.magnolia-ba.biz/.
Doing Business in Mississippi
Aerospace Alliance to Host Summit on September 15 - 16
The Aerospace Alliance Summit is scheduled for September 15 - 16 in Sandestin, Fla. at Baytowne. Hosted by the Aerospace Alliance, a regional partnership between Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida's Great Northwest, the event will bring together business leaders and government and economic development officials to discuss the future of the aerospace and aviation industries in the Southeast U.S. and consider ways to further grow this vital sector in the region. General Barry McCaffrey (Ret.), John Ashford and Gregory Miller will speak at the event, and the summit will also include panel discussions, informative presentations and an optional golf tournament.
To register for the event, please visit www.aerospacealliance.com/summit-registration.To view a flyer with more information about the summit, please click here
Reminder: 2011 Energy Forum scheduled for September 8 in Jackson
On Thursday, September 8, the 2011 Energy Forum will be held at the Jackson Convention Complex in downtown Jackson. The theme for the one-day conference is "2011 Energy Forum: Unlocking the Value of Natural Gas." Energy industry experts will be on hand to discuss the role natural gas will play in Mississippi and in the nation in the years ahead, as well as ways in which Mississippi is uniquely positioned to take advantage of economic development opportunities related to natural gas. MDA Chief Financial Officer Kathy Gelston will speak at the event.
Economic development professionals, manufacturers and government officials are encouraged to attend the forum. For more information, email info@msenergyforum.com or visit the forum's website at www.msenergyforum.com.
Global Perspectives
Pakistan to launch another Satellite in 2014
Associated Press of Pakistan
RSSS will also be significant in executing application projects of national significance,transfer technology to users in public and private sectors as remote sensing along with its allied technologies has become an industry in itself. …
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Government unleashes data to boost New Zealand economy
People's Daily Online
He pointed to the use of land and geospatial information as an example of information that had possible commercial applications, while data from the New Zealand Transport Agency could be used on third party websites and iPhone applications. …
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the full article]
Government Spending Infuses New Energy into the Asia Pacific Satellite-based…
Newswire Today
The Asia Pacific remote sensing market is poised for a growth upswing in the future with the expanding participant base, growing technological capabilities and an improved political environment. Earth observation (EO) satellite capabilities have…
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the full article]
State to use technology to count trees
Times of India
According to forest and environment minister, Ajay Singh Yadav, the forest department has made an agreement with the Haryana State Remote Sensing Application Centre in Hisar, and the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) in Hydrabad, …
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the full article]
The Sensor (Full text)
Give our readers background information about Digital Quest and your role with the company.
Hanebuth: We are a curriculum development company designing classroom-based materials. These materials enable educational institutions to provide their students with skill-based training in the growing, vital field of geospatial technology. I am the founder and president and am involved in all areas of the operation and development of Digital Quest products and training events.
The Sensor: You are active throughout the geospatial community and an advocate for increasing educational opportunities at all levels from elementary through professional certifications. Tell us more about your efforts.
Hanebuth: Digital Quest is my company and my living, but I am passionate about geospatial and increasing the number of people being trained in this field. I chair the U.S. Department of Labor's National Standard Geospatial Apprenticeship Program and the SkillsUSA Geospatial Competition Committee. I am also very active in promoting the technology and educational opportunities through social media, especially via Twitter (@GISGuy) and Facebook.
The Sensor: Digital Quest has long been at the forefront of serving the educational and training needs of the geospatial community. Tell us about your products and support services.
Hanebuth: Digital Quest has been providing educational support for the geospatial sector for over 12 years now. Digital Quest has three course series:
- aGIS (a Geospatial Industry Series) examines an entire industry/career cluster to show students how geospatial technology impacts and improves that industry/career cluster. All career clusters are drawn from "16 Career Clusters" developed by the National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium. AGIS courses give detailed narratives about the relationship between a particular industry and geospatial technology. Guided lessons and scenarios give students hands-on experience with GIS Software. Books in the aGIS series include Introduction to Geospatial Technologies, Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources, and Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics.
- SPACE (Spatial Products And Community Exchange) applies geospatial technology to real, local, community-based projects. Students find solutions to problems in their local community. SPACE can be taken in a conventional classroom, in the workplace or at home. The SPACE series teaches GIS through the eyes of the businesses and government agencies that protect, and increase the efficiency of, citizens' everyday lives.
- 3. STARS (Spatial Technology And Remote Sensing) is a series of connected courses preparing students to take an industry-backed, entry-level GIS certification test-the first and only competency based, industry-backed, entry-level geospatial certification. The turn-key STARS program was developed in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship. STARS is offered in colleges/universities, community colleges, vocational-technical schools and some high schools. Four semesters of courses provide students with skills to be an entry level geospatial technician. STARS ends with a guided capstone project executed either in the field of agriculture, public health and safety, or business and marketing. Students seeking STARS certification must demonstrate an ability to apply skills and concepts learned in previous STARS courses, and they also must pass a rigorous exam.
All three geospatial series utilize ESRI's ArcGIS Desktop software, the leading software in the GIS industry.
The Sensor: Give us an idea about who is using Digital Quest products.
Hanebuth: Our product line is used by instructors in geospatial specific programs of study at the university, community college, technical college, technical center, high schools and middle school levels. Digital Quest products also are used to enhance non-geospatial-specific programs of study such as environmental engineering, law enforcement, homeland security, economic development, agriculture, city planning, forestry and many others.
Additionally, Digital Quest products have trained a variety of professionals including city, local and state government employees, and many in private industry. From York, PA to Chico, CA and from homeland security to agriculture, our successes span the U.S. and industry sectors. More than 300 geospatial technicians have been certified via Digital Quest's rigorous STARS certification program.
The Sensor: Digital Quest is a long-time member of the geospatial cluster including now through the Magnolia Business Alliance. Why are business advocacy groups important for small companies such as Digital Quest?
Hanebuth: Both small and large companies benefit from networks like EIGS, MBA, and the Mississippi Enterprise for Technology (MsET). In todays socially- driven, network-based environment, you need information quickly. These advocacy groups allow for personal relationships to form between several experts. This facilitates the quick movement of needed information. They are fierce and strategically positioned advocates for Digital Quest, but most important is the fact that the these groups provide a safe place to exchange ideas with respected colleagues.
The Sensor: What is on the horizon for Digital Quest?
Hanebuth: Digital Quest recently branched out into the field of Manufacturing more specifically sensors, conveyors and controls. We partnered with TII Educational Systems out of Gilberts, IL and created a tutorial that allows the students to work with Photoelectric and Proximity sensors to learn their applications in a conveyer environment. No matter what the field or industry sector, we will continue to focus on our philosophy of giving both the teacher and the student everything they need to be successful.
About About Digital Quest, Inc.:
Digital Quest, Inc. is a Mississippi-based development and training oriented company with a primary focus of enabling educational institutions to provide skill training in the new and ever-more vital field of Geospatial Technology. Digital Quest operates their teacher training program out of the Center of Geospatial Excellence located at NASA's Stennis Space Center. For more information about Digital Quest, visit www.digitalquest.com or call 1-877-573-6683.
