With the creation of a State GIS Coordinator position in the Commonwealth, many changes are starting to occur. Jim Knudson will update attendees on current Commonwealth geospatial technology (GT) initiatives that the state is working on. These include the topics of statewide digital orthoimagery initiatives, GT data sharing standards, the Commonwealth GT strategic plan, and Homeland Security GT projects.
Mr. Knudson is a graduate of West Virginia University with a B.S. degree in Geology and an M.S. degree in Computer Science. A native of West Virginia, he has adopted Pennsylvania as his home state since graduation. He is an Oracle Certified Professional, and is certified as a database administrator for Oracle 8i and Oracle 9i database systems. Mr. Knudson has worked for several IT/GIS consulting companies in his seventeen year career, including HRB-Singer, Keystone Management Systems, Advanced Technology Solutions, MapQuest.com, and GeoDecisions/Gannett Fleming. For several years, Mr. Knudson has worked closely with state agencies including acting as GIS Project Manager onsite at PENNDOT, GIS expert on the DCNR Greenways project, and he has been actively involved with the state’s PAGIC GIS coordinating body, PaMAGIC, and the PA I-Team. Mr. Knudson works for Mr. Art Stephens, State CIO and Deputy Secretary for the Office of Information Technology, Governor’s Office of Administration.