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July 20, 2009 Louisiana National Guard Streamlines Access to ImageryRedlands, California—The Louisiana National Guard (LANG) uses an advanced geospatial platform that has fundamentally changed how it processes and makes available highly accurate imagery. What once involved many hours of manpower has now been reduced to minutes. "As new data comes in, especially imagery, we have traditionally only been able to distribute that data by GIS [geographic information systems] desktop users printing maps," says Mike Liotta, GIS manager, Louisiana National Guard. "It was very time and resource intensive. With the ArcGIS Server Image extension, all that has changed." The LANG GIS section teamed with Geographic Information Services, Inc. (GISi), to implement ESRI ArcGIS Server and its Image extension and provide additional application development services. An ESRI business partner, GISi is a GIS consulting firm established in 1991 and headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. Using ArcGIS Server 9.3 and the Image extension, raster datasets that had been deemed ""unusable because of their size were immediately turned into image services by LANG GIS staff. For instance, LANG had over 200 GB of newly acquired six-inch digital imagery for its installations. With the ArcGIS Server Image extension in place, it took just 30 minutes to turn the raw data into a readily available image service where a user could type in a few keystrokes to get the image they need. An advanced GIS application developed by GISi allows Web users to locate coordinates on a map, whether by manual entry or with a mouse click on a location, and view the data in several different format types. They can also enter an address and have it automatically connect to the ESRI geocoding service that locates it on the map, then converts it to different formats. Users also have sets of tools for easily creating graphics and text over current geospatial data. There is a measuring tool that allows them to quickly measure distances and areas. These tools let Web users create accurate situational overlay maps, which help them better plan their mission. "We have the capability we need to effectively provide imagery for day-to-day operations," says Liotta. "More importantly, when the next large-scale emergency occurs, we'll be able to quickly turn around newly acquired data and imagery to our command staff, soldiers, and first responders. This can make a big difference." # # # Press Information: |
