What is the Google Maps Engine Public Data Program?

Some of you might find this interesting...

http://www.directionsmag.com/channels/government/blogs/what-is-the-google-maps-engine-public-data-program/362457

Open Data and the Federal Government

Here's the Canadian Government website for Open Data:

http://data.gc.ca/eng

New York City and OpenStreetMap Collaborating Through Open Data

New York City has opened up 200 high value data sets to the public, making it possible to use this data to improve OpenStreetMap.

https://www.mapbox.com/blog/nyc-and-openstreetmap-cooperating-through-open-data/

URISA GIS Leadership Academy in Calgary, May 5-9, 2014

URISA is pleased to announce the URISA Leadership Academy in
Calgary, Alberta, May 5-9, 2014

The URISA Leadership Academy is a five day training program, tailored to professionals faced with the unique challenges of GIS leadership and management.

“I would highly recommend the ULA. It helped to broaden my organizational awareness and perspective regarding leadership roles within a GIS context. I walked away from this experience feeling invigorated and, thanks to a daily learning journal, empowered to implement tailor-made action items within my daily work routine.  I still find myself referencing the material and my course notes. The ULA team-based exercises allowed participants to learn from each other, to analyze their own issues and challenges, and to thoroughly explore leadership strategies throughout the five day event.” - Laura Holmes B.Sc., GISP, GIS Lead - Associate, TERA Environmental Consultants, Calgary, Alberta (ULA 2012 Graduate - Savannah, Georgia)

Participants will learn:

• ·         GIS leadership and management techniques
• ·         Strategic planning
• ·         Successful team development
• ·         Organizational capacity building and sustainability strategies (ROI, innovative funding ideas)
• ·         Program investment and justification
• ·         Change management
• ·         Situation assessment and organizational performance evaluation
• ·         Ethics and professional challenges
• ·         Problem solving

Courses are taught by proven leaders in the profession (all are GISPs and accomplished in the field). Each course includes interactive exercises, team-building tools, and opportunities to delve into topics in a way that is difficult to accomplish during a large conference. (Note that course attendance is limited in size to encourage such interaction...so interested individuals are encouraged to register early to reserve a spot.)

"For me, the URISA Leadership Academy (ULA) really brought to the forefront the need for, and the importance of, a champion for geospatial technologies in almost any organization. The experienced instructors really demonstrated how to be that champion, with the steps for success, and the pitfalls along the way. From the excellent team-building exercises, to the “elevator” speeches, the ULA showed that the only place in line for geospatial professionals is the front." - Jamie Leitch, GISP, City  of Welland, Ontario (ULA 2012 Graduate – Savannah, Georgia)

The ULA has been presented regularly to rave reviews since 2007 and this will be the first time the program will be held in Canada. The event will take place at the Delta Bow Valley hotel in downtown Calgary and ULA attendees may take advantage of an attractive $189 CDN hotel room rate for the event.

Visit the URISA website regularly for additional information.

Note that significant early registration (register by December 31 and save $500!) and team discounts are available.  

Please contact URISA if you have any questions. Register early to reserve your spot. The ULA limits attendance to capitalize on small group discussions and interactions.  Don’t miss the opportunity.

Happy Thanksgiving!

What is the spatial reference for Alberta 10TM?

Utility companies provide their data in CAD format in 10TM because it covers the whole province of Alberta. Does anyone know what the spatial reference is for 10TM so we can convert this data in either 3TM or UTM?

Who pays for public access to open data ?

You might find some of this info interesting...

Who pays for public access to open data?