Category Archives: Conferences/Meetings

2015 ESRI User Conference Workshop Takeaways

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After attending a few workshops on ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Sever today, here are a few things that I noted and thought you all might find interesting.  If you work on the bleeding edge, you probably already know!

ArcGIS Pro

  1. Uses Python 3.4, full Python is not included, however SciPy and Pandas libraries are included.
  2. Because ArcGIS Pro uses Python 3.4, some of your Python scripts that you created for ArcGIS Desktop, which uses Python 2.7, might not work.  There is a script checker in Pro that will tell you if any lines of code will fail.  For example, printing a variable using the line “print x” must be “print(x)” in Python 3.4.
  3. At version 1.2, Pro will have concurrent use licenses.

ArcGIS Server

  1. Version 10.3 now has service usage statistics, which includes total requests, average response times, and timeouts.  You can create reports at the service, folder, and site level.
  2. You can preserve layer IDs so they don’t change when you republish a map service that has new layers in it.  There is an option in the Layer properties in ArcMap to turn this feature on.  You can also change the layer ID for your different layers before you publish to a map service.
  3. Server has expanded Linux support.  Now works with redhat, SUSE, CentOS, Scientific Linux, and Oracle Linux.

2015 ESRI User Conference Plenary

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For those of you that arrived in San Diego on Sunday, you were greeted by a downpour of rain that lasted into the night. However, that all cleared up today for the 36th Annual ESRI User Conference.

esriuc2015

During this morning’s Plenary Session, Jack emphasized the “Geography Everywhere” theme and touched on the usual things like web GIS and sharing data. Really there were few surprises. However, they did have a cute little skit about all their apps, posing like individuals in a dating service to get your attention to use them. It was a different way of showing you all the choices you have when it came to apps.  You can even vote for your favorite app here.

Here are a few new announcements that might be of interest:

  1. Vector tiles, finally!
  2. New Workforce/Dispatcher, Workforce/Mobile, and Navigator apps that will work with Collector
  3. New AppStudio for ArcGIS that will help you build your own native apps in Android, iOS, Windows, and Linux
  4. ArcGIS Earth, full KML file support
  5. New drone app
  6. Statistical and scientific packages like R and SciPy will be able to run directly as geoprocessing tools/scripts in ArcGIS
  7. ArcGIS for home use licensing will now extend to the entire ArcGIS product, not just Desktop
  8. Expect ArcGIS 10.4 and Pro 1.2 in Winter 2016

I would suspect that ESRI will have the Plenary Session video online sometime today. I will update this post when it becomes available for you to watch at home! -mike

4:25pm update:  Click here for today’s videos.

Best Student Geologic Map Competition

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The US Geological Survey (USGS) National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program (NCGMP) in partnership with The Geological Society of America (GSA), GSA Foundation, Association of American State Geologists (AASG), American Geosciences Institute (AGI), American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG), and the Journal of Maps invites students to participate in the Best Student Geologic Map Competition.

This year marks the third annual Best Student Geologic Map Competition at the GSA Annual Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland. The competition will highlight student research from around the world that utilizes field mapping and the creation of geologic maps as a major component.

The top three student geologic maps will be selected for recognition and awards at a special judging session at the GSA Annual Meeting. Students will post their maps (Session Posters) on Tuesday, 3 November by 5:00 PM until 6:30 PM in the Poster Session area of the Exhibit Hall for review and evaluation by the judges. Maps may be placed in this area as early as 9 AM Tuesday, 3 November, but must be removed at 6:30 PM following the session. At the end of the session the top three maps will be selected and awarded.

NACIS 2015 Student Map and Poster Competition

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Greetings,

The North American Cartographic Information Society (NACIS) recognizes the important contributions students make to our field. To promote their hard work and achievements, we offer two fantastic student competitions each year at our annual conference (held this year on October 14–17 in Minneapolis, MN). 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 the top prize in either competition.

Student Dynamic Map Competition

NACIS recognizes the importance of dynamic mapping in cartography. We are sponsoring the 16th Annual Student Dynamic Map Competition to promote cartographic excellence and innovation in this versatile medium. Two prizes of $500 will be awarded; one for and individual project and one for a group project. Deadline for submissions is September 11th. To view the rules and prizes, please visit http://nacis.org/awards/student-dynamic-map-competition/.

Student Map and Poster Competition

Students who would like to display their works at NACIS 2015 should register for the Student Map and Poster Competition. There are two competition categories: cartographic design and research quality. We encourage all students to submit their maps and technical/research posters for a chance at one of two $500 prizes! 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 11th, 2015. For more information, please visit http://nacis.org/awards/student-map-and-poster-competition/.

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 Minneapolis!

Travel Grants

As an organization (and as former students ourselves), we’re aware that student budgets don’t often allow for extras like conference attendance. Each year, NACIS offers a number of travel grants to students wishing to attend the annual conference. To find out more, please visit http://nacis.org/awards/grants/.

Thank you, and we hope to see you in Minneapolis in October!

Alethea Steingisser NACIS Board of Directors Chair – Awards and Travel Grants Committee

asteingi@uoregon.edu

Planned Retirement of NAD83 and NAVD88

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The National Geodetic Survey (NGS) plans on retiring the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83) and the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88).  They are hosting a webinar at the 2015 Geospatial Summit.  More information below:

For those who cannot attend the Geospatial Summit and Height Modernization Partner meetings in-person, NGS is pleased to announce webinar registration is now open. Use the links below to register, and additional webinar information (including audio and system requirements) can be found online: http://www.geodesy.noaa.gov/2015GeospatialSummit/. The webinars will also be recorded for later viewing.

Geospatial Summit Webinar
Mon, Apr 13, 2015 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM EDT
Tue, Apr 14, 2015 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM EDT

Registration link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/412206174470066177

NOTE: This webinar will meet 2 times. Attendees are not required to attend both sessions.

Height Modernization Partner Meeting Webinar
Tues, Apr 14 from 1:30 PM – 5:00 PM EDT

Registration link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5157587308811502081

NOTE: Limited parts of the meeting may include in-person discussion that could be difficult to hear remotely. However, remote attendees will still have the opportunity to share their own questions and thoughts by using the GoToMeeting “chat” and “question” functions.

As a reminder, here are brief descriptions of these meetings:
At the Geospatial Summit, NGS will provide updates regarding the planned replacement of its two primary geodetic datums: the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83) and the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88). The summit will be an opportunity for federal and state agencies, as well other constituents, to share their comments, questions and concerns regarding the new geometric and geopotential datums, which are planned to be published in 2022.

The annual National Height Modernization Program Partner Meeting allows state and university partners to explain the best practices they develop and challenges they encounter when determining accurate heights in their local regions or communities. The meeting is also an opportunity for stakeholders to express their requirements as NGS continues to develop geodetic models and tools in preparation for the replacement of NAD 83 and NAVD 88.

Details and draft agenda concerning the above meetings is available at http://www.geodesy.noaa.gov/2015GeospatialSummit/

GeoTech PCC Guest Lecture Series

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GeoTech PCC Guest Lecture Series Spring 2015
Thursday, April 2, 7-9pm
Pasadena City College, Room E220
More details at http://geotechpcc.eventbrite.com

GeoTech PCC is a new program that just started this semester. We’re fortunate to have Jonathan Robinson and Chandler Sterling from the City of Pasadena give our first guest lectures. We want to make sure that those in the surrounding communities know about it!

CGIA GeoSummit at UC Merced

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California Geographic Information Association (CGIA) is hosting their fourth annual CGIA GeoSummit at UC Merced, Friday March 13, 2015.

This event brings together state and regional GIS experts, educators, graduate students, and faculty using GIS in their research, in addition to community members with an interest in GIS.  The event this year features speakers from all walks of GIS to share their work, the latest in GIS technology, student presentations, and a map gallery.  For more info, visit their website.