August 11, 2009
Email from Skip (8.10.2009):
Greetings!
The next Users Group meeting will be tomorrow, Tuesday, August 11th from 9am-12pm at the CalEPA Headquarters Building, 1001 I Street, Sacramento, in the Sierra Hearing Room (transportation and parking information can be found at: http://calepa.ca.gov/EPAbldg/location.htm ).
I would like to communicate the purpose of this group: The Sacramento Area GIS Users Group consists of an email list of GIS users (over 140) that are interested in seeing how GIS is being used in various professional organizations. The coordinator (me) is a volunteer, so take it easy on the coordinator. I attended this group back when the founder, Bruce Boyd (City of Davis) began it at Jones and Stokes. I took it on a few years ago, as I liked the way it was ran, the information presented, and the free donuts. However, I’m in the furloughed sector now so you’ll need to bring your own coffee and treats, or we’ll provide a break near 10:15 and you can make a run for the café downstairs.
When I am able to assemble 3 or 4 speakers and can find a window of time that doesn’t conflict with the multiple conferences that are offered in this area, I hold a meeting. Usually 3-4 times a year – with about 60-70 in attendance. I provide a cheesy GIS quiz (when ESRI comes through with swag for prizes, which they always have in the past), and we provide an opportunity to network with Federal, State, Local, Private, and Education-based GIS users. While we are ArcGIS-centric, we provide the opportunity to see other technologies in use as well. That’s about it.
If you would like to join a Northern California professional organization that "...serves its constituent region through professional development activities, objective educational outreach, open networking opportunities, and advocacy for effective uses of geospatial technologies and information." - may I suggest NorCal Urisa (http://www.norcalurisa.org/)? If you would like to attend the California/Hawaii/Nevada ESRI-based user conferences, you can find information here: http://www.esri.com/events/cahinvrug/index.html. Each of these organizations has great conferences that you should consider attending. You can find a users group list at the NorCal URISA site: http://www.norcalurisa.org/usergroups.htm .
We have three presentations lined up for tomorrow’s meeting:
1. Topic: "HAZUS Updates: California and Beyond"
Dan Henderson, GISP, CFM, Senior Project Manager - PBS&J
Kenneth Leep, California Office of Emergency Services
Diane Vaughan, California Office of Emergency Services
a. Updates to HAZUS data; Hawaii Kiholo Bay earthquake project
b. Mapping flood scenarios in California
c. Automating HAZUS for Shakemap
d. HAZUS User Group
2. Michael Byrne, Geographic Information Officer (GIO) for the State of California will speak about the GIO position, and will answer questions about current GIS efforts at the State level.
3. Topic: “A GIS based approach for assessment of Biomass resources and routing using travel distance and travel time.” Durga Peddada
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There is no longer a sign-up area on the ESRI web site for this group. HOWEVER - to help with the sign in process at the building, please respond to this email if you are considering attending. There will be a table to sign in when you enter the building, and three sign-in sheets with your name preprinted (thank you to PBS&J for staffing this table). You will need to check off your name and pick up a badge before proceeding to the second floor Sierra Hearing Room.
If you do not RSVP, still come – I’m just trying to speed up the sign-in process. Even if you work in the CalEPA Building, I’d like to get your name so that we can measure attendance and “right size” the meeting room in the future.
Ps. – My list needs updating, so I apologize if I miss anyone. Please forward to whoever might be interested. You may contact me directly to be added or removed from this list.
Thanks!
Skip
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Skip Campbell, GISP
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategy Section
Research Division
California Air Resources Board
Address: 1001 I St., Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 323-1532
e-mail: scampbell@arb.ca.gov
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