Monday, February 23. 2009

More Details on USGS Funding from Stimulus Package

The Washington Post today is reporting that the USGS will get $140 Million from the recently passed stimulus package for supporting contract work for capturing LiDAR data. The intent is to facilitate topographic map production. According to the Post, the money "will go toward paying private firms to use new airplane-based laser technology to produce a more accurate topographical map of the country.The information is useful for such things as tracking sea-level rise and flooding."

Last week, we reported that the USGS was to get $140 Million from the package for "Repairing facilities and equipment for U.S. Geological Survey seismic, volcano, monitoring and stream gages." Today's news seems to indicate more specifics but the same dollar amount.

Posted by Joe Francica in USGS at 09:13 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) |

Tuesday, February 10. 2009

USGS Print Map Prices go Up March 2

You might want to plan ahead if you need anything from USGS, map prices are going up for the first time since 2002, some will rise 40%!

Here are the details from the Feb 3 USGS Document in the Federal Register:

(1) 7.5 minute 1:20,000-scale, 1:24,000-scale, 1:25,000-scale,1:63,360-scale, and 7.5 minute x 15 minute 1:25,000-scale, 1:63,360-scale, 1:100,000-scale and 1:250,000-scale primary series quadrangles from $6.00 to $8.00 per quadrangle.

(2) Thematic maps and small scale National Park maps from $7 per sheet to $9 per sheet.

(3) National Earthquake Information Center maps bearing private sector copyright from $10 per sheet to $12 per sheet.

(4) Large format and poster maps from $7 per sheet to $10 per sheet.

Posted by Adena Schutzberg in USGS at 07:08 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) |

Wednesday, January 14. 2009

USGS & OptIPortal, a Mega LCD Wall, Used in Obama Inauguration Security

With support of the USGS and the University of Illinois-Chicago's (UIC) Electronic Visualization Lab (EVL), security planning for president-elect Obama's inauguration included technology called OptIPortal, a multi-screen, tiled wall of LCD monitors (Image at right: John R. Evans, USGS information technology specialist, briefs outgoing Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne (center) and Secretary-designee Ken Salazar (right).  See more information about OptIPortals.

See the UIC press release as well as more graphics of the OptiPortal display at the SAGE/EVL gallery. (graphics used with permission of UIC)

Posted by Joe Francica in USGS, Remote Sensing at 16:59 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) |

Tuesday, January 13. 2009

Podcast: COGO Encourages Congressional Oversight of Geospatial

The Coalition of Geospatial Organizations (COGO) sent a letter to Congressional leaders last week requesting establishment of geospatial subcommittees in the House and Senate. Why make such a request and why now? Our editors look at the request, the timing and what the future may hold.

Posted by Adena Schutzberg in USGS, Directions on the News Podcast, Geospatial Business, Infrastructure, GITA at 01:00 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) |

Friday, January 9. 2009

COGO Sends Letter to Pelosi, Reid to Establish Geospatial Oversight Committee

In a press release issued today, the Coalition of Geospatial Organizations (COGO) sent a letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid asking them "to establish subcommittees in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate with jurisdiction over Federal geospatial activities."

COGO is comprised of 15 professional geospatial organizations and the letter was signed by Cy Smith, chairman, from NSGIC and the statewide GIS coordinator for the state of Oregon. The rationale for establishing congressional oversight is that activities are currently spread among 30 different subcommittees and geospatial technology is in use in over 40 federal agencies and COGO feels that there is a need for "effective structure for oversight and legislation over the increasing federal government activity in geospatial technologies," according to Smith.

The letter recommends that a subcommittee of the House Committee on Natural Resources and Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources "would be appropriate."

It seems like there may be other issues here at work...we'll look to find more information soon about other reasons for this letter. But, my perception is that someone or some organization had serious concerns about the distribution of federal funds for geospatial technology.

Posted by Joe Francica in USGS, Geospatial Business at 10:21 | Comment (1) | Trackbacks (0) |

Tuesday, December 23. 2008

Podcast: Big Geo News in the December Lull

The year is just about over so why did so many organizations announce new products, updates, agreements and developer opportunities this week? The distraction of the upcoming holidays may mean "few are paying attention" but we are! This week's podcast shares some of announcements you don't want to miss and why they are important.

Posted by Adena Schutzberg in Google, USGS, Yahoo, LBS, GPS, Standards, Patents, Directions on the News Podcast, Satellite Navigation, Apple at 01:00 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) |