GEOTalks

Blue Marble Geographics
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  • TECHNOLOGY
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Learn how professionals and enthusiasts around the world are leveraging GIS software to develop spatial solutions. GEOTalks is a GIS podcast by Blue Marble Geographics.

Episodes

  1. 3D AGO

    Mapping Aquatic Vegetation in Maine

    Common eelgrass is a type of aquatic plant that grows in shallow waters. It provides a range of invaluable benefits to the ecosystems it calls home. This is precisely why Tiffany Wu set out to predict where these meadows will grow using spatial data for her master’s thesis. We were joined by Tiffany’s collaborators on this project—Cheyenne Adams from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Janelle Goeke from the Casco Bay Estuary Partnership (CBEP). – • Timestamps • [00:00] – Intro [01:52] – About Tiffany’s master’s thesis [02:55] – Tiffany’s collaboration with Maine DEP & CBEP [04:40] – Cheyenne Adams & Maine’s Marine Vegetation Mapping Program [06:00] – Janelle Goeke & Casco Bay Estuary Partnership [07:37] – Eelgrass (also known as seagrass!) [08:46] – The importance of Common eelgrass [10:12] – Habitat value of aquatic vegetation & species [11:35] – How eelgrass health affects Mainers [13:11] – Status of eelgrass meadows in Casco Bay [14:01] – The role of GIS software in this project [15:35] – Maine Coastal Mapping Initiative [16:06] – Mapping shoreline stabilization in Maine [17:30] – What’s rewarding about work like this? [19:35] – Insights for budding environmental scientists [21:50] – Wrap up & outro • Resources for Listeners • Learn about the Marine Vegetation Mapping Program (MVMP) from the Maine DEP: https://www.maine.gov/dep/water/monitoring/coastal/index.html Learn about the Casco Bay Estuary Partnership (CBEP): https://www.cascobayestuary.org/ Download a trial of Global Mapper: https://go.bluemarblegeo.com/conservation-trial More about mapping and ecology on GEOTalks: Episode 1: Studying Coastal Salt Marshes using Drones with Andrea Celeste Curcio Episode 3: How Texas is Using GIS for Conservation with Kelsi Schwind Contact Tiffany: tiffanyw@bluemarblegeo.com Contact Janelle: janelle.goeke@maine.edu Contact Cheyenne: cheyenne.adams@maine.gov About Tiffany Wu: Tiffany joined Blue Marble Geographics as an R&D Intern in 2023 and continued as an Analyst with the R&D and Cloud teams after earning her M.S. in Environmental Planning from Tufts University. In her role, she contributes to workflows that integrate machine learning and spatial data science. Her current projects include containerizing ML pipelines for land cover classification and building extraction, and developing RESTful APIs for real-time inference. A lifelong nature enthusiast from coastal California, Tiffany holds a B.S. in Animal Science with a minor in Environmental Science & Sustainability from Cornell University. About Cheyenne Adams: Cheyenne has managed the Marine Vegetation Mapping Program at the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) since 2023, shortly after its creation by the State Legislature to map seagrass and salt marsh habitats on a 5-year cycle. She oversees all aspects of the program, from aerial surveys and ground-truthing to photointerpretation and geospatial QA/QC. Before her time with the DEP, Cheyenne earned her B.S. in Zoology from the University of Illinois, studying coral propagation and striped bass aquaculture. She then earned her M.S. in Marine Biology from the University of Maine, where she worked with oyster farmers on the Damariscotta River. Postgrad, she was an aquaculture scientist with the Maine Department of Marine Resources, diving and mapping eelgrass beds to inform assessment for proposed aquaculture leases. About Janelle Goeke: Janelle Goeke is the Staff Scientist with the Casco Bay Estuary Partnership. With a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Texas A&M University and a B.S. in Biology from SUNY Geneseo, Janelle brings scientific rigor and a passion for coastal ecosystems to her role. Janelle leads CBEP’s environmental monitoring efforts for the Casco Bay watershed, coordinating research on emerging threats, analyzing long-term ecological data, and developing tools for science-informed stewardship. Her focus on enhancing data accessibility helps support community partners, local organizations, and decision-makers to better understand and protect Casco Bay.

    25 min

  2. APR 23

    How Drone Mapping Assists Police Investigations | GEOTalks Ep. 8

    • About this episode • Forensic mapping specialists from the Windham, ME, Police Department use drones alongside GIS software to analyze vehicle crash sites and crime scenes. During this episode, we discussed Eugene Gallant and Jason Burke’s insights from the GEOTalks 2025 User Conference, as well as a few additional attendee questions, and the impact of their work with GIS technology. • Listen on-the-go • Youtube: https://youtu.be/fWjK8ivwFM8?si=NLJr9za7PO3CrJmU Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1y1UNiEUVYQORhyTEB9677?si=af0e9087bb8b4fc5 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-drone-mapping-assists-police-investigations-geotalks/id1734675688?i=1000704630264 • References & Resources • Read the blog: https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/blog/how-drone-mapping-assists-police-investigations/ Download a free trial of Global Mapper Pro: https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/global-mapper-pro/ Connect with the Windham, ME Police Department: https://www.windhammaine.us/170/Police • Timestamps • Captain Burke: Drone mapping saves time [00:00] Intro [00:13] Using Global Mapper to present reports in a courtroom [01:30] Do they keep records of the geospatial data for further analysis? [02:50] Efficient drone imagery processing with Global Mapper Pro [03:20] On-scene drone obstacles (tree cover, etc.) [04:34] Emergency response & the scope of FAA guidelines [05:34] Drones equipped with thermal imaging technology [06:44] Wrap-up [07:55] Outro [08:30]

    9 min

  3. 10/16/2024

    The Impact of Climate Change on Coastal Communities | GEOTalks Ep. 7

    • About this episode • Storm surges and sea level rise pose greater risks to coasts each year.  Maine felt the effects of climate change this past winter when powerful storms and flooding berated its coast. The Camp Ellis Jetty was particularly vulnerable to these storm surges and sea level rise, and the Saco Bay community lost nearly 40 homes as a result. In this episode, we spoke with Dr. Will Kochtitzky who is leveraging GIS technology, lidar, and photogrammetry to study the effects of sea-level rise on the Camp Ellis Jetty in Maine. The concepts in this episode align with what Florida, North Carolina, and other southern states are experiencing in the wake of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. This episode was recorded before the storms, which devastated communities in September and October. We hope that these coastal communities recover soon and heal from this disaster. • Listen on-the-go • Youtube: https://youtu.be/bzucCiygHIw Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3xYBbOLnCqut4WkwS67Gqz?si=6d18e76d53554a91 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-impact-of-climate-change-on-coastal/id1734675688?i=1000673329108 • Read the Article • Article: https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/blog/impact-of-climate-change-on-coastal-communities/ • Timestamps • [00:00] – Intro [00:53] – Introducing Dr. Will Kochtitzky [01:10] – Glaciers & sea level rise [04:41] – About Dr. Kochtitzky [07:44] – Responding to the community’s needs [08:39] – Dr. Kochtitzky’s research (drones and more!) [13:53] – Quantifying climate change with GIS technology in Maine [18:12] – Monitoring change on the coast (salt marshes) [22:44] – Future of the Camp Ellis Jetty [30:24] – Connect with Dr. Will Kochtitzky [31:15] – Outro • References from the episode • Connect with Dr. Will Kochtitzky about something you heard in the episode – wkochtitzky@une.edu Learn more about his work – https://iceandclimate.org/ Connect with the University of New England – https://www.une.edu/ • Resources • Upcoming webinars: https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/blue-marble-geographics-webinars/ Instructor-led training courses: https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/gis-training/public-gis-training/ Blogs: https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/blog/ Industry Showcases: https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/industry-showcases/ Academic Programs: https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/academic-programs/

    32 min

  4. 09/11/2024

    Understanding Secondary Tropical Dry Forests with Lidar Technology | GEOTalks Ep. 6

    Lidar technology, in addition to other methods of remote sensing, can be integral to performing accessible research in a given area. This month on the GEOTalks Podcast, we spoke to Dr. Arturo Sanchez-Azofeifa about his team’s research in the Guanacaste Conservation Area at Santa Rosa National Park, Costa Rica. His team is creating accurate methods for studying secondary tropical dry forests with lidar technology. Listen to the episode to hear Dr. Sanchez-Azofeifa explore the history that established a need for this work and share his team’s ongoing research in this field. Learn more about this episode in the blog: https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/blog/understanding-tropical-dry-forests-with-lidar-technology/ • Listen on the go • YouTube: https://youtu.be/8g_CvpfR3CE Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0zjuuHONHCZNSojAlgjR14?si=82ef1155cf384397 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/understanding-secondary-tropical-dry-forests-with/id1734675688?i=1000669148206 • Timestamps • [00:00] – Introduction [01:14] – Dr. Arturo Sanchez-Azofeifa’s research [02:54] – His role in the Tropi-Dry Project [05:04] – Challenges researching tropical dry forests (TDFs) [07:47] – Ecological corridors for biodiversity in TDFs [10:15] – GIS and lidar technology in his work [13:09] – Data resolution [16:02] – Climate change in the tropics [20:46] – Understanding deforestation in Costa Rica [22:56] – Connect with Dr. Sanchez-Azofeifa and Tropi-Dry [24:15] – Wrap-up • Resources • Connect with Tropi-Dry | https://www.tropi-dry.org/ Arturo Sanchez-Azofeifa’s Google Scholar Profile | https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=ngY7I_MAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao Register for upcoming webinars: https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/blue-marble-geographics-webinars/ Instructor-led training courses: https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/gis-training/public-gis-training/ Blogs: https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/blog/ Industry Showcases: https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/industry-showcases/ Academic Programs: https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/academic-programs/

    25 min

  5. 07/17/2024

    Global Mapper’s Origin | GEOTalks Ep. 5

    You may know the Global Mapper software suite, but do you know how it was created? Mike Childs created Global Mapper — known then as dlgv32 — as an intern at the USGS in 1997. This version had a fraction of the power of the Global Mapper we know today, however, it boasted great GIS mapping functionality for the time. Mike Childs joined the GEOTalks team to unpack Global Mapper’s origin story and discuss what’s made it such a fulfilling project to develop. YouTube: https://ow.ly/Zi3i50SFgYK Spotify: https://ow.ly/Kemz50SFgu7 Apple: https://ow.ly/ejAa50SFgwR Timestamps [00:00] – Intro [00:37] – Introducing Mike Childs [01:27] – What’s new in Global Mapper (2024) [03:34] – The Global Mapper Origin Story (dlgv32) [06:37] – Global Mapper’s debut [08:34] – User-driven software development [10:15] – Global Mapper as a commercial software [11:07] – Mike Childs leaves his day job to develop Global Mapper [12:38] – Cool projects from users over the years [13:51] – Upcoming contests! [14:42] – Global Mapper and Mike join the Blue Marble Geo team [18:30] – Mike shares how the software has changed [20:02] – The first Global Mapper logo and finding the map inside [21:26] – Point cloud processing in Global Mapper [23:09] – Favorite Global Mapper developments over the years [25:09] – A 20-Year Crash Course in GIS [26:18] – GIS Trivia Challenge for the Global Mapper Guru [28:55] – Wrap-up [29:58] – Outro Resources Creating valuable resources for Global Mapper software users is a vital part of what we do at Blue Marble Geographics. Our resources include: – Global Mapper: https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/global-mapper-pro/ – Annual User Conference: https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/geotalks-2025/ – Instructor-led training courses: https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/gis-training/public-gis-training/ – Tutorials and webinars on YouTube: http://youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=BlueMarbleWebinars – Blogs: https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/blog/ – Industry Showcases: https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/industry-showcases/ – Academic Programs: https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/academic-programs/ – Python Scripting in Global Mapper Pro: https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/blog/python-scripting-in-global-mapper-pro/

    31 min

  6. 06/10/2024

    Accessible Bathymetric Data & Its Impact on Marine Conservation in the Beqa Lagoon | GEOTalks Ep. 4

    Bathymetric surveys provide vital information that informs decisions about marine environments and communities. Tomer Ketter of Map the Gaps and SubMerge, and Sefano M Katz of the Pacific Blue Foundation’s Beqa Lagoon Initiative, joined us on this episode of GEOTalks to share insights from a collaborative bathymetric survey they performed in the Beqa Lagoon in Fiji. The livelihood of Fiji’s people is tied to its land, waters, and the diverse ecosystem that thrives there. In the episode, they explored the impact of accessible bathymetric data on marine conservation, social equity, and cultural integrity in Fiji.   YouTube: https://ow.ly/bSn550SCpLQ Spotify: https://ow.ly/SSvO50SCpLS Apple: https://ow.ly/53pm50SCpLN Timestamps [00:00] – Intro [00:52] – Meet our guests [02:12] – About Tomer Ketter’s work [04:19] – About Sefano M Katz’s work [06:14] – Goals of the bathymetric survey [07:39] – Reason for the survey [08:36] – Partnerships with Pacific Blue Foundation (PBF) [10:27] – Map the Gaps’ role in the survey [11:46] – Criteria for the survey site [14:31] – Natural and ecological threats (Climate change) [16:30] – Performing the bathymetric survey (Tomer’s POV) [19:07] – Limitations of the survey (Tomer’s POV) [21:15] – What post-processing is needed? (Tomer’s POV) [22:49] – Navigating tech challenges with collaboration (Sefano’s POV) [24:06] – Preparation for the survey (Sefano’s POV) [28:23] – The best part about the survey (Tomer’s POV) [31:15] – Surveys and Indigenous rights (Sefano’s POV) [33:38] – Developing the PBF’s mapping programs (Sefano’s POV) [34:30] – Connect with Sefano M Katz [35:50] – Connect with Tomer Ketter [37:19] – Outro   Resources Connect with Tomer Ketter on LinkedIn: https://ow.ly/yQ6O50S90bU Connect with Sefano M Katz on LinkedIn: https://ow.ly/vjU450S90e1 Map the Gaps: https://ow.ly/VZzm50S90uZ SubMerge: https://ow.ly/tB3x50S90sK Pacific Blue Foundation’s Beqa Lagoon Initiative: https://ow.ly/3U8j50S90pl Learn about the University of the South Pacific: https://ow.ly/Nw0h50S9Nlb Learn about Conservation International (LAU Seascape): https://ow.ly/pUpB50S9NFT Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bluemarblegeo/?hl=en Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-marble-geographics/ Blue Marble Geographics Academic Scholarship: https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/academic-programs/academic-scholarship-program/ Visit our website at https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/ Sign up for our newsletter: https://go.bluemarblegeo.com/subscribe Email marketing@bluemarblegeo.com for inquiries. GeoTalks is a Blue Marble Geographics® podcast. Blue Marble Geographics is a leader in GIS software development, providing professional-grade tools to users at every level. Blue Marble’s expertise spans the geospatial technology sector, focusing on coordinate conversion and management, lidar and photogrammetric point cloud processing, and user-driven product development.

    38 min

  7. 04/19/2024

    How Texas is Using GIS for Conservation with Kelsi Schwind | GEOTalks Ep. 3

    Kelsi Schwind joined us on the GEOTalks Podcast to explore how GIS technology can enable progress in conservation. We discussed the budding efforts to preserve the Texas Hill Country’s Bigtooth maple population, which is imperiled in this region. In our discussion, Kelsi highlighted how her automated method for extracting canyons has enabled her team to perform thorough research on Bigtooth maple communities and establish an automation to research this species for years. YouTube: https://ow.ly/J68B50SCpHJ Spotify: https://ow.ly/4ZW550SCpHF Apple: https://ow.ly/nkj750SCpHB Tune in to hear about the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Landscape Ecology Program’s comprehensive approach to conservation using GIS technology. Topics [00:00] – Introduction [02:03] – Kelsi Schwind’s work in Texas [02:54] – Landscape Ecology Program [03:40] – Kelsi’s role in the program [05:03] – Bigtooth Maple tree conservation [06:13] – Using GIS for conservation [06:57] – Data used in this project [07:39] – Creating the method to extract canyons [09:44] – Updating the landcover classification [10:23] – Manual and automated sections of the project [11:06] – Next steps in the project [12:55] – Challenges during the project [15:35] – Ecological Mapping Systems (EMS) of Texas [17:01] – Forest classes and forest classification in Texas [17:58] – Applications of TX landcover classifications [19:34] – Conservation planning and timeframe [21:16] – Vision of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department [21:58] – Get involved! [23:19] – Wrap-up Resources Connect with Kelsi Schwind via email: kelsi.schwind@tpwd.texas.gov Connect with Kelsi Schwind on LinkedIn: https://ow.ly/2p1K50RhA2h Texas Parks and Wildlife Department – Home: https://tpwd.texas.gov/ Landscape Ecology Program – Home: https://ow.ly/QqSS50RhA8K Ecological Mapping Systems: https://ow.ly/xaN550RhA9t Web Tile Map Service: https://ow.ly/Ixw250RjPzp Texas Geographic Information Office: https://tnris.org/ Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bluemarblegeo/?hl=en Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-marble-geographics/ Blue Marble Geographics Academic Scholarship: https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/academic-programs/academic-scholarship-program/ Visit our website at https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/ Sign up for our newsletter: https://go.bluemarblegeo.com/subscribe Email marketing@bluemarblegeo.com for inquiries. GeoTalks is a Blue Marble Geographics® podcast. Blue Marble Geographics is a leader in GIS software development, providing professional-grade tools to users at every level. Blue Marble’s expertise spans the geospatial technology sector, focusing on coordinate conversion and management, lidar and photogrammetric point cloud processing, and user-driven product development. Subscribe and tune in on the third Wednesday of the month for new episodes!

    24 min

  8. 03/20/2024

    Tracking Forever Chemicals (PFAS) with GIS Technology featuring Katrina Schweikert | GEOTalks Ep. 2

    About this Episode Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a family of chemicals defined by carbon-fluorine bonds that make them resistant to fire, water, and oil. When PFAS were discovered in our farmlands and waterways, studies indicated that these chemicals have adverse, long-term effects on our environment and bioaccumulative effects in humans and other organisms. A team from the University of Maine at Orono, led by Dr. Torsten Hahmann, is developing a solution to track nationwide PFAS contamination. Katrina Schweikert joins us on this month’s episode to share her work on the Safe Agricultural Products and Water Graph (SAWGraph). This geospatial knowledge graph will be used in efforts to understand and mitigate the PFAS contamination in our agricultural products and waterways. YouTube: https://ow.ly/QK3y50SCpE8 Spotify: https://ow.ly/V9OC50SCpE5 Apple: https://ow.ly/kRsK50SCpEa Tune in to learn about what sets it apart as a state-of-the-art tool for tracking PFAS. Topics [00:00] – Introduction [01:46] – PFAS Contamination [04:07] – Bioaccumulation [04:24] – Safe Agricultural Products and Water Graph (SAWGraph) [05:20] – Katrina’s role on SAWGraph [05:56] – Research and data in SAWGraph [07:12] – Integrating spatial data [08:13] – Geospatial knowledge graph [09:42] – Prototype Open Knowledge Network (Proto-OKN) [11:49] – Linked open data (LOD) [13:37] – Use of SAWGraph [15:06] – Additional PFAS research [19:07] – Connect with Katrina [19:57] – Wrap-up Resources Katrina’s profile on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katrina-schweikert-8139a616 SAWGraph: https://sawgraph.github.io/ University of Maine at Orono – Article: https://umaine.edu/news/blog/2023/10/10/umaine-leading-development-of-new-state-of-the-art-tool-for-tracking-pfas-nationwide/ About Proto-OKN: https://new.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/building-prototype-open-knowledge-network-proto National Science Foundation Award: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2333782 More about PFAS from the Environmental Protection Agency: https://www.epa.gov/pfas Visit our website at https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/ Sign up for our newsletter: https://go.bluemarblegeo.com/subscribe Email marketing@bluemarblegeo.com for inquiries. GeoTalks is a Blue Marble Geographics® podcast. Blue Marble Geographics is a leader in GIS software development, providing professional-grade tools to users at every level. Blue Marble’s expertise spans the geospatial technology sector, focusing on coordinate conversion and management, lidar and photogrammetric point cloud processing, and user-driven product development. Subscribe and tune in on the third Wednesday of the month for new episodes!

    21 min

  9. 03/07/2024

    Studying Coastal Salt Marshes using Drones with Andrea Celeste Curcio | GEOTalks Ep. 1

    About this Episode The effects of climate change are present around the world, especially in coastal salt marshes. In this episode, we speak with Andrea Celeste Curcio, who has been evaluating the performance of remote sensing with drone/UAV technology (photogrammetry/lidar) and hyperspectral sensors for researching salt marshes over time. She explores the utility of using drones for monitoring coastal ecosystems and shares her insights on the process. YouTube: https://ow.ly/7Zft50SCpy2 Spotify: https://ow.ly/K4Gq50SCpy5 Apple: https://ow.ly/lW7f50SCpy1 Learn from the world of GIS on this episode of GEOTalks. Topics Introduction [0:13] Salt marshes [1:01] The importance of carbon sinks [3:55] Threats to salt marshes [4:51] iBESBLUE Project [7:00] Goals of the iBESBLUE Project [7:42] Andrea’s salt marsh analogy [8:44] Drone/UAV data collection and processing [9:24] Drone flight frequency [12:36] The utility of remote sensing [14:49] Research findings [17:31] Conservation efforts in Cadiz Bay [18:51] Connect with Andrea [21:35] Wrap-up [23:20] Resources Andrea’s profile on Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=GtRFEB0AAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao Drone service of the University of Cádiz: https://dron.uca.es/ iBESBLUE Project: https://ibesblue.uca.es/ iBESBLUE on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ibesblue/ Connect with Andrea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-celeste-curcio/ GEOTalks is a Blue Marble Geographics® podcast. As a leader in GIS software development, Blue Marble Geographics provides professional-grade tools to users at every level. Blue Marble’s expertise spans the geospatial technology sector, focusing on coordinate conversion and management, lidar and photogrammetric point cloud processing, and user-driven product development. Visit our website at https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/ Sign up for our newsletter: https://go.bluemarblegeo.com/subscribe Email marketing@bluemarblegeo.com for inquiries. Listen to this episode with our visualizer on YouTube: https://youtu.be/fHAMYjeToQg Subscribe and tune in on the third Wednesday of the month for new episodes!

    24 min
  • 9 Episodes

About

Learn how professionals and enthusiasts around the world are leveraging GIS software to develop spatial solutions. GEOTalks is a GIS podcast by Blue Marble Geographics.

Information

  • Creator
    Blue Marble Geographics
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Blue Marble Geographics
  • Show Website
    GEOTalks