More GPS Spoofing

Spoofing is the name given to creating a bogus GPS signal- similar to the signal broadcast by the satellites- in order to get the unit to provide the wrong location. This is way different than errors caused by multipath or signal reflection (intent being part of it).

Unlike the previous example, here's a link to a story about Cornell scientists who have figured out how to spoof the actual signal.

Financial Crisis in GIS!

This is basic GIS, but it's spatial analysis of the crisis (if you want to call it that- there seems to be more debate on whether it actually is). Recall that it all started with over-extended home mortgages. Variety of reasons why some areas aren't doing so bad- sometimes when the economy hasn't been great for decades, a crisis doesn't really register.
The series that this map is from is here . There is a link to a web-gis map application here .

Internship Opportunity: City of Columbus

Job Opportunity
City of Columbus
Department of Public Utilities


This position is for a Student Intern II at the Department of Public Utilities, Division of Sewerage & Drainage at 910 Dublin Rd. The preferred candidate will be majoring in GIS or a related field and be knowledgeable with GIS software such as ArcView. Candidates must also have the ability to use Microsoft Word and Excel proficiently. This position will assist in archiving and scanning drawings and files. Additional duties will include GIS related tasks such as address searches, data entry and map plotting. A valid motor vehicle operator’s license is also required in order to conduct field inspections and to verify geographic data through the use of GPS equipment. You must also maintain full-time collegiate status in order to qualify for this job classification.

Candidates must deliver a resume by 3:00 p.m. on October 10, 2008 to Patty Nalepa, Department of Public Utilities, 910 Dublin Road – Room 4150, Columbus, OH 43215, or by fax to (614)645-0500, or by e-mail to pjnalepa@Columbus.gov. Clearly indicate on your resume which position you are applying for. If you have any questions, please call (614)645-5802.

GPS spoofing: steal this truck

via Planet Geospatial and a chain of blogs, comes this story on spoofing the GPS signal on a tractor trailer in order to trick the dispatcher into thinking everything is hunky-dory.
Meanwhile, you and your buds are taking the truck to a different location and cleaning out the goods to sell later. Skills you can use.

Wish I thought of it...

From the Ithaca College GPS manual...

While the reason you are reading this is probably because you have to use the GPS units for a class, GPS do other things besides lower your GPA. With it you can map out areas, find out where you are, where to go, and how to get back. That sounds really lame but you must remember that
people have been trying to figure out where they are since there have been people.
Columbus would have killed for a GPS unit and maybe then he would have found what he was actually looking for.

Mike's Fall 2008 Schedule

For what it's worth, here's my schedule, including office hours.

PDF version

GIS & Surveying: getting along

In Professional Surveyor magazine , they've run a column called Intersect, in which a Professional Surveyor and a GIS Professional (GISP) examine issues that geospatial professionals discuss and sometimes argue over. A classic example is this column where they discuss who should be collecting data in the field (except below)

Unfortunately, there's no easy way to access the columns online except by going to Professional Suveyor and clicking on the Archive link. The other option is to subscribe to the once a month publication.

Intersect: Are Surveyors the Right People to Collect GIS Field Data?

Janet Jackson, GISP and Randy Rambeau, PLS.

GIS JANET says ...

When I first began writing my response to this question, my answer was, "It depends." It depends on how accurate the data needs to be. It depends on what type of GIS project is involved. And it depends on the surveyors' level of experience using customized, and probably unfamiliar, field-to-GIS computer interfaces.

However, the more I wrote, the more I realized that "it depends" is really not my answer to the question of whether surveyors are the right people to collect GIS field data. My true answer is NO, unless the project requires a highly accurate boundary survey or a network of geodetic controls that will be used to tie in additional data...continues

SURVEYOR RANDY says ...

I think you were on target when you first began writing. It does depend. It depends on the data accuracy needed and the type of GIS project involved. It depends on whether or not the data being collected is regulated by the general statutes and the licensing board of the state where the project is located. It also means the surveyor using customized field-to-GIS interface needs proper training, which I am sure also holds true for the GIS staff.

When survey grade (centimeter and decimeter) accuracies are required, it is imperative the data is collected by surveyors who are in the field every day and use the equipment—be it conventional surveying equipment such as total stations and data collectors or RTK GPS units—every day. Using the equipment day in and day out requires the surveyor to recognize problem indicators both with conventional and GPS equipment, and to use the proper methods to avoid incorrect or inconsistent data. Surveyors have the experience and training to establish accurate horizontal and vertical local control networks, and know how to best tie the collected data into those networks...continues

At long last!

Over the Summer, the GIS lab was finally updated.

A lab with a view!

Your eyes aren't deceiving you- 24 dual monitor Dell Precision workstations designed for graphic/image based software. They not only look good, they scream.
With dual monitors, we enter the realm of the paperless office. No longer will you need to print out instructions or help files because they can go on one monitor while the action is on the other.
I'd like to recognize the contribution that students have made to making this happen.

GIS & Farmland Analysis

Via Spatial Sustain blog, here's a report/project where GIS & Remote Sensing played an important role.

American Farmland Trust has released a report trying to examine if enough food is grown within 100 miles of San Francisco to meet the city's food needs.

Link to report (including map)

From the report:
A key part of the study is an examination of the farmland
from whence comes locally-produced food. The most
reliable data on land use is provided by the Farmland
Mapping & Monitoring Program (FMMP) of the Division of
Land Resource Protection at the California Department
of Conservation. This program is arguably the best of its
kind in the nation, updating land use trends on a parcelby-
parcel basis every two years using aerial photography.

GIS Data Trends downside

The previous link about adding data layers to ArcMap highlights a discouraging trend in GIS.

Back in the day, GISers used to be data fiends. Anytime actual data (in shapefile, e00 or coverage form) was available for free or through a friend, you grabbed it and made a copy of it (on floppies, zip disks, or finally CDs). The data that you created you gave away or traded for other data. It didn't matter if you used it right away, because you'd use it eventually. The web, ftp and servers helped organize a lot of this. It was a substitute for baseball cards or comics, but it worked.

Then, came World Wind, Google Earth, WMS, etc. There is a ton of good that has come out of internet-based data mapping. But the downside is that a lot of data is now available via the net as a layer to add- read as an image to view.

It's the look but don't touch school of GIS data. It reinforces the "making pretty pictures" side of GIS and obliterates any analysis (because typically the attribute data is stripped out). Ultimately, the complete dataset is available for a fee; as it should be I suppose.

ESRI Mapping Center

It would be easy to base a lot of posts on the blog at the Mapping Center, so instead, I'll just give you the link.

Mapping Center Blog


Now, on to a really simple and cool way to load some base data layers into an ArcMap session. The link below has a link to a variety of existing data layers from topos and basic world street layers to current weather imagery and current national fire data.

Steps to Add data

GIS GPS Program First

In his opening message to faculty yesterday, Dr. Light recognized the GIS-GPS program as one of the examples of innovation at Hocking College. In his list of firsts, he pointed out that Hocking had the first 2 year program dedicated to GIS-GPS in the nation. The statement, long in coming, was a real tribute to Ralph Moran who had the foresight to get the ball rolling in the 90's.

Job Book

Just picked up a new how to get a job book at the library called "Ditch the Flip-Flops" by Sylvia I. Landy. The focus is providing job interview advice to new or soon-to-be graduates.
The opening sentences say it all: "College solidifies a brutal reality: preparation is the difference between pass or flunk; win or lose, and feast or famine. The lack thereof is the universal deal breaker". The more effort on the front end, the smoother the finish will be.
Some of you will probably be seeing it in the Winter!

City of Columbus Job Posting

I received this announcement from the City of Columbus. The date has passed, however, they did indicate some interest in hosting interns.

Official Link

Job Class Title: GIS Technician

Job Code: 0545
Recruitment: 08-0545-C1
Salary Range: Grade 55
Pay Rate: $18.18 -$27.26**
Open Date: 08/18/2008
Close Date: 08/27/2008
Minimum Qualifications: (The job class specification, which includes the class definition and a complete listing of examples of work, can be viewed by clicking on the Job Class Title above.)
Possession of an associate's degree or equivalent coursework in geographic information systems, geography, planning, computer science, engineering or closely related field, which includes the use of GIS software. Substitution(s): Two (2) years of architectural, engineering or GIS experience using GIS software packages (such as ArcView, ArcInfo, ArcGIS) and associated hardware may be substituted for the associate's degree/equivalent coursework.

Bookmark These 2

Two websites I'm constantly using. And so can you!

Planet Geospatial

ESRI Support Site

Public Land Survey

Here's a link to an excellent Oregon Extension primer on land surveying. The illustrations on public land survey system are very good.
PDF Version

Hocking Hills Flatwater Classic

Not exactly geospatial, but from Dr. Mike Caudill:

For those interested in flatwater canoe and kayak racing there is a
new canoe and kayak race in southeastern Ohio (Hocking Hills
Flatwater Classic at Lake Logan State Park, Hocking County). This
event is scheduled for Oct. 18th and includes a 6-mile race for
competitive paddlers and 1.5-mile race for recerational racers. Join
us for a fun event and fall colors. Race is sanctioned by the Ohio
Division of the U.S. Canoe Assoc.

To view race flyer, see the following web page
http://ohiopaddler.com/ Click on "Race Shedule". Scroll to the
bottom and select Hocking Hills Flatwater Race.

Now, get a boat, a paddle & pfd and get out there.

Athens County Aerial

Ben reports that a provisional version of the new Athens County Aerial has finally been posted at

Zip File Here

What a difference 12in pixel resolution makes!