!!Festival of Maps!
I can’t for my next road trip to Chicago (which will definitely be soon). Festival of Maps Chicago opens this weekend and runs all the way through January 2009. Over 30 cultural and scientific institutions are involved in dozens of exhibits, lectures, and events that “display humanity’s greatest discoveries and the maps that record our boldest explorations.” I’m especially looking forward to a visit to the Field Museum’s exhibit “Maps: Finding Our Place in the World” which runs from November 2, 2007 — January 27, 2008.
Portfolio
Selected Projects
IndianaMap Return on Investment Study
Role: Project conceptualization, funding, research and analysis, presentation development. Click here to download the complete report.
“… Perhaps the best marketing for 1) coordination, 2) public domain information, and 3) GIS/mapping in general I’ve seen anywhere. In no small part because people actually read them.”
Steve Aichele, USGS Geospatial Liaison to Michigan
“It was one of the most interesting and informative final reports I have seen.”
Gita Urban-Mathieux, Federal Geographic Data Committee
National GIS Inventory Tool
The Ramona GIS Inventory is produced by the National States’ Geographic Information Council (NSGIC) as a tool for states and their partners. Its primary purpose is to track the status of GIS in US state and local government to aid the planning and building of Spatial Data Infrastructures. Ramona is designed to work in concert with Geospatial One Stop (www.geodata.gov).
Role: Project conceptualization, needs assessment, technical project management, training, documentation (in cooperation with BurGIS, LLC and Runskip, LLC).
“When emergencies strike, I go to the GIS Inventory first to find other GIS experts in the area of the event. It helps me connect with them to perform my support role for state and local government.”
Christina McCullough, Geospatial Analyst, B.A., Joint Forces Headquarters of Indiana
“This increased the opportunity to have the imagery products be in line with existing county products.”
Chris Kannan, former USGS NSDI Liaison for North Carolina
IndianaMap Statewide Orthophotography Project
In 2005, Indiana completed a first of its kind high-resolution statewide single-season aerial photography project to support Indiana’s most pressing homeland security, economic development, and environmental issues. The public domain imagery is available at www.indianamap.org and on GoogleMaps.
Role: Project coordination, requirements definition, development of funding partners, overall project management (in cooperation with multiple collaborating partners).
Huck Finn Project
Youth groups across Indiana were invited to participate in the Huck Finn Project by producing large outdoor works of art to be captured by the IndianaMap orthophotography. In the process, kids tracked the planes and learned about geography, geospatial technology, scale and resolution, and more. Lesson plans were developed by the Indiana Geographic Educators’ Network, and GPS units were provided to participating youth groups.
Role: Project conceptulization, web site development, content, coordination.
GIS Issue Briefing
A series of subject area issue briefs authored by project steering committee members and other contributors who have been engaged to support the Information for Indiana project work through activities such as conducting case studies and assisting in pilot project initiation and implementation.
Role: Author.
IndianaMap Featured on WFYI
Over the past several months, the Indiana Geographic Information Council worked with producer Aric Hartvig of WFYI to document some of the uses and benefits of the IndianaMap for their series “Across Indiana.” In 2005, Indiana developed very high resolution orthophotography (aerial photography) as part of a single, consistent digital basemap for geographic information systems — called the IndianaMap. The photography has made quite an impact – saving money, time, and lives by making an accurate base map available to everyone. This segment from WFYI documents some of those benefits.
Guidance From Above
Out Takes…
Featured in the video are several Indiana Geographic Information Council members, including: Anna Radue – Indiana University UITS Jim Binkley – Scottsburg Municipal Electric Utility Nathan Eaton – Indiana Geological Survey Brooke Gajownik – Hamilton County Sheriffs Office.
Thanks WFYI! Support your local public broadcasting network!
My Wonderful World
How do you get kids involved with geography? Check out My Wonderful World for activities, links, and resources for parents and teachers.
Geography Is 10 Cool Things
- It’s big. It’s more than maps. Geography’s about knowing what’s where, why it’s there, and why it matters. Knowing geography will make your life more interesting, more exciting, and more fun. Geography opens doors. Get it.
- It’s out there. Geography is near AND far. It’s in your backyard and across the globe. Get to know your community and the people in it, and plan trips with your family to new places you’ve never been. Want to go overseas someday? Get a passport. Learn a new language and check out foreign exchange and other study-abroad programs for students. Travel the world virtually.
- It’s what you know. How’s your Global IQ? Test it, then try to outsmart GeoSpy and the GeoBee Challenge. If you’re in fourth through eighth grade, you can compete in the National Geographic Bee.
- It’s what you listen to. Regions have rhythms, and the sounds you like may echo cultures a world away. National Geographic, the Smithsonian, and iTunes are all good places to look for great new world music.
- It’s what you eat. Ever explored the world with a fork and a spoon—or with chopsticks? When you eat out, visit restaurants that serve ethnic foods. Find the region your food is from on a map when you get home. Try ethnic recipes and cook an international meal for your friends and family.
- It’s what you buy. Everything comes from somewhere. A walk through the mall or the grocery store can be a journey around the world. What’s in your closet? Your kitchen? Your living room? What are you wearing right now? Check the labels. Find out where things come from and how they got here.
- It’s what you do. Slap a map up on your wall. Or get a Global Positioning System (GPS) unit and take part in the game of geocaching or EarthCaching. It’s high-tech, real-life treasure hunting—locating items hidden around the world by other gamers.
- It’s academic. When you get to pick your classes, choose ones that have “geography” in their titles or focus on learning about the world. Choose research topics that let you learn about exotic places and geographic issues like cultural differences and environmental challenges. And sign up for the AP Human Geography class.
- It’s your future. Geography can take you anywhere and everywhere. One of the hottest fields now is Geographic Information Systems. Check out this Geography Career Guide for more. When applying to college, make sure to choose ones that offer geography courses and a major. (Here’s a list.)
- It’s important. You know how important geography is. Now make sure your teachers, parents, and friends aren’t out of the loop. Point them toward MyWonderfulWorld.org so they can get geography, too.
Can You Place the US States in the Right Place?
Try this geography game – it’s harder than you think! (I was reminded of one of this one from a recent post – thanks Very Spatial.
