Sample GIS Projects, Global Positions, LLC Bozeman, Montana.

Pondera Growth Policy Plan: GIS technology was used as a support mechanism for the development and implementation of a Growth Policy Plan for Pondera County, Montana. A comprehensive geodatabase was designed and developed to store spatial information related to the infrastructure and natural resources within this County. GIS products were hand crafted, as a result of spatial analysis and cartographic design. Products are now being used to provide Planners, Communities & General Public with a way to visualize the impacts of estimated housing and employment growth through the next generation. Maps and data were generated to create a forum for planners and concerned citizens to discuss alternative approaches to traditional growth management policy. GIS was used as a decision support tool for planning.

Madison County Enhanced 911 System: In this massive project, we used GIS and GPS technologies to successfully implement the E911 system for Madison County, Montana. This multi-year project involved the development of numerous databases and mapping components. Initially, structures (homes, businesses, etc.) within the county were mapped with GPS. In addition, road centerlines were mapped. Working with County staff, roads were named and the origin of each road was determined. Jere Folgert developed custom applications for ArcInfo Workstation using Dynamic Segmentation to generate routes and calibrate the routes using mapped mile markers. Routes were created and calibrated for all roads in the County using a 1/100th the of a mile - frontage interval system. New addresses were generated using yet another custom GIS application. The Master Street Address Guide (MSAG) was generated. Virtually every phone number (from Qwest and 3 Rivers Telephone companies) were systematically matched to the newly created addresses. Notifications were generated and county residents were notified of their new address. MSAG, ESN, and ESZ were developed.

Wildfire Hazard Assessment and Mitigation Plan: A Wildland Fire Hazard Assessment was conducted on 2,092 structures and used to develop a separate Wildland Fire Hazard Mitigation Plan for Glacier National Park, the Blackfeet, Rocky Boy, Crow, and Fort Peck Reservations during the time period of 2005 – 2006. The purpose of the project was to increase awareness of wildland fire risk and aid land management planning for reducing the potential for wildland fire damage or destruction of homes and buildings. This process included mapping and inventory of structures and community infrastructure, identification of alternative wildland firefighting water sources such as drafting sites and helicopter dipping locations, mapping wildland fuel (vegetation), modeling potential surface and crown fire behavior to help identify areas of high risk to wildland fire spread. Individual datasheets were developed for each of the 2,092 structures. The datasheets revealed a photo of each structure, a map showing the location of the structure, attributes collected in the field, and a score. The project was performed with Montana Prescribed Fire Service, Inc.

Sample Data Sheet

Custom Map Products for Magazines, Businesses and Non-Profit Organizations: Global Positions, LLC developed numerous custom map products including the award winning TerraTopo Map of the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness which reflects trails, fishing information, and topography. This custom map won "First Place in Show and Creative Cartography" at the Inner Mountain GIS Conference. Jere Folgert's work has appeared in numerous publications including Montana Outdoors, Outside Bozeman Magazine, Zone 4 Magazine, GIS Magazine, Beartooth All-American Road Products, and National Geographic.

Pollution Modeling: Global Positions, LLC was awarded the Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Award from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The project supported the interactive internet-based Geographical Pollution Prediction Simulator, involving Geographic Information Systems, air dispersion modeling and the Internet. Jere Folgert wrote the grant application, was principal investigatorof all reporting for this grant. The objective of this research project was to design and implement a dynamic simulator, which would facilitate the data-handing and visualization aspects of air pollution dispersion modeling. Methods were developed for directly linking the USEPA's Industrial Source Complex Short Term 3 (ISCST3) dispersion model with Environmental Systems Research Institute's ArcInfo GIS. The resultant system, the Geographical Pollution Prediction Simulator (GPPS), is an agglomeration of a carefully designed interface, a powerful air pollution model and GIS. This work-bench of tools has been shown to be an effective teaching tool allowing "what-if" scenarios to be easily modeled and visualized, and has the potential to significantly enhance the quality of the environmental decision maker's working environment. Modeling and visualization are engaged together in a computationally based, dynamic interactive environment.

Ranch Planning, Feature Inventory, and Analysis: An extensive Geodatabase was created for a large ranch in Wyoming. High resolution color photography for the area of interest (AOI) was used to extract ranch facilities/features. An extensive Geodatabase was developed using ArcGIS to store all spatial data including NRCS Soils, Slope, Aspect, Irrigation, Canals, Wildlife data, Electric Utilities, and topography. Modeling efforts were employed to determine line-of sight calculations and preferred sitting of additional features, using slope, soils, irrigation footprints and potential erosion. The project was performed with the Foley Group, LLC located in Billings, MT.

Forest Mapping, Blackfeet Reservation. Montana: Performed forest mapping utilizing Mono-Digitizing, Stereo-Digitizing (MDSD) system to photogrammetrically compile vegetation typing and road features using 1:15,840 scale color aerial photography. Semi-automated routines used to establish control points using GIS. Polygons were digitized, edge matched and attribute tables were populated with forest classification values. Conversion of digital elevation models (DEMS) into composite grids, and integrated with the MDSD software.

Federal Emergency Management Agency Flood Mapping, Washington D.C: Assisted the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) United States Army Corps of Engineers. Collected spatially referenced features, attributes and digital photographs of structures damaged from river flooding. Contracted through FEMA to generate maps and individual data pages reflecting information for each damaged structure. Jere Folgert created a customized ARC/INFO interface for the viewing of spatial data and digital photos which was featured on the CNN television program under New Technology Segment.

KnowGIS Training Series for ArcGIS Desktop: The KnowGIS training series is an intensive, innovative, video-based course that provides participants with an understanding of the essential principles and elements of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and ArcGIS Desktop™ software. The course includes primary video tutorials and relevant project data. This course provides the groundwork for becoming a productive ArcGIS Desktop ™ user. Participants learn how to use ArcMap™, ArcCatalog™, and ArcToolbox™, and explore how these applications work in concert to organize, display, analyze, and present geographic information assets. This course covers GIS concepts as well as specific components and tools in the ArcView® license of ArcGIS Desktop™.

Jerritt Canyon Environmental Impact Statement, Elko, Nevada: Jere Folgert provided GIS support and mapping for an Environmental Impact Analysis for the Jerritt Canyon-Independence Gold Mining Company, Elko Nevada. The team provided GIS services and GPS data collection for sensitive vegetation species and other natural feature within the study area. Provided Forest mapping and mapping of threatened and endangered species using satellite and GPS technologies. We performed GIS implementation with ArcInfo GIS, performed MOSS/ARCdata conversion, GPS/GIS data integration, spatial analysis, and 3-D view-shed analysis. Folgert administered GIS training for mine staff and the Humboldt National Forest Service staff and performed cumulative effect analysis using sophisticated, customized AML to determine if there would be reduction in critical wildlife habitat. Cartographic products were generated for final EIS documents and community meetings.