GIS-Pro 2011: Workshops & Tuesday Conference Details
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Full conference registrants may attend one URISA Certified Workshop. Classroom size is limited so register early! Each workshop is described below. Attendance at a URISA Certified Workshop earns points towards GISP certification and renewal.
Just announced:
Two URISA Certified Workshops (Strategic Planning for GIS Program Development and Management and Public Data, Public Access, Privacy and Security: US Law and Policy) have recently been accepted by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) for Certification Maintenance credit!
Strategic Planning for GIS Program Development and Management
Instructors:
Rebecca Somers, GISP, Somers St Claire GIS Management Consultants, Fairfax, VA
Allen Ibaugh, AICP, GISP, Data Transfer Solutions, Orlando, FL
Strategic planning is a vital tool for all geospatial programs, at every 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
- Stratgic planning for problem solving, program expansion, and charting new directions
- Conducting a GIS program review and making improvements
Intended Audience: GIS managers and staff, GIS users and program participants, and managers, executives, and other professionals who are involved with GIS programs. CM 8
AICP members can earn Certification Maintenance (CM) credits for this activity. When CM credits are avialable, they are noted at the end of an activity description. More information about AICP's CM program can be found at www.planning.org/cm.
3D Geospatial: Introduction and Best Practices
Instructor: Tim Case, GISP, Wright Pierce, Sandwich, MA
3D technologies are advancing rapidly in the GIS profession and organizations of all sizes are creating content and systems to improve their delivery of services. Several urban governments are using complex 3D data and visualization tools to support emergency preparedness, urban planning, and many other business practices. Some state GIS agencies are creating 3D layers, and the offerings of many commercial resources are expanding every year. And yet, there are few resources available to learn best practices and see example implementations drawn from the experiences of early innovators around the world.
This workshop introduces the data, systems, and processes to be considered when implementing 3D geospatial applications. Using extensive case studies and several group exercises, attendees will learn how to navigate the dizzying array of options and prepare for a sustainable 3D practice.
Specific topics include:
- Guidelines for project implementations using 3D technologies
- Introduction to a wide range of 3D applications for data management, analysis, and visualization
- 3D data acquisition and update techniques
- An introduction to 3D data models, including emerging open standards and best practices for model development
- Case studies of urban and regional applications
Intended Audience: Project managers creating or maintaining 3D data, geospatial data analysts considering integration of 3D technology, and local and regional government leaders implementing 3D geospatial programs.
An Overview of Open Source GIS Software
Instructors:
Sara Yurman, GISP, Spatial Focus, Inc., Decatur, GA
Randal Hale, GISP, North River Geographic Systems, Inc., Chattanooga, TN
Open Source GIS is several software generations old now. 30 or more years of work have resulted in tools with enhanced spatial database capabilities. Many tools also offer GUI interfaces and first-rate interoperability. Most packages work across operating systems, opening new possibilities in a practical way. This workshop will sample from the broad spectrum of open source GIS, and explore the community-based development and support that makes it possible.
We will discuss methods of integrating open source software with existing GIS planning and infrastructure. Open Source solutions are not an "either-or" proposition, They can be integrated with existing commercial and proprietary applications and software systems to increase the flexibility and cost-effectiveness of your GIS solutions.
Software demonstrations will include:
- Desktop GIS
- The 5-minute map
- Connecting to various data sources
- 3D mapping
- Spatial databases, both enterprise and file-based
- Open Geospatial Consortuim Standards Implementations
- Web feature services (WFS)
- Web mapping services (WMS)
- Styled layer descriptions (SLD)
Software lists are distributed before class: bring a laptop and play along with the demonstrations. Workbooks include click-by-click instructions.
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.
Public Data, Public Access, Privacy and Security: US Law and Policy
Instructors:
Ed Wells, GISP, Washington Metro Area Transit Authority, Washington, DC
Mary Tsui, GISP, Land Systems Group, Monterey, CA
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, and policy professionals, database developers and administrators, and GIS professionals. CM 8
AICP members can earn Certification Maintenance (CM) credits for this activity. When CM credits are avialable, they are noted at the end of an activity description. More information about AICP's CM program can be found at www.planning.org/cm.
Business Intelligence & Data Integration for the GIS Professional
Instructors:
Carl Anderson, GISP, Spatial Focus, Inc., University Park, MD
Clare Brown, GISP, Regional Planning Commission, New Orleans, LA
This workshop covers the general topics of Business Intelligence (BI) and Data Integration (DI) and ways to add a spatial component to BI and DI systems. It will give GIS professionals the knowledge to identify and leverage opportunities to enhance decision support through interaction with existing BI frameworks or implementing a new BI framework
Specific topics include:
- Overview of GIS and Decision Support Systems
- Business Intelligence components, technologies and frameworks
- Developing a governance model for a BI framework
- Developing a Data Integration strategy
- Dashboards
- Data visualization
Intended Audience: GIS managers and anyone interested in planning or managing spatial data within a business intelligence or data integration environment.
Cartography and Map Design
Instructor: Kevin Kuhn, GISP, West Virginia GIS Technical Center, WVU, Morgantown, WV
An effective map portrays a place, delivers a message, or reveals a pattern with representational accuracy and visual clarity. How to make that happen is the subject of this workshop, which gives GIS practitioners the practical information and techniques needed to create effective, successful maps in any display medium.
Specific topics include:
- The cartographic process
- Map fundamentals
- Map data
- Making the map – conceptualization and planning
- Making the map – design and production
- Making the map – editing, Q/A, output, and reproduction
Intended Audience: This workshop is designed for the individual who may be new to GIS or who has not had specific training in cartography, but needs to create maps to support GIS data analysis and display. It will also be useful for GIS managers to understand how to manage a major cartographic project effectively.
Tuesday Evening Events include:
- Speed Networking Event for first-time attendees and anyone who wants to expand their professional network!
User Group Meeting - 6:00 - 7:30 PM
Join Esri staff, veteran users of Esri’s geographic information system (GIS) technology, and those interested in learning more about leveraging the software in any industry. You’ll explore the latest in ArcGIS tools and strategies, discover how everyone can leverage the geographic knowledge you create, and get answers to your questions. See demonstrations of quick and easy map
publishing and advanced analysis. Plus, hear key information shared at last summer’s Esri International User Conference. Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be served.
Registration and Travel Information
