Though they’ll be using Depiction, they won’t just be product demos–the webinars, some by Depiction staff, some by Depiction users–will show you actual concrete ways that people are using the software to prepare, and how you can do the same. Each of the webinars is targeted at the tasks of some specific groups, but we hope you’ll attend as many as you can.

Full details are available here, but here’s the list:

So much information was packed into that webinar that Dennis has agreed to give his presentation again, this time in two parts.

On Monday, August 30, at 7 PM EDT, Dennis will present part 1, showing how he built his plans beforehand in Depiction. You can register for this webinar at http://www.depiction.com/webinars/public-service-1

On Tuesday, August 31, at 7 PM EDT, he will present part 2, showing how he took his “depiction” into the field where it enabled him to keep track of events as they happened–visually, and without Internet access. You can register for this second webinar at http://www.depiction.com/webinars/public-service-2

These webinars are ideal for both Depiction users who want to use the software for their own public service events, and for anyone who just wants to see what the software can do.

First let me just say that this software should be in the tool chest of every EmComm group. This software is as useful to our execution as the Radios we use. Depiction software is a one stop shop for the planning, deployment and execution of any event or exercise. In a single Depiction a full graphical plan can be developed to take care of every aspect of an event or exercise.

When a ham says that something is as valuable as their radios, I think you’d better pay attention!

Dennis told us that “in past years, I never felt I had the level of situational awareness I desired. This year, with everything mapped in Depiction, I was much more aware of exactly what was going on and what the implications were.” He’ll have more to say, too–tomorrow, Dennis will present the webinar “Depiction and Public Service Events” at 7 PM EDT/4 PM PDT.

In the webinar, Conklin will share how he used Depiction to quickly combine spreadsheets of stations, rest stops and shelters with street maps, topo maps and aerial imagery, and how he took his “depiction” into the field where it enabled him to keep track of events as they happened—visually, and without Internet access. We hope you can make it!

Here are a few key paragraphs from our news release this morning:

“Depiction is a powerful tool for the integration of multiple types of data, including images, spreadsheets and GIS files,” noted the add-on’s creator, Brian Smucker. “The ability to receive APRS data in real time via radio, and to visualize it using the advanced tools that Depiction provides is a powerful new capability. Now hams can do things that used to only be available to big corporations and large government agencies.”

APRS Live is the first Depiction add-on built by a third party. “We are very excited about APRS Live, both because it provides our customers with exciting new capabilities, and because it is the beginning of what we expect to be a wide range of third-party products that work with Depiction,” said Depiction, Inc. President and founder Mike Geertsen.

APRS is a digital communications protocol for exchanging data between multiple radio stations across a region, including position information, telemetry, weather data, short text messages and more. APRS is used by amateur radio users for position tracking, gaining situational awareness during emergencies, coordinating large-scale public service events such as bike races and marathons and more.

The add-on allows APRS packet information received by a radio and transmitted to a computer using a terminal node controller (TNC) connected to a serial port to be displayed within Depiction as simulation elements. For example, search and rescue workers can be tracked alongside a simulation of an eight-foot storm surge, or bike race volunteers can be tracked along race maps. APRS Live also enables the sending of short APRS messages from within Depiction.

APRS Live data within Depiction

Here’s what Dennis had to say about the event in our forum:

This is a very complex biking event which features a 100K ride, a 50K Difficult ride, a 50K Moderate ride, and a 25K ride. The starts are staggered so that most rides are completed near the same time. This means that 4 rides are ongoing simultaneously. There are about 50 stations on the various routes which are manned by Amateur radio operators. We ran 2 separate nets and I used custom icons to code each station for which net it was on. Some parts of some routes overlay, but generally there are several different routes that have to be tracked and the first rider and last rider need to be identified for each. I have worked the Net Control for this event for several years, and I never really felt that I had the level of Situational Awareness that I desired. This year I had everything mapped in depiction and I was much more aware of exactly was going on and what the implications were. I was able to immediately know when stations could be closed. Also, I could mark each station as INACTIVE when it closed, which was a great visual feedback on the status.

Many people came by and were impressed by the zoomable map and the ability to display street names or aerial photography….

A fabulous advantage – terrific Situational Awareness was achieved by using depiction.

Dennis also writes, “I couldn’t even spell GIS before I got your program, so you can certainly make the point that a non-GIS person can do substantial work with your program.” That’s what we like to hear!

And he’s has been busy recently–he’s only had the software for a couple months, but he’s already made a presentation to his local ARES group about the software.

If you’d like to submit your own depiction to be profiled on our Downloads page, just click here!

One of the highlights of the convention, for me, anyway, was the presentation by Gary Takis, K7GJT/NNN0KUL, about using Depiction with the Winlink2000 system. This is a fantastic way to extend the collaboration capabilities of Depiction, and I’m very pleased that Gary has made his presentationavailable to download.

We also made a special announcement at SEA-PAC, that I’m not going to share online just yet–but stay tuned!

I enjoy going to these amateur radio conventions, largely because it is very exciting to be able to provide cutting edge technology–with capabilities typically reserved for professionals working for large organizations–to everyday folks who care about their communities.

If you’re attending, be sure to stop by our booth!