Showing posts with label esri uc. Show all posts
Showing posts with label esri uc. Show all posts
October 16, 2008
ESRI UC 2009 abstracts due
FYI, ESRI UC 2009 abstracts are apparently due in tomorrow... see more at the UC Homepage. ESRI UC 09 will take place July 13-17, 2009 in San Diego CA.
August 14, 2008
2008 ESRI User Conference - The Numbers and some notable quotables
Always of interest, the following are some interesting numbers that were mentioned during sessions at the 2008 International ESRI User Conference
And... always fun, the following are some notable tidbits that I overheard or picked up on at the UC - enjoy!
And here's a picture that's worth a thousand words... polar ice cap as see in 1979 (left) compared to 2007... amazing! It's no wonder the polar bear is now on the endangered species list. Image from speech provided by US DOI secretary Dirk Kempthorn
- 14,000+ – attendees at the 2008 EC (I also heard 15,000!)
- 120 countries represented
- 160 – SAG awards handed out
- 35 – years worth of Landsat data archives available for free to public from USGS
- 28 – members in Geospatial advisory committee to the DOI
- 1 – the #1 ArcGIS timesaver new at ArcGIS 9.3 is error reporting
- 30 – up to 30% fuel consumption saved by city of Fort Collins using ArcLogistics for fleet management.
- 100 – ESRI Press has published 100 books
- 90 – ESRI Tech support reports a 90% response time improvement
- 9.4 – ArcGIS 9.4 is as simple as drawing on a map!
- 2.0 - The web 2.0 povides a lightweight simple programming model, simple tools like Javascript, Flex, soap, xml, python
- 3 - 3 new APIs for 9.3 with 150 script samples.. you can see the code and run it. Imagine, view source, copy, use in your own apps.
- 7.1.1 – Streetmap extension data extractor coming at r 7.1.1
And... always fun, the following are some notable tidbits that I overheard or picked up on at the UC - enjoy!
- Does the government get it? Yes they do and they use GIS
- GIS will be a pervasive part of all human action
- ArcGIS is spatializing Adobe PDFs
- This is only the beginning of the geospatial era
- ArcGIS server is increasing the value of imagery
- ArcGIS Explorer is GIS for everyone
- Resources.esri.com – the resource center, use it!
- The role of the GIS pro will be to: Exploit high quality authoritative info and Make it consumable by publishing to the web.
- Author, Serve, Use… that’s the foundation for ArcGIS
- Smashups – simply put, this is using rich services from ArcGIS server in your mashup
And here's a picture that's worth a thousand words... polar ice cap as see in 1979 (left) compared to 2007... amazing! It's no wonder the polar bear is now on the endangered species list. Image from speech provided by US DOI secretary Dirk Kempthorn
August 13, 2008
BlueMarble Geographics Shift Happens and some fun images from last week's ESRI User Conference
A few memorable images from last week's ESRI User Conference. I managed to capture several hundred images at the event (see also the flickr), however, here's a few images of some of my favorite fun things from the week.
My vote for most innovative booth goes to the guys from Digital Data Solutions (DDS), Denver, CO. There's no doubt the booth and all the give-aways were very cleverly thought out... kudos guys! FYI, the crew has just listed an interesting career opportunity for a Senior Account Exec.
It's great to see the job boards being packed with opportunities.. heck, our GISuser Job Board has been rocking all week too with loads of new opportunities!
The plenary session is always one of the most memorable days of the event and this year's was no exception. After listening to Dr Peter Raven it really hit home how rapidly we are altering the environment.
The guys at BlueMarble Geographics have to get the prize for the coolest Shwag at this year's ESRI UC... the "Shift Happens" T was definitely a hit.
There just never seems to be enough time to spend in the map gallery!
Petco Park was one of my favorite places to throw one back!
The Strip Club is one of my favorite stops in the Gaslamp where you grill your own steak (or tuna like I did)
On the map gallery floor I really enjoyed this poster.
After a long night in the Gaslamp I always enjoy strolling past Dick's on the way back to the hotel. you never know who you might meet there late in the evening!
It was nice to be able to pass out several hundred of the new business cards.. hopefully you got one!
My vote for most innovative booth goes to the guys from Digital Data Solutions (DDS), Denver, CO. There's no doubt the booth and all the give-aways were very cleverly thought out... kudos guys! FYI, the crew has just listed an interesting career opportunity for a Senior Account Exec.
It's great to see the job boards being packed with opportunities.. heck, our GISuser Job Board has been rocking all week too with loads of new opportunities!
The plenary session is always one of the most memorable days of the event and this year's was no exception. After listening to Dr Peter Raven it really hit home how rapidly we are altering the environment.
The guys at BlueMarble Geographics have to get the prize for the coolest Shwag at this year's ESRI UC... the "Shift Happens" T was definitely a hit.
There just never seems to be enough time to spend in the map gallery!
Petco Park was one of my favorite places to throw one back!
The Strip Club is one of my favorite stops in the Gaslamp where you grill your own steak (or tuna like I did)
On the map gallery floor I really enjoyed this poster.
After a long night in the Gaslamp I always enjoy strolling past Dick's on the way back to the hotel. you never know who you might meet there late in the evening!
It was nice to be able to pass out several hundred of the new business cards.. hopefully you got one!
August 12, 2008
Rockin Dewberry with Rock Band
Who knew GISers could jam like this?? I Just found this fun moment from on the floor at the ESRI UC... Dewberry (www.dewberry.com) held a Rock Band competition where users and would-be users could grab an instrument and strutt their stuff. Does anyone know who these guys are?? They were great!
Implementing GIS on the web and ArcGIS smashups
From last week's International ESRI User Conference - A recap of Implementing GIS on the web - In a presentation titled “Implementing GIS on the web”, Clint Brown provided a Tuesday AM wake-up discussion on what’s happening in the web world and what opportunities are being created. Brown reminded us that at Web 2.0, our second generation web tools and organized access to information has proliferated. The term mashups, is relatively new to the web world but old news to the us in the GIS space… we’ve been mashing up data forever! Keep in mind though, the web is the platform to build a mashup world. I enjoyed Clint's reference to GIS mashups as "Smashups".
Interesting [and accurately in my opinion], Brown conveyed how to the web community, and the bloggers, it’s not GIS but rather, it’s web mapping with the citizens as censors providing the content – citizen censors - and in the future everyone will contribute their own content and search will organize it. BUT, users require an authoritative information framework. A framework to:
Understand and exploit observations
Analyze observations.
Visualize what it means
Give observations meaning.
Addressing the geo tech professionals, Brown pointed out how "your role is about building and sharing a framework"... We need a framework, not just a list of layer.” Obviously, what Brown was referring to is the geodatabase (interesting to note, I head several times during the week that we need to move to the geodatabase rather than SHP files. Given the number of times this topic arose, many users are obviously content with layers of information stored as files (SHP) rather than jumping head-first into developing a geodatabase - a direction you are encouraged to move towards.
Recall though that everyone is talking about using Google maps and virtual earth… as a result, user expectations are changing. Most GIS apps will need to support this, particularly as the use expectations have changed. So, making your Geo information consumable on the web is important. Users want and need to build and serve: GIS apps, digital base maps, operational layers, tasks and tools in the GIS applications. As a result there are many application choices to deal with: ArcExplorer, mobile, web map, Javascript/Flex web apps (new at 9.3), or ArGIS desktop.
Brown was quick to point out that programming via the new Javascript API is so simple, “if you know html you can use this”. Ideal for simple implementations, easy to program (you can focus on your content), lightweight. Brown offers up the following tips for the developer:
- Once you chose your application, you design and select your basemap… one map for each scale, each map becomes a group layer in your ArcMap TOC.
- Build on exist framework like ArcGIS online, Google Microsoft, Other GIS depts.
- Be sure of the tiling scheme you select to use… e.g. A Virtual Earth basemap may be using a different coordinate system.
I found it interesting that we seem to be grappling with the same user issues (like various coordinate systems, datums, scales) that we frequently dealt with 10 yeas ago.
As a tip, see also planning a map cache in the ArcGIS online help resource center.
See:
http://www.esri.com/software/arcgis/arcgisonline-services/index.html
http://resources.esri.com/arcgisserver/apis/flex/
http://resources.esri.com/arcgisserver/apis/javascript/arcgis/
Interesting [and accurately in my opinion], Brown conveyed how to the web community, and the bloggers, it’s not GIS but rather, it’s web mapping with the citizens as censors providing the content – citizen censors - and in the future everyone will contribute their own content and search will organize it. BUT, users require an authoritative information framework. A framework to:
Understand and exploit observations
Analyze observations.
Visualize what it means
Give observations meaning.
Addressing the geo tech professionals, Brown pointed out how "your role is about building and sharing a framework"... We need a framework, not just a list of layer.” Obviously, what Brown was referring to is the geodatabase (interesting to note, I head several times during the week that we need to move to the geodatabase rather than SHP files. Given the number of times this topic arose, many users are obviously content with layers of information stored as files (SHP) rather than jumping head-first into developing a geodatabase - a direction you are encouraged to move towards.
Recall though that everyone is talking about using Google maps and virtual earth… as a result, user expectations are changing. Most GIS apps will need to support this, particularly as the use expectations have changed. So, making your Geo information consumable on the web is important. Users want and need to build and serve: GIS apps, digital base maps, operational layers, tasks and tools in the GIS applications. As a result there are many application choices to deal with: ArcExplorer, mobile, web map, Javascript/Flex web apps (new at 9.3), or ArGIS desktop.
Brown was quick to point out that programming via the new Javascript API is so simple, “if you know html you can use this”. Ideal for simple implementations, easy to program (you can focus on your content), lightweight. Brown offers up the following tips for the developer:
- Once you chose your application, you design and select your basemap… one map for each scale, each map becomes a group layer in your ArcMap TOC.
- Build on exist framework like ArcGIS online, Google Microsoft, Other GIS depts.
- Be sure of the tiling scheme you select to use… e.g. A Virtual Earth basemap may be using a different coordinate system.
I found it interesting that we seem to be grappling with the same user issues (like various coordinate systems, datums, scales) that we frequently dealt with 10 yeas ago.
As a tip, see also planning a map cache in the ArcGIS online help resource center.
See:
http://www.esri.com/software/arcgis/arcgisonline-services/index.html
http://resources.esri.com/arcgisserver/apis/flex/
http://resources.esri.com/arcgisserver/apis/javascript/arcgis/
August 11, 2008
ArcGIS crashed on stage = Top time saver moment
Video fixed! Always an enjoyable moment at the ESRI User Conference plenary session is John Calkin's Top 10 list... this year it was Calkin's Top 10 ArcGIS Time Savers. Topping the list this year is auto bug report and error reporting to help/fix and report crashes. Below is Calkin's last week in San Diego and a look at exactly how your feedback is used by the software development team. Video has been re-uploaded and embeded using YouTube.. sorry about the Vimeo issue - I won't be using that service again!
August 05, 2008
Observations from the ESRI User Conference Plenary and a look ahead at ArcGIS 9.4
Yesterday afternoon at the ESRI UC, attendees were treaded to a treat from Jack Dangermond as he spent some time describing what may come as we look ahead to ArcGIS 9.4 – this was a treat as Jack rarely discusses what’s coming down the road. Funny that he provided the disclaimer that people should not ask exactly when any of these items will be implemented… makes sense!
I found it interesting how Dangermond did indeed refer to GIS being a the tool that we all use to do our real work… reminds me of a panel discussion several years ago at GITA that I took part in when we were asked to discuss whether GIs was a profession or a tool… I guess you can be the judge of that one!
With his team of software development experts at his side, the following items were pointed out as possibly coming at 9.4:- A more colorful UI – if you use Vista and Office 2007 then you’ll know what I mean. At 9.4 look for a similar look and feel including the ribbon navigation area, a scrollable section near the top where you access tools and add-on apps.- Show/hide draggable Table of Contents – always a handy feature to conserve your screen real estate- Smooth panning and zooming- Desktop search – this is way cool and will enable you to search you machine of local network for data… I could have used this one 10 years ago!- Email your map to a colleague- A simple create features tool… even I could create appealing cartographic features on my map using this!- Set field access and visibility properties- A handy cut/split polygon tool (lots of applause on this one)
Simply put, at 9.4, working on your projects will be as simple as drawing on a map! Fast performance on the server will be realized.
A tip to users, in Q1 2009 you can also look for an updated release of ArcGIS Explorer (r 600). One of the most exciting features will be the ability for users to easily change their base map by selecting a new one from a web service… this is way cool!
I could go on but it’s now time to run off to the morning session!
I found it interesting how Dangermond did indeed refer to GIS being a the tool that we all use to do our real work… reminds me of a panel discussion several years ago at GITA that I took part in when we were asked to discuss whether GIs was a profession or a tool… I guess you can be the judge of that one!
With his team of software development experts at his side, the following items were pointed out as possibly coming at 9.4:- A more colorful UI – if you use Vista and Office 2007 then you’ll know what I mean. At 9.4 look for a similar look and feel including the ribbon navigation area, a scrollable section near the top where you access tools and add-on apps.- Show/hide draggable Table of Contents – always a handy feature to conserve your screen real estate- Smooth panning and zooming- Desktop search – this is way cool and will enable you to search you machine of local network for data… I could have used this one 10 years ago!- Email your map to a colleague- A simple create features tool… even I could create appealing cartographic features on my map using this!- Set field access and visibility properties- A handy cut/split polygon tool (lots of applause on this one)
Simply put, at 9.4, working on your projects will be as simple as drawing on a map! Fast performance on the server will be realized.
A tip to users, in Q1 2009 you can also look for an updated release of ArcGIS Explorer (r 600). One of the most exciting features will be the ability for users to easily change their base map by selecting a new one from a web service… this is way cool!
I could go on but it’s now time to run off to the morning session!
August 04, 2008
2008 ESRI User Conference update From San Diego, CA
finally, some updates from the ESRI UC... From San Diego, CA (sorry but my wireless card is hosed, hence the lack of live notes) - Finally, an update, albeit a brief one, from the ESRI user conference. This morning at the San Diego Convention Center, Jack Dangermond took to the stage to welcome more than 14,000 attendees to this year’s event.
These GIS users came from more than 120 countries around the Globe to share and learn about what the millions of ESRI software users around the Globe are doing and how ArcGIS and related applications are helping to solve problems and make the World a better place.
As he does every year, Dangermond kicked things off by asking us all to meet our neighbors and ask how GIS plays a role in their lives – I met a woman from Calgary (in the petroleum industry) and a gentleman from Pennsylvania. We then heard about just a few innovative uses of ESRI solutions that got Dangermond’s attention. We saw brief examples of ArcGIS being used for suck applications as:Municipal mappingLaw enforcementEmergency responseBusiness geographicsEarth sciencesNatural resourcesHealth and medical geographyAnd more!
Always eager to show his appreciation for excellence in GIS, Dangermond then commented how some 160 agencies recently received SAG awards. Several other “special” awards were then pointed out:The President’s Award – The City of Philadelphia for an enterprise GIS application and supporting website.Making a Difference Award – To Rosario and Ramon Perez for their work on GIS in planning and poverty.
The second Making a difference award was presented to Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, Director of the USDA – recall the USDA is responsible for managing some 20% of lands, national parks, and more. Kempthorne made a point of thanking Dangermond for everything he and GIS has done for all of us. He also made a point of reminding us that yes, the government gets it and yes, they do indeed use GIS! An impressive graphic shared with us during the presentation revealed how imagery and analysis has shown the disappearance of the polar ice cover during the past 2 years… the lack of snow revealed from the study simply amazing!
Kempthorne then took the stage for about 10 minutes to share GIs tales from the DOI. Of interest, he noted that the USGS is now proudly making available, for free, the entire 35 year catalog of LandSAT imagery via the web… applause!
The rest of the morning was devoted to seeing GIS in action and hearing all about the 9.3 application suite, including details of what’s new in all the popular apps and extensions – more on this later.
Something I always enjoy is hearing John Caukins way cool Top 10 list and today he delivered once again. So, the following Top 10 ArcGIS 9.3 Time Savers that “you” asked for were presented as follows (in reverse order):Bookmarks and bookmark managerPause label redrawsKeyboard shortcutsClip a raster from a shape (sweet!)Transparent legendsAdvanced table sorting, aliases and joinsReverse geocoding (nice!)Convert graphics to featuresIdentify shortcuts and html popupsError reporting to help fix and report crashes
Numerous demos were presented by power users and all delivered as the crowd was lively in sharing their enthusiasm and applause. Interesting demos (live) presented included:Michael Parkin of MIT who shared how the campus is using 3D analysis to model and analyze various planning scenarios including how the campus will be affected by a proposed transportation route through the campus. A fun and useful app he also shared is how parking permits are better allocated to staff so that people are able to park closer to their offices.
One of my favorite demos came from Paul Ross of The City of Fort Collins. Ross shared a story of how the city uses Arc Logistics for fleet management and in the process has realized some amazing ROI, particularly with fuel consumption – they managed to reduce fuel usage by 30% by optimizing routes, enhanced scheduling, and navigation. His examples were definitely a worthy model for any utility of local government to look at, particularly while we have $4+ per gallon fuel at the pumps!
Some notable quotes (Dangermond) from the morning include:This is only the beginning of the geospatial eraSoon, everyone will be able to access and use GIS!
For a take away tip, those of you interested in getting help in describing the benefits of GIS, you might consider a new book from ESRI Press titled “The Business Benefits of GIS, by David MacGuire.
More on ArcGIS 9.3 and ArcGIS Server at 9.3 to come later
For some image from the morning plenary, see the GISuser Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/gisuser
For news announcements from the show see http://www.gisuser.com/content/category/1/275/2/
These GIS users came from more than 120 countries around the Globe to share and learn about what the millions of ESRI software users around the Globe are doing and how ArcGIS and related applications are helping to solve problems and make the World a better place.
As he does every year, Dangermond kicked things off by asking us all to meet our neighbors and ask how GIS plays a role in their lives – I met a woman from Calgary (in the petroleum industry) and a gentleman from Pennsylvania. We then heard about just a few innovative uses of ESRI solutions that got Dangermond’s attention. We saw brief examples of ArcGIS being used for suck applications as:Municipal mappingLaw enforcementEmergency responseBusiness geographicsEarth sciencesNatural resourcesHealth and medical geographyAnd more!
Always eager to show his appreciation for excellence in GIS, Dangermond then commented how some 160 agencies recently received SAG awards. Several other “special” awards were then pointed out:The President’s Award – The City of Philadelphia for an enterprise GIS application and supporting website.Making a Difference Award – To Rosario and Ramon Perez for their work on GIS in planning and poverty.
The second Making a difference award was presented to Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, Director of the USDA – recall the USDA is responsible for managing some 20% of lands, national parks, and more. Kempthorne made a point of thanking Dangermond for everything he and GIS has done for all of us. He also made a point of reminding us that yes, the government gets it and yes, they do indeed use GIS! An impressive graphic shared with us during the presentation revealed how imagery and analysis has shown the disappearance of the polar ice cover during the past 2 years… the lack of snow revealed from the study simply amazing!
Kempthorne then took the stage for about 10 minutes to share GIs tales from the DOI. Of interest, he noted that the USGS is now proudly making available, for free, the entire 35 year catalog of LandSAT imagery via the web… applause!
The rest of the morning was devoted to seeing GIS in action and hearing all about the 9.3 application suite, including details of what’s new in all the popular apps and extensions – more on this later.
Something I always enjoy is hearing John Caukins way cool Top 10 list and today he delivered once again. So, the following Top 10 ArcGIS 9.3 Time Savers that “you” asked for were presented as follows (in reverse order):Bookmarks and bookmark managerPause label redrawsKeyboard shortcutsClip a raster from a shape (sweet!)Transparent legendsAdvanced table sorting, aliases and joinsReverse geocoding (nice!)Convert graphics to featuresIdentify shortcuts and html popupsError reporting to help fix and report crashes
Numerous demos were presented by power users and all delivered as the crowd was lively in sharing their enthusiasm and applause. Interesting demos (live) presented included:Michael Parkin of MIT who shared how the campus is using 3D analysis to model and analyze various planning scenarios including how the campus will be affected by a proposed transportation route through the campus. A fun and useful app he also shared is how parking permits are better allocated to staff so that people are able to park closer to their offices.
One of my favorite demos came from Paul Ross of The City of Fort Collins. Ross shared a story of how the city uses Arc Logistics for fleet management and in the process has realized some amazing ROI, particularly with fuel consumption – they managed to reduce fuel usage by 30% by optimizing routes, enhanced scheduling, and navigation. His examples were definitely a worthy model for any utility of local government to look at, particularly while we have $4+ per gallon fuel at the pumps!
Some notable quotes (Dangermond) from the morning include:This is only the beginning of the geospatial eraSoon, everyone will be able to access and use GIS!
For a take away tip, those of you interested in getting help in describing the benefits of GIS, you might consider a new book from ESRI Press titled “The Business Benefits of GIS, by David MacGuire.
More on ArcGIS 9.3 and ArcGIS Server at 9.3 to come later
For some image from the morning plenary, see the GISuser Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/gisuser
For news announcements from the show see http://www.gisuser.com/content/category/1/275/2/
August 02, 2008
It's time to head off to San Diego for the 2008 International ESRI User Conference
This will be my final post until I hit San Diego, although I may offer up some Pings (see ping.fm for a cool social networking app) via mobile en route. Should be another great event. I'll attempt to post coverage via several web services. Here's details of what I mentioned in the newsletter the other day.
As usual, I plan on having loads of articles and summaries published when I return, however, this year I'll also be posting real-time updates via my favorite Web2.0 applications. If this interest you then save this newsletter, bookmark our ESRI UC news archive, and please be sure to visit my mobile apps at: Flickr (photos from San Diego); Twitter (shorts tweets of my thoughts and comments); Blogger (blog postings from seminars and sessions); Qik (real-time video interviews and updates); Vimeo (video uploads if there's an issue qith Qik)YouTube (more video clips, likely not real-time); GISuser Forum (I may re-post blog threads online here). Obviously, these apps will depend on technology behaving the way I would like it!
Tips:
More on the UC... the following are a few tips that you may find useful to help get prepared. The ESRI UC Blog where you can hear directly from ESRI staff. Don't forget about the pre-conference seminars: of note, ArcGIS Server for .NET Developers (Sat), Fundamentals of GPS and Integration with ArcGIS (Sun), and Using ArcPad 7.1 for Mobile GIS (Sun). Never been to an ESRI UC before? Then definitely register for a free orientation so you can make the most of your week. Trying to be Green? Interesting to see that ESRI has a green ride program for the event - Find a colleague and share a ride! Finally, if you see me at the conference, feel free to tap me on the shoulder and say hi... I always dig meeting up with our readers. After business hours you might find me in the Marriott lobby or around the pool, on the patio at Dick's, chowing down on Pizza by the slice (directly across from dick's), or maybe at the YardHouse or an Irish Pub enjoying a half & half! If I don't hook up with you, have a great week in San Diego or enjoy our coverage. Want to connect with other conference goers, check out this LinkedIn Group or this Facebook Group.
PS: Good Luck to the 13yr old Fort Collins Cubs at next week's Triple Crown World Series in Steamboat Springs, CO... I'll be in San Diego and missing my son's first ball game of the year! GO CUBS...
As usual, I plan on having loads of articles and summaries published when I return, however, this year I'll also be posting real-time updates via my favorite Web2.0 applications. If this interest you then save this newsletter, bookmark our ESRI UC news archive, and please be sure to visit my mobile apps at: Flickr (photos from San Diego); Twitter (shorts tweets of my thoughts and comments); Blogger (blog postings from seminars and sessions); Qik (real-time video interviews and updates); Vimeo (video uploads if there's an issue qith Qik)YouTube (more video clips, likely not real-time); GISuser Forum (I may re-post blog threads online here). Obviously, these apps will depend on technology behaving the way I would like it!Tips:
More on the UC... the following are a few tips that you may find useful to help get prepared. The ESRI UC Blog where you can hear directly from ESRI staff. Don't forget about the pre-conference seminars: of note, ArcGIS Server for .NET Developers (Sat), Fundamentals of GPS and Integration with ArcGIS (Sun), and Using ArcPad 7.1 for Mobile GIS (Sun). Never been to an ESRI UC before? Then definitely register for a free orientation so you can make the most of your week. Trying to be Green? Interesting to see that ESRI has a green ride program for the event - Find a colleague and share a ride! Finally, if you see me at the conference, feel free to tap me on the shoulder and say hi... I always dig meeting up with our readers. After business hours you might find me in the Marriott lobby or around the pool, on the patio at Dick's, chowing down on Pizza by the slice (directly across from dick's), or maybe at the YardHouse or an Irish Pub enjoying a half & half! If I don't hook up with you, have a great week in San Diego or enjoy our coverage. Want to connect with other conference goers, check out this LinkedIn Group or this Facebook Group.
PS: Good Luck to the 13yr old Fort Collins Cubs at next week's Triple Crown World Series in Steamboat Springs, CO... I'll be in San Diego and missing my son's first ball game of the year! GO CUBS...
July 22, 2008
Attention Southwest Users attending the ESRI UC
Mark your calendar: Date/Time: Tuesday, Aug 5, 5:30PM - 7:00PM
Level: (upstairs in the conference center)
Location: Room 24 B
GIS users from Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico will be getting together at the ESRI User’s Conference to have a networking social; a chance to meet and greet others in our GIS community to discuss regional activities. See more
Level: (upstairs in the conference center)
Location: Room 24 B
GIS users from Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico will be getting together at the ESRI User’s Conference to have a networking social; a chance to meet and greet others in our GIS community to discuss regional activities. See more
June 25, 2008
ESRI Remote Sensing and GIS Summit
Going to San Diego for the ESRI UC this year? If so then consider getting there on Friday or Sat to take in the Inaugural ESRI Remote Sensing and GIS Summit. From ESRI... "he summit will cover the exponential growth in the availability of remotely sensed imagery and how to effectively collect, manage, produce, and exploit the data." See www.esri.com/uc
December 20, 2007
ESRI User Conference 2008 facebook Group
I've been doing a bit of pre-planning for the coming ESRI UC in 08... as part of it I decided to add an ESRI User Conference group on facebook where attendees can plan, share ideas, discuss the event, share tips, etc... Join the group and if it takes off hopefully I can help organize a pre-conference meet-up! Cheers... maybe we'll see you in San Diego next summer!
November 06, 2007
Some Images from the ESRI Homeland Security Summit, Denver
A couple of hundred attendees, mostly from local, state, and federal government (as well as some from the private sector) we're in Denver today taking part in the ESRI Homeland Security Summit... a few images from teh day are below.. stay tuned for more from the event...
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
June 22, 2007
Winding down from ESRI UC and hot topics this year
Well, another ESRI UC has come and gone for many of us... I'm still trying to regroup after 5 busy days on the West Coast. There's still plenty of activity taking place today including the official launch (ceremonial) of the Service At Sea journey... an educational initiative taking GIS to people who need it - see more on this below. I had many people ask me, "so, what's hot this year"... well, that depends on what you need, however, I can say that just a few of the hot/cool things that I observed at the conference include (but not limited to) Server - ArcGIS Server is huge and the server products are indeed becoming a huge part of ESRI's offerings... I'm hearing numbers like 30%+ of sales/revenues coming from this space. I also heard much reference to simple mashup creation and use of the REST API as being hot and big in this area - seeing ArcGIS services on top of Google Maps and Virtual Earth basemaps was definitely cool! Image server is a tremendous solution and the offering for mobile solutions keep on coming (so do the licenses!). Cool products like those coming from TopCon and Trimble (like the Juno) are making life much easier for mobile users and field workers.
On the floor there were several touch table solutions being presented, obviously a hot product for the defense users - the DIT-2 from Panoram definitely turned heads! An update to Geographic Imager from Avenza was announced this week... offering users more flexibility and enhancements to help them be more productive working with imagery... the added support for tiling is likely the most noteworthy update users will enjoy. The Definiens extension for ArcGIS is also an amazing app that enables power users of imagery with ArcGIS to conduct feature extraction, change detection, and object recognition... all within a familiar environment.
GeoMarc from GCS Research was demo'd to me and indeed this app is a tremendous offering for those using/publishing imagery... embed sensitive information within your imagery, even store meta-data as well - truly a clever solution! Got loads of output? The Oce TCS500 with map folder setup is one of those "WOW" technologies... imagine letting that plotter crank out plots all night long and your output is automatically folded according your specifications... cool! The gang from Latitude Geographics (Victoria) also filled me in on how their gamble to roll the dice and bet on .Net has paid off - think rapid/real-world ArcGIS Server application development using the .NET version of Web ADF.
I could go on and on but if I had to pick out several hot topics/buzz words I'd definitely have to say Server, Imagery, mobile, ease of use, mashups, and interoperability rank right up there at the top. Ok, I need a nap then I'll get back to sifty through the notes! See photos from San Diego HERE - I didn't get to the windup party last night as I was in transit... how was it??
On the floor there were several touch table solutions being presented, obviously a hot product for the defense users - the DIT-2 from Panoram definitely turned heads! An update to Geographic Imager from Avenza was announced this week... offering users more flexibility and enhancements to help them be more productive working with imagery... the added support for tiling is likely the most noteworthy update users will enjoy. The Definiens extension for ArcGIS is also an amazing app that enables power users of imagery with ArcGIS to conduct feature extraction, change detection, and object recognition... all within a familiar environment.
GeoMarc from GCS Research was demo'd to me and indeed this app is a tremendous offering for those using/publishing imagery... embed sensitive information within your imagery, even store meta-data as well - truly a clever solution! Got loads of output? The Oce TCS500 with map folder setup is one of those "WOW" technologies... imagine letting that plotter crank out plots all night long and your output is automatically folded according your specifications... cool! The gang from Latitude Geographics (Victoria) also filled me in on how their gamble to roll the dice and bet on .Net has paid off - think rapid/real-world ArcGIS Server application development using the .NET version of Web ADF.
I could go on and on but if I had to pick out several hot topics/buzz words I'd definitely have to say Server, Imagery, mobile, ease of use, mashups, and interoperability rank right up there at the top. Ok, I need a nap then I'll get back to sifty through the notes! See photos from San Diego HERE - I didn't get to the windup party last night as I was in transit... how was it??
June 20, 2007
Some Common GPS myths
Spent the lunch hour here listening to a gentleman from Trimble discuss GPS, GPS myths etc... Some Common GPS myths:
WAAS will work everywhere
GPS will work everywhere
All GPS receivers are the same
You can use a rec. GPS for GIS data collection
US coast guard beacons are coastal
Selective Availability is still on or will be on again
You can get an accurate position with less than 4 satellites
Other people can track you if your GPS is on
All basedata is accurate
Aerial or satellite imagery will replace the need for GPS
Datums are not important when collecting GPS
WGS84 datum is the same as NAD83
Vert accuracy is the same as horizontal accuracy
See also http://www.trimble.com/gps/index.shtml
WAAS will work everywhere
GPS will work everywhere
All GPS receivers are the same
You can use a rec. GPS for GIS data collection
US coast guard beacons are coastal
Selective Availability is still on or will be on again
You can get an accurate position with less than 4 satellites
Other people can track you if your GPS is on
All basedata is accurate
Aerial or satellite imagery will replace the need for GPS
Datums are not important when collecting GPS
WGS84 datum is the same as NAD83
Vert accuracy is the same as horizontal accuracy
See also http://www.trimble.com/gps/index.shtml
ArcGIS Image Server – Author, Serve, Use…
Random notes about ArcGIS Image Server - Released with ArcGIS 9.2 late last year. Recall, imagery is a natural background for many GIS apps. Useful for direct interpretation, statistics and analysis, used for vectorization (80% of vector data collected using imagery backdrop), data verification after GIS analysis. Diff. apps have diff demands on their imagery – time, quality, sun angle, etc…
Why Image Server??
Use of imagery growing exponentially
Available from many sources (aerial cameras, scanned maps, satellites)
Depth of imagery increasing, more bands of imagery, higher resolution, overlap in imagery (same image from multiple dates or diff. angles)
Imagery is often available but simply not accessible (obviously Google Earth has addressed this)
Fast access to imagery and metadata
Much more! See ArcGIS Image Server – Author, Serve, Use… Random Notes from the ESRI UC for more on this
Why Image Server??
Use of imagery growing exponentially
Available from many sources (aerial cameras, scanned maps, satellites)
Depth of imagery increasing, more bands of imagery, higher resolution, overlap in imagery (same image from multiple dates or diff. angles)
Imagery is often available but simply not accessible (obviously Google Earth has addressed this)
Fast access to imagery and metadata
Much more! See ArcGIS Image Server – Author, Serve, Use… Random Notes from the ESRI UC for more on this
Developing Web2.0 flash mapping apps with ArcWeb Services
Some random notes from the session on AWX 2 -- Recall recently ArcWeb explorer 2 beta 1 released last week - See arcwebservices.com labs
ArcWeb Services AWX2 is built on Adobe Flex 2
2 APIs – javascript and Flex 2 ActrionScript API
Simple authoring where anyone with a notepad should be able to author an ArcMap web service (Source: AWX dev team)
New Features in AWX2
- more map types… tiled streets (ArcGIS online), topo, shaded relief. Streets, aerial and hybrid always been there
- support for 13 diff projections (repro on the fly)
- create your own widgets (think Apple)
- using Flex API the map can be completely customized (via style sheets)
See Developing Web2.0 flash mapping apps with ArcWeb Services - Random Notes from the ESRI UC for more on this topic
ArcWeb Services AWX2 is built on Adobe Flex 2
2 APIs – javascript and Flex 2 ActrionScript API
Simple authoring where anyone with a notepad should be able to author an ArcMap web service (Source: AWX dev team)
New Features in AWX2
- more map types… tiled streets (ArcGIS online), topo, shaded relief. Streets, aerial and hybrid always been there
- support for 13 diff projections (repro on the fly)
- create your own widgets (think Apple)
- using Flex API the map can be completely customized (via style sheets)
See Developing Web2.0 flash mapping apps with ArcWeb Services - Random Notes from the ESRI UC for more on this topic
June 19, 2007
Enhancements in ArcGIS at 9.3 and simple mashup creation, and Publish SOAP, REST and OGC services
ArcGIS Server 9.3, the next version of the popular app will be an incremental release… support for integrated security, better cashing, more options in building apps and simple mashup applications, deploy REST services… and more! Some random notes from the session:
Enhancement – map tips
Enhanced printing support – print tool in web app
More access to web developers – expands the ways you can build apps… Javascript API for mashup style apps (new at 9.3). AJAX enabled web App Dev Framework for advanced web services… Publish SOAP, REST and OGC services.
.Net web ADF
- full integration with ASP .Net AJAX
- client side javascript Object Model that works with server side ASP .Net web controls
- enhanced task results, identify and map tips
- IDE integration for Eclipse and NetBeans
At 9.3 ArcGIS Server brings New javascript APIs
- combine your organization’s GIS content hosted in ArcGIS Server with content from Virtual Earth or from Google Maps, or ArcGIS online – powered by backend ArcGIS Server REST services.
- Done by writing a javascript enabled webpage hosted on your web server.
A choice of javascript map controls:
ArcGIS Server Javascript Map Control and API – use ArcGIS online or your own content for a base map – Overlay arcGIS content
Use Microsoft Virtual earth Map control and API – use VE as a base map, overlay GIS
Google Maps JS Map control and API – use google maps as base map overlay your data
Demo: quickly create a mashup using your data (ArcGIS) on a Google maps basemap.
Enhancement – map tips
Enhanced printing support – print tool in web app
More access to web developers – expands the ways you can build apps… Javascript API for mashup style apps (new at 9.3). AJAX enabled web App Dev Framework for advanced web services… Publish SOAP, REST and OGC services.
.Net web ADF
- full integration with ASP .Net AJAX
- client side javascript Object Model that works with server side ASP .Net web controls
- enhanced task results, identify and map tips
- IDE integration for Eclipse and NetBeans
At 9.3 ArcGIS Server brings New javascript APIs
- combine your organization’s GIS content hosted in ArcGIS Server with content from Virtual Earth or from Google Maps, or ArcGIS online – powered by backend ArcGIS Server REST services.
- Done by writing a javascript enabled webpage hosted on your web server.
A choice of javascript map controls:
ArcGIS Server Javascript Map Control and API – use ArcGIS online or your own content for a base map – Overlay arcGIS content
Use Microsoft Virtual earth Map control and API – use VE as a base map, overlay GIS
Google Maps JS Map control and API – use google maps as base map overlay your data
Demo: quickly create a mashup using your data (ArcGIS) on a Google maps basemap.
Mobile Map connect takes ESRI data to the field
Speaking of ArcPad and mobile GIS, Geoage today has introduced ESRI UC attendees to their Mobile Map Connect application. According to Don fromm Geoage who I just spoke with, Mobile Map Connect enables ESRI users to take their maps and data into the field, with little mobile know-how etc... so newbies can get up and running fast, right out of the box and with little or no training. The solution works on any Windows mobile enabled device. See www.geoage.com for more
Intro to ArcGIS Mobile and ArcPad at 7.1
Just listening to an intro session focused on ESRI’s extension of GIS beyond the office and into a mobile environment. Why mobile GIS?? Need to take GIS into the field to enable timely, relevant, and accurate decisions. Making real-time decisions in the field enables more collaboration between the field and the office.
ESRI's key Mobile GIS users:
Asset management – signs, hydrants, poles
Logistics – package delivery
Public Safety
Natural resource management – habitat and forestry
One of the main mobile solutions offered by ESRI is obviously ArcPad. Currently at release 7.1, the solution is currently in Beta and will likely be available in a couple of months. What can you do with ArcPad
- deploy data for field use
- use pre-loaded streetmap data, geocode, and create routes
- query data using query builder and customized query forms
- field data capture and editing
- use data capture deviced (GPS, range finder, camera)
- update enterprise database – including related tables
- navigate with your GPS
- customize ArcPad
- streetmap data is included (Canada and US)
- ArcPad 7.1 currently in Beta
Usability improvements in 7.1 – QuickProject
- focus on those new to GIS. Quickly create a new data capture project/template to get up and running fast.
ArcPad application builder is a provided tool for customizing ArcPad.
Developing for ArcPad - About The ArcGIS Mobile SDK
- ships with ArcGIS server, came with 9.2
- a suite of .Net components useful for building your own mobile solution
- Core capabilities – provide a method for synchronizing data to and fromm ArcGIS Server – optimized for wireless networks
- Enables display of rich maps on mobile devices (Pocket PC, smartphones)
- Provides and easy to use and standardized developer environment
Who’s using the SDK? Logistics (stops, deliveries), Utilities (sketching and markup), public safety, emergency response… What Can you do with the sDK? Design, serve, deploy, and Sync – design focused apps targeted at specific mobile workers, serve mobile web services, deploy large number of clients easily, synch field edits to a from a mobile web service.
Mobile platforms supported (mainly MS) running on desktop, tablet, and mobile. Many field-ready mobile devices are designed for all day use and offer enhanced wireless capabilities. These devices are designed to plug into the enterprise. Supported devices include smart phones, pocket PC phones, tablet PCs and laptops. Pocket PCs are ideally suited for all day long field work. Many offer touch screen UI, they can be rugged, and are affordable. I wish I could tell you more about ArcPAd at 7.1 but i guess that's in another session.
Finally... ESRI’s mobile team provides users with The StreetMap Mobile SDK – for building mobile navigation solutions. Provides components for mapping, geocoding, and much more.Of interest, clinets include the likes of Searc who have deployed a navigation solution to thousands of their vehicles. Enables them to move their vehicles safely and efficiently around the country.
Demo: we saw how a nav solution provided a voice (male or female) to warn driver if they are speeding etc… Directions can be reported in multiple languages. We entered a start and stop location and then an optimal route was returned to us and voice commands were presented to route our driver… pretty cool.
ESRI's key Mobile GIS users:
Asset management – signs, hydrants, poles
Logistics – package delivery
Public Safety
Natural resource management – habitat and forestry
One of the main mobile solutions offered by ESRI is obviously ArcPad. Currently at release 7.1, the solution is currently in Beta and will likely be available in a couple of months. What can you do with ArcPad
- deploy data for field use
- use pre-loaded streetmap data, geocode, and create routes
- query data using query builder and customized query forms
- field data capture and editing
- use data capture deviced (GPS, range finder, camera)
- update enterprise database – including related tables
- navigate with your GPS
- customize ArcPad
- streetmap data is included (Canada and US)
- ArcPad 7.1 currently in Beta
Usability improvements in 7.1 – QuickProject
- focus on those new to GIS. Quickly create a new data capture project/template to get up and running fast.
ArcPad application builder is a provided tool for customizing ArcPad.
Developing for ArcPad - About The ArcGIS Mobile SDK
- ships with ArcGIS server, came with 9.2
- a suite of .Net components useful for building your own mobile solution
- Core capabilities – provide a method for synchronizing data to and fromm ArcGIS Server – optimized for wireless networks
- Enables display of rich maps on mobile devices (Pocket PC, smartphones)
- Provides and easy to use and standardized developer environment
Who’s using the SDK? Logistics (stops, deliveries), Utilities (sketching and markup), public safety, emergency response… What Can you do with the sDK? Design, serve, deploy, and Sync – design focused apps targeted at specific mobile workers, serve mobile web services, deploy large number of clients easily, synch field edits to a from a mobile web service.
Mobile platforms supported (mainly MS) running on desktop, tablet, and mobile. Many field-ready mobile devices are designed for all day use and offer enhanced wireless capabilities. These devices are designed to plug into the enterprise. Supported devices include smart phones, pocket PC phones, tablet PCs and laptops. Pocket PCs are ideally suited for all day long field work. Many offer touch screen UI, they can be rugged, and are affordable. I wish I could tell you more about ArcPAd at 7.1 but i guess that's in another session.
Finally... ESRI’s mobile team provides users with The StreetMap Mobile SDK – for building mobile navigation solutions. Provides components for mapping, geocoding, and much more.Of interest, clinets include the likes of Searc who have deployed a navigation solution to thousands of their vehicles. Enables them to move their vehicles safely and efficiently around the country.
Demo: we saw how a nav solution provided a voice (male or female) to warn driver if they are speeding etc… Directions can be reported in multiple languages. We entered a start and stop location and then an optimal route was returned to us and voice commands were presented to route our driver… pretty cool.
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