NEARC 2005 Program Abstracts
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TRACK: Internet Mapping
Taming the ArcIMS Multi-Service Viewer
Fred Pieper & Dan Deneau, Institute for the Application of Geospatial Technology
The ArcIMS Multi-Service Viewer is one of the sample ArcIMS HTML viewers. It supports simultaneous integration of multiple ArcIMS image map services from multiple servers to render a composite map. The value of this "cascading map server" approach is in the potential for sharing data among multiple sites that maintain and administer their own ArcIMS map services without the need for duplicating data and services at a centralized location. Such an approach makes sense for projects or user communities that require cooperation among multiple organizations or multiple divisions within an organization that individually maintain and serve geospatial data. The sample Multi-Service Viewer is a good starting point for implementing this type of de-centralized ArcIMS deployment strategy. However, it is somewhat un-refined and cumbersome to work with. To overcome the "out of the box" limitations, incorporate some user session state management features, and generally make it easier to use and administer, the sample code has been substantially modified and enhanced. The focus of this presentation is to highlight the enhanced functionality that has been developed in customizing the Multi-Service Viewer and to explain some of the specific implementation techniques used.Keywords: ArcIMS, HTML, multi-service, viewer, customization
 
TRACK: Natural Resources/Environmental Protection- POSTER
THE AMERICAN CHESTNUT FOUNDATION: SPATIAL PROBLEMS IN ONGOING RHODE ISLAND AND MASSACHUSETTS CONTRIBUTIONS TO RESTORATION OF A KEY SPECIES DECIMATED BY IMPORTED DISEASE
Yvonne Federowicz, The American Chestnut Foundation, Massachusetts Chapter
American chestnut was one of the most important trees of upland eastern forests until the early 1900s, providing a large, consistent food source for wildlife and humans and quick-growing, rot-resistant lumber. Beginning in 1904, an imported fungus decimated virtually all four billion adult American chestnuts within a few decades. The American Chestnut Foundation is working to create a population of American-Chinese hybrids that will be more than 90% pure American, blight-resistant yet retaining the American growth characteristics that enabled this tree to dominate areas of the eastern forests, and adapted to local conditions through incorporation of local "mother trees" into the gene pool. Volunteers in Rhode Island and Massachusetts have been involved in this multi-state effort for several years, and mother trees located by volunteers in our area are producing hybrid offspring currently being raised in local volunteer-run orchards. Ongoing spatial problems include locating and incorporating mother trees that provide a good selection of local habitat types and genetic diversity, defining those habitat and genetic types, and utilizing volunteered land of these types. Additionally, growing chestnuts in orchard settings is a relatively new undertaking. Spatial analysis of growth and pollination at the orchard scale is being considered for the future. species restoration, American chestnut trees, spatial population diversity, habitat mapping, biogeography
 
TRACK: Education
The Maine Education Consortium

Rosemary Mosher, University of Southern Maine
Collaboration is the name of the game for GIS in Maine Higher Education. Tight budgets and Maine’s rural character provide real challenges to the state’s Colleges and Universities as they try to keep pace with the rapid advances in GIS technology. The Maine GIS Education Consortium, which began as a state-wide software license consortium, is rapidly evolving into a center of activity for Maine’s institutes of higher education. Unprecedented collaboration, initiated by resource sharing across institutions that vary in size, mission, and target population, now provides a foundation for education and research for students from across the state.
 
TRACK: Public Safety/Homeland Security
The Role of the Digital Camera In Emergency Response

Andrew Freckmann, EarthData International

The migration of aerial imaging and mapping into an all digital environment holds great promise to geospatial data users through improved image quality, positional accuracy and flexibility in product offerings.2003 was the first year when high resolution digital aerial camera systems were widely used in the geospatial marketplace and over the course of the past two years, this technology has been repeatedly tested and proven to be a valuable tool to support planners and emergency managers during natural or man-made disasters.This presentation will detail the circumstances, the project plan that was developed and the resulting geospatial products that were produced in response to 2 major disasters. Both disasters, Hurricane Isabel and the vast wild fires that struck southern California, both involved the need to map large areas and to produce and deliver the completed map data very rapidly with both projects exceeding 2,000 square miles and completed within 30 days.Digital imaging technology also produces a variety of ancillary products that have value in emergency response but are also valuable in disaster preparedness planning and analysis.The presentation will provide an overview of the technology, a description of the planning and logistics of a disaster response mission and examples of the types of imagery and products that can be produced.
 
TRACK: Transportation
Tracking Roadside Maintenance Activities at MaineDOT Using an Internet Web Application with ArcIMS
Robert Moosmann, Maine Department of Transportation
The idea to use an internet solution to gather data on roadside spray activities evolved over several years beginning about 2002. MaineDOT and the Bureau of Information Services were not prepared to breach the state firewall when discussions first began. As demand for internet applications increased, BIS, MaineDOT, and other state agencies began to research solutions to allow development of web applications. In March 2004, the Landscape Architecture Unit of the Environmental Office at MaineDOT applied for an FHWA Environmental Streamlining grant to build a web based application for its Roadside Spray Program. In October of 2004 the Environmental Office received notice that it had been awarded a grant for web application development. During 2004, BIS had resolved its issues with internet access into the state network. Information Systems and Bob Moosmann from Landscape Architecture began to development of a Request for Quotes. A vendor was chosen in April of 2005. Work began in late June with an anticipated completion of late September of 2005. The web application will streamline a number of processes that currently take place using Excel spreadsheets, Access databases, e-mail, and electronic forms. These processes will be replaced by one web based internet application. Roadside spraying is done by contractors as well as MaineDOT crews. The web application must be an internet solution to allow contractors to access it. Remote camps within MaineDOT will also benefit from an internet solution since many are still using dial-up connectivity that makes many heavy applications run slowly. While the focus of the grant and initial development phase is tracking activities within the Roadside Spray Program, the goal of the internet application is to track more roadside activities related to vegetation management and provide maps and analysis using ArgGIS strategies. Examples of activities might include ditching and hydro seeding, brush cutting and stump treatment with herbicides, sustainable vegetation establishment, or tree planting. An integral part of the web application will feature the use of ArcIMS to display maps of each of 5 Regions that Contractors will do their work. A crew foreman would access the ArcIMS, click on a road section, and the click would kick off a form for recording all the data on the crew activity that day for that section of road. The web application will also provide links to useful information for spray crews such as labels and MSDS, No Spray Agreements by Region, e-mail addresses for Department personnel, pesticide regulations, and regional weather forecasts for example. Streamlining data collection in one web application combined with mapping and data analysis will result in significant and measurable improvements to the Department’s business processes for integrated roadside vegetation management resulting in cost savings, improved vegetation management strategies, and a continued reduction on the reliance of herbicides.
TRACK: Municipal - POSTER
Tri-Community Street Map
Rachel Keats, Woodard & Curran
A detailed street map and index was created for three coastal Maine communities: the City of Saco, the City of Biddeford and the Town of Old Orchard Beach. This street map uses planimetric data from each community and includes streets, hydrography, and important points of interest. ArcInfo 9.0 was used to create the map. All data is stored in a personal geodatabase and feature class annotation was used to label streets and water features. The map is currently available for viewing and download through the City of Saco's online GIS website.
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TRACK: Natural Resources/Environmental Protection
Two Variables in One Symbol: How to Make the Map
Wayne Richter, New York State Department of Health
This talk provides basic step by step procedures on how to use ArcMap to create a bivariate map in which a single symbol provides information about two different variables. Symbol size is used to portray the value of one variable, population, and symbol color is used to give the value of a second variable, trihalomethane level. The installation and use of an ESRI developer sample for a bivariate renderer is described. Construction of the map will be used to illustrate processes of symbolizing data based on a joined table, using definition queries to subset the data, and how to indicate areas with missing data.Keywords: bivariate renderer, map, joined data, symbology
 
TRACK: Municipal
Tying it All Together: Municipal System Integration and Content Delivery Tips
Michael Olkin, Town of Amherst, MA
The success of GIS in local government relies upon tight integration with other enterprise databases and easy access to end users. The presentation will discuss methods used in Amherst, MA for simple content delivery and system integration using ArcSDE with SQL Server, Customized ArcReader applications and ArcIMS technology. Demonstrations will show an under-the-hood glimpse at end-user applications and system integration between SQL Server and Oracle databases.
 
TRACK: Municipal
Underground Assets: Mapping and Inspecting Waterbury's Wastewater Collection System
Ted Chapin, Woodard & Curran
Manhole investigations and studies are a first step toward comprehensive collection system improvements, and are often required to meet consent decree from regulatory agencies. By thinking ahead, these projects can be used to develop a data platform for geographic information systems (GIS), and provide the infrastructure and condition data necessary to start an asset management system to organize maintenance needs and planning. The City of Waterbury used a manhole inspection project as an opportunity to meet regulatory requirements and develop tools that make municipal staff more efficient, such as GIS and handheld computers for remote data collection, and train staff in the skills needed to maintain compliance for the future. The goal of Waterbury's manhole inspection program was to locate its nearly 9,500 manhole structures and assess their overall condition. Key elements of Waterbury's strategy include: scanning existing paper maps and standardizing existing data to create a single base map and pinpointing all manholes on it; applying the latest technology tools, including GIS and handheld computers for data collection, and training city staff to use the applications.The City needed to document the measures necessary to achieve regulatory compliance and improve the overall management and operations of its sanitary collection system. The collection system integrates over 90 discrete sewage areas in the city, which are interconnected by approximately 320 miles of sanitary sewer lines supported by 20 pump stations and four flow metering stations. Nearly 9,500 manholes are built into the collection system-about 20% of the manholes were opened during the initial study.
TRACK: Education
Understanding Landscapes and Soils - using GIS and GPS at the middle school level
Caroline Alves, USDA / NRCS
How do educators involve their students in a hands-on study of a wetland? Field trips and the chance to use GIS/GPS technology are excellent techniques to pique the interest of the generation of the short attention span. The presentation will focus on what worked and what was not effective when introducing students to mapping concepts and recording geographical data. Transforming a flat map into a three-dimensional view is one way to help information come alive. GIS professionals can jump start the transfer of geographic skills and knowledge by providing simple local data sets of study sites. In addition, giving focused demonstrations illustrates the power of computer maps and can smooth the steep learning curve that might otherwise be encountered. Place-based leaning helps students gain new appreciation of their backyard, watershed and local environment.
TRACK: Municipal
Use of 3D GIS in the Urban Planning Process
James Alberque, Gary S. Smith, Josh Friedman, Boston Redevelopment Authority
In the spring of 2005, the City of Boston and Mayor Thomas Menino, in cooperation with the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) and other city agencies began looking at enhancement opportunities involving portions of Dorchester Avenue in Dorchester. Known simply as "The Avenue Project" this planning effort incorporates input from the community with available opportunities from City programs and departments. The BRA has a long-standing interest and experience with GIS and 3D visualization. Within the confines of City Hall exists a complete balsawood model of the entire city with each building represented. While this is very helpful for small group discussions, the model is not transportable or able to respond to different "what if" scenarios. Moving to a virtual environment offers the opportunity to take the model city to public meetings on a laptop computer. Building the virtual environment within a GIS further expands the analysis capabilities and utility of the model to the entire planning process. This paper discusses the methods used to create the virtual environment for the three intersections and the ongoing utility to the total planning process. The virtual environment was created in ArcScene and employs SketchUp to create and display existing and proposed structures in the geo-specific multipatch format. Tips, tricks, suggestions and recommendations for other communities will be presented.
TRACK: Transportation/Utilities
Use of Tracing Tools for Homeland Security Utility Applications
Tom Harrington, Mark Willett, Morgen Bullock, Applied Geographics/Wannacomet Water
AppGeo developed a Utility Trace Tool for the Wannacomet Water Company (Nantucket) to be used within ArcMap. This tool allows the user to click on the location of a water main break, and the valves that need to be shut off to isolate the break will be highlighted. A list of affected customers will also be generated. The Trace Tool has been used effectively by Wannacomet since January of 2005 for valve isolation and data QA/QC. In June, Wannacomet was picked by the State police to run table top terrorist attack scenario. The scenario involved a biological contaminant being pumped into the water pipe network and contaminating the water system. The Trace Tool was used to efficiently isolate the contaminant.
 
Using AEJE w/Maine Laptops
Bridgit Kirouac, State of Maine, Office of GIS
With the advent 1:1 computing in Maine via the Maine Learning Technology Initiative, the struggle has become one of providing teachers the software tools and training to allow them to maximize the potential benefits of this innovative program. Because GIS has so much potential to enhance the education of our students, it is a very important item for students and teachers to both have in their toolbox and know how to use. When we started sharing this technology with teachers 3 or 4 years ago, we started learning that there is a lot more to GIS in schools than meets the eye. During this presentation, I will share some of the lessons learned, as well as some of the obstacles remaining, in maximizing the usefulness of the computing power that has been placed in the hands of large numbers of Maine students.
TRACK: Natural Resources/Environmental Protection
Using GIS to Support Superfund Remediation: 2-D Map Production and 3-D Visualization
Scott DeHainaut, CH2M HILL
The Massachusetts Military Reservation groundwater remediation program became a "Superfund" cleanup site in 1989 under the federal government's 1980 Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA). The current Air Force program manages a sampling network of more than 10,000 locations throughout upper Cape Cod, monitoring and/or remediating more than 13 groundwater plumes, areas of concern, and source areas. The program makes extensive use of GIS, groundwater modeling, and related spatial technologies to plan, manage, and analyze the ongoing remediation effort. Because of its flexibility with disparate data and the value associated with surface and sub-surface spatial information, GIS has become an important part of the program's entire effort, from model visualization through report production to community involvement. To accomplish this the GIS staff works with a variety of applications, formats, and methodologies to satisfy the flexibility, quality, and fast-turnaround requirements of their clients. Traditional two-dimensional products include posters and formal report figures illustrating remediation issues, as well as digital versions intended for remote distribution and presentation. Three-dimensional products are often used to visualize the complex sub-surface remediation environment, which are made available in a range of formats, from AVI animation files to interactive VRML models and multi-perspective report figures. Back to top
 
TRACK: Related and Supporting Technologies
Using High Resolution Imagery for Coastal Applications
Emily Wilson, Sandy Prisloe, James Hurd, Dan Civco (University of Connecticut) and Marty Gilmore (Wesleyan University) University of Connecticut, Center for Landuse Education and Research
The Center for Land use Education and Research at the University of Connecticut has recently acquired several types of high resolution imagery covering the coastal area of Connecticut. Although the imagery is a product in itself due to the tremendous detail, planning and natural resource applications require quantitative analysis. The ability to process and classify high resolution imagery is still an emerging science and the high quality data is out-pacing integrated, on-the-ground applications. Two projects underway at the University of Connecticut are utilizing high resolution imagery along with image segmentation and object-oriented classification software (eCognition) to address two coastal management applications. The first is performing land cover classification of high resolution airborne imagery (ADS40) for regions containing potential parcels of land acquisition by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection. The second project is utilizing high resolution satellite imagery (Quickbird) for several tidal marsh sites in Long Island Sound to map tidal wetland communities, especially the invasive plant Phragmites australis. The monitoring protocol has potential to become part of long-term control efforts. Results from these two applications illustrate the vast potential in applying high resolution imagery to on-the-ground management applications.
TRACK: Municipal - POSTER
Using Land Characteristics to Analyze Potential Development Intensity and Future Conservation Areas in Rhode Island
Christina Delage, RI Statewide Planning Program
Rhode Island is preparing its third land use plan since 1975 but this will be the first time GIS is utilized as a major planning component. This component - Future Land Use Project -- benefits the land use plan by providing geographic data and visual analysis results. Additionally total acreage for specific land use, land cover, and analysis areas were calculated for use in the plan. ArcGIS 9.0 was used to model various geoprocessing tools, SQL queries, a development/conservation intensity matrix, and development/conservation priority matrices. The Future Land Use Project assessed land suitability, assigned potential development intensity and conservation categories to all land in the state and prioritized the development and conservation intensity categories. This project was completed in the phases described below. Phase 1: Land Suitability Analysis on a Statewide Level - The objectives for this phase were to identify concentration levels of natural resources and limitations to development to determine the lands' suitability for development or value for conservation. Phase 2: Assign Land to Development and Conservation Intensity Categories -Intensity categories were based on concentration values from the land suitability analysis, proximity to sensitive water resource areas, and access to current public water and sewer. These categories ranged from areas most suitable for dense development to areas most suitable for protection. Phase 3: Prioritize Potential Future Development - Development priorities were based on development intensity categories, proximity to current or extended water and sewer infrastructure, proximity to highway interchanges, bus stops, rail stations, and arterial highways.Phase 4: Prioritize Potential Future Conservation - Conservation priorities were based on proximity to permanently protected lands, Department of Environmental Management's priority acquisition sites, existing and proposed bikeways and natural corridors, and locality within or west-southwest of the proposed Mid-State Greenbelt. Phase 5: Unified Statewide Future Land Use Map - Created by combining results from Phases 3 and 4 with surface water and currently protected lands.The results of the Land Use Project identified areas most suitable for protection as well as areas best suited for a variety of development types, optimally in compact, dense patterns that reduces sprawl. These results will be incorporated into a unified statewide future land use dataset that will help guide communities to protect natural resources, local character, and promote community centers. Key Words: GIS, Future Land Use, Land Suitability Analysis, Development Intensity, Land Conservation.
 
TRACK: Related and Supporting Technologies
Using LIDAR Elevation Data to Aid in the Detection and Mapping of Phragmites australis
Sandy Prisloe, Emily Wilson, James Hurd, Dan Civco, Marty Gilmore, University of Connecticut
The Center for Land Use Education and Research, in collaboration with the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, has acquired a high-resolution LIDAR dataset that covers the state's coast from New Haven Harbor to the mouth of the Connecticut River. These data were collected in October 2004 using an LH Systems ALS50 scanner. The LIDAR data points were collected at submeter horizontal resolution and include values for first return (i.e. top most reflective surface such as a rooftop or tree canopy) and last return (i.e. bare earth surface). Vertical accuracies are reported to have an RMSE of 0.057 meters. Data collection was funded through a NOAA Coastal Services Center cooperative project designed to provide remote sensing data to support coastal assessment and management activities in the state. The LIDAR data are being used in conjunction with high-resolution ADS40 airborne imagery to aid in the detection and mapping of Phragmites australis, a highly invasive plant that has invaded many of the state's tidal marshes. P. australis typically grows to a height of 3 to 5 meters in extremely dense stands that can be "seen" in the LIDAR dataset. The presentation will provide an overview of the LIDAR data, its characteristics and how it is being used to identify P. australis.
 
TRACK: Related and Supporting Technologies
Using the Geodatabase with Distributed Oracle Databases
Michael Mannion, Mannion Geosystems
Many organizations store enterprise data across multiple Oracle databases, rather than a single centralized server, to improve security, manageability, and performance. Frequently, however, applications must access data from multiple sources for reporting or analytical purposes. GIS is, inherently, an integrating technology, enabling its users to map and analyze both geographic (spatial) and business (non-spatial) data together. As a result, ArcGIS is frequently deployed in, and supported by, a distributed database environment. Both the ESRI and Oracle software provide mechanisms for communicating simultaneously with the multiple nodes of a distributed database. While designing the logical structure of such a system can be a straightforward endeavor, physical implementations are often plagued by debilitating performance problems. This workshop will discuss the design options for hosting ArcGIS in a distributed Oracle environment, identify common performance barriers, and recommend solutions for building well-performing systems.
 
TRACK: Natural Resources/Environmental Protection
Vermont's Nutrient Management Planning Tool
Steve Sharp, VT Center for Geographic Information
The Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), in collaboration with federal, state, and local agencies, as well as producers, completed an ambitious multi-agency project referred to as the Idaho OnePlan. The project resulted in the development of web and desktop software which combines a myriad of government regulations and current best management practices to help farmers develop nutrient management plans. The Vermont Center for Geographic Information (VCGI), in collaboration with NRCS VT, has implement the OnePlan system in Vermont. Web and desktop components of the application have been modified for use in Vermont. This initiative will provide NRCS Technical Services Providers (TSPs) and farmers the tools they need to develop comprehensive nutrient management plans.
TRACK: Internet Mapping
Westside Embraces Open Source Software and ArcIMS to go Online
Mohammed A. Hoque, Town of West Springfield, MA
Open source and free software helped town of West Springfield, MA achieved its goal of disseminating GIS & Tax information over Internet for businesses and residents. ArcIMS, in concert with Apache, Tomcat, JSP and JDBC on server side, and HTML and JavaScript on client side, made an integrated and live cross-platform communication between GIS and Tax database. Web server, running on Linux Red Hat, is hosted inside the town hall and connects to Windows servers via Samba. The website is designed to be simple, functional and smaller in size for faster download even with modem connection. When user search parcel by address or location, ArcIMS and JSP returns map, tax information and photos by accessing Oracle database on Windows server, and link to print tax map. It also saves trips to Assessor department by providing link to digital copy of Sale Deeds when accessed by town officials.Keywords: ArcIMS, Parcels, Linux, Windows, JSP
 
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