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Issue 230 • March/April 2009

IN THIS ISSUE

NEWS
3 President’s Column
5 Parcel Maintenance
Backlog Overcome
with Enterprise GIS by
The Association for GIS Professionals Tippecanoe County,
Indiana
7 URISA 2009 Annual
Conference Tidbits
8 Book Review
10 Welcome New urisa
URISA Responds to Members
11 Welcome New urisa
Financial Challenges Business Members
Greg Babinski, GISP, URISA Treasurer

The severe world es accordingly. Examples include: rental costs by taking advantage
economic crisis n Not filling a current vacant of the depressed commercial real
that began last headquarters staff position. estate market in the Chicago area.
year has resulted n An increase in staff health n URISA specialty conferences
in financial chal- insurance premiums was split 50- (CAMA, Public Health, Transit) will
lenges for URISA. 50 between URISA and staff. partner with other organizations
The budget belt n The URISA Leadership Academy will or look for additional funding
tightening that be offered only once in 2009. to mitigate risk and encourage
many agencies and companies have im- n For the first time in five years, attendance.
plemented in response to the crisis has membership dues were raised n URISA HQ staff will target
already resulted in reduced attendance slightly for 2009 to generate corporate sponsors, both to
at URISA events. additional revenue. support conferences and to
The URISA Finance Committee has n All of the URISA conferences become corporate members.
been working with Executive Director in 2009 will have conservative n URISA HQ staff is working with the
Wendy Nelson, headquarters staff, budgets, in anticipation of reduced CRC to encourage new chapters as
and the URISA Board to help ensure attendance levels. part of a ‘Fill in the Map’ initiative.
that your Association’s finances can n Several new innovative revenue
weather this economic downturn. The The Finance Committee reviews sources are under development to
objective of this behind the scenes work the Association budget against actual help fill in the gap.
is twofold: to ensure the long-term detailed financial reports during its n Our annual independent outside
financial health of the organization monthly conference call to help inform audit will occur soon, which will be
while continuing to offer cost effective the full Board of any issues that warrant an additional opportunity to gauge
programs and services that deliver discussion or action. our current finances and benefit
exceptional value to our members. from an external analysis of our
Additional Financial Actions future threats and opportunities.
URISA Budget Separate from the 2009 budget, URISA
Recently the URISA Board approved the is pursuing various strategies to further In addition, the Finance Committee
Association’s 2009 budget. This bud- strengthen our Association’s finances: recently submitted a report on
get made very conservative forecasts n URISA is looking into the possibility
for 2009 revenue, and trimmed expens- to reduce headquarters office space
continued on page 
Important URISA PRESIDENT
Hilary Perkins, GISP AICP-East-West
Gateway Council of Governments, St. Louis,
About
Dates to Remember MO
hilary.perkins@ewgateway.org
PRESIDENT-ELECT
Conferences Kathrine Cargo, GISP-Orleans Parish
Communication District
kcargo@911nola.org
June 5–8, 2009 The Urban and Regional Information
URISA’s GIS in Public Health Conference IMMEDIATE PAST-PRESIDENT Systems Association (URISA) is the
Providence, RI Susan Johnson-Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools premier professional association for
susanm.johnson@cms.k12.nc.us
those involved in improving our urban
August 4–6, 2009 SECRETARY and regional environments through the
URISA/NENA Addressing Conference Cynthia Braddock-Boulder County (CO)
Assessor's Office effective use of information technology.
Providence, RI
cbraddock@co.boulder.co.us Professionals in planning, economic
TREASURER development, information systems,
September 29–October 2, 2009 Greg Babinski, GISP-King County (WA) GIS emergency services, natural resources,
47th Annual URISA Conference & Center public works, transportation, and other
Exposition greg.babinski@kingcounty.gov
Anaheim, CA departments within state and local
Clare Brown, GISP-Montgomery Watson government have depended on URISA
Harza, New Orleans, LA for professional development and
November 16–18, 2009 clare.brown@us.mwhglobal.com
GIS in Transit Conference educational needs since 1963. Through
St Petersburg, FL J. Allison Butler, GISP, AICP, its international, national and local
MilePost Zero, Orlando, FL
abutler@mpzero.com chapter operations, URISA serves nearly
December 7–11, 2009 8,000 professionals.
URISA Leadership Academy Michael W Lovett, GISP-CDM Camp Dresser
& McKee, Maitland, FL
Seattle, WA
lovettm@cdm.com
Sandra K Majewski-Las Vegas Metro Police
URISA Headquarters
1460 Renaissance Drive, Suite 305
Dept
Awards s6370m@lvmpd.com Park Ridge, IL 60068
GIS Hall of Fame Nominations – May 1 Phone: 847‑824‑6300
Juna Papajorgji, GISP - Alachua County (FL) Fax: 847‑824‑6363
Student Paper Competition – May 1 Growth Management
info@urisa.org
jpapajorgji@alachua.fl.us
ESIG Awards – May 11 http://www.urisa.org
Karen RM Stewart, GISP-ESRI Canada,
Vancouver, BC
kstewart@esricanada.com
Wendy Nelson
Geney Terry, GISP-El Dorado County (CA) Executive Director
geney.terry@edcgov.us wnelson@urisa.org

Article submissions, calendar items


and industry news should be sent to
wnelson@urisa.org

 March/April 2009 • URISA News


President’s Column
Using Social Media to Convey Your Message
By Hilary E. H. Perkins, GISP, AICP

Social media and social networking opportunities are legendary, LinkedIn is


sites have been around for long enough also indispensable for job searching and
that most of us have at least heard of staying in touch. It also offers discussion
Hilary E. H. Perkins,
LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, GISP, AICP, East-West forums for a variety of connected and
Second Life, etc. Social media are having Gateway Council of tangential topics. Searching for GIS on
Governments
a substantial impact on society, business, LinkedIn yields 174 groups, and URISA
and associations by changing the way has a group on LinkedIn that grows daily.
people communicate, collaborate, and Be sure to check out URISA’s GISCorps
network. Some of us, myself included, group too.
are active and involved users of these Facebook is a mixture of personal
tools. Humans are hard-wired to and professional connections, tending
communicate with each other – it’s a towards personal. On Facebook, I am
fundamental part of what it means to heavily on colleague Chris Spagnuolo’s friends with old high school classmates,
be human. Because of the exponential blog post on the subject (edgehopper. extended family, neighborhood friends,
growth of several of these sites, there is com/ twitter-facebook-and-linkedinoh- other friends (real and virtual), and
a body of research developing that tries my/), social media tends to divide into of course many URISA members. On
to explain their rapid growth and societal four main segments: extended content Facebook, I am comfortable being
acceptance, focusing on our basic need (blogs), professional connections serious or irreverent, political or foodie,
to communicate and to form “tribes.” (LinkedIn), personal connections professional or mom. Besides URISA and
So why should we get involved in (Facebook), and quick hits of information GISCorps groups on Facebook, there is
social networks? What would motivate and conversation (Twitter). also a URISA Student Network.
you to participate? This is where the links I’ll start with a confession: I don’t Twitter is one of those tools that
to tribal cultures arise. In a tribal society, blog. I have never been much of a when you first hear about it, it sounds
your identity is based on how people diarist, and I’m a busy working mom. silly and superfluous. But once you get
know you, and in turn, who you know. Which doesn’t leave much time for started with it, it can be become a great
The key similarity between tribal cultures thinking the big thoughts and writing tool for quick conversation, as well as
and modern social networks is that them out succinctly (on a regular basis) providing help and ideas on a variety of
people are projecting their identities by that a blog can require. However, if I did topics. I use Twitter to get quick answers
providing evidence of their relationships blog, it would be a place where I would and to brainstorm with others. And yes, I
with one another. The stimulus then post more in-depth and researched sometimes tweet about stuff that is inane
for sustained participation in a social discussions, where thoughtful posts or irreverent. That part is fun! Whether
network arises from one of the earliest would be followed up with thoughtful it be getting news items across, providing
and most universal ways of shaping comments (hopefully). A blog is a updates on specific information, or using
cultural status through the strength and personal forum for whatever you want it for social networking with friends and
number of your relationships, and our to talk about. Were I to blog, I would colleagues – Twitter is here and it looks
need to communicate that status. probably write about GIS and food like it will be staying for a while.
Social media are here to stay, – sometimes as separate discussions Social media is moving from the
but the sheer number and types and sometimes linked. I am fascinated “why” to the “how.” What are some
of opportunities to jump in can be by food policy from a geographic other ways URISA and her members can
overwhelming. Effective social media perspective. I also love how geography take advantage of these opportunities?
are all about conversations. It’s talking impacts regional cuisine and that food URISA is an organization that places a
with people through the vast array of is always so much more interesting at premium on teaching and learning. At
sites and services online. It’s blogging, the edges of a region, rather than in the our conferences, we are moving from a
it’s twittering, it’s bookmarking, and middle. “stand behind a podium” format to one
updating your status. So how about a Professional networking sites that is more interactive and collaborative.
breakdown of some of these sites so as to such as LinkedIn provide a forum for Social media can help in that regard. As
think about your personal online brand presenting your professional self. It mentioned previously, URISA already
and how and where to communicate is a place to reconnect with former has networking opportunities on many
different kinds of information? Drawing colleagues and find other professionals
in your field. While URISA’s networking continued on page 

March/April 2009 • URISA News 


URISA Responds continued from page  members, but URISA’s work in this
President’s Column continued from page 3
area does provide immediate and
long-term financial improvement long-term value for URISA members
recommendations to the Board. These and GIS professionals. of the mainstream social media sites. I
recommendations are currently being encourage you to check them out!
reviewed by the Strategic Planning Member Involvement As Twitter and other back channel
Committee. URISA is your organization. I can tell communications opportunities keep
you that our Headquarters staff is a very growing, how can URISA members use
lean operation and the Board and com- it to our advantage as communicators
Value For Members
mittees ask them to do more all the and educators? For example, when
The primary focus of URISA remains
time. The reality is that URISA would not giving a presentation it can be a little
delivering value for its members. Our
be the organization it is without many unnerving to look out into your audience
goal is to monitor expenses carefully and
member volunteers who help staff the and see them furiously twittering away
trim back where possible, so that cost to
committees. During this future period of – immediately passing along your ideas,
members is minimized, while value is not
financial belt tightening – volunteers will or potentially worse, critiquing your
compromised. Here’s what to look for in
be needed more than ever. If you are presentation – while you’re still giving it!
2009:
interested in volunteering, I urge you to Since some members of your audience
n The URISA Journal (a key member
contact Executive Director Wendy Nelson will twitter while you’re speaking,
benefit) will go from two to three
(wnelson@urisa.org) or any Board mem- managing, or at least being aware of,
issues per year.
ber. And if you have any suggestions on the back channel becomes increasingly
n The semi-monthly URISA News will
how to help URISA weather the current important.
have more content with articles and
financial crisis, feel free to send them to Twittering during a presentation
opinion by GIS/Geospatial industry
me (greg.babinski@kingcounty.gov). might take the form of critique, which
practitioners.
I would like to acknowledge the can be a good thing if it’s constructive
n URISA’s new Webinar series will
URISA Finance Committee and thank criticism. But it is also an opportunity
bring very low cost training to those
each member for their support and hard – an opportunity for audience members
whose training and travel budgets
work: to add their ideas to yours. Participants
have been reduced.
URISA Board Members can also get questions answered
n The Workshop Development
Cynthia Braddock, Secretary immediately, perhaps from you as the
Committee is working to identify
Michael W. Lovett, GISP presenter, perhaps from someone else
more instructors so that workshops
Sandra K. Majewski in the audience, perhaps from someone
can be offered to our members at
Greg Babinski, GISP, Treasurer not even at the conference! Hashtags
reduced cost.
often form organically, but as a presenter
n Registration costs for the Annual
URISA Member/Volunteers you can encourage your audience to
Conference in Anaheim, our four
Allen Ibaugh, GISP use a particular one (#URISA) so that
specialty conferences (GIS/CAMA
Mark Sievers, AICP anyone can go back through and search
Technologies, GIS for Public
Bill Clement all the tweets related to the event or
Health, URISA/NENA Addressing
Gurdeep Singh presentation.
Conference, and GIS for Transit), plus
What do you think of social media
the URISA Leadership Academy will
in general, and Twitter in particular? Is
be kept as low as possible without
twittering during a presentation rude?
compromising the benefits for
Or does it allow participants to become
attendees.
more fully engaged in the material being
n URISA will continue to take a policy
presented? Have you used other forms of
leadership role, both as a part of
social media to engage your audience?
COGO and on its own. Policy issues
I’ll post this article to the URISA blog
may be outside the interest of many
(http://urisa.org/blog - ok, so I guess that
does make me sort of a blogger), along
with some links to other commentaries
on Twitter & social media. Please
comment there (or email: hilary.perkins@
gmail.com) – let me know what you
think!

 March/April 2009 • URISA News


Parcel Maintenance Backlog Overcome with
Enterprise GIS by Tippecanoe County, Indiana

“ArcSDE allowed us to split up parcel to deploy the many GIS data layers of which we had a significant backlog.
maintenance tasks based on the various integrated with its tax cycle data. The It became logical for us to address
strengths of our staff. We were already us- Web site boasts property data, water and the backlog and a data conversion
ing a tagged data model and Parcel Builder transportation features, contours, voting, simultaneously with an ESRI solution.”
allowed us to maintain our investment in safety, health, utilities, and assessment
that structure. The Publisher extension of information. However, County officials The Solution
ArcGIS, along with Parcel Builder has also found that by operating the Web site After researching its options, Tippeca-
allowed us to increase distribution of our with data provided from two different noe County chose The Sidwell Compa-
data to those without access to GIS soft- GIS software providers, it could not ny, an ESRI business partner, to migrate
ware.” - Mark Ehle, GIS Administrator deploy information in an efficient and all County GIS data into a tagged mod-
time-effective manner. el inside an ESRI geodatabase. Sidwell
“In addition to using ArcIMS used several preprocessing steps to
Introduction extension of ArcGIS for our Web site insure data integrity before the linear
Tippecanoe County is located in north-
applications, we also began using the data was converted. Concurrently, an
western Indiana and is the eighth largest
ArcMap extension for data analysis enterprise geodatabase was created
county in the state with a population
and map production,” says Mark Ehle, using ArcSDE and the County’s parcel
of more than 156,000. The County en-
Tippecanoe County’s GIS administrator. inventory was loaded into Sidwell’s Arc-
compasses almost 500 square-miles,
“We eventually reached a point where GIS-supported Parcel Builder-Adminis-
includes 13 townships, seven cities and
ESRI software was being used for
towns, and more than 67,000 real estate
everything but our parcel maintenance, continued on page 
parcels. It is the home of Purdue Univer-
sity and has developed into a diversified
community with high-tech companies Tippecanoe County Project Summary
specializing in life sciences, information
technology, and advanced manufactur- CHALLENGE
ing in addition to its traditional manufac- County needed to overcome parcel maintenance backlog and perform GIS data con-
turing industry. version
In 1997, Tippecanoe County
was using a blend of GIS and CAD to RESULTS
maintain its cadastre database. At that • Improved online data services to staff and community
time it was converting CAD files of • Enterprise GIS geodatabase serves GIS data to County Web sites
cadastral map data from the County’s • Data no longer must be converted to shapefiles before posting to the Web
old plat map books and integrating them • Electronic automation of new subdivision and survey requests
with digital orthophotography to create • Geodatabase eliminates steps required to integrate files into cadastral data
a new County base map. In the years • Parcel map maintenance productivity increased and streamlined
that followed many additional data layers
were added, including extensive data ESRI SOFTWARE USED
provided by the City of Lafayette. ArcGIS, ArcIMS, ArcSDE, ArcMap, Publisher, ArcEditor, ArcView, Spatial Analyst

The Challenge OTHER SOFTWARE USED


As the demand for GIS grew within Sidwell Parcel Builder
County departments, so did the amount
of competing software solutions. At one DATA USED
point, County employees were using Property (parcel); Utilities, storm sewer, sanitary sewer, and water; Transportation;
both CAD and GIS to manage its parcel Voting; Public Safety; Land Use; Address Points; Mosquito monitoring, and septic
data which was problematic due to the permits
lack of software interoperability. In 2004,
the County developed a HARDWARE
GIS-based Web site and selected Dedicated GIS and Web servers including Dell GIS Workstations
ESRI’s ArcIMS as the software of choice

March/April 2009 • URISA News 


Parcel Maintenance continued from page 
2009 URISA Board of Directors &
trator software. Presidential Slate Announced
“ArcSDE allowed us to split up parcel The Results
maintenance tasks based on the various Through extensive coordination with The URISA Board of Directors re-
strengths of our staff,” explains Ehle. “We the City of Lafayette, Tippecanoe Coun- cently approved the slate brought
were already using a tagged data model ty has improved GIS services to its staff, forward by the Leadership Develop-
and Parcel Builder allowed us to maintain as well providing better government ser- ment & Succession Planning Com-
our investment in that structure. The vices to the community by sharing data mittee for the 2009 Board election.
Publisher extension of ArcGIS, along with via its GIS Web site. The implementation In April, URISA members will receive
Parcel Builder has also allowed us to of an ESRI enterprise geodatabase has access to candidate statements and
increase distribution of our data to those allowed the County to easily serve GIS biographical information and will
without access to GIS software.” data to its Web sites and data no longer be given instructions to vote in this
The County also looked to Sidwell’s must be converted to shapefiles before year’s election. The voting period
Mapping Services Department to posting to the Web. The County also has will end on June 16.
perform the work necessary to eliminate an electronic submission ordinance for  
its parcel maintenance backlog. Sidwell new subdivisions and surveys, and the The slate for this year’s election is as
provided Parcel Builder software and transition to the geodatabase and Par- follows:
training on editing in ArcMap as well as cel Builder has eliminated several steps  
training on all four of the Parcel Builder previously required to integrate files into For President -
modules. According to Ehle, “The data cadastral data. Eric Bohard, GISP, Clackamas
transition was smooth, and the quality County, Oregon City, Oregon
control process helped us find and Rebecca Somers, GISP, Somers
correct errors in our GIS data that we St Claire GIS Management
were not aware of.” Consultants, Fairfax, Virginia
Cy Smith, GISP, State of Oregon,
Salem, Oregon

 For Director -
Carl Anderson, GISP, Fulton County,
Georgia
Keri Brennan, GISP, The Schneider
Corporation, Indianapolis,
Mapping Your Community Workshops: Indiana 
An Introduction to GIS and Community Analysis Only David DiBiase, GISP, Penn State
Great for Beginners and anyone interested $495 University, University Park,
in mapping their community! Pennsylvania
Twyla McDermott, GISP, City of
FREE ArcGIS (ArcView 9.3) software 60-day trial CD set Charlotte, North Carolina
Alan Little, City of Hamilton,
Ontario, Canada
May 14/15 Chicago, IL June 25/26 Indianapolis, IN Mark Sievers, AICP, Sievers &
May 14/15 Atlanta, GA July 7/8 Baltimore, MD Associates LLC , Altamonte
May 19 Dallas, TX July 9/10 Washington, DC Springs, Florida
May 21 Houston, TX July 15/16 Olympia, WA  
May 27/28 Austin, TX July 17 Seattle, WA Those who are elected will serve for
May 29 S. Antonio, TX July 22 Nashville, TN a 3-year term beginning October 2,
June 2 Eugene, OR July 24 Memphis, TN 2009, at the conclusion of URISA’s
June 4/5 Portland, OR July 29 Charleston, NC 47th Annual Conference in Anaheim,
June 9/10 Kansas City, MO July 31 Louisville, KY California. 
June 18/19 Raleigh, NC The following Board members
will conclude their terms on the
* These are One-Day Workshops (8:30am-4:30pm) Board at that time: Susan Johnson;
Al Butler, GISP; Juna Papajorgji, GISP;
877.241.6576 l www.urban-research.info and Geney Terry, GISP.
ESRI
Business Partner

 March/April 2009 • URISA News


URISA 2009 Annual Conference Tidbits

Committee Work mittee identified EIGHT preconference


The Annual Conference Committee met workshops that will be presented at the
in Anaheim on March 8 and 9 to review annual conference in Anaheim, including
all of the abstract submissions and de- two new offerings:
velop the educational content for the n GIS Strategic Planning

conference. The program is looking good n Crime Mapping & Analysis - NEW

and we are very grateful for the commit- n Field Automation and Mobile GIS

tee’s efforts! n Introduction to Agile: Project


Management & Development - NEW
n An Overview of Open Source GIS
Keynote Address
URISA is pleased to Software
n LIDAR Concepts, Principals and
announce that this is qualified as an expert witness in
year’s keynote speak- transportation, and is a URISA Past Applications
n 3D Geospatial
er will be Dr. Barry President (1978).
n Building Quality Spatial Data
Wellar, MCIP, GISP. Dr. Wellar recently served on the
Barry Wellar Interdependent Infrastructures Panel,
is from Latchford, and the Strategic Safety and Security Register Early and Save $150!
Ontario, and is Panel, Natural Sciences and Engineering URISA is offering members a super-early
a graduate of Research Council (Canada), is Director, discounted rate for the conference. If you
Queen’s University and Northwestern Geographic Awareness Week, Canadian register by June 2, the registration fee is
University. Formerly Assistant  Professor Association of Geographers, and has $470 vs. $620 if you register at the regu-
of Geography and Research Associate, been frequently recognized for his lar member rate.
University of Kansas, and Senior Policy contributions in information systems,
Advisor, Urban Affairs, Government transportation, research methodology,
of Canada, Dr. Wellar is now Emeritus and applied geography.
Professor, Geography and Environmental The title of Dr. Wellar’s keynote
Studies,  University of Ottawa, Principal, address is “Core Information Challenges
Wellar Consulting Inc., Distinguished and Opportunities, 2010-2020: Building on
Research Fellow, Transport 2000 Canada, Strengths”.
and Distinguished Geomatics and GIS
Scientist, Lab for Applied Geomatics Preconference Workshops
and GIS Science, University of Ottawa. The URISA Annual Conference Commit-
He is a Registered Professional Planner, tee and Workshop Development Com-
Danielle Ayan (Conference Program Chair)
and Geney Terry analyze the topics slotted for
presentation.

Bill Mumbleau, Jonathan Posner and Danielle Ayan


discuss the program while the GIS for Best Managed
Communities track team works in the background. The GIS for Best Managed Communities
track team discusses the content. (Kathrine
Cargo, Tom Conry, Jason Amadori and Carl The program comes together for Wednesday,
Anderson) September 30.

March/April 2009 • URISA News 


BOOK REVIEW
Designing Geodatabases for
Transportation

Written By J. Allison Butler Designing Geodatabases for Part 3 of Designing Geodatabases


ESRI Press Transportation is divided into three for Transportation addresses enterprise
380 New York St. parts. The first part covers the basic level solutions and modal data models.
Redlands, CA 92373-8100 best practices of geodatabase design. It describes the UNETRANS and revised
450 Pages, Paperback The second part covers transportation UNETRANS data models. It covers the
ISBN 978-1-58948-164-0 geodatabase design considerations. editing and publishing data models for
The third and final part illustrates a State DOT highway inventory. The
It is my hope that professionals responsi- some advanced topics on the design of book wraps up with a discussion of
ble for managing all kinds of Geographic transportation geodatabases. multipurpose transit geodatabases,
Information Systems look beyond the In Part 1 the book starts out with navigable waterways and railroads.
title of this book. Although the title leads basic database design concepts like data Mr. Butler has a relaxed, easy to read
you to think this text is about transporta- types, files, tables and relationships. style of writing. Although the subject
tion systems the contents go so much However the text quickly moves on to matter is technical in nature, Designing
beyond that. This book is about design- geodatabase design concepts and best Geodatabases for Transportation does
ing geodatabases and then it applies practices of transportation geodatabase not read like a technical manual. Each
sound design practices to the design of design. Part 1 ends with a discussion of topic starts out with a very good
geodatabases for transportation systems. geometric networks. presentation of the basic concepts
In the introduction, Mr. Butler Part 2 of Designing Geodatabases and builds toward more advanced
introduces the reader to the agile for Transportation covers the design topics. This book is full of clear concise
method of data modeling and issues particular to transportation illustrations and examples. Each part
application design. The agile design is geodatabases. It explains the constraints stands on its own as well as contributing
an iterative approach where one revisits and considerations placed on the to the whole. This book is not just for
and updates the design at various stages geodatabase design by different editing transportation professionals. If you
of the entire process. environments and it re-introduces manage GIS data from shape files to
Identify User Requirements – Draft the notion of separating the editing enterprise geodatabase systems, you
Design – Prototype Major Functions geodatabase from the publishing should read this book.
– Update Design – Conduct Pilot geodatabases. The book goes on to
– Update Design – Build & Test – Put Into explain linear referencing methods Book Reviewer:
Production and how one of the biggest problems Patrick J. Phillips, GISP
Another important concept with large transportation datasets is in GIS Analyst / Programmer
presented to the reader is the defining the limits of the facility being Southeastern Surveying & Mapping
importance of separating the editing modeled. The facilities limits are usually Corp.
geodatabase environment from the hard to define because they often Orlando, FL
published datasets. By separating the overlap, if not literally then figuratively. pphillips@southeasternsurveying.com
editing geodatabase from the data From there it moves on to dynamic
to be consumed by the users allows segmentation and ends with examples of
you to reduce data redundancies and classic transportation data models.
inconsistencies.

 March/April 2009 • URISA News


Five Days of Targeted
GIS LEADERSHIP TRAINING…
taught by GIS Leaders!

URISA Leadership Academy


December 7-11, 2009
Seattle, WA

Do you want to develop or fine-tune your skills as a GIS leader?


Do you want to make a positive impact in your organization?
Make plans to attend the URISA Leadership Academy in Seattle this December.

Visit www.urisa.org/ula for details today.

GISCI GISP® Points for Attending Part I of the ULA = 0.63 EDU Points.
Points for attending the full ULA = 1.25 EDU Points.

What was the most valuable part of your attendance at the ULA?
“Networking with other professionals who deal with the same issues I have. This is the
first time I’ve been able to interact with, almost exclusively, GIS managers, coordinators
and GIOs.”

“Comprehensive and organized interchange of experiences being facilitated by experi-


enced professionals that work in the same field I do.”

“It was a great experience!”

The ULA will only presented one time in 2009…don’t miss it!

March/April 2009 • URISA News 


Welcome new urisa members

John Bartholomew, Geowise Limited, Midlothian, Dennis R. Higgins, Jr. GISP, King County GIS Jacque Peace, Spatial Data Research Inc,
United Kingdom Center, Seattle, WA Lawrence, KS
Tony Bassak, GISP, HDR Inc, Dallas, TX Ashley Holt, University of California Berkeley, San Shelly Rogers, Concord, NH
Francisco, CA
Jess Biggs, Tempe, AZ Travis Rozean, Manatron Inc, Portage, MI
Steve Hoover, AICP, PBS & J, Denver, CO
Dave Bouwman, Data Transfer Solutions, Fort Phil Russ, Nevada County, Nevada City, CA
Collins, CO Leslie M Jacobs, GISP, Tampa, FL
Augustine E. Salazar, GISP, Monroe Twp, NJ
Imogene Bump, Longmont, CO Patrick Jankanish, King County GIS Center,
Seattle, WA Brian Schnick, Orcutt, CA
David Carey, Geowise Limited, Midlothian, United
Kingdom Lynn Johnson, Univ Of Colorado At Denver, M Douglas Simpson, GISP, Adasphere,
Superior, CO Charlottesville, VA
James Carolan, CDM - Camp Dresser & McKee
Inc., Cambridge, MA James P Lacy, GISP, Wisconsin State Cartographer's Jeremy E Smith, AeroMap US, Inc., Anchorage, AK
Office, Madison, WI James Soldenwager, Chicago, IL
Evan Clark, Deschutes County 911, Bend, OR
Luc Levesque, Ville de Montreal, Montreal, QC, Mary Jo Starostka, Tyler Technologies - CLT
Benjamin B. Clement, GISP, Carbon County, Price, Canada
UT Division, Dayton, OH
Feng-Tyan Lin, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Christopher Storer, Stantec Consulting Services
Keith Cunningham, Spatial Data Research Inc, Taiwan
Lawrence, KS Inc, Cincinnati, OH
Susan Mackie, City of Calgary, Calgory, AB, Mark Syren, AeroMap US, Inc., Anchorage, AK
Chris Cunningham, Public Utilities Commission of Canada
Ohio, Columbus, OH Rita Taylor, Gloucester County, Gloucester, VA,
Aaron J Morris, GISP, Brandon, MS
Kevin Daugherty, The Sidwell Company, Carmel, IN Venessa Thompson, Putnam County GIS, Palatka,
Akbar Noorzay, Aspen Environmental Group, FL
Brian C Davis, GISP, City of Arvada, Arvada, CO Agoura Hills, CA
Andrew Durnin, District of North Vancouver, Martha Vaughn, eGPS Solutions Inc, Norcross, GA
Brian Noyle, Data Transfer Solutions, Fort Collins,
North Vancouver, BC, Canada CO Jeffery Wielki, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB,
Pierre Goovaerts, BioMedware, Ann Arbor, MI Canada
Josh O'Conner, Appalachian State University,
Corey Halford, City of Airdrie, Airdrie, AB, Canada Asheville, NC Kevin Woosley, GISP, CH2M Hill, Grissom AFB, IN

Michael Hanna, Tidewater Utilities Inc, Barnegat, NJ David Oradesky, San Francisco, CA Chris Zontine, San Jose, CA

URISA Awards –
Don’t Miss These Deadlines!
GIS Hall of Fame Nominations – May 1
Student Paper Competition – May 1
ESIG Award Submissions – May 11

10 March/April 2009 • URISA News


Welcome new urisa Business members

Federal Agency Member


U.S. Census Bureau

Corporate Members
Spatial Data Research
14 E. 8th St.
GeoWise Limited
Platinum Corporate Member 
28 Maritime Lane
Lawrence KS 66044 ESRI
Edinburgh UK EH6 6RZ
(785) 842-0447
http://www.instantatlas.com
Fax: (785) 842-0558 Gold Corporate Members 
Key Contact: John Bartholomew,
Key Contact: Keith Cunningham PhD,
john.bartholomew@geowise.co.uk CDM
kcunningham@sdrmaps.com
Data Transfer Solutions, LLC 
http://www.sdrmaps.com/
Geowise Limited based in the UK, are Michael Baker Corporation
Spatial Data Research has been an in- developers of a software product called
dustry leader in public safety and 9-1-1 InstantAtlas™. InstantAtlas™ is used by BC Assessment
solutions since 1993. SDR is also a leader organizations to improve the visual com- Manatron
in LiDAR elevation modeling and auto- munication of location-based statistical Merrick & Company
mated feature extraction. public health data. OGInfo.com, LLC  
Used by health organizations around Pictometry
the world, InstantAtlas™ enables health
Pinnacle Mapping Technologies, Inc.
analysts and research professionals to
Pixxures, Inc.
create highly interactive web solutions,
The Sidwell Company
combining health statistics with map
data that improves data visualization,
enhances communication with their
target audiences, and engages people Business Members
in more informed decision-making. See
Silver Business Members 
how data professionals in Public Health
Inner Corridor Technologies/ Teach Me GIS
are using InstantAtlas at http://www.
eGPS Solutions Inc
instantatlas.com/showcase_health.xhtml.
Take a free trial of InstantAtlas at http://
www.instantatlas.com/freetrial.xhtml Geotek Mapping
GeoWise Limited
GIS Innovations LTD.
Kessler GIS

Register Super-Early for MGP, Inc.


Munsys, Inc.
URISA 2009 in Anaheim North River Geographic Systems, Inc.
and Save Big ($150)! Open Technology Group
Orion Technology Inc.
URISA is offering members a Spatial Data Research
super-early registration rate this year. Spatial Focus Inc.
Tetra Tech
The Super Early rate (by June 2) is $470; Tyler Technologies Eagle Computer
the early rate is $545; and the regular Division
member rate (after August 26) is $620. Wellar Consulting

March/April 2009 • URISA News 11


NON–PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
Urban & Regional Information Systems Association PAID
1460 Renaissance Drive, Suite 305 URISA
Park Ridge, IL 60068

Business Directory March/April 2009

Your business card advertisement can be seen here for $50 per issue.

MarkYour
Specializing in
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services since 1954

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Digital Orthophotography
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tel 636-368-4400 www.surdex.com

12th Annual
GIS Summer School
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July 6-August 27, 2009
• Comprehensive 24-unit
curriculum
• Software training
• Networking events/tours
Easy RFP Distribution
Apply now for admission. Remember to email your technology-
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Limited enrollment. distribution to URISA’s corporate and
For more information: business members. Save lots of time and
(951) 827-5804

URISA 2009
effort. We have a list of contacts who are
sciences@ucx.ucr.edu pleased to receive your
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