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GEOTalks

GEOTalks

By: Blue Marble Geographics
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 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.© 2025 Blue Marble Geographics Earth Sciences Economics Science
Episodes
  • Satellite-Derived Bathymetry Maps: Making Waves in GIS

    Satellite-Derived Bathymetry Maps: Making Waves in GIS
    Nov 19 2025

    Depending on the size and scale of a marine survey, bathymetry data can come with a prohibitive price tag. Traditional data acquisition methods—such as multi-beam sonar and airborne lidar—are effective, but can lead to significant cost and logistical complexity.

    In this episode, Amy Anfinrud from TCarta joined us to share the operational benefits of Satellite-Derived Bathymetry maps (SDB). We discussed the utility of their free Global Marine Basemap and the precision of their premium SDB data offerings integrated into Global Mapper®.

    Tune in to learn why satellite-derived bathymetry maps are a great resource for geospatial, hydrographic, and coastal mapping professionals.

    • Listen to the episode •

    Chill with the visualizer on YouTube: https://youtu.be/xh7lmjMIl0s?si=6KSeLc7VmJVWfw_F Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7eWGInIsHSI1fxffbuuF6A?si=eea57ac3b8914e3d Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/satellite-derived-bathymetry-making-waves-in-gis/id1734675688?i=1000737429640

    • Resources •

    Explore the Global Marine Basemap in Global Mapper: https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/global-mapper-pro/ Learn more about the Global Marine Basemap: https://tcarta.com/global-marine-basemap-for-global-mapper-2/ Join our podcast community on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/10087553/

    • Timestamps •

    [00:00] – Meet Amy Anfinrud from TCarta! [00:54] – About TCarta [02:10] – Visualizing the ocean floor with satellite imagery [03:22] – Mapping the coast: What is SDB data used for? [04:15] – What 3 words best describe bathymetry mapping? [04:50] – Who benefits from satellite-derived bathymetry data? [05:54] – The impact of accessible bathymetry data [07:03] – What makes bathymetry data so valuable? [08:26] – Where can I find TCarta’s SDB data in Global Mapper? [09:38] – The value of the Global Marine Basemap for Global Mapper users [11:22] – Critical uses of satellite-derived bathymetry [14:22] – About TCarta’s affiliation with Map the Gaps [17:29] – Connect with TCarta
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    19 mins
  • Mapping Aquatic Vegetation in Maine | GEOTalks Podcast Ep. 11

    Mapping Aquatic Vegetation in Maine | GEOTalks Podcast Ep. 11
    Sep 30 2025
    Common eelgrass is a type of aquatic plant that grows in shallow waters. It provides a range of invaluable benefits to the ecosystems it calls home. This is precisely why Tiffany Wu set out to predict where these meadows will grow using spatial data for her master’s thesis. We were joined by Tiffany’s collaborators on this project—Cheyenne Adams from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Janelle Goeke from the Casco Bay Estuary Partnership (CBEP). – • Timestamps • [00:00] – Intro [01:52] – About Tiffany’s master’s thesis [02:55] – Tiffany’s collaboration with Maine DEP & CBEP [04:40] – Cheyenne Adams & Maine’s Marine Vegetation Mapping Program [06:00] – Janelle Goeke & Casco Bay Estuary Partnership [07:37] – Eelgrass (also known as seagrass!) [08:46] – The importance of Common eelgrass [10:12] – Habitat value of aquatic vegetation & species [11:35] – How eelgrass health affects Mainers [13:11] – Status of eelgrass meadows in Casco Bay [14:01] – The role of GIS software in this project [15:35] – Maine Coastal Mapping Initiative [16:06] – Mapping shoreline stabilization in Maine [17:30] – What’s rewarding about work like this? [19:35] – Insights for budding environmental scientists [21:50] – Wrap up & outro • Resources for Listeners • Learn about the Marine Vegetation Mapping Program (MVMP) from the Maine DEP: https://www.maine.gov/dep/water/monitoring/coastal/index.html Learn about the Casco Bay Estuary Partnership (CBEP): https://www.cascobayestuary.org/ Download a trial of Global Mapper: https://go.bluemarblegeo.com/conservation-trial More about mapping and ecology on GEOTalks: Episode 1: Studying Coastal Salt Marshes using Drones with Andrea Celeste CurcioEpisode 3: How Texas is Using GIS for Conservation with Kelsi Schwind Contact Tiffany: tiffanyw@bluemarblegeo.com Contact Janelle: janelle.goeke@maine.edu Contact Cheyenne: cheyenne.adams@maine.gov About Tiffany Wu: Tiffany joined Blue Marble Geographics as an R&D Intern in 2023 and continued as an Analyst with the R&D and Cloud teams after earning her M.S. in Environmental Planning from Tufts University. In her role, she contributes to workflows that integrate machine learning and spatial data science. Her current projects include containerizing ML pipelines for land cover classification and building extraction, and developing RESTful APIs for real-time inference. A lifelong nature enthusiast from coastal California, Tiffany holds a B.S. in Animal Science with a minor in Environmental Science & Sustainability from Cornell University. About Cheyenne Adams: Cheyenne has managed the Marine Vegetation Mapping Program at the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) since 2023, shortly after its creation by the State Legislature to map seagrass and salt marsh habitats on a 5-year cycle. She oversees all aspects of the program, from aerial surveys and ground-truthing to photointerpretation and geospatial QA/QC. Before her time with the DEP, Cheyenne earned her B.S. in Zoology from the University of Illinois, studying coral propagation and striped bass aquaculture. She then earned her M.S. in Marine Biology from the University of Maine, where she worked with oyster farmers on the Damariscotta River. Postgrad, she was an aquaculture scientist with the Maine Department of Marine Resources, diving and mapping eelgrass beds to inform assessment for proposed aquaculture leases. About Janelle Goeke: Janelle Goeke is the Staff Scientist with the Casco Bay Estuary Partnership. With a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Texas A&M University and a B.S. in Biology from SUNY Geneseo, Janelle brings scientific rigor and a passion for coastal ecosystems to her role. Janelle leads CBEP’s environmental monitoring efforts for the Casco Bay watershed, coordinating research on emerging threats, analyzing long-term ecological data, and developing tools for science-informed stewardship. Her focus on enhancing data accessibility helps support community partners, local organizations, and decision-makers to better understand and protect Casco Bay.
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    25 mins
  • How Drone Mapping Assists Police Investigations | GEOTalks Ep. 8

    How Drone Mapping Assists Police Investigations | GEOTalks Ep. 8
    Apr 23 2025
    • 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]
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    9 mins
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