GIS Tech News (#17)

Keep Utility Lines Out of Twilight Zone: PUD prevents data distortion with a combination of new policy and technology rules

Keep Utility Lines Out of Twilight Zone

PUD prevents data distortion with a combination of new policy and technology rules

Some water, gas and electric pumps seem to disappear into the Twilight Zone -- a mangled spatial dimension that doesn't exist anywhere. Those in the field swear something is there, but back at headquarters, supervisors can't seem to pinpoint locations. Sometimes it's the other way around: A team of technicians dispatched to service a line can't locate the pump station, even though it's clearly indicated in the database.

No, a chunk of land has not evaporated into thin air. The reason for the confusion is incorrectly registered data. When a system merges as-built CAD data, survey data in different state plain coordinate systems, original land information and aerial photographs, locations don't always line up perfectly. When adjustments are made, a nudge or two on the computer screen can translate into a significant distance on the ground.

The service domain of Truckee Donner PUD (Public Utility District) in Northern California spans an area of approximately 44 square miles, at elevations of 5,000-8,000ft. In size alone it's no Alaskan plains, but its winter can be just as harsh, as the ill-fated pioneers of the Donner Party discovered in 1846. You don't want a service technician trudging through ten feet of snow to locate an elusive pump station. To prevent its field staff from stumbling into the Twilight Zone, the PUD devised a workflow -- a combination of policy and technology -- to manage the integration of GIS and CAD data. Read More

Spatial Technologies: Integrating CAD and GIS
Using Topobase

by James L. Sipes

Being able to work together seamlessly has long been the Holy Grail of the CAD and GIS worlds. Users have numerous ways to move CAD data to GIS programs and vice versa, but any time data goes through a translation process, the quality of that data may be negatively affected.

Imagine being able to create, modify, manage and visualize both CAD and GIS data in the same system without going through any type of translation process. Autodesk has developed a suite of geospatial tools that seeks to do just that. This suite includes Map 3D, MapGuide and Topobase. The combination of Autodesk's geospatial software and Oracle's database and spatial technology simplifies the process of integrating CAD and GIS data. Read More

UPCOMING GIS EVENTS
Cadalyst'scomplete list of upcoming events is always available on our Web site. Cadalyst's sister publication, Geospatial Solutions, also offers a full calendar of GIS-related events.

Large-Format Document Management
Various dates
IDEAL offers webinars every Tuesday and Thursday on large-format scanning and document-management problems. An interactive question and answer session is included. Read more 

ESRI-GIS California User Group Meetings
Various dates in May 2006
Various California locations
User groups are a forum for ESRI users to share their experiences with each other, exchange best practices and learn about new technology. Topics range from entry level to advanced. Each meeting offers a focused, education-based agenda.

Managing a Versioned Geodatabase
May 31-June 2, 2006
Redlands, California
ESRI's instructor-led classes help you stay current on software and learn new skills that will optimize your GIS workflow. Read more

Southern Nevada ArcGIS User Group
June 5, 2006
Las Vegas, Nevada
ArcGIS user groups are focused on providing a forum for ESRI users to share their experiences with each other, exchange best practices and learn about new technology. Topics range from entry-level to advanced. Read more

QA/QC for GIS Data
June 5-6 and June 14-15, 2006
ESRI Learning Center, Redlands, California
ESRI's instructor-led classes help users stay current on software and learn new skills to help optimize the GIS workflow. Read more 

Northern Nevada ArcGIS User Group Meeting
June 8, 2006
Reno, Nevada
ArcGIS user groups are focused on providing a forum for ESRI users to share their experiences with each other, exchange best practices and learn about new technology. Topics range from entry-level to advanced. Read more 

BE Conference Europe 2006
June 11-15, 2006
Hilton Prague, Czech Republic
The BE (Bentley Empowered) Conference is an annual gathering of Bentley software users and their managers who want to sharpen their skills and expand their knowledge. At BE Conference Europe, attendees will find courses from professional trainers, practices from their peers and technology updates from developers. Read more

GIS in Cyber Security
June 22, 2006
National Press Club, Washington, D.C.
At the GIS in Cyber Security breakfast, attendees will learn how GIS is uniquely positioned to model the cascading effects of cyber threats and attacks, and to support an overall cybersecurity approach. Read more 

Cadalyst's New Job Search Now Live! If you're in the market for a new job -- or if you just want to see what's out there -- Cadalyst.com offers a new online Job Search that will help. Powered by Indeed, this new search tool offers a state-by-state list of CAD-related job openings, or you can customize a search to find your own list of U.S. job openings based on the keywords and locations you specify. Check it out today! Use the Job Search button on Cadalyst's GIS Web site or click here for a direct link.

The View from Google Earth: From Cadalyst's sister publication, Geospatial Solutions, this article examines how executives at Google Earth see themselves in relation to the broader geospatial marketplace. Google Earth's Chief Technology Officer Michael Jones answers questions and offers a hint or two about the popular virtual globe's future.

CAD Central (May 2005): Bentley launches geospatial subscription service, workstations and GPUs, small and midsize business study.

Spatial Technologies (Column)—Integrating CAD and GIS Using Topobase: Autodesk's Topobase lets users manage and modify CAD and GIS data in the same system.

New Newsletter: Location-Based Services: Cadalyst's sister publication, GPS World, has launched LBS Insider, a free e-mail newsletter that covers the latest trends, developments and solutions in location-based services. Click here to subscribe.

Click here for links to all the latest articles in Cadalyst magazine and on Cadalyst.com.