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By BIXEL, December 31, 2009 1:20 pm

2009 was a big year for Ena and I. As with anyone a year filled with high points, with a few steep climbs along the way. We moved, I changed jobs, Ena kept hers and works from home full time, the dogs, Ena’s father being diagnosed with Parkinsons, the crappy economy (we survived), a year documented on Twitter… The list goes on.

“Its not that some people have will power and some don’t, its that some People are ready to change and others aren’t. ~ James Gordon M.D.

Change really is good! Ask anyone who knows us and they will tell you that we are on a 4.5 year move scheule. The urge hits, an opportunity presents itself, we weigh the options, if its best for US we pack up and go. See, its not that hard. Just don’t sweat the small stuff. Hell, we moved from Chicago to Austin mid year on less than a months notice. Was it easy? NO! Did we survive and come out of the ordeal better for it? YES!

“Only I can change my life. No one can do it for me.” ~ Carol Burnett

All to often I see people stuck (for a lack of a better word) in a life or a job they are not entirely happy living. My advice to them… Give it up, cut your losses, pack your shirt and haul bass for greener pastures and fish filled water. If you need a map let me know… thats kind of my thing!

“They say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself” ~ Andy Warhol

The point is – all things change with time, we get old mature, we pick up fly rods our interest change, we eat too much mexican food put on a few pounds, we move south the witnters get colder, the summers get hotter not because of global warming, add your thoughts on change here…..

“Some people are still unaware that reality contains unparalleled beauties. The fantastic and unexpected, the ever-changing and renewing is nowhere so exemplified as in real life itself.” ~ Bernice Abbott

Thanks for playing along, now go outside and do something fun!

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By BIXEL, December 6, 2009 9:20 am

Recently, I’ve been tossing around the idea of starting a new Twitter account. One more focused on my outdoorsy babble. Thus, giving all my GEO/GIS friends a break from Fly Fishing, #getoutside, dogsrule talk, hiking, biking and vice versa.

My dilemma. From day one on Twitter I’ve followed one rule “tweet who you are” and the followers will come. It’s easy enough to click on that unfollow button and just be done with someone. Click, you’re gone! However, when that person provides quality content on more than one subject… making that click becomes a more complicated issue. To follow or not to follow? That is the question.

Surely, you have seen this on Twitter with some of your followee’s. Probably me, that crazy dude who can yak about GEO/GIS, Fly Fishing, #getoutside, his dogs and something funny his wife did or said in less than an hour. But, I have to say, that’s kind of what makes Twitter great, the open and honest release of thoughts, ideas and interest. Like them or not.

So, I guess what I’m asking is, do you continue to follow someone even though PART of what they say is of no interest to you, or do you drop them like a bad habit?

I’m seriously looking for feedback, please leave a comment with your thoughts.

Thanks for playing along, now go outside and do something fun!

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By BIXEL, December 3, 2009 7:56 pm

I came across this little guy today. He made me think about the little things in life that make it great.

Ok, the stuffed puppy may be a bad metaphor, but hey… it’s my blog and I’ll be happy if I want too!

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By BIXEL, October 23, 2009 1:04 pm

I posted a simple question on Twitter this morning asking: What’s one piece of advice you would give someone entering the GIS field? I was inquiring, because I was asked by a professor of mine to speak to a person interested in entering the geospatial field. (Just the fact that she thought of referring me to the guy was flattering.)

The response I got from the #geoarmy on twitter was outstanding. Responses came in from all over the map and from tweeps in Local govs, State govs, some working on Federal projects, Students, Geospatial business owners, Surveyors, Planners, Open Source evangelist and ESRI die hards… your basic Geonerd.

All of the responses were relevant to any newcomer entering the geospatial field as well as those actively engaged in the profession. Some of my favorites follow:

@DonMeltz – New GISers should view GIS as a tool, not a profession. Need to know enviro, transp, engineer, planning, helath, web, etc…

@geoDAWG – Easy… #geoglobaldomination = we are the people our parents warned us about. & Actually just getting involved is really important! Ask as many questions as possible in places like The GIS Forum

@Storm72 Not to limit oneself to any one set of apps or tools, but to become proficient with as many as possible.

@Taliesn – GIS is a tool to aid a love of explaining how the world works. Be proficient with the tool but embrace the fact that you’ll never be an expert.

@quakeguy – Run fast the other way Seriously, learn where the different types of data are and how to use them.

There were others about learning as much as possible, being involved in social networking, learning programming, be a jack of all trades and being involved within the geospatial community. Again, all were very relevant and practical for the newbie and experienced geonerd alike.

Getting involved with URISA is a good place to start but certainly not the only organization out there. There is any number of local, state and national GIS user groups to be active and participate in. Finding the one that is right for you is a simple Google search away.

After the meeting I posted that I had done my part to advance the movement of #geoglobaldomination and felt that I was successful in converting one new geonerd.

Selling points, you ask? There were 3 actually 1. That GIS is a tool that is applicable to many different professions 2. It’s ever changing, challenging and advancing in new directions 3. My enthusiasm for what I have picked as a career path.

There is only so much you can cover in a 30 minute meeting after all. However, like I said, I felt good about spreading the GIS gospel and hope that I have made a difference for the better in that particular person’s life. I wish them all the best in what ever direction they decide to take in their future education and subsequent life.

Thanks for playing along, now go outside and do something fun!

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By BIXEL, October 6, 2009 6:52 pm

I attended the ESRI User Conference Recap today that was presented during the 2009 Texas GIS Forum - the following are my thoughts and observations!

STREAMLINE - “reduce the number of concepts that you have to carry in your head” my favorite quote from the entire presentation and it seemed to be the theme for the entire show.

First let’s start off with the top 9 improvements that are new and upcoming in ArcGIS 9.4. and 5.6.7.8.9….. you get the point!

9. Upgraded User Interface – ArcCatalog will now be dock-able within ArcMap, The table of Contents can be removed and added without map redraw (completely awesome) 8. Dock-able attribute tables within ArcMap. 7. New search capabilities when adding data and for finding tools. 6. New reporting apps – kind of like MS office with the addition of usable templates. 5. Geo-processing in Model Builder – popups for tool tips, UNDO for auto layout, add models to toolbars, Geo processing will run in the background. 4. New layers tab in Table of Contents – a smart legend showing only visible layers (brilliant) 3. Change symbols through a search (my #1) 2. Time awareness – temporal maps, a system clock to show time and date of your data. There was something about setting multiple fields for map tips was in there somewhere 1. Fast base Maps – Continuous redraw of groups of layers and the ability to roam (think panning in Google Earth… just sayin’)

Some of the other stuff discussed for 9.4 that is equally as impressive as the top 9 list.

The new and improved editing experience – simplified, snapping options greatly improved, 3D editing, setting fields that are visible while editing, easy to use tools, deleting vertex improvements, mini editor toolbar that follows you while editing, web based editing.

Advances in mapping and cartography: Map automation through scripting, multi-scale generalization, embedded python scripts, improved map production through map books, dynamic text and multi-page pdf export.

Spatial Analysis – I had to answer an email through this so this all I got: Location/Allocation modeling, gravity modeling and time dependent routing.

A complete 3D GIS – Fast visualization, virtual cities, real time embedded video, ability to set symbology size based on an attribute field, embedded sketch up models, skyline tools and video layers. All very cool!

ArcGIS Server and new Imagery Integration – enhanced geodatabase, open API’s, topology rules and replication, mosaics live in the GDB, highly scalable, keep your image data in its native format, real-time and up to date imagery, on the fly reprojections and pan sharpening, image display and analysis tool in a toolbar in one central location. All in all it’s a complete imagery platform (think ERDAS but not).

New and improved ESRI support; they claim that 70% of support request are resolved within 1 day.

A few other things that were noted but, that are not really new… ArcGIS Online data and the Resource Center. I did find the addition of templates for ArcGIS Server a handy piece of information to be armed with. An announcement that the world base map in the resource center would soon be complete at a scale of 1:200,000 its now 1:1,000,000. Even though ArcGIS Explorer crashed 3 times during the demo it was very impressive and the crowd seemed very responsive to its use and mapping abilities.

Anyway, that’s what I got out of an entire week of the ESRI User Conference condensed into 3.5 hours. If you attend one of these presentation in the near future let me know your thoughts, I may have drifted while checking email or twitter and missed something important.

Thanks for playing along, now go outside and do something fun!

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By BIXEL, September 20, 2009 1:06 am

Doblars muddy feet

We spent a great day at the park with the huskies this morning.

 Click on the picture to see all the images.

Thanks for playing along, now go outside and do something fun!

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By BIXEL, September 11, 2009 8:52 am

The U.S. Interior Department’s National Park Service has announced that it intends to award a cooperative agreement to the Outdoor Foundation to carry out the Outdoor Nation project associated with the Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance program.

The estimated total program funding available was cited as $15,000, although no specific amount for this award was indicated by the agency.

A funding notice from the National Park Service states: “This initiative engages young adults in leadership for outdoor recreation and conservation. Public, private and nonprofit sectors are all represented in the partnership. Further, Outdoor Nation will increase the effectiveness of recreation and conservation organizations in all sectors, public, private and non-profit; enhance relationships among all sectors of the outdoor recreation and conservation community; and invite meaningful participation and leadership in the fields of outdoor recreation and conservation from young people throughout the country.

The funding opportunity number is NPS-NOI-WASO-09-0005.

Full announcement

http://www.grants.gov

Taken from www.targetednews.com Written By: RAMESH NEGI

Thanks for playing along , now go outside and do something fun!

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By BIXEL, September 7, 2009 10:02 pm

I remember growing up and all of the outdoors was my classroom. Going to school was simply a side note, a necessary evil forced upon us by those who new what was good for us. In all honesty they did. As I’ve aged, I do know that my favortie classes were the ones that got us out of the classroom and under the sky. Rather it be Science, PE or Math, I think any class can be translated through an outdoor activity. The students at William N. Deberry Elementary School in Springfield Massachusetts will now get the chance to enjoy some of the same joys of learning outside that I did. READ MORE

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By BIXEL, September 6, 2009 9:37 pm

Testing the WP GEO location plug-in. This allows you to add geocoding or Google Maps to your post. Very cool and easy to use if you want to add some geospatial or location info to your writing. It does require you to go out and get a Google Maps API key, you can get one HERE. (requires a google account)

Thanks for playing along, now go outside and do something fun!