…and there are times you pick up the odd jobs.
I don’t talk about work that much – I do – but I rarely mention customers. So Thursday morning finds me at the Crystal Palace in Charlotte Amalie in the US Virgin Islands. I’m working. No – really.
I’m working with AppGeo and Spatial Focus to bring an addressing systems to the US Virgin Islands. It’s my first trip down to this part of the world. I’ve spent 3 days in meetings…or will. I stood on a beach in a tie and that has been about it. We’re doing a pilot project on the three islands. I’m sitting in the hardest one – the old town…the town that is over 350 years old and the addresses make little to no sense. You call for emergency services and they show up as fast as they can. Sometimes it’s not fast enough. Addressing is one of those facets I’ve never dealt with…it’s been a 6 month learning curve. I’m still not quite where I need to be….but I’m getting there. GIS people as a whole have stopped being database people…and this is all database…with some spatial….but – I’m having to learn some new kung fu. Learning is good.
If I don’t completely butcher this explanation – I’m at 12 Crystal Gade. Across the street is 11 Crystal Gade. Next to it is 40. somewhere there is a 10…at the beginning of the street is 1…and throw in a 20 somewhere and you have this illogical addressing scheme. Some buildings are addresses after the estate names on the island. Some the street. Some streets have an official name. Some a local. Some both. Some neither. Anyway – it just kinda happened over 350 years of occupancy. Call for emergency services and imagine the fun if you’re brand new and you’ve got to respond….or – you’ve never been to that area before.
So anyway – You will start seeing more and more posts from the USVI as this project grows. I leave you with:
