2015 NC GIS Conference: Full Schedule

Signing up for the customized schedule isn’t the same as registering for the conference.
Be sure to register so you can take advantage of all the great sessions.

11:00am EST

State Data Initiatives: Approaches and Outcomes

NC OneMap continues to provide new data and now a new ISO metadata profile which promises to be easier to use and more relevant for our modern times. Come hear what's new and how to get started.

Statewide and Framework Datasets: Approaches and Outcomes
Jeff Brown

NC's New ISO Metadata Profile
Steve Averett, Sarah Wray

Moderators

Jeff Brown, GISP

Coordination Program Manager, NC Center for Geographic Information and Analysis

Jeff Brown is the Coordination Program Manager for the North Carolina Center for Geographic Information and Analysis (CGIA) in the Government Data Analytics Center in the Department of Information Technology. Since joining CGIA in 1996, has worked on a variety of GIS projects as an... Read More →

Speakers

Steve Averett, GISP

GIS Manager, City of Greensboro

Sarah Wray, CGCIO, GISP

Spatial Data Manager, NC Dept. of Transportation

Sarah Wray is Chair of the North Carolina Geographic Information Coordinating Council (NCGICC) ad hoc Metadata Committee. She currently serves as the Spatial Data Manager for the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

Thursday February 26, 2015 11:00am - 11:30am EST
Room 301 A/B

Sessions, Data

1:30pm EST

QA/QC: Best Data Forward

As the data coffers fill, GIS Professionals must dedicate an increasing amount of effort toward the organization and management of geospatial data resources and realize that data asset management is a valuable commodity. This session will focus on the data management needs of all stages of the data management lifecycle from planning and collection to analysis and publication.

Providing Quality Assurance and Quality Control Measures Within an Enterprise GIS Utilizing Data Reviewer
Jonah Waterman, Tiffany Puett
Ensuring data quality is one of the most important aspects of modeling geographical information. Over the years, updating legacy systems has posed many problems as new systematic rules are put in place and as new data types are added. One major challenge of converting data is to efficiently and effectively assess prior- and post-data quality while minimizing down time. We discovered a tool, Data Reviewer could actually aid with the various challenges surrounding data quality.

Data Reviewer is a data quality management extension to be used with Desktop and/or Server that not only facilitates the resource-demanding process of QC but can also replace the manual task of sorting through all of the problems. Use industry standard batch jobs to run against your data for Quality Control or build your own with 40 plus tools out of the box. Coordinate staff effort for the review process and build reports for management.

In this presentation, learn to leverage the tools of Esri's Data Reviewer extension to make better decisions, manage data quality, figure project costs/timelines, and generate reports for management. We will also discuss defining data quality, setting up a framework of governance, building a dataset matrix, and best QA/QC practices.

Semi-Automated Procedures to Assess the Quality of NCDOT GIS Data
Tim Mulrooney
For the Summer of 2014, some students and I worked on a project through a Research Grant to assess the quality of the NCDOT roads GIS database. We used some custom Python code, existing tools and old-fashioned QA/QC to assess horizontal accuracy, attribute accuracy and attribute completeness for their database. The NCDOT has our blessing to present the results, but I mainly wanted to focus on the techniques that we discovered to make our life easier in making these assessments.

From Flood to FLOOD: NCFMP’s FLOOD Geodatabase and Data Management
Richard Fogleman, Gray Minton, Tonda Shelton
The NCFMP’s FLOOD Geodatabase was commissioned in 2000 as the state’s digital data standard for the production of flood insurance studies. The FLOOD Geodatabase provides the primary source of data to drive all Regional Flood Risk Information System (RFRIS) functionality in support of NCFMP’s digital vision. The FLOOD Geodatabase has been modernized over time to be current with the industry’s technological advances as well as to capture desired functional outcomes for the NCFMP. Data management is critical within the FLOOD Geodatabase system. From contractor data development processes to deliverables and data archiving, the NCFMP has developed innovative data architecture concepts along with automated tools to support data integrity system wide.

Moderators

Lynda Wayne, GISP

Principal, GeoMaxim

Lynda Wayne is the Data for the Nation Project Manager for the National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC) and Principal of GeoMaxim, a consulting practice specializing in geospatial data management. She is a researcher and educator with a long history of facilitating geospatial... Read More →

Speakers

Richard Fogleman, GISP, CFM

GIS Technical Director, AECOM

As Technical Director, Mr. Fogleman is responsible for directing software and technology implementations within the GIS department. He brings more than 17 years of experience with FEMA floodplain mapping and DFIRM projects as well as focused experience in GIS administration, workflow... Read More →

Tiffany Puett, GISP

Geospatial Trainer & Support Specialist, Duncan Parnell, Inc

Tiffany is a GIS Analyst with more than a decade of experience in managing geospatial information. Specializing in data conversion, editing, and project management she has particular expertise managing land records data inside of the Esri parcel fabric data model. Tiffany holds a... Read More →

Jonah Waterman, GISP

GIS Technician, Greenville Utilities

Originally from the Island of Newfoundland, Jonah moved to the United States in 2000 and attended Appalachian State University graduating with a B.S in Geography with a concentration in GIS Science. He has recently received his ESRI Technical Desktop Associate Certification and his... Read More →

Gray Minton, PE, GISP

Director of Research and Development, AECOM

Mr. Minton is Director of the Research and Development group, which is responsible for the creation of specialized computer programs that increase the efficiency of numerous operations. He has more than 19 years of experience as a civil engineer and programmer, with extensive experience... Read More →

Dr. Tim Mulrooney

Assistant Professor, NC Central University

Tim is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental, Earth and Geospatial Sciences at North Carolina Central University. He is a graduate of Columbia University and earned his Ph.D. at UNC-Greensboro. He teaches a variety of GIS courses at NCCU and has recently introduced... Read More →

Tonda Shelton

Project Manager, NC Floodplain Mapping Program

Ms. Shelton, a native of North Carolina, is the Program Manager of the North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program. Her primary responsibility is the day-to-day oversight of the State’s Floodplain Mapping Program. Ms. Shelton has worked in both public and private sectors in the area... Read More →

Thursday February 26, 2015 1:30pm - 3:00pm EST
Room 306 B

Sessions, Data

1:30pm EST

The Data Well (AICP)

Data, data, everywhere, the servers filled to the brim. In this session we'll explore in-depth work to bring us much anticipated statewide seamless parcels, statewide centerlines, and how the 2020 Census will beneficially leverage these new datasets.

NC's New Seamless Parcel Database
Tom Morgan

NC's New Statewide Centerline Project
Tim Sheldon, Sarah Wray

2020 Census Data Partnerships
Bob Coats

Moderators

Ken Shaffer

Deputy Executive Director, Federal Geographic Data Committee

Speakers

Bob Coats

Governor’s Census Liaison, Coordinator North Carolina State Data Center Network, North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management, Demographic and Economic Analysis Section

Sarah Wray, CGCIO, GISP

Spatial Data Manager, NC Dept. of Transportation

Tim Sheldon, GISP

Business Analyst, Timmons Group

Tim has 9 years of experience in geospatial technology. He received his Bachelor’s in Geography from Western Carolina University and his Master’s in Geography from Appalachian State University.

Tom Morgan

Land Records Manager, NC Dept. of the Secretary of State

Tom is a North Carolina Native. Tom graduated from NC State in 1971 with a BA in geology. Tom went to work as a surveyor’s assistant (chainman) in 1971. After working for several different firms in the Raleigh area he received his license to practice surveying in the State of North... Read More →

Thursday February 26, 2015 1:30pm - 3:00pm EST
Room 306 C

Sessions, AICP, Data

3:30pm EST

Soil and Water (AICP)

Soil and water are the physical foundations for life, and great strides are being made through state and federal GIS projects to map, standardize, and deliver updated soil and water data.

NC's Stream Mapping Effort
Cam McNutt

USGS Pursuing Ele-Hydro
Silvia Terziotti
The 3DEP and NHD programs within USGS have recognized the importance of maintaining integrated elevation and hydrography datasets. Steps that are being taken and the vision of future products will be discussed. States will be active participants, and ways in which they can contribute will be outlined.

NRCS SSURGO Soils Data
Chad Ferguson

What's New in NC StreamStats ver. 3: Stronger, Streamlines, and Added Functionality!
Katherine Kolb
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) introduced the updated web-based StreamStats interface, version 3, in Fall 2014. The new format provides a smoother interface and added functionality, such as web geoprocessing services. The StreamStats application provides an accurate and consistent process that allows users to easily obtain streamflow statistics, basin characteristics, and descriptive information for USGS data-collection sites, as well as user-selected ungaged sites. In the North Carolina StreamStats application, users can compute more than 40 basin characteristics and various peak-flow frequency statistics for a delineated drainage basin. Select streamflow statistics and basin characteristics for data-collection sites have been compiled from published reports, and available data for a site also are accessible by querying individual sites with the StreamStats interface. This presentation will describe the new StreamStats version 3 user interface and functionality, as well as plans for additional future enhancements.

Moderators

Brian Pointer

Ambient Monitoring System Coordinator, NC Division of Water Resources

Speakers

Chad Ferguson

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Katharine Kolb

Geographer, US Geologic Survey, South Atlantic Water Science Center

Kitty Kolb is a member of the StreamStats website national development team. Among her many other GIS duties for the South Atlantic Water Science Center, she is the technical support point of contact for the North Carolina, Georgia, and South Carolina StreamStats applications. Her... Read More →

Cam McNutt

Water Quality Assessment Coordinator, NC Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources

Cam McNutt has been with the Division of Water Resources (Water Quality) for 15 years as a basin planner and for the last 10 years as the water quality assessment coordinator. He develops the state 303(d) lists and other assessment reports and tracks implementation of various water... Read More →

Silvia Terziotti

GIS Specialist, US Geologic Survey, South Atlantic Water Science Center

Silvia Terziotti works with USGS Water Science Centers as a GIS Specialist on projects ranging from the preparation and analysis of geospatial data for hydrologic analysis; development of innovative ways to incorporate high density elevation surfaces into hydrologic studies; and flood... Read More →

Thursday February 26, 2015 3:30pm - 5:00pm EST
Room 306 C

Sessions, AICP, Data

3:30pm EST

Which Way? Routing and Optimization

Getting from A to B is not as easy these days. Time, energy, economics, efficiency can be critical factors when moving people, services and commodities. Learn more about routing strategies for getting what you need, where you want.

Using NPMRDS Travel Time Data for Evaluating Roadway Congestion
John Wisdom
The recently available National Performance Management Research Data Set (NPMRDS) provides transportation agencies with access to detailed travel time data which can be used to generate meaningful information on mobility and congestion. This presentation will discuss how these data can be analyzed with GIS to evaluate congestion, identify bottlenecks and generate other performance measures. Methodology and issues encountered when working with the data will also be covered.

GIS-Based Sanitation Route Optimization
Scott Barnwell
In an effort to streamline operations and reduce costs, the City of Asheville embarked on an effort to optimize and balance sanitation truck routes. After an extensive data cleanup effort and field data collection, city staff modeled sanitation collection routes and determined the variables that impact route efficiency. Applying the model led to significant reductions in time and cost to collect solid waste in Asheville.

Creating Routable Railroad GIS Layers for North Carolina with the NCDOT Rail Division
Dwight Otwell
Government organizations, international transportation corporations and design and development industries rely on accurate transportation network modeling to guide decision making. Such models require comprehensive and accurate dataset. North Carolina DOT has long maintained high-quality GIS data describing state and local street networks, available for public and internal use. Until recently, North Carolina did not offer comparable railroad layers, and what is available in the form of Tiger and Federal Railroad Administration data is incomplete and inaccurate.

NCDOT Rail Division partnered with Moffatt & Nichol Engineers to develop an authoritative collection of GIS layers to describe track, crossings and transload facilities. The dataset contains all public and pedestrian crossings in the state and topologically connected linework representing all active track in North Carolina. Moffatt & Nichol continues to provide quarterly updates to this resource.
We propose that Senior Data Analyst Dwight Otwell, GISP of Moffatt & Nichol present a narrative detailing the creation of this dataset, focusing on the importance of an accurate, routable network to support transportation planning and economic modeling vital to government and private interests. Mr. Otwell will explain the complex and conflicting source data and explain how Moffatt & Nichol's workflow takes advantage of many combined decades of experience in the rail industry to resolve these conflicts.

Moderators

Kristian Forslin

GIS Coordinator, North Carolina Railroad Company

Speakers

John Wisdom, GISP

GIS Specialist, CDM Smith

John Wisdom is a Senior GIS Analyst for CDM Smith. He has 24 years of experience in applying geospatial technologies in the fields of transportation, urban planning, and travel demand modeling. His experience includes corridor analyses and impacts assessments for new road and rail... Read More →

Scott Barnwell, GISP

Business and Public Technology Manager, City of Asheville

Scott Barnwell serves as the Business and Public Technology Manager for the City of Asheville where he promotes greater government transparency and an improved citizen experience with local government. As a technology professional, Scott manages the city's enterprise business applications... Read More →

Dwight Otwell, GISP

Senior GIS Specialist, Moffatt & Nichol

Graduated from NCSU 2002 BS in Forest Management, NCSU 2008 MS Natural Resource Management with a specialization in spatial information systems. Has worked in the public sector as a research tech in the Joint Fire Science Program, an environmental tech for NC DENR on the floodplain... Read More →

Thursday February 26, 2015 3:30pm - 5:00pm EST
Room 306 B

Sessions, Data

8:30am EST

Open Data: Public and Personal Perspectives (AICP)

Local governments build and supply many datasets that are used commercially. Private industry, utilities, and commercial mapping companies are large consumers of local data. A better system of public/private data sharing is needed to benefit all users of GIS data. This will be a guided panel discussion on data sharing between public and private organizations.

Utilities Perspective
Rob Floyd, Amy Barron

Commercial Perspective
Travis Franz

Local Government Perspective
Julie Stamper, Ralph Forbes

Moderators

John Gallimore

GIS and Public Safety Administrator, Davie County GIS

Speakers

Ralph Forbes

GIS Manager, Pitt County

Mr. Forbes has been employed with Pitt County Government for the past 29 years, serving as Pitt County’s GIS Manager for the last 24 of those years. He was instrumental in helping to create one of the first centralized GIS county governments in the State of North Carolina and in... Read More →

Travis Franz, GISP

Project Lead, HERE

Travis has been with HERE (formerly known as NAVTEQ) for 10 years and has spent the bulk of his time there involved in map maintenance activities and strategies related to third-party data acquisition and ingestion. He currently oversees core map local data acquisition activities... Read More →

Rob Floyd, GISP

GIS Landbase Administrator, Piedmont Natural Gas

I have been working as the GIS Landbase Administrator at Piedmont Natural Gas since 2011. I’m originally from Lexington, NC and I got my BA in Geography from East Carolina University. I currently live in Stallings, North Carolina with my wonderful wife and 3 kids.

Amy Barron, GISP

GIS Strategist, Duke Energy

For undergraduate and graduate school Amy attended the University of South Carolina. She has worked in both the public and private sector before landing at Duke Energy in Charlotte. She spent the first five years at Duke Energy in the Transmission Engineering Group where she used... Read More →

Julie Stamper

GIS Coordinator, Pasquotank County

Julie has been the GIS Coordinator for Pasquotank County for 14 years. She has a BS in Computer Science from Purdue University and won the G Herb Stout for Visionary Use of GIS in 2007 and was named one of the 50 Leaders to Watch by GPS World.

Friday February 27, 2015 8:30am - 10:00am EST
Room 305 A/B

Sessions, AICP, Data, Panel

8:30am EST

Statewide Master Address Database

This panel will discuss the main aspects and challenges in North Carolina for address data consolidation at the State and Local Government levels. This session will also explore avenues for improved address data processing and sustainable maintenance in accordance with new addressing standards and current needs. Panelists will provide their experience and views from NC CGIA’s AddressNC 2014 consolidation and Forsyth County’s address management system.

Panelists:
Luis Carrasco
Joseph Sloop

Moderators

Benjamin Shelton

GIS Analyst, NC Center for Geographic Information and Analysis

Speakers

Luis Carrasco, Ph.D., GISP

Spatial Analyst, NC Center for Geographic Information and Analysis

Dr. Luis Carrasco has extensive professional and academic experience in geospatial analysis and environmental impact assessment. In an earlier life, Luis conducted environmental studies for energy projects in Peru before starting graduate studies at North Carolina State University... Read More →

Joseph Sloop

Geographic Information Officer, Forsyth County

Friday February 27, 2015 8:30am - 10:00am EST
Room 301 A/B

Sessions, Data, Panel

10:30am EST

Data By and For the People! (AICP)

Citizens, students, private companies and other community members are increasingly involved in the development of geospatial data resources. Learn more about these efforts and the benefits, issues and best practices associated with public participation mapping initiatives.

National Map Corps: Crowdsourcing Map Features for the USGS
Silvia Terziotti
The mapping crowd-sourcing program, known as The National Map Corps ( TNM Corps), encourages citizens to collect structures data by adding new features, removing obsolete points, and correcting existing data for The National Map database. The Adopt-a-Quad program encourages citizen participation and updates. How has this program changed the way USGS updates its maps and how will it be expanded in the future?

Wake County Open Data: Where Will It Take You?
Carter Vickery, Bill Scanlon
Wake County has created an Open Data Site that offers the public a user friendly way to discover, preview, filter and download Wake County Data in a variety of formats. We have engaged in Open Data events in the Triangle to understand the data needs of this entrepreneurial community of new users of GIS data and services. The platform offers the ability for Municipal Partners to easily provide their live, Open Data via the site and for our data to be discovered by State and Federal Open Data Sites.

Citygram Charlotte: Subscribe to Your City
Jim Van Fleet
Created by the City of Charlotte's Code for America fellowship in 2014, Citygram is a geographically-relevant notifications platform that is powered by open data. It allows citizens to designate geographic area(s) they are interested in, subscribe to specific topics, and receive information when something they’ve subscribed to happens in their area.

With Citygram, citizens can choose a topic of interested (which is powered by a department’s open data feed), enter an address (perhaps home or work), select the area that’s important , and decide how to be notified (text message or email). Citizens can also take a peek at recent events in their areas of interest, and get a sense for the frequency of notifications for the area selected.

Moderators

Scott Barnwell, GISP

Business and Public Technology Manager, City of Asheville

Speakers

Jim Van Fleet

President/Founder, it's bspoke

In addition to being a leader of the software development community in Charlotte, Jim Van Fleet is President and founder of it's bspoke, a boutique software consultancy. His monthly startup newsletter has reached over one thousand subscribers. He has been programming computers p... Read More →

Carter Vickery, GISP, MBA

Senior GIS Analyst, Wake County GIS

Carter is a member of the Wake County Open Data Group, and has worked with the team to craft the initial Open Data policy elements and the Beta site. She enjoys engaging with the Open Data Community to share ideas around apps and data.

Bill Scanlon

Open Data & Innovation Coordinator, Wake County GIS

Bill is part of a collaborative effort to develop Open Data & Innovation programs at Wake County. He has led the creation of an Open Data Group and has worked with the team to craft the vision, the policy elements and the approach for the program at Wake County.

Silvia Terziotti

GIS Specialist, US Geologic Survey, South Atlantic Water Science Center

Friday February 27, 2015 10:30am - 12:00pm EST
Room 305 A/B

Sessions, AICP, Data

10:30am EST

Sensors and Sensibility

Some of the most exciting geotech advances are being made in the areas of lidar and imagery data capture. Come hear how North Carolina continues be on the cutting edge, benefiting all of us as data consumers and citizens.

Lidar QL2 - NC's New Lidar Data
Hope Morgan

New GPS Advances and Trends
Gary Thompson

2nd Generation Digital Cameras used for the NC 911 Board Statewide Orthoimagery Program
Darrin Smith, Keith Johnston

Moderators

Carl Stearns, GISP, PLS

GIS Planner II, City of Raleigh Public Utilities

Carl began his GIS career doing field data collection for electric distribution and managed projects in North Carolina and Louisiana before joining the City of Durham Public Works GIS group from 2005 to 2013. He has managed the City of Raleigh Public Utilities GIS group since August... Read More →

Speakers

Hope Morgan, PLS, GISP, CFM

NC Dept. of Public Safety

Hope Morgan has been in the field of GIS and Remote sensing for 17 years. She has a degree in Geography from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She was involved in the original Statewide LiDAR collection 2000-2005, NC Orthophotography collection in 2010, and the current... Read More →

Keith Johnston

State Photogrammetric Engineer, NC Dept. of Transportation

Mr. Johnston has worked in mapping and surveying for the past 31 years with the US Defense Department and the NC Department of Transportation. He is currently the manager of the NCDOT Photogrammetry Unit, and is an NC licensed Professional Engineer and Professional Land Surveyor... Read More →

Darrin Smith

Project Manager, NC Center for Geographic Information and Analysis

Darrin has over 21 years experience in the GIS industry and has been with CGIA over four years. He is the Project Manager for the NC 911 Board State Orthoimagery Program.

Gary Thompson

Chief, North Carolina Geodetic Survey

Friday February 27, 2015 10:30am - 12:00pm EST
Room 301 A/B

Sessions, Data

1:30pm EST

Applying the Public Records Law to GIS (AICP)

Ah, the Public Records Law ... sometimes it's clear-cut, and sometimes it's a little grey. Some like it, and some don't. Regardless, there's no denying that all data producers, consumers, and government officials need to understand it and do their best when applying it since the GIS community relies greatly on open public records.

NOTE: For claiming AICP credit from APA, this session will be titled "Economic Development & Public Records Laws."

Public Records Law: What Does It Say Today?
Jonathan Jones
Overview of current state of public records law as it stands now and how it relates to geospatial data

What are They Doing With Your Data?
Amanda Henley, Philip McDaniel
The North Carolina GIS community’s culture of data sharing is both progressive and beneficial for the citizens of our state. Each year, GIS Librarians contact local and state government employees to request spatial data on behalf of students and researchers. Do you ever wonder how your data are being used? In this presentation, GIS Librarians from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will give you a sampling of some of the ways researchers are using your data.

Open Data? Show Me the Money!
Blake Esselstyn
GIS is a major resource for economic development. From marketing to planning and construction, GIS is a key component to effective economic development in North Carolina. Sustaining GIS as a resource through public/private partnerships and data sharing will be crucial to the long-term effectiveness of economic development efforts now underway.

Moderators

Jeff Essic

Data Services Librarian, NC State University

Speakers

Blake Esselstyn, GISP, AICP

Consultant

After more than ten years working for the City of Asheville's Department of Planning and Urban Design, Blake recently ventured forth as an independent GIS and urban planning consultant – still based based in Asheville. He is particularly interested in telling geographic stories... Read More →

Amanda Henley

Head of Digital Research Services, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

I am interested in academic library services, technology, and spaces that support scholars using digital methods in teaching and research.

Jonathan Jones

Director, NC Open Government Coalition

Jonathan Jones is a government transparency advocate and has served as the director of the North Carolina Open Government Coalition and its affiliated Sunshine Center at Elon University since August 2013. Jones worked as a newspaper reporter in Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina... Read More →

Philip McDaniel

GIS Librarian, UNC-Chapel Hill Library

Philip McDaniel has worked as a GIS Librarian in Davis Library since 2012. Prior to that, he worked for over a decade as a Research Associate at the Carolina Population Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He has a BA in Geography from Old Dominion University... Read More →

Friday February 27, 2015 1:30pm - 3:00pm EST
Room 306 B/C

Sessions, AICP, Data

1:30pm EST

GIS: The 'Hero' for Next Generation 911

Current 911 technology is based on principles developed in the 1960’s. The National Emergency Number Association’s i3 solution (popularly referenced as "Next Generation 911") is based on implementing a robust IP-based network and will utilize GIS data layers and technologies to manage call routing. This reliance led one panelist at a national meeting to proclaim, "...GIS will become the 'hero' in the next-generation 911 world..."

The NC 911 Board's Next Generation 911 Committee is responsible for developing the state's i3 implementation strategy and working with public safety answering points (PSAP's) to make this improvement to public safety a reality. This session will provide background information on i3, the importance of GIS data and technologies, and next steps for improving data layer quality and integration.

Speakers

Joe Sewash

NC Center for Geographic Information and Analysis

Richard Taylor

Executive Director, NC 911 Board

Friday February 27, 2015 1:30pm - 3:00pm EST
Room 301 A/B

Sessions, Data