Geographic Information Council (WAGIC)

August 16, 2001

Teleconference originating from

DIS Interactive Technologies, Seattle, WA

 

Introductions – Ian Von Essen, WAGIC Chair – From Spokane, Ian opened the meeting and welcomed council members in Tri-Cities, Bellingham, Vancouver, Seattle, and Lacey. 

 

Meeting Theme: GIS in support of Transportation

(For overviews of the following presentations, please see forth-coming supplement - ed.)

1.      WA State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)

2.      GIS for Transportation Maintenance – Tareq al-Zeer

3.      GIS on the www – Lessons Learned – Carol Kenstowicz 

4.      GPS LRS – Improving Spatial Accuracy – Ron Cihon on the Linear Referencing System (LRS)

5.      County Road Administration Board (CRAB)

6.      Introducing New Software from CRAB - Mobility: Transportation, Infrastructure, & Data Management – Jim Giacolone & Jim Olyler

 

Approval of the 2001-2002 WAGIC Budget – Jeff Holm

Jeff presented the budget for the coming year noting that two line items in the budget reflect an increase in expenses.  These include:

·        Membership in Other Organizations – This expense is currently at $4000. This increase from last year’s $1,000 is due to an expected increase in dues for NSGIC.  This increase also represents WAGIC’s anticipated membership in the GeoData Alliance.

·        Chair Travel – The Chair’s representation of WAGIC at meetings and conferences currently cost $3,600. The $1,100 increase comes about as a result of the Chair representing the council at the GeoData Alliance meetings.

 

With these two increases, the Council’s budget is proposed at $25,500.  The projected revenue for the coming year is $27,000 which is conservative in comparison with last year’s revenue as it reflects a larger than normal contribution from a WAGIC member.  Using $27,000 as the projected revenue baseline for next year will leave the council with a $1,500 surplus at year’s end.  A motion was made to endorse the proposed budget and after a formal vote the budget was adopted and passed by the council.

 

Update on Strategic Plan activities initiated in Ellensburg – Jeff Holm

Based on the workshop and follow-up meetings, the ad hoc planning committee has drafted suggested changes to the strategic plan. Those changes were posted on the Council’s website for a period of review and comment. The committee will meet to review those comments, make adjustments to the draft as needed, and then discuss which priority activities will be developed into project plans. To that end, the planning committee will be reconvened to discuss the process around developing those plans. The hope is to update the high-level project descriptions that were developed last year and provide more detail to help support the priority action items and objectives that will be reflected in the new plan.  The comment and feedback period is open until last week of August. 

 

Update on LandSat 7 Data Consortium – Jeff Holm

Jeff provided an update on the AmericaView conference he attended in Sioux Falls, SD.  The conference brought together a consortium, much like the LandSat7 Consortium, for the acquisition and distribution of remotely sensed data. Last year at the consortium conference, WAGIC signed on to take part in what was formerly known as “Ohio View Project”. That project was centered on the creation of infrastructure and funding mechanisms for the acquisition of data in Ohio.  That model was expanded nationwide and the initiative is now referred to as AmericaView.  This year at the conference there was a stronger focus and understanding of challenges facing the state consortiums. 

 

As a side, Jeff offered on update on the Washington State LandSat7 Remote Sensing Data Consortium.  Participants include the departments of Ecology, Natural Resources, Fish & Wildlife, Transportation, Community Trade and Economic Development, Information Services, US Fish & Wildlife, The University of Washington and Washington State University and possibly the Puget Sound Regional Council.  The pilot project is focused on the acquisition of LandSat7 data for statewide coverage and the creation of a distribution infrastructure.  An agreement has been reached with EROS data center in that they will provide terrain corrected coverage.  A sample theme has been received and reviewed by the consortium’s technical committee. 

 

Update on WAGIC's participation in the GeoData Alliance Initiative (GDA) – Jeff Holm

Jeff directed Council members to the WAGIC welcome page to find a link to the GDA website.  Jeff encouraged members to review the GDA site and understand more about the organization.  At the recommendation of others, WAGIC will become an institutional member of the GDA.  The hope is that WAGIC will be able to fully participate which requires resources to take advantage of the opportunities GDA offers.

 

Closing Site Roundtable – Ian Von Essen

Ian invited sites to share thoughts and comments.  From Seattle, Gene Thorley shared that the USGS has just selected a regional geographer who will be located in Flagstaff, AZ.   In Lacey, Gordon Kennedy, WSDOT invited members to attend the North American Cartographic Information Society (NACIS) conference on October 3-6 in Portland, OR.   More information on NACIS can be found at www.nacis.org.

 

Next meeting – October 18th at 10:00 a.m.