NEARC 2005: Abstracts

NEARC 2005 Program Abstracts

By Track :

TRACK: Related and Supporting Technologies

Introduction to Remote Sensing

Andrew Brenner & Mike Palmer, Sanborn

This 1.5 hour workshop is directed at local, state and regional governmental organizations that are interested in looking at digital imagery as a new approach to obtaining information about their land. The session will be broken into two parts, the first part will look at what is digital imagery, how does it different from film, and how do you choose the right imagery for your application. It will also review the costs associated with acquiring different types of imagery.The second session will focus on what can be done with digital imagery, the session will review vector data extraction, automated classification methods and the results, and will review products made from high and medium resolution digital imagery.Session 1:Digital imagery is becoming more available and important in building GIS at the State and Local Government Level. Imagery has long been used for vector extraction of infrastructure, however now remote sensing methods are enabling us to extract other information that can be useful to local decision makers. This session will look at digital imagery what it is, and how to select the correct imagery for your application. The session will review, spectral resolution, spatial resolution and temporal resolution of satellites and airborne digital imagery. It will also review spatial accuracy, mosaicing, operational and cost considerations. Session 2:Once you have digital imagery, you can do more than just look at it, this session will show how imagery can be used for cheap and effective basemap updates. It will also review the use of imagery for creation of land cover datasets, extraction of building footprints, derivation of imperviousness and tree cover and mapping of wetlands. The session will use examples from all over the US and show operational uses of these types of analyses.

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.

Planning and Creating a 3D GIS for Use in 3D Analyst

Gary Smith, Josh Friedman Green Mountain GeoGraphgics, Ltd

This workshop is designed to help new and experienced ArcGIS users understand how to employ the 3D Analyst extension with other supporting software to create a true 3D GIS. The virtual environment now made possible in ArcScene and ArcGlobe (part of 3D Analyst) open many new horizons for the GIS user. To help people understand the many opportunities, the following topics will be presented:1. Terrain creation for 3D display2. Land cover sources and creation3. Creation, Use and Placement of symbols in the 3D environment4. Multipatch - What is it, how is it created and what does it mean to the GIS user?5. Creating buildings and other landscape features for 3D display and analysis6. Importing 3rd party buildings and landscape features to ArcScene and ArcGlobe7. Use of 3rd. party software8. New and coming technologiesThroughout this workshop live examples will be included to show not only the construction techniques but also the applications of 3D GIS technology. Community planning, viewshed analysis, disaster and emergency planning and facilities management are just a few of the application to be illustrated. 3D is the real next generation of GIS technology and this workshop is intended to help users begin to use this technology right away.Key words: 3D, Virtual Environment, ArcScene, ArcGlobe, Multipatch

Managing and integrating GPS data with GIS

John Lynam, Chris Halsted, & Janet Parker, Maine DEP GIS Unit

This workshop will teach users about different types of GPS units, accuracy, WAAS, differential correction, and other components of GPS technology. The workshop will also discuss various types of free or commercially-available software used to integrate GPS units with GIS, and how to use customized tools in ArcGIS to manage GPS data.

Beyond GPS Technology: Lessons Learned Training Novices, Technophobes and Office Workers to Use GPS

David Kimball & Nathanael Lloyd, MA Department of Conservation and Recreation

Security concerns during the Democratic National Convention (DNC), forced the closure of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation's main office. Needing to find other work options for its employees during the week of the DNC the GIS Section was asked to train dozens of employees to use GPS and lead them into the parks to map trails. There were difficulties with learning to use the technology (Trimble GeoExplorer XM, with ArcPad software) but the problem of training individuals unaccustomed to fieldwork to be productive for an entire week in the woods was much more significant. The week was successful and prompted more requests for training by various groups, each with their own unique challenges. In an agency with 1,000 employees doing forestry, recreation management, fire control, land protection planning, construction projects, and public road maintenance there have been many different GPS technologies, data, and training needs. These needs illuminate the complexity of administering GPS in a diverse governmental agency.GPS, Training, Trails, ArcPad

"NEARC Squares" Game Show - ArcSDE Tips, Tricks and Keys to Success

Larry Spraker, Applied GIS

Join your host Larry Spraker and 9 ArcSDE "celebrities" in a live game show of "NEARC Squares," where the questions and answers will educate you on ArcSDE technology and implementation, and YOU, the audience, play as the contestants! Come ready to participate, laugh, have fun, and learn alot about ArcSDE. Be ready to test your knowledge and either "Agree" or "Disagree" with our celebrities as a member of the "X's" or "O's." And yes... you could win fabulous prizes!

Creating Animations in ArcScene & ArcGlobe

Josh Friedman, Green Mountain GeoGraphics, Ltd.

It has always been important to present GIS data in a way that is both effective and aesthetically pleasing. Often this means making good cartographic choices relating to color scheme or the placement of a legend. As the tools for working with GIS evolve, we must begin to explore alternative methods of communicating with our audience. The animation tools available with ArcScene and ArcGlobe provide some great options for developing different means of delivering data and ideas. This presentation will review the basics of creating different types of animations and offer tips on how to get the most out of these tools. The user can create a simple flyover of a 3D scene or produce a more polished movie with a changing sun angle and moving features such as cars. Animations can also be used to produce time-lapse presentations of two-dimensional GIS data. The ability to save and export movie files or capture still images of a 3D scene allows for the distribution of information to non-GIS users and also provides some easy options for developing 'canned' demos to run at meetings or presentations. Keywords: Animations, 3D, AVIs, ArcScene, ArcGlobe{30 minute presentation) Back to top

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.

Database Concepts for GIS Professionals

Girk Cakmak & Rich Annitto, Bowne Management Systems, Inc.

Summary: Enterprise Geographic Information Systems provide broad access to geospatial data while reducing data redundancy, improving integrity and efficiency, and reducing overall GIS maintenance costs. Databases live at the core of the enterprise geographic information systems. Therefore we think that developing theoretical knowledge and practical skills in designing, administrating, manipulating, and analyzing databases and more importantly, spatial databases is crucial to any GIS practitioner. Many state and local government agencies in New York State have started pursuing such systems.Our presentation will provide the audience with this knowledge and practical skills necessary for such successful enterprise geographic information system back-end. The following topics will be covered in the presentation:o Understanding relational database conceptso Database design and architectureo Databases integrity, reliability, security, and efficiencyo Advantages of using relational databaseso Structured Query Languageo Geospatial database conceptso Both attribute and geographic datao Indexingo Securityo Critical success factorsAudience level: Beginner - Intermediate - AdvancedThe presentation will require a minimum level of understanding about GIS. Prior familiarity with database concepts will be helpful.

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.

Airborne Digital Cameras...why?

Jeremy Conner, 3001, Inc.

Digital cameras are here to stay. Now that they are, how can you use their data more efficiently? What are the benefits of a digital solution? The presentation will focus on the Z/I Imaging DMC and the Leica Geosystems ADS40. Examples of technology will include extreme imagery flown for the New York DOT (2" pixel resolution), an autocorrelated 3D model of the Grand Canyon, remotely sensed impervious and non-impervious surfaces and water features, and more. The presentation is designed to define the terms and technology as well as show real life application for GIS users and the public.

Developing collaborative landcover data in Maine - perspectives from NOAA, USGS, State of Maine, and Sanborn

Andrew Brenner, Nate Herold, Collin Homer, Michael Palmer, Michael Smith, Maine DEP GIS Unit

In the decade since remotely-sensed landcover data were lastcreated for Maine, there has been tremendous development in the methods and accuracies available for such work. NOAA, USGS, the State of Maine, and Sanborn Solutions partnered to develop an integrated landcover dataset for Maine. This presentation will outline the new NOAA Coastal Change Assessment Program (CCAP 2001), the new USGS National Landcover Dataset (NLCD 2001), and the new Maine Landcover Dataset (MELCD 2004). Speakers from each group will outline the new products and methods of each project and how the integration between them was achieved. Examples of the various products will be displayed, and there will be open discussion for those in other northeastern states wishing to develop similar integrated efforts.