From the USDA: We are pleased to announce the release of the first version of a new USDA-NRCS Soil & Plant Science Division (SPSD) soils database called the gridded National Soil Survey Geographic Database (gNATSGO). This product was designed and built by a team of SPSD staff in spring of 2019. It is the first SPSD composite database that provides complete coverage of the best available gridded soils information for all areas of the United States and Island Territories. For more info, visit: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/survey/geo/?cid=nrcseprd1464625

As communities around of the state prepare for the 2020 Census, many GISAA members are participating in preparation activities. Alabama has a lot a stake - a great deal of funding is determined by the Census count, not to mention some population projections show our state could lose a seat in the Legislature. Having everyone count matters more than ever. How can you help? Visit https://census.alabama.gov/ to find out more!

If all the available map projections seem overwhelming, you might want to check out a recent Esri publication, Map Projections in ArcGIS. This Story Map app provides brief explanations as well as examples for 68 featured projections. 

From the USGS: The NLCD 2016 suite of Conterminous U.S. (CONUS) land cover and impervious products have now been released. This release includes seven epochs of land cover (2001, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2013, and 2016), a 2001 – 2016 land cover change index, and eight urban imperviousness datasets - a percent imperviousness and classified imperviousness for 2001, 2006, 2011, and 2016. The NLCD 2016 products for trees, shrubs, and grasses will be released in the coming weeks.

Check it out: https://www.mrlc.gov/

The U.S. Census Bureau is conducting a series of free data access webinars to all interested data users. Topics include  Introduction to the U. S. Census Website, Understanding the American Community Survey, and Census Data Made Easy. Visit the Census Academy webinar page to learn more.

The City of Tuscaloosa is hosting a Lucity Regional Users Group meeting on May 20, 2019. If you are a Lucity user, join the City of Tuscaloosa GIS staff for this free event. The City of Tuscaloosa is also a sponsor of GISAA!

Registration info: https://lucity.wufoo.com/forms/regional-user-group-meeting-registration-2019/

From Keith Cooke at Esri:

We'll be holding an ArcGIS User Group Meeting on Tuesday, May 14 from 9-noon at the Regions Center Auditorium. It's at 1900 5th Ave. N. in Birmingham. Will Meyers and I will go over some of the changes in the ArcGIS platform, including some of the newer products coming out. It will be a great opportunity to learn and network.

Register online at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/esri-alabama-arcgis-user-group-meeting-tickets-59202068982

Click here to read how NEI assisted Arkansas-based Crafton Tull to develop an in-house solution to survey a 9,000 acre pipeline, that allowed photogrammetry, CAD files, and 'blueprints' to be produced in 10 days.

Need quick access to elevation data in a variety of formats? Check out this resource from the USGS. The web app makes it easy to find your area of interest, select an elevation product, and download just what you need.  https://apps.nationalmap.gov/3depdem/

The USGS National Map, 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) lidar data is now available as an Amazon Public Dataset. For more details on this new capability please see the USGS Technical Announcement  at: https://www.usgs.gov/news/usgs-3dep-lidar-point-cloud-now-available-amazon-public-dataset

For additional information, contact The National Map Service Desk, United States Geological Survey at tnm_help@usgs.gov.