Hot News Items - December 2005

California Framework Data Survey
The California GIS Council has announced the availability of an on-line survey to help determine the collective needs of California's GIS community for framework geospatial data. This information will be used to develop a geospatial data plan by the California GIS Council. The survey can be accessed at http://gis.ca.gov/council/survey.epl and should take no more than 10 minutes to complete. Each program within an agency, organization, company, or institution that uses or has a need for geospatial information should respond if possible. Survey results will be made available on the California GIS Council web site. This survey will run through the end of December 2005.

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS:
California Framework Data Draft Plan
As a companion activity to the California Framework Data Survey, the California Geographic Information Association (CGIA) is partnering with the US Geological Survey, the California Resources Agency and the California GIS Council (with funding from the USGS and Federal Geographic Data Committee) to develop a Geospatial Framework Draft Data Plan for California. It is intended that CGIA will work with these partners and the larger California GIS community to develop geospatial framework data plans that support the National Spatial Data Infrastructure. To accomplish this, CGIA is distributing this Request for Qualifications to find a highly qualified firm(s) to assist in developing the draft Plan and conducting and documenting associated Outreach workshops across the State. The purpose of this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) is to retain an experienced firm(s) to conduct interagency and public outreach and develop a Draft Geospatial Framework Data plan for the State of California. This RFQ is intended to solicit a Prime Contractor/Team and assisting contractors if any. The Prime Contractor/Team will work with contractors providing assistance as follows: (1) The Prime Contractor/Team will take the lead in planning and conducting all project activities, and (2). Assisting contractors, if any, will provide backup support as directed by the Prime Contractor/Team.

New CGIA Board Members
At the November 15, 2005, meeting of the CGIA Board, the following individuals were elected to the CGIA board:

• Emilio Solano, LA County, for county sector seat (1st year)
  
• Mark Clark, Tulare County, for county sector seat (2nd year)
  
• Jerry Davis, Professor of Geography at San Francisco State University, for educational seat (2nd year)
  
• Nadeem Shaukat, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, for utility sector seat (2nd year)
  

Announcing Central California Chapter of URISA newly elected executive committee:
The Central California Chapter of URISA newly elected officers as of Nov. 15th, 2005

• Karl Davisson - President, City of Bakersfield,
  
• Carey Boukai II - Vice President, City of Taft,
  
• Larry Vredenburgh - Secretary, BLM,
  
• Tom Peace - Treasurer, KC Fire Dept. (retired),
  

Progress of CGIA Regional Collaboratives
Regional collaboratives are becoming more active in California. California's geospatial community will become a more effective force as regional collaboration increases. Meeting minutes from 15 November 2005 can be downloaded so you can become more aware of what our active regional collaboratives are doing.

National Spatial Data Infrastructure Cooperative Agreements Program Grant Opportunities
In December 2005, the National Geospatial Programs Office (NGPO) of the US Geological survey will be formally announcing the 2006 NSDI Cooperative Agreements Program (CAP). The CAP grant provides seed funds to assist organizations in implementing the components of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI). Eligible activities include participating in the NSDI Clearinghouse Network, Geospatial One-Stop portal, National Map collaborative programs, web service interoperability, geospatial organizational collaboration, metadata documentation and harvesting, and framework theme standards. The CAP is open to all U.S. organizations. The Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) sponsors the CAP to promote the technologies, standards, best practices and organizational collaboration vital to data integration, partnerships for data investment and speedy delivery of geospatial products to support government. The FGDC consists of 19 Federal agencies in collaboration with State, local and Tribal governments, academic, non-profit and the private organizations. The FGDC Secretariat is hosted by the NGPO. Application information, funding categories and materials describing the CAP program and past year's projects can be found on-line at the FGDC website. Application materials can be accessed on-line at the FGDC website and Grants.gov. For more information on the CAP contact David Painter at (703) 648-5513 or .

Contaminant Chemistry and Transport in Soil and Groundwater Training:
See the training flyer for more details.
January 25 - 26, 2006, 8:30 A.M. to 5 P.M. (2 Days)
Courtyard Los Angeles Old Pasadena
180 North Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena, California
This course provides participants with an overview of key concepts essential to understanding environmental contamination and provides a fundamental understanding of the release and transport of chemicals in soil and groundwater. This material is intended for environmental professionals who are not chemists, but who require a fundamental understanding of contaminant behavior and monitoring parameters for their work. This course is recommended for all environmental professionals working with contaminated soil and water with minimal formal training in this subject. The course material will greatly enhance on-the-job training. It is also recommended for project managers seeking a review of the subject.

CGIA Becomes Active at CALGIS Conference - April 5-7, 2006:
The CGIA Board is collaborating with CALGIS planners to create two panels for the leadership track. One panel will review the progress and lessons learned from CGIA' s recent CAP Grant implementations on metadata training and data sharing. A second panel will focus on the accomplishments and lessons learned from several of California's most active regional collaboratives. Be sure to look for these programs on the leadership track the 12th Annual CALGIS Conference in Santa Barbara from April 5, 6, and 7, 2006. A substantial discount for early registration to the conference can still be obtained by completing the registration form at http://www.calgis.org/registration.htm.

Have you joined CGIA for the 2005-06 year? If not, what are you waiting for?

CGIA extends a special "Thank You" to the California Resources Agency for their hosting of our web site. This special arrangement reflects the close working relationship that exists between our two organizations and our mutual interests in using geospatial technologies to improve government services.