User Presentations

The Borough of Wind Gap's claim to fame was it was the first overnight encampment for General John Sullivan's campaign to destroy the six Indian nations in New York in 1779 and not much has changed since. After my election to office, I found a lack of accessible information for controlling and planning resources. Daily challenges abound such as knowing when a street was last paved and due for repaving, the inventory and condition of street signs, fire hydrants, et al, managing state requirements such as replacing stop signs every five years and managing permits issued within the Borough. With training and ongoing planning, I set upon a path to build a GIS system for the Borough's staff that would be developed and maintained by an outside engineering firm with a proven record of GIS utilization. My intent is to build a foundation that will sustainably benefit the Borough.
Presenter: John Maher, Borough of Wind Gap
Susanna Jackson, SSM Group, Inc.

The County of Sussex, NJ has embraced the embedding of GIS technology within local and county enterprise nfrastructure. This is a fundamental shift away from GIS staff 'working' for other local and county agencies by performing geospatial activities to providing geospatial tools and applications to these organizations. Sussex County has been successful in putting these tools in the hands of local and county government through strategic planning, the adoption of the Esri Local Government Information Model, and ArcGIS.com cloud. This presentation will focus on the need for this transition towards a service oriented architecture, the available technologies, and practical applications being implemented by Sussex County, its municipalities, and other partners.
Presenter: David Kunz, County of Sussex

In Maryland, counties and some municipalities are the authoritative data sources for addressing (points and lines) data. Additionally, each local 911 center (PSAP) relies upon the accuracy of this data to offer the most precise dispatch location for emergency calls. This puts a liability on the accuracy and reliability of this location data. Further, there is a great need for this location data (centerlines and address points) in a larger footprint than singular jurisdiction which is often a difficult process due to variations in database schema and data required for the dispatch system. Further, Public Safety needs additional mission critical data that is frequently maintained by external agencies who have the authority to collect it. The Baltimore Metropolitan Council is coordinating with its member jurisdictions to collecting the location information but also working to establish relationships with these other data centers to look at building regional resources that are in essence better "seamless" data sets but also respectful of who has authority over the data (attribute or location). Its the idea that if its accurate enough data to dispatch 911 calls to...it should be to create mission critical data.
Presenter: Sandi Stroud, Baltimore Metropolitan Council

Over the past several years, the death rate associated with drug poisoning has increased substantially in the U.S. Geographic variation in drug poisoning mortality at the sub-state level has largely not been explored. We used national mortality data from 2007-2009 to explore spatial variation in drug poisoning mortality. Small area estimation methods were used to predict drug poisoning age-adjusted death rates (AADRs) at the county level, which were then mapped in order to examine geographic patterns. We used the Global Moran's I and Getis-Ord Gi* spatial statistical tools from ArcGIS 10.1 to determine whether drug poisoning mortality clustered by county, and where hot and cold spots occur. Results highlight several regions of the U.S. where groups of counties show significantly high or significantly low drug poisoning AADRs. Findings may help inform efforts to address the growing problem of drug poisoning mortality by indicating where the epidemic is concentrated geographically.
Presenter: Lauren Rossen, National Center for Health Statistics

The PA Dept. of Environmental Protection has developed an ArcMap project and Python scripts that enable their field inspectors, who are non-traditional GIS-users, the ability to quickly select sites they need to inspect, then automatically generates a PDF map, coordinate file, and email to be sent to their contracted helicopter pilot so he can make his flight plan. Federal law requires state inspectors to make one Complete inspection and two Partial inspections of active surface mine facilities per quarter. Normally, inspectors were conducting all inspections by walking around the site. Complete inspections are more thorough, requiring the inspector to be on the ground. Partial inspections, however, can be conducted from aerial observations. An inspector can usually conduct two Partial inspections a day on the ground. A cost-benefit analysis concluded that a minimum of 60 Partial inspections per day would need to be conducted to make helicopter aerial inspections cost effective. That's where site selection of what to inspect becomes critical. This project utilizes Python scripting to update a point feature class from an MS Access database of surface mine sites and then opens in ArcMap so the inspectors can visualize the sites' location in relation to each other and to refueling stations, and symbolizes the sites based on inspection need. Once sites needing inspected that are in close proximity to each other are selected, the inspector runs a customized script tool. The tool generates a PDF location map of the selected sites and a csv file of site coordinates. The files are then automatically attached to a flight specific populated email and saved into the inspector's Outlook draft folder. The inspector can then review the email and send it on to the pilot. This project allows this simple planning task to be accomplished in minutes, compared to hours it would take to search databases and paper files and then compile lists and coordinates. This enables field inspectors to more readily meet federal inspection requirements and free up time to focus more of problem remedy instead of inspection quotas. The audience can take away from this project a good example of how GIS can help those in an organization who have little GIS experience perform their work more efficiently and demonstrates how Python scripting can be used to join ArcGIS and MS Office products to improve workflows.
Presenter: Patrick Jaquay, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

Using Spatial Analyst and Model Builder, an iterative evaluation of tree health was conducted to assist in monitoring phytoremediation at a Superfund site. The phytoremediation project consisted of planting 12,000 hybrid poplar trees to reduce water infiltration through evapotranspiration, which in turn stabilizes the underlying groundwater contamination plume. Monitoring the health of the hybrid poplar tree using Spatial Analyst and Model Builder was key to the success of the project. These methods were used to map the tree stand and track the condition, diameter, and height of individual trees as a tool to monitor and evaluate the health of the tree stand. Statistical analyses were then conducted using GIS to evaluate tree stand condition and health over time. Analysis in 3D was also conducted to depict the overall tree canopy. This type of analysis is a cost-effective alternative to more other more expensive approaches such as Lidar analysis.
Presenter: Sara Taylor, Roux Associates, Inc.

The architecture, functionality, and administrative workflows used with ArcGIS for Server have seen significant changes at 10.1. This session will highlight many of those changes and be of particular interest to users of previous versions of ArcGIS for Server.
Presenter: Derek Law, Esri

This 20-minute presentation will review key benefits of using Amazon Web Services for deploying ArcGIS. In this session we will discuss what Amazon’s cloud is, how it is used with ArcGIS and the benefits it provides to ArcGIS users. The session will include an overview of AWS’ Case Study on Douglas County GIS and will wrap with a brief Q&A.

Two of the most important parameters for estimating whether storm drain runoff meets Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) limits are the area treated by stormwater controls and the amount of impervious area within each drainage area. To delineate drainage areas, spatially accurate topography and storm drain mapping is mandatory. The second parameter, an accurate assessment of impervious cover, can be more difficult to obtain, but is just as critical. Without this proper base data, runoff pollutant loading calculations are unlikely to be a reliable indicator of compliance. When base data is missing or incorrect, field verification of stormwater infrastructure and drainage divides using GIS based applications may be required. If detailed planimetric mapping of buildings and pavement is not available, Feature Analyst can be used to automate the delineation of impervious cover using recent aerial imagery. This presentation will discuss the process for generating accurate drainage areas and estimates of imperviousness with and without good base data, including lessons learned and tips and GIS tools that will help to determine compliance with a wide range of data quality. Examples of issues encountered as well as successes will be discussed throughout.
Presenter: Dustin Henry, KCI Technologies

With the wildly inflating oil and gas prices as well as the increasing demand of gas and oil, exploration and development of new resources of oil and gas have become really important in recent times. Producing oil and gas from shale formations is increasingly gaining popularity, and has brought significant success in oil and gas production. One essential issue associated with shale gas and oil exploration is the produced water generated with it. Current water managements for this produced water include the underground injection, surface disposal or reuse. Owing to a large amount of total dissolved solids, oil and grease in the produced water, the brine needs to be treated to achieve decent water quality for disposal or injection. Meanwhile, during the well drilling and hydraulic fracturing, substantial amounts of water are needed. Hence, reusing and recycling of produced water for drilling and fracturing after certain treatment would be economically beneficial. In this research, study will be performed on the Noble Energy's oil and gas wells in the Wattenberg field of Northern Colorado to analyze the quantity and quality of produced water. Based on the existing water production data from both Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission and Noble Energy Incorporation, a Geographic Information Systems based tool will be developed to model and predict water production for the lifecycle of these wells. Prospective plans for location of water treatment plants will be done based on the spatial analysis of produced water quantity in the field. Routing will also be done based on the analysis to reduce costs of transporting water by sending it to the nearest treatment plants. At the same time, water quality will be analyzed after detailed sampling from various parts of the field. With the use of OLI Electrolyte Simulation software, different wastewater treatment methods will be chosen based on water quality and the reuse purpose of produced water.
Presenter: Ashwin Dhanasekar, Colorado State University

Architects at CRP integrate GIS into a broad range of urban design and planning projects. We use base mapping, terrain modeling, and other 3D Analyst tools to study our sites in ways that CAD and BIM cannot, as in our Master Plan for Research Triangle Park, where the scale and depth of data required GIS to uncover patterns in the Park's physical and corporate geography. CRP also uses spatial analyst tools to test design proposals on large urban design projects, including New York City's current assessment of the installation of video screens on bus shelters and newsstands. We employed GIS to quickly and accurately depict the interrelationship of neighborhood character and zoning regulations. By demonstrating our innovative use of GIS, we will show the audience how to quickly produce urban design analysis, and how to test their design thinking at a scale and efficiency made possible only by using GIS.
Presenter: Mike Aziz, Cooper, Robertson and Partners

Having 3D capabilities is a powerful step forward for GIS; the Esri platform provides tools to create, analyze, and view realistic 3D cityscapes. This session will help you understand different methods and techniques for working with 3D data, and it will highlight the latest capabilities such as sharing 3D scenes in a web browser.
Presenter: Patrick Gahagan, Esri

The computing world has changed radically since Microsoft released Windows 7 in 2009. The iPad and SmartPhones have revolutionized the way in which we work with information and even interact with each other. Enter Microsoft's latest operating system; Windows 8. From Microsoft's standpoint, Windows 8 represents the merging of the best of PCs and tablets into a single platform. In this session, ComponentOne will demonstrate Windows 8 "touch" applications and what this new UI paradigm offers to developers interested in building multi-touch applications.

The analysis of the solar power generation potential of rooftops in this project involved using a DC GIS citywide 1 meter DSM derived from LIDAR data and ESRI's "Area Solar Radiation" tool. The output from the "Area Solar Radiation" tool is a raster image that measures and represents solar radiation potential for 1 meter by 1 meter cells across the entire city. The ESRI tool takes into account the position of the sun throughout the course of an entire year and determines any obstructions that may block the sun's radiation. The analysis in this project was performed in order to determine which DC Government owned buildings have the most potential for generating solar power from solar panels installed on their roofs, and what areas of the examined roofs are best suited for the placement of solar panels.
Presenter: William Lescure, New Light Technologies

A solar roof potential analysis of Philadelphia buildings would assist home owners and businesses in assessing whether their property was well suited for a solar project. Vendor, CyberCity 3D, delivered an articulated roof model for a 3 square mile pilot area of lower north Philadelphia, which included roof attributes of available area, pitch angle and solar azimuth. This dataset allowed us to develop a Solar Roof Potential based on the most opportune conditions for solar projects. The potential index was calculated for each roof feature of the pilot area and symbolized from based on the score. The results were made available internally for review on an ArcGIS Online interactive map that allows users to search for the solar potential index of a specific roof feature. The findings were shared with Philadelphia's Office of Sustainability for review which prompted a re-evaluation of the index to improve the accuracy.
Presenter: Hao Wang, City of Philadelphia OIT

NASA's Land, Vegetation, and Ice Sensor (LVIS) is a wide-swath, high-altitude LIDAR that can map surface topography and vertical structure due to its full digital waveform capability. It is capable of being mounted on a variety of platforms including unmanned aircraft such as NASA's Global Hawk. The Global Hawk can fly autonomously to altitudes of 20 kilometers and operate for as long as 30 hours on a single mission. On this platform the LVIS instrument scans a 4 kilometer-wide swath along the flight path using 10 meter-wide footprints, providing unprecedented mapping capabilities. The state of Alaska presents a perfect opportunity to test LVIS on the Global Hawk as a tool for regional mapping of topography. The extended duration of the Global Hawk missions will present a unique challenge as weather conditions can change drastically during this time frame. A GIS is being developed to aid in such tasks as flight line preparation, map production, weather prediction, and data visualization. This system will have a ""real-time"" component that will integrate weather information such as radar, satellite imagery, and cloud cover forecast models. This GIS will aid in decision making, enabling the team to make informed decisions as well as perform in-flight adjustments to adapt to changing conditions.
Presenter:Matthew Beckley, SGT Inc/NASA GSFC

ArcGIS is an efficient way of storing, accessing and editing data used in RDBMS (Relational Database Management System). ArcGIS adds a spatial component to a RDBMS which allows the use of ArcGIS. With the instance of ArcGIS, analysts can edit and manipulate data simultaneously and are able to consolidate feature classes across multiple geodatabases into one RDBMS.
Presenter: Marcus Coleman, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies

Historic resources are an integral part of the culture and history of local communities. Applying GIS to historic preservation is a cost effective method of record keeping and documentation. A geodatabase ties an historic resource's location to photographs, text, statistics and numbers providing a new sense of historic context. In historic preservation a geodatabase can assists planners in making fully informed decisions regarding preservation, restoration or demolition. Implementing an historic preservation geodatabase for historical societies with online access also provides an opportunity for the community to create their own geography which can then be incorporated in municipal planning. A geodatabase was created for Newtown Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania for the local historical society. Established in 1681, Newtown Township currently has 117 township designated historical sites. The purpose of this research is to investigate the potential utilization of geodatabase technology as a tool for historic preservation.
Presenter: Catherine Spahr, West Chester University

With over 1.1 million registered Catholics in this area, in order to fulfill part of the Archdiocese's mission statement: "create and nourish Christian community in the domestic church of the family, in the life of every parish, and in society as a whole". Parishes need to find out who their Christian community is and how best to serve them. Situation analysis/Identify issues. Where do we want to be in 3-5 years? What should we do in the next year? To observe a 10-year trend, data from the 2000 and 2010 decennial Censuses were compared. ArcGIS was used to get the Census data into Archdiocesan geographies because while the data files had relateable keys, the only relation between the census data and the Archdiocesan geographies is geography. We needed a way to give each of the Archdiocesan geographies the same unique identifier as the Census data had. We created an attribute table 2010 Census Tiger files were used; The 5 counties were merged into one shapefile that would be the complete Archdiocesan geography. Merging created a complete attribute table. In order to combine the blocks with the Archdiocesan geography, the newly merged shapefile was unioned with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia parish shapefile in order to collect the spatial data of the blocks that were complete contained within parish boundaries. This union, identified every polygon and since the territorrial parish boundary shapefile and the Tiger blocks shapefile aren't exactly the same, small slivers were made apparent.
Presenter: Tom Denton, Archdiocese of Philadelphia

Enable people throughout your organization to quickly discover and explore the important facts about any area. This session will show how to use Community Analyst and the thousands of demographic, health, economic, education, and business data variables to make better policy decisions and recommendations.
Presenter: Cathy Spisszak, Esri

Enterprise GIS (EGIS) programs can be highly beneficial to a variety of organizations; however, determining the true needs of your organization can be a challenge. Additionally, educating key stakeholders as to the benefits of GIS to garner support for a GIS program can be equally frustrating. This paper looks to explore the initial steps of GIS program development within an organization – stakeholder identification, organizational needs assessment, upper-level priority ranking of needs, and stakeholder GIS education. A case study review of the Prince William County Service Authority's EGIS Implementation shall be used throughout for examples.
Presenter: Brandon Pfleckl, Service Authority (PWCSA)

Enterprise GIS (EGIS) programs can be highly beneficial to a variety of organizations; however, getting proper approval can be a major impediment to implementation. Determining a Return on Investment (ROI) can assist tremendously with buy-in from management and other decision makers and more fully justify the project (either before or after implementation). While subjective ROI analysis is relatively easy, more specific quantitative calculations can be tricky and time consuming. This paper explorers proven methodologies for developing an EGIS ROI; identifying opportunities with an EGIS, constructing a GIS program, specifying costs and benefits, calculating metrics and presenting your report for review and buy-in from decision makers. This paper further explores the relationship between ROI methodologies and principles of project management. Additionally, this paper examines an ROI project case-study involving the successful implementation of EGIS at the Prince William County Service Authority.
Presenter: Brandon Pfleckl, Service Authority (PWCSA)

This presentation will focus on the benefits of using the GIS RoadMap strategic planning process. The GIS RoadMap process has been used by organizations of all sizes, including small local governments, regional authorities, private organizations and larger state and federal agencies. The GIS RoadMap process is similar to a medical health checkup: you visit a doctor; they ask questions, perform diagnostic tests, analyze the results and make recommendations for improving your health. Your overall heath is ranked against your peers and your doctor provides you with a "RoadMap" for improvement. The goal of a GIS RoadMap is to better understand your priorities as an organization and prioritize your needs into a manageable implementation strategy with realistic timelines and budgets. Case study examples will be presented to illustrate the process and emphasize lessons learned.
Presenter: Lowell Ballard, Timmons Group