Q & A with Waggoner Engineering
EIGS recently visited with Cragin Knox, Director of Planning and Special Programs, and Jimmy Bradley, Manager of GIS and Mapping of Waggoner Engineering to learn more about the company, the industries they serve, the company's secret to its long-term successes, and their future endeavors. Waggoner Engineering is a member of the EIGS geospatial technology cluster of the Magnolia Business Alliance (MBA).
The Sensor:
Tell our readers about Waggoner Engineering and your role with the company. If you will, please touch on the 30+ year history of the company and how it's grown into much more than a traditional engineering firm.
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Commentary From: Michael Liu, Sr. Vice President, Dutko Worldwide
With the President's FFY 2013 budget unveiling, nothing new was revealed. With overall spending levels kept at levels similar to FFY 2012, the Administration was clearly sending a political signal that it would not be the champion of immediate deep cuts as the presidential campaign unfolds. Rather, the pain will be left to a lame duck Congress after the November election and/or automatic sequestration (to take place beginning in January 2013).
So don't be coddled by the rather small cuts in the Administration's proposed NASA budget or in other parts of the budget related to economic development, rural development, or small business. Hill staffers are working on these issues. Good news is that most are still willing to listen to arguments for and against specific programs. (Note, I did not say earmarks, which are still verboten.)
Washington pundits and mainstream media are as confused as ever as to what the Presidential landscape will look like by the summer. Example #1: A recent Wall Street Journal article opining about the positives for the President as the U.S. economy seems to improve appears right above an article explaining the skepticism of major Euro Zone powers over the ability of Greece to live up to its recent parliamentary vote over more austerity measures in order get bail out loans from its EZ partners…Example #2: The continued turmoil among Republicans in the GOP presidential race (although, forgive me if I remind readers that in my last column I indicated that if Mr. Romney lost or won by a small margin in South Carolina be prepared for a long primary season…) and the heretofore unlikely rise of former Senator Rick Santorum.
Our sources do confirm that Michigan will probably be closer than expected, but we also hear that Arizona will not be a cakewalk for Romney.
Governor Bryant's recent sober public comments about the need to really create the promised jobs related to the State Port at Gulfport are a signal that his Administration understands that not everyone agrees with how progress is occurring with that project. HUD's FFY 2013 budget relies significantly on "savings" in order to meet budget expenditure levels. In fact there is an almost $7 billion gap between actual authorized dollars for HUD in the Administration's proposed budget for FFY 2013 and proposed program expenditures. The gap is supposed to be filled with revenues that are to come from fees charged by the Federal Housing Administration and Ginnie Mae for their mortgage products, and offsets gathered from programs that have "excess" funds from wherever Office of Management and Budget and HUD bean counters can find them.
Could unused disaster funds fall into this category?
Finally, if you haven't been successful with an SBA loan or working through normal channels with your bank, there may be a low cost lending program and a small grant program sponsored by the Federal Home Loan Bank system that might be able to help you. Without taking up a lot of space here, suffice to say that the Federal Home Loan Bank system is the least known of the three major Government Sponsored Enterprises associated with banking and affordable housing and community development in the U. S. (The other two are Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.) The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas which works with banks in the South inclusive of Mississippi, has special lending programs through its members (i.e., commercial banks, credit unions, insurance companies and community development financial institutions) targeted to help small businesses. The programs are limited, but since they are not well known, there is always a chance that access to those programs may be available…
Image of the Month
Satellite Images Show Syrian Tanks Inside Restive City
Credit: DigitalGlobe
DigitalGlobe Inc. recently released photos that appear to show Syrian army tanks and other armored vehicles in the city of Homs. Stephen Wood, director of DigitalGlobe's analysis center, said the photos show tanks, armored personnel carriers and other armored vehicles in the southern part of the city, some of them near apartment buildings.
Items of Interest
Esri Announces Keynote Speakers for Federal GIS Conference
Space Ref
Deputy secretary of the US Department of the Interior David J. Hayes and US Department of Agriculture chief information officer Christopher L. Smith will give keynote addresses at the Esri Federal GIS Conference February 22–24 in Washington, DC. This event will bring together over 2,700 federal government professionals who use Esri's geographic information system (GIS) technology in nearly every agency…
Read more: sacbee.com
GIS Technology Plays Important Role to Map Disease and Health Trends
DirectionsMag.com
Thanks to the advancements in geographic information systems (GIS technologies and mapping applications like ArcGIS, health organizations worldwide are mapping disease and sickness trends in an effort to treat them locally and globally…
Read more: directionsmag.com
FAA Bill Creates Opportunities for Geospatial Professionals
DirectionsMag.com
On Feb. 14, 2012, after five years of legislative issues, a temporary two-week shutdown of the FAA and 23 stopgap measures, President Obama signed into law the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (H.R. 658). The bill speeds the nation's switch from radar to an air traffic control system based on GPS technology called the Next Generation Air Transportation System. The bill will also open U.S skies to unmanned drone flights in less than four years.
The bill authorizes $63.4 billion for the FAA, including about $11 billion toward the air traffic system and its modernization. It sets a deadline of June 2015 for the FAA to develop new arrival procedures at the nation's 35 busiest airports so planes can land using the more advanced, precise GPS navigation…
Read more: pobonline.com
GIS Technology Helps Health Care Industry Save Lives
DigitalJournal.com
The health care industry is using GIS (Geographic Information Systems) to save lives. By analyzing geographical health care data, public health and hospital officials are able to make better decisions for patients, increase accessibility to services…
Read more: digitaljournal.com
Did you know the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF) recently announced the opening of its 2012 Scholarship Program? Last year the Foundation awarded $94,000 to 20 recipients and plans to award $100,000 for the 2012 program. Five Ph.D. candidates, eight master's students, five undergraduates and two graduating high school seniors received scholarships from the 2011 program. High school recipients received $2,000 scholarships, and all others received $5,000 scholarships. Since 2004, USGIF has donated $480,000 to promising students in the geospatial intelligence field…
Read more: marketwatch.com
NVision Solutions Receives Accolades from U.S. Army Corp of Engineers
The United States Army Corp of Engineers recently presented NVision Solutions, Inc. with a Certificate of Appreciation for exceptional achievement in supporting the Mississippi Valley Division's New Orleans District in the execution of Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System mission. NVision's outstanding achievement is in keeping with the finest traditions of public service. The certificate was presented by Colonel Edward R. Fleming of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
EIGS IN THE NEWS
NVision Gains Another Esri Professional Certification
GISuser.com
NVision Solutions, Inc., is proud to announce Software Development Manager Kevin Bupp, has recently been awarded Esri Technical…
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WorldWinds, Inc. Wins Contract to Create New Weather Information …
GISuser.com
Slidell, LA-- WorldWinds Inc. announced today it has been competitively selected to develop new weather data sets for broadcast television derived from…
[Read more]
Global Perspectives
NASA to help Tunisia manage water resources through space remote sensing
People's Daily Online
A project funded by the regional center for remote sensing of water resources in North African states (CRTEAN) was launched on Monday in Tunis during a workshop with the assistance of NASA. The project which will run from 2012 through 2015 will focus…
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Google, World Bank use Map Maker to improve Africa's disaster response
IDG News Service
Google has agreed to provide the World Bank and its partner organizations -- including governments and UN agencies -- with access to Google Map Maker underlying geospatial data including detailed map information on more than 150 countries…
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the full article]
Infant space agency says foundations being laid for launch of SA programme
Creamer Media's Engineering News
In terms of recent developments, "we've rolled out our infrastructure for geospatial monitoring – the South African Geospatial Observation Network", states Malinga. "This is a network of a number of instruments around the country to collect geospatial…
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the full article]
National Geospatial Act On The Cards
Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 16 (Bernama) -- The National Geospatial Act is being formulated to improve governance and control of geospatial activities undertaken by government agencies and the private sector in the country. Natural Resources and Environment…
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the full article]
The Sensor (Full text)
Tell our readers about Waggoner Engineering and your role with the company. If you will, please touch on the 30+ year history of the company and how it's grown into much more than a traditional engineering firm.
Waggoner: Waggoner began business in 1976 providing conventional engineering and survey services to public and private sector clients. We historically built our core capabilities in areas such as civil, transportation, aviation, structural, water & wastewater, environmental engineering, and mapping. Through the years, however, we have grown and adapted to the needs of our clients, so that we also provide services such as strategic planning, funding assistance, program management, grant administration, and infrastructure implementation.
The Sensor: Waggoner has a rich track record of serving a wide range of customers and industries. Can you give us an idea of who your customers are and how they use your services/products?
Waggoner: The majority of Waggoner's customers are in the public sector, and include communities, counties, state agencies, and multi-jurisdictional coalitions. These customers might range from a small community that needs help with funding for a water well or modeling a sewer system, to an agency like MDEQ who needs to implement state-wide development of Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps.
The Sensor: What have been some of Waggoner Engineering's greatest successes? Greatest challenges?
Waggoner: We consider it a great success when we can help our clients find solutions to their challenges through developing long-term, partnering relationships with them. This often involves finding ways to bring together multiple parties with diverse interests to achieve common goals; maybe several cities and a county; multiple public bodies or state agencies; or maybe a program with several funding sources at the local, state and federal levels. One example is the opportunity to serve the state and its citizens through implementation of post-Katrina recovery efforts along the Coast, such as the Gulf Region Water and Wastewater Program.
The Sensor: Waggoner Engineering was recognized by the American Council of Engineering Companies for a redevelopment project that transformed and preserved the Pelahatchie Historic Overlay District in Pelahatchie. Tell our readers about the award and the project.
Waggoner: Waggoner worked closely with Mayor Knox Ross to turn an outdated but vital area of Pelahatchie into an inviting downtown environment, implementing upgrades to the buildings and traffic lanes in the overlay district that improved the feel of this Mississippi town. For example, at the center of the downtown district where 2nd Street and Brooke Street intersect, the Pelahatchie logo and additional designs were imprinted into the asphalt; an old hardware store was transformed into a vibrant community center; and the parking lot serving the community center and parking along 2nd Street, the main drag downtown, were all redesigned to accommodate the upgrades. Building materials were re-used in the design of the community center. Additionally, improvements to the fire station, city hall, and a new library complement the downtown district. Since the City completed these projects, other businesses downtown have improved their facilities and facades making the Pelahatchie community a better place to work and live.
The Sensor: Waggoner Engineering is a long-time member of Mississippi's geospatial cluster including now through the Magnolia Business Alliance. Why are business advocacy groups important for companies like Waggoner Engineering?
Waggoner: Waggoner endeavors to remain on the forefront of innovation in our industry and we have come to value and appreciate the benefits of participation in groups like EIGS, the Magnolia Business Alliance, and other professional organizations. A few of these benefits include opportunities for education & development, exchange of ideas, and business networking.
The Sensor: Tell our readers what is on the horizon for Waggoner Engineering?
Waggoner: Waggoner is cognizant of the challenges that the current economic climate poses for our business and for existing and potential customers throughout Mississippi and our other markets. However, we also see unprecedented opportunities on the horizon. And, if we continue to successfully apply our watch words of "perspective, passion, innovation" we are confident of a bright future not only for our business but for the friends and customers whom we serve.
About Waggoner Engineering, Inc. (WEI):
offers a sweeping array of services including civil engineering and surveying, environmental engineering, transportation engineering, water resource engineering, geographic information systems, strategic planning, economic development planning, and marketing research. WEI has over 35 licensed design professionals and a total staff of more than 90 employees, located in three offices in Mississippi and two offices in Louisiana. Quality, innovation, responsiveness, and cost-effectiveness are implemented by project managers with professional credentials in engineering, land surveying, landscape architecture and urban planning. For more information, visit www.waggonereng.com.
