Notes from the Middle TN Forum on GIS

This posting will serve as a short summary of some of the presentations and information provided by at the Middle TN Forum on GIS which was held earlier this week. If you attended and see something I left out, please add to this post. The forum was well organized and full of really helpful people. It's free and is a great way to see how GIS is being using in Middle Tennessee.

• Ward Tarkington from the TN Division of Forestry gave a talk on the National Agricultural Imagery Program, NAIP, for short. The purpose of the program is to acquire leaf-on color aerial photography for each state once a year. The frequency of updates is dependent upon partnerships with state and local agencies, but data for 2006 and some 2007 data is now available. You can download this data and find out more about the program from:
  
  http://datagateway.nrcs.usda.gov/
  
  2006 NAIP data on the S&T Drives is currently located here (the projection is UTM):
  
  S:\Imagery\Aerial Photos 406\NAIP_2006

• The State Office of Information Resources is now serving basemap data up on the Tennessee Map at the following location:

http://tnmap.state.tn.us/portal/

The map has statewide parcels, roads, counties, and aerial photos, that can be accessed by OIR's web viewer or as a ArcIMS map service which can be added to ArcMap (for details on adding a map service see the posting on using USGS data from Terraserver). If you have questions, or want to see additional data available, contact Chris Meeks with OIR through Groupwise. OIR is also holding technical meetings to determine the content of the Tennessee Map--I'll try to post those meeting dates when they're set.

• Jason Duke with the US Fish and Wildlife Service gave a presentation on using Spatial Analyst to determine slope, aspect, viewshed, from the 10 meter digital elevation models available at the the TNGIS website . I'll scan a copy of his instructions and link to them in a later posting.
  

His presentation served as a clear introduction on using Spatial Analyst to analyze raster datasets. He also demonstrated using the 3-D analyst extension to determine reservoir
volumes and visualize land use changes.

• ESRI demonstrated how ArcGIS Server can be used to very quickly publish custom web mapping applications generated from ArcMap MXD documents. This would be a great way to share maps and data with folks who don't have ArcGIS installed. Hopefully ISD will have the ArcGIS Server up and running soon, so that we can try to start creating these applications and getting GIS data to everyone at TDEC!

• Kurt Snider, also with USFWS, presented some techniques for making better maps and included tips on the proper use of colors and whitespace, line weights, map simplification, and arrangement of map elements on the paper. He recommended several books--I'll link to them in a separate posting.
  

Silas

Free Software for Downloading GPS Data -- DNR Garmin

The latest release of DNR Garmin, one of the best and free software packages for uploading and downloading points to Garmin GPS units is available:

New DNRGarmin Release -

DNRGarmin 5.2.33 is now available on the Minnesota DNR's website at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/mis/gis/tools/arcview/extensions/DNRGarmin/DNRGarmin.html

If you need help using DNR Garmin, feel free to post questions.

How to Add USGS Topos and Data Served by Terraserver

Some of the field offices and parks may not have the fastest connection to the servers here in Nashville. This makes it particularly hard to work with aerial imagery and USGS topo maps. USGS and Microsoft host a site called Terraserver that provides the topos and aerial imagery for free as a web map service (WMS). The URL for this service is:

http://www.terraserver-usa.com/ogccapabilities.ashx?

To use this service in ArcMap, follow the steps below:

1. Click the add data button:



2. Choose GIS Servers in the Add Data Dialog:














3. Double click Add WMS Server:


4. Enter the following Terraserver Web Map Service URL:
http://www.terraserver-usa.com/ogccapabilities.ashx?

Note that these instructions have been revised with the new terraserver map service URL.
Ignore the old URL in the screenshot below, and enter the one above.



Click Get Layers to see if the connection worked. If so, click OK.
ArcMap should take you to the Add Data Box with GIS Servers listed.

5. Double Click on the Microsoft TerraServer Map Server you just added.

6. Click on the Microsoft TerraServer Map Server map layer, and then click Add:


7. Zoom to your area of interest and start using the data:

GIS Tools

Originally, I posted this as a comment, but Silas and I thought it might need to be its on post....

I am currently cleaning up the GIS Tools folder. The hope is to rename them and to group them into subfolders to make it a little more user friendly.

If you are interested in taking a look at a few here's the process of adding most of them to your toolbar:

Inside Arcmap click Tools.
Click Customize.
Click the Commands tab.
Click the Add From File button.
Using the drop down, choose the T drive, the New Data folder, the GIS tools folder and the tool that you are interested in.
Click the tool.
Click Open.
You will see a dll file.
Click the dll file.
Click Open.
An "Added Objects" box should appear.
Click OK

There is a "Description" button that gives you a better description of the tool.

Now, with the tool highlighted drag it onto a toolbar inside of arcmap. It is now a button on that tool bar.

The Terraserver tool is a bit different. Once you click the OK in the Added Objects box, you do not need to drag it over to a tool bar. Simply, still in the Customize box, click the Toolbars tab, scroll to the T's and you should see TerraServer Tool. Check the box and a new toolbar will appear.

If you have any questions, please ask.
-ba

Poll for Field Offices

If you happen to be in one of the field offices or parks, what has your experience been with using data stored on the S and T Drives?

Is your connection fast enough or do you have to download data locally to get work done?

Suggestions

If you have any suggestions for the content, look, or usability of this blog, please post them below. Also, send links to useful sites if you know of them.

GIS Tools Folder on the T: Drive

Bill Avant has posted several tools and extensions for ArcGIS and GPS. They're currently located in:

T:\New Data\GIS_Tools

GIS Tools will probably become a separate folder on its own on the T: Drive.

Nov. 19th, TDEC GIS Day

TDEC will hold GIS day events on November 19th in the L&C Building. To participate contact Gayle Moore.

November 8th Next TDEC GIS User Meeting

The next TDEC GIS User Meeting will be on November 8th at 10 AM CST in the L&C Annex First Floor Conference Room, 401 Church St., Nashville.

Middle Tennessee Forum on Geographic Information Systems

The Middle Tennessee Forum on Geographic Information Systems will be held on Tuesday October 30 and 31st at the Ellington Agricultural Center in Nashville. Presentations are scheduled for Tuesday while workshops will be held on Wednesday. For registration information, visit the Tennessee Geographic Information Council website .

Welcome

The purpose of this blog is to keep TDEC GIS Users informed of GIS data and uses, training opportunities, tips and tricks. Feel free to post responses, or any bits of information you believe pertinent to GIS at TDEC.