After the Titans released Vince Young I thought it would be fun to create a map of the latest Tweets about the Titans snd Vince Young.
TITANS
VINCE YOUNG
GEO-Jobe GIS Consulting a division of W. D. Schock Company, Inc. has begun a three year GIS project at the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport (BTR). The goal is to combine GIS and airport management in an innovative manner that will enhance many aspects of the airport’s operations. The key component of this project is the implementation of a web-based GIS that will serve not only as a centralized location for updated spatial information about the airport and surrounding properties, but also as a means of conducting workflow processes such as tracking maintenance repairs and building reports. The project is currently scheduled to last about three years, and should benefit almost all of the departments within the airport.
The first phase of this multi-year project consists of data collection and installation of required hardware and software. The system runs on a local ArcGIS server that integrates airport data and provides the opportunity for replicating this data on a city, parish, or statewide level. Existing GIS datasets are being collected from local government agencies and added to the airport’s geodatabase. Once the datasets are added, the Airport Layout Plan (eALP) and other CAD drawings for utilities and floor plans will be converted into a GIS format and added to the geodatabase making it accessible through the map application. As changes are made to these types of documents, they will be updated in the geodatabase, allowing the map application to always maintain the most up-to-date airport information. This will benefit the airport significantly with FAA’s guidelines that regulate the accuracy of spatial data. It will also assist the airport in generating current maps for analysis, planning, and reporting purposes.
In addition to spatial data, GEO-Jobe will also help the airport manage and reduce its paperwork using the DocSTAR document management system. Once scanned into DocSTAR, a document’s text is archived using Optical Character Recognition technology. It is then classified and made fully searchable and retrievable to all airport employees with necessary security clearances via a web application that works similar to most library catalogs. These documents will also be linked to features and areas on the airport’s map application once they have been filed in the DocSTAR system. The documents are currently scattered across different computers in different departments throughout the airport. The integrated DocSTAR system will be on the centralized map application where information can be accessed from anywhere with permission.
The later stages of this project will involve additions to the map application that will further increase the workflow efficiency of the airport. These additions will effect the Operations and Emergency/Safety Departments at the airport and will greatly improve the overall operations and security for airport personnel and its passengers. Through these integrated aspects of the project, GEO-Jobe will provide the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport with much more than a map. They will have a spatially-oriented, centralized system that will be utilized for storing, accessing, updating, and producing data about their facilities. It will also greatly increase the efficiency of the everyday workflow processes and security measures, saving the airport both time and money. Overall, this project highlights the needs and possibilities for GIS in the airport industry while mapping out the future of AirportGIS.
Trimble has just released its latest software upgrade, TerraSync Version 5.00 (along with GPS Pathfinder Office Version 5.00). The software includes an array of new features, changes, and benefits. TerraSync is known as a field software for highly-productive GIS data collection and maintenance and is the leading application for professional GNSS field data collection and asset maintenance. Version 5.00 has made TerraSync an even more intuitive data capture experience for the field worker, has created better in-the-field quality conrol of data capture, and can be more easily set-up, deployed, and learned. Trimble’s new versions have taken a great leap into data capture usability, so much so, that I almost want to get back out in the field and collect some data. I think Trimble’s overall goal was to simplify the data collection experience. It has given more power to the manager, increased production capacities, decreased chances of erroneous configurations, and reduced training time. 
New Key Features and Benefits of Version 5.00
Version 5.00 displays background maps 25x faster than the previous versions of TerraSync increasing the typical speed by 10x. It also has the ability to display larger background files that competing data capture applications poorly load, or simply can’t load at all.
Trimble is calling one of their new functions the “Effortless GIS Feature Selection.” Data collectors are provided a quick visual selection of features from a button-panel that is easier to use on the move and when you are wearing gloves. This means no more frost-bitten fingers, quicker feature selection, and enhanced performance.
New Visual Data Collection Controls include graphical picklists, check boxes, and radio buttons that can be easily viewed and contain pattern recognition. You can also select attributes from an image gallery providing instant visual confirmation. You can easily adapt paper forms to the screen and provide collapsible and expandable sections for viewing.
Intelligent Data Collection enables the user to adapt a form to the data already entered and changes attribute behavior and default values. You have the opportunity to view/hide information from the field worker. Your crew will only see the fields needed to complete the job, providing less clutter and distraction, leading to higher data productivity. Auto-populate repeated attributes! If your crew has a long line of (almost identical features to capture, Version 5.00 allows them to repeat upon selection at the attribute level.
How is it more User-Friendly? The interface simplifies the TerraSync application for field workers, removes functionality and options that could distract employees, reduces the chance of erroneous configurations, and reduces training time simply by reducing the need to educate users about functionality they will not use. In addition, features, attributes, and list selection (menu) are no longer contrained by cryptic GIS database terms and has descreased abbreviations by extending their character length to 40-characters.
Oh, I almost forgot. There is a customizable interface…
Facebook Places was launched last week in an effort to connect history with geography. According to an article in CNET news, “Facebook Places will not just collect location check-ins, it’ll allow for messages and comments and pictures to be aggregated around them, creating a sort of ‘collective memory’ that places a layer of Facebook-published narrative atop the physical world.”
Facebook users are able to share their location in real-time using an iPhone or a web page accessed through a mobile browser that supports HTML 5 and geolocation. Checking in sends a message to friends News Feeds and shows up in the Recent Activity list associated with the relevant Place page. Places also allows users to tag friends who are present in a location, just as they can tag friends in photos posted to Facebook.
Does Facebook Places have what it takes to make Foursquare (a popular location sharing network) obsolete? Many location based services have had trouble getting users to continue checking-in (check-in fatigue). Foursquare offers incentives to its users while Facebook’s Places does not offer any extra thrills. However, according to InformationWeek, Facebook’s acquisition of Hot Potato was publicized on Friday. The speculated $10-$15 million acquisition should lead to some Hot Potato integration into Facebook’s Places application. What do other location-sharing services offer to overcome check-in fatigue, and will Facebook Places end up suffering from this debilitating condition? Take a look in PC World’s article.
How is it competing with Google? If your business is a brick and mortar location that customers visit in person, odds are good that it will end up in Facebook Places whether you put it there or not. Even if you don’t choose to take advantage of Facebook Places to promote business, you should still claim ownership of your place to ensure the information is accurate. By claiming your place, you are able to edit the address, business hours, profile picture, contact information, and other settings such as designating administrative authorization to alter the Places page. Read more on how to claim your Business in the San Francisco Chronicle.
The majority of the authors that are writing about Facebook Places seem to believe that the application is fairly useless, gimmicky, and borderline creepy. However, I believe that Facebook is turning to the right direction as GIS becomes a more useful tool in our everyday lives. At an FAA conference, in Dallas, TX, a speaker suggested that although the need for GIS is not understood by many non-GIS players, neither was the internet and email at one time. It will be interesting to see what Facebook and developers will do with Places and how it will compete with Google Latitude.
Please share your thoughts about Facebook’s Places with us by leaving us a comment.
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Recent infrared aerial photographs of the Nashville area flooding were taken by TN Department of Transportation. Generally TDOT charges for their imagery, however, according to folks at TDOT, these photos may soon become available to state and local governments for free.
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TDOT flew Monday, May 3rd – Saturday, May 7th over major flood areas. As you can imagine, some of the later photos taken Friday and Saturday did not capture the full flood epidemic. The good news is that we have the flight patterns. Hopefully some of you will be able to incorporate these photos into your GIS soon.
No wonder it took all week, they flew all over the place! Oh, and thanks for the screenshots Google Earth. -We obtained all data through a standard query using appropriate communication channels.
After attending this meeting, I felt compelled to go out and create maps to share with the world! The FREE ESRI Seminar was held in Phoenix, AZ about three weeks ago, give or take two weeks… 
The Seminar showed how ESRI can help create easier and faster maps using their tools and sharing information (“But it’s mine!”-my son’s and wife’s favorite line). If you missed the seminar, go to another one. They have a free series that travels around United States to bring you information for the price of you not being so dang lazy…even though that is the ultimate goal, to have your information resources make the “best” decision for you while you spend the least amount of effort making the decision, win-win, right?.. Okay back to the Seminar.
The seminar was broken down into sections. Here is a resource list that might be helpful to those who both did and did not attend based off of the seminars agenda.
Session 1 Building Basemap
- Map Template Gallery (Download professionally designed templates to make better, faster maps). http://resources.esri.com/maptemplates
- Best Practices for Working with Map Templates (Free one-hour online training seminar. Learn tips on creating professionally designed maps using cartographically rich map templates and your data). http://www.esri.com/training
- ESRI Mapping Center (ArcGIS cartographic tips). http://mappingcenter.esri.com
- Cartographic Representations (Learn to symbolize your data). http://www.esri.com/representations
- Labeling with Maplex for ArcGIS (Documentation for Maplex for ArcGIS includes a 60 day trial). http://www.esri.com/maplexdocumentation
- Creating and Publishing Maps with ArcGIS (Instructor-led training course. Learn techniques for creating professional quality maps using a standard cartographic workflow). http://www.esri.com/training
- ArcGIS Community Basemap Program (Contribute or obtain authoritative geographic data from this ESRI-hosted, GIS community map). http://www.esri.com/communitymaps
Session 1-A Deploying the Map
- Using Data from Different Coordinate Systems http://www.esri.com/article34129
- Managing and Configuring ArcGIS Server (ESRI White Papers). http://www.esri.com/serverwhitepapers
- Geodatabase Replication http://www.esri.com/article34131
- Authoring and Deploying Fast Web Maps (Free one-hour online training seminar. Learn best practices for designing and publishing map services). http://www.esri.com/training
- How to Plan a Map Cache http://www.esri.com/mapcache
Session 2 Sharing Content
- ArcGIS Online (Sign up for free) (You will receive 1 GB of free storage, making it easier to share content with others through groups you either participate in or create). http://www.arcgisonline.com
- How to Get Started Using ArcGIS Online (Online video). http://www.arcgisonline.com/help/help.htm
- Layer Packages http://www.esri.com/layerpackages
- Sharing Layer Packages with ArcGIS Explorer (This blog post explains how to create good layer packages for sharing maps and content). http://www.esri.com/agxlayerpackages
- Creating Models (Online Video). http://www.esri.com/creatingmodels
- Introduction to ArcGIS Server (Instructor-led training course. Develop skills in authoring and sharing GIS content on the Web or across your organization). http://www.esri.com/training
- ArcGIS Explorer (download for free) (Start visualizing, analyzing, and presenting your content now. http://www.esri.com/arcgisexplorer
- ArcGIS Explorer Quick-Start Tutorial (Free one-hour online training seminar. Learn the basics of working with ArcGIS Explorer and how to create dynamic geopresentations in ArcGIS Explorer) http://www.esri.com/training
- Enhance ArcGIS Explorer with Add-on Tools (Click/Search: TOOLS) http://www.arcgisonline.com
I’m not going to tell you what’s coming in ArcGIS 10.
Look How EASY I Made It For You. Let me know if you want me to also read them off and click the links…
We received this message from ga parks and would like to share it with you!
I thought you’d like to know that Georgia State Parks is launching a statewide geocaching program called the Geo-Challenge and you and your readers are welcome to join in!
Starting May 8th, you’ll find an official cache page for each Georgia State Park (all 42) on http://www.geocaching.com. Many thanks to all the volunteer members of the Georgia Geocachers Association for placing and maintaining the caches! A complete list of participating parks and links to each cache page will live at http://www.gaparksgeocaching.com after the 8th.
You and your friends are invited to the kickoff event, May 8th, at Fort Yargo State Park. It’ll be a day of food, fun and of course, geocaching. This will coincide with the monthly meeting of the Georgia Geocachers Association. More details about the event and the program are available at http://www.gaparksgeocaching.com or you can call 404-657-9858.
Hope to see you there!
Just when you thought “emo” couldn’t get any more, well, “emo”…
Since 2004, over 2000 people from 25 different cities around the world have participated in Christian Nold’s Bio Mapping experiment. Using a GPS and GRS (Galvanic Skin Response) device (invented by Nold), Nold maps variant emotional responses of people as they travel through a city. The bio-sensor (GRS device), which is based on a lie-dectector, measures changes in the sweat level of the wearers’ fingers and the GPS captures response geographically. The assumption is that these changes are an indication of emotional intensity that is tracked by the GPS device and later mapped in Google Earth. I wonder what the map would look like at a Dashboard Confessional concert…
The London based artist, describes the unique mapping experience as a “total inversion of the lie-detector, which supposes that the body tells the truth, while we lie with our spoken words.” He further explains, “With Bio Mapping, people’s interpretation and public discussion of their own data becomes the true and meaningful record of their experience. Talking about their body data in this way, they are generating a new type of knowledge combining ‘objective’ biometric data and geographical position, with the ‘subjective story’ as a new kind of psychogeography.”
Although I joke about connecting emotions with geography, Nold’s device opens up a world of new marketing and psycho/social research capabilities. It also presses on the ever increasing questions of emergence of technology and the human emotion. Read also has an online book containing a collection of essays called Emotional Cartography.
Google added the Google Earth plugin to their Google Maps site. If you haven’t already downloaded the plugin, you can now do so through Google Maps. 
Our Crew Chief, Mark Young II, collects manhole data with the Town of Smyrna, TN. He is usually paired with one of three (water and sewer) department staff and averages about 50 manholes a day. While collecting manhole data with Freddy Hedgepath, they hit a wave of momentum and collected data for 96 manholes before having to retire early for office work that afternoon. “If we can get 96 (manholes) in less than a full day, we can get to 100!” Mark explained that the competition started when he boasted Freddy’s numbers to the other two department staff he shares data collection hours with. 
The high collection number not only fired up competition among the three Smyrna staff members, but also increased their productivity, satisfaction, and responsibility in the data collection process. ”They (Smyrna Staff) were focused on getting the numbers and doing it right. It was no longer just another day collecting manholes.” The beauty behind the competition was that it was fertilizing business growth in an exciting and fun way. What ensued was a three week sprout of heavy data collection, with each day getting closer to that 100 mark. The competition ended when Mark and Smyrna staff member, Jason Schuler, collected 101 manholes before finally pooping out (those things are heavy!). The competition pushed out short term data collection efficiency up to 200% and has since influenced their overall data collection productivity 115%.
How could such a small goal make such a big splash? A lot of things came into play that you might not think about… Smyrna hired three competitive employees to work with Mark on the project. All three guys respect their co-workers to the point where “a little competition” won’t affect their personal relationships with one another. There was no bonus or extra vacation day given to the winner. The competition offered a mere ego boast to the winner. The weather did not stop (because of rain/storms) their data collection efforts for longer than two days in a row, enabling a continuous catalyst for competition. The goal was attainable and simple, making it more desirable to reach. Mark although a major part of the project was seen as a buffer, coach, and referee enabling the workers to feel like the competition was fair to all. The goal was set by a fellow employee, not the boss, so it was perceived as a choice rather than a “do it or get fired” necessity.
So if your other data collectors are getting a little pooped out from the “same ole, same ole,” don’t be a meadow muffin, try adding a little fun competition to their day!
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