So you would like to know something about me? Great!
in a nutshell: i ♥ making maps.
I hold an MAS-GIS degree from Arizona State University’s School of Geographical Sciences and a BA in Environmental Planning with a minor in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) from Western Washington University’s Huxley College of the Environment.
I am currently a GIS Analyst for the Seattle-based environmental consulting firm, RIDOLFI Inc. This position has offered me the chance to combine two passions, GIS and assisting the Tribes and Indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest to preserve our environment. Before that, I was developing Web-GIS applications for RSP Architects, primarily using: OpenLayers with a LAMP backend and and the ArcGIS Javascript Extender for Google Maps with ArcGIS Server 9.3. Working with RSP Associate and GISP, James Fee (http://www.spatiallyadjusted.com/), I’ve had the opportunity to explore the cutting edge of both ESRI as well as Open Source web mapping tools. Before this, I found myself working as a GIS intern for the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, focusing on their custom Arc Hydro deployment, SSHIAP Hydro.
While I enjoy most aspects of GIS, I find myself consistently experimenting with various forms of cartographic output. From two-dimensional paper maps, thematic mapping over the web, to three-dimensional visualizations, I am fascinated by the ways that we interact with and communicate spatial data. It is interesting to think that as a student of GIS, that the concept of the map, and data visualization, remains elusive. Others, those who are much smarter than I, have tried to answer this question to a degree of success that I am not qualified to judge.
I am a strong supporter of open source GIS, and the OSGeo foundation. Whenever possible I try to incorporate open source tools into my work, both academically and professionally. My senior GIS project in fact broke from the standard form, and focused on Open Source GIS web mapping technology.
I worked as a photographer during my undergraduate, but as you can see… sometimes I got very bored.
When I am not hanging out in the Spatial Analysis Lab, I can most likely be found bicycling around Tempe on a Schwinn single-speed, or hanging out with my roommate’s dog, Daisy. UPDATE: BOPPIN’ AROUND THE BOTANY BAY UNTIL THE ESRI UC… THEN TO BEAUTIFUL BELLINGHAM, WA. Update to the update: Seattle, Washington.
e-mail: matthewkenny AT gmail.com
skype: mattmakesmaps
irc:matthewkenny AT freenode – #osgeo, #qgis, #openlayers
resume: click here
N.B. The opinions expressed on this site are my own and do not necessarily represent my employer, RIDOLFI Inc.