October 2004

What's Inside This Month's  Sensor:

Regular Features

• The Director's Cut

• Company Spotlight: Forest One, Inc.

• Image of the Month

• Upcoming Events

• Legislative Corner

• Seen and Heard

• Did You Know???

• Graduate Fellow Feature

• EIGS Press Releases

October Articles

• The Geospatial Technology Apprenticeship Program: Mississippi Leads the Way in Establishing the Standards for the Geospatial Workforce

• Conference Report: The Commercial Remote Sensing Industry Conference

• NVision Solutions Selected as Louisiana 2004 “Innovator of the Year”

Robin Buchannon Director, EIGS

The Director's Cut

For this month, I thought I would take a moment to reflect on the shift of Mississippi’s geospatial technology industry’s from an initiative to an enterprise. Webster’s Dictionary defines “initiative” as the action of taking the first step or move; responsibility for beginning or originating. “Enterprise” is defined as the carryings on of projects; participation in undertakings; venture. While our mission to build a research-based world-class industry in Mississippi has remained essentially unchanged, the way we are achieving our goals has evolved to provide similar, but enhanced support to meet the ever-changing needs of the industry. 

The first 5 years were spent focused on building the research, business, and workforce capacity and infrastructure in Mississippi. A key goal was recruiting and attracting the best people including the most credible emerging geospatial companies; the best scientists & the best consultants and experts to dream about and implement the vision; and the brightest students to stay in Mississippi. We had to build a solid foundation for people to believe that we had the opportunities here in Mississippi necessary to foster a high tech industry from the ground up. 

Now we are nurturing a group of entrepreneurs, helping to grow the 30-plus geospatial technology businesses that are members of the EIGS industry cluster. Our focus is now more market oriented in order to enhance and identify business opportunities. Part of this challenge includes educating potential customers about the diverse solutions geospatial technologies can provide. 

EIGS will continue to recruit and attract the most credible emerging geospatial companies that share the goal of researching, developing, and marketing new geospatial technology products from a Mississippi operation. However, EIGS looks to bring in companies with complementary capabilities, services and products to the existing members in order to strengthen the cluster. And we will be accomplishing this goal largely by relying on MDA’s “Mississippi Sales Team,” MDA’s new approach to promoting Mississippi as the ideal location for new and expanding businesses.

While the cluster has matured over the last 6 years, it has not yet reached its full potential. There are still many areas to be addressed in order for the businesses to really thrive and to attract additional businesses to the state. By fostering new and innovative ways to support the continued development of Mississippi’s geospatial businesses, the state is positioned to capitalize on the global growth of this emerging technology sector. This rapid and continued growth within this industry represents a rare and unique opportunity for Mississippi. While markets are still being defined and even created, Mississippi has what amounts to a seven year head start on the development of companies that can respond to these evolving markets and lead the nation in this industry. 
 

Don’t let the name fool you; Forest One, Inc. of Jackson, MS, does more than assist foresters with effective forest management and harvesting. Forest One is a complete information technology company providing consulting services, applications development, data processing, and software to the Forest Products, Utilities, and Environmental Management industries. Forest One specializes in geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing (RS) applications and their customers include a diverse group of large public companies, government entities, and forestland managers. 

A member of Mississippi’s geospatial industry cluster since December 2000, Forest One is working for several Fortune 500 companies who are currently overseas assessing natural resources in Pacific Rim countries. Forest One is conducting work to compare domestic and foreign natural resources and to locate sites best suited for access to natural resources in China and other Pacific Rim countries.

For the government sector, Forest One is able to address critical issues facing the forestry industry. In a recent project funded by a USDA Forest Service research grant, Forest One collaborated with the Texas Forest Service to address Southern Pine Beetle (SPB) infestations, one of the most destructive insect pests of forests in the southern United States, Mexico, and Central America. Using sophisticated software tools and satellite imagery, the project is providing an automated, cost-effective and more accurate means of identifying forest mortality and the likelihood of SPB outbreaks. 

Forest One also just won another project for the U.S. Forest Service that will utilize hyperspectral imagery, CIR imagery, and LIDAR imagery to do a complete ecosystem inventory along several rivers in North Carolina that will be undergoing remediation. The Forest One team, working in conjunction with an environmental engineering firm, will be fusing the data from all three sensors to perform state-of-the-art environmental inventory and assessment. 

Through work for various clients, Forest One has mapped the timber inventory for the entire Southeast and has more information on current forest inventory than any other company or organization. With offices in Jackson, Mississippi and Itasca, Illinois, Forest One has extensive expertise in remote sensing techniques and delivering GIS data layers over the Internet. For more information about Forest One, contact Clark Love, CEO of Forest One, at 601- 594-0479, clove@forestone.com or visit www.forestone.com. 

IMAGE OF THE MONTH

A view looking south along the Gulf Coast at Hurricane Ivan before landfall from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). 

Observation Device: GOES-12 1 km visible imagery. 
Visualization Date: September 15, 2004 09:30:07

SEEN AND HEARD…

From the Clarion Ledger, September 11, 2004: 

He said a consortium of businesses approached him about working with the University of Mississippi to develop a plan that would use technology to better guard the state’s ports, one example of the way he hopes to involve private citizens in the fight against terror. “It’s exactly what I wanted,” said Edwin L. Worthington, the former special agent in charge of the FBI in Mississippi who took over as director of Mississippi’s Office of Homeland Security in May.

Mr. Worthington is referring to a group of EIGS member companies who met with him to discuss working on a project to address critical port security issues using geospatial technologies.

UPCOMING EVENTS

October 12-14, 2004
GEOINT 2004 Symposium
New Orleans, LA

October 16-19, 2004
Southern Economic Development Council Annual Conference
New Orleans, LA

October 17-20, 2004 
Mississippi 911 Coordinators Association Annual Training Conference.
Tunica Resorts, MS. 
For more information: Phone (662)363-4012

October 20-22, 2004
Mississippi Gulf Coast Geospatial Conference 2004: Geospatial Applications Supporting Community Endeavors
Biloxi, MS

**Stay posted for the release date of the EIGS Annual Meeting.
**If you have any upcoming events that need to be posted, please email them to Johnna@pfidc.com.

CONFERENCE SPOTLIGHT

CIT.ms 5th Annual Conference on High Technology
November 9-10, 2004
The Marriott - Jackson, MS

Monster.com Founder Jeff Taylor will be the keynote speaker at CIT.ms Conference on High Technology. EIGS members will be participating in a breakout panel discussion. 

The Geospatial Technology Apprenticeship Program: Mississippi Leads the Way in Establishing the Standards for the Geospatial Workforce

A key area that must be addressed to effectively establish and grow any industry is the need for a highly qualified, well- trained workforce. This is particularly true for the geospatial industry, which has been recognized as one of the nation’s high growth labor force needs areas for the 21st century. For Mississippi’s geospatial industry cluster, this need is being addressed by the Geospatial Technology Apprenticeship Program (GTAP) at The University of Southern Mississippi.

The Workplace Learning and Performance Center (WLPC) at Southern Mississippi, supported by NASA and the Department of Labor (DOL), employs a competency-based approach to geospatial workforce training and development. With input from geospatial experts, the WLPC created the Geospatial Technology Competency Model (GTCM), which identified roles, competencies, and outputs that are needed for geospatial professionals to be successful. 

GTAP, built upon the WLPC’s existing GTCM, provides a 21st century solution to meet the growing demand for skilled workers in the geospatial industry. On-the-job learning and related classroom instruction are key components of the apprenticeship program. A Journey worker mentors and coaches the apprentice throughout the program. A learning management system is utilized to track the progress of the apprentice. Upon completion of the GTAP, apprentices will receive the DOL nationally recognized credential of Geospatial Specialist. 

“Training in an apprenticeship model directly leads to a more productive geospatial apprentice, who can integrate classroom instruction with their existing employer’s workplace needs, and thereby be more productive in the long run,” said Dr. Cyndi Gaudet, Director of the Workplace Learning & Performance Center at Southern Miss, who is directing the pilot project.

The creation of a DOL-certified apprenticeship program for the geospatial technology workforce provides a standard, certificate-based approach that follows apprenticeship guidelines established by the federal government. Since these standards are national in scope, employees who are trained and certified by this DOL program will be able to receive recognition of their geospatial technology skills and capabilities by potential employers nationwide. Additionally, it will facilitate other interested employers, educational institutions, and related partners to adopt these standards to create apprenticeship programs across the U.S. based on the successful implementation of the pilot GTAP in Mississippi. 
For more information about GTAP, please contact Dr. Cyndi Gaudet, Director of Workplace Learning and Performance Center, Cyndi.gaudet@usm.edu, (228) 214-3344 or visit www.gtap.info.

Conference Report: The Commercial Remote Sensing Industry Conference

This premier meeting for the commercial remote sensing industry was held in Denver, Colorado, September 13-14, 2004, and was chaired by Dr. Joanne Gabrynowicz, Director of the National Remote Sensing and Space Law Center at The University of Mississippi. Attendees heard from key players within the remote sensing industry regarding best practices and insights to a competitive edge in this growing and vital industry. The 200 attendees were from industry, federal, state and local governments. EIGS and Mississippi were well represented with attendance by DigitalGlobe, 3001, Inc., Dr. Greg Easson of EIGS, and Dr. Jon Arvik from Mississippi State University among others. 

The conference included Dr. Tina Cary of Cary and Associates giving her view on the state of the industry. Considerable discussion at the meeting focused on "What is the commercial remote sensing industry?" Keynote addresses were given by John C. Baker of the RAND Corporation and Mr. Jack Hild, Director of the Office of Federated Operations for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. Mr. Hild enumerated many of the future goals of his intelligence community agency and its customers and partners. 

Andrew Dougherty, Vice President of 3001, Inc., an EIGS member company, discussed the complimentary role of aerial and satellite remote sensing platforms. This discussion and exposure to numerous companies benefited many of the government agencies in attendance as well as served to update the industry members. Many attendees were surprised as to the wealth and depth of aerial sensors available in the private sector including 3001 Inc.'s Digital Mapping Camera (DMC, the first digital camera in operation in the USA was purchased from Zeiss/Integraph by 3001 in 2003. It is truly the next generation remote sensor delivering true color, black-and- white panchromatic, and false color/Infrared.)

Of particular note were the interactive discussions featured on a state-level panel with representatives from Mississippi, Texas and California. The panelists, who included Dr. Greg Easson, Associate Director of EIGS, discussed their unique approaches to geospatial challenges within their state. The panel discussion was well received and garnered attention from the RAND Corporation and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. After the panel session, the Texas representative commented that it "sounds like there is a lot going on in Mississippi." 

LEGISLATIVE CORNER

The 2005 Regular Session of the Mississippi Legislature will convene on January 4 with Sine Die on April 3. 
 

DID YOU KNOW???

The MS-FAST Program is a federal and state technology partnership program whose partners include: U.S. Small Business Administration, Mississippi Technology Alliance, and members of the Mississippi Research Consortium including Jackson State University, Mississippi State University, The University of Mississippi, the University of Mississippi Medical Center, and the University of Southern Mississippi. One of the free services MS-FAST offers Mississippi companies is its MS-FAST SBIR News Alert! email service. This biweekly email news and information service provides companies with up to date information on when SBIR/STTR solicitations and pre-solicitation notices are released, latest changes to each agency’s program, online information resources, reminders as well as notices of changes to solicitation closing dates, and information about SBIR conferences and workshops. Please send you request to be added to the News Alert! to Joe Graben, MS-FAST Director, at jgraben@ssc.nasa.gov. 

NVision Solutions Selected 
as Louisiana 2004 
“Innovator of the Year”

EIGS congratulates member company NVision Solutions for its selection by Louisiana Governor, Kathleen Blanco, as the 2004 “Innovator of the Year.” The selection is part of the 2nd Annual Governor’s Technology Awards, which recognizes the best of Louisiana’s high-tech businesses, universities and individual leaders. 

NVision garnered this prestigious honor for its flagship product, Real-Time Emergency Action Coordination Tool (REACT), which was recently implemented in St. Tammany Parish. The program monitors river stages and records climatic data, incorporating this information with area population statistics to devise real-time emergency response and evacuation plans in the event of a disaster.

The NVision team will be honored at an awards luncheon at 11:45 a.m., October 14, in the River City Exhibition Hall in Baton Rouge as part of the Louisiana Business and Technology Expo, Baton Rouge Business Report’s business-to-business trade show.

The press release on NVision Solutions' accomplishment can be found in the EIGS Press Releases section of this issue.

Be sure to visit the EIGS website at

www.eigs.olemiss.edu
 

Lance Yarbrough, originally from Oxford, Mississippi, is currently enrolled as a Ph.D. student in the Geological Engineering Program at The University of Mississippi. He holds a B.S. from the University of Missouri-Rolla and a M.S. in Geological Engineering from The University of Mississippi. Lance is an associate member of Sigma Xi Honor Society, and a student member of the Association of Engineering Geologists and The International Society of Optical Engineering (SPIE). Lance is a second year EIGS/NASA Graduate Fellow.

Under the guidance of Dr. Gregory Easson, Lance’s research project, “Artificial Neural Networks and Their Use in Bathymetric and Benthic Habitat Mapping and Near-Shore Environments Using Multispectral and Hyperspectral Sensors” focuses on the development of new analysis techniques and algorithms to determine the benthic habitat and bathymetry using various types of artificial neural networks (ANN) and newly developed learning paradigms. Building on conclusions from the first year of research, this project includes surrounding terrestrial vegetation within the model. It is expected that the use of ANNs will allow for more accurate classifications of benthic habitat mapping. Incorporating high spectral and spatial resolution from Hyperion and commercially available sensors will allow for better bottom type identification and therefore a better understanding of spatial relationships with coral reef communities. These outputs would be a valuable tool to biologist, ecologist and others researchers.

After completing his Ph.D. research, Lance plans to continue developing new applications of hyperspectral technologies within an academic or commercial setting, perhaps even start his own company that would supply geospatial products. 

NVision Solutions Named 2004 “Innovator of the Year” by Louisiana Governor for Geospatial Technology Product
September 27, 2004, Bay St. Louis, MS – 
The Enterprise for Innovative Geospatial Solutions (EIGS) is proud to announce that member company NVision Solutions has been selected by Louisiana Governor, Kathleen Blanco, as the 2004 “Innovator of the Year.” The selection is part of the 2nd Annual Governor’s Technology Awards which recognizes the best of Louisiana’s high-tech businesses, universities and individual leaders… ::MORE::

Digital Quest STARS GIS Certification to Support Geospatial Technology Apprenticeship Program
September 22, 2004, Ridgeland, MS – 
The Enterprise for Innovative Geospatial Solutions (EIGS) is pleased to announce that member company Digital Quest’s STARS Certification is a key component to support the Department of Labor’s pilot of the Geospatial Technology Apprenticeship Program (GTAP) at The University of Southern Mississippi… ::MORE::

Digital Globe Unveils Revolutionary Approach to Civil Government Market
September 9, 2004, Longmont, CO - 
DigitalGlobe®, provider of the world’s highest resolution commercial satellite imagery and geospatial information products, announced that U.S. civil government customers at the state and local level now have the freedom to use, distribute and modify QuickBird satellite imagery products without penalty. This new civil government licensing model, effective September 17, 2004, represents a pivotal change in the commercial remote sensing industry’s traditional treatment of product licensing… ::MORE::

To sign up to receive The Sensor, visit www.eigs.olemiss.edu
To unsubscribe please send an email to eigs-out@pfidc.com with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line and your email address in the body.