Midwest Region GIS Technical Support Center

How to make great on-demand/interactive maps

Tue, 3 Nov 2009 11:16:13 -0600

Cartography 2.0 is a free online knowledge base and e-textbook for students and professionals interested in interactive and animated maps.

USGS-ARRA Lidar and Imagery Grant Program Opens

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:47:18 -0600

The long awaited USGS American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grants for imagery and LiDAR have been announced. All pertinent information can be found at grants.gov. Grant applications will be accepted through December 1, 2009.

Recorded Live Training Seminars - ESRI

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:49:36 -0600

Live Training Seminars are recorded, then made available as either a Training Seminar or a Web Course a few weeks after the live presentation. Training Seminars are FREE. Web Courses include the recording plus an exercise, exam, and certificate of completion and may have a nominal cost.

House Passes National Land Remote Sensing Outreach Act

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:15:19 -0600

The "National Land Remote Sensing Outreach Act" (version 2 of the AmericaView Geospatial Imagery Mapping Program Act) H.R.2489 passed on Oct 27, 2009 on the House floor with a Roll-Call vote of 379-33. The Senate has a similar authorization bill yet to consider. We hope it adopts the house version which was clarified through the hearing process and with input from both parties and USGS. These are authorization (not appropriation) bills and only establish a place for the program, not funding. Although they do specify funding guidelines. --Dr. Sam Batzli, WisconsinView Director

GSC Fall 2009 Newsletter Available

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:58:21 -0600

Staff at the NPSs Midwest Region have completed a newsletter of NPS and GIS happenings for Fall of 2009, check it out!

2010 NSDI CAP is open (NPS Only)

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 06:21:38 -0600

The announcement for the 2010 NSDI Cooperative Agreements Program is posted on Grants.gov. A short summary of this year's categories and a link to the full 2010 NSDI CAP announcement can be found at http://www.fgdc.gov/grants/2010NSDICAP/2010CAP. All proposals should be submitted via the Grants.gov Web site. The closing date is January 7, 2010. Projects must being on or before September 30, 2010. Prior to applying applicants are encouraged to read the edibility section in the award category of interest. Email your questions to me and/or the category leads. Please forward this email to other folks who may be interested in this opportunity. Gita Urban-Mathieux NSDI CAP Coordinator Federal Geographic Data Committee MS 590, National Center, Reston, VA 20192 Phone: 703-648-5175 Fax: 703-648-5755 Email: burbanma@usgs.gov http://www.fgdc.gov/grants

FGDC Place-based Policy (NPS Only)

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 06:14:49 -0600

An initiative is underway reaching out to nation-wide stakeholders of geospatial and geographic information system solutions, data, and services. The use of a virtual “town hall” style panel discussion is planned for December 9, 2009, as well as a robust implementation of social media tools and channels. This effort has three primary purposes: 1) Bring stakeholders into conversation about place-based policy and build a sustainable dialogue; 2) Produce viable geospatial solutions; and 3) Establish presence, leadership, and brand for FGDC in use of new media channels.

New FGDC GeoLoB Factsheets

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:06:01 -0600

An action from yesterdays FGDC Coordination Group meeting was to send out the web address for the factsheets developed in part by the Geo Enabeled Business Work Group of the GeoLoB. Please see the following address: http://www.fgdc.gov/geospatial-lob then scroll down to Resources and Publications and click factsheets.

Google Maps now using their own map data

Fri, 9 Oct 2009 13:14:13 -0600

Without much formal announcement, Google appears to now use their own data for the maps you see in Google Maps. It used to be TeleAtlas and if you found a problem, you'd report it to them. Now you'll see a little "Report a Problem" link in the lower right of Google Maps. Corrections go straight to Google. This is important for park units that have experienced problems with visitors misdirection due to Google Maps.

Wilderness Boundaries Standard Out for Review (NPS Only)

Fri, 9 Oct 2009 09:11:36 -0600

The NPS GIS Council, in conjunction with the NPS Wilderness Stewardship and Recreation Management Division, is soliciting input on a draft data transfer standard for current NPS wilderness boundaries. This draft standard was developed by the NPS GIS Council, Wilderness Boundary Working Group. Submit your comments to: "pwro_gis_group@nps.gov". (In Lotus Notes: "PWRO GIS Group".) Please use "Wilderness Boundaries Standard" as the subject line. The comment period will close October 30.

2009 Public TIGER/Line Shapefiles Now Available

Fri, 9 Oct 2009 09:09:05 -0600

The Census Bureau has released the 2009 Public TIGER/Line Shapefiles. * Extracts containing geographic and cartographic information from the Census Bureau's MAF/TIGER® (Master Address File/Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing) database. * The files provide the digital map base for a Geographic Information System or mapping software. The files do not contain any mapping software. * They include spatial data for geographic features such as roads, railroads, rivers, and lakes, as well as legal and statistical geographic areas. * The geographic entity codes needed to link the Census Bureau's demographic data to the geography are included in the files. The TIGER/Line Shapefiles do not contain any demographic data; it must be downloaded separately. * Metadata in Extensible Markup Language (XML) format is included with each compressed file.

Notice from Hawth's Tools

Thu, 8 Oct 2009 17:49:22 -0600

HawthsTools has not been updated for a considerable time and is soon to be formally discontinued. It will be replaced with an entirely new software package that has much greater functionality. Issues have been found when using these tools with recent versions of ArcGIS and I recommend that you cease to use HawthsTools. These problems arise because the ArcGIS programming interface (ArcObjects) tends to change with each update of ArcGIS. This is particularly true for major releases. This breaks backward compatibility, and means that bugs can be introduced into tools that were compiled against a previous version of ArcGIS. Of course this creates a great deal of work for developers who have to constantly keep up with changes in the object model and the lack of backwards compatibility - a highly unsatisfactory state of affairs. I suggest you watch www.spatialecology.com for details of the new product, due for release before the end of the year.

NPS Registered with OPUS

Thu, 8 Oct 2009 20:39:39 -0600

The National Park Service has been registered at the NGS Online Positioning User Service. If you are using dual-frequency, carrier-phase GPS equipment such as Trimble R8, R6 or 5700's and want to register monumentation that you use with NGS for all to use you may do so here. You will need to register first. Pick "DOI National Park Service" as your agency and use your work email. Additionally, you will have to follow the instructions at the bottom of the webpage on how data must be collected and processed. Really not hard to do and will help everyone to maintain a list of available, quality monumentation in the NPS for our use including contractors, NPS park/program personnel, other agencies, etc.

How to load Garmin Waypoints with MS Bing Maps (NPS Only)

Thu, 8 Oct 2009 20:38:27 -0600

Instructions on how to load Garmin waypoints with MicroSoft Bing maps. You can, also, find this guide in the "How To Guides" folder on GPS MMS Sharepoint site in the Library section.

GEOID09 now available

Thu, 1 Oct 2009 00:08:59 -0600

NOAA's NGS published the geoid model, GEOID09, on Sept 22, 2009. Information can be found here: http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/GEOID/GEOID09/ Software: http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/PC_PROD/GEOID09/ If you get to our Geoid pages some other way, please make sure you don't accidentally choose to download the USGG2009 or GEOID09BETA models. To check on the value of GEOID09 at a geographic location of your interest, you can use the below URL (until the specific Toolkit link is made active on our website, first choice under Tools): http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/GEOID_STUFF/geoid09_prompt1.prl To compare with GEOID03 (just superceded) values, the link is: http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/GEOID_STUFF/geoid03_prompt1.prl It is anticipated that OPUS will soon start using the new geoid, so look carefully at your results. I heard a rumor that both might be used for awhile, but that is speculation.

New NPS GIS News "Front Page" (NPS Only)

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 11:17:19 -0600

The GIS Front Page is intended for all National Park Service employees and partners, GIS specialists and non-specialists alike, and provides current information on the most important news related to GIS in the NPS. There are also maintained links to frequently-used web pages, an index for WASO and regional sites, and a news feed from ESRI.

Online GPS differential correction: OPUS

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 07:32:26 -0600

This Online Positioning User Service (OPUS) provides you with simplified access to high-accuracy National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) coordinates: all you need is a clear view of the sky and a survey-grade Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver. OPUS processes your GPS data files with the same models and tools which help manage the Nation's Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) network, resulting in coordinates which are both highly accurate and highly consistent with other users. Your computed NSRS position is sent privately via email, and, if you choose, can also be shared publicly via the NGS database. OPUS is highly automated and requires minimal user input.

3 ESRI Image Server Webinars in October and November (NPS Only)

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 06:24:39 -0600

The DOI Enterprise Geographic Information Management (EGIM) team has coordinated three tiered information webinar sessions scheduled to start in October 2009.

EPA publishes National Hydrography Web Mapping Services

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 05:55:45 -0600

On August 31, 2009, EPA launched a number of ArcGIS 9.3.1 mapping services based on the National Hydrography Dataset (NHD). At the site, EPA provides an ArcMAP document (WATERSGEO_SERVICES.mxd)containing layers for the published services. These services may be consumed by a variety of clients, including ESRI ArcMap, ArcGIS Explorer and Google Earth.

Copies of the Federal Registry Notice Concerning Official Federal Use of Datums (NPS Only)

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 05:53:54 -0600

Cultural Resources GIS Survey Closes Sept 25 (NPS Only)

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 05:52:34 -0600

Webinar on GPS derived heights - Oct 6, 7

Thu, 1 Oct 2009 00:53:08 -0600

Part I: October 6th, 1:00-4:00pm ET Part II: October 7th, 1:00-4:00pm ET Topics: The National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) Methods for Vertical Control-Obtainable Accuracies, National Standards Vertical Datums - Tidal, NGVD29, NAVD 88 Ellipsoid Heights Geoid Heights Height Modernization Program Background NOS/NGS 58 Static GPS Guidelines Using CORS and OPUS for Heights Issues with Passive and Active stations Implementing NOS/NGS 59 Static Ortho Guidelines Using NGS Real Time GNSS Positioning Guidelines for Ortho Heights The Future – GRAV-D

Updated NPS DOQQ Index

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 05:49:31 -0600

The Natural Resources GIS Team would like to make you aware of the progress we have made in making the recent National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) aerial photography accessible to you. Working from source images from the NPS Remote Sensing group, we have sorted and processed Digital Orthophoto Quarter-quadrangle (DOQQ) images for many NPS areas-of-interest. The final products are in SID format, named by USGS quadrangle, and are delivered with FGDC-compliant metadata. The SID images come in two versions: (1) Lossless (2) Compressed (10:1) Lossless SIDs are about half the size of the source TIFF images, preserve all original pixel values and positions, and perform better in GIS software than the source (TIFF) images. Lossless images may be requested from our office - we will distribute them to you on DVD media, external hard drive, or FTP/electronic methods - depending on final data package size. Compressed images are one-tenth the size of the original source images, are very portable, and have a reasonable compression ratio that minimizes image quality degradation. Compressed images may be accessed on the NRPC GIS Data Server (X drive), requested from our office on hard drives or DVDs, or downloaded directly from the NPS Data Store (please note that we are still trying to get all of the processed imagery on the NPS Data Store - you may run into some outdated/broken links - inquire with us if you can't find what you're looking for). For more information on this project, help or requests for accessing imagery, or other concerns, please contact: Peter Budde Peter_Budde@nps.gov 970-225-3559

Coordination of GPS purchases saves NPS $100k in 2009 (NPS Only)

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 05:48:28 -0600

Mobile application sees science go global

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:45:23 -0600

A mobile phone application will help professional and "citizen" scientists collect and analyse data from "in the field", anywhere in the world.

Two FREE webinar trainings being offered by NGS on elevation

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:54:33 -0600

FGDC CAP grants for 2010

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 20:15:42 -0600

ArcGIS service pack 1 due in Dec

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:30:37 -0600

DOI "A Very Spatial" podcast - The Nat'l Map, GeoPDFs, and more

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 21:29:55 -0600

A New Generation of USGS Maps

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:48:21 -0600

Free Sept 16 and Sept 17 GPS Classes - Via Video Conf (NPS Only)

Sun, 6 Sep 2009 01:58:00 -0600

DAAV, BADL, NICO, TAPR boundaries updated!

Sun, 16 Aug 2009 09:51:53 -0600

EPA launches Data Finder

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 10:17:41 -0600

Mt. Rushmore to get LiDAR - those faces willl show up in 3D models now!

Thu, 6 Aug 2009 09:01:10 -0600

Trimble Hardware Trade-In Values - good thru Sept 2009 (NPS Only)

Sun, 2 Aug 2009 09:27:40 -0600

Trip report - ESRI UC 2009 (NPS Only)

Sat, 1 Aug 2009 18:20:23 -0600

Adobe GeoPDF eSemiar (starts seminar)

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:11:05 -0600

Gallery of GeoPDF documents

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:07:52 -0600

CRS Report: GIS - Current Issues and Future Challenges (pdf)

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 20:36:24 -0600

CRS Report: Issues Regarding a National Land Parcel Database (pdf)

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 22:32:06 -0600

August GPS training provided live, online by AKR (NPS Only)

Sun, 26 Jul 2009 00:51:15 -0600

Free, online geoprocessing

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:46:01 -0600

House Committee on Natural Resources - webcast

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 08:25:11 -0600

FAQ: Where are ArcGIS Desktop files installed?

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:18:31 -0600

NRPC makes NAIP available (pdf)

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 22:56:25 -0600

WICR boundary update. Centroid and Tract layers also available.

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 03:13:00 -0600

FWS National Cadastral Data and National Wildlife Refuge and Hatchery Boundaries

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 06:38:38 -0600

Summary info on GeoPDFs on the Park GIS sharepoint (NPS Only)

Tue, 9 Jun 2009 10:10:56 -0600

5 Midwest states to get new NAIP sooner: IA, IL, MI, MN, NE

Sat, 6 Jun 2009 16:07:38 -0600

Open Source GIS options

Tue, 2 Jun 2009 18:57:27 -0600

NPS only: Problem with MAC address licenses on non-networked computers -- work around

Mon, 1 Jun 2009 23:16:42 -0600

NPS only: 2009 Trimble Consolidated Buy EXTENDED to July 8th!

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 03:47:33 -0600

NPS only: ArcGIS 9.3.1 available/instructions

Thu, 21 May 2009 03:52:34 -0600

Download and apply map templates for online Web maps, printed maps, and mobile maps

Tue, 2 Jun 2009 01:01:21 -0600

Ohio uses LiDAR and aerial photos for statewide survey

Mon, 1 Jun 2009 21:08:41 -0600

USGS LiDAR viewer on CLICK website

Mon, 1 Jun 2009 21:07:40 -0600

Garmin Video Courses Provided by AKR - GIS Team July 16, 17 (NPS Only)

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 21:02:07 -0600

Data.gov now live -- partially

Mon, 1 Jun 2009 21:06:49 -0600

Consolidated GPS news and info

Mon, 1 Jun 2009 21:06:21 -0600

What's new in ArcGIS 9.3.1....an "evolution" version.

Tue, 19 May 2009 12:52:05 -0600

Request updates to Navtec maps (used on Garmin)

Tue, 19 May 2009 13:31:39 -0600

Catalog of GIS data (location) formats

Tue, 19 May 2009 14:01:21 -0600

FREE: NGS CORS and RTK webinar training

Tue, 19 May 2009 13:56:39 -0600

Free web-service for helping with map projections.

Tue, 19 May 2009 13:53:34 -0600

Lewis and Clark NHT boundary update. Centroid and Tract layers also available.

Thu, 9 Apr 2009 13:47:01 -0600

Magellan Mobile Mapper deal (pdf)

Tue, 5 May 2009 14:29:49 -0600

H1N1 flu reported in NPS Midwest

Sun, 3 May 2009 18:31:59 -0600

Several Midwest Park Units Affected by new Public Lands Law

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 22:39:24 -0600

DOI Stimulus Projects: $14.6 million for Imagery and Elevation Map data

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 02:22:41 -0600

Virtual Earth in your ArcMap document!

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 10:47:03 -0600

Get topo maps and other web data services free via ArcGIS Online

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 09:05:56 -0600

ArcGIS "keyless" to be replaced by MAC licenses (no link).

Thu, 9 Apr 2009 11:02:01 -0600

Email Doug Wilder for more information.

Script to add file paths to attribute table (NPS only)

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:15:19 -0600

GPS software and firmware updates

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:41:53 -0600

GIS and GPS Training at USFWS NCTC

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:27:48 -0600

- GPS for Nat. Res. in Mar.; GIS for wildlife in Sep. and lots more...

How to use ESRI Customer Care site (NPS only)

Wed, 7 Jan 2009 16:12:44 -0600

Final Geospatial Briefing for DOI (NPS only)

Wed, 7 Jan 2009 15:21:48 -0600

GeoPDF example from Alaska (NPS only)

Wed, 7 Jan 2009 15:16:10 -0600

Great Lakes Land Cover

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 22:16:17 -0600

Jump to Google Maps from ArcMap

Wed, 7 Jan 2009 16:41:33 -0600

New in ArcGIS - Calculate Geometry

Wed, 7 Jan 2009 16:44:11 -0600

GIS self help!

Wed, 7 Jan 2009 15:34:53 -0600

Service Pack 1 for ArcGIS 9.3

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:32:32 -0600

Updated NPS DOQQ Index

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 22:10:19 -0600

2009 GIS for incident mgmt. course announced. Sign up by Nov. 1

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:48:45 -0600

Geocommons Finder! Search the world's geodata or upload your own.

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:47:29 -0600

Flooding Imagery

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:47:08 -0600

WI Flood map

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:31:30 -0600

Wildlife disease issues mapped - Avian cholora in Iowa!

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:31:14 -0600

Landsat imagery for FREE!

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:30:54 -0600

ArcGIS 9.2 Service Pack 6 is now available from the ESRI Support Center

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:48:17 -0600

ArcGIS 9.2 service pack 5 is now available.

Download ArcGIS (NPS employees)

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:30:41 -0600

New LIDAR data for Sny Magill Mound Groups at Effigy Mounds

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:30:15 -0600

North American Environmental Atlas. Suite of info on N. Amer. environmental issues.

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:30:03 -0600

DNRGarmin 5.3.2 now available

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:29:44 -0600

Would you like to sponsor an intern?

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:29:23 -0600

Call in for ESRI Tech Support

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:29:07 -0600

One-Day NPS GIS Training Materials

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:28:44 -0600

New Habitat Analysis Tool from NOAA

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:28:04 -0600

Multi-agency GPS training

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:27:01 -0600

Setting the datum in ArcPad

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:24:13 -0600

Trimble GPS Consolidated Buy Highlights

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 02:08:21 -0600

6/27 Register products 7/9 Signup for Consolidated Buy

Learn ArcGIS 9.3 with New Training Courses

Fri, 5 Sep 2008 00:24:13 -0600

GPS swap webpage (NPS Only)

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 21:12:08 -0600

LizardTech GeoExpress 7 now available. (NPS Only)

Sun, 31 Dec 1899 18:00:00 -0600

2009 GPS for Fire Management & ICS course dates and information!

2008 GPS for Fire Management & ICS course materials online!

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:00:55 -0600

Midwest GPS Training - Spring 2008

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:14:32 -0600

ArcGIS training Nov 18-20--registration still open!

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:23:52 -0600

The MW Geospatial Support Center will hold a three day ArcGIS 9.3 training from Nov 18-20 for NPS employees. There is still time to register! Email Doug Wilder at doug_wilder@nps.gov for more information.