National Map Elevation and Imagery Funding Available

USGS has 15 discretionary grant opportunities to collect and process imagery and elevation maps to be included as part of the National Map. The funds are part of the Stimulus aka the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Awards run up to $500,000 are are open to institutions of higher education and non-federal government agencies.

A funding opportunity notice from the U.S. Geological Survey states: “Many organizations including state and local governments, private and non-profit firms, as well as many Federal government agencies use these data to support their applications and requirements planning, infrastructure improvements, resource assessments and scientific studies. The data collected under this announcement will become available to the public through The National Map. Priorities for the program include collecting elevation data over those coastal areas of United States most susceptible to storm and hurricane flooding, earthquake damage, and coastal erosion and also increasing coverage and availability of leaf-off high resolution orthoimagery.”

The funding opportunity number is 10HQPA0014 (CFDA 15.817). It was posted Oct. 27 with an application closing date of Dec. 1.

via Targeted News

Louisville, KY Stimulus Map

Best I can tell this an ESRI ADF based app. I wonder why the city didn’t use Flex like most other ESRI stimulus maps?

Also interesting: the map says (C) 2009 but not to whom the data is copyright. I do believe the info on the projects is public domain, from the federal government. Full details on projects send you to PDFs on city website.

Was $350 million too much for broadband mapping?

Several individuals and one government agency think so. On Wednesday the National Telecommunications and Information Administration said it’d change its plans about giving out the funds. The plan now is to spend more than $100 million, and then reassess the program. Among the concerns about the program is the general consensus that the maps will not be available before other funds to expand broadband are scheduled to be distributed.

- AP

Unofficial CA Stimulus Map

Stamen Designs is behind an unofficial map of California’s stimulus spending. But map does sit on a state website with this disclaimer:

This representation does not satisfy federal reporting requirements and is not the state’s official, comprehensive reporting mechanism for Recovery Act funding. It has been created and displayed as a service to the citizens of California.

Like all Stamen maps, it’s elegant and easy to use. Map tiles are by Cloudmade and the tabular data is available for download. (Just so Sean can’t complain!)

via @gletham

Stimulus and GIS Tidbits

The University of Central Florida received the $1.3 million federal grant from stimulus funds to study walking, cycling and gardening initiatives aimed at getting residents active.

Using focus groups, self-reporting, GIS mapping and physical activity measuring devices, researchers will gather data on the 183 participants’ physical activity over the course of two years.

- Orlando Business Journal

The South Carolina Forestry Commission has received a $1.74 million grant from stimulus funds to restore longleaf pine in the state.

The Forestry Commission says the money translates funds for private landowners and job creation in the state’s number-one manufacturing industry. The Longleaf Pine Restoration Initiative will create or retain jobs that will include equipment operators, tree planters, herbicide applicators, GIS specialists, foresters, and forest technicians.

- WLTX