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October 2006 Welcome to The Sensor -- the newsletter of the Enterprise for Innovative Geospatial Solutions (EIGS) bringing you the latest developments from Mississippi’s emerging geospatial industry cluster. Please feel free to share this with friends and colleagues. To subscribe, visit www.eigs.olemiss.edu For further information, or to submit story ideas, please contact Lisa Stone - lstone@olemiss.edu |
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Director's Cut Geospatial technology continues to be a good investment for the State of Mississippi. This is one of the overriding messages reflected in the annual data collected about the economic impact of Mississippi’s geospatial cluster. The graphs below tell a very compelling story, particularly in light of Hurricane Katrina. The fact that employment, investment, and revenues increased after Katrina illustrates the vibrancy of the geospatial sector.
Year after year, the EIGS geospatial companies are creating higher paying, high technology jobs in Mississippi. During 2005-06, 630 people were employed by EIGS members and had an average annual salary of $55,000. Over the last several years, we have seen the annual average salary consistently increase by at least five percent each year.
Over the last eight years, EIGS member companies have cumulatively invested $208 million in Mississippi in the development of this industry. This includes salaries, office space, and other operating expenses necessary to conduct business including $1.4 million generated in state income tax. From 1998 through 2006, the State of Mississippi and NASA has invested close to $25 million in support of the geospatial cluster. This represents an eight-fold return on the investment in this cluster.
I would like to commend the State of
Mississippi for their continued support of the development of the
cluster. While this industry has a very strong presence in South
Mississippi, it is evident that there is a statewide impact. I would
also like to recognize the many EIGS partners who also support the
continued growth of geospatial technology in Mississippi in the critical
areas of research, workforce development, technology innovation, and
entrepreneurship. |
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IMAGE OF THE MONTH
WATSONVILLE, CA - Baby spinach grows in a field September 23, 2006 in Watsonville, California. With the recent outbreak of E. Coli being traced to spinach farms in California, growers are looking for ways to make up for the losses they are suffering. (Photo by David Paul Morris/Getty Images) DID YOU KNOW? Did you know Geospatial Solutions recently released a weekly newsletter? This digital resource is designed to keep you updated on recent advancements in the geospatial industry. This e-mail newsletter also provides access to Geospatial Solutions' website which offers a wide range of articles, product reviews, and more news organized by specific vertical markets - Natural Resources; Government & Military; LBS, Utilities & Communications; Business Analytics; and Transportation & Civil Engineering. You can also find news and applications stories focused on such technologies as Earth Imaging & Remote Sensing, Survey & GPS, and GIS & Mapping there. Visit www.geospatial-online.com to view all of the digital resources they are providing. You can also subscribe to these newsletters on their website. |
UPCOMING EVENTS
October 1-5, 2006 SEEN AND HEARD "My preliminary research shows the state is blessed with outstanding science and technology assets, a solid technology-based economic development plan in Momentum Mississippi, a pool of talented public and private sector players, and enlightened leadership. Most importantly there is a sense of determined urgency in Mississippi. I've seen it reflected in the set of the jaw, squint of the eye and tone of voice in every serious conversation I've had with a Mississippian about the state's economic future."
- Dr. Randall
Goldsmith LEGISLATIVE CORNER
The 2007 Regular Session of the Mississippi Legislature convenes at 12:00 Noon on Tuesday, January 2, 2007. This session will be a 90 day session with SINE DIE scheduled for Sunday, April 1st. |
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Training Opportunities
Presented by Location: Batesville Enterprice Center, 275 Nosef Drive, Batesville, MS |
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Guest
Corner:
By Craig Harvey, CIO of NVision Solutions
Over the past decade geospatial technology has
continued to mature and become a pervasive technology throughout our
society. In fact, the U.S. Department of Labor has identified geospatial
technology as one of the three most important emerging and evolving fields.
Everywhere the average person looks, typical, daily transactions are
unknowingly impacted by geospatial technology -- from emergency 9-1-1 calls
to a quick trip on MapQuest or Google for directions. City planning
departments, tax assessors, and fire/police departments are all adopters of
this technology. The job growth over the past few years has far outpaced
academic institutions’ ability to produce ideal candidates to fill available
vacancies. |
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Global Perspectives
Singapore
Builds National GPS Infrastructure Network With Trimble... |
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National Remote Sensing & Space Law Center Garners Remote sensing and space law experts from across the globe recently gathered in Oxford for a one-day symposium which focused on space law and intellectual property. “In the industrial age, wealth was based on physical property, but now, intellectual property is the way that people make money in this information age,” said Joanne Irene Gabrynowicz, UM research professor of law and director of the National Remote Sensing and Space Law Center at Ole Miss. “Space technology is on the leading edge of that issue, so the two issues naturally tie together,” she said.
The symposium included presentations by participants from academic and private institutions, including the University of Maine, Louisiana State University, Thomas Jefferson School of Law, NASA headquarters, Alcatel Alenia Space, the Nigerian National Space Research and Development Agency and the Brazilian Society of Space Law. University of Mississippi law professors also played a crucial role in the symposium, with four professors presenting papers based on their areas of expertise. School of Law Dean Samuel M. Davis said the symposium and the center attract international attention for the university and its faculty. “The center’s focus and its impact are international in scope. This symposium and others planned for the future help to attract scholars and professionals in the space and remote sensing areas from all over the world,” he said. “Quite literally, the center and its activities are putting the university and law school on the global map.” The top priority of the National Remote Sensing and Space Law center is conducting a systematic survey of commercial geospatial constituency groups to identify and prioritize those domestic and international legal issues of greatest concern to the industry. Though there are several European centers dealing with remote sensing issues, the UM center is the first of its kind in the United States, and it is available to serve federal, state and local government in a non-advocacy capacity to conduct narrowly tailored legal research and to answer legal questions of concern to the geospatial industry. For more information on the center, visit www.spacelaw.olemiss.edu. For more information on the School of Law, visit www.law.olemiss.edu. |
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EIGS would like to extend congratulations to Diamond Data Systems for being selected as the winner of the first annual SMB 20 Awards hosted by PC Magazine, the leading technology publication in the United States. The Awards honor the most technologically innovative small and medium sized businesses of the year. This award is to salute the ingenuity, spirit, and “Failure is Not an Option” attitude of outstanding Small Businesses across America. The SMB 20 Award winners will be fully detailed and profiled in the October 17 issue of PC Magazine (on sale October 3) and online at http://go.pcmag.com/smb20. |
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Conference
Spotlight:
November 13, 14, 2006
The 6th annual GIS Conference hosted by the
Memphis Area Geographic |
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Partner News
The National Remote Sensing and Space Law Center recently released its new website. It can be found at www.spacelaw.olemiss.edu.
Don’t miss this exclusive networking
opportunity for technology entrepreneurs and business leaders.
Registration is $10 per person. To register, please visit the
Mississippi Technology Alliance website,
www.technologyalliance.ms
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EIGS In the News
NVision Solutions Selected for 2006 SBA Tibbetts Award |
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IHL Geospatial Council Initiates Traveling Seminar Series Series raising awareness and encouraging use of geospatial around the state
The Geospatial Council of the Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) recently began a traveling seminar series in an effort to encourage the continued use and development of geospatial technology in Mississippi, particularly in the educational community. The
Geospatial Traveling Seminar Series takes place once a month at various
universities and community colleges around the state. The overarching goal
of the series is to raise the awareness about the geospatial field with
other faculty and instructors, undergraduate and graduate students, high
school and middle school faculty and students, as well as the private and
government sector.
In
August 2006, Northwest Community College hosted the first meeting of the
series, “What is Happening with GIS at NWCC,” which was sponsored by the
Northwest Community College Workforce Development Center and was held in
Senatobia. In September 2006, the seminar took place in Ellisville, MS, at
Jones County Junior College at the Howard Technology Park Advanced
Technology Center (ATC). The seminar included a technical presentation on
how JCJC is using GIS and included a tour the new ATC building. |
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To
sign up to receive The Sensor, visit www.eigs.olemiss.edu |
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