rcw@scicom.AlphaCDC.COM (Robert White) (09/07/89)
I would like to see if there are enough users on the net interested in Geographic Information Systems (i.e. Arc/Info, DeltaSystems, Tydac, etc) to warrant a newsletter. A GIS is a program capable of performing spatial analysis, for example intersecting a layer of land ownership with a layer of crop type and soil survey data to produce a graphic map integrated with tabular information. The industry actually does not define the term very precisely as of yet. I would propose collecting interesting articles and posting the compilation to an appropriate newsgroup, maybe sci.misc. If you have any thoughts on how to structure such a project, I would like to hear from you. I have scanned the list of existing newsletters, and there are none that address this field. Robert White rcw@scicom.AlphaCDC.com
etnpp@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca (Richard Lammers) (09/08/89)
In article <1883@scicom.AlphaCDC.COM> rcw@scicom.AlphaCDC.COM (Robert White) writes: >I would like to see if there are enough users on the net interested >in Geographic Information Systems (i.e. Arc/Info, DeltaSystems, Tydac, etc) >to warrant a newsletter. > [stuff deleted] > >Robert White >rcw@scicom.AlphaCDC.com I would be very interested a newsletter, I think there are a lot of geographers out there in GIS who are connected to the net. If there is enough interest generated maybe it could be extended to sci.geog. As for suggestions, I think that it should address issues not only in existing systems but those under development as well. It would also be a good place to put conference announcements and maybe even the abstracts. -- Richard Lammers etnpp@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca Dept. of Geography lammers@eos.geog.utoronto.ca University of Toronto etnpp@utorgpu
ingoldsb@ctycal.COM (Terry Ingoldsby) (09/09/89)
In article <1883@scicom.AlphaCDC.COM>, rcw@scicom.AlphaCDC.COM (Robert White) writes: > I would like to see if there are enough users on the net interested > in Geographic Information Systems (i.e. Arc/Info, DeltaSystems, Tydac, etc) > to warrant a newsletter. A GIS is a program capable of performing spatial I would *definitely* be interested in a newsletter, email list or newsgroup that discussed the concerns of GIS users. GIS doesn't seem to fit into any category; it has aspects of computer graphics, database, image processing. It is used on every sort of machine from IBM mainframes to workstations to PCs. Part of the problem with getting GIS going on the net is due to the nature of the agencies participating in GIS. Much of the GIS work is done by government groups who do not know about Usenet, electronic mail, etc., neither do they see any benefit (since there are no groups discussing GIS). Also, government agencies are very sensitive about possible security risks of tying to networks. This leads to a Catch-22 situation since you don't get a newsgroup unless there are users and there are no users without a newsgroup. Nonetheless it behooves those of us who are enlightened :^) to educate the rest about the benefits of the network. Starting a newsletter would be a good first step. -- Terry Ingoldsby ctycal!ingoldsb@calgary.UUCP Land Information Systems or The City of Calgary ...{alberta,ubc-cs,utai}!calgary!ctycal!ingoldsb
clh@tacitus.tfic.bc.ca (Chris Hermansen) (09/13/89)
From the blurb for GIS'90: GIS'90 will be the world's premier forestry GIS event of the 1990 season. It will be your opportunity to join up to 1000 other professionals and managers from all over the world who share your interest in the effective use of geographic information systems in forestry and natural resource management. Over the last three years this GIS event has proven to be the best place for getting current, practical information, for meeting leading GIS experts and for exchanging ideas with fellow practitioners. GIS'90 will be held in Vancouver, B.C. Canada, March 14-16, 1990 at the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre. For an information package, contact: GIS'90 Symposium Office 134 Abbott Street Suite 303 Vancouver B.C. Canada V6B 2K4 Voice: 1 604 688 0188 Fax: 1 604 682 2987 Anyone who is interested in submitting a paper should contact Paddy O'Reilly at the Symposium Office ASAP. For those who can't bear to use the telephone or snail mail, send me some e-mail and I'll pass it on. One last thing: I have to moderate two panel discussions at GIS'90. One is "Sharing the Data: Networking and Communications"; the other is "GIS Hardware: Micros vs Workstations vs Mainframes". The idea of these panel discussions is that the three panellists will present their paper (about 20 minutes per paper), and the remaining half hour will be taken up by a discussion between panellists and audience. The papers are meant to be case studies - either why something works or why it doesn't (ie, no vaporware). If anyone is particularly interested in presenting papers in these topics, or has any valuable suggestions, please let me know via e-mail. One last thing: for those who are interested but cannot attend, proceedings can be ordered from the above address. Thanks. Chris Hermansen Timberline Forest Inventory Consultants Voice: 1 604 733 0731 302 - 958 West 8th Avenue FAX: 1 604 733 0634 Vancouver B.C. CANADA uunet!ubc-cs!van-bc!tacitus!clh V5Z 1E5