Integrating GIS with SAP Brings Improved Processes to Marin Water District - Articles: "The benefits of integrating its SAP and ESRI systems extend throughout Marin Municipal Water District and to its customers. It has resulted in decreased service times, reduced error frequency, lower operation costs and increased overall efficiency. It helps to lower the cost of asset maintenance and service, and provides better asset inventory management."

Google Tests Local Ads On Maps - 03/27/2006: "Here come the ads on Google.........it was only time..... GOOGLE IS TESTING A NEW feature on its mapping service, Maps.Google.com, that allows advertisers to display locations with an icon and also embed an image in the store information bubble. 'As part of our continuing effort to provide a positive advertising experience for users and advertisers, we are always exploring ways to improve the way we display ads,' Google stated, adding: 'We are currently conducting a limited test of ads on Google Local.' The company declined to offer more specific details. Kelsey Group analyst Greg Sterling said these types of ads have potential far beyond simple display images. 'The possibilities are great,' he said. 'You could plug e-commerce into this, you could plug video into this, chat, pay-per-call--you could do any number of things that would be really interesting on these modules on a map.'"

ESRI and STC Collaborate to Address Pandemic Influenza: "ESRI, the world's leading provider of geographic information system (GIS) software, announces it is working with Scientific Technologies Corporation (STC), an international public health information systems firm. STC will offer private businesses and public organizations an exercise program to assess readiness and help prepare and develop an action plan in the event of an influenza pandemic in the United States. The program enhances STC's Preparedness Training, Exercises, Simulations, and Testing (Pre-TEST) services. Pre-TEST is designed to evaluate the operational readiness of many different groups such as public health agencies, schools, jails, public facilities, transportation services, and commercial businesses. In a pandemic, the work of these organizations is likely to be severely disrupted. Pre-TEST will provide a practical assessment of how ready organizations and public health systems are for such an event and what measures might be implemented in the short term to speed response and recovery. The enhanced Pre-TEST services will integrate ESRI GIS features and capabilities into both the preparedness planning activities and actual hands-on exercises. "STC has recently developed an exercise program for schools and other large public institutions to assess and stress institutional response and resilience," said STC president Mike Popovich. "We are delighted to be working with ESRI to enhance these services. The GIS tools and public health and health care expertise of ESRI will add to our exercise program and increase participants' ability to describe their decision-making processes, identify capabilities and gaps, and increase awareness of peers and partnering agencies"

Biosecurity for the Birds: "Practice Backyard Biosecurity. Keep your birds free from disease. Restrict traffic on your property, and disinfect shoes, clothes and hands to prevent the possible spread of disease. Report Sick Birds. Don’t wait! Early detection can make a difference. If your birds are sick or dying, call USDA's Veterinary Services toll free at 1-866-536-7593"

PandemicFlu.gov: "One stop access to U.S. Government avian and pandemic flu information. Managed by the Department of Health and Human Services."

County of San Diego - Land Use & Environment Group: "Office of the (San Diego) County Veterinarian Phone Number: 858-694-2838 Animal Disease and Diagnostic Laboratory hours: 8 AM - 5 PM Monday through Friday. Avian Influenza Fact Sheet (PDF)"

USGS National Wildlife Health Center - Avian Influenza Wildlife Chart: "List of Species Affected by H5N1 (Avian Influenza) - Referenced reports of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in wildlife and domestic animals"

USGS National Wildlife Health Center - Avian Influenza: "USDA, DOI and HHS expand screening for highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in migratory birds USDA, DOI and HHS Spotlight Interagency Readiness Plans. Update: March 20, 2006 H5N1 has been confirmed in five new countries in the past week, including Myanmar, Sweden, Afghanistan, Denmark and Israel, creating a total of 41 countries that have reported H5N1 outbreaks since 2004."

ESRI International User Conference: "Exhibit Your Work in the Map Gallery Submission Deadline June 16 Each year, hundreds of users showcase their work in the Map Gallery. Participants may choose to enter their submissions in one of several categories and compete for an award. Many of the maps will be published in the annual ESRI Map Book. All other maps become part of ESRI's permanent collection. Use the Map Gallery Submission System to register."

GIS Matters: ArcGIS Explorer at AAG: "From David Maguire: Yesterday I participated in a paper session and panel discussion at the Association of American Geographers annual conference in Chicago. I spoke about the concepts, history and attributes of Geographic Exploration Systems (GES) and also described ArcGIS Explorer as a case study. GES are a new breed of GIS that focus on the exploitation of geographic information and utilize a services-oriented architecture. They are user-centric, fun and easy to use. ArcGIS Explorer (AGX) is an example of a GES. It aims to be a 'GIS for everyone'. With AGX anyone with a modern PC and connection to the web can explore geographic information. AGX has the capability to call many types of web services and integrate them together as ‘geomashups’. This is where things start to get interesting."

All Points Blog: "Quote from Roberto Solimene, Google Enterprise director for Europe: "Some 70 to 80 percent of investment is put into making the search experience better. That means we can spend 30 per cent on other things such as Google Earth, but they are not core to our business." That's a key differentiator between the Googles and Microsofts of the world and the ESRIs and MapInfos."

Palomar Mountain Webcam: "People think it never snows in San Diego County -- The webcam image is taken every 20 minutes (when it works) through a window looking out on the front porch of a house on Fern Meadow Road."

Googling Google ZDNet.com: "What Google is up to" - A blog that keeps an eye on what Google is doing and digs deeper for more info.