[gis_info] ASPRS\CaGIS\AAGS - 2016 GeoBytes Schedule

[David Alvarez]

*GeoBytes are free online seminars presented by ASPRS, in cooperation with
CaGIS and our new partner AAGS.*

*Next year Geobytes will cover a wide range of topics including geodesy,
precision agriculture, standards, Big Data and more. Also, in support of
the National Park Service (NPS) Centennial celebration we have organized a
couple of GeoBytes highlighting their geospatial activities: “A Geospatial
Approach to Mapping Environmental Sound Levels across the United States”
and “Designing National Park Service Visitor Maps”.*

*Schedule *

*Fusion of Geodesy and GIS at NOAA's National Geodetic Survey*
Brian Shaw, NGS
January 29th, 2016

The mission of NOAA’s National Geodetic Survey (NGS) is to define,
maintain, and provide access to the National Spatial Reference System
(NSRS), the foundation for navigation, mapping, and surveying in the United
States. For most of its over 200 year history, NGS has largely met its
mission objectives without GIS...until now. NGS has developed a GIS toolbox
that includes survey tools that create attribute-rich GIS features for GNSS
and geodetic leveling networks directly from NGS software output (including
OPUS-Projects), and a grid conversion tool that generates standard GIS
rasters from NGS grids, such as geoid models. The GIS tools were created
using the Python scripting language and are accessed through the Esri
ArcToolbox. This workshop describes these new NGS GIS products and services
and shows how they are being used. The new tools provide better access to
the NSRS and leverage the power of GIS for display and analysis of geodetic
data. By developing such tools, NGS better meets the needs of our growing
and diverse customer base of surveyors, GIS practitioners, and other
geospatial professionals.

*Brian Shaw* is a Geodesist at NOAA’s National Geodetic Survey. He began
his career at NGS in 2002 after earning a BS in Computer Science with
minors in Mathematics, Geography and History from Radford University. He
earned an MS in Geographic Information Systems from the University of
Redlands in 2005. Brian serves as the NGS representative to the National
States Geographic Information Council and is the leader of the NGS GIS
team. He also actively supports NOAA's Science On a Sphere serving as a
docent and the National Ocean Service advisor.

Register here.
<http://asprs.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT01MjE3NTg1JnA9MSZ1PTEwNzIzMTQ0MzkmbGk9MzIyNjk5MzM/index.html>

Webinar ID: 143-514-931

*Beyond NDVI … 2016*
Jack Paris
February 26th, 2016

Geospatial maps for agricultural mapping and monitoring uses have been made
for many decades based on the well-known Normalized Difference Vegetation
Index (NDVI) formula, which was first proposed in the late 1960s as a
better way to combine two bands of multispectral (MS) digital image values
when making sets of vegetation-vigor condition indicator values as
vegetation vigor varies spatially over an area of interest and/or
temporally over a given span of time. The simplicity of the NDVI formula
has made it and continues to make it very attractive as an algorithm
vegetation vigor mapping and monitoring.

However, in the late 1980s, a better, physical understanding was gained
about how electromagnetic radiation interacts with vegetation and soils.
This led to the Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) formula and its many
variants as ways to make vegetation-vigor maps that are physically-based
and hence that are better than those maps that are made by the NDVI formula.

Nevertheless, the use of the NDVI formula is still dominant today.
Unfortunately, many NDVI map vendors use poor-quality and often
uncalibrated MS images when making an NDVI map. And, since each NDVI map is
based on only two spectral bands … usually a red-light band and a
near-infrared pair of images, information in other MS bands is left behind.
This is especially true when the source of MS imagery includes many more
than just the NDVI-related pair of spectral bands.

As the number of imaging systems have increased dramatically and as this
expansion is set to expand even more so in 2016 and as the spatial
resolutions of these sources are getting smaller and smaller … even down to
centimeter sizes, a challenge exists regarding how best to take advantage
of these many bands and frequent revisits. Dr. Paris will be presenting
information about the history of vegetation and soil mapping with the hope
that better standards will be adopted by the whole remote-sensing community
and that better information maps will be made for customers … Beyond NDVI …
in 2016.

*Dr. Paris’* background includes undergraduate studies at Texas A&M
University (physics and mathematics, B.S., 1962) and at the University of
Washington (atmospheric sciences, B.S., 1963). After four years as a
Weather Officer in the USAF, he returned to Texas A&M University for
graduate work (meteorology, Ph.D., 1971). However, this doctoral degree was
really a degree in remote sensing (dissertation topic: Thermal microwave
applications for atmospheric and ocean mapping and monitoring). Since 1972,
Dr. Paris has been a remote sensing scientist and educator until his
retirement from California State University (CSU) in 2002. He worked for
Lockheed Electronic Company, the University of Houston at Clear Lake, NASA
(Houston), JPL, CSU Fresno, and CSU Monterey Bay. Since 2002, Dr. Paris has
been working for commercial companies including MicroImages, Inc.,
DigitalGlobe, Inc., EarthMap Solutions, Inc., the Monsanto Company, C3
Consulting LLC, and Trimble. Most of this experience has been as a
consulting. In 2009, Dr. Paris formed his own consulting company, Paris
Geospatial, LLC. Currently, Dr. Paris is involved with the development of
better image processing algorithms … beyond NDVI … for Landsat 8 data,
RapidEye data, data from several pilot-on-board aircraft imaging systems,
and data from remotely-operated aircraft mapper systems. He is also working
on algorithms for data from new systems such as Planet Labs and MicaSense
RedEdge cameras. Dr. Paris writes customized processing algorithms using
the SML scripting language in TNT (MicroImages) software and is the author
of “Scripts by Jack” and “FAQs by Jack” that are posted on the MicroImages
Web site.

Register here.
<http://asprs.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT01MjE3NTg1JnA9MSZ1PTEwNzIzMTQ0MzkmbGk9MzIyNjk5MzQ/index.html>

Webinar ID: 122-332-771

*A Geospatial Approach to Mapping Environmental Sound Levels Across the
United States*
Dan Mennitt, NPS
Kurt Fristrup, NPS
March 25th, 2016


To support the conservation of natural and cultural sounds, and outstanding
opportunities to hear them, the National Park Service works to protect,
maintain, or restore acoustical environments throughout the National Park
System. The National Park Service has a unique challenge due the vast
quantity of land to manage, the diversity of acoustical environments
therein, and the high standards to which these resources are upheld.
Soundscapes have direct implications for visitor experience and wildlife
ecology, and are often complex due to a multitude of acoustic sources and
sound propagation effects. While physical modeling of acoustic propagation
is a mature science, the diversity of contributions to environmental sound
levels and prevalence of spatiotemporal patterns suggests a statistical
approach to modeling. Using 1.5 million hours of acoustical data from
hundreds of sites across the United States, geospatial models were
developed to interpret and predict sound levels. The models utilize random
forest, a tree based machine learning algorithm, which does not explicitly
incorporate any apriori knowledge of acoustic propagation mechanics.
Instead, the models rely on spatial representations of biological,
geophysical, climatic, and anthropogenic factors to assess expected
contributions to the existing sound pressure level from both anthropogenic
and natural sources. This method enables mapping of sound levels at
regional and national scales. Environmental noise is widespread across the
United States and chronic exposure brings with it adverse consequences to
terrestrial organisms. Assessments of noise exposure are essential to
understand the extent of impact as well as inform land use planning and
noise abatement strategies.

*Dan Mennitt *is a research scientist in the Department of Electrical and
Computer Engineering at Colorado State University. Dan works in partnership
with the National Park Service's Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division to
provide outstanding opportunities for people to experience the restorative
quality, extraordinary sounds, and simply remarkable nature of wilderness.
His current research interests include remote sensing, spatiotemporal
patterns of sound on landscape scales, and acoustic horn dynamics.

*Kurt Fristrup* is the Branch Chief for Science and Technology in the
Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division of Natural Resource Stewardship and
Science, a directorate within the U. S. National Park Service. He has
overseen monitoring of acoustical conditions at more than 600 sites in
national parks and other protected natural areas. Kurt previously worked at
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the Cornell Laboratory of
Ornithology, where his research interests included evolutionary theory,
marine mammal ecology and behavior, the effects of noise on wildlife,
environmental acoustical monitoring, and wildlife radio telemetry.

Register here.
<http://asprs.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT01MjE3NTg1JnA9MSZ1PTEwNzIzMTQ0MzkmbGk9MzIyNjk5MzU/index.html>
Webinar ID: 141-662-443

*Designing National Park Service Visitor Maps*
Tom Patterson, NPS
April 29th, 2016

The look of National Park Service maps, which have had a familiar design
dating back to the 1970s, recently has undergone modernization to better
serve the 300 million people who visit the parks each year. My talk will
discuss the scope of these design changes, why we did them, and how they
build upon and enhance previous map design standards.

*Tom Patterson* is the Senior Cartographer at the US National Park Service,
Harpers Ferry Center. He has an MA in geography from the University of
Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Tom previously worked as Cartographic Laboratory Manager
at the University of Utah. Cartographic relief presentation is his passion.
He maintains the ShadedRelief.com website and is the co-developer of the
Natural Earth cartographic dataset. Tom is a former president of the North
American Cartographic Information Society and is active in the
International Cartographic Association, Commission on Mountain Cartography.

Register here.
<http://asprs.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT01MjE3NTg1JnA9MSZ1PTEwNzIzMTQ0MzkmbGk9MzIyNjk5MzY/index.html>
Webinar ID: 133-645-011

*CyberGIS: Foundations and Principles*
Eric Shook, Kent University
May 27th, 2016

CyberGIS combines advanced cyberinfrastructure with geographic science and
systems (GIS) and spatial analysis and modeling as a next-generation GIS
enabling researchers and practitioners to tackle challenges that push GIS
beyond the computational limits of a desktop PC. Beyond a technology,
cyberGIS is emerging as an interdisciplinary field that combines a number
of domains ranging from computational, geospatial, and domain sciences to
begin tackling fundamental challenges including those revolving around the
rapid growth in volume, variety, and velocity of big spatial data. This
presentation will provide background and a big picture overview of
cyberGIS, explore the various components, technologies, and principles of
cyberGIS, highlight recent examples in using cyberGIS and related
geospatial technologies, and discuss opportunities and challenges moving
forward.

*Eric Shook* is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography and
Director of the High-Performance Computing and GIS (HPCGIS) Laboratory at
Kent State University. His research interests focus on advancing the
state-of-the-art in geospatial technologies that underpin geographic
information science (GIScience) thus opening new areas of scientific
inquiry. To address various computational challenges, he often employs
cyberinfrastructure-based geographic information systems (CyberGIS) and
supercomputer-based spatial modeling to investigate large- and multi-scale
geospatial phenomena. He is past-chair of the AAG Cyberinfrastructure
Specialty Group and is the Extreme Science and Engineering Discovery
Environment (XSEDE) Campus Champion for Kent State University.

Register here.
<http://asprs.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT01MjE3NTg1JnA9MSZ1PTEwNzIzMTQ0MzkmbGk9MzIyNjk5Mzc/index.html>

Webinar ID: 111-308-059

*Getting more from remote sensing data using OGC standards*
George Percivall, OGC
July 22th, 2016

For remote sensing, data comes from measurements made by sensors.
Information derived from remote sensing data and subsequent application is
achieved with mathematical or experience-based algorithms. Standards play
an essential role in the process of deriving information and knowledge from
remote sensing data, as they are a necessary prerequisite for reliable and
efficient science. Much has been done by OGC and other standards developing
organizations to establish standards that enable during knowledge
generation from remote sensing data. This GeoBytes session will provide a
summary of relevant standards for remote sensing information systems.
Multiple examples of standards-based applications using remote sensing data
will be provided.

*George Percivall* is Chief Engineer and CTO of the Open Geospatial
Consortium (OGC). He is responsible for the OGC Interoperability Program
and the OGC Compliance Program. His roles include articulating OGC
standards as a coherent architecture, as well as addressing implications of
technology and market trends on the OGC baseline. He holds a BS in
Engineering Physics and an MS in Electrical Engineering from the University
of Illinois - Urbana.

Register here.
<http://asprs.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT01MjE3NTg1JnA9MSZ1PTEwNzIzMTQ0MzkmbGk9MzIyNjk5Mzg/index.html>

Webinar ID: 117-485-459

*Aqueduct Global Flood Analyzer – a web tool to estimate global flood risks
for current and future scenarios*
Tianyi Luo, WRI
August 5th, 2016

Floods affect more people than any other natural disaster. River floods
cause as much or more damage in some countries as rising sea level and
storm surges. Additionally, both the frequency and intensity of floods is
expected to increase due to climate change in many areas, according to the
latest science. However, lack of access to flood data makes it hard for
decision makers to mitigate future lives lost and economic losses.

The World Resources Institute’s Aqueduct Global Flood Analyzer utilizes
global flood risk models and IPCC future scenarios to estimate physical
characteristics of floods and their associated socio-economic damages and
impacts for current and future conditions at the global scale. The Analyzer
is best suited for regional flood risk estimation, hotspot identification,
and multi-regional comparison across the globe. With those information, we
hope that the Analyzer could raise the awareness about flood risks and
climate change impacts, and help international organizations and
governments identify challenges and opportunities and prioritize risk
mitigation and climate adaptation projects.

Tianyi Luo is an Associate with World Resources Institute’s Water Program.
He received his MS degree in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering
from Tufts University and his bachelor’s from Hefei University of
Technology, and currently manages the data analytics and GIS analysis for
the Aqueduct Project. Tianyi is specialized in water risks, GIS and remote
sensing, and data visualization.

Register here.
<http://asprs.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT01MjE3NTg1JnA9MSZ1PTEwNzIzMTQ0MzkmbGk9MzIyNjk5Mzk/index.html>

Webinar ID: 139-289-291
--------
David Alvarez

“THE FURTHER BACKWARDS YOU LOOK, THE FURTHER FORWARD YOU CAN SEE"

Winston Churchill
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