GIS Technicians and Typing?

Ok... I can see the logic in requiring a GIS Analyst to be proficient with Windows OS, sql, and Linux etc..., however, it send me around the bend when I see job announcements that require a GIS analyst to not only be able to type 45 words per minute but to also have a typing certificate! Gimme a break... well, if you want to work as a GIS Tech in  Douglas County Nevada then you'll need a certificate according to a recent career posting. Apparently it's so important that this requirement is even in BOLD on the application form. I think Douglas County should perhaps consider having their GIS coordinator write up their career announcements and maybe consider putting an emphasis on real life skills and successes and let the typing requirements soft themselves out. FYI, you can check out the job announcement at http://www.douglascountyhr.com or in the GISuser.com career section.

Jshape developer loads GIS SHP files on-the-fly using Google Map API

The developer of Jshape has come up with some really nifty uses of the Google Map API.  Using what they term the Google Map Control panel, the developers have created some very unique apps using the API. See http://www.jshape.com/GoogleMap/map.jsp?lat=0&lon=0&zoom=16&width=720&height=360 as an example of this. Taking this even further, the developer has loaded GIS SHP files into the Google Map on the fly... how cool is that! The SHP files are displayed in typical Google fashion, however, the attributes are listed within the info box. Check this out at http://www.jshape.com/GoogleMap/

 

PhotoBlog Pics from the ESRI User Conference

Visitors to this blog will be the first ones having access to the images I captured last week in San Diego. Check out the Flickr Blog - http://www.flickr.com/photos/gisuser/sets/684873/ - for a couple of hundred images from the ESRI User Conference... enjoy! There's more to come later once I retrieve my other camera from my wife's car!

Rolling Out the Blog

Apparently another online GIS publication has decided that their "blog" is so popular that it really does deserve a home of its own including a new domain. Cool idea but realistically, this does a dis-service to the website and the bloggers that follow it. Now they have succeeded in separating the blog from the publication totally and created a new identity. Several daily threads that archive recent Google news posts leave one yawning. Nice idea but in my mind its taking a pretty good thing and pushing it over the edge.

GeoBase GIS

Out of New Zealand, GeoBase OEM GIS Engine is updated - In addition to the data update, GeoBase, now at v1.4 adds support for speeding violations based on posted speed limits, support for Points of Interest (POIs), and numerous other features. Also included are extended geometries for routing - expanding GeoBase's(TM) support for navigation on handhelds, cell phones and other GPS-enabled devices. For more details see www.telogis.com