GIS Cooperative Meeting Notes

Tuesday, November 18, 2003

In Attendance: Dave Koss (TDOT), Don Ijams (TPD), Blanca Espino (DSD), Christine O'Connor (IT), Francisco Leyva (TDOT), Autumn Figueroa (CPTF), Robert MacArthur (U of A), Melisa Hadinger (Marana), Vickey Bagley (Water), Linda Carrillo (TDOT), Kathy Tessier (TDOT), Teri Schultz (TFD), Dee Korich (ES), Jack Avis (Marana), Laura Pinnas (TEP), Robin West (TDOT), Duane Vild (SAIAT) and Linda Coon (DSD).

Ron Platt presiding.

Southern Arizona Institute of Advanced Technology (SAIAT)

Duane Vild with SAIAT explained the role SAIAT is taking with regards to providing GIS (as well as other technical/business) training at an affordable cost to the region. ESRI software related classes will be the predominant courses for GIS, as the highest demand is for this line. A class schedule was handed out. Additional info can be found at http://www.saiat.org/. Mr. Vild also explained the H1B grant funding process, where employees not directly funded with federal money can utilize the H1B funds to pay 1/2 the cost for a class, or classes. A form needs to be filled out and submitted to SAIAT when requesting H1B support.

Pictometry International Presentation

Pictometry International is a company that provides a unique aerial photography product. In addition to the typical orthophotography we are all used to, where images are basically looking straight down at the earth, Pictometry will fly up to four additional flight lines and photograph land forms at angles, producing "oblique images." This allows the user to actually see sides of buildings. Although this is not in the true sense 3D, the two dimensional image will appear to have a 3D effect as one looks through a neighborhood.

Additionally, the software (which comes as a site license with the image contract) will allow the user to measure both horizontal AND vertical dimensions. Unique is the fact that the oblique images are georeferenced in a proprietary manner such that each pixel has a variable size that is recognizable by the software. This is what makes measuring on the oblique possible.

Several real applications were demonstrated and GIS Cooperative attendees seemed to have a keen interest in this product. Further Coopative discussion will be forthcoming on this product with intent to drum up support to obtain this product.

GIS Cooperative Intern

Interviewing for the GIS Coopative intern assigned to address scrubbing has been completed. A job offer will be made in the next several weeks. A new physical location for this person to work will need to be found.

Routeable Street Network

Steve Whitney is working on a new version of STNETALL that will have attributes which will offer intelligence as to whether the street segment is passable and to what level it allows free flowing traffic. In other words, think of traffic flow just like water flow. In order for water to flow there needs to be an open pipe. Then the size of the pipe, or other restrictions will affect the flow of water. It is the same with traffic. We need to know where roads are passable, we then need to know what possible restrictions exist (such as speed humps). When this data is assembled into a "routeable" street network, it can be used for emergency routing or efficient vehicular routing for services.

In about three months Steve hopes to have a rough draft available. At that time the Cooperative will need to address the maintenance of this layer. That will be an ongoing process. Locations where we have placed bollards, big rocks, dirt piles, or where we have washes that are not passable all need to be located so that STNETALL can reflect them in the future.

GIS Cooperative Chairman

It is time to elect a new chairperson for the Coop. The chairperson can be from another jurisdiction. Emails on the Coop list and GeoWIZ will be soliciting nominations for the position. At our next meeting we will elect a new chair.

Next Meeting:

Tuesday, December 16, 2003 / 3:00 P.M / City I.T. Pueblo Room