GIS Pathway Blog

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I have a personal connection with SkillsUSA and the Geospatial Technology contest as I competed in 2009.  I believe that it is a great program with a lot of potential.  This year’s competition expanded to include a high school competition in addition to the college/post secondary competition.

Here are the winners for this year’s competition:

College/Post Secondary

Gold - Daniel R LeVrier (Central New Mexico Community College)
Silver - Kenneth Newman (Central New Mexico Community College)
Bronze - Charles Jetty (Central New Mexico Community College)

High School

Gold -  Emily Guzman (Jack E. Singley Academy, Irving, TX)
Silver - Alexandria Bell (Breithaupt Vo-Tech Center,  Detroit, MI)

Also a big thank you to this year’s sponsors:

Esri

Digital Quest, Inc

GeoTech Center

Check out these blogs from the 2010 Esri International User Conference.  This list will be updated frequently.  If I am missing a blog, let me know. (@GISpathway)

LIVE Blogs

VerySpatial - Frank (@Nojopar) will be updating the blog every 5-10 minute throughout the plenary.

James Fee - James Fee (@cageyjames) works for WeoGeo and will be keeping us updated live.

Recap Blogs

Dave Bouwman -  (@dbouwman)

Brian Noyle - (@bnoyle) “not updated yet”

Spatial Sustain - Matt Ball (@spatialsustain)

ArcGIS Online at the UC 2010 Plenary - Part I (via @bernszukalski)

ArcGIS 10 at the UC - via the Esri Developer Blog
More on ArcGIS 10 from the ESRI UC

Esri UC Insider

GeoChalkboard

Got Geoint?

#ESRIUC Plenary: ArcGIS A Complete System - All Points Blog

The “BackChannel” - http://uc.dtsgis.com/

Videos will be post on the Esri UC Page

(@gletham) - Broadcasting live at http://ustre.am/92cy

Twitter

(via @JimBerry) “Fyi…The #esriuc tweet stream is being recorded and archived at http://twapperkeeper.com/hashtag/ESRIUC”

I had the opportunity to attend the 2010 ESRI Southeast Regional User Group meeting last week in Charlotte.  Here are my tweets from the “What’s New in ArcGIS 10″ session.

gispathway ArcGIS 10 - Arcgis.com has demos for those of you who feel left out. #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 10 - Final relase June/July 2010. It will be digital for download. #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 10 - Community is being expaned to support users. #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 10 - Licenses can be borrowed for using on laptop, etc. #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 10 - Install is 40% faster. Also can uninstall service packs #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 10 - Can save mdx for previous release #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 10 - Can’t run 9.3 and 10 on same machine. #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 10 - Also need a seperate free license for VBA #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 10 - Last release for VBA. Seperate install. Reason for more python #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 10 - Can now package maps, globes, diagrams. Even tools, models, and customizations #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 10 - New 3D visualization tools #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 10 - Ability for add-ins for greater functionality #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 10 - Mosaic Dataset new name for image server. need acreditor or higher #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 10 - More image formats supported #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 10 - New solver in Network Analyst #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 10 - 130+ new geo processing tool bring total tools to 750+ #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 10 - tags have been added into tools for easier search #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 10 - Python is the next area you should study #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 10 - ArcPy can create summary of MDXs in folder #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 10 - TOC tabs have been move to top of window #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 10 - ArcPy sample script toolboxes included #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 10 - lol that map book was ’slapped together by Kevin Armstrong’ (text in demo) #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 10 - Map Index tool can create index to boundary of area even if now uniform #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 10 - More cartography tools added #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 10 - Map book - multipage pdf export #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 10 - New built in Map Book feature #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 10 - Selecting features provides quick toolbar to verify selection so you don’t edit boundary when doing parcels #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 10 - New vertex toolbar. No more right click to add vertices. #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 10 - Required fields can be highlighted in attribute window #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 10 - Atribute entry is different. Calendar option for date field #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 10 - when editing, there is global snapping with tips #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 10 - 5000 new symbols #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway TinyTwitter froze up. Must be tweeting to fast. #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 10 Background geoprocessing allows for map use during tool usage #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 10 New skyline geoprocessing tool #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 10 - base maps draw faster for better panning and zooming #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 10 - Tool tabs on side allow easy access with auto hiding windows. #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 10 Seach tool bult into ArcMap to find data or tools #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 10 - ArcCatalog built into ArcMap. No long have to code it in youself. #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 10 - map automation with python. al lot can be done within destop interface #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 10 - Time aware data can be easily viewed #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 10 - Hiding windows the can be pinned open without map redraw #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 10 - most improvements are in desktop #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway Hitting up ArcGIS 10 Desktop this morning #esriserug 2 days ago from TinyTwitter

Here are some ArcGIS 9.3.1 Editing Tips from a technical session at the 2010 ESRI Southeast Regional User Group Conference.

gispathway ArcGIS 9.3.1 Edit Tips - Instead of fcalculator, select features and open attribute window. Select layer on left and edit field. #esriserug 1 day ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 9.3.1 Edit Tips - Use Edit Sketch Properties to edited verticies. (I use this 2 delete mutiple vertices & find multiparts) #esriserug 1 day ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 9.3.1 Edit Tips - Use spacebar to suspend snapping #esriserug 1 day ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 9.3.1 Edit Tips - Set Sticky Tolerance to keep from accidently moving the whole feature. (I use this all the time.) #esriserug 1 day ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 9.3.1 Tips - Use ‘N’ to move through selection area to get the feature you want. Keep from selecting the wrong layer. #esriserug 1 day ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 9.3.1 Tips - Use the Attribute Window to edit attributes of selected without going to attribue table #esriserug 1 day ago from TinyTwitter

gispathway ArcGIS 9.3.1 Tips - Take advatage of selection tab in TOC. Can set selctable layers and also see what layers have been selected. #esriserug

I had one of my readers send me a link to a blog post on Google Earth for Educators.  There is some great information here for those who may be seeking to use Google Earth in the classroom.  The blog post has compiled a variety of links on various ways to use Google Earth.  The links are split out into grade levels such as Elementary, Middle, and High School & Beyond.  There is also a list of Google Tours from the Google Gadgets directory.  In all there are 50 potential ideas that you can use for your classroom or any other learning environment for that matter.

Go check it out!

Google Earth for Educators: 50 Exciting Ideas for the Classroom

It is getting about that time to be thinking about the 2010 SkillsUSA Geospatial Technology Competition.  As I have not seen much about it for this year, I contacted Eddie Hanebuth (@GISguy).  Eddie is the president of Digital Quest, and is on the competition committee.   He was happy to fill me in about this year’s competition.  Here is what he had to say:

For this year’s contest, SkillsUSA decided that the states should handle the contest admin. For the reason that, they felt the contest would be more successful if the states were involved.

The contest will still have the same elements. SkillsUSA will notify Digital Quest of signups and we will send out the project. They also opened the contest up to secondary schools.

So, anyone can still participate, but they have to have a qualifying contest which will allow a state winner to participate nationally (maybe more but that has to be determined by the state director). SkillsUSA will handle all of these signups technically.

If you hear of any other post secondary/secondary schools wishing to compete, please contact me or Eddie Hanebuth.   Eddie will be able to get them linked up with whoever they need to talk to at the State and National Level.  It is also important to note that many of the state contests  are being held soon, so if you or someone you know is interested then you must act quickly.

If you are not familiar with the SkillsUSA Geospatial Technology Competition, you can learn about it through my journey as a contestant.

It has been a while since I have gotten the chance to write a post here.  Things have been very busy the last few weeks.  My family and I did get through the Christmas season alright.  At the beginning of January I started another semester at East Carolina University.  I am now classified as a junior.  I took a big risk and chose to take 4 classes (12 hours).  My classes include Selling, Administrative Management, Word 2007, and Accounting.  The first few weeks have gone well, but it is starting to catch up with me.  I am also looking for a GIS/Technology job that I can build career on.  The looking has been slow, but I am being patient.  On top of all of this, my family and I recently moved into a house from an apartment.  The kids are going to love the back yard once all this rain stops.  Oh and one more thing, as I write this, my youngest son is in the hospital with RSV.  Working on our third day now. He is improving, so I expect to be out of here soon.

As for the GIS Pathway site, I am still slowly plugging away at it.  I recently expanded it to include a page for GIS Jobs.  There is also a Twitter account that you can follow: @GISJobs4u.  I would appreciate it if you took the time and checked these out.

This semester I have had the opportunity to mentor a senior from a local high school.  He is interning in our planning and construction office.  Part of his time here we have been working on a project using GIS.  The task assigned was to find a suitable location for a shelter.  From that simple task we developed some criteria and defined the processes to give us our desired results.

A trace of the contours was done from as-built drawings.  And from that trace and an aerial photo the project was completed.

Here is an outline for performing a shelter site suitability analysis. We strayed a little as needed to work with the data we had, but this will give an idea of what was done.

Criteria

• Open Space
• Maximum Sunlight (Southern Facing Slopes, 112.5-247.5)
• Slope (< 5%)

Process

1. Georefference Contour Trace
2. Create Data
   • Contours (Polylines)
   • Parking Lot (Polygons)
   • Trees (Polygons)
3. Process Data
   • Convert Contours to Surface
   • Create Open Space Raster
   • Aspect (Slope Direction)
   • Slope
4. Perform Analysis
   • Reclassifcation Tool
   • Raster Calculator Tool

Presentation

1. Criteria Map Layouts
   • Open Space
   • Sunlight
   • Slope
2. Result Map Layouts

Overall he did a great job.  The project introduced the basics of a GIS project including project management, data creation, analysis, and presentation.

In my efforts to push GIS and Geospatial Technology, I jump on ever opportunity to tell other about my passion for GIS.  In correlation with the 2009 Geography Awareness Week, I participated in my local GIS Day event and also presented at a high school.  At the GIS Day event I worked a booth at which I spoke with attendees and did various demonstrations.  The most rewarding of these was the high school presentation.

At a local high school, I put together a presentation to give students, parents, and teachers an overview of GIS.  An Agriculture teacher was trying to push a new GIS course where students can earn both high school and college credit.  A partnership was established between the high school and a local community college.  I brainstormed various topics I could discuss and decided to give a brief overview of GIS and then show some applications.  I took advantage of the new ArcGIS Explorer 900 to give the presentation.

I first defined Geospatial Technology with a simple slide and referenced a globe image to discuss how objects relate to the earth and how these objects can be measured, analyzed, and visualized.  I then went on to discuss how GIS is applicable to all 16 career clusters.  I basically wanted to get across that no matter what industry you are interested in, there is some type of GIS application.  GIS is definitely not limited to just a few areas.  From there I covered three of the career clusters: Education & Training; Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security; Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources.

For Education & Training, I showed some applications in my position as a planning project manager for a school system.  These mainly focused on locating schools, maintaining boundaries, performing enrollment forecasting, and analyzing reassignment scenarios.

In the area of Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security; I created a mock crime scene.  I told how a person went missing and we needed to identify their home and work locations.  With that a travel route was established.  More extensive search was required; therefore, a search radius was created around the two key locations.  With the information collected from searchers, a vehicle was found which lead to further evidence and eventually the victim being found.

Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources provided an opportunity to discuss site suitability analysis for a campus garden.  GIS enabled me to create a model of the campus.  Then criteria were analyzed that included: open space, sunlight, air circulation, slope, wind protection, and water sources.  Each of these analyses was combined to identify the most suitable areas.  These could then be analyzed further to locate the garden.

The interactive part of ArcGIS Explorer really was the selling point.  PowerPoint presentations are fine, but Explorer helped make the technology come alive.  These students showed a true interest in learning more.  It was awesome to see these students impacted in a positive way by the technology of GIS.

To learn more on how you can become involved in your local schools, check out the GeoMentor Program.

If you are wanting to find out how to get involved with the SkillsUSA Geospatial Technology Contest check out this webinar being done by the GeoTech Center.  Amy Ballard of Central New Mexico Community College will be doing the presentation.  Central New Mexico placed 2nd and 3rd in 2009; and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in 2008. I had the opportunity to compete against the students there, and they have some very good talent.

As a participant and winner of the 2009 contest, I am a strong advocate for the contest.  Getting Geospatial Technology students involved will provide them with enormousness benefits.  The experience itself was great and there is also an opportunity to earn a Spatial Technology and Remote Sensing Certification.

The webinar is on Friday, November 20, 2009. -  http://geotech.eventbrite.com/

Additional information on the SkillsUSA Geospatial Technology Contest

• http://www.digitalquest.com/SkillsUSA09/
• http://skillsusa.org/compete/college.shtml
• http://blog.gispathway.com/skillsusa-competition/