GIS News, Views and Updates
Grass GIS New Release - Just released version 6.3 is now windows ready. Previous versions worked with Unix based machines and Macs, but required an interpreter to work with Windows.
Geographic Learning Resources for Kids - List of resources available on the world wide web. This page will be updated as new resources are found.
GeoWeb 2008 Student Competition - GeoWeb says, "To advance the development of the GeoWeb, we are sponsoring a contest, which is open to all full time students attending an educational institution anywhere in the world. The objective of the contest is to materially advance the development of the GeoWeb." Deadline is May 15, 2008 - Click here for contest information.
How FEMA Uses GIS In Disaster Response - Our primary mission remains the dissemination of geographic information to the EST/ESF#5 (Information and Planning), and the rest of the Agency during disaster operations, and the enhancement of information services. Our current concept of operations is expanding to include providing a full range of GIS services to all FEMA program offices. In addition, the MAC has become the cornerstone for developing and implementing an integrated, state-of-the-art enterprise GIS (E-GIS) for the Agency.
National Weather Data Available in GIS formats -
The National Weather Service produces several data sets that are available in formats available to import into Geographic Information Systems (GIS). This page lists many of these data sets.
How To Put Google Street View To Practical Use - Google Street View can scope out real estate, travel destinations, and even save you from your next parking ticket -- all from your desktop, laptop, or smartphone browser.
California Senate Bill AB 1978 Withdrawn -
Assemblymember Solorio has "dropped" AB 1978 from consideration by the Government Organization committee, which effectively kills the bill. His office said that due to "new developments" on the bill, Solorio "has decided to not push it forward," so "it's not going to go anywhere."
This does not mean that the backers of this attempt to limit and confuse the public's right to its governments' data (as guaranteed by the California Public Records Act) would not try to advance their objectives through other means.
Public access to governent GIS data and maps threatened -
On February 14, 2008, California State Assemblymember Jose Solorio introduced a bill, AB1978, to amend Government Code Section 6254.9 of the California Public Records Act (CPRA). As stated in the "Computer Mapping Systems Fact Sheet" issued by his office, the bill seeks to improve the current definition of what constitutes a "computer mapping system." In fact, the bill distorts the definition of "computer mapping system" further from reality. Moreover, if enacted, this bill would severely weaken the CPRA and reduce the public's access to its governments' records.
