The Urban and Regional Information Systems Association
URISA Alberta Chapter Goals
Governments and agencies;
Provincial, national and international associations;
Professional orders;
Public service companies;
Universities and colleges;
Consultants;
Corporations.
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Exchange knowledge and expertise to enhance the development of GIS;
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Promote the development and publication of standards and methodologies;
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Enhance research and development in GIS and related Information Systems.
2012 URISA Alberta Scholarship Awarded at the University of Calgary
On March 14, 2012, Dianne Haley (URISA Alberta Publicity Chair) presented the 2012 URISA Alberta Scholarship at the University of Calgary to Gregor Cuddeback. Gregor is completing the final year of his BSc Honours Geography degree. He plans to enter the workforce in the environmental consulting industry, specifically working with the GIS aspects of this field.
Gregor is currently the President of the Palliser Club, and academic club for the Department of Geography. In this role he has been involved with the planning of an industry networking event for students, and supervising extended computer laboratory hours so that students can spend more time with GIS software in completing their projects.
The URISA Alberta Executive and its members congratulate Gregor on this achievement.
URISA Alberta Sponsors the SABLE Project
As part of URISA Alberta’s commitment to fostering educational opportunities in Alberta, the URISA Alberta Executive recently agreed to sponsor the SABLE Project for a 3 year term.
One of the extra-curricular projects offered at Sir George Simpson School in St. Albert, Alberta is known as SABLE (St. Albert Balloon Launch Experiment). Students involved with SABLE work collaboratively with one another and staff to experience science through the field of high altitude ballooning. Students decide on, and design, projects that use small payloads (usually under 1 kg.), which are then carried into near space by high altitude weather balloons. Students track and recover their payloads with a combination of VHF radio and GPS. Often times, payloads include cameras and small simple experiments. Children and adults alike are always amazed and excited with these high altitude balloon projects. These projects take theory from a textbook and make it hands on with a tangible outcome. We take great satisfaction in knowing that we are part of a process which brings science alive, excites kids and goes where no student has gone before!!
SABLE’s 3 year plan is to launch and recover a rockoon (rocket launched from a near space balloon platform). One of SABLE’s goals is to have the rockoon reach a maximum altitude of 200,000 feet.
Please see the following links:
An example of the tracking technology we use:
SABLE 5 video on You Tube. There are some interesting shots from various altitudes. The video is 8 minutes in length including credits. Be sure to watch for the burst!!