GITA. We Are Infrastructure.

The world of GPS/GNSS is changing...a lot. It’s not just the user equipment but the satellite systems themselves. There are new GPS satellites being launched, new GPS signals being broadcast, and more of each are planned. Adding to the complexity are the Russian GLONASS and European Galileo satellite systems. How do these changes affect GPS data collection and navigation services? Which factors should you consider when preparing your GPS capital equipment budgets in the coming year(s)?

Case Study: Migrating Fully Integrated CAD Design Tools to a GIS Design Tool
Track: Planning, Design, and Engineering
Corey Clinger, Telcordia Technologies, Inc

Learning Objectives:

Get tips and techniques for large-scale data migration.
Learn how to meet CAD user expectations with GIS tools.
Use the power of GIS to simplify complex problems.

This presentation outlines a case study focusing on solving the complexities of migrating 6,000 telephony engineers from multiple CAD tools to a single integrated, GIS-based design tool. The migration involved the requirement to successfully marry a GIS-based telephony design tool with the features of years of user-focused CAD tool customization. The presentation highlights examples of capabilities marrying GIS benefits to CAD user expectations, systems integration, and migration of multiple CAD drawing types into an integrated GIS view.
Copresenter: Corey Clinger, Telcordia Technologies, Inc.

Tuesday, March 11, 9:30

Mobile Forms and GIS for Underground Damage Prevention
Track: Mobile Applications
Jennifer J. Nieland, Integrys Business Support, LLC

Learning Objectives:

Learn to use what you have: “home grown” mobile forms and GIS for damage prevention.
Go from paper to PC: change management while going mobile.
Understand two steps: Going mobile changes a process, then improves it.

Imagine combining several tools in such a way they create a powerful new tool that can be applied to other processes, rendering them more efficient, effective, and less costly. This was the case at Wisconsin Public Service Corporation when locating tickets from state One Call systems, the mobile GIS viewer and electronic forms were combined and applied to Damage Prevention, or Locating. These “old” tools, used in a new way, transformed Locating from a paper process to an electronic process, improving data, saving hours and reducing costs.

Tuesday, March 11, 10:30

Asset Data Collection Using Real-time Differential Correction Field Study Results and Recommendations
Track: Surveying
Dana Trethewy, Marshall & Associates, Inc.

Learning Objectives:

Get a GPS receiver, differential correction and CORS network overview.
See a comparison of survey/mapping grade GPS units with real-time differential correction.
Get recommendations and best practices for mapping grade GPS users.

Professional land surveyors have relied on survey grade GPS receivers and differential correction to produce highly accurate surveys. Public entities have automated asset inventory surveys through the use of mapping grade GPS receivers; however, real-time differential correction has not become a widespread procedure. A small study was conducted to compare GPS receivers and differential correction techniques. Recommendations and best practices for mapping grade GPS users were produced from study results.
Copresenter: Darrell Nance, Bush, Roed & Hitchings, Inc.

Tuesday, March 11, 11:30

Enterprise GIS—Powering the Utility of the Future
Track: New Technology and Market Directions
William J. Meehan, ESRI

Learning Objectives:

Learn the latest in and future of GIS architecture as applied to future utility directions.
Discover how GIS enables the smart grid.
Understand how spatial Web services and mobile GIS impact utilities.

Increasing challenges from customers, employees, regulators, and investors require utilities to transform themselves. GIS is a key technology of the transformation. Utility of the future involves automated interaction with customers, self-healing smart grids, enhanced use of automated metering, optimized use of resources, predictive methods for maintenance and capital improvements, more security, and more integrated technology and processes. This session will examine the role that enterprise GIS plays in powering the utility of the future.

Another Hammer In the Toolbox: A Surveyor’s Perspective
Track: Surveying
David Boyles, Landdesign Surveying

Learning Objectives:

Gain a surveyor’s perspective of GIS and its applications.
Create understanding of the improved use of as-builts.
See how combining surveying and GIS improves deliverables.

With the use of GIS technology in a traditional surveying company, there are new opportunities for improving the overall deliverables plus an improved workflow for existing projects. LandDesign Surveying used this innovative collaboration to create digital submittals for the North Carolina Research Campus, a 350-acre biotechnical research campus and mixed-use development. These as-built documents will become the base for the project’s GIS that will include all improvements and existing infrastructure.
Copresenters: Brian Elliott, Landdesign Surveying; Paul Badr,Independent Mapping Consultants

Using a Mobile Field Data Collection Approach for West Nile Virus Treatment
Track: Mobile Applications
Steve Fang, Seattle Public Utilities

Learning Objectives:

Understand the use of mobile applications in science and public health.
Plan and tracking fieldwork performed.
Synchronize data between mobile and office applications.

In the summer of 2007, Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) performed preventive treatment on each catch basin, to protect the citizens of Seattle against West Nile Virus. By applying mosquito larvicide to each catch basin, SPU hopes to minimize potential future outbreaks. Inspection and treatment information was collected in the field using ArcPad running on a pocket-PC. The approach has increased SPU’s ability to obtain, analyze, and report on current treatment efforts.

Tuesday, March 11, 2:30

Better O&M Facility Management Through Data Management and GPS Technologies
Track: Surveying
Todd Rothermel, Bentley Systems, Inc.

Learning Objectives:

Data management of geospatial engineering documents.
Understand the use of geospatial engineering documents for inspection, stakeout, and as-builts.
Update data archives using GPS Hardware and Software technologies.

Working archival systems that contain both computer-aided drafting
(CAD) data and computer-aided engineering (CAE) will be discussed in the context of the daily workings of large operations and maintenance facilities. New advances in technology will be presented that create a vendor-neutral archive of CAD/CAE information that can be used in data inspection/stakeout mode, as well as in the data update mode. GPS and total station deployment using the extracted data will be reviewed.
Copresenters: Rob Mellis, Bentley Systems, Inc.

Field Data Communications: Transition to the Fat-Pipe World
Track: Mobile Applications
Mark C. Hatfield, Enspiria Solutions, Inc.

Learning Objectives:

See the benefits of high-speed data communications.
Discover what other utilities have done.
Evolve to take advantage of high-speed data.

This session will examine potential business issues and benefits for utilities to adopt “fat-pipe” communications available via the continually expanding range of commercial high-speed data networks (3G cellular, WiFi, and WiMax technologies with data speeds over 300 kbs). The presenter will show utility initiatives to date, as well as barriers that can prevent utilities from reaping the potential benefits. It discusses how utilities can upgrade technology and change business processes to take advantage of high-speed data.

Wake Up the Sleeping Giant! Make Your GIS Investment Pay Off Through Field Automation
Track: Return on Investment/Business Case
Charles Lang, MapFrame Corporation

Learning Objectives:

Learn business benefits and the ROI of using GIS for field automation solutions.
Learn why field workers embrace a map-based work approach.
Discover how a map-based approach brings value to the entire organization.

Organizations spend millions building and maintaining a GIS only to realize a portion of its great potential. Real return on investment from GIS can only be found when it is released from the office, extended throughout the enterprise, and leveraged to automate work processes beyond that of just map viewing. This presentation will focus on the business benefits and return on investment of using GIS as a field automation solution.

Tuesday, March 11, 3:30

Lambert: Who Was He and Why Should We Care?
Track: Surveying
George Heine, U.S. Bureau of Land Management

Learning Objectives:

Gain a high-level understanding of a mathematical basis of map projections.
Understand what astrolabes have to do with maps.
Hear an entertaining and informative historical background.

What do sea charts and astrolabes have in common? The 18th century mathematician Johann Heinrich Lambert answered that question, and his answer led him to invent two of the most important projections in modern cartography. This presentation will cover some entertaining history and some non-technical mathematics.

Tuesday, March 11, 4:30

Using IT Enterprise Infrastructure to Integrate a Permitting System with GIS
Track: Enterprise Architecture & System Integration
Toby Semroc, Seattle Public Utilities

Learning Objectives:

Learn ways to spatially enable your non-GIS data to make it more visible to the business.
See how a software development life cycle can be used in a GIS project.
Understand the importance of having architecture in place that enables the sharing and dissemination of data.

This presentation will cover the story of the application development process, from requirements gathering to implementation and training, a GIS application the City of Seattle developed as a mapping interface for its Street Use permitting system. The presentation will highlight the importance of an enterprisewide IT architecture and how the implemented mapping system has facilitated the issuance and conditioning of Street Use permits in the city.

Wednesday, March 12, 11:00

Coping with a Shifting Landbase at Helix Water
Track: Data Acquisition & Maintenance
Quince Lunde, Helix Water District

Learning Objectives:

Update landbases with improved accuracy datasets.
Automate network and infrastructure adjustments to fit new landbases.
Understand business benefits of an automated approach shifting the focus to QA.

Use of improved landbase data was problematic for Helix Water District with their water infrastructure referenced to their original landbase. Manual methods for adjusting the network and assets to fit the new landbase were time consuming, costly, and inaccurate. This presentation will demonstrate, from a GIS operator perspective, Helix’s systematic conflation project for automating detection of spatial change between the old and new landbases and applying the derived shift information to the water infrastructure data for an accurate fit.
Copresenter: Dan Bowditch, Ubisense Consulting

Wednesday, March 12, 2:00

Capturing Field Data with Video: A New Approach
Track: Data Acquisition & Maintenance
David Mohammed, Osmose Utilities Services, Inc.

Learning Objectives:

Explore the advantages of collecting facility information using a digital camcorder.
Learn the logistics of extracting data from the video for use in a GIS or another database.
Examine the delivery mechanisms for video-based information.

Digital video provides a means to collect comprehensive field data and establish a reviewable, information-rich asset record. Field technicians capture outside information on a digital camcorder. Data entry personnel then “extract” information from the video. The process allows you to collect all the information that you’d collect using traditional field-survey techniques—and also provides a video record that is a valuable reference resource that can prevent the need for costly field visits.