GPC GIS Proposed GITS Workshops for Supporting GITS Professional Development and Certification in the MENA Region

GPC GIS supporting informed and sustainable decision-making in the MENA region through GITS human capacity advancement

Contact: Garfield Giff ( Garfield.Giff@gpc-gis.ae )

September 2011

Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 3 Overview of the Training Programs ........................................................................................................... 4 Selected GITS Technical Workshops ........................................................................................................ 5 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 3D Geospatial: Project Implementation Methods and Best Practices.................................... 5 Addresses and IS/GIS Implementation: Key to GIS Success ................................................. 5 GIS Enterprise Architecture & System Integration .................................................................... 5 Transportation Spatial Database Design .................................................................................... 6 Building Quality Spatial Data ........................................................................................................ 6 Cartography and Map Design ...................................................................................................... 7 Geospatial Issues for the Oil and Gas Industry ......................................................................... 7 GIS Program management ........................................................................................................... 9 GIS Strategic Planning .................................................................................................................. 9 Asset management: Planning, Strategy, and Implementation ................................................ 9 Introduction to Agile: Project Management & Development .................................................. 10 Understanding and Managing the Geospatial Workforce ...................................................... 11 Whats in the Cloud ...................................................................................................................... 12 Crowd Sourcing and Non-authoritative Geospatial Data Source.......................................... 12 Better Asset Management Through Coordinate System ....................................................... 13

Selected GITS Management Workshops .................................................................................................. 9

Industry Trend Workshops ........................................................................................................................ 12

Some other interesting Workshops .......................................................................................................... 14 Selected Five day Courses ....................................................................................................................... 14

GITS PD Workshops

Introduction
As part of its GITS Professional Development and Certification program GPC GIS intends to facilitate a number GITS focused workshops through the MENA region. The main objectives of these workshops are to provide a forum for continuous development for GITS professionals throughout the region, facilitate GITS professionals keeping abreast with the latest trends in the profession, facilitate GITS practitioners becoming certified GIS Professional (GISP), and to support the growth of GITS human capacity through the MENA region. The workshops were designed and certified by the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA) and the Geospatial Information and Technology Association (GITA). They cover a wide cross-section of key GITS issues and activities and are categorized into two main headings: Technical Workshops and Management Workshops. The Technical Workshops address key technical issues associated with implementing and maintaining an enterprise GITS solution. The Management Workshops on the other hand cover the issues affiliated with managing both the technical and human components of a GITS solution. The workshops will be facilitated by Certified URISA Instructors and hand-pick SMEs based upon their extensive knowledge of subject matter, their geospatial industry reputation, and their direct involvement with GITA and URISA. On average the duration of the workshops will be approximately 1-2 days. In addition to extensive and current GITS knowledge, the workshops will also provide participants with points towards GISP certification. In summary, the workshops are a great way of growing GITS professional development through the region from both an organizational perspective, as well as, a personal perspective. GPC GIS is looking forward to seeing you at one if not all of these upcoming workshops in the near future. Comprehensive descriptions of the workshops are presented in the following sections of this report.

GITS PD Workshops

Overview of the Training Programs

The various training programs on offer are listed below in five categories. The descriptions are provided in subsequent pages. GITS Technical Workshops 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 3D Geospatial: Project Implementation Methods and Best Practices Addresses and IS/GIS Implementation: Key to GIS Success GIS Enterprise Architecture & System Integration Transportation Spatial Database Design Building Quality Spatial Data Cartography and Map Design Geospatial Issues for the Oil and Gas Industry

GITS Management Workshops 8. GIS Program management 9. GIS Strategic Planning 10. Asset management: Planning, Strategy, and Implementation 11. Introduction to Agile: Project Management & Development 12. Understanding and Managing the Geospatial Workforce Industry Trend Workshops 13. Whats in the Cloud 14. Crowd Sourcing and Non-authoritative Geospatial Data Source 15. Better Asset Management through Coordinate System Other Workshops 16. eGovernment-Planning, Policy and the Portal 17. Field Automation Options for Local Government 18. An Introduction to Public Participation GIS: Using GIS to Support Community Decision Making 19. LIDAR Concepts, Principles and Applications 20. Public Data, Public Access, Privacy, and Security: U.S. Law and Policy 21. Quality Management: Introduction to Issue Tracking 22. Empowering GIS with Remote Sensing Techniques 23. Strategic Business Plans 24. Introduction to Geospatial Issues for Environmental Management 25. Geospatial Technologies for Non-Geospatial Professionals 26. GIS Coordination for Government and Large Businesses Five day Courses 27. Geospatial Systems Management 28. Fundamental GIS Concepts for Linear and Network Infrastructures 29. Geospatial Systems for Crisis and Emergencies

GITS PD Workshops

Selected GITS Technical Workshops

1. 3D Geospatial: Project Implementation Methods and Best Practices This workshop introduces the data, systems, and processes to be considered when implementing 3D applications. The subject is delivered through extensive case studies and several group exercises. Specific topics include but not limited to:

Guidelines for project implementations using 3D technologies Introduction to a wide range of 3D analysis and visualization software Aerial and terrestrial 3D data acquisition methods, as well as update techniques Case studies of urban applications An introduction to 3D data models, including emerging open standards and best practices for model development

Intended Audience: Project managers creating or maintaining 3D data, geospatial data analysts considering integration of 3D technology, and local and regional government leaders implementing 3D geospatial programs. 2. Addresses and IS/GIS Implementation: Key to GIS Success This workshop will help you understand the addressing process, managing address data, and organizational challenges. It will guide you in developing a Master Address Repository that serves the needs of the entire organization. Specific topics include but not limited to:

What is an address? What are the types of address? How are addressing systems structured, and addresses assigned? How do you develop a Master Address Repository Geocoding and managing addresses in the GIS Organizational Issues with Addressing Working with the FGDC Street Address Data Standard

Intended Audience: GITS Managers, staff members who assign, maintain or use addresses. This workshop will focus on managing address workflows, address data, and use. 3. GIS Enterprise Architecture & System Integration This workshop will provide GIS professionals with an understanding of some of the complex technical and specific technical management issues that must be addressed when integrating GIS with other systems and processes in the organization. Specific topics include but not limited to:

Definitions of Enterprise GIS Definitions of System Integration Architecture design and development Management and phasing of enterprise environments Staffing and maintenance of enterprise environments Network, data and web architectures and roles in the enterprise Open systems and standards

GITS PD Workshops

Future issues and trends

Intended Audience: Public and private sector managers, elected officials, and policy professionals, database developers and administrators, and GITS professionals.

4. Transportation Spatial Database Design The workshop will show participants how to develop an integrated multimodal database design for transportation agencies that not only serves to break down cross-functional barriers but also offers a foundation for true enterprise-level spatial databases. Such a design offers the opportunity for GIS to come out of the backroom and be a viable real-time agency management tool. Specific topics include but not limited to:

Basics of database design and UML Survey of major transportation data structures in use today Dataset and feature-level metadata Support for transactional updates Workflow control Treating location as a relationship between a position and a datum Separating features into their component elements. Identifying events and characteristics

Intended Audience: Database managers, database developers, GITS professionals, staff members who use GITS transportation applications.

5. Building Quality Spatial Data Creating and maintaining accurate spatial data is one of the keys to a successful GIS implementation. This workshop will present best practices, processes, quality control and quality assurance techniques for developing and maintaining high quality spatial data that users will trust and utilize. Specific topics include but not limited to:

Guidelines for selecting the appropriate levels of quality and accuracy Establishing an effective data quality control program Data conversion quality control / quality assurance How to attack and defeat quality problems High quality processes lead to high quality data Principles and processes for statistics-based quality assurance testing

Intended Audience: Project managers and technical staff creating or maintaining spatial data, GIS users considering acquiring or developing new spatial data both in the government and private sectors, and spatial data users who need a better understanding of how quality data is developed and assessed.

GITS PD Workshops

6. Cartography and Map Design This workshop gives GITS practitioners the practical information and techniques needed to create effective, successful maps in any display medium. Specific topics include but not limited to: The cartographic process The form and function of maps Map fundamentals The spatial aspect of map The representational aspect of map The parts of a map Map data The process of making a map Conceptualization and planning Design, production Editing & Q/A Output and reproduction

Intended Audience: This workshop is designed for the individual who may be new to GIS or who has not had specific training in cartography, but needs to create maps to support GIS data analysis and display. It will also be useful for GIS managers to understand how to manage a major cartographic project effectively.

7. Geospatial Issues for the Oil and Gas Industry This workshop was designed to inform participants on how best GITS solutions can be used to manage oil and gas exploration and transportation. During the workshop participants will be presented with strategies, methodologies and information on using GITS solutions to support the oil and gas industry in conforming to regulations, pipeline integrity, risk management, and emergency preparedness to name a few. Workshop topics include but are not limited to: Regulations Safety Environmental, and Engineering Pipeline Integrity Systems design and mapping Identification of high-consequent areas Inspection modeling

GITS PD Workshops

Data Integration Systems design specifications development Security concerns Data management Data transfer Risk Management Emergency Preparedness Exploration: remote sensing techniques and modeling geology Visualization: 3D and as-built vs. planned Emergency Preparedness Spill Fire/explosion Plume modeling Exploration Remote sensing techniques Modeling geology Visualization 3D As-built vs. planned

GITS PD Workshops

Selected GITS Management Workshops

8. GIS Program management This workshop is designed to provide guidelines for managing your GIS program. It will look at the various organizational and technical issues program managers must address in order to develop a successful GIS program. The discussions will include managing all aspects of a GIS program from staffing and budgeting to procuring technology and working with vendors. Specific topics include but not limited to:

Program development Project management techniques Budgeting Staffing Sustaining program support And managing consultants and vendors

Intended Audience: GIS Program Management is a must for anyone embarking upon a GIS program, involved with a less-than-successful GIS, or who is seeking ways to improve a successful implementation.

9. GIS Strategic Planning This workshop delivers strategic planning methods and tools in the context of developing and managing a GIS program. Participants will learn how to successfully select and apply appropriate methods for a variety of situations. Specific topics include but not limited to:

Strategic planning models, methods, and tools Selecting and applying the best approach for any GIS situation Developing an initial GIS strategic plan Integrating GIS, IT, and organizational strategic plans Developing an effective action plan and ensuring follow-through Updating a GIS strategic plan Conducting a GIS program review and effecting improvement

Intended Audience: GIS managers and staff, GIS users and program participants, and managers, executives, and other professionals who are involved with GIS programs.

10. Asset management: Planning, Strategy, and Implementation Public and private agencies face continuous challenges to accomplish more with less as increases in demand, regulatory requirements, infrastructure deterioration, and political and economic forces have significantly outpaced increases in capital and operating budgets. Many of these agencies are turning to Asset Management to cope with these challenges and improve business performance and effectiveness.

GITS PD Workshops

This workshop will focus on several aspects of developing an asset management system that could help improve performance, reduce long-term costs, and maximize return on investment in infrastructure assets. Specific topics include but not limited to:

Strategy and Planning Data Collection Methods Software Solutions Information Management and Decision Support Tools Evaluation and Performance Measures GASB34 Reporting Life Cycle Costs

Intended Audience: This workshop is intended for utility, transportation, engineering, planning, and environmental managers and analysts of the public and private sectors.

11. Introduction to Agile: Project Management & Development This course is designed to provide the skills and techniques that project managers need to succeed in the agile world. We'll show you how to plan projects and iterations, how to provide realistic estimates based on your team's experience, and how to track progress. We'll introduce you to a new set of project metrics that will help you track your team's progress. You'll learn how to ensure the greatest value to you customer through a high collaboration project environment and how to continuously improve your team's performance and your products through retrospection. It will also provide real world examples of how to implement and use various tools and patterns to enable agile development. This includes an overview of source control, automated code documentation, unit testing, design patterns, refactoring tools, automated builds, and continuous integration. Specific course topics include but not limited to: Project Management Practices

What are agile practices? A specific example: The Scrum Framework Agile Roles and Responsibilities Project Controls Scaling Agility

Development and Engineering Practices

Introduction to development practices Source Control Automated Code Documentation Unit Testing Design Patterns Refactoring Tools Automated Builds and Continuous Integration

GITS PD Workshops

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Intended Audience: This workshop is intended for GITS managers, project managers, IT managers, environmental managers, and project supervisors. 12. Understanding and Managing the Geospatial Workforce This workshop is designed to provide the skills, techniques and insights that GITS managers and Human resources managers need to manage and grow the professional competence of their GITS workforce, as well as, effectively grow the human capacity of their GITS department. Managers will learn about the different methods available to best grow their departments GITS human capacity and the latest technology and strategies that can be used to effectively manage GITS employees. Specific course topics include but not limited to: An overview of geospatial positions US Dept. of Labor University of Southern Mississippi Geospatial Industry Workforce Information System (GIWIS)

Human resources Position announcements and advertisements Titles and responsibilities Salary models Performance assessment models

Professional development Academic opportunities Software-specific training models Certification models Professional organizations Publications Service Conference attendance

Roundtable discussion on managing Geospatial Workforce in the MENA region Intended Audience: This workshop is intended for GITS managers, IT managers, human resources managers and middle managers, project supervisors, and GITS professionals interested in professional development.

GITS PD Workshops

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Industry Trend Workshops

13. Whats in the Cloud This workshop is designed to provide participants with a clear understanding of cloud-based computing. The workshop will inform the participants on how best to utilize cloud-based computing in making their GITS activities more efficient, effective and user friendly. The workshop will also address some of the concerns of GITS managers in terms of security and privacy. Specific course topics include but not limited to: An overview of cloud-based computing Risks Returns Free geospatial services in the cloud Data management Collaboration tools Fee-based services Migrating desktop environments Migrating server environments Licensing concerns Security concerns Practical demonstrations Intended Audience: This workshop is intended for GITS managers, IT managers, GITS professionals, IT professionals and anyone with an interest in cloud-based computing.

14. Crowd Sourcing and Non-authoritative Geospatial Data Source This course exposes participants to the potential of crowd sourcing techniques and its application in enhancing GITS activities. Through a number of case studies the workshop demonstrates the effectiveness of crowd sourcing in supporting GITS activities. The workshop also informs participants about the cost associated with crowd sourcing and the possible techniques of measuring the success of crowd sourcing. Specific course topics include but not limited to: What is crowd sourcing? Potential crowd sources Application areas a. Emergency response (Haiti case study) b. Traffic monitoring (Singapore taxi cab study) c. Public services (Ashboro, North Carolina 311 project) d. Street mapping (Open Street Maps)

GITS PD Workshops

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Leveraging crowd sourcing Considerations a. Data turn-around/staleness b. Devices c. Access d. User and contributor trust Measuring return on investment a. Hidden costs b. Assessing success Practical demonstration a. Open Street Map Intended Audience: This workshop is intended for GITS managers, IT managers, GITS professionals, IT professionals, public sector managers, strategy planners, and anyone with an interest in crowd sourcing and GIS.

15. Better Asset Management Through Coordinate System This workshop will focus on the different aspects of using coordinate system to improve the performance of an asset management system. Participants will be taught the principles of map projections and coordinate systems and the application of these systems to asset management. In addition, the workshop will also focus on system integration and provide a number of practical demonstrations. Specific workshop topics include but not limited to: Benefits of using coordinate systems for asset management Location is the asset number Search functions Analysis functions Overview of projections and coordinate systems Map projections Coordinate systems Asset management using planar coordinates Assessing precision and accuracy needs Data structures Truncation Vertical elements Systems integration Work orders and maintenance CRM systems Field use a. Coordinate-based mapping b. Paper and digital tools

GITS PD Workshops

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Demonstration of products Intended Audience: This workshop is intended for utility, transportation, engineering, planning, project, and environmental managers, GITS professionals, and analysts of the public and private sectors organizations.

Some other interesting Workshops

eGovernment-Planning, Policy and the Portal Field Automation Options for Local Government An Introduction to Public Participation GIS: Using GIS to Support Community Decision Making LIDAR Concepts, Principles and Applications Public Data, Public Access, Privacy, and Security: U.S. Law and Policy Quality Management: Introduction to Issue Tracking Empowering GIS with Remote Sensing Techniques Strategic Business Plans Introduction to Geospatial Issues for Environmental Management Geospatial Technologies for Non-Geospatial Professionals GIS Coordination for Government and Large Businesses

Additional information on the above URISA certified workshops can be found at: http://www.urisa.org/workshops

Selected Five day Courses

Geospatial Systems Management Fundamental GIS Concepts for Linear and Network Infrastructures: Pipeline, Electric, Water, Sewer, Telecommunications, Roadway, River, Survey Markets Geospatial Systems for Crisis and Emergencies

GITS PD Workshops

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