Monday, December 3, 2007

Interview

Email interview with Bernadette Chasteen, a GIS Specialist at RTI International in RTP, NC.

Can you give me some idea of your professional history with GIS (i.e. what is your current position, how long have you been in GIS, is there an area in which you specialize, etc…)?


My title at RTI is Research GIS Specialist. I have been working as a GIS specialist Since 1990, 17 years (good lord). My current area of specialty is GIS data management. I am the Database Administrator for our nationwide and global Spatial datasets at RTI.


Where did your interest in GIS originate?

My master’s degree is in Urban Planning. There are obvious uses for GIS in urban planning so I was introduced to the technology in graduate school. After I earned my degree I decided that I enjoyed using GIS technology to answer questions for various disciplines more than I was enjoying Urban Planning so I switched my focus.


Where does data come from that is displayed on GIS maps?

Anywhere we can get it! Mostly today we are using data that was originally entered from paper maps and later updated when satellite imagery showed us inaccuracies. Recently our group digitized data from a 1920 map showing influenza deaths in Chicago. Once in digital form, the data could be linked to information from hospital records, vital statistics and census to improve the accuracy and help researchers learn about how the disease spread and what factors influenced mortality outcomes.


What is the most interesting application of GIS technology that you have experienced personally? Know about.

I am most excited by GIS applications for epidemiology. One recent study found a significant link between breast and colon cancer and lack of exposure to sun during critical growing years. http://gis.esri.com/library/userconf/proc05/abstracts/a1468.html
Another study supports the theory that there is a link between Multiple Sclerosis and Lyme disease. http://gis.esri.com/library/userconf/proc06/papers/papers/pap_1358.pdf


I’m learning about some ways in which GIS can be used to minimize impact of and/or respond to natural disasters like hurricanes or wild fires: Do you have any thoughts on GIS as a preparation/planning tool? As a response tool? In what role do you think it is most effective?

GIS is now essential for both preparation/planning and response. For example, there was so much devastation from Katrina that GPS played a critical role in helping responders re-map the area to show current conditions. For targeting response resources, you can’t do without GIS. If you type ‘disaster’ on the ESRI.com web site you will get 1,349 hits. If you Google ‘disaster gis’ you will get 1,950,000 hits.


I’m interested in how GIS was used recently in specific disasters like Hurricane Katrina and the San Bernardino wild fires. Do you have any insight into how GIS was or might have been used in these situations?

Jamie worked very hard to provide updated information about nursing homes and hospitals (places that could provide needed medical care) to the Katrina response team in Washington. After the response to the disaster, the information was compiled into an atlas for use in future emergency response. http://www.ahrq.gov/prep/nursinghomes/atlas.htm


From your perspective, what does the future of GIS look like? Looking ahead, do you have any thoughts on potential future applications for GIS? How might GIS be used to recognize or solve pressing issues?

The availability of mapping on the internet is democratizing GIS. Personally I think this is fantastic. The more people realize the power of GIS to solve problems, the better off our world will be. The accuracy of GIS data has improved as more people attempt to use spatial data for more applications. Better accuracy allows us to use spatial data to solve more problems. Spatial statistics is finally coming into its own. We have been able to say there appears to be a connection between various layers but with spatial statistics we can quantify such connections.


What are the biggest obstacles right now in realizing the full potential of GIS? (I’m not sure if this question makes complete sense… but it seems to me that GIS potential for recognizing and solving significant problems in the world is HUGE and that not many people are aware of the technology or how it is being used. Is there a reason that it has not been as widely or appreciated as I feel it should be?

It takes some training and understanding to apply the technology correctly to solve specific problems. This will always be an obstacle but the tools are getting easier and easier to use so who knows where this will take us. I think the generation of people who have grown up with the internet and digital mapping as a given will be much more inclined to think about solving problems spatially.

Any other thoughts that you would like to provide would be great… if there is an aspect of GIS that you are passionate about that I didn’t address or if you just really enjoy discussing the topic, please feel free...

You are definitely bitten by the GIS bug! Now you maybe understand why us GIS geeks like what we do so much. The other thing is that the technology has continued to evolve so that what I was doing 15 years ago is very different from what I do now. I have had to continue to learn and grow and I really enjoy the aspect of being able to apply the technology to different disciplines. This keeps me learning new things too. This is particularly true here at RTI.

I am honestly grateful for my career in GIS. I frequently get up from my desk and think “Damb, this is fun and I’m getting paid for it!”.

Saturday, December 1, 2007

Interview

Leo.... I sent my interview questions through email and was assured that I would have them answered before the weekend, but I have't gotten anything back yet. I hope I get a response soon! I'll post as soon as I do.