2014 Intermountain GIS Conference - April 7-11 - Billings, MT

Keys To Getting Involved Spatially



Workshops

Monday, April 7th
   WORKSHOP TITLE  TIME  COST  REGISTRATION
 LIMIT
 1  Introduction to Geographic Information Systems CANCELLED  8 AM - Noon
 $70  30 
 2
 LiDar Lab
 8 AM - Noon
 $70  20
 3  National Hydrography Dataset
 8 AM - Noon
 $70  24 (min 5)
 4
 Introduction to Python
 8 AM - 5 PM
 $140  24
 5  Cartography  1 PM - 5 PM  $70  30
 6  Web Mapping using OpenGeo  1 PM - 5 PM  $70  18
 7  Building Web Applications using HTML5 and Javascript  1 PM - 5 PM  $70  20

Tuesday, April 8th
   WORKSHOP TITLE  TIME  COST  REGISTRATION
 LIMIT
 8
 Using ArcGIS Mobile and Trimble Positions with ArcGIS Server
 8 AM - Noon
 $70  20
 9
 Building Web Applications using HTML5 and Javascript  8 AM - Noon
 $70  20
 10
 ArcGIS 10.2 - Getting Started
 8 AM - 5 PM
 $140  17 (min 3)
 11  Introduction to ArcPy  8 AM - 5 PM  $140  24
 12  LiDar Lab  1 PM - 5 PM  $70  20
 13  Project Management  1 PM - 5 PM  $70  32

To register for a workshop, go to the conference registration page.  Full conference registration does not include workshop costs, these are extra.



Workshop Abstracts

1. Introduction to Geographic Information Systems  CANCELLED
Monday, 8:00 AM – Noon Cost $70.00
Presenter: Gerry Daumiller, Montana State Library

This workshop is designed for people who want an introduction to the basic concepts of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The workshop provides an overview of fundamental GIS concepts including spatial data principles and models, spatial data analysis concepts, and GIS products and output.

GIS is still exploding into popular culture, and an overview of what you can do with free and mass-market products, compared to professional GIS products, will be provided. The workshop does not provide specific software training, but is intended as an introduction to topics and ideas that will be presented during the conference. This workshop provides a knowledge base that is important for all GIS professionals, regardless of the software environment they will be working in.

Gerry Daumiller has been a geographic information specialist at the Montana State Library since 1988. He has a bachelor’s degree in Geography from the University of Montana and studied cartography in graduate school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for three years. He has served as a board member and president of the Montana Association of Geographic Information Professionals and is a lecturer at Carroll College for their Geographic Information System courses. He enjoys running, telemark and cross-country skiing, kayaking, travel, and recording all these activities with his GPS.

2 & 12. LiDAR Lab
Monday, 8:00 AM – Noon Cost $70.00
Tuesday, 1:00 – 5:00 PM
Presenter: TJ Abbenhaus, ESRI

This hands-on short course will cover managing and using lidar point cloud data with ArcGIS 10.1. Participants will learn how to manage lidar data, use ArcGIS for 2D/3D visualization and analysis, and share their lidar data through web services. Attendees will learn a complete lidar data management strategy, including: how to catalog their data; when to use LAS Datasets, terrain Datasets, and Mosaic Datasets; what analytical options are available for lidar; how to fuse lidar data with other spatial and operational layers; and techniques for making lidar data more accessible. By utilizing the ArcGIS platform, organizations will be better able to support informed decision making by providing simple and timely access to your lidar and Imagery.

TJ Abbenhaus is a Solution Engineer with Esri, supporting the Northwest Region. TJ has been working in Geography on GIS application development in the areas of Natural Resources, County, State and local governments. TJ has specialized in the Imagery Solutions provided by Esri, and our business partners. Before coming to Esri he was a GIS Programmer Analyst for Kitsap county Washington developing customized applications with ArcIMS, ArcGIS and Enterprise ArcGIS Server. TJ received his M.A. in Geography/Internet Cartography in 2003 from the University of Montana.

3. National Hydrography Dataset (NHD)
Monday, 8:00 AM – Noon Cost $70.00
Presenters: Troy Blandford, Montana State Library
Maya Daurio, Montana State Library

The National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) is a comprehensive digital spatial database (GIS) that provides a framework for the nation’s water resources, including streams and rivers, lakes, ponds, springs, waterfalls, gauges, water quality stations, dams, wells, and more. The NHD is a powerful backbone for water information because it orients features into a flow-directed network and provides an addressing system for water-related data, much like addresses on a street. This hands-on workshop will provide an introduction to the NHD, including where to get it, how to use it, and how to contribute updates and revisions through the Montana NHD stewardship process. Examples of products and uses of the NHD will be provided and attendees will be introduced to several tools for working with the NHD in ArcGIS. While examples and exercises will focus heavily on Montana, the information is relevant elsewhere because similar NHD stewardship programs are in place in many states. Who should attend; Anyone interested in learning about the National Hydrography Dataset; Montana agencies interested in contributing updates to the NHD and becoming sub-stewards.

Troy Blandford is the Water Information System Manager at the Montana State Library and works with water-resources related GIS data and the National Hydrography Dataset every day. After graduating from the University of Idaho with a M.S in Geography specializing in GIS and remote sensing, Troy was hired by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Water Resources Division to manage water rights, irrigated lands, floodplains, climatologic, physiographic, and other water-resources related GIS data. At the Montana State Library Troy looks forward to continuing to apply his skills and experience in geography and GIS towards facilitating discovery and use of Montana’s water-related information.
Maya Daurio recently started as a GIS Analyst with the Montana State Library, where she is primarily working to improve the National Hydrography Dataset for the state of Montana. Prior to this, she worked as a GIS Analyst for the Kodiak Island Borough in Kodiak, Alaska, where flying in float planes was a necessary part of the job. She also previously worked for the Montana Natural Heritage Program in Helena, delineating wetland habitat and conducting wetland condition assessments in the field.

4. Introduction to Python
Monday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Cost $140.00
Presenter; Scott Story, Montana State Library

This is the first in a series of Python workshops and is intended to prepare attendees for material that will be presented the following day in the Introduction to ArcPy workshop. This workshop will give the attendee an introduction to the Python programming language, which underpins the ArcPy Python library for ArcGIS. This class is intended to introduce attendees to the basics of the Python programming language: variable types, operators, flow control, and basic debugging. If time allows the class may also delve into more advanced topics such as creating classes. Attendees will learn how to use an Integrated Development Environment to write basic python scripts, run them, and debug them. The simple foundation provided by this class will prepare attendees for more advanced use of the language for GIS tasks via the ArcPy library. This class will be hands on.

Scott Story has a Master’s degree in Biology from Montana State University and 15+ years’ experience using GIS in a professional capacity to collect, display, and analyze spatial data for practical uses. Mr. Story recently joined the Montana State Library as a GIS Database Administrator where he manages several ArcGIS Server installations as well as SQL Server databases that house enterprise GIS data. Mr. Story previously worked as a GIS Analyst with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks where he assisted with a number of statewide projects that relied heavily on GIS technology. Mr. Story resides in Helena, Montana with his partner of 14 years.

5. Cartography Fundamentals
Monday, 1:00 – 5:00 PM Cost $70.00
Presenters: Kris Larson, CDM Smith
Gerry Daumiller, Montana State Library

Cartographers have been making maps for thousands of years now and many people that look at maps respond almost intuitively. For example, you probably don’t need to look at the map legend to figure out that the blue polygon is water. At this point in your life, you’ve seen it so many times that you don’t even consciously realize that you process this information. Yet, in Montana, most rivers and lakes aren’t blue when you’re out in the landscape. As GIS becomes more readily available, many people are producing maps without a cartographic or geographic educational background, and they’re not always conveying their message as easily as they might. This team has nearly 50 years of cumulative cartographic experience and we’ll try to share the lessons we’ve learned in an interactive environment. What other things do map readers respond “intuitively” to? Most people won’t look at your maps for more than a few minutes, whether it’s a decision-maker trying to quickly understand all the information available or a citizen glancing at a map online. What could you do to help people walk away with your intended message? Do you know what projection to use? Do you understand color theory? Do you know what layouts are most effective and why? Whether you answered yes or no to any of these questions, you should come and join the dialogue!

Kris Larson graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in Geography, Cartographic emphasis. Ms. Larson has been active in the GIS community since 1989 and has served as the President of MAGIP, on the Montana Land Information Act Council (MLIAC), is currently the Vice Chair of the GIS Certification Institute’s Outreach Committee. She is part of an international Information Management Solutions group at CDM Smith that works cooperatively to implement GIS and custom software solutions for clients. Ms. Larson began her career in the Natural Resource Information System (NRIS) at the Montana State Library, one of the first GIS clearinghouses in the nation. She then owned and operated KAL Consulting before being asked to come back to the State in 2002. She has been very happily employed at CDM Smith since the Fall of 2006. In addition to her work at CDM Smith, Ms. Larson is an adjunct professor at Carroll College. In the last five years, she has become increasingly involved in Community Outreach efforts – something that dovetails perfectly with GIS! Her interests outside of work include doing ultra-marathons (“running” would be a gross exaggeration), whitewater kayaking, & telemark skiing.
Gerry Daumiller has been a geographic information specialist at the Montana State Library since 1988. He has a bachelor’s degree in Geography from the University of Montana and studied cartography in graduate school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for three years. He has served as a board member and president of the Montana Association of Geographic Information Professionals and is a lecturer at Carroll College for their Geographic Information System courses. He enjoys running, telemark and cross-country skiing, kayaking, travel, and recording all these activities with his GPS.

6. Web Mapping using OpenGeo
Monday, 1:00 – 5:00 PM Cost $70.00
Presenter: Miles Wacker, GISP, Montana Department of Transportation

Open Source GIS software provides many advantages to proprietary alternatives in terms of software licenses, restrictions in use, interoperability, extensibility, ease of use, and performance. This workshop will introduce users to the OpenGeo Suite: PostGIS, GeoServer, GeoWebCache, GeoExplorer, OpenLayers, & QGIS. More focus will be on the ‘web’ technologies, specifically GeoServer & OpenLayers. GeoServer is an OGC compliant web server that provides standardized geospatial web services for a multitude of data sources. Open Layers is a JavaScript library for building web applications. The session be based upon the OpenGeo Suite Workshops linked above. You can Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) with the Suite installed. There will be laptops available.

Miles Wacker, GISP is a Geospatial Systems Analyst at the Montana Department of Transportation. Miles has over nine years of GIS experience in the public and private sectors. His experience relates to GIS through application development, database administration, data development, cartography, and GPS. Miles utilizes open source technologies for mobile and web applications.

7 & 9. Building Web Applications Using HTML5 and Javascript
Monday, 1:00 - 5:00 PM OR Tuesday, 8:00 AM - Noon Cost $70
Presenter: Scott Moore, ESRI

This hands-on workshop will cover the many different ways that are available for building web applications using HTML5 and Javascript – using off-the-shelf application templates or by using the ArcGIS API for Javascript. This workshop will also show the beta release of the ArcGIS WebApp Builder. The ArcGIS WebApp Builder will enable you to build applications using HTML5 and Javascript, and will be similar in design and capability as the ArcGIS Viewer for Flex. You will also learn how to create custom widgets for the ArcGIS WebApp Builder.
This workshop is aimed at all ArcGIS users and developers. If you have web applications that are using ArcIMS, Web ADF, Flex, or Silverlight then this workshop will be useful to learn how to build HTML5 and Javascript web applications that will work on all the common browsers and mobile devices.

Scott Moore is a Solution Engineer with Esri and currently works in the Olympia regional office. He earned a bachelor's degree in Geography with a focus on GIS from the University of Washington in Seattle in 1998. Prior to joining Esri, he was a Senior GIS Analyst and GIS Manager for the City of Chandler, Arizona.

8. Using ArcGIS Mobile and Trimble Positions with ArcGIS Server
Tuesday, 8:00 AM – Noon Cost $70.00
Presenter; Jackson Beighle, Electronic Data Solutions

Working smarter and with more confidence is easy with the Trimble Positions software suite. Collect better data, faster in an Esri ArcGIS environment and be confident that your GNSS data from the field is accurate.
When using ArcGIS for Windows Mobile or Esri ArcPad, depend on Trimble GNSS handhelds and Trimble Positions software to support high performance geospatial data collection in a streamlined workflow.
Gain hands on experience with Trimble GNSS handhelds and ArcGIS for Windows Mobile during the field portion of the workshop.
See firsthand the ease and advantages of working with Trimble Positions in an enterprise GIS environment. Target Audience: Managers, Analysts, Field Personnel

Jackson Beighle is a GPS/GIS Specialist at Electronic Data Solutions where he has worked for the past 8 years. Jackson received his undergraduate degree in Geography from the University of Montana in 1994. In 1996, he completed his graduate studies at Oregon State University with an emphasis on GIS and remote sensing. For the past 18 years, Jackson has worked with a wide range of GIS customers in the areas of public safety, natural resources, and utilities. His current focus is hardware and software solutions for mobile GIS. Jackson resides in Missoula with his wife Traci and 3 sons.

9. Building Web Applications Using HTML5 and Javascript
Tuesday, 8:00 AM - Noon Cost $70.00
Second offering. See workshop # 7 for description

10. ArcGIS 10.2 – Getting Started
Tuesday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Cost $140.00
Presenter; Keith Weber, Idaho State University

This workshop covers the basics of ArcGIS including navigating ArcCatalog, ArcToolbox, and ArcMap. In addition, students will learn about many of the new tools and changes that have occurred with the release of ArcGIS 10 and how to leverage these tools to improve their workflow. This is an eight hour workshop and includes hands-on exercises.
Prerequisites: familiarity with computers and basic concepts of GIS.
Intended audience: novice GIS users and those who need to learn the ArcGIS environment.

Mr. Weber is the GIS Director at Idaho State University (ISU) and has held this position since the inception of the GIS Training and Research Center (GIS TReC) in 1998. He has been involved in the Geotechnology industry since 1989, is a Certified GIS Professional (GISP) and recipient of Esri’s Special Achievements in GIS award in 2000 and again in 2013. He is also a past-President of the Northern Rockies Chapter of URISA, former Vice-President of the Intermountain Chapter of ASPRS, and chairs Idaho’s geodetic control technical working group.
Mr. Weber has a MS in Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana and has authored/coauthored over 40 peer-reviewed journal papers and is the principal investigator on over 20 external grants totaling nearly $8M in awards to the GIS TReC at ISU. Mr. Weber serves on the Geographic Information Science Institute (GISCI) certification committee and chaired its recertification sub-committee. Mr. Weber was instrumental in obtaining Idaho State University's membership into the University Consortium for Geographic Information Science (UCGIS) and serves as ISU's principal delegate. He is also a standing member of the Idaho Geospatial Council- Executing Committee (IGC-EC).

11. Introduction to ArcPy
Tuesday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Cost $140.00
Presenter; Dave Highness, Tetra Tech, Inc.

This is the second in a series of Python workshops and is intended to expand upon what was taught in the Introduction to Python workshop. This workshop will give the attendee an introduction to the ArcPy Python library for automating GIS and cartography tasks using ArcGIS Desktop. This class will not explore more advanced topics in ArcPy Python script writing. Attendees will learn how to perform scripting tasks such as setting the GeoProcessing environment, listing and describing data, running GeoProcessing tools, selecting records in a dataset, working with selected sets, cursoring records, working with Geometry and modifying Map Documents. This class will be hands on.

Dave Highness has a Master’s degree in Geography from the University of Montana and 19 years’ experience working as a professional in the geospatial industry as a cartographer, GIS analyst, application developer and project manager. Mr. Highness has been a project leader on many large projects; the latest includes web sites built to support the Montana and North Dakota Broadband Mapping projects. Mr. Highness has been with Tetra Tech for 13 years but he previously worked at Montana NRIS and the University of Montana, Center for the Rocky Mountain West. Prior to getting his Masters’ degree he worked for 10 years as a field archaeologist. He is married, has two kids and resides in Helena, Montana.

12. LiDAR Lab
Tuesday, 1:00 – 5:00 PM Cost $70.00
Second offering. See workshop # 2 for description.

13. Project Management
Tuesday, 1:00 – 5:00 PM Cost $70.00
Presenter: Nilo Cabrera

This interactive workshop will introduce attendees to the field of project management. The primary objectives are to provide attendees with a high-level overview of project management, describe the various roles and responsibilities typically involved with a project, and introduce processes that assist with project planning and implementation.
The key areas covered by this workshop are:

  • Project Overview: Projects are different from on-going operational activities. We'll discuss those differences along with basic project concepts and a typical project lifecycle.
  • Why use Project Management?; Project management provides a framework that helps in accomplishing the project’s goals. Every project is different but they all start as an idea of what is possible and a hope for a successful outcome. Here we’ll discuss why a project management framework can help guide projects from inception to closing.
  • Project Roles and Responsibilities; There are many different people and skill types involved during a project. We will discuss typical project roles and responsibilities, and the value each role brings to the project in order to assist with its success.
  • Project Management Phases and Activities; In this section, we will discuss the five major project management process groups, as defined by the Project Management Institute, and the activities associated with each group. We will also discuss how to scale the activities based on a project’s size and complexity.
Nilo Cabrera is a Lead Project Manager for Employee Benefit Management Services (EBMS) and serves as the program/portfolio manager for the organization's strategically driven project initiatives. He is currently building the Project Management Office for EBMS. He provides facilitation for the Executive Strategic Planning Group and is responsible for planning, monitoring, and reporting of system development and integration projects. He provides data analysis and design for Enterprise Data Architecture as well as provides oversight for process development and change management initiatives. Nilo's previous work experience includes Oracle and SQL Server database administration, along with application development for ArcServer and other local government web applications.

© Montana Association of Geographic Information Professionals

MAGIP is a 501(c)6 non-profit organization in Montana

Full Scope Association and Event Management

1236 North Ave. W, Missoula, MT  59801

magip.mt@gmail.com


Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software