In-Depth Workshop Course Descriptions

URISA Certified Workshop
Course Descriptions

Field Force Automation and mGovernment

As mobile computing technologies continue to improve, many State and local governments are employing them to improve operations and provide better services to the public. Two rapidly growing application areas for mobile computing include field force automation and mGovernment. Field force automation refers to the use of mobile technologies to assist field workers such as maintenance crews and inspectors in the completion of their tasks. mGovernment is an extension of eGovernment that uses wireless networks to reach out to a public that is increasingly accessible through sophisticated mobile phones and PDA's.  

This workshop is designed to provide local government managers with practical guidelines for building effective field force automation and mGovernment programs.The workshop will have distinct sections on field force automation and mGovernment.  

Specific topics include the following:

Field Force Automation Section

• Practical guidelines for building a mobile GIS
• Business drivers for moving GIS technology and data into the field
• Alternative strategies for implementing GIS-based field solutions
• Overcoming obstacles to automating field processes
• Mobile applications security
• Steps in the mobility implementation process

MGovernment Section

• mGovernment overview
• Relationship to eGovernment
• Developing an mGovernment plan
• Technical components of mGovernment
• Information security
• Case studies

Intended Audience: Supervisors and managers responsible for overseeing field workers. GIS and IT department managers interested in mobilizing user applications or extending their eGovernment programs to the mobile environment. Government executives interested in providing information and services to the public via mobile devices and wireless networks.

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3D Geospatial: Project Implementation Methods and Best Practices

The convergence of new technologies and business requirements is fostering a new wave of 3D geospatial applications that allow users to access virtual built environments.  Urban governments are using complex 3D data and visualization tools to support emergency preparedness, urban planning, and many other business practices.  This course introduces the data, systems, and processes to be considered when implementing 3D applications.  Using structured project management methodology and extensive case studies, attendees will learn how to navigate the dizzying array of options and prepare for a sustainable 3D geospatial practice.

Specific topics include the following:

• Guidelines for project implementations using 3D technologies
• Introduction to 3D visualization, analysis, and simulation technologies
• Aerial and terrestrial 3D data creation methods, as well as update techniques
• Case studies of urban applications
• An introduction to 3D data models, including emerging standards and best practices

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.

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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. Exercises include developing use cases, conceptual and logical data models, and applying object-oriented design patterns for commonly used GIS database structures. 

Specific topics include:

• The key phases in iterative database design
• Developing use cases
• Ten steps to follow for conceptual, logical, and physical information modeling
• Ten design patterns for GIS database structures and elements
• 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.

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

As data distribution capacities increase, there is increasing tension between citizen expectations of confidentiality, access to public records as a foundation of a free society, and protection of public security.   What data are subject to Freedom of Information laws? Can a government raise revenue (or defray maintenance costs) by charging market prices for the data? What about privacy restrictions and homeland security concerns? 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
• Data Sales vs. Data Access
• State and Federal Informational Privacy Laws
• Secrecy and Homeland Security Protections
• Balancing Public Access, Privacy, and Secrecy
• Protecting Ownership and Minimizing Liability

• Policy and Technical Considerations

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

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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 the following:

• 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.

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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.

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Introduction to Digital Imagery and Remote Sensing: What You Can Do With It

This workshop is directed at local, state, and regional governmental organizations that are interested in looking at digital imagery as a new approach to obtaining information about their land.  The workshop will be divided into three succinct sections: (a) defining and choosing the right imagery for your application, (2) methods and approaches of remote sensing, and (c) applications of these datasets.

Specific topics include:

• Digital Imagery vs. Film
• Choosing the Appropriate Imagery for your Application
• Imagery Cost Considerations
• Turning Imagery into GIS Datasets
• Applications of Remotely Sensed Data for Urban Planning, Emergency Management, Land Cover Analysis

Intended Audience: This workshop is intended for state, regional, and local government department managers and GIS/Remote Sensing analysts.

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eGovernment - Planning, Policy and the Portal

eGovernment initiatives are expanding exponentially in all levels of the public service.  This workshop is a must to understand the full scope of what eGovernment is and to assess the role that technologies such as GIS need to play.  The workshop will focus on planning towards implementing enterprise eGovernment services, policy considerations, and the various elements that go into the eGovernment portal as the key electronic service delivery mechanism.

Specific topics include the following:

• eGovernment models, challenges and implementation planning
• eGovernment portal architecture and best practices (sample winning sites)
• The policy issues including freedom of information vs protection of privacy
• Data ownership/data distribution variables (e.g. free or fee)
• Case studies - real world examples of eGovernment from three levels of government: Geospatial One Stop (federal); Access Kansas; and Washington, D.C.

Intended Audience: IT Directors/Managers, GIS Managers and operational personnel responsible for one or more aspects of electronic service delivery (existing or planned) in their organization.

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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.

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Cartography and Map Design

Effective maps are well designed and clearly portray a geographic message. This workshop presents the basics of cartography that may have been missed with geographic information systems (GIS) training alone. Cartographic principles and guidelines are covered, providing GIS practitioners with useful information toward constructing quality maps from a GIS database.

Specific topics include:

• Projections
• Map Elements Generalization
• Symbol Selection
• Topography
• Thematic Mapping Techniques
• Interactive Mapping
• Overall Design Considerations

Intended Audience: This workshop is designed for the individual that is new to GIS but needs to create maps to assist in data presentation and has not had specific training in cartography.

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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, organizational challenges.  It will guide you in developing a Master Address Repository that serves the needs of the entire organization.

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
• Addressing Standards and Ordinances

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

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Internet GIS: State of the Art:

The objective of this hands-on workshop is to offer an introduction to geographic information systems (GIS) functionality on the Internet. This workshop will focus on the understanding of the fundamentals of Internet GIS, and the assessment of different Internet GIS technologies including server-side and client-side processing. The workshop includes hands-on exercises.

Specific topics include:

• Advantages and drawbacks of different approaches.
• Performance, security and interoperability of Internet GIS
• Institutional impacts of Internet GIS, including spatial information sharing and a digital spatial data library.
• Organizational impacts, including spatial data publication and interpretation, and public GIS education.

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

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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.

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Database Development and Conversion:

Data conversion can be one of the largest impediments to implementing a successful geographic information system (GIS). As an introduction to conversion fundamentals, this workshop provides participants with a foundation for finding successful alternatives and avoiding pitfalls. The workshop employs digital and printed examples of raster and vector data, conversion methodologies and strategies. Local government practitioners lead this workshop in discussing the personnel, process and project management issues that will help in choosing a successful route in performing a data conversion.

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Digital Orthophotography: Production and Application:

Digital orthophotography has gained popularity as a data layer in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Land Information Systems (LIS) and Automated Mapping and Facilities Management (AM/FM) projects. This workshop will explain the technical process of producing digital orthophotography. Topics will include ground control, aerial photography, control extensions, digital scanning, surface models, ortho-rectification, and output products. This workshop will cover important considerations when planning and implementing a digital orthophotography project. The workshop will also discuss numerous applications of digital orthophotography including map revision, parcel mapping, land use mapping, soils mapping, and facilities management. The attendees will receive valuable insight to reasons for the popularity of digital orthophotography, how to get started, and how to avoid problems.