The
Director's Cut
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Robin
Buchannon
Director, EIGS |
Today, more and more answers to government and industry challenges are being provided by geomatics, a powerful technology that uses air and space based imagery to offer new kinds of information in solving everyday problems. From flood management & precision farming to national defense & community development, geomatics is building a whole new $12 billion technology sector with resulting benefits to the economy.
Mississippi is a leader in both geospatial research and fostering new entrepreneurs within this
emerging technology sector. The Mississippi geospatial technology industry cluster initially began in
1998 with seven charter members under the auspices of the Mississippi Space Commerce Initiative (MSCI) but has grown over the last five years to more than 35 companies.
As we embark on a new year, I want to reflect back on our MSCI roots and recognize all those who helped make the first chapter of building our
geospatial industry in Mississippi such as success. As you may know, when MSCI’s Joint Sponsored Research Agreement (JSRA) expired last year, many people fought hard to ensure that the state and federal investment in fostering a
geospatial industry in Mississippi did not end. While EIGS was formed to provide similar but enhanced business and research support using a preferred alternative coordinating structure, we are greatly indebted to everyone at MSCI who started the revolution and send out sincere thanks for all they have done.
So welcome to the team fostering the growth of the geospatial cluster in the State of Mississippi. If you are a member, we look forward to helping make you succeed. If not, consider joining our effort soon. While EIGS is still one of Mississippi’s best-kept secrets, for now we continue to welcome new scientists and entrepreneurs to our fold.
Mississippi’s
Geospatial Industry Cluster Continues to Grow
Mississippi has seen its prominence in the geospatial world grow tremendously. Starting with only
seven companies in 1998, the Mississippi geospatial technology industry cluster grew to
more than 35 members by 2003. Over the past year, the companies employed 437 people, with an average annual salary of $47,000. Since 1998, the members of the industry cluster have invested in excess of $90 million in Mississippi-based operations. While there is a concentration of companies located at the NASA Stennis Space Center on the Gulf Coast, there are companies located throughout Mississippi. To become a member of the geospatial technology industry cluster, visit
www.eigs.olemiss.edu for an application.
EIGS Awards Graduate Fellowship
The Enterprise for Innovative Geospatial Solutions has awarded 15 fellowships to graduate students in remote sensing related fields at Mississippi universities. The EIGS Geospatial Graduate Studies Program offers $22,000 graduate scholarship packages for students seeking a Master’s degree or Ph.D. degree in remote sensing related fields. The fellowships are for students attending Jackson State University, Mississippi State University, The University of Mississippi, and the University of Southern Mississippi. This year’s recipients cover a wide range of fields including: environmental science, geosciences, computational engineering, plant and soil sciences, agriculture and biological engineering, wildlife and fisheries science, entomology and plant pathology, computer science, anthropology, geology, business, marine science, and international development.
Space Industry Council Forecasts $90B Market in 2004
The International Space Business Council expects to release a report next week that predicts the space industry will reach $90 billion this year. Among the conclusions of the "'2004 State of the Space Industry," the group expects a rebound in commercial orders for
satellites and launch vehicles, combined with an increasing Department of Defense budget for space systems, and a rise in consumer satellite services.
DID YOU KNOW???
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Mississippi is named for the Mississippi River. The name means “Father of
Waters”
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Root Beer was invented in Biloxi, Mississippi, in 1898 by Edward Adolf
Barq, Sr.
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The University of Mississippi Medical Center in 1963 performed the world’s first human lung transplant, and on January 23, 1964, Dr. James Hardy performed the world’s first heart transplant surgery
LEGISLATIVE
CORNER
The 2004 Regular Session of the Mississippi Legislature convened at 12
noon on Tuesday, January 6, 2004. It will officially adjourn on May 9, 2004
- SINE DIE.
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Company
Spotlight
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As
a start-up company, NVision has only been a member of the industry cluster
since April 2002, but they bring a wealth of knowledge and experience. As a minority, woman-owned business, NVision Solutions
provides innovative geospatial solutions for large and small
organizations, including a wide range of GIS, Remote Sensing, and database
services and application development.
As an ESRI business partner, NVision is a registered consultant and
reseller of the ESRI software product line which allows them to provide
turnkey solutions in an otherwise compartmentalized market. NVision is one
of the few companies in Mississippi to secure NASA SBIR (Small Business
Innovative Research) funding. Additionally, they just recently received 2
contract awards from the MS-FAST program which will allow NVision to
research, write, and submit SBIR proposals to the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
One of NVision’s keys to success is their energetic and unique approach
to doing business. By building tailored solutions for each customer’s
unique needs, NVision is successfully using geospatial technologies to
address their customers’ challenges. An excellent example of this is a
unique team effort among NVision, local government, and NASA to combat
rising floodwaters in South Louisiana. NVision developed a decision
support system called REACT, or Real-Time Emergency Action Coordination
Tool. This tool will support flood mitigation efforts by St. Tammany
Parish Emergency Management Operations Center. While REACT can’t prevent
flood waters from rising, it does
offer residents an early warning to take action by capturing all vital
statistics about the next area in threat. This allows emergency responders
to call residents with warnings, plan for alternate evacuation routes, and
evacuate facilities before roads are cut off. The early warning also
allows residents time to move automobiles, furniture and other valuables
to higher ground before evacuating. In addition to addressing flooding
concerns, REACT can also support a variety of other impact models for
first responders such as fires, hazardous spills, and airborne biochemical
agents.
For
more information:
www.nvisionsolutions.com
If
you have suggestions for future SPOTLIGHTS, please send an e-mail
to lstone@olemiss.edu.
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UPCOMING
EVENTS
February 4-6,
2004
MEDC Winter Conference
Jackson, MS
www.medc.com
February 5,
2004
EIGS First Thursday Meeting via Access Gridnode
March 22-23,
2004
TUGIS 2004: Seventeenth Annual Towson University GIS Conference, Towson University, Baltimore,
MD Contact: Jay Morgan 410-704-2964 jmorgan@towson.edu
March 29-30,
2004
TNRIS GIS Forum, Texas Natural Resources Information System (TNRIS), Austin, Texas.
Contact Charles Palmer at cpalmer@tnris.state.tx.us
or www.tnris.state.tx.us
April 5-9,
2004
RS-2004, Salt Lake City, Utah. The 10th Biennial Forest Service Remote Sensing Applications Conference. For information about attending or offering a paper, contact Mike
Morrison or Gail Shaw at the USDA Forest Service, Remote Sensing Applications Center,
Phone 801-975-3750. Email gpshaw@fs.fed.us
April 15-16,
2004
Second International Conference on the State of Remote Sensing Law. University of
Mississippi
Contact: Joanne Gabrynowicz www.spacelaw.olemiss.edu
April 18-22,
2004
MidAmerica GIS Symposium (MAGIC), Hyatt Regency Crown Center
Kansas City http://magicweb.kgs.ku.edu/
April 25-28,
2004
The Geospatial Information & Technology Association’s (GITA) Annual Conference 27: Information, Strategy, Vision...Building Performance for a New Age, The Geospatial Information & Technology Association (GITA), Seattle, WA. Contact: 303-337-0513;
info@gita.org
or www.gita.org
May 23-28,
2004
2004 ASPRS Annual Conference
Denver, CO
www.asprs.org/denver2004
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