Here Comes the Sun: Solar Development in Our Region & an Overview on Scenic Hudson’s Solar Mapping Tool

Please join us for our Summer Program. Alex Wolf from Scenic Hudson and Heather Ferrero from Livingston County will present on their work with Solar Development

When: Tuesday, June 8, 2021, from 12 PM to 1:00 PM EST

Where: Online

Cost: Free

Registration: http://bit.ly/GISSIGSu21Solar

Abstract:

Through the Climate Leadership and Community Protection
Act, New York State has set a mandated goal of a zero-emissions electricity
sector by 2040, including 70% renewable energy generation by 2030. In
this virtual session, Heather Ferrero of Livingston County will be giving a
short overview of solar development’s geographic spread in our region –
special focus on Livingston County. In addition, Alex Wolf of Scenic
Hudson will be demonstrating the new Solar Mapping Tool developed for the
Hudson River Valley region (and usable in our region,
too!).

Alex Wolf, Conservation Scientist at Scenic Hudson, conducts research and
analyses pertaining to Hudson Valley natural resources, with a focus on
climate change adaptation, mitigation, and resilience, as well as the
ecology and conservation of local flora and fauna. Prior to joining Scenic
Hudson, he was a researcher at several institutions including the Cary
Institute for Ecosystem Studies and the Missouri Department of
Conservation. Alex has co-authored more than 10 scientific publications. He
earned a Bachelor of Science in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavioral Biology
and a Master of Science in Wildlife Ecology.

Heather Ferrero, Deputy Planning Director for Livingston County, has been
involved with local land use and GIS in Livingston County for 23 years. An
avid mapping enthusiast, she earned Bachelors and Masters of Arts degrees
in Geography. When not at work, she tends to her family’s treehouse
village – including a car and a plane in the trees – in their backyard.

Esri Redistricting Online

Please join us for our Spring Program. Gerry Aiken and Mackenzie O’Brien from Esri will present on the Redistricting Online tools

When: Wednesday, May 12, 2021, from 12 PM to 1:00 PM EST

Where: Online

Cost: Free

Registration: http://bit.ly/GISSIGMay2021Reg

Abstract:

Redistricting is a constitutionally mandated activity that occurs every 10 years following a Census that determines the districts for the House of Representatives. As such, Redistricting is a governmental effort that isn’t talked about much until we get around the time to take a Census. The 2020 Census has concluded, and Redistricting efforts are heating up already as State and Local Governments prepare to redraw boundaries starting in the Summer of 2021.
Esri Redistricting is offered as either SaaS or a Managed Services or On-Prem deployment, that enables governments, advocates, and citizens to complete and securely share compliant redistricting plans. It is important to note that Redistricting is a GIS activity done by non-GIS professionals. Often the end users are lawyers, consultants, and activists or advocates who have no formal training in GIS or exposure to our software. Wizard-driven workflows help users who would otherwise not be aware of typical GIS tools or processes.

Recordinghttps://youtu.be/zjTYQ9tFj40

Plastic pollution in Lake Ontario: sources, transport and fate

Please join us for our December Program. Christy Tyler, Matt Hoffman, and Nathan Eddingsaas from RIT will be presenting on their research into MicroPlastics on Lake Ontario

When: Tuesday, December 15, 2020, from 12 PM to 1:00 PM EST

Where: Online

Cost: Free

Registration: https://forms.gle/wGuXXCgqxBToSfse7

Christy Tyler is an Associate Professor in the Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, an aquatic ecologist with an interest in marine and freshwater ecology, pollution, invasive species and ecosystem restoration.

Nathan Eddingsaas is an Associate Professor in School of Chemistry and Materials Science, an analytical, environmental, atmospheric chemistry whose research focuses on aerosols and particulate matter and their effects of the environment and human health.

Improving Transparency with Web GIS

Please join us for our Autumn Program and our first online program. Pam Delaney, GISP from the City of Rochester will present Improving Transparency with Web GIS.

When: Tuesday,  October 13, 2020, from 12 PM to 1:00 PM EST

Where: Online

Cost: Free

Registration: http://bit.ly/GISSIG2020Fall

Abstract: In the city of Rochester, data transparency is essential for helping citizens to shape the future of their community. In a digital age, however, traditional methods of providing information about the important work of these entities lack the reach and impact of more modern forms of visual communication. This presentation will highlight efforts of the city of Rochester to improve transparency by migrating traditional data sources into ArcGIS “story maps” and dynamic mapping applications, enabling citizens to rapidly access and consume critical information about development activities impacting their communities.

Pam Delaney, GISP, has been working at the City of Rochester for 13 years, and for the past 8 years she has worked in Neighborhood & Business Development as a Senior GIS Analyst. In recent years, Pam has worked to build the NBD Map Gallery in an effort to make the Department more transparent, improved data collection processes throughout NBD, and worked on Strategic Projects such as the launch of the Building Blocks platform.

Link to recording

Annual Conference Postponed

Due to the recent decisions following the COVID-19 response by New York State, our local colleges, and CDC recommendations, the GIS/SIG board has decided to postpone our annual conference scheduled for March 31st.  We are currently looking at rescheduling the conference to the fall and will send additional information as it becomes available.

We appreciate your understanding and patience in this situation. You are currently registered attendees and will have your registration automatically transfer to the new conference date. However, if you would like to request a refund for your paid registration, please contact Jeff Tiede.

We would also like to thank our sponsors, speakers, and everyone who has given time to make this conference great, and we look forward to seeing you later in 2020.

Serious 3D GIS Games for Disaster Resilience Spatial Thinking

Please join us for our December Program at Wegman’s Theater at RIT Magic Spell Studios. Our talk this meeting will be Serious 3D GIS Games for Disaster Resilience Spatial Thinking by Brian Tomaszewski from RIT. Lunch will be served after the presentation.

When: Tuesday,  December 10, 2019, from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM EST

Where:
Wegman’s Theater at RIT Magic Spell Studio
1 Lomb Memorial Drive
Rochester, NY 14623

Note: Pick Up Parking Passes at the Main Entrance

RIT Map with Magic Spell Studios (MSS) Circled

Cost:
$5 Payable at the door

Registration: http://bit.ly/GISSIGDec2019

Webinar Simulcast Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1419871236259065355 via the University Consortium for Geographic Information Science (UCGIS)

Serious 3D GIS Games for Disaster Resilience Spatial Thinking

Brian Tomaszewski RIT


Abstract: This presentation will share lessons learned from a National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (NSF REU) Site at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) that investigated combining open geodata, Esri City Engine and the Unity game development environment to create immersive, serious 3D game environments to build disaster resilience spatial thinking skills. A case study of the research applied to Hurricane Harvey disaster response will be presented. 

Taking the Risk out of Vegetation Management: EagleView TreeRisk™ Mapping

Please join us for our September Program at Pittsford Library. Our talk this meeting will be Taking the Risk out of Vegetation Management: EagleView TreeRisk™ Mapping presented by Shane Jakubec, Christopher Walden, and Daniel Grosche – EagleView. Lunch will be served after the presentation.

When: Tuesday,  September 17, 2019 from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM EST

Where:
Pittsford Library
24 State Street
Pittsford, NY 14534

Cost:
$5 Payable at the door

Registration: https://conta.cc/2zMjmB9

 

Taking the Risk out of Vegetation Management: EagleView TreeRiskMapping  Shane Jakubec, Christopher Walden, and Daniel Grosche – EagleView

 

TreeRisk™ helps vegetation managers pinpoint encroachment risks and confidently take action to mitigate them. TreeRisk is more cost-efficient to implement than traditional systems and promotes additional savings with ongoing use. Through the use of imagery, EagleView can efficiently pinpoint precise locations of greatest risk to utility corridors.

We will discuss one current, ongoing project we provide for Vegetation Managers in New York State, the scale to which we produce the deliverables, and future considerations within this specialized field. Also, we will dive into how we leverage GIS for this analysis

ESRI Mobile Apps in the Curriculum and Research

Please join us for our June Program at Sunnyside Lodge in Black Creek Park. A picnic lunch will be served following the presentation. 

When:  Tuesday, June 18th, 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM

Where: Black Creek Park – Sunnyside Lodge

              3835 Union Street

              North Chili, NY 14514 

Cost:    $5 (Pay at door)

Lunch: BBQ

Registration: http://bit.ly/GISSIGJune2019

ESRI Mobile Apps in the Curriculum and Research Robert Beutner, MA, GISP Hobart and William Smith Colleges &  Samuel Beck-Andersen Finger Lakes Institute at Hobart & William Smith Colleges

Abstract:

Curriculum: Rob Beutner, GISP; Digital Learning Consultant, Hobart and William Smith Colleges

For the past two spring semesters, the Biology Department of Hobart and William Smith Colleges has used the ESRI Collector app with their students to perform authentic field data collection of invasive species in the Finger Lakes Region.

In this portion of the presentation, an overview of how the ESRI Collector app was used, with support assistance by HWS IT Services, by the students to design and execute field sampling for HWA (Hemlock Woolly Adelgid) in geographically challenging terrain.

Research: Sam Beck-Andersen; AIS Project Manager, Finger Lakes Institute at Hobart and William Smith Colleges

The Finger Lakes Institute at Hobart and William Smith Colleges has operated a Watercraft Steward Program (WSP) since 2012, stationing seasonal employees at boat launches around the Finger Lakes Region to inspect watercrafts for invasive species, and to provide educational information the boating communities in the region.

In 2019, the FLI WSP began utilizing the New York State Natural Heritage Program’s Watercraft Inspection Steward Program Application (WISPA). Using a highly-developed Survey123 Form to collect field data from watercraft inspections. Data is collected through the field app on tablets, and submitted to the NYNHP’s WISPA, hosted through ArcGIS Online. NYNHP has organized their database into groups so that each of the 16 cooperating programs have instant access to all the data their program has collected. NYNHP has also developed a user friendly Dashboard App through ArcGIS Online that displays a layer map including data from all 16 cooperating programs.

This program will demonstrate the use of the WISPA tool utilized at over 200 boat launches around the state through Survey123, the process of exporting data from the state-wide database, and will outline the comprehensive Dashboard App to show state-wide data.

 

2019 Story Map Entries

Student Story Map Entries

Winner Contested Spaces: Changing Borders and Life in the West Bank - Shannon Curley -  SUNY Geneseo
Winner Contested Spaces: Changing Borders and Life in the West Bank – Shannon Curley – SUNY Geneseo

The Pearl Oatka Watershed Story
The Pearl Oatka Watershed Story by Shradha Shrestha – Rochester Institute of Technology

Emergency Response Times in Tompkins County - Amanda Van - RIT
Emergency Response Times in Tompkins County – Amanda Van – RIT

Diamondback Terrapin Distribution - Jenifer Rosete - RIT
Diamondback Terrapin Distribution – Jenifer Rosete – RIT

Professional Story Map Entries

Winner ROC The Riverway - Mike Ross and Kevin Kelley - City of Rochester
Winner ROC The Riverway – Mike Ross and Kevin Kelley – City of Rochester

To End All Wars - Local Journeys During WWI - Sheri Norton - Ontario County
To End All Wars – Local Journeys During WWI – Sheri Norton – Ontario County

City of Rochester Land Use Boards and Commissions - Pam Delaney - City of Rochester
City of Rochester Land Use Boards and Commissions – Pam Delaney – City of Rochester

Rocks from around the world - Heather Zane
Rocks from around the world – Heather Zane