The Columbia Center has launched two new interactive web mapping applications for the community. The new apps are built upon a new web app model developed by the Columbia Center. The Nacogdoches County Interactive Map was constructed by Student Programming Assistant Daniel Yim under the direction of Geospatial Programmer II, Diana Gunter. The SFA Interactive Web App was created by Columbia Center Director, PR Blackwell, based on Mr. Yim's foundation application.

"The Nacogoches County Interactive Map and the SFASU Interactive Map are our first applications built on the notion of "Theme Based Map Browsing", said Blackwell. "The challenge we are addressing is how can we combine a simple, intuitive user interface with robust functionality. These applications do that by presenting user-selectable Themes that alter the information that is presented and the functionality available."

Both applications use the Center's state-of-the-art web mapping technology housed on the Campus of Stephen F. Austin State University and utilize ESRI ArcGIS Server Javascript Application Programming Interface(API). The result is a smooth, intuitive user experience that feels natural to anyone familiar with web mapping applications such as Google Maps or Microsoft's Virtual Earth. "The best way to get familiar with the sites is to visit them and just noodle around", said Blackwell.

The Nacogdoches County Interactive Map offers four operational themes:

• Transportation - a comprehensive road map of the county.
• Political - precincts and voting places with look-up facility.
• Community - restaurants, churches, schools and more.
• Imagery - aerial photography, hill shade, digital topography and more.

The SFASU Interactive Map offers six operational themes:

• Buildings - search, locate and identify campus structures.
• Parking - find and identify campus parking lots.
• Dining - locate dining establishments on and off campus.
• Recreation - locate recreational opportunities on and off campus.
• Safety - explore the campus safety features.
• Disability - locate ADA features such as ramps, doors and restrooms.

The Columbia Center is developing additional applications using this innovative approach and will continue to develop these as time and funding permits. Watch these pages for additional announcements.

Both the Nacogdoches County Interactive Web App and the SFASU Interactive Map are available to anyone with a network-connected computer and a web browser. Performance will depend on the speed of your network connection. Click on any of the bolded Interactive Map titles or the images in this article to visit the sites.

The Columbia Center received the prestigious Founder's Award this March at the annual South Central Arc Users Group (SCAUG) conference in Fort Worth, Texas.

The Founder's Award was created by SCAUG in 1990 to recognize agencies or individuals that have made contributions enhancing the importance of geospatial science and advancing the use of GIS. Specifically, this award was presented to the Columbia Center "For Being Instrumental In Changing the Future of GIS in the South Central United States."

"It is always gratifying to be recognized by one's peers." said PR Blackwell, Director of the Columbia Center. "This award reflects the impact of the Columbia Center Staff on the regional geospatial community over many years."

"We feel lucky to have the resources available to accomplish the things that we have," said Charles Ashton, Geospatial Trainer II for the Columbia Center. "Without such a vast and dynamic team of workers, these advancements in GIS would not have been possible."

The Columbia Center combines innovation with training and outreach to support the geospatial activities of organizations across the region.

"The opportunity to help others in the GIS field of our region in completing GIS training and application development has been an award in itself," said Johnny Brown, Geospatial Applications Specialist II for the Columbia Center.

Ever since its establishment in 2005, The Columbia Center had been strategically located in downtown Nacogdoches, right on the historic “square.” This location provided for a highly visible and symbolic presence; a statement that the geospatial services provided by the center are indispensible to the East Texas region. Ironically, The Columbia Center’s success in supporting emergency planning and response, economic development, and natural resource management in East Texas has necessitated the need for more space.

To accomodate this need, the Columbia Regional Geospatial Service Center has relocated to the McKibben Building (formerly the Elementary Education Department) on the Stephen F. Austin State University campus, sharing the third floor with the School of Honors. The move, which took place during December, allows combining the Forest Resource Initiative (FRI) and the Center for Economic Development and Research (CEDAR) with the Columbia Center. This brings all three operational areas of the Columbia Center Mission together in one location.

The new facility provides:

• Substantially more space (over 10,000 sq feet)
• Better utilization of space
• Larger more convenient training lab
• Expanded student work area
• Superior network connectivity
• Expanded server-room capacity
• Better integration of educational initiatives
• A platform to expand support to the community and the region

The Columbia Center is proud of the new facilities and ready to serve the public in a bigger way!

Ever wish your favorite breakfast joint would offer a GIS combo meal? That way, as you chomp down on that sausage biscuit, you could revel in the beauty of the latest satellite imagery of the Lone Star State.

Here at the Columbia Center, I am sad to announce that we are unable to offer you a bacon and egg croissant. As of today, however, we will be serving up daily MODIS imagery of Texas via our TexasView.org web presence. We’ve made a cozy spot for a thumbnail of the latest imagery at the top of the right column of this page. Click on it, but take CAUTION: Contents are AWESOME!

Or you can click here, if you don’t feel like moving your mouse that far because you haven’t had your coffee yet…

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