Tuesday 18 December 2012

Funded PhD Studentship in Remote Sensing and Forest Landscape Modeling

Drs. Gang Chen and Ross Meentemeyer in the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte seek a PhD student with a strong interest to develop remote sensing algorithms designed to model landscape-scale changes in forest structure and carbon storage following interacting ecological disturbances (forest disease and wildfire) in coastal forests of California. The ideal candidate should have basic training in remote sensing and GIScience, environmental modeling, statistical analysis and programming.
If you are interested, please send a CV and statement of research interests to Dr. Gang Chen - Gang (dot) Chen (at) uncc (dot) edu. The position is open until filled and is expected to start in August 2013.


United Nations Activation for Samoa Cyclone

Another message from Standby Task Force:

"Hello all,

Here are the details:

We have received a request from Samoa (via OCHA Pacific) to Support Mapping of Impact in Samoa


BBC Story of Cyclone Evan: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-20722395  Power is going to be major issue ("Tanugamanono power plant is completely destroyed and we might not have power for at least two weeks")

Request: Support mapping of impact in Samoa
This is a rather urgent request given that the Samoa NEOC is over loaded at the moment and this could provide very quick data while crews are still trying to clear roads before assessment teams can start to consider getting out.

A crowdmap has already been set up: https://alerts.crowdmap.com/reports/submit [note that since the power is out, the government websites are down]

Humanity Road will be doing the Media Monitoring and inputting reports into the crowdmap.  SBTF is activating the following teams in order to geolocate, approve and verify the reports they have created.

- GEOLOCATION
- REPORTS
- VERIFICATION

We will be using our standard workflow to do this deployment: sbtf%20workflow.tiff.

Training info for particular teams (admittedly, this needs updating): http://standbytaskforce.ning.com/page/training-1

Please see your team coordinators (listed on the Ning page for each team) if you have specific questions.

99% of the work will be coordinated on Skype.  Add the following people with the message: "SBTF UN Samoa deployment" in order to be added:

Melissa Elliott (lead - add first and if no response, move down the list - we are working with multiple time zones):  mellomely

Jus Mackinnon: fidget01

Svend-Jonas: derjonas4

Brendan O'Hanrahan: kkoxenstierna

A bit of background:
Mostly the damage isn't serious but minor - more inconvenience than life threatening. A couple of casualties, moderate injuries, lot of structural and property damage. Some infrastructural damage
Power out everywhere.

Water shortage is probably going to be an issue from tomorrow and food thereafter due to significant crop damage.

-----------

This will be a rapid deployment.  Although we haven't been given a specific time frame, our sense is that we'll be in and out within a couple days.

NOTE: We need to see more SBTF members showing up for deployments.  Please add your name to the signup sheet if you are participating. https://docs.google.com/a/standbytaskforce.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Auj3SmmHNUgkdGpJODFBXzU0bVY0QUVzTWo4bzFiWkE#gid=0

Many thanks!

Melissa"

Monday 10 December 2012

ASPRS - Remote Sensing Application Division - Monthly Teleconference Today


Remote Sensing Application Division
Monthly Teleconference
10 December 2012 from 4:15 - 5:15 pm EST.

Phone bridge information:
USA Toll Free Number : 1-866-228-1482
Participant Passcode: 5265802

The ASPRS Remote Sensing Application Division respectfully requests your participation in the newly-established monthly teleconference.

Final Agenda:
1)    Call to order / Introductions  (4:15-4:20)
2)    RSAD operating procedures review (4:20 – 4:25)  See website for overview
3)    RSAD Climate Change Committee report and discussion (4:25-4:40) See website for overview
4)    RSAD Academic Engagement Committee report and discussion (4:40-4:55) See website for overview
5)    RSAD involvement in disaster relief volunteer efforts    (4:55-5:00)
6)    Open discussion (5:00-5:15)

NOTE:  Next RSAD Teleconference: 28 January, 2013

********************

Final agenda is posted on the RSAD Web page: http://www.asprs.org/RSAD-Division.html

Mark your calendar and I look forward to hearing your input!

Thanks.

POC Dave Szymanski, Director RSAD
Szymanski_David (at) bah (dot) com
703-472-4216


Wednesday 5 December 2012

ISPRS SC Newsletter - November 2012

Dear student,

The ISPRS Student Consortium is proud to announce the new issue of our newsletter (November, 2012). The spotlights are:

  • An interview with Prof. Christian Heipke,
  • Summary of the ISPRS Student Consortium activities during the XXII Congress in Melbourne,
  • Asian student activities, and
  • Student involvement with the ASPRS.
You can read and download the newsletter from the following website:
http://www.isprs-sc.org/newsletters/read/6/3

And do not forget to share it with your contacts!

Tuesday 4 December 2012

ASPRS - GIS Division Meeting - Conference Call

 

ASPRS - GIS DIVISION MEETING - CONFERENCE CALL

Date: December 7th 2012
Time: 12:00 pm EDT

Dial in Information: (712) 432-0175
Pass Code 1022039#.

Agenda:
· Introductions of all the attendees. (Max 10 min)
· Progress Report of the 2013 Plan.
· Bimonthly WebEX
· PE&RS Issue on Disaster Management Response – Update
· Awards – GISD

Special Sessions:

Spring 2013 (Baltimore)
o Geo-statistics (Special Session & Workshop)
§ Dr Melissa Rura
§ Dr Pierre Goovaerts
o Location Base Service (LBS) session.
§ Dr Bandana Kar
o Big Data (Joint session with D&I committee)
§ David Alvarez

Fall 2013 (San Antonio)
o Disaster management/Response
§ Judd Muskat

Workshops /Webinar:
o Geo-statistics (Dr Pierre Goovaerts)

Other Activities:
· “The Best practices or guidelines on Datums”.
· Looking for volunteers that would represent the GISD and participate with other divisions or committees (Lidar, Remote Sensing/Climate Change, D&I)

Ideas – Suggestions

Supporting Documents

David Alvarez
GIS Division Director
davidalvarez76 (at) gmail (dot) com

Matthew D. Dunbar, PhD
GIS Assistant Division Director
mddunbar (at) uw (dot) edu

ASPRS 2013 GeoLeague Deadline Extended



The registration deadline for the 2013 ASPRS GeoLeague Challenge has been extended to December 7, 2012. The challenge deliverables are not due until Feb 25, 2013 (as per the original announcement: http://asprssignature.blogspot.ca/2012/11/asprs-2013-geoleague-challenge.html), and the presentations will be at the ASPRS conference in Baltimore between March 24 and 28, 2013. Hope to see you there!

Wednesday 21 November 2012

ASPRS Student Assistantship Application Now Available


ASPRS Student Assistantship Program
Application deadline: January 28, 2013.
Student Assistants will be notified by February 8, 2013.

If you are a student at an accredited college or university, ASPRS invites you to attend and assist with the ASPRS 2013 Annual Conference March 23-28, 2013, in Baltimore, Maryland.

Please go to http://www.asprs.org/Conferences/Baltimore-2013/Presenters-Students/Volunteering to find complete information about benefits and requirements:

How to become a Student Assistant:
  • Submit a cover letter describing: your interest in ASPRS; if you are a member of ASPRS; what you hope to gain from this experience; your academic and professional experience in the geospatial field; the dates that you are available to serve as a Student Assistant at the conference. Note: Student Assistants are expected to arrive at the conference venue on Saturday, March 23 and remain on site available for work hours until the end of the program on Thursday, March 28. Once your work hours are assigned, you will not be allowed to arrive late or leave early, except for a documented emergency.
  • Include a resume with your mailing address, telephone number, and e-mail address where you can be contacted through March 2013.
  • Complete the application.
  • Send your application package via e-mail to the SA Program Coordinators (include ASPRS SA Program in the Subject Line of all e-mail messages).
Note: If any of the above are not included with your application package, then your application will not be considered.

Students who have never served as Student Assistants at a past ASPRS Conference will be given preference in the application review process. It is the aim of the Student Assistantship Program to give as many students as possible an opportunity to benefit from these awards.

SA Program Coordinators :
Rakesh Malhotra
Volunteer Coordinator
rmalhotr (at) uncfsu (dot) edu

Kim Tilley
ASPRS Associate Executive Director
kimt (at) asprs (dot) org

2013 National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) Scholarship Program


Each year, through the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) Foundation, $25,000 in scholarships funded by a variety of individuals, companies, and organizations are made available to encour-age and support college education in geospatial sciences. These scholarships are a great opportunity for college students enrolled in surveying, mapping, geographic information systems, and geodetic science programs. The scholarships are awarded in four eligibility categories. The deadline for this year’s awards in March 15, 2013.

Contact Information: NSPS, 5119 Pegasus Court, Suite Q, Frederick, MD 21704; 240-439-4615; fax 240-439-4952; trisha (dot) milburn (at) nsps (dot) us (dot) com.






International LiDAR Mapping Forum (ILMF) 2013 Launches Conference Program

Conference programme launched
Three-day technical conference and exhibition focused on airborne and bathymetric LIDAR, with a particular emphasis on mobile mapping systems 

Innovative Conference
The highly acclaimed international conference offers an opportunity to learn about the latest advances in technology and hear about industry changes and developments first hand from industry experts. Find out more about data capture systems, data fusion/classification and processing techniques and the increasing integration of key technologies. Listen to case studies highlighting actual experiences and lessons learnt. 

International Exhibition
Running alongside the conference is an exhibition of 70 system and component manufacturers, operators and service companies expected to demonstrate new LIDAR products and a wide range of new technologies and services. Exhibitors include airborne, terrestrial and bathymetric LIDAR, and complementary sensor manufacturers, survey service companies, data processing, GIS and management specialists and the latest mobile mapping vehicles. 

Basics to LIDAR
Delegates are able to attend Basics to LIDAR workshops, aimed at providing novice operators, their managers and potential purchasers of equipment with an understanding of the basic principles and fundamental benefits and technology associated with LIDAR. 

Mobile Mapping Vehicles
Mobile mapping vehicles will be parked directly outside the front of the centre providing easy access for all visitors wishing to view the latest technological developments in mobile mapping. 

ASPRS Hot Topics
The American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) will be presenting a 'hot topics' session. The first session will reveal plans for the development of software to validate file compliance of LAS files. The Mobile Laser Scanning committee will provide a preview of recent activity to develop best practices and accuracy assessment methodologies for non-airborne kinematic laser scanning. Finally the Airborne Laser Scanning committee will present recent activities in airborne kinematic laser scanning for broad area and corridor mapping. 

Early Bird Booking Rate
To take advantage of the Early Bird Booking Rate, please register by December 3, 2012. 


Tuesday 13 November 2012

2013 NASA DEVELOP Internship Opportunities


Click on the image below for details on the 2013 NASA DEVELOP internship opportunities:


Friday 9 November 2012

ASPRS 2013 GeoLeague Challenge


Attention ASPRS faculty and students,

The third annual ASPRS GeoLeague challenge is to be held at the ASPRS 2013 annual conference in Baltimore, Maryland on March 24-28, 2013. The title is: "Designing & Mapping Trails for the Boy Scouts of America: Mapping Algorithm Development & Visualization."



The deadline to register is November 30, 2012.

Get your ASPRS student chapter involved or form a group of five ASPRS student members at your institution to compete for prizes.

The challenge has been changed somewhat, so please check the complete details regarding the challenge assignment available on line at http://www.asprs.org/Students/GeoLeague-Challenge-2013.html

The challenge is:
•     Make a recommendation to the BSA Philmont Ranch Trail Development Committee (BSA PRTDC) on the development of a new multi-purpose recreation trail. The trail design specifics are located in Section 5. The specifics of the trail development algorithm are to be described in detail in the methodology section of the project report. The tool must be submitted upon request for use by BSA PRTDC as they intend to use this tool at BSA properties across the country.
•     Create a map and a detailed visualization framework for trail mapping in the Philmont Ranch study area. The map must be capable of visualizing the trail conditions based on environmental, aesthetic, safety, and practical factors.
•     When resampling layers or rasterizing vector layers, attention must be paid to desired trail widths.



How to Participate:
Form a group of at least 5 undergraduate and/or graduate students and a faculty advisor in your region (at least 3 students must be ASPRS student members by the registration deadline and remain student members through the Annual Conference). If you have trouble meeting this requirement, please feel free to contact us.  You may also enlist the help of ASPRS members in your surrounding communities. However, the students must do all of the work; non-students can only provide guidance!

To be eligible to participate, please fill out a registration form and return it to Patrick Adda, ASPRS Student Advisory Council Deputy Chair, padda (at) unb (dot) ca.

For questions, contact:
Patrick Adda
ASPRS Student Advisory Council Deputy Chair
padda (at) unb (dot) ca

All of the final challenge materials must be submitted by 8pm EST on February 25th, 2013.



Tuesday 6 November 2012

The 2012 GIS Day is on Wed, Nov 14


Did you know that Wed, Nov 14 is the 2012 GIS Day? To learn more about this celebration of GIS check the following website: http://www.gisday.com/. Also, if your department or organization is planning a get together for this event, you can "map it out" here, so that more people can find out about it. Two examples of that would be the events scheduled by the University of Florida in Gainesville, and the City of Fort Lauderdale.



ASPRS - MultiTemp 2013: Our Dynamic Environment - CALL FOR ABSTRACTS


 MultiTemp 2013: Our Dynamic Environment

The Banff Centre, Banff, Alberta, Canada
June 25, 26, 27, 2013


7th International Workshop on the Analysis of Multi-temporal Remote Sensing Images
First Call for Abstracts
Submissions open 1 January

The assembly and analysis of remotely sensed data in a time series represents one of the most powerful and challenging elements of our discipline. The development of new sensors, satellite missions, analytical procedures, and dissemination strategies will help propel our capacity to understand and monitor our dynamic environment across large domains of scale.

The Seventh International Conference and Workshop on the Analysis of Multi‐temporal Remote Sensing Images (MultiTemp‐2013) will be held in Banff Alberta, set in the beautiful and majestic Canadian Rocky Mountains. The event will build on the successes from our previous international workshops in this series and will assess the state‐of‐the‐art in the analysis of multi‐temporal remote sensing images and other geospatial datasets. The workshop will have oral and interactive poster presentations dealing with both the theoretical and applied issues surrounding the use of multiband hyper‐temporal information in support of the sustainable management and monitoring of the Earth’s dynamic environment.

Please see the Multi‐Temp 2013 web site: http://geog.ucalgary.ca/multitemp2013


MultiTemp 2013 is soliciting papers in the following topic areas:
• Multitemporal image analysis techniques
• Classification of multitemporal data
• Data mining and analysis of remote sensing time series
• Change detection methods
• Change detection validation and accuracy assessment
• Multitemporal SAR and InSAR data analysis
• Multitemporal LiDAR data analysis
• Fusion of multitemporal data
• Image registration, calibration and correction techniques
• Land‐cover and land‐use monitoring
• Phenology product development and monitoring applications
• Sea‐ice dynamics and cryospheric monitoring and modeling
• Water and ecosystem resources monitoring and modeling
• Environmental reclamation monitoring and modeling
• Drought monitoring and predictive modeling
• Vegetation dynamics and productivity
• Forestry and agriculture monitoring; stress and damage assessment
• Novel applications of multitemporal remote sensing time series

Contributions are welcome from all sectors dealing with innovation and the practical use and applications of multitemporal imagery and datasets. The workshop will include papers accepted for either oral or interactive poster presentation. Only presented papers will appear in the workshop proceedings. The proceedings of the workshop will be published by IEEE and made available on‐line on the IEEE Xplore Digital Library. A special issue of a major international journal is also planned; details will be announced on the MultiTemp 2013 website.

Prospective contributors are invited to submit an abstract at the dedicated MultiTemp‐2013 website. Abstract Submission will be available at http://geog.ucalgary.ca/multitemp2013/content/submissions starting 1 January 2013.

Important Dates
• January 1, 2013 – abstract submissions begin; conference registration opens
• February 15, 2013 – deadline for abstract submission
• March 15, 2013 – notification of acceptance for oral and poster presentations
• March 31, 2013 – authors’ registration deadline
• May 31, 2013 – ‘early bird’ registration deadline
• June 25‐27, 2013 – MultiTemp 2013 (opening reception: evening of June 24)

Please mark your calendars and plan to join us in Canada for this special biennial event. For delegates and families wishing to extend their visit, there are also numerous travel and vacation opportunities in the Rocky Mountains that make this a prime international travel destination.

Details on this and more are posted at the Multi‐Temp 2013 web site: http://geog.ucalgary.ca/multitemp2013

Hosted by the University of Calgary.

For general inquiries, please contact multitem (at) ucalgary (dot) ca


Monday 5 November 2012

The Future of Surveying — Gloom or Boom?




In an effort to help foster individual writing skills essential for successful future in the surveying, geomatics, and geodesy professions, this student essay scholarship/contest is being presented by Professional Surveyor Magazine (PSM) of Frederick MD.

There will be two cash scholarship/prizes of $500 each to two runners up, and a grand prize of a new GNSS R10 rover (provided by Trimble navigation) to the winning essay. The contest is open to qualifying students in the U.S. and Canada. Winning entries will appear in print issues of PSM in 2013. PSM editorial staff  will choose ten finalists, and a guest panel of surveying professionals and educators will choose the three winning entries.

Please see this link for eligibility, rules and entry procedures:

http://www.profsurv.com/studentessay.aspx

Entries must be received by email by December 15th, 2012. Feel free to contact me with any questions (but send entries to the email in the link above).

Gavin Schrock, PLS
Associate Editor
Professional Surveyor Magazine
gavin (at) profsurv (dot) com
www.profsurv.com



Monday 29 October 2012

Reminder about tonight's student & employer "Meet and Greet" session


Student & Employer “Meet and Greet” Session at the 2012 ASPRS Fall Conference in Tampa, Florida
Monday, October 29th, 5:15 pm to 6:15 pm
Location: Grand Ballroom Salon E, Second Floor


This event is designed to connect students looking to apply for jobs in the geo-spatial information industry with employers who may have positions available. Bring your resume, business card, or just a smile and a handshake, and expand your job network at the conference. It’s also an opportunity to meet other students and young professionals from all over the world who are attending the conference.

Thursday 25 October 2012

Elements of Orthophoto Production Webinar - November 15th




REMINDER
The deadline for Registration is November 7th, so please register now.

Elements of Orthophoto Production Workshop
Instructor: Dr. Frank Scarpace
Offered in two 2-hour segments on November 15th

(You must attend both segments to qualify for CEUs)

Thursday, November 15th
11:00 am - 1:00 pm and 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm Eastern Time

Coming to a PC near you:
The ASPRS Webinar Workshop Series                                                                                                                         

Have you wanted to attend an ASPRS conference workshop but didn’t have the time to spend away from the office?

Are your travel funds limited?  No problem.  Here’s why.

ASPRS Workshops are now at your fingertips

For complete information on this Webinar Workshop, go to http://www.asprs.org/Webinar-Series/Webinars-Offered.html.

Monday 22 October 2012

Remote Sensing Application Division - Climate Change Subcommittee Meeting - 28 October 2012 9:00-10:00 AM EDT


Remote Sensing Application Division
Climate Change Subcommittee Meeting
28 October 2012 9:00-10:00 AM EDT
Meeting Room 8, Third Floor
Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel - Tampa, Florida


The ASPRS Remote Sensing Application Division Climate Change Subcommittee respectfully requests your participation during the MAPPS/ASPRS Fall Specialty Conference in Tampa, FL

Final Agenda:
1.      Call to order/introductions (9:00-9:10)
2.      Operating procedures (9:10-9:15)
3.      Activity updates (9:15-9:40)
a.      Conference plans (special sessions, hot topics, workshops)
b.      Guidelines/best practices
c.       Growing committee (linked in, other groups)
d.      Coordination with other Divisions/Committees
e.      Student involvement and Student Advisory Council liaison
f.        Topic for Graduate student credit
g.      Working groups
4.      Other Ongoing and Planned Activities (9:40-9:45)
a.      Updates to ASPRS/Committee web page (thoughts on content - links of resources, blogs, webinars, OneNOAA, etc.)
5.      Open discussion (9:45-10:00)

Mark your calendar and I look forward to hearing your input!

Thanks,

Contact information:

Mr. John W. McCombs, II
Chair, Remote Sensing Application Division Committee
Email: john.mccombs (at) noaa (gov) gov
NOAA Costal Services Center
2234 S. Hobson Avenue
Charleston, SC 29405
Phone: (843)740-1164
Fax: (843)740-1289

Mr. Sergio Bernardes
Assistant Chair, Remote Sensing Application Division Committee
Email: sbernard (at) uga (dot) edu
Center for Remote Sensing and Mapping Science
The University of Georgia
210 Field Street
Athens, GA 30602
Phone: (706)542-2374

ASPRS - Remote Sensing Application Division Meeting & Monthly Teleconference



MAAPS/ASPRS Fall Specialty Conference Meeting
Remote Sensing Application Division

Two Meetings:
28 October 2012 from 4:00-5:00
Tampa Marriott Waterside Meeting Room 9
AND
Monthly Teleconference
29 October 2012 from 5:15 - 6:15 pm EDT.

Phone bridge information:
USA Toll Free Number : 1-866-228-1482
Participant Passcode: 5265802

The ASPRS Remote Sensing Application Division respectfully requests your participation in two October meetings.  One at the MAAPS/ASPRS Fall Specialty Conference in Tampa, FL and the monthly teleconference.  Scheduled for the last Monday of the month.

Final Agenda:
1)    Call to order / Introductions  (5:15-5:25)
2)    RSAD operating procedures review (5:25 – 5:30)  See website for overview
3)    Boeing and Erdas Award review committee forming (5:30-5:35)
4)    RSAD Climate Change Subcomittee report (5:35-5:45)
5)    RSAD Academic Engagement Subcommittee (5:45-5:55) See website for mission/vision
6)    Open discussion (5:55-6:15)

NOTE:  Next RSAD Teleconference: 26 November, 2012

********************

Final agenda is posted on the RSAD Web page
http://www.asprs.org/RSAD-Division.html
Mark your calendar and I look forward to hearing your input!

Thanks,

POC Dave Szymanski, Director RSAD
Szymanski_David (at) bah (dot) com
703-472-4216

Student oriented sessions during the 2012 ASPRS fall conference in Tampa, Florida


The 2012 ASPRS fall conference is in less than a week! If you are a student, the following sessions might be of interest to you:


Student & Employer Meet and Greet
Monday, Oct 29, 5:15 PM – 6:15 PM, Grand Ballroom, Salon E, Second Floor
You are invited to attend this event designed to connect students and young professionals looking to apply for jobs with employers who may have positions available.

Student Advisory Council (SAC) Meeting
Wednesday, Oct 31, 11:15 AM – 12:15 PM, Florida Ballroom, Salon 2, Second Floor
All students are encouraged to come and learn what the ASPRS Student Advisory Council (SAC) has been working on and what is planned for the coming year; including the next GeoLeague Challenge.

Student Advisory Council (SAC) Special Session
Wednesday, Oct 31, 2:15 PM – 3:45 PM, Grand Ballroom Salon C, Second Floor
From Application to Employment: Starting a Career in Geospatial Discipline.

Make sure you mark these events down on your calendar!

See you in Tampa,

ASPRS Student Advisory Council


Wednesday 17 October 2012

Webinar: Careers in Remote Sensing and GIS



Careers in Remote Sensing and GIS Webinar
November 8, 2012
12 (noon) SCT


Students and young professionals are invited to attend the first Careers in Remote Sensing and GIS Webinar, presented by the Geological Remote Sensing Group for North America.

The format will be short presentations and Q&A from Professionals at mid- and advanced-career stages on their experience, and also predictions as to the geospatial job market in the next five years.  If you are a student finishing studies in the near future and looking for advice on career options or a Young Professional looking for new directions, this may provide you with an insight on how to move up in the Remote Sensing and GIS world.

This webinar will provide information about careers in Remote Sensing, including:

  •     Key skill sets for a career in remote sensing
  •     Advantages and challenges of remote sensing jobs in Academia, Consulting and Industry
  •     Is getting a PhD necessary for a job in remote sensing
  •     How often do these jobs come up? How hard are they to find?

Speakers include:

  •     Conrad Wright, Chief Business Development Officer, SpecTIR
  •     Dr. Chuck Kluth, Distinguished Scientist, Petroleum Geology, Department of Geology and Geological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines
  •     Lori Wickert,Remote Sensing and Spectral Geologist and Principal Consultant – Remote Sensing to Newmont Mining’s Remote Sensing and Regolith Terrain Mapping, Global Exploration Solution’s Group.
  •     Ralph Baker, Senior Consulting Geologist


 Register here today.


GRSG North America
c/o Spatial Energy
1881 9th Street
Suite 303
Boulder, CO 80302
www.spatialenergy.com
303-625-1048


Tuesday 16 October 2012

Primary Data Acquisition Division (PDAD) Tampa Update Teleconference


Friday October 19, 2012 from 1:00 -2:30 pm Central (Primary)
Friday October 26, 2012 from 1:00-2:00 pm Central (Alternate)



Teleconference number: toll free #:  855-547-8255 - In-USGS call 703-648-4848.   Both need code 11292 #

Since many of you may not be able to attend the ASPRS Fall Meeting we decided to hold a teleconference to cover Division activities and start to develop the Division report for the Board Meeting. We will have an alternate teleconference on Friday October 26, 1:00-2:00 pm for those who cannot make the October 19th meeting.

Agenda
·        Overview (Bob Ryan/Allen Cook)
·        Tampa PDAD Special Sessions
·       Baltimore PDAD Special Sessions Update

Committee Reports
·        Image Quality (Greg Stensaas/Bob Ryan)
·        In-situ Aerial Geometric Guideline (Dean Merchant)
·        Oblique Imaging Guideline (Charles Mondello Oct 26)
·        Unmanned Aerial Systems (Larry Handley)

************************************
Robert E. Ryan
rryan (at) i2rcorp (dot) com
Innovative Imaging & Research
 (228) 688-2276 (office);  (985) 502-9829 (cell)

Allen E. Cook
ideator (dot) cook (at) gmail (dot) com
(720) 272-5563 (cell)

ASPRS - Region Officers/Directors Committee Meeting


MAPPS/ASPRS SPECIALTY CONFERENCE


Region Officers/Directors Committee Meeting

Sunday, 28 October 2012
12 noon to 1 pm
Room:  Meeting Room 12, Third Floor, Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel

***************************

The meeting will be chaired by ASPRS VP Stewart Walker.  Please send any agenda items to:
Stewart Walker at stewart (dot) walker2 (at) baesystems (dot) com prior to the meeting on 28 October.

***************************

Dear Region Officers,

There will be a committee meeting of Region Officers/Directors on Sunday, 28 October 2012, from 12 noon to 1 pm, Meeting Room 12, Third Floor, Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel, preceding the MAPPS/ASPRS Specialty Conference. The tentative agenda currently reads:

1.    Welcome and introductions (Stewart Walker, Chair)
2.    Scheduling of meetings
3.    Branding Task Force activities and progress
4.    Restructuring Task Force activities and progress (Steve DeGloria, President-Elect)
5.    What is working in the regions and what is not for membership recruiting and retention?
6.    Which events are successful in the regions and which are not?
7.    What can Headquarters do to help?
8.    Any other business
9.    Wrap-up and action items
10.  Date of next meeting

The Fall conferences tend to have lower attendances and fewer region officers present than the annual conferences. I have therefore taken the unusual step of scheduling the meeting over the lunch period in order to reduce clashes with other meetings. Please feel free to bring whatever sustenance you require and enjoy it during the meeting.

Thank you.

Stewart

********************************************

Dr. A. Stewart Walker

ASPRS Vice President 2012-13
stewart (dot) walker2 (at) baesystems (dot) com

BAE Systems
Mail Zone 62-TAL
10920 Technology Place
San Diego
CA 92127-1874
tel +1 858 592 1764
fax +1 858 592 5309
www.baesystems.com/gxp


Monday 15 October 2012

ASPRS Annual Fall Specialty Conference in Tampa, Florida

Digital Preservation and Archiving Committee (DPAC) Meeting


Date/Time/Place:  10/28/2012 - 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm, Meeting Room 8, Third Floor 
 
AGENDA:
02:00 – 02:15 - Baltimore DPAC Special Session
02:15 – 02:20 - Offline Archive Media Trade Study
02:20 – 02:30 - Data Management Terms
02:30 – 02:35 - Data Management Statement
02:35 – 02:40 - ASPRS Purge Alert Proposal
02:40 – 02:45 - Temperature & Relative Humidity Recommendations
02:45 – 02:55 - Aerial Holdings Proposal
02:55 – 03:00 - AOB    


Hope to see you there!
 
Thank you
 
John
___________________
John Faundeen
Data Preservation & Archiving Committee Chair
faundeen (at) usgs (dot) gov

Wednesday 26 September 2012

ASPRS - Remote Sensing Application Division - MonthlyTeleconference - Monday, October 1, 2012



Remote Sensing Application Division
Monthly Teleconference
1 October 2012 from 4:15 - 5:15 pm EDT.

Phone bridge information:

USA Toll Free Number : 1-866-228-1482
Participant Passcode: 5265802

The ASPRS Remote Sensing Application Division respectfully requests your participation in the newly-established monthly teleconference.  This time, we will begin the meeting 1 October 2012 from 4:15-5:15 EDT.

Final Agenda:
1)    Call to order / Introductions  (4:15-4:25)
2)    RSAD operating procedures review (4:25 – 4:30)  See website for overview
3)    2013 Spring Conference Special Sessions and Hot Topics (4:30-4:40) See website for overview
4)    RSAD Academic Engagement Committee report
5)    RSAD Climate Change Committee report (4:40-4:50) See website for overview
6)    Open discussion (4:50-5:15)

******************************

Final agenda is posted on the RSAD Web page http://www.asprs.org/RSAD-Division.html

Mark your calendar and I look forward to hearing your input!

Thanks,

POC Stuart Blundell, Assistant Director RSAD
Stuart (dot) Blundell (at) exelisvis (dot) com

Monday 24 September 2012

September 28 -- Deadline for Student Volunteer Applications for ASPRS/MAPPS Fall Conference


ASPRS/MAPPS 2012 Fall Specialty Conference
October 28-November 1, 2012
Tampa, Florida

 

Attention all student members of ASPRS!

If you have not already done so, plan now to attend this conference as a Student Volunteer and pay NO registration fee.

If you are a student at an accredited college/university and would like to attend this conference without paying the required conference registration fee, consider serving as a Student Volunteer.  Note, volunteers are responsible for all other expenses including travel, accommodations and meals.

The Conference Volunteer Coordinator is looking for Student Volunteers to help from Sunday, October 28 – Thursday, November 1, 2012.  In exchange for the opportunity to attend the General and Technical Sessions, visit the Exhibit Hall, and enjoy the Exhibitor's Reception, Student Volunteers will be required to work at least 8 hours during the conference.

This is a great opportunity to learn more about the geospatial field, meet some of the top names in the industry, and explore job possibilities; you are encouraged to bring your resumé as a special area will be set aside for resumé postings.  In addition, the ASPRS Student Advisory Council has organized a Student-Employer Meet and Greet and informal evenings out for students during the conference.

If you are interested in attending as a volunteer, fill out an application and send it in.

Also, see the description of Volunteer Tasks.

All applications must be submitted by e-mail to the Conference Volunteer Coordinator, Rakesh Malhotra, at  rmalhotr (at) uncfsu (dot) edu.  Please include ASPRS Volunteer Program in the Subject Line of all e-mail correspondence.  Assignments will be made on a first come basis.

Here is a timeline for the Student Volunteer process:
Application Deadline:  September 28, 2012
Student Volunteer work schedules announced:  the last week of October 8

Please note:  This message is being sent to all ASPRS Student Members and faculty.  If you have already submitted a Volunteer application, please ignore this email or pass it along to a friend.

Friday 21 September 2012

ASPRS Scholarship Applications Deadline is Wednesday, October 17th




STUDENTS AND FACULTY MEMBERS
PLEASE NOTE THE EARLY DEADLINE FOR ALL
ASPRS SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17th 2012

All applications for scholarships and awards must be received at ASPRS headquarters by WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17th due to the early conference date.

The ASPRS Annual Conference will be held in Baltimore, Maryland
March 24-28, 2013

http://www.asprs.org/Conferences/Baltimore-2013/blog

A complete description of the awards offered and an application (in PDF format) can be obtained at the ASPRS web site at http://www.asprs.org/ASPRS-Awards-and-Scholarships.html

For more information on the ASPRS Awards and Scholarships Program, contact scholarships@asprs.org
_____________________________

General Application Instructions
· Please note that all applications must be submitted in electronic format.
· Submit application form and all supporting materials or documents IN ONE PDF for each separate award.
DO NOT SEND MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS IN ONE EMAIL.
· If you include a copy of a published article or research sample, it should not exceed five (5) pages; if longer, submit the article in text format or submit an abstract and article highlights.
· The total size of the PDF should not exceed 5MB.
· Send the file as an email attachment to scholarships@asprs.org with the SHORT name of the award and your last name and a short description of the contents in the subject line IN UPPER CASE as indicated below. The application form PDF should also be named this way: AWARD SHORT NAME_YOUR LAST NAME_CONTENTS OF FILE; For example: FISCHER_SMITH_ APPLICATION
· A fill and save version of the application form can be accessed at http://www.asprs.org/ASPRS-Awards-and-Scholarships.Html and should be sent via email with supporting documents added to the application PDF. Sign the application. The digital signature feature of the PDF format is acceptable.
· Letters of reference must be sent directly to ASPRS by the person writing the reference as an email attachment. A separate email is required for each reference for each application
· Copies of official transcripts must be submitted electronically as part of your application. One original official transcript (only) should be mailed or emailed directly to ASPRS by the educational institution. That will serve to verify the copies submitted.
· Foreign language transcripts or documents must be translated by an official translating agency

Additional Information
· Applications for ASPRS scholarships and awards must include the ASPRS application form unless indicated otherwise.
· You may apply for more than one award, but you must submit a separate application for each award requested.

All Applicants MUST
· Be active or student members of ASPRS for most awards. (Visit the ASPRS website (www.asprs.org) or contact the membership department at the address or phone number below for information about the benefits of ASPRS membership.)
· Submit the required number of letters of reference with each application from faculty members who have knowledge of the applicant’s capabilities.
· Submit a separate application for each award

ALL COMPLETE APPLICATIONS, INCLUDING REFERENCE LETTERS AND
TRANSCRIPTS, MUST BE RECEIVED AT ASPRS NO LATER THAN MIDNIGHT, EASTERN TIME ON THE DUE DATE.

DELAYS IN CYBER SPACE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

Final note: Most awards call for specific additional information, such as applicant statements, research descriptions, etc. to complete the application. Please read the award descriptions carefully for details.

Incomplete applications will be disqualified.

The awards will normally be made annually, as long as sufficient funds are available. If the committee deems there are no applications of sufficient quality to warrant approval, no award will be given that year. Any application that does not comply in its entirety with the terms stated above and/or with the terms of the specific award(s) applied for will be ineligible. The contact information for ASPRS awards and scholarships is:

ASPRS
Scholarship Administrator
5410 Grosvenor Lane, Suite 210
Bethesda, MD 20814
scholarships@asprs.org
301-493-0290 xt-101

Application deadline is Wednesday, October 17th

The ASPRS Student Advisory Council Invites Your Participation


Dear ASPRS Student Member,

On behalf of the ASPRS Student Advisory Council (SAC), I want to welcome you to the 2012-2013 school year and introduce you to the SAC. The SAC was created in 2006 to give ASPRS Student Members an opportunity to voice their opinions and discuss ways ASPRS as a Society can serve them best.

To ensure that the relationship between SAC and student members is as productive as possible, we encourage all of you to get involved. Student involvement can range from being a student volunteer at one of the semi-annual conferences to writing an email to a Student Advisory Councilor on a webinar topic that would be pertinent to student needs. Faculty involvement is also necessary for the formation of strong student chapters and the grooming of future ASPRS leaders. Professional involvement is welcomed as there is a consistent need for student mentors, volunteers, and participants in student-run conference activities such as the Student Employer Meet & Greet sessions and geospatial workforce panels at ASPRS conferences.

The goal for the 2012-2013 Student Advisory Council is to reinforce our commitment to ASPRS Student Chapters. Student Chapters are necessary for the formation of local geospatial communities where students can collaborate on projects and receive collective guidance on future steps in academia and the workforce. The SAC is interested in sharing what you do at your university with other student members through our social media outlets. This sharing promotes learning from each other’s experiences. Thus, if there are local geospatial events at your school or in your area, I encourage you to contact us so that we can help promote these events.

If your college or university does not have an ASPRS Student Chapter, I encourage you to talk to your colleagues about forming one. The instructions can be found here. Should any questions or concerns arise, ASPRS staff would be glad to assist you with this process.

The SAC needs ideas from the student body concerning what benefits they desire from a professional society both in the short term and the long term. The SAC serves as national representatives for student members to make sure your experience within ASPRS is the most beneficial.  Current SAC initiatives cover a broad range of areas including:

  •   Developing technical sessions for ASPRS annual and specialty conferences;
  •   Organizing student networking receptions at conferences;
  •   Reviewing geospatial books and software;
  •   Creating and maintaining a student blog on the ASPRS website;
  •   Stimulating information exchange among members of student chapters nationwide;
  •   Organizing a Summer Student Education Assembly;
  •   Creating and participating in GeoLeague Challenge competitions; and
  •   Providing career information for graduating students. 

The Student Advisory Council has evolved and improved over the last 6 years to include the initiatives listed above. However, there are many more areas that we would love to get involved with. Please let us know where else the SAC could improve your student experience. As you become more involved in our ASPRS student efforts, we look forward to continuing this forward progress with you.

Lastly, if you are able to attend the conferences in Tampa and/or Baltimore, please stop and say hello. We look forward to meeting you and hearing your ideas.  You can find the list of SAC Councilors online.

Regards,

Adam Benjamin
Chair, ASPRS Student Advisory Council (2012-2013)
abenjamin1 (at) ufl (dot) edu

ASPRS Photogrammetric Applications Division Conference CallInvitation - Thursday, September 27, 2012

ASPRS Photogrammetric Applications Division
Conference Call Meeting
Date: Thursday, September 27, 2012
Time: 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. Eastern Time (10 a.m. - 11 a.m. Pacific Time)
Dial-in Number: (712) 432-1620
Access Code: 526443

******************

The meeting is open to any ASPRS members interested in providing input or participating in PAD activities
Meeting Topic: Photogrammetry in the Modern Age.

A general discussion of activities PAD should undertake to address new and current technologies in photogrammetry applications, including mobile mapping, 3D point cloud generation from non-metric cameras, automation in large format cameras and other topics.

Agenda:
1) Spring Conference (Baltimore) Special Session Planning for sessions on Mobile Mapping and 3D point cloud generation
· Session content
· Suggestions for speakers and/or moderators


2) Open discussion for suggestions on other activities PAD should undertake to help support the membership

3) Next meeting time/place

If you are interested in participating, please respond with e-mail contact information to: doug@davidsmithmapping.com

(Please respond by 9/26 if you are interested in being placed on the e-mail contact list for this meeting. The e-mail list will be used as to send out reference materials or other information prior to the conference call. If you cannot attend the call, but would like to participate in the activities indicated on the agenda, receive the meeting notes or have other suggestions for PAD activities, please send an e-mail to that effect and we will contact you).

Doug Smith
Photogrammetric Applications Division Director
doug@davidsmithmapping.com

Robert Thomas
Photogrammetric Applications Division Assistant Director
rthomas@integrity-apps.com

8th ISPRS Student Consortium and WG VI/5 Summer School



Dear all,
The 8th ISPRS-SC summer school will be held at Burapha University (BUU), Chonburi, Thailand from Nov 30 to Dec 4, 2012.This event will take place after the 33rd Asian Conference on Remote Sensing (ACRS) organized by the Asian Asociation of Remote Sensing (AARS). The registration for the summer school will open on Oct 15, 2012. If any of you would like to attend this event, please mark it down on your calendar.


Chaoyuan Lo (ISPRS-SC board member)





Thursday 13 September 2012

Apply now to Volunteer at the ASPRS-MAPPS Fall 2012 Conference

Attention all student members of ASPRS! 
ASPRS Student Assistantship and Student Volunteer Program 


If you are a student at an accredited college or university, ASPRS invites you to attend and assist with the MAPPS/ASPRS Fall Specialty Conference between October 28 and November 1, 2012, in Tampa, Florida.

Application deadlines:
  1. Student Assistantship applications are due September 19, 2012.
  2. Student Assistants will be notified by September 25, 2012.
  3. Student Volunteer applications are due September 28, 2012.
  4. Student Volunteers will be notified by October 2, 2012.
http://www.asprs.org/Conferences/Tampa-2012/Presenter-Volunteer/Volunteering

Benefits for Student Assistants:
  • Complementary student registration
  • Lodging accommodations (two to a room)
  • $100 stipend when work hours are completed
  • Orientation Dinner
  • A small meal stipend (7.5+ hr. shifts only)
  • A certificate for your portfolio
  • Opportunity to network
  • Chance to learn more about the geospatial field
  • Meet some of the top names in the industry
  • Explore job opportunities
Benefits for Student Volunteers:
  • Complementary student registration
  • Orientation Dinner
  • A small meal stipend (7.5+ hr. shifts only)
  • A certificate for your portfolio
  • Opportunity to network with other ASPRS members
  • Chance to learn more about the geospatial field
  • Meet some of the top names in the industry
  • Explore job opportunities
Student Assistants and Volunteers are required to:
  • Attend the online orientation on Monday, October 22nd at 7:30 pm Eastern Time
  • Be available for the duration of the conference – Sunday, October 28 – Thursday, November 1
  • Arrange their own transportation and necessary documents for travel to and from Tampa, Florida
How to become a Student Assistant or Student Volunteer:
  • Submit a cover letter describing: Your interest in ASPRS; If you are a member of ASPRS; Your academic and professional experience in the geospatial field; What you hope to gain from this experience
  • Include a resume with your mailing address, telephone number, and e-mail address where you can be contacted through November 2012. 
  • Complete the relevant application found at http://www.asprs.org/Conferences/Tampa-2012/Presenter-Volunteer/Volunteering.
  • Send your application package via e-mail to the National Volunteer Coordinator (include ASPRS Volunteer Program in the Subject Line of all e-mail messages).
NOTE: If any of the above are not included with your application package, then your application will not be considered.

SA Program Coordinators:

Dr. Rakesh Malhotra
ASPRS National Volunteer Coordinator
rmalhotr (at) uncfsu (dot) edu

Kim Tilley
ASPRS Associate Executive Director
kimt (at) asprs (dot) org



Wednesday 12 September 2012

Double activation of the SBTF *call for action*


 HI MAPSTERS!

We have two deployments approaching in the upcoming weeks, and everyone is invited to participate. We especially encourage new members to take parts of these deployments to get some training and have a better idea of what we do.

1) ACAPS DEPLOYMENT WITH THE DIGITAL HUMANITARIAN NETWORK


ACAPS (www.acaps.org) have activated the SBTF to help improve the data their NGO partners use to assess and analyze the impact of emergencies on populations. Our role is to collect secondary data (ie, information obtainable from the Internet).  We’ll be working on one country (the Democratic Republic of Congo), and using what we learn from it to write preparedness data collection guidelines for other disaster-prone countries.

ACAPS creates the Disaster Needs Assessments (DNA) that go into the field with the deployers immediately after a disaster.  A DNA is a 15 to 20 page document produced during the first couple of days after a (natural) disaster occurs or a protracted crisis escalates. This deployment is important because ACAPS currently takes a couple of days to build a DNA for a crisis. Every hour counts during the DNA process, and we’re helping to speed up that process, by helping ACAPS create pre-crisis “Preparedness DNAs” from the data and processes generated by this deployment, and by helping ACAPS gather live DNA data during future crises.

This is an important deployment for both the ACAPS and the SBTF as it will help us define and set standards for data-intensive deployments. We’d like to call it the “mother of all data deployments”! We look forward to your maximum support and participation in this deployment.

The deployment starts on September 24th (11am GMT/London) with the bulk of the work completed at the end of the day September 30th (11pm GMT).  To join in, please join the deployment’s Ning group. If you are unable to access Ning, please sign up here.

The coordinators of this deployment are Sara (Skype ID: sj.farmer), Estella (Skype ID: brandwood-reeds) and Bharathi (Skype ID: bharathi.ram23) and you can ask them to add you to the dedicated ACAPS Deployment Skype Chat.


2) UCHAGUZI DEPLOYMENT IN COLLABORATION WITH USHAHIDI

Our colleagues at Ushahidi have activated the Standby Volunteer Task Force for an important pilot on the election that Kenya will hold on March 4 next year. This will be the first general election held under the new constitution and a historic event for the country.

The deployment is scheduled on September 17th UTC, starting at  3.00 a.m. UTC ( 06 a.m. Nairobi time, 11 p.m. EST time September 16th) until 9 p.m. UTC (11 p.m. Nairobi time, 4 p.m. EST time) and will cover a real event:  the election in 3 constituencies in Kenya. The amount of data will therefore be limited, but the pilot will be critical to scaling-up the system in March 2013 when the country will face the first presidential elections after the post-election violence in 2007.

The Uchaguzi platform will receive inputs from 200 electoral monitors on the ground and from the crowd through a short code.  A smaller team (around 30 people) in the iHub Nairobi  will help us to process incoming information (most likely via SMS, the Ushahidi mobile app, web forms and media monitoring).

The teams we are activating are Media Monitoring, SMS, Geolocation, Translation (Swahili), Verification and Report.

We definitely encourage you to participate in this one-day pilot if you are available. We also particularly encourage people from time zones GMT + (Europe, Africa and Middle East and Asia) to participate since the first 5 hours of the deployment are happening during the night for people living in the USA.

Ushahidi was first developed to map reports of violence in Kenya after the 2007 election, and the platform has come a long way since then.  This will be a unique opportunity to learn, refine our skills, and contribute to improve election monitoring processes.

To participate in the Kenya Election 2012 Pilot deployment, please join the deployment’s Ning group here. Please make sure you sign up here so we can create the schedule for the day.

The coordinators of this deployment are Anahi Ayala (SkypeID: anahiii), Marta Poblet (mpoblet) and Kirk Morris (km5050). You can ask them to add you to the dedicated Kenya Election 2012 Pilot Skype Chats.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We are aware that in September there are three deployments going on, so we encourage all of you to participate in at least one, but not to overcommit yourself.

Also, this will be the only email we are sending to the all SBTF members. If you want to receive updates on the deployment you want to be part of you need to join the  Ning group deployment (the list is here). To do so, follow the links in this email and then click on 'join' in the Ning group page. Once done, you will receive all the updates we sent for that specific deployment in your Ning inbox.

We also encourage you to please bear in mind that if you commit to a deployment it is important that you participate in it. Scheduling volunteers’ time can be very tricky for us sometimes and, even if we do understand that we are all volunteers and that sometimes it is difficult to schedule time in our busy life, we encourage you all, before signing up, to make sure that you will respect your commitment, because this can make our life much easier!

One Map, One Love!

The SBTF Core Team

Visit Standby Task Force at: http://standbytaskforce.ning.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network

ISPRS Student Consortium Newsletter


The latest issue (August 2012) of the ISPRS SC Newsletter is now online: http://www.isprs-sc.org/newsletters/read/6/2.


Here are spotlights:

  • The View by Ian Downman
  • The ISPRS 2012 Technical Program
  • Interview with Prof. Clive Fraser

Thursday 6 September 2012

Looking for tech support for SBTF deployments



Dear all,
the SBTF is recruiting people for the technology team.

We are looking for people that are willing to support the SBTF deployment in the following tasks:
- deploying and customizing Ushahidi platforms
- maintaining it during active deployments
- integrating the platform with additional other platforms
- support the deployment of other platforms (like OSM, FLSMS, GeoFeedia, atc)
- support the Core Team in looking into additional technologies to be deployed by the SBTF

If you are a member and are willing to help out, please get in contact with me, anahi (at) standbytaskforce (dot) com, or kirk (at) standbytaskforce (dot) com.

You can find additional information on the tech team here: http://standbytaskforce.ning.com/group/techteam

Cheers,
Anahi

--
Anahi Ayala Iacucci
SBTF Volunteers Coordinator

anahi (at) standbytaskforce (dot) com
SkypeID: anahiii
Twitter: anahi_ayala
Website: blog.standbytaskforce.com