John Tate

Current

• Whilst I continue to be an advocate of open source software and open data where I can in my career, I have not had much time in the last couple of years to add much to the community here. I am hoping to change that.
• I recently bought a Raspberry Pi (model B) and was hoping to turn it into a geospatial web server. The first attempt with GeoServer has not been entirely unsuccessful, however, the Pi just does not have the power to run Java. It takes 30 minutes just for GeoServer to start! So, my next try will be with MapServer...

Present

• Since Jan 2013 I have been with the Environment Agency at their head office in Bristol. I am a part of the GIS Team, responsible for internal data management, internal web services, data requests, helpdesk and metadata technical advice.

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Past

• I worked in Feltham from early 2010 until the end of 2012 where I worked as a geospatial research analyst and then a geospatial web developer, working on internal web services and refining a proposed metadata profile based on ISO 19139 / INSPIRE / Gemini for the MoD as a whole. This also involved customising GeoNetwork and ESRI ArcCatalog 10/10.1 for the profile and extensions.

• Between the MSc and Feltham, I finished writing bash scripts for automated LiDAR processing in GRASS GIS, including region detection and division into 1km tiles for processing and output. I completed some semi-automated/automated mask production for LiDAR data (negotiating the concave hull!). I added to the LiDAR micro-tutorial after my experiences of using it and the LiDAR modules in GRASS GIS.

• I graduated from the University of Manchester in 2009 with MSc GIScience. My postgraduate dissertation involved the processing of a high resolution LiDAR dataset in GRASS GIS, validated with differential GPS surveys.

• I have an HND (1997) and BA in Archaeology (2000). I worked for a few different archaeological contractors before settling with the University of Leicester Archaeological Services (ULAS) in 2001. I remained with ULAS until 2008, after having completed the direction of two large-scale urban projects, before moving on to broaden my horizons in geoinformatics.