June 2008

cga_newsletter

CENTER FOR GEOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS NEWSLETTER 
June 2008 
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HIGHLIGHTS

  • China Earthquake Webmap and Data Sharing Portal
  • Sichuan University Collaborative Research Opportunity
  • Howard T. Fisher Award Winners
  • Demographic Mapping Software Evaluation: SimplyMap and Social Explorer
  • “Time Series Module for Environmental Image Series” - Presentation
  • CGA Contact Email Address to Change July 1
  • New Summer Location for HSPH Help Desk
  • Garmin eTrex Legend GPS Available
  • CAD Training Opportunity
  • Map World Forum Call for Abstracts
  • GeoWeb 2008 Conference
  • Earthscape Mobile
  • Google Earth in a Browser Window
  • National Geographic Maps Launches National Trails Database
  • More…



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CGA NEWS

China Earthquake Webmap and Data Sharing Portal 
In response to a call for volunteer support for damage assessment of the devastating Wenchuan earthquake, staff at the CGA have built a web mapping site, publishing base map and earthquake data from multiple sources on the Internet:
http://cga2.cga.harvard.edu:8399/China_Earthquake 
Also a flyer with more information:
http://isites.harvard.edu/fs/docs/icb.topic35229.files/china_earthquake.pdf

In addition, CGA has created a China Earthquake Geospatial Research Portal:
http://gist.fas.harvard.edu/CEGRP/ 
for information exchanges and sharing. The CEGRP website is a gateway to maps, GIS data, and GIS analysis to facilitate and to share research efforts focused on the recent earthquakes in China. The CEGRP will collect, document, and distribute GIS datasets and related information to assist in the earthquake related research.

The Fairbank Center has committed $10,000 to CGA for enhancing these websites, and we want to hear from Harvard and other interested researchers on what data to add to the site. Please email us at contact@cga.harvard.edu with suggestions.

Sichuan University Collaborative Research Opportunity 
Sichuan University has launched a series of research projects on the Wenchuan earthquake assessment. These researching groups will collect local information, conduct surveys, and are willing to share the information for collaborative studies. Research topics are listed below:

  1. Study on the distribution of material aids and capital during earthquake relief.
  2. Emergency response in ecological environment management after the earthquake.
  3. Damage evaluation of culture heritage and suggestions on recovery.
  4. Public health issues in earthquake relief and suggestions.
  5. Special issues with civil and commercial law after the earthquake.
  6. Study on how to respond to administrative and legal issues after the earthquake.
  7. Study on psychological assistance after the Earthquake.
  8. Rebuilding the image of the city and tourism.
  9. Study on how to use media as a way to console victims.
  10. Feasibility analysis on economic recovery and reconstruction after the earthquake.

If there is interest in joining these research projects, contact us at contact@cga.harvard.edu on how to get involved.

CGA Contact Email Address to Change July 1 
The contact email address for CGA will change to contact@help.cga.harvard.edu starting July 1, 2008. To make this change as transparent as possible, all links pointing to the current contact@cga.harvard.edu address will be changed, and emails sent will be forwarded to the new address. The change is being made to accommodate the new RT ticketing system CGA will begin using July 1.

New Summer Location for HSPH Help Desk 
The Monday afternoon HSPH help desk location in the Lower Level microlab of the Kresge building (677 Huntington Ave., Boston) will be changing as of June 9th, 2008. The new location will be Room 206 (2nd floor) in the same building. The microlab is being remodeled; expected completion is late August, 2008. Upon completion the help desk location will move back to the microlab.

Garmin eTrex Legend GPS Available 
Due to the consistent demand for GPS usage, the CGA has acquired another recreational grade GPS device for use by all Harvard ID holders. To reserve the eTrex Legend GPS, email us at contact@cga.harvard.edu. View it’s availability by logging in, and clicking the Google calendar link at:
http://gis.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k235&tabgroupid=icb.tabgroup7643

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HARVARD GIS COMMUNITY NEWS

Howard T. Fisher Award Winners 
The CGA and the Committee of the Howard T. Fisher Prize in Geographical Information Science are pleased to announce the awardees for the academic year 2007-2008.

In the undergraduate category:
Anjali Lohani for “Effects of Changes in Land Cover on Water Quality” and
Jeremy Tchou for “Wind Energy in the United States: A Spatial-Economic Analysis of Wind Power”.

In the graduate category:
Amos P. K. Tai for “Regional Differences in the Effects of Climate Change on Air Quality in the United States with a Focus on Particulate Matter Concentrations” and
Miwa Matsuo for “Identifying Employment Centers and Modifiable Areal Unit Problem”.

Congratulations to Anjali, Jeremy, Amos, and Miwa, and thanks to all who submitted entries; it was a record year for submittals. For more about the award winners including their full project submittals, go to:
http://gis.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k235&pageid=icb.page23202

Demographic Mapping Software Evaluation: SimplyMap and Social Explorer 
SimplyMap is an on-line application that allows users to create thematic maps of a wide variety of demographic, business and marketing variables for different periods of time. Users can also export data for use in other applications. There is a training video on the site that explains the basics of the application. Harvard has 5 con-current licenses of SimplyMap available now for a trial period ending in mid-July. To evaluate the software, go to:
http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:hul.eresource:simplmap 
HUID login is required.

Social Explorer is an interactive mapping website that contains a free collection of historical census data maps and reports, and five times more data for subscribers. Census data ranging as far back as 1790 is included. Harvard has a subscription to Social Explorer that can be accessed at:
http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:hul.eresource:socialex 
HUID login is required. Non-Harvard users can explore the maps and reports at:
http://www.socialexplorer.com

Please email CGA at contact@cga.harvard.edu with feedback or comments.

Time Series Module for Environmental Image Series - Presentation 
Ron Eastman of Clark Labs will present on this topic at the June ABCD-GIS users group meeting. The presentation will be June 18th, noon – 1:30, in room N354 of the CGIS North building at 1737 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA. Lunch will be provided.

CAD Training Opportunity 
Torcomp Studica is offering training courses Aug 12-14 at Springfield Tech Community College in Springfield, MA. Courses will be offered for Inventor, AutoCAD, Revit, 3ds Max and Maya software. Cost is $129 per day which includes a free copy of the product you’re trained on.
http://www.torcomp.com/training/

CHGIS Mentioned by President Faust in Harvard Worldwide Welcome 
http://www.worldwide.harvard.edu/iws/welcome/index.jsp

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CONFERENCES

Map World Forum Call for Abstracts 
The Map World Forum held in Hyderabad, India February 10 – 13 of 2009 is seeking abstract submittals for papers. Map World Forum is more than just a conference, as it aims to “Converge Ideas and Expand Horizons for Sustainable Planet Earth”. It will explore beyond speeches and discussions to find practical ways to protect the earth and improve people’s lives. Abstracts will be accepted through July 31st, 2008. Submit an abstract at:
http://www.mapworldforum.org/2009/conference/callforabs.htm 
The conference website is:
http://www.mapworldforum.org/2009/index.htm

GeoWeb 2008 Conference 
The annual GeoWeb conference focuses exclusively on the convergence of GIS and the internet, and will be held this year July 21st – 25th in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Early bird discounted registration is open until June 13th.
http://geowebconference.org/

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NEWS ON GIS RESEARCH AND SERVICES

Journal of Geographic Information Sciences Available Online 
The Chinese University of Hong Kong Institute of Space and Earth Information Science has all issues of the Journal of GISciences available at:
http://www.iseis.cuhk.edu.hk/eng/publication/jgis/issues.htm

Earthscape Mobile 
Earthscape Mobile is software in development that puts virtual earth capability on an iPhone, allowing for globe navigation and rotation by tilting the phone. More info and see the demo:
http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/05/26/demo-of-iphone-earth/#comments

Google Earth in a Browser Window 
http://code.google.com/apis/earth/

National Geographic Maps Launches National Trails Database 
http://www10.giscafe.com/nbc/articles/view_article.php?section=CorpNews&articleid=541097

ERDAS Imagine Blog 
http://www.field-guide.blogspot.com/

Google to Launch Large Scale Geo-Services 
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/31/AR2008053101669.html


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Editor of this issue: Jeff Blossom 
The CGA Newsletter is published monthly. View previously published issues. 
For the latest information, please visit our website http://gis.harvard.edu 
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