IMAGIN - Improving Michigan's Access to Geographic Information Networks
IMAGIN E-News - September 2008
Current News
GIS Assists with Hurricane Assistance and Damage Assessment: Preparation and response to Hurricanes Gustav and Ike have been greatly enhanced through the use of geospatial resources.  Hurricane Gustav’s eventual landfall in southwestern Louisiana was anticipated and essential GIS resources were brought to bear.   Imagery also plays a critical role in post-disaster damage assessment.  In the case of Hurricane Ike, the majority of Galveston Island, Texas was decimated by Ike’s hammering winds and storm surge.  Damage assessment imagery captured by NOAA is available for viewing in either a Google Earth KML link (click to load in Google Earth) or via NOAA’s interactive map viewer of the post-Ike imagery.
GeoEye-1 Launched on September 16, 2008: This latest commercial remote sensing satellite launched into orbit by GeoEye (http://launch.geoeye.com/LaunchSite/about/) features 16-inch (0.41 meter) panchromatic imagery that treads closer to resolutions once only achievable from airborne sensors.  The satellite can cover b/w, color, and near infra-red bands.  The project is a public-private partnership forged out of the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency’s (NGA) NextView Program.  The program is intended to provide timely, relevant, and accurate imagery for geospatial intelligence needs supporting national security.  Data from GeoEye-1 will be available later this fall according to the Company’s press release.  Although 16-inch pixel data is captured, the NGA will require commercial data products to be distributed at a 20-inch (0.5 meter) resolution.
National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) Recognizes Benefits of Geospatial Technology: The NASCIO recently released a position paper regarding the importance of geospatial technologies and how the technology can assist in governance.  The paper describes methods to maximize a state’s geospatial resources and lists application areas with a focus on return on investment.
ESRI’s Listing of Popular Usability Enhancements in ArcGIS 9.3: ESRI’s 2008 International User Conference featured demonstrations of new tools available in ArcGIS 9.3.  The tools and their descriptions were summarized and the top ten popular enhancements are listed in this PDF file. 
Upcoming Events
  • September 28-October 1, 2008: ESRI Health GIS Conference, Washington, DC
  • October 2, 2008: CMU-RC Business Intelligence Leadership Summit 2008, Livonia, MI
  • October 7-10, 2008: URISA Annual Conference, New Orleans, NO
  • October 9-12, 2008: National Conference on Geography Education, Dearborn, MI
  • March 8 - 13, 2009: ASPRS Annual Conference, Baltimore, MD
  • April 19-22, 2009: GITA Annual Conference, Tampa, FL
  • For more events, see the IMAGIN Calendar of Events
    • Upcoming Training Opportunities
    September 23, 2008   ESRI E. Lansing ArcGIS Server 9.3: Tips & Tricks, East Lansing, MI
    September 23, 2008   ESRI E. Lansing ArcGIS Server 9.3: Creating Mashups Using the ArcGIS API for JavaScript, East Lansing, MI
    October 6-10, 2008 D RS&GIS E. Lansing Introduction to ArcGIS
    ArcGIS - Introduction to Geodatabases
    Getting Your GIS Project off the Ground...
    Integrating Orthoimagery into your GIS
    October 9, 2008   ESRI Detroit ESRI Water Seminar Series (No cost)
    November 12-13, 2008   ESRI E. Lansing ESRI Instructor-Led Courses, East Lansing, MI
    Introduction to ArcGIS Server     - Version 9.3
    December 1-2, 2008 D RS&GIS E. Lansing ArcGIS - Map Design
    ArcGIS - Annotation and Labeling
    For links to Michigan GIS training facilities visit the IMAGIN training page.
    To include your Michigan GIS training in this list, send the details to: enews@imagin.org
    D = IMAGIN Members get a 10% discount on this training.
    Spotlight on Supporting Organizations

    Ayres AssociatesAyres Associates - A nationwide professional services consulting firm providing services in transportation, civil, structural, wastewater, water resources, and river engineering; energy corridors; planning; architecture; environmental science; real estate; surveying; photogrammetry; and geographic information systems. Ayres Associates have assisted public and private clients since 1959.
    Chippeaw CountyChippewa County, Michigan – Home to almost 40,000 residents, Chippewa County serves as a primary gateway to Michigan from neighboring Canada.  The historically and economically critical Soo Locks shipping channels in Sault Saint Marie play a vital role in Michigan’s economy.  The county’s use of GIS includes E-911 mapping and emergency management operations.  
    Each month, this section will highlight two of our supporting organizations. If your organization would like to be in the spotlight, please contact IMAGIN headquarters about becoming a supporting organization.
    Web Mapping Site of the Month
    GasBuddy.com – Keep track of the continuous ebb and flow of gas prices across the nation at GasBuddy.com.  The site’s comprehensive and updated listing of prices is accompanied by an interactive gas price mapping to help you make the most of your mileage!
    Employment
    Job Openings
    Organization Title
    Oakland County Parks & Recreation GIS/CAD Technician I
    Oakland County Information Technology Manager Application Services
    Oakland County Information Technology Project Manager - (GIS)
    Oakland County Information Technology Application Analyst Programmer II
    Sanborn Remote Sensing Analyst
    IS Consultants, Inc. GIS Analyst
    REGIS/Grand Valley Metropolitan Council GIS Analyst/Coordinator
    Grand Valley Metropolitan Council GIS Programmer Analyst
    Team Detroit GIS Analyst
    Trillium Teamologies, Inc. Web Developer (GIS & .NET)
    County of Antrim GIS Technician
    RedBarn Plat Books &
    Cartographic Services/Metro Graphic Arts    		 Cadastral Mapping Manager/GIS Cartographer
    Geographic Information Services, Inc. (GISi) GIS Web Developer
    Telvent Miner & Miner Multiple Positions Available
    Posted by jobs@bluebucket.com GIS Data Conversion Project Manager
    Posted by jobs@bluebucket.com GIS Conversion Technician - 2 Positions Available
    Michigan Tech Research Institute (Formerly Altarum/ERIM) Senior Research Scientist I
    Michigan Tech Research Institute (Formerly Altarum/ERIM) Research Engineer/Scientist I
    InfoGeographics, Inc. Web Applications Developer
    US Census Bureau Geographic Specialist
    To include your job openings, new hires, promotions or GISP certifications in this section, please send the information to enews@imagin.org. Please include the URL for your organization also. Check the IMAGIN jobs page for other openings.
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    IMAGIN E-News Information
    Editors:
    • Matt Malone, GIS Coordinator, City of Farmington Hills, Michigan
    • Christopher Blough, GIS Manager, City of Novi, Michigan
    • Derek Moy, Outreach Specialist, MSU Remote Sensing & Geographic Information Science Research and Outreach Services.
    Publication Date: September 2008
    E-News Web Page:http://www.imagin.org/resources/enews.html
    Email Address: enews@imagin.org
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