Spatial Data Management Group meeting notes - 28 June 01
Doug Oetter <oetter@FSL.ORST.EDU>


Attendees: Ken Vance-Borland, Mark Klopsch, Theresa Valentine, Sharon Clarke, Ray 
Drapek, Kelly Christiansen, Terralyn Vandetta, Matt Gregory, George Lienkaemper, 
Sean SanRomani, Jennifer Swenson, Sara Lobeser, Doug Oetter.


NEXT MEETING 
August 2nd 2001, 10:00 Richardson 313
Cookies - Terralyn
Minutes - George


AWARDS:

Metadata Addition Awards -->  Sharon Clarke, Kelly C. (a first!)
Web Page Addition Award -->  Doug O.
	

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

-Terralyn: UNIX and ARC server will be down this weekend for the alarm folks to 
re-wire the room.
-Terralyn: The new UNIX server Castenea is in place to host ARC IMS.
-Theresa: Theresa is putting together a Mt. St. Helens ARC IMS project and will like 
comments- she will email the FORGIS list with the address when it's ready.
-Theresa: Theresa attended a seminar by Jeff ?? (one of the early Apple McIntosh 
developers) in Eugene.  He stressed that computers should be "easy to learn and 
efficient to use" as opposed to the Microsoft model of "easy to use."  He recognizes 
that the current MS model frustrates more advanced users, and that Visual Basic is 
less efficient than existing languages.
-Ken V-B: The Forest Service side may be purchasing a PC to work with ARC GIS on the 
FS side.
-George: ESRI has circulated a position summary with a list of responses to questions 
about ARC GIS data model; George will email it to the FORGIS list.  The same 
information is available on the ESRI web page.


DATABASE MANAGEMENT ISSUES:

There is a meeting tomorrow called by Kathy Howell to begin figuring out the dB needs 
of the Forestry complex.  Several GIS folks will be present since ARC SDE dB needs 
may be a large part of the future dB management issues.  It is important to have dB 
staff who 1) understand and 2) are trained in GIS issues.  We want someone who can 
understand GIS even though we probably won't require their work "full-time." 

SDMG brings to this discussion:
	potential $$ from larger spatial-user groups
	a wealth of data to populate database
	helpdesk experience
	
The job description for a dB administrator will include many hats- we need to ensure 
that migrating our GIS work from UNIX to NT/SDE is one of those roles.  Training for 
ARC SDE will be necessary for both users and support.  The primary needs are SQL 
Server and SDE training.  Sharon notes that there is a vicious cycle such that we 
don't know what we need until we try something, and we don't know what to try until 
we know what we need!  Terralyn suggests making sure that the new dB administrator 
gets training in ARC SDE.  George & Ray both recall from their experience with ESRI 
training that there are shortcomings in their knowledge and adaptability- perhaps it 
might be best to wait a while for ESRI to educate themselves.


FALL SEMINAR SERIES:

Title = Regional Analyses: Innovative GeoSpatial Applications
Theme = Development of large GIS data sets to address state-wide environmental 
managment issues, and the implications of this type of work. 

Several potential speakers have been identified and will be contacted soon (see 
Sharon for details).  Projects might include Umpqua Land Exchange, Interior Columbia 
Ecosystem Project, CLAMS, PNWERC, PRISM.


ARC 8 WORKSHOPS:

Five of the R203 computers have ARC8.1 installed; the rest will be soon.  To install 
ARC8.1, use the installation shortcut in /win32/install/gis/ (do NOT use F:/install). 
 Intall the workstation first, the the desktop.  It will un-install 8.0.

It's time to schedule testing/training workshops for ARC8.1.  Theresa will start 
things off on 5 July, then perhaps a report from those going to the ESRI conference, 
then ...?  (See ARC 8 
page for details).

On 22-26 October, R203 will be used for ARC 8 training for regional USFS folks.  This 
is ESRI training.  Theresa will push for some more spots for FSRN people, but will 
have to wait to hear about that.


WEBPAGE:

We need to arrange for a transition of the Helpdesk and SDMG webpages in the event 
that Doug actually graduates and finds a job.  Theresa will help Doug with the 
webpage for a transition time period.  Everyone else will offer advice and provide 
Frequently Asked Questions for the helpdesk.

The Helpdesk schedule webpage should be revamped so that there are no longer any 
scheduled hours for each helpdesk person.  Instead, there should be a list of 
"experts" for each software/problem type.  The page should spell out that there is a 
progression of events to solve problems, starting with those that are web-accessible 
and ending with actually coming to see a person during work hours.  Each helper will 
be listed beneath one or two topics or specialty areas.  One of these topics should 
be "project design" (Theresa's specialty).


TIPS & TRICKS WORKSHOP:

There will be another GIS Tips & Tricks workshop this fall.  The planning committee 
will meet 18 July at 1:30 to begin planning topics.  (Sorry I didn't catch WHO is on 
this planning committee!).