GIS At Brown

Exhibit of Historic Maps

The John Carter Brown Library has just opened a new exhibition "A Conversation with Maps".  It has many examples of historic maps created during the period of European expansion.  If you can't make it to the Library for a visit, the exhibit is also offered on-line here.

Good News About GIS Jobs

"The worldwide market for Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) is forecast to grow 50% over the next five years" according to an article posted by the Arc Advisory Group.  Check out the article here.

GIS Institute Applications Being Accepted

Enrollment is now open for the semi-annual GIS Institute, June 1-13, 2009 offered by the Spatial Structures in the Social Sciences initiative.

The institute will provide two weeks of intensive training in tools for analysis and visualization of spatial relationships. Topics range from cartography to spatial statistics. With guidance from faculty and staff, participants will learn to apply GIS to a problem of their choosing.

The Institute is free. It is a cooperative activity of S4 along with the University Libraries, Earthlab, and PSTC.

Space is limited and an online application is required:http://www.s4.brown.edu/gis.

The deadline for applying is 4/22/09. 

Graduate students, post-docs, faculty, and staff are eligible to enroll. We particularly encourage participation by doctoral students who may have a use for these skills in their research. Additional details are available on the webpage and on the attached flyer.

Direct questions to Dr. Seth Spielman, seth_spielman@brown.edu.

ArcGIS Desktop version 9.3 is Here!

CIS has posted the executables for ArcGIS Desktop and Workstation 9.3 on the download page.  After installing, please remember to install Service Pack 1, available from ESRI here.  The Service Pack file is named ArcGISDesktop93sp1.msp.  Download and run this file to ensure you have the latest bug fixes.

 A few of the "goodies" in the 9.3 upgrade are:

-  Basemap layers of the entire world which can be streamed from ESRI servers to your own .mxd document, including streets, shaded relief, and imagery, and a built in gazateer.

-  Improvements to geocoding (address-matching) including updated methods for reviewing unmatched candidates.

-  The ability to turn graphic shapes that have been digitized on-screen directly into a shapefile or feature class using the "convert graphics to features" tool.

-  The ability to embed feature attributes, map layers and coordinate system information in exported .pdf files.

-  Map layers with transparencies enabled are reflected correctly in legends.

-  New spatial analysis tools including ordinary least squares regression and geographically weighted regression and and updated Near tool that works with points, line, and polygons.

-  Geoprocessing error messages now link to a description of the problem and recommended solutions.

My self-paced tutorial and data files can be found on my wiki.  Happy Arc-ing!

Annual GIS Poster Session is December 9

Please join the students of GE132/ES190/US134 for the annual presentation of their term research projects employing GIS technology and methods.  For a list of research topics, please click here.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008 from 1:00 - 2:20 pm in Room 101, MacMillan Hall (167 Thayer Street).
Lite Refreshments.

For more information, please contact Lynn_Carlson@brown.edu

ArcGIS 9.2 Service Pack 5

Service Pack 5 for all levels of ArcGIS 9.2 (ArcView, ArcEditor, ArcInfo) has been released as well as a separate download for the help files.  Obtain the downloads here.

New Rhode Island Land Use Data

The RI Geographic Information System (RIGIS) has released an updated land use data set! 

This is a statewide, seamless digital dataset of the land cover/land use based on imagery captured in 2003-2004. The project area encompasses the State of Rhode Island and also extends 1/2 mile into the neighboring states of Connecticut and Massachusetts.  The minimum mapping unit for this dataset is .5 acre.  The land use classification scheme is based on the Anderson Level III modified coding schema. The data are available as a single seamless statewide dataset, and have also been clipped down to the county level for your convenience.

The data are available on the Brown GIS server (xipe) in the landuse folder (Arc/Info coverage format) as "rilu0304".  Please refer to the accompanying metadata for specifics on these data. 

You can also obtain the data from the Planning&Cadastre data download section on the RIGIS web site: http://www.edc.uri.edu/rigis/data/planningCadastre.aspx

Please note that these data were derived from automated and photointerpreted processes and should be used for preliminary planning purposes only. These data have no meaning with regard to federal / state / local laws or regulatory procedures governing land use, zoning, wetland delineation, etc.

Update for ArcGIS on Vista

Service Pack 4 for ArcGIS 9.2 has been released, which includes support for Windows Vista.  In addition to the Service Pack, ESRI also writes that two Microsoft patches must also be installed to enable the product to run.

ESRI's technical article which explains everything in full is HERE

Be advised that ESRI is not claiming a smooth transition; there are still known (and unknown) issues that need to be resolved.  These are specified in the technical article.

GIS Poster Session Open House

The Introduction to Geographic Information System class of fall, 2007 will be presenting their term posters during a Open House on December 6, 2007 from 1:00 - 2:30 pm.  The public is invited to view these posters and speak with the students.  Topics are quite varied and include a spatial analysis of the distribution of Brown's Blue Light phone system, where the food in our stores really comes from, the Dry Valleys of Antarctica, and archaeology at the First Baptist Church among others.  A complete list of topics and authors is located here. Please join us to get an idea of what GIS is all about.  MacMillan Hall (corner of George and Thayer) Room 101.

What's In A Pixel?

An excellent Introduction to Remote Sensing symposium will be hostedMonday, September 10, 2007; 9:00 am - 3:30 pm, at the University of Rhode Island, Narragansett Bay Campus Coastal Institute.

Have you ever wondered how remotely sensed data (such as satellite images and aerial photography) could enhance your own projects? This will be an outstanding opportunity to learn about the basics of remote sensing and ask questions of several experts from around the region.

The intent of this symposium is to introduce basic concepts of remote sensing in a non-technical manner. Plenty of simple examples and interesting images will be used to illustrate concepts in order to plant ideas for how is might be used in your own area of interest. Afternoon discussion sessions will serve to introduce more advanced concepts in smaller groups, empowering you to easily ask questions and learn more about the science - and art - of remote sensing.

This educational event is free and open to the public. Meeting materials and lunch are included. Those familiar with the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) technology will benefit the most from this symposium.

Space is limited! Please register early to avoid disappointment.

To learn more about this event, review an agenda, and register, please visit: http://geospatial.uri.edu/events/rsintro

Please direct any questions to Greg Bonynge (greg@edc.uri.edu;
874-2180).