Welcome to Federal GIS Forum, a quarterly ESRI newsletter designed to keep you up-to-date on GIS and federal government news.
In This Issue
Call for Case Studies
GIS for Decision Support in Public Policy Making
The ESRI government industry team is compiling a book for government executives, managers, and elected officials that will make a compelling case for using GIS technology as a strategic tool in decision making. This book will feature case studies submitted by federal, state, and local government GIS professionals and GIS consultants and developers. ESRI invites you to share your success stories through the online submission page. Share your story.
Elections Case Studies/Screen Shots
The ESRI government industry team is looking for case studies or screen shots from state government GIS professionals using GIS in support of elections. Submit your case study or screen shot to Rich Leadbeater at rleadbeater@esri.com.
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ESRI UC Summaries
Public Works Special Interest Group
The inaugural meeting of the Public Works Special Interest Group (SIG) was a huge success. Nearly 200 public works practitioners and business partners expressed their desire to be active participants. Thanks go out to the many business partners that sponsored the lunch: Accela; Azteca Systems; CartęGraph; CompassCom Software; Enterprise Information Solutions; GBA Master Series, Inc.; JMT Engineering; KCI Technologies; M.J. Harden/GeoEye; Psomas; RouteSmart Technologies; Topcon; TRANSMAP; and WennSoft.
Watch for upcoming Public Works SIG events in your area.
Fifth Annual Survey & Engineering GIS Summit
Collaboration and new opportunities echoed through the ESRI Survey & Engineering GIS Summit. Brent Jones, ESRI survey and engineering industry solutions manager, kicked off the event at the opening Plenary Session. Addressing more than 400 attendees, Jones pointed to the importance of a strong relationship among surveyors, engineers, and GIS professionals. "Surveyors and engineers are continuing to integrate GIS into their workflows," Jones said. "The increased attendance this year demonstrates the growing interest in using GIS to make their operations more efficient."
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Podcasts
New Podcast Series: GIS and Document Management System Integration
Thinking about integrating GIS with your document management system? Listen to this series of five podcasts sponsored by ESRI and presented by Jeff Hecht, president and CEO of GTI Inc. The series includes an overview, strategy, and several example cases studies to get you started.
Listen or download [MP3-10:41]
Technology Trends in Surveying and GIS
Listen to Brent Jones, ESRI surveying and engineering industry solutions manager, talk about the trends in surveying and GIS that improve the spatial accuracy of survey data within GIS.
Listen or download [MP3-08:05]
Click here to view other available podcasts.
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Special Interest Groups, Summits, and Events
Visit ESRI at upcoming events!
Visit ESRI at APWA
ESRI GIS Pavilion will be at the upcoming American Public Works Association (APWA) Congress and Exposition in San Antonio, Texas, September 9-11, 2007. Eleven ESRI business partners will be showcasing their GIS applications in the pavilion: Aurigo; CartęGraph; CompassCom Software; Enterprise Information Solutions; RouteSmart Technologies; Spatial Data Integration, Inc; TC Technology; TRANSMAP; Trimble; VUEWorks; and Woolpert.
Public Works Seminar Series
Attend a seminar on GIS for Public Works during September and October 2007. Find a location near you at www.esri.com/pwseminar. There is no cost to attend so register today!
2007 ESRI Health GIS Conference
October 7-10, 2007
Firesky Resort & Spa
Scottsdale, Arizona
Join colleagues at the ESRI Health GIS Conference October 7-10, 2007, in Scottsdale, Arizona, to discuss successful approaches in using geography to improve research, management, policy decisions, public health and hospital preparedness, and health care delivery.
2007 ESRI Homeland Security GIS Summit
November 5-7, 2007
Adam's Mark Hotel
Denver, Colorado
Be a part of the ESRI Homeland Security GIS Summit, November 5-7, 2007, in Denver, Colorado, and learn how GIS can be applied to critical infrastructure protection planning — a data fusion and analysis solution for prevention/protection and response/recovery measures within an emergency operations center.
2008 ESRI Survey & Engineering GIS Summit
August 2-5, 2008
Concurrent with the annual ESRI International User Conference
San Diego Convention Center
San Diego, California
GIS is breaking past traditional professional boundaries and building new opportunities for surveyors and engineers. Whether enhancing core business practices or expanding capabilities in the field, the technology is shaping the future. Join surveyors, engineers, and GIS professionals at the 2008 ESRI Survey & Engineering GIS Summit and explore the latest developments in the industries. Registration for the 2008 summit opens in December.
Want to see the summit in action? Take a look at the 2007 summit proceedings at www.esri.com/surveyengsummit.
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Grants and Training
ESRI Grant Assistance Program Provides Free Support to Government
ESRI's Grant Assistance Program (GAP) is rolling out some exciting changes that will help government GIS users find funding for their projects. GAP is a no-cost program that provides assistance to GIS users in finding the best grants to suit their needs and writing their grant applications. GAP is available to all interested entities across all industries. Learn more.
No-Cost Live Training Seminars
Did you know ESRI Training and Education offers complimentary live training seminars? View upcoming seminars. View other no-cost training options. Listen to instructional podcasts.
Take your GIS skills to the next level through ESRI Training and Education.
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Software News
Introducing Census Tools for ArcGIS
A Complimentary Add-on to Help with LUCA and BAS
Programs for the 2010 Census
Accurate census data is important in apportioning seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, allocating federal monies to state and local governments, and helping communities plan for future needs. As a state, local, or tribal government, you have the opportunity to share your knowledge with the U.S. Census Bureau to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the 2010 Census.
Census Tools for ArcGIS is a complimentary add-on from ESRI that supports local governments participating in the Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA) and Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) programs for the 2010 Census. The add-on gives you the data and tools you need to review and update the Census Bureau Master Address File (MAF) in an ArcGIS environment, providing an effective, more familiar method to produce these Census Bureau-defined datasets.
Jointly developed by ESRI and Citygate GIS LLC, Census Tools for ArcGIS provides functionality that takes into consideration Census Bureau business rules. Using Census Tools for ArcGIS, you can read spatial data from the Census Bureau in shapefile format, perform census-specific workflow tasks, and output a revised shapefile compliant with Census Bureau standards.
Census Tools for ArcGIS requires ArcGIS Desktop and is expected to be available for download from the ESRI Web site soon. Please visit www.esri.com/censustools for more information.
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Case Study
Streamlining GIS Updates in Vermont's 9-1-1 System
By Greg Phillips, microDATA
Locating callers on a geospatial map is an imperative, rather than a luxury, for first responders of our 9-1-1 agencies. The state of Vermont, with its hilly terrain and tourism-based economy, has its share of challenges locating callers who are often nomadic and could be using mobile, landline, or VoIP phones to contact 9-1-1. As part of a comprehensive request for proposal in 2006, Vermont sought to enhance all aspects of its 9-1-1 system. With a new high-speed IP data network in place for the state, sharing resources like the GIS Database Management System (DBMS) over the network of 10 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) meant fundamental changes in how the 9-1-1 system operated. Yet it also meant Vermont could ensure that accurate and up-to-date GIS data was transmitted to the 36 call takers' map displays efficiently and without interruption to the 9-1-1 system.
Read the full story in the fall issue of ESRI's Government Matters newsletter.
Best Practices - Using GIS with GPS
Learn how GIS with real-time and accurate GPS positions can provide new levels of visualization and analysis. Download. [PDF]
Read state government case studies.
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ESRI Employment Opportunities
Engineering Industry Marketing Specialist
Utilize your years of experience in the engineering field to provide assistance, coordination, and some independent management of ESRI's marketing efforts related to products and services within this market.
Community Development Industry Manager
Use your passion for assisting governments worldwide to advance their missions and operations through the use of GIS and broaden the applicability of ESRI's software solutions within the wider community development marketplace. The ideal candidate will have experience in any combination of the community development disciplines emphasizing planning, economic development, building and safety, redevelopment, or housing.
Industry Marketing Coordinator
An individual with strong organizational skills is needed to coordinate the tactical activities of industry marketing plans and ensure they are completed in a timely, accurate manner. Reference Code IMCc/HP/TF.
Search for additional employment opportunities on the ESRI government team by clicking here.
Search for more employment opportunities with ESRI at http://careers.esri.com.
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