GEOTalks

By Blue Marble Geographics

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.... more

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FAQs about GEOTalks:

How many episodes does GEOTalks have?

The podcast currently has 8 episodes available.

GEOTalks episodes:

April 23, 2025 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]
...more
10min
October 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 – [email protected]
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/
...more
32min
September 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/
...more
25min
July 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/
...more
31min
June 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 [email protected] 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.
...more
38min
April 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: [email protected]
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 [email protected] 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!
...more
25min
March 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 [email protected] 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!
...more
21min
March 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 [email protected] 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!
...more
25min

FAQs about GEOTalks:

How many episodes does GEOTalks have?

The podcast currently has 8 episodes available.