I recently finished Alabama's National Hydrography Dataset Web Editing Tool, known as NHD-WET. This video demostrates the major functionality and takes users through some basic "how-tos".

Google Public Data Explorer

This is a really incredible Google Lab. I have worked on similar systems over the years, but of course Google resources changes the game completely [also they are a lot smarter than I am :) ].

The charting of course is smooth and clean with really great collection and aggregate functionality. The thing though that caught my eye was the visualization application. It's a really cool way to represent aggregate quantities in a dynamic state through proportional symbol sizing.

See it here!

How To Create a Standard Web Mapping Application in ArcGIS Server

First it’s important to state that there are lots of custom options for the creation of web maps using ESRI's ArcGIS Server. These custom methods are documented and discussed in detail at the ESRI Resource Centers (http://resources.esri.com/arcgisserver/index.cfm?fa=applications ). The method I am covering here is the basic web mapping application creation available
through ArcGIS Server.

Begin by setting up your map project in ArcMap. Save your project in a folder that the local windows user group "agsadmin" can access (for UNA students this will be your "geolab" folder). If you are not using ArcSDE as your datasource, then it’s a really good idea to put your data in the same folder as where you save your map project (*.mxd).

In order to set up your basic web mapping application follow these steps.

1. Log into your ArcGIS Server Manager via web browser at (http://<SERVERNAME>/arcgis/manager/), be careful to put your username in exactly as the example shows.

2. Select the "Publish a map, globe or other GIS resource as a service"



3. Select your map project *.mxd and accept the default choices for the following menus.

4. Go back to the ArcGIS Manager home page.

5. Select "Create a web application"



6. Go through the steps to create your application

There are several style options and configuration choices, but basically that’s it!

Geodatabase Version?

Having trouble projecting data in your personal or file geodatabase? If you are working in ArcGIS v9.3.1 you might have the same problem I have. I use National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) streams and waterbodies often in my work. Right now I am working on developing a web based system to aid in recommending changes or edits in the NHD data. While developing this "crowd-sourcing" GIS application I discovered I needed to reproject my geodatabase to be compatible with my base map sources. That's when the strange things started. Things like I created a FeatureDataset with the appropriate projection, but couldn't see it in ArcCatalog. Even after refreshing and trying various other things. I attempted to reproject some of the FeatureClasses and received multiple varying errors.

At that point I stumbled on a reference about checking my geodatabase version to ensure that they coincided with my ArcGIS software.
So how do I see this?

1. Go to ArcCatalog
2. Navigate to the geodatabase of interest
3. Right-click and select Properties

Upgrade your database and you should be good to go.

Google Building Maker

The question: How do we make 3D texturize buildings for use on the web?

Google's answer: Google Building Maker



No matter how you feel about those guys, sometimes you just have to step back and say WOW.

ARMS at the ESRI Special Achievement in GIS (SAG) Awards

Our work on the Alabama Resource Management System (ARMS) was recognized with a Special Achievement in GIS (SAG) Award at the ESRI International Users' Conference in San Diego this year. Here is a picture of me, Jack Dangermond (ESRI), and Chris McInnish (ACJIC) at the ceremony. More info here....

The Father of GIS

At the "Special Achievements in GIS Awards" I had the opportunity to meet and talk with Roger Tomlinson (The Father of GIS). Pretty neat. Honestly I was little star struck...