Utah Geospatial Podcast

In this episode, Denise Peterson and I sit down with Matt Peters, the former UGRC Director. Matt tells us how he went from office intern to director over his 30-year career. He tells us the key to a successful career comes down to relationships and communication. He also shares some of his favorite traveling experiences from around the globe and fills us in on his retirement plan to bike across America. Don’t miss this episode!

This episode was recorded on 8/12/2024

Links mentioned in this episode

• The SGID - Then and Now: https://gis.utah.gov/blog/2019-06-11-sgid-then-and-now/
• Matt Peters on X: https://x.com/MattXAmerica
• Matt’s Blog: https://brigsztravels.blogspot.com/

Music heard in this episode

• Australian Crawl - Errol
• Alice Merton - Run Away Girl
• STING - The Last Ship
• Len - Steal My Sunshine
• Drunken Sailer - Irish Rovers

Audio footage heard in this episode

• 1976 bike trip Coast to Coast Ambassador Touring Team: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz6vqHrGaWQ
• Birth Of The Bike (1937): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOMlIO0_fEQ&list=PLiDNFeE89L9i9NZQiSRzFc-CpUqAcTF_y&index=2
• Cycling Family (1961): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9M5hM-e_sjQ&list=PLiDNFeE89L9i9NZQiSRzFc-CpUqAcTF_y
• Bicycle Safety (1950): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QEKTZyQmwk&list=PLiDNFeE89L9i9NZQiSRzFc-CpUqAcTF_y&index=4

The Utah Geospatial Resource Center | gis.utah.gov

In this episode, we talk with Blair Stringham from Utah's Wildlife Migration Initiative. He talks about wildlife tracking using GPS and RFID technology on over 28 species in the state, including fish, birds, deer, elk, and even mountain lions. If you have ever wondered how this works, this episode is for you.

Matt and I welcome Denise Peterson to the podcast in this episode. She is one of the newest URGC members and will be co-hosting the show with me once Matt bikes off into the sunset in mid-August—more to come on Matt’s retirement in the next episode.

• Utah Wildlife Migration Initiative: https://wildlifemigration.utah.gov/
• Utah’s animal corridors map: https://wildlifemigration.utah.gov/land-animals/corridors
• GPS tracking of wildlife: https://wildlifemigration.utah.gov/fish-and-amphibians/tracking/
• Utah’s Roadkill Reporter App: https://roadkill-reporter.utah.gov/
• Randy Larson’s (Professor of Wildlife Ecology at BYU) Instagram feed: https://www.instagram.com/wildlifeprof/

The Utah Geospatial Resource Center | gis.utah.gov

In this episode, we talk with Lexie Wilson, an environmental scientist at the Utah Department of Environmental Quality.  Lexie helps us break down Utah's air quality science and chemistry.  You don't want to miss this one!

Related resources:

• DEQ's interactive web map: https://enviro.deq.utah.gov/
• Air Quality Index (AQI) Basics: https://www.airnow.gov/aqi/aqi-basics/
• Utah Air Quality Forcast: https://air.utah.gov/forecast.php

The Utah Geospatial Resource Center | gis.utah.gov

In this episode, we talk with Deidre Beck from the Utah Department of Environmental Quality.  Deidre works in the Division of Drinking Water as an Environmental Scientist. 

This episode was recorded on January 25th, 2023, and concludes our three-part series on water here in Utah.  You can listen to all of our episodes, including the water series, wherever you find your podcast. 

Deidre explains how her division has primacy over the Utah Safe Drinking Water Act.

Her division is also tasked with conducting regular sanitary surveys for every public water system in Utah - ensuring these systems meet water quality standards

She explains how Utah obtains much of its drinking water via surface water - and how important the Provo River is to drinking water along the Wasatch Front.

Deidre also explains the concept of ridgeline authority, which gives some of the larger cities (such as Salt Lake City) the right to establish ordinances in areas outside of their jurisdiction. This ridgeline authority allows them to protect public drinking water in these zones.

We also talk a bit about the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and how the Division of Drinking Water created a map to show disadvantaged areas, so the water suppliers in these areas can apply for hardship funding to improve the water systems there.

So, take a moment to sit back, and enjoy the show.

Additional Resources

• DEQ’s Interactive Map
• Hardship Funding Criteria for Utah Public Water Systems map
• Drinking Water Sampling Results in Utah

The Utah Geospatial Resource Center | gis.utah.gov

This episode is part two of a three-part series on water here in Utah.

In Part one we focus on water resources. In Part two we discuss water rights, 
and in part three we focus on drinking water. 

You can find all of our episodes in our podcast feed or wherever you find your podcasts. 

Today's show is part two in the water series and we’re talking with Lee Eschler from DNR’s Division of Water Rights. 

Lee tells us how the PLSS section corners are a critical piece to water rights in Utah including the locating, purchasing, and the selling of these rights. 

He also explains the current water rights situation for water in and around the Great Salt Lake and how there are no new water rights being granted on water that flows into the Lake 

Then we discuss a bit on adjudication and how it gives the state a better understanding of what is and what is not being used and how this is an ongoing process 

So sit back and take a moment to enjoy the show. 

Related Resources:

• DNR's Division of Water Rights
• Utah water rights, FAQs
• Water rights-related data in the SGID
• How Utah water works (pdf)

The Utah Geospatial Resource Center | gis.utah.gov

In this episode of the podcast, we talk with Aaron Austin, the GIS Manager at the Utah Department of Natural Resouces’ Division of Water Resources. He tells us how his division went from clipboards out in the field to now the use of satellite data. We also hear how collaboration among agencies played into the creation of the water supplier boundary layer. Additionally, Aaron fills us in on the Division of Water Resources’ involvement in secondary water metering and also on the water budget for the Great Salt Lake. 

This is the first episode in three-part series on water here in Utah.

Enjoy the show!

Related Links

• USDA Cropland data layer
• Water Resources - Open Data website
• Water-Related Land Use Story Map
• Water Supplier Boundary Dataset
• Division of Water Resouces
• Conserve Water
• Agricultural Water Optimization

The Utah Geospatial Resource Center | gis.utah.gov

More info from NOAA on Datums
https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/datum.html

NOAA's National Geodetic Survey webpage
https://geodesy.noaa.gov/

The GPS on BenchMarks Program
https://geodesy.noaa.gov/GPSonBM/

Jack And Bore: A Key Component to Preserving the Salt Lake Temple in an Earthquake
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N273kjZN0I8

The Utah Geospatial Resource Center | gis.utah.gov

In this episode, we talk to Bert Granberg, the analytics director at the Wasatch Front Regional Council - commonly known as WFRC.

WFRC is a metropolitan planning organization (MPO) here in Utah and they play a significant role in transportation planning along the Wasatch Front.

Bert fills us in on how analytics are used in transportation planning, and how transit and biking play into growth along the Wasatch Front.

Jake Adams from UGRC also joins us on this episode to talk about the housing inventory map that WFRC created.

Don't forget to check out WFRC's map gallery and their map of the month series

• https://maps.wfrc.org/
• https://wfrc.org/maps-data/maps-of-the-month/

The Utah Geospatial Resource Center | gis.utah.gov

In this episode, we talk with Tina Mathieu, the Executive Director of the
Weber Area Dispatch 911 & Emergency Services District.

Tina explains why GIS data is so critical in Next-Generation 911 systems and how local and state agencies work together to make this happen.

Tina also walks us through a typical 911 call, from a call being placed to the routing of the call, and then to the actual dispatch and emergency response.

Resources and related links:
Weber Area Dispatch 911 & Emergency Services District
Utah Communications Authority
Utah Geospatial Resouce Center NG911 Data Page

The Utah Geospatial Resource Center | gis.utah.gov

In this episode, we talk with Nancy Arbon, the Customer Relations Manager at the Utah Public Health Laboratory, and George McEwan, the Director of Information Technology at the Utah Department of Health.

Listen as we discuss how GIS was used at the state government level during the covid-19 pandemic.

Learn how technology and human relationships play a key role during a health crisis or outbreak and how these relationships in Utah have strengthened during the covid-19 pandemic.

We hear about data standardization and how it's important when aggregating data.

We also hear how privacy and security are items we need to be keenly aware of as we visualize more data on the map.

And then, how the GIS component is critical when deploying social services and resources.

Resources and related links:   
https://coronavirus.utah.gov/
https://coronavirus.utah.gov/case-counts/
https://health.utah.gov/

The Utah Geospatial Resource Center | gis.utah.gov