Anything Geospatial

GIS, Maps, Geo and Location Technology by @gletham

Archives for April 29, 2010

GIS Training, BC, Canada – Introduction to GIS for Emergency Management

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Here’s some info about an interesting training opportunity for those in BC, Canada. Details… This course is ideal for anyone involved in emregency management – at any level. You don’t have to be a technology expert, just bring your basic computer skills! Note: this basic-level course is not recommended for those already proficient in GIS. In this interactive course, learn how GIS can be used to analyze information and improve decision-making around emergency events. Through discussion and actual application in our computer laboratory, explore real-world experiences and applications of GIS:
· Learn how GIS can be used across every stage of emergency management
· Explore GIS applications for specific events, such as floods, earthquakes, epidemics, fires and terrorist attacks
· Run a Google Earth tour and explore mapping applications
· Perform spatial analysis using a leading GIS software package

May 17, 18, 2010 JIBC Justice Institute of British Columbia, New Westminster, BC Canada – See Course Details

Tenth Anniversary of Open GPS Signal Initiated by President Bill Clinton

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Did You Know… May 1st 2000 President Bill Clinton Opened up the GPS Signal that Enabled Navigation As We Know it Today. Some details about this provided to us via Navigon…  President Bill Clinton changed the course of navigation possibilities with the push of a button that turned off the US GPS satellite dithering signal. Known as “selective availability”, this block was set up by the US government to prevent the military use of GPS by their enemies. Clinton’s decision to turn off the GPS interference signal helped mobile satellite navigation to finally make its breakthrough. See more details HERE

GPS, Did You Know?

1.     Three satellites are needed to ascertain the position of a GPS receiver.

2.     It takes 24 satellites and several backup satellites orbiting the Earth at a height of over 20,000 kilometers, to ensure that three satellites are available anywhere in the world and at any time.

3.     Satellites transmit an uninterrupted signal detailing their current location and time, and it’s up to the GPS receiver to handle the signal delay with the help of an integrated clock to calculate its own position and speed.

4.     Using distance measurements from three points, known as trilateration, exact positions are determined. The signal from the first satellite determines the receiver’s degree of longitude; the second identifies the degree of latitude. As the receiver’s integrated clock is not accurate enough to measure the exact signal delays, the clock error is calculated using a third satellite and thus identifying the exact position.

Filed Under: gps

A Social Media Risk survey of 1,040 Americans

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Some  findings from a recent survey by Chubb Group of Insurance Companies  of 1040 Americans concerning risk and social media usage.

  • A third (31%) said they sometimes use their real name and sometimes use a nickname
  • Only half (51%) of the people surveyed always use their real name on social networking sites
  • Eighteen percent said they always use a nickname
  • Two-thirds (66%) of respondents said they would not use mobile technology that shows people on social networking sites where they are located
  • Nearly 20% of respondents said they have shared a negative product or service experience
  • Almost two-thirds (64%) of respondents said their company had no policy for talking about the company on social networking sites
  • Of the 36% who said their company had a policy, 18% said they were encouraged to talk about the company and 18% said they were prohibited from talking about the company

From the company… “Twitter, Facebook and Foursquare have created new social media risks and an environment where many people don’t know who they are talking to online. They don’t realize who can see their location, creating many exposures for individuals and companies” For more information SEE HERE

GIS Data Tip – Geological Survey of Alabama

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A State resource of interest …  The Geological Survey of Alabama (GSA) with support from the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) has developed and maintains a National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) Isite Node of the National Geospatial Data Clearinghouse that houses metadata and geospatial data sets archived by the GSA and State Oil and Gas Board.  See also http://www.alabama.gov/portal/index.jsp and Virtual Alabama from Alabama DHS – for more State GIS data resources see this huge directory!


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