In the meantime, there's been a lot of tours, security clearances & HR paperwork, and proposal writing. And every now and then, behind-the-scenes looks at the airport inbetween the odd map request!
Showing posts with label Vancouver. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vancouver. Show all posts
Thursday, 31 July 2014
New Job, New Challenges
A few months ago, the local airport posted a position for a GIS Specialist. Given my family circumstances, it was an opportunity I couldn't pass up. Career-wise, it's not much of change from my job at the City of Surrey, but definitely a lot broader responsibilities. Which is good, and expansive, as a result of coming to a smaller organization. I'll be doing a lot more GIS system design and maintenance, which, when you are part of a bigger team, and defined by your job description, you may not necessarily get to do very often.
In the meantime, there's been a lot of tours, security clearances & HR paperwork, and proposal writing. And every now and then, behind-the-scenes looks at the airport inbetween the odd map request!
In the meantime, there's been a lot of tours, security clearances & HR paperwork, and proposal writing. And every now and then, behind-the-scenes looks at the airport inbetween the odd map request!
Friday, 19 April 2013
Post #FMEWT 2013 Thoughts, Vancouver edition
So, on Tuesday, Dale & Don did the annual Safe Software FME road show, showcasing the latest & greatest stuff in FME 2013. Good times. Always a good time to go, meet some fellow #FME'ers and check out the new stuff.
I won't go into all the details (you can find it here, a live blog account, and watch James Fee & company discuss it here) but I did enjoy 4 big things:
1) Better Labeling, via the MapTextLabeller.
Even though it's an extra cost add-on, you can't deny that adding better labeling transformers are really going to help those customers with limited GIS budgets. This helps fill that void somewhat. Maplex in ArcGIS covers a lot of the same (if better) functionality, but if you don't have access to that resource, this will do nicely if you aren't tied into the Autodesk/ESRI stack. And definitely helpful for guys like Jonathon McIntyre making those high quality floor plan PDF's from FME.
2) Uploading and testing your CAD files right to FME server, to QA/QC those pesky as-built drawings from contractors.....! Geometry validation is going to be very useful for our infrastructure GIS guys here in the office.
3) Real-time tracking. Watching Dale's TESLA in real-time was pretty cool, and pulling the City of Vancouver's data via FTP into FME's workbench was just as awesome.
4) Reading ZIP files! Writing to ZIP files! Damn, wish I had this when I was revamping the scripts for our Open Data site. No biggee, Python helped out on that regard.
Thankfully, I've got 2013 installed at work now so I'm excited to try out the new stuff right away!
Yes, Soup for me! heh, heh, heh.....
I won't go into all the details (you can find it here, a live blog account, and watch James Fee & company discuss it here) but I did enjoy 4 big things:
1) Better Labeling, via the MapTextLabeller.
Even though it's an extra cost add-on, you can't deny that adding better labeling transformers are really going to help those customers with limited GIS budgets. This helps fill that void somewhat. Maplex in ArcGIS covers a lot of the same (if better) functionality, but if you don't have access to that resource, this will do nicely if you aren't tied into the Autodesk/ESRI stack. And definitely helpful for guys like Jonathon McIntyre making those high quality floor plan PDF's from FME.
2) Uploading and testing your CAD files right to FME server, to QA/QC those pesky as-built drawings from contractors.....! Geometry validation is going to be very useful for our infrastructure GIS guys here in the office.
3) Real-time tracking. Watching Dale's TESLA in real-time was pretty cool, and pulling the City of Vancouver's data via FTP into FME's workbench was just as awesome.
4) Reading ZIP files! Writing to ZIP files! Damn, wish I had this when I was revamping the scripts for our Open Data site. No biggee, Python helped out on that regard.
Thankfully, I've got 2013 installed at work now so I'm excited to try out the new stuff right away!
Yes, Soup for me! heh, heh, heh.....
Thursday, 11 February 2010
Vancouver 2010 Olympic Maps! With More Cowbell!
On the eve of the Opening Ceremonies here in Vancouver, I’ve seen a plethora of maps and guides to the City and Whistler. It’s a lot of info to take in so I’m going to try and post of the more interesting stuff I’ll be following in the days and weeks ahead. One of the guys from work was a torch runner in Aldergrove (Langley) and brought his torch to work. Needless to say, I was happy to hold it and get into the Olympic spirit!
Compiled by “LBrideau” on Google Maps, utilizing CityCausus.com’s 2010 Free Stuff Guide! This is the go-to-guide for stuff to check out.
When the rain in Vancouver gets you depressed, have a look at a better view of the City and the venues from Sept/Oct 2009, courtesy of AERIAL PHOTO IMAGE.com (360 Degree Views of Vancouver!)
More posts to come! GO CANADA!
Wednesday, 21 January 2009
URISA BC Winter Seminar 2009
Haven't had much time to blog over the past few weeks - work has been busy with the Pattullo Bridge going down and the recent flooding in the Lower Mainland due to the snowfall. This blog was just one more thing on my plate to fix up so I've got a new look now. That masthead picture is the next thing to change too (as much as I like Vegas.... it's just not geocorrect here...!)
But I do need to mention that I'm off to the Burnaby Hilton Hotel for the biannual URISA BC Workshop. This one will have a range of speakers on the use of 3D tools in the geospatial toolkit. There's been a lot of interesting developments in the past couple of years (much more than Sketchup models of buildings in Google Earth!) so it'll be good to hear what's going on around town.
Later!
But I do need to mention that I'm off to the Burnaby Hilton Hotel for the biannual URISA BC Workshop. This one will have a range of speakers on the use of 3D tools in the geospatial toolkit. There's been a lot of interesting developments in the past couple of years (much more than Sketchup models of buildings in Google Earth!) so it'll be good to hear what's going on around town.
Later!
Friday, 12 December 2008
The Best of 604 on the Interwebs
Miss 604, a local blogger, profiles the Best of 604 Web Awards, held last night at The Cellar, a good little club/bar in downtown Vancouver. If you want the lowdown on the best bloggers in Van City covering everything from local politics to food and photography, check it out.
Photo credit: Raul on Flickr
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