Los Angeles County Enterprise GIS

I wanted to pass this along to folks who are using Google Maps …

Dear Premier customers,

We just made some changes to our map data for the United States that may affect your applications. Please read the post on the Google LatLong blog for full details, and the note below for more info on possible effects on your maps.

We’re excited to bring new features and functionality to Google Maps API Premier including: comprehensive parcel data, more detailed natural features like parks and water bodies, and new base map data types like bike paths and university campus maps. These updates have improved geocoding accuracy as well as our imagery/data alignment, and we’ll be making even more improvements going forward.

How does this update impact Maps API Premier customers? The data that powers API features like geocoding and driving directions has been updated. If you’re using client-side geocoding in the browser, your applications will automatically start using the new data. If you’ve been using the HTTP geocoder and caching any retrieved data, you should re-geocode with the new data as soon as possible. With the “Report a Problem” feature, we’ll be updating the map data regularly, so we recommend that you continue to refresh any cached data in order to take advantage of the latest data too.

We’re excited about this launch, and also pleased to announce that this move should shorten the time it takes to push corrections to the map to less than a month. Corrections to base data can now be quickly reported and tracked with the new  “Report a Problem” link to communicate directly with us about any updates or corrections that you think need to be made to our maps.  Our Google Enterprise Technical Support team is standing by to assist you if you have any questions and to make sure any issues are resolved quickly, at support.google.com/enterprise.

Thanks for your patience as we roll this out!

Google Enterprise Maps Team

October 8th, 2009 | Category: Announcements, Software, Technical | Leave a comment

Hello everyone,

ESRI has delivered the media for ArcGIS 9.3.1.  The document for “what’s” new is available from ESRI.

Here are the big updates.

• Faster drawing engine for ArcGIS Server dynamic data.  This should help speed up our map services.
• Ability to use Microsoft Virtual Earth for free inside ArcMap
• Ability to use Microsoft Virtual Earth for free inside of ESRI-based map applications.
• ESRI now includes four extensions inside of ArcGIS Server Advanced (LA County eGIS has a copy) – to use these tools remotely.
  • Spatial Analyst
  • 3D analyst
  • Network Analyst
  • Geostatistical Analyst

I have already tried to use the Virtual Earth, but it requires a new license file – we should have that up in a few days.

May 18th, 2009 | Category: Announcements, News, Software | Leave a comment

GeoPDF takes the PDF file one step further, allowing users to publish pdf files directly from ArcGIS that act as maps – with zoom in, data search, and easier distribution.  The USGS is using this to distribute is 7.5 minute Topographic Quads.

I wanted to pass along a couple of examples as well as the pricing sheet, from Dave Gura of TerraGo.  If you want contact information let me know.

• Meridian Elementary Map Demo
• GSA Pricing Sheet
• USGS Store – Download 7.5 minute topo’s in GeoPDF format for free – click the Map Locator link on the left side of the page.

December 4th, 2008 | Category: Software | Leave a comment

With a pair of Routing Services released (see http://gis2.lacounty.gov/services/route.asmx) there is some confusion about how optimization and other items work. I am attaching this guide for reference for those folks who will delve deep into this service. I am writing a services guide, which will help a LOT, but this is a fast way to start understanding what is going on.

ESRI – Using ArcIMS RouteServer

July 3rd, 2008 | Category: Software, Technical | Leave a comment

Often times I see a color that on some website or some map that I want to add to my maps. Getting the exact RGB values to do this is difficult unless you have a color picker.

I finally did a little search and found this one. It is pretty useful if you want to get an exact color for you maps to make them look nice.

Have fun! If you find a better one let me know.

Color Pick v 4.1 (.exe file)

July 1st, 2008 | Category: Software, Technical | Leave a comment

This came from the discussion Tuesday at the eGIS Steering Committee Meeting. Here is a link to ESRI’s site for the productivity features at ArcGIS Desktop 9.3. This is for their desktop software only. We’ll include the link to their server products next.

There is a No-Cost Live Training Seminar on Thursday June 19.

Here are some features they say will improve your productivity (what they will cover):

• The new convert graphics to features function
• Improvements to bookmarks
• Raster export enhancements
• Enhancements to joins and relates
• Improvements to layers and layer file handling
• The new ArcGIS Desktop Resource Center
• New HTML pop-ups

June 18th, 2008 | Tags: training seminar | Category: Software, Training | Leave a comment

Latitude Geographics is organizing a training for administrators of Geocortex sites (IMF and Essentials). This course will be invaluable for departments who doing their own maintenance of  Geocortex-based sites.  Note that this training will cover the Site Manager for managing the sites, and not be a training for end users.

The class will be at the ESRI headquarters in Redlands, California (November 4-7, 2008)

Here is the link: http://www.geocortex.com/training/

Nov 4 – 5 – Geocortex IMF – Course Information
Nov 6 – 7 – Geocortex Essentials – Course Information

Cost is $980 per person for each class.

Please contact me (mgreninger@cio.lacounty.gov) if you are interested. I will work with Latitude to block out some slots for LA COunty.

May 30th, 2008 | Category: Software, Training | Leave a comment

The County and ESRI, the developer of the County’s standard GIS software, have concluded negotiations and entered into Master Agreement #MA-IS-43547 which will provide standard, discounted rates for the purchase of ESRI software.

ESRI MPA Price List

To expedite software purchases, and remove the need for Sole Source purchases, the CIO and ISD have developed a standard document to include with your ESRI software purchases that will replace Sole Source Justifications, expediting the acquisition.

ESRI MPA Reference Letter for ISD

If you have questions, please let me know!

May 27th, 2008 | Category: Software | Leave a comment

Greetings,

As you are aware, the long-term goal at Regional Planning (DRP), and the GIS Section in particular, is to continue providing accurate GIS data and information in a fast and efficient manner. In keeping with this goal, we are now ready to unveil Public SUB-NET, the latest addition to our online Family of GIS Web Mapping Applications. Based on the internal version of SUB-NET which was introduced to staff in January 2007, it is designed primarily for business processes specific to DRP’s Land Divisions Section. Now, Public SUB-NET is slated for Internet deployment as a beta version effective May 7, 2007 via the DRP website or by direct access from the following link:

http://regionalgis.co.la.ca.us/imf51/sites/subnet/jsp/launch.jsp

Public SUB-NET provides access to our current subdivision activity layer. Also, a key feature of the site is direct More »

May 2nd, 2008 | Category: Links, Software | Comments (2)