Selected RIGIS-Distributed Datasets Pertaining to Narragansett Bay Supplemented with Source Project Reports

The download packages for the following datasets have been updated with reports from the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program.  The reports describe these data in more detail, including why and how they were developed, as well as how they relate to each other.

Eelgrass (line)

Eelgrass (polygon)

Narragansett Bay Estuarine and Marine Wetlands Trends Analysis

Narragansett Bay Estuarine Habitat

South Coast Estuarine Habitat

Hardened Shorelines in Narragansett Bay

Degraded Coastal Wetlands of Narragansett Bay

Potential Wetland Impacts in Narragansett Bay

Land Use Adjacent to Wetlands in Narragansett Bay

Since it isn't clear in the RIGIS data clearinghouse that these all complement each other, the titles and metadata for these datasets are slated to be updated and consolidated, albeit at a later date!

New Submerged Aquatic Vegetation and Habitat Data Available from RIGIS.

New submerged aquatic vegetation and habitat data are now available from RIGIS.  Contributed by the Rhode Island Eelgrass Mapping Task Force, these data hail from the summers of 2006, 2009, and 2012.  Look for the datasets titled "Submerged Aquatic Vegetation" under either the "Oceans and Estuaries" or "Biology and Ecology" sections at the RIGIS data clearinghouse.

Save the Date - Joint RIGIS User Group / RIGEA Meeting at RIC on April 22nd

As a result of introductory discussions between Rhode Island Geographic Information System (RIGIS) and Rhode Island Geographic Education Alliance (RIGEA), both organizations have decided to hold a joint meeting at Rhode Island College (RIC) on April 22nd.  

This first-of-its-kind joint meeting will be held at RIC (600 Mount Pleasant Ave, Providence, RI 02908) from 4:00 PM- 7:00 PM on Monday, April 22nd in the "Faculty Dining Room South" of the Donovan Dining Center (#41 on this campus map https://www.ric.edu/campusmap/pdf/campusmap.pdf).  Please park in areas K or A on the same map.

 

This late afternoon meeting (free and open to the public) will include introductions of both programs, a few presentations from RIGIS and RIGEA members followed by a charette where the overlapping goals of both organizations will be explored.

 

Here is a preliminary agenda:

 

• Sign-in and Welcome (10 minutes)
• RIGIS
  • Introduction (10 minutes)
  • Presentations (30 minutes)
• RIGEA
  • Introduction (10 minutes)
  • Geography in the Classroom Presentation (15 minutes)
  • Classroom Geography and GIS - Our Challenge (15 minutes)
• Charette Session (60 minutes)
  • Purpose: To explore for shared interests, gather ideas and build partnerships
  • Questions for GIS Professionals (discussion)
    • Is K-12 geospatial education important to them? Why?
    • What benefits from geospatial literacy? (Employment, decision-making,)
    • What ideas and opportunities for supporting geospatial education?
  • Questions for GIS Educators (discussion)
    • How to better leverage the RIGIS database
    • GIS mentoring of RIGEA members by RIGIS volunteers ("adopt a school/teacher")
    • Transitioning K-12 students to RI Higher Education GIS offerings
• Wrap up Discussion: Key takeaways, next steps (10 minutes)
• Gather contact information (RIGEA board, interested RIGIS members)

We look forward to seeing you there!

GIS-Pro 2013 - presentation deadline extended to March 8th

As a member of URISA, a NEURISA Board member, and your RIGIS Coordinator, if you haven't already done so, I urge you to seriously consider submitting an abstract to the largest professional GIS conference this side of San Diego.  Need I remind you that in 50 years it has only been held *once* in New England?...  I guess I just did.

However, there's only 2 days left to do submit your abstract, so there's no more time to procrastinate!  Please click on the link below to sign up.

- Shane

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Presentation proposals are still being accepted for GIS-Pro 2013: URISA's 51st Annual Conference for GIS Professionals taking place September 16-19, 2013 in Providence, Rhode Island.

Abstracts are now due by Friday, March 8th, 2013...so don't delay!

All are welcome to submit proposals. There are no membership, certification or experience requirements, and the presentation opportunities are plentiful... from formal speaking slots and panel discussions to casual luncheon presentations and ignite talks. GIS-Pro 2013 is the perfect venue to share big ideas, solicit feedback, and get noticed.

See more about presentation ideas, guidelines, and a link to online submission form at: http://www.urisa.org/gisproCall_pr

Regards,

NEURISA


Shane D. White, GISP | RIGIS Coordinator | T: +1.401.222-6483 | swhite@doa.ri.gov | http://www.edc.uri.edu/rigis
State of RI, Dept of Admin, Div of Planning | 1 Capitol Hl 3rd Fl | Providence, RI 02908-5872

Reminder: RI Parcel Symposium - Wednesday, February 20th @ 9am in Cranston

Just a quick reminder that Tuesday from 9am until noon is our first ever RI Parcel Symposium.  We have lined up 9 total speakers from GIS consulting firms, a regional water utility, a surveying firm, a regional planning organization and municipal government to speak about how they utilize municipal GIS parcel mapping, their experiences with acquiring this information, and what they know about how municipalities fund ongoing GIS parcel map maintenance.

As with other RIGIS User Group meetings, there will be a 30-minute break in the middle for people to catch up with acquaintances and/or make new ones.

Please click on http://goo.gl/maps/z001R for a parking/building entrance map.

GIS-Pro 2013 Coming to RI! - Call for Presentations

GIS-Pro is coming to New England in 2013 (Providence, RI)!  Please mark the date (September 16-19, 2013).

GIS-Pro is URISA's Annual Conference for GIS Professionals. URISA is a multi-disciplinary association where professionals from all parts of the spatial data community come together to share concerns and ideas.

URISA recently released a call for presentations. The suggested topics list from the committee is extensive. Take some time to review it and develop your own ideas. Just remember to submit via the online abstract form by Monday, March 4, 2013.

I encourage you to submit an abstract. GIS-Pro 2013 is an excellent opportunity to highlight how RI GIS Professionals are using geospatial technology to address challenges in their communities and organizations.

I hope to see you at the new Omni (formerly Westin) Providence this September!     - Shane

RI Parcel Symposium - February 20th - Save the Date, Call for Presenters

Please mark your calendars for a joint meeting of the RIGIS User Group and the RI Municipal User Group on Wednesday, February 20th  from 9:00AM until Noon.

Thanks to Maria Giarrusso at the City of Cranston (RI Municipal GIS User Group Co-Chair), the meeting will be held in the Cranston City Hall (860 Park Ave) Council Chambers during school vacation week so that there is plenty of free parking!

This meeting will be a "Parcel Symposium" where members of the GIS community from many types of organizations will present their experience with obtaining and using municipal parcel data to support their work.  Following these presentations, we will hold an open discussion on how municipalities fund the ongoing maintenance of this valuable data source.

If you are involved with the creation of municipal Land Parcel data or if you benefit from using this data, please plan on attending this meeting.  The more people who attend, the livelier our discussion will be!

Call For Presenters:     

If you are using municipal Land Parcel GIS data and are involved with one of the following types of organizations (Federal, State, or Local Government, K-12 or Higher Education, Public or Private Utility, Non-Profit Agency, or Private Consultant or Surveyor), we are looking for you to make a short (5-15 minute) presentation on how you use municipal Land Parcel GIS data.

Please contact Shane White (RIGIS Coordinator) at shane.white@doa.ri.gov or 401-222-6483 with your interest in participating at this event.