Annual Conference & Exposition - Tuesday Schedule

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Pre Conference Workshops

(Attendees must pre-register for Pre Conference Workshops. Class limit is
40 people and registration is on a first come, first served basis)

For more than forty years, URISA has been the center for information exchange among professionals dealing with urban and regional issues. The annual conference workshops have been and are considered some of the best real-world and practical learning experiences for attendees. Attendance at one pre-conference workshop is included in your full conference registration (normally a $195 fee). Workshops are designed to be classroom experiences and are limited to 40 attendees each. Registrations will be allocated on a first-come, first served basis, so register early!

Two NEW workshops are being introduced at URISA 2008…all others have undergone a significant yearly review and update.

Workshop 2
Addresses and IS/GIS Implementation: Key to GIS Success

Street addresses are the key, user-friendly geospatial identifier used by everyone, but addressing processes are usually poorly organized at the local level. This workshop will help you understand the addressing process, managing address data, and organizational challenges. It will guide you in developing a Master Address Repository that serves the needs of the entire organization. The workshop will also review the new draft Federal Geographic Data Committee Street Address Data Standard (in review), and help you understand how the standard can help you build quality address data.

Specific topics include:

• What is an address?
• What are the types of address?
• How are addressing systems structured, and addresses assigned?
• How do you develop a Master Address Repository
• Geocoding and managing addresses in the GIS
• Organizational Issues with Addressing
• Working with the FGDC Street Address Data Standard

Intended Audience: GIS Managers, staff members who assign, maintain or use addresses. This workshop will focus on managing address workflows, address data, and use.

Presented by:

• Martha Wells, GISP, Spatial Focus Inc., Birmingham, AL
  
• Randal Krejcarek, PE, City Engineer, City of Delray Beach, FL
  

Workshop 3
An Overview of Open Source GIS Software

Free and open source software (FOSS) has been offering choices to computer users for a number of years. Over the past few years the open source choices in GIS have been broader and more capable than ever before. This workshop will focus on GIS open source software. It will give an overview of current developments from technical and management perspectives. Selected packages and their applications in various projects will be demonstrated and discussed.

Specific topics include:

• Open Source GIS background and development
• Overview of Open Source GIS spatial functionalities
• Live demonstration
• Interoperability: The Open Source GIS spectrum
• Planning and implementation issues

Intended Audience: Anyone interested in free and open source geographic information system software. The workshop will suit both managerial and technical needs and it does not require any prerequisites.

Presented by:

• Sara Yurman, Spatial Focus, Inc., Decatur, GA
• Carl Anderson, GISP, Fulton County, Atlanta, GA
  

Workshop 4
Asset Management: Planning, Strategy, and Implementation

Public and private agencies face continuous challenges to accomplish more with less as increases in demand, regulatory requirements, infrastructure deterioration, and political and economic forces have significantly outpaced increases in capital and operating budgets. Many of these agencies are turning to Asset Management to cope with these challenges and improve business performance and effectiveness. This workshop will focus on several aspects of developing an asset management system that could help improve performance, reduce long-term costs, and maximize return on investment in infrastructure assets.

Specific topics include:

• Strategy and planning
• Data collection methods
• Software solutions
• Information management and decision support tools
• Evaluation and performance measures
• GASB34 reporting
• Life cycle costs

Intended Audience: This workshop is intended for utility, transportation, engineering, planning, and environmental managers and analysts of the public and private sectors.

Presented by:

• Jason Amadori, GISP, Data Transfer Solutions LLC, Orlando, FL
• Allen Ibaugh, GISP, Data Transfer Solutions, Orlando, FL

Workshop 5
Best Practices for Developing Geographic Information Models

Even with decades of experience, effective design of a GIS database remains a combination of art and science. This workshop shows how you can build on your existing data and skills to take advantage of the latest generation of GIS tools and practices for database design. After an introduction to the fundamental concepts of GIS database design, we will present and discuss case studies of GIS databases designed for managing land parcels, inventorying municipal facilities for emergency preparedness, and automating a permit application. In the exercises, you will develop portions of conceptual, logical and physical data models. Through these case studies of successful and effective systems, you will gain a better understanding of the issues you can face, as well as the tools and processes you can apply, in developing many other kinds of systems.

Specific topics include:

• The key phases in iterative database design
• Developing use cases
• Ten steps to follow for conceptual, logical, and physical information modeling
• Using database templates to build on your existing data sources
• Understanding the relationships between your map layers and geographic database objects

Intended Audience: This material is intended for technical managers and designers of GIS databases and applications. Skilled database users will also benefit. No programming experience is required.

Presented by:

• David Arctur, OGC Interoperability Institute, Austin, TX
• Doug M. Adams, Baltimore County, Towson, MD
  

Workshop 6
Building Quality Spatial Data NEW

Spatial data plays a big part in the Information Age, from on-line mapping services to downloadable data from thousands of government agencies. Do you always trust spatial data? Do your users trust your GIS data? Creating and maintaining accurate spatial data is one of the keys to a successful GIS implementation. Without quality data, the most user-friendly GIS will not be accepted and used by it’s intended audience. This course will present best practices, processes, quality control and quality assurance techniques for developing and maintaining high quality spatial data that users will trust and utilize.

Specific topics include:

• Guidelines for selecting the appropriate levels of quality and accuracy
• Establishing an effective data quality control program
• Data conversion quality control / quality assurance
• How to attack and defeat quality problems
• High quality processes lead to high quality data
• Principles and processes for statistics-based quality assurance testing

Intended Audience: Project managers and technical staff creating or maintaining spatial data, GIS users considering acquiring or developing new spatial data – both in the government and private sectors, and spatial data users who need a better understanding of how quality data is developed.

Presented by:

• Andrew Baranowski, GISP, Camp Dresser & Mc Kee Inc., Fort Lauderdale, FL
• Edward Kura, GISP, CDM, Orlando, FL
  

Workshop 7
GIS Enterprise Architecture & System Integration

The objective of this workshop is to examine both GIS enterprise architecture and the integration between various systems (GIS included) in an organization. Workshop instructors will examine the past, current, and future of GIS within an enterprise context, and apply the experience, discipline, and future direction of the Information Systems (IS) profession to Geographic Information Systems (GIS). This workshop will provide GIS professionals with an understanding of some of the complex technical and specific technical management issues that must be addressed when developing a corporate GIS.

Specific topics include:

• Definitions of enterprise GIS
• Definitions of system integration
• Architecture design and development
• Management and phasing of enterprise environments
• Staffing and maintenance of enterprise environments
• Network, data and web architectures and roles in the enterprise
• Open systems and standards
• Future issues and trends

Intended Audience: This workshop is intended for public and private sector managers, elected officials, and policy professionals, database developers and administrators, and GIS professionals.

Presented by:

• Karen Stewart, GISP, ESRI Canada Limited, Vancouver, BC Canada
• Tom Pattison, ESRI, Redlands, CA
  

Workshop 8
GIS Program Management

Today, most government organizations have some type of GIS programs in place. They vary from being in their early stages, to rebuilding or tuning up phase, to completely being changed as new technologies and applications emerge. This workshop is designed to provide guidelines for managing your GIS program. It will look at the various organizational and technical issues program managers must address in order to develop a successful GIS program. The discussions will include managing all aspects of a GIS program from staffing and budgeting to procuring technology and working with vendors. A variety of real world examples will be presented showing a range of GIS programs and their implementations. This workshop presents an overview of successful and unsuccessful techniques for implementing GIS.

Specific topics include:

• Program development
• Project management techniques
• Budgeting
• Staffing
• Sustaining program support
• And managing consultants and vendors

Intended Audience: GIS Program Management is a must for anyone embarking upon a GIS program, involved with a less-than-successful GIS, or who is seeking ways to improve a successful implementation.

Presented by:

• Peter Croswell, GISP, Croswell-Schulte, Frankfort, KY
• Greg Babinski, GISP, King County, Seattle, WA
  

Workshop 9
GIS Strategic Planning NEW

Strategic planning is a vital tool for all geospatial programs, at any stage of development. An effective strategic plan is crucial to ensuring that a GIS program gets started right. As a GIS program matures, strategic planning methods are important tools for program management, program review, responding to change, and solving problems. An effective strategic plan will help you win program approval and funding, ensure that program goals and return on investment are achieved, and keep a program on track in a changing environment. This course teaches strategic planning methods and tools in the context of developing and managing a GIS program. Participants will learn how to successfully select and apply appropriate methods for a variety of situations.

Specific topics include:

• Strategic planning models, methods, and tools
• Selecting and applying the best approach for any GIS situation
• Developing an initial GIS strategic plan
• Integrating GIS, IT, and organizational strategic plans
• Developing an effective action plan and ensuring follow-through
• Updating a GIS strategic plan
• Conducting a GIS program review and effecting improvement

Intended Audience: GIS managers and staff, GIS users and program participants, and managers, executives, and other professionals who are involved with GIS programs.

Presented by:

• Rebecca Somers,Somers St Claire GIS Management Consultants, Fairfax, VA
• Louise Fragala, Powell, Fragala & Associates, Inc., Lakeland, FL
  

Workshop 10
An Introduction to Public Participation GIS: Using GIS to Support Community Decision Making

As GIS becomes more widely available, many organizations and community groups are taking GIS out of the back room and are using it in public settings. Using GIS technology to engage various “publics” in decision making requires more than traditional GIS skills. This course focuses on the process of entering into this type of engagement. It will also review how GIS techniques and software can be adapted for use in community settings. Using real world examples, the course will explore both government and community-led projects that encourage citizen participation and engagement. Although this workshop will be focused on PPGIS within North America our case studies will illustrate the wide variability in the presence of governmental, societal, and technological infrastructure in different communities.

Specific topics include:

• PPGIS for civic engagement
• Principles and methods of community organizing and engagement
• Innovative use of technologies
• Visual communication

Intended Audience: Individuals who have GIS experience and want to expand their skills to reach out and engage the public. Participants should be well versed in GIS general practices and analysis.

Presented by:

• Judy Colby-George, GISP, Spatial Alternatives Inc., Yarmouth, ME
• Laxmi Ramasubramanian, Hunter College of The City University of New York, New York, NY
  

Workshop 11
LIDAR Concepts, Principals and Applications

LIDAR (LIght Detection And Ranging) has become widely accepted tool to generate accurate terrain models used in a variety of GIS applications. This workshop will provide an overview of this exciting technology. A history of this advanced mapping tool will be discussed as well as a review it’s current and future trends. The workshop will describe potential applications and will provide case studies of how this data has been used by agencies throughout the United States.

Specific topics include:

• LIDAR technology summary and how it works
• Terminology and specifications
• Airborne acquisition, mapping workflow and post processing methods
• Quality control pointers and potential error sources
• LIDAR processing software demonstration
• Future trends in the technology
• Case studies from exemplary projects

Intended Audience: This workshop is for newcomers to the LIDAR technology who want to get a basic understanding of how the tool works, what the map production workflow is like, and how they may be able to incorporate this type of data into their GIS.

Presented by:

• Brian Raber, GISP, Merrick & Company, Aurora, CO
• Doug Jacoby, GISP, Merrick & Company, Aurora, CO
  

Workshop 12
Public Data, Public Access, Privacy, and Security: U.S. Law and Policy

As data distribution capacities increase, there is increasing tension between access to public records as a foundation of a free society, citizen expectations of confidentiality, and protection of public security. What data are subject to Freedom of Information laws? What about privacy restrictions and homeland security concerns? Can a government raise revenue (or defray maintenance costs) by charging market prices for the data? What about liability for data errors? This workshop will focus on the critical legal issues and the policy options they frame.

Specific topics include:

• State and federal Freedom of Information laws
• State and federal informational privacy laws
• Secrecy and homeland security protections
• Balancing public access, privacy, and secrecy
• Data sales vs. data access
• Protecting ownership and minimizing liability
• Policy and technical considerations

Intended Audience: This workshop is intended for public sector managers, elected officials, and policy professionals, database developers and administrators, and GIS professionals.

Presented by:

• Ed Wells, GISP, Washington Metro Area Transit Authority, Washington, DC
• Mary Tsui, Land Systems Group, Monterey, CA
  

First-Time Attendee Orientation Meeting
5:15 – 5:45 PM

Registration & General Information