Inspiring maps for the Blind

Topographic maps can be difficult to understand. Being able to extrapolate into a third dimension while seeing lines on a piece of paper can be complicated, especially when you consider the variations of slope, cross cutting rivers, and other features which often are depicted throughout a topographic map. Now take this one step further, put on a blindfold and attempt to read the topographic map. How would you read it, could you decipher the map, where would you begin?

This was the question posed recently at Gainesville State College when Efren Chavez, a blind student, signed up for a geology class which required students to interpret a topographical map. Click below to read the full article and learn how professors were able to use the technique of creating a mirror image to create depth in a two dimensional map which can be read by the blind.

Click here for full story from the Atlantic Journal-Constitution (Image Courtesy of AJC)

ECFRPC Receives $2.4 Million HUD Sustainable Community Regional Planning Grant

Great news for the Central Florida region!!! The East Central Florida Regional Planning Council has received a 2.4 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) please see below the official press release and visit www.ecfrpc.org for more information.

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL RECEIVES $2.4 MILLION HUD SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES REGIONAL PLANNING GRANT

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, FL – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Regional Administrator of the Southeast, Ed Jennings Jr., yesterday awarded the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council a $2.4 million HUD Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant to develop transit around East Central Florida’s SunRail stations.

The East Central Florida Regional Planning Council accepts the award on behalf of the East Central Florida Sustainable Communities Consortium, a partnership of local governments, private developers, educational institutions, and non-profit agencies. The Consortium will use the grant funding to prepare for development around the future station locations for the SunRail commuter rail system, scheduled to begin operation in 2014.

Commissioner Cheryl L. Grieb, Chair of the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council (ECFRPC), accepted the $2.4 million check from HUD at Monday’s award ceremony on behalf of the ECFRPC and the ECF Sustainable Communities Consortium. “SunRail represents a historic opportunity to transform growth patterns around the stations to attract high-quality, higher-paying jobs and to provide residents the opportunity to access these jobs using public transit. The grant funding will support detailed station area planning for six of the 12 Phase I SunRail stations, affordable housing assessments for all 12 station areas, and regional collaboration to share best practices and to guide future transit planning in East Central Florida” said Grieb.

Out of 468 applications, the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council was 1 of 56 selected grantees from around the United States. This grant is part of the Partnership for Sustainable Communities, which represents an association between HUD, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to ensure that the agencies’ policies, programs, and funding consider affordable housing, transportation, and environmental protection together.

The East Central Florida Regional Planning Council was established in 1962 as an area-wide association of local governments serving the six counties of Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, and Volusia. The ECFRPC is one of 11 regional planning councils mandated by the Florida Legislature under the authority of Chapter 186, Florida Statutes. The Council provides a forum where members and leaders can discuss complex regional issues and set regional goals and objectives.

Members of the East Central Florida Sustainable Communities Consortium:
• East Central Florida Regional Planning Council
• Brevard County
• Lake County
• Orange County
• Osceola County
• Seminole County
• Volusia County
• City of Daytona Beach
• City of DeBary
• City of Deltona
• City of Longwood
• City of Orlando
• City of Palm Bay
• City of Sanford
• Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority (LYNX)
• FDOT (District 5)
• Lake-Sumter MPO
• METROPLAN ORLANDO
• Space Coast TPO
• Volusia TPO
• Creative Village Development, LLC
• Shimberg Center for Housing Studies, University of Florida
• Nonprofit Housing Roundtable of Central Florida
• Orlando Health
• Health Council of East Central Florida
• myregion.org
• Urban Land Institute (ULI)

National Geography Bee

Do you know which state is the largest? What ocean current drives ships between Europe and the Americas? What about which present day county is home to the ruins of Persepolis?

The National Geography Bee presented by National Geographic tests students from across the nation and the world in their geographic knowledge. The questions as you can see above are much more than simply knowing where a state or country is but also understanding parts of how the world works and the ways different regions relate to one another.

Whether you are a parent, teacher, or GIS professional the ability to identify where you are in the world and analyze relationships is key to better understand how everything works together. Explore the NGB website and take quizzes to see how your geography knowledge ranks up against people from all over the world and explore many different resources for parents and teachers.

If you are a teacher or a parent and want to learn more or get your school involved the deadline to get your school registered is fast approaching. Click here to go to the National Geography Bee home page for information on how to get your school registered to compete!!!

Celebrate GIS Day November 16th, 2011

GIS day is only a week away!!! This global event brings together GIS professionals worldwide, uniting around the technology which is changing how we make decisions and discover exactly "Where We Are" in the world.

To learn more about GIS Day including videos, educational material, and much more please visit the official GIS Day website.

CFGIS is happy to announce that several of our county users groups and jurisdictions will be hosting their own GIS day events this year. We are very hopeful that many of our CFGIS community members will be able to attend and take advantage of these great meetings to learn more about GIS and how it is being used in the local community everyday.

Here is a brief list of the events that we know of in the Central Florida Region:

Nov 16th 11:00 - 3:00 - City of Palm Bay/Brevard County Users Group -
250 Community College Pkwy SE South Pavilion of Building 2, Palm Bay, Florida

Nov 16th 10:00 - University of Florida/IFAS Osceola County Extension -
1 Courthouse Square, Kissimmee, FL

Nov 16 - Lake County Users Group - Will be visiting Tavares High School to educate students and give presentations

Nov 16 9:00 - 5:00 - Polk County - Polk County EOC
1890 Jim Keene Blvd, Winter Haven, Fl

If you know of any other GIS Day celebrations that we might have missed, please announce them here!!!

Thank you and hopefully we will see you at one of these great GIS Day celebrations!!!