Cyberinfrastructure Summer Institute in San Diego

GEON will hold a week-long Cyberinfrastructure Summer Institute for Geoscientists (CSIG) from August 9-13, 2010 at the University of California, San Diego. This year’s program featured two tracks:

1. Overview of the technologies utilized to develop earth science cyberinfrastructure.
2. Utilization of cyberinfrastructure-based data systems and tools can be used in geoscience education and research.

Forty-two participants took part in the 2009 CSIG representing academia, private industry, and several agencies. As in the past, students traveled from countries such as Mexico, Ireland, and New Zealand to attend.

Online applications are now being accepted. Application deadline is June 6, 2010.

Key Links:
Tentative Program Info
Application
Location & Lodging
Previous Years

About GEON: The goal in GEON is to develop a set of software services that can respond to a “natural” request from users. Integrating a variety of multi-dimensional data in response to such a request requires a common framework. GEON is developing the OpenEarth Framework (OEF) to facilitate such integration. More information here.

The CSIG is made possible through funding provided by the National Science Foundation.

Historical Mapping App from the Library of Scotland

The National Library of Scotland has just launched a new historical mapping application that allows anyone to include selected historical geo-referenced maps of Great Britain on their own websites. Sets of Ordnance Survey maps relating to Scotland, England and Wales, dating from the 1920s to 1940s, have been seamed together and geo-referenced, then specially prepared for use in external websites.

The maps have been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution Licence, allowing free use and adaptation of the mapping, provided it is properly attributed. We've embedded the map below; visit the link above for info on how to display, embed, or otherwise make use of these maps.

Two Calls for Papers

The International Cartographic Association (ICA) and the International Journal of Geographic Information Science (IJGIS) have each issued a call for papers.

The ICA is hosting a Workshop on Advances in Sensors and Algorithms for Topographic and Thematic Mapping (link), and seeks papers on a wide array of topics related to mapping and remote sensing. More information on submissions is available here.

For a planned special issue on data-intensive geospatial computing, the International Journal of Geographic Information Science seeks original, unpublished papers that describe efforts and advances related to the special issue topic, with particular applications to environment and urban systems. More information is available here.

Geospatial Computing Conference in Bethesda

The 1st Annual Conference on Computing for Geospatial Research and Application, dubbed the "Com.Geo Conference," will be held on June 21-23 at One Bethesda Metro Center in Bethesda, MD, an easy trip on the Red line.

The Com.Geo conference seeks to bring together scientists, researchers, engineers, software developers, decision makers, corporate managers, CTOs, CIOs, and IT administrators all over the world to share information and idea on innovative geospatial research and application technologies. The programs includes the following sessions and events:

• 3 days of Full or Short Papers, Courses, Panels/Panels+, Invited Sessions, Workshops, and Tech Talks/Posters
• 3 days of Free iExhibit demo show and Demo Talks
• Multiple networking events (Job Fair, Brainstorm Corner, Banquets/Receptions, etc.)
• Free special programs for attendee family members (Free iExhibit, etc.)

Keynote speakers include representatives from Microsoft, Oracle, MIT, Purdue, Open Geospatial Consortium, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The discount for early registration ends May 20; there is also a waitlist students can join if they're interested in volunteering.

Direct links to:
Conference Web site
Conference Program
Accepted Papers
Keynote Speakers
Venue
Registration

Oil Spill Resources

Here are a pair of useful resources related to the major Gulf of Mexico oil spill that's been dominating headlines over the past week.

First, ESRI has quickly put together an interactive mapping tool that allows users to upload photos, video, and other information. Here's a screenshot of the basic interface:


Second, librarians at the University of South Alabama have put together an extensive list of federal, state, local, and other sites that are relaying news and information on the spill and ongoing efforts to cope with it. It's a very useful reference source.