Kenneth Appel, who used a computer to solve the four color map problem, dies at 80.
Kenneth Appel and the Four Color Map
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Monthly Archives: April 2013
SCAG Scenario Planning Model
As a companion tool to assist in 2016 RTP/SCS local input and scenario planning, SCAG is developing a Scenario Planning Model (SPM) based on the UrbanFootprint software platform developed by Calthorpe Associates. We believe that SCAG SPM can significantly contribute to the regional and local planning process by expanding land use scenario planning and analysis capacities while maintaining consistency across the region. SCAG plans to rollout SPM and data around October, 2013. More information can be found at: http://www.scag.ca.gov/modeling/scenarioplanning.htm.
For the model to be most useful to local jurisdictions, we would like to form a SPM working group consisting of one (or more) designated staff from selected jurisdictions. The role of the SPM working group is to provide guidance in developing a more efficient model that better serves the needs of end users such as local and regional planners. We envision that the SPM working group will be a forum for sharing ideas and expectations about the model’s functions and operations through collaborative interaction. It is also an opportunity for members to gain first-hand experience with SPM tools and data.
We are reaching out to your jurisdiction based on past participation in the SCAG 2012 RTP/SCS local input process and GIS services program as well as the status of the General Plan land use element update. Participation in the SPM working group may require approximately 10-15 staff working hours per month and 20-25 hours per month if your jurisdiction would like to participate in pilot testing (which is anticipated to begin July, 2013). We anticipate the majority of SPM working group activities to occur between May, 2013 and August, 2013.
If you are interested in joining the SPM working group, please respond by May 3, 2013 – we would greatly appreciate your participation. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Amy Volz at volz@scag.ca.gov or (213) 236-1919 or Guoxiong Huang at huang@scag.ca.gov or (213) 236-1948. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
Guoxiong Huang
Manager, Modeling & Forecasting
Maps and the Geospatial Revolution
Maps and the Geospatial Revolution is just one of many different types of courses offered at coursera.org … and they are free!
Rio Hondo College GIS Survey
From Warren Roberts at Rio Hondo College:
GIS is increasingly used and GIS courses are needed. We work to keep GIS curriculum articulated with industry users in an effort to keep our lesson material practical and applied. We’re currently updating the certificate and gathering input from industry.
Meanwhile, can you take a couple of minutes to submit a answers to a short survey on importance of certificate. We appreciate your input and will share results at the end of the month.
UCLA Library Digital Collection
Check out UCLA Library’s collection Maps of Los Angeles, California, the United States, and the World.
NACIS Student Mapping Competitions
From the NACIS Board of Directors:
The North American Cartographic Information Society (NACIS) recognizes the important contributions students make to our field. To recognize some of their hard work and achievements, we offer two fantastic student competitions each year at our annual conference (this year October 9–11 in Greenville, SC). All students currently enrolled in a certificate program, undergraduate, or graduate/post-graduate program are eligible to enter, as long as they have not previously won top prize in either competition.
Student Dynamic Map Competition: The North American Cartographic Information Society (NACIS) recognizes the importance of dynamic mapping in cartography. We are sponsoring the 15th Annual Student Dynamic Map Competition to promote cartographic excellence and innovation in this versatile medium. A first prize of $500 will be awarded in each category. Deadline for submissions is September 13th. To view the rules and prizes, please visit http://nacis.org/index.cfm?x=4
Student Map and Poster Competition: Students who would like to display their works at NACIS 2013 should register for the Student Map and Poster Competition. We encourage all students to submit their maps and technical/research posters for a chance at a prize of $500! There is no entry fee. All entrants will be displayed in the Exhibits Gallery, and the winner will be selected by a ballot of all meeting attendees. The deadline to register is September 13th, 2013. For more information, please visit http://nacis.org/index.cfm?x=18
Please take a moment to encourage your students to enter either of the above competitions. We look forward to seeing the diverse range of entries in Greenville!
Travel Grants and Memberships: As an organization (and as former students ourselves), we’re aware that student budgets don’t often allow for extras like conference attendance or organizational memberships. Each year, NACIS offers up to 10 free memberships to undergraduate students, as well as offering a number of travel grants to students wishing to attend the annual conference. To find out more, please visit http://nacis.org/index.cfm?x=27
Thank you, and we hope to see you in Greenville in October!
Martha Bostwick
NACIS Board of Directors
Chair – Awards and Travel Grants Committee
mlbostwick@mac.com
TopoView – Gateway to the USGS Historical Topographic Map
Check out the new TopoView site. TopoView is intended to serve the immediate need for the older, conventionally printed topographic maps to become easily searched, viewed, and downloaded. The approximately 163,000 maps available through this interface were scanned by the USGS Historical Topographic Mapping Collection (HTMC) project.
CSU San Marcos GIS Day
CSU San Marcos is having a GIS Day on April 17, 2013. Students, staff, faculty, and community members are welcome. Free pizza provided! Come learn about how GIS is used by local and national organizations, such as the City of San Marcos and the U.S. Geological Survey, and here on campus, in your classes and for campus mapping. Find out more about careers which utilize GIS. After the event, join us for a campus-based geocaching adventure! Meet outside the front door of the Field House at 1:45.
CSUSM Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Day 2013
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Clarke Field House 113
11:30-1:30
Questions? Contact Kim Knowles-Yanez, kyanez@csusm.edu
A campus map and address can be found here. Park in a guest spot in PS 1.
Driving directions to campus can be found here.
The flyer for this event can be found here, in case there is a place you are able to post it.
Free Ice Cream
Totally non-GIS related! Today is Free Cone Day at Ben & Jerry’s from noon to 8 pm!
AppMyCity! Prize
Do you have a great mobile app that you developed for your city? Then enter it in the AppMyCity! Prize. See http://appmycity.org/about/ for more info. The deadline is April 26, 2013, so you better hurry!
SoCalGIS.org 