Open Source GIS and Mapping Tools to Help You Get Started


I’ve been an ESRI ArcGIS user since the days of Arc/INFO Ver. 5.0. Having used “command line GIS” since 1991 the rise of open source GIS solutions intrigues me. Trying new products and new software and learning new terminology and getting familiar with many different data formats are valuable jobs skills for me. However, being…

ESRI International Users Conference: Day 2


One of San Diego’s best traits is the dog community. Dogs are great; their owners vary in disposition as much as dogs vary in size, weight, color, temperament, and breath odor. Walking down the sidewalk in San Diego, one may pass all sorts of dogs breeds as well as associated human breeds. Pass a dog…

Geospatial Technologies Attract Everyone (Part III)


“Geospatial Technologies Attracts Everyone” was intended to be a long article about the “geospatiality of all things” but I’ve opted to break once article into a series, mostly for easier reading, but also to publish more frequently. THE GEOSPATIALITY OF EVERYTHING Life is All About Location and Data I had a trouble adapting the subtitle…

Geospatial Technologies Attract Everyone (Part II)


“Geospatial Technologies Attracts Everyone” was intended to be a long article about the “geospatiality of all things” but I’ve opted to break once article into a series, mostly for easier reading, but also to publish more frequently. THE GEOSPATIALITY OF EVERYTHING Agriculture is All About Location and Data Another fascinating implementation of UAV technology is…

Geospatial Technologies Attract Everyone


“Geospatial Technologies Attracts Everyone” was intended to be a long article about the “geospatiality of all things” but I’ve opted to break once article into a series, mostly for easier reading, but also to publish more frequently. THE GEOSPATIALITY OF EVERYTHING Everything is location. Or, location is everything. All things are spatial. A thought occurred…

Building Consensus for an Idea Lab


I spend a considerable amount of class time each semester advocating “geography is a holistic discipline, infused in all things and in almost every action or choice made, and not merely by people but by all organisms. Geography is inescapable.” The problem with my perspective is many other disciplines could be argued to have the…

So You Want To Be A GIS System Administrator?


I’ve been one of these for about 16 years. This essay is simply my experience. Speak to another GIS SysAdmin and there will be some overlap, and some unique and peculiar stories, I’m sure. I’m only hitting some high points. Comments are certainly both welcome and appreciated, as always. Computers have been a part of…

ESRI International Users Conference, Epilogue


The greater portion of the following collection of musings came on the very first day of the Education Conference. My current position covers a diverse number of disciplines, roles, and responsibilities. My office is on the top floor of a 5-story building, on the perimeter of our office space. And I am a Team of…

ESRI International Users Conference, Day 5


The award ceremony validated over three decades of dedicated effort to serve and train students in the geospatial sciences. My institution was awarded one of the most, if not the most prestigious and coveted, awards in our discipline. The ESRI Special Achievement in GIS (SAG) award is presented to less than 1/10th of 1% of…