Volume 26 • No 09 • 2003
ISSN 0742-468X • Since 1978
On-line Since 2000
Out of the Box
Editor's note: In “Out of the Box” we bring you news snippets that are not necessarily related specifically to GIS. These are items that come across my screen that help me understand our industry, by understanding the world around us. For the complete article just click “Details Here.” Think of it as thinking Out of the Box
In State and Local Government …
• GAO weighs in on firefighting GIS. The collaborative interagency effort required to fight fires complicates the use of geographic information systems, GAO wrote in its report.
Details Here
• Oklahoma city hopes pavement management program will lead to better … GIS stands for geographic information systems, which pinpoints geographic
locations. “It’s about a 3 month process to get this up and running,”
Details Here
• FREE “"Up From Zero” tells of those at ground zero. After the terrorist attacks of 2001, thousands of building trades
workers poured into the site, starting the massive rescue and
cleanup operations. These volunteers worked nine months, at great
personal risk. A documentary has been completed on this work, including interviews
with the workers. It is available from the U.S. Department of Labor
free of charge. Details Here
In Technology …
• Georgia Tech Center for Geographic Information Systems, College of Architecture, will present a series of GIS courses, beginning in October 2003 and continuing through May 2004. Courses include: Introductory Course in ArcGIS 8.3, Building GIS Applications Using Visual Basic, Designing Geodatabases for GIS Application, Using GIS for Data Integration and Asset Management, Developing Web-based GIS with ArcIMS, and Building GIS Applications Using Visual Basic and VB.Net. All courses are open to the public, and held in Georgia Tech’s Global Learning Center in Technology Square, Atlanta, GA. For complete course descriptions and registration fees visit: www.pe.gatech.edu and select "geographic information systems" from the drop down menu. For additional information, call: (404) 385-3501.
Details Here. Select “geographic information systems” from the drop down menu. For additional information, call: (404) 385–3501.
• Tektronix’ Network Monitoring System Gains Another First for Mobile Operators Striving to Maximize GSM Revenues. Bob Agnes, Vice President, Monitoring & Protocol Test, Tektronix said “Tektronix’ new NET–X RST enables technicians to quickly understand where their largest sources of revenue – in–roamers – are located and what activities they’re performing, enabling the operator to prioritize maintenance tasks and protect an important revenue stream.”
Details Here
• Microsoft Corp. announced the creation of
the Anti-Virus Reward Program, initially funded with $5 million (U.S.), to
help law enforcement agencies identify and bring to justice those who
illegally release damaging worms, viruses and other types of malicious code
on the Internet. Microsoft will provide the monetary rewards for information
resulting in the arrest and conviction of those responsible for launching
malicious viruses and worms on the Internet. Residents of any country are
eligible for the reward, according to the laws of that country, as Internet
viruses affect the Internet community worldwide.
Details Here
In Utilities …
• Debunking Some Myths About the Great Northeast Blackout. Like earlier outages in 1965 and 1977, the widespread blackout that plunged most of the Northeastern US into darkness August 14th will be seen as a watershed event in the history of the US power industry.
Details Here. Story by Jack Ellis
• U.S. generators trim power to absorb solar flare.
North American power generators said they throttled back the amount of
energy flowing onto the transmission grid on Wednesday, October 29, to
shield it from the impact of a solar flare that earlier hit Earth. The
transmission grid, a vast system of electrically charged lines suspended on
towers above the Earth’s surface, is especially vulnerable to solar flares,
acting like a net fully exposed to the sun's burst of magnetic energy.
“There have been some minor impacts. We’ve had several nuclear power plants reduce power and a small hydroelectric facility went out of service, but
it’s been well within companies’ ability to handle,” said Ellen Vancko, a spokesperson at the North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC).
In New England, the region’s electric grid operator warned on
its Website that power imports from Quebec and exports to New York could be
reduced because of the solar magnetic disturbance.
Details Here.
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