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Workshop Schedule

Monday, April 7

Tuesday, April 8

Two Day Workshop (Monday and Tuesday)

Abstracts

1. GIS and 3D Visualization Monday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Cost $150.00
UM School of Business Room GBB 206

Presenters: Ken Wall, Geodata Services Inc. and Kyle Balke, WGM Group

Every GIS map is an abstract version of reality, but 3D GIS allows users to explore and work with maps in a more understandable and realistic way. This is a full day hands on training workshop in 3D visualization and modeling including building, manipulating and deploying GIS maps in multiple dimensions. This workshop will introduce you to the techniques for converting GIS data into 3D scenes, graphics and video. We will cover the use of commercial and open source free software for 3D GIS applications. Software to be covered will include ESRI 3D Analyst, ArcGISExplorer, CommunityViz, SketchUp and Google Earth. Through lectures and a custom tutorial you will learn how to combine the software tools to create mashups and dynamic, visually compelling and realistic scenes for users to view, experience, and fly or walk through. Specific techniques will cover tips and tricks to prepare GIS data for 3D visualizations, building models of structures, vegetation, street furniture, and other components, texturing surfaces, mashups of GIS and Google Earth, 3D viewing software, 3D graphing, and output as still images and videos. Click here to view the tutorial outline and learn more about this workshop.

2. Grant Proposal Writing Monday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Cost $120.00
Holiday Inn, Ballroom A

Presenter: Janet Cornish, Community Development Services of Montana

The ability to write winning grant proposals is becoming increasingly important to GIS professionals. At the same time, competition for funding has become more brisk while the types of projects that are funded, cycles of giving and fund raising strategies are constantly changing. This full day seminar will provide participants with key strategies to help them put their best foot forward while "demystifying" the grants process. The seminar will offer a step by step approach to preparing successful proposals including:

• Developing capacity
• Assessing Need and Setting Priorities
• Identifying Projects
• Identifying Grant Sources and Associated Requirements
• Preparing Strong Proposals
• Preparing Budgets
• Managing Successful Programs

Janet Cornish is a community development consultant, working in the areas of land use planning, housing, downtown redevelopment, municipal finance and organizational development. She presents seminars in grant proposal writing throughout the state and region, and is on the adjunct faculty of Montana Tech where she teaches courses for the Professional and Technical Communications and Liberal Studies Departments.

3. Data Modeling and Database Design Monday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Cost $120.00
Holiday Inn, Ballroom B

Presenter: Stuart Challender, Department of Earth Sciences, Montana State University

This workshop will introduce data modeling concepts and database design process resulting in a logical database schema. Concepts are intended to build the knowledge base and skills necessary to develop spatial databases that adequately support the intended applications. This is important for people developing GIS applications as well as providing important background for people interested in participating in the Montana Land Information Advisory Council (MLIAC) grant initiatives or the Montana Spatial Data Infrastructure (MSDI) framework efforts. Participants will learn how to read and understand database schemas as well as design a database and create a schema. Specific topics include:

• Spatial data models
• Relational database theory
• Spatial relationship concepts
• Database design process
• Building a database schema
• How to read a database schema
• Examples of data models
• Data model implementation tips and tricks

This workshop does not require previous experience in database design. Knowledge of GIS data and applications will be helpful.

4. Using the National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) Monday, 1:00 – 5:00 PM Cost $60.00
Holiday Inn, Gallatin / Jefferson room

Presenter; Keven Roth (USGS retired) and Duane Lund, Montana State Library, Natural Resource Information System (NRIS)

Imagine a map of all the surface water features in the country. Specifically, the streams and lakes and springs found on all 55,000 7.5-minute USGS topographic maps. Now imagine all of that data available to you for free. That is the National Hydrography Dataset (NHD). With just a few minutes of training, anyone can access this free government dataset over the web. With a few more hours of training, those with basic GIS skills can begin some rather complex analysis of the Nation’s surface water. Availability, power and ease-of-use are the hallmarks of the NHD.

This workshop will introduce new users to the 24K National Hydrography Dataset. Participants will learn how NHD is being used by organizations across the nation, review the 24K NHDinGeo data model, do some basic mapping in ArcGIS 9.x and learn about flow navigation; linear referencing and network analysis.

5. Distributed GIS Monday, 1:00 – 5:00 PM Cost $60.00
Holiday Inn, Glacier / Yellowstone room

Presenters: Bryant Ralston, Environmental Systems Research Inc. (ESRI) & Alex Philp, GCS Research

Historically speaking the only practical way to utilize GIS was to ensure that the necessary parts – data, software, hardware, applications, and people – be assembled in one place, traditionally on a GIS workstation. Advances in technology have now enabled distributed GIS where these parts can be accessed remotely removing the need to have them all in one location and taking advantage of independently improving technology and infrastructure frameworks. This workshop will provide attendees the conceptual framework for understanding distributed GIS and provide numerous real-world examples of distributed GIS in action today.

6. Using Remote Sensing for Natural Resource Management Decisions Tuesday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Cost $150.00
UM Continuing Education Building, Room 210

Presenter: Van Shelhammer, GeoEssentials Inc.

Ever wonder how remotely sensed images, collected by satellites or airplanes, can be used for making natural resource management decisions? If so, this hands-on-workshop is for you. A brief explanation of the principles of remote sensing how plants interact with the electromagnetic spectrum will be presented. Participants will have hands-on experience in measuring light reflectance values of various plants to further their understanding of the concepts of remote sensing. Participants will be at the computer using MultiSpec software, provided free to participants, to examine images of Montana natural resources, determine visual differences in the images, experiment with false coloring, and using classification methods to identify different vegetative areas. Vegetation classification of an image can be used for management decisions and has application in a number of natural resource management situations. Participants will learn how to access LandSat satellite and other images for your area of interest from MontanaView.

7. Spatial Analysis Tuesday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Cost $120.00
UM School of Business, Room GBB 213

Presenter; Keith Weber,GIS Center, Idaho State University

In this workshop students will learn about spatial analysis concepts and techniques from basic overlay operations to ArcGIS's GeoProcessing capabilities (e.g., clip, erase, and proximity), and Digital Terrain Modelling (DTM). Plenty of hands-on exercises using regional datasets and real-world examples are provided to apply and reinforce covered materials. The intended audience is GIS personnel who need to apply spatial analysis techniques and correctly address spatial problems.

Prerequisite: familiarity with the ArcGIS interface.

8. Publishing Metadata to the Montana GIS Portal Tuesday, 8:00 AM – noon Cost $60.00
Holiday Inn, Ballroom B

Presenter: Gerry Daumiller, Montana State Library, Natural Resource Information System (NRIS)

Geospatial information portals provide the framework for connecting data publishers with data consumers through the power of the World Wide Web. The Montana GIS Portal is a joint project of the Montana State Library and the Montana Department of Administration, and will soon grow to be an important feature of the GIS landscape in Montana. You can be one of the first participants in this new paradigm by sharing your GIS data, applications and services through the Montana GIS Portal.

Workshop participants will establish themselves as portal users and will learn everything they need to know to publish metadata records in the Portal. In addition, they will receive tips on creating outstanding metadata records that accurately describe their data and services, how to present applications and services so they get noticed by the wider community, and how to use the Portal as a mechanism for interacting with other data publishers and consumers.

9. CommunityViz for Planners Tuesday, 8:00 AM – noon Cost $80.00
UM School of Business, Room GBB 206

Presenter: Ken Wall, Geodata Services, Inc.

CommunityViz® is advanced yet easy to use GIS software that is designed to help people visualize, analyze, and communicate about important land use decision. This is a hands-on workshop designed for planners with little or no GIS experience. You will learn the essential basics to operate ArcView GIS and a typical planning model in CommunityViz. We will also explain when, why and how a planner, consultant, citizen volunteer, or staff member of an NGO would use GIS and decision support tools. We will also instruct participants in the use of a popular land use sketch tool, and simple steps to export and view 3D scenes and models of planning areas using Google Earth. Throughout the Northern Rockies population is shifting with some areas experiencing rapid growth and others decline and the need for revitalization. Communities need to respond and shape their future, and decide how economic, environmental and social considerations can be addressed. CommunityViz is the ideal tool to assist in these decisions and facilitate understanding and visualization. All participants will receive a free version of the CommunityViz Analysis Viewer to be used on their own computers. Click here to view the tutorial outline and learn more about this workshop.

10. ArcGIS Server Tips and Tricks Tuesday, 1:00 – 5:00 PM Cost $60.00
Holiday Inn, Ballroom A

Presenter: Tim Weisenburger, Environmental Systems Research Inc. (ESRI)

This workshop is focused towards ESRI’s ArcGIS Server implementers and developers and will concentrate on an overview of tips and tricks in Configuring, Authoring, Publishing, Developing, Securing and Serving GIS Resources. The discussion will also describe the concepts of a Federation and Service Oriented Architectures (SOA) and how these concepts are used in sharing GIS resources across an organization or with other Enterprise systems. Discussions and questions will be encouraged to help attendees to understand issues and problems that are occurring in their implementation of ArcGIS Server. This workshop should be a good follow up to those that have had training or exposure to the ArcGIS Server environment.

11. Mobile GIS and Field Data Collection Tuesday, 1:00 – 5:00 PM Cost $60.00
Holiday Inn, Glacier / Yellowstone room

Presenter: Jackson Beighle, Electronic Data Solutions; Scott Moore, Environmental Systems Research Inc. (ESRI)

This workshop will focus on the benefits of taking GIS from the office to the field using new technologies from Trimble Navigation and ESRI. The workshop will also highlight the latest in field data collection products including the Laser Technologies TruPulse 360 laser rangefinder and Ricoh 500SE GPS digital camera. Participants will learn about the key elements of mobile GIS and see real-world examples of how the technology is benefiting others. The workshop will feature ArcPad 7.1 and participants will gain valuable hands on experience during a one-hour field session.

12. Cartography Fundamentals Tuesday, 1:00 – 5:00 PM Cost $60.00
Holiday Inn, Ballroom B

Presenters: Stuart Challender, Department of Earth Sciences, Montana State University; Gerry Daumiller, Montana State Library, Natural Resource Information System; Kris Larson, CDM; Paul Wilson, Department of Geography, University of Montana

Have you ever reached the end of your GIS project and found yourself struggling with how to go about creating output to represent your work? Have you ever struggled with the following questions when it came time to create your output?

• What projection should I use for my map?
• What do all those projection parameters mean?
• How does the projection affect accuracy?
• How is accuracy affected by the data source and scale?
• How do I unlock the mysteries of color?
• Does my color scheme clarify or confuse?
• How do I create a readable, efficient and harmonious map composition?
• How do I create a great map?

If you answered yes to any of these questions consider spending an afternoon with four seasoned professionals as they present concepts related to these issues and discuss ways to develop solutions to common cartography and map design problems.

13. Introduction to Geoprocessing Scripts using Python Monday and Tuesday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Cost $560.00
Northern Rockies Geospatial Training Center

Presenter; Alan Coyle, Environmental Systems Research Inc. (ESRI)

The normal cost for this 2-day course offered by ESRI is $980.00. ESRI is offering this course at a reduced rate for the benefit of participants attending the Intermountain GIS Conference. Thanks to GCS Research for offering the facility at 1/2 the normal rate!

The ArcGIS geoprocessing framework includes a scripting environment, and Python^® is the scripting language included with ArcGIS. This course introduces the Python scripting language and shows how it can be used to access and automate geoprocessing functionality. Students learn Python scripting syntax, then begin writing scripts to automate geoprocessing operations. Students also learn how to incorporate Python scripts as custom tools in ArcToolbox.

This course is designed for experienced ArcGIS users who want to learn how to automate everyday processes or create complex analytical scripts. ARC Macro Language (AML^TM) and Avenue^TM programmers who want to write scripts for ArcGIS will also find the course of interest.

Students should have completed Introduction to ArcGIS I or Learning ArcGIS Desktop and Introduction to ArcGIS II or have equivalent knowledge. Basic programming skills, such as using loops and conditional statements, are also required.