Ryan Meekma

About Ryan Meekma

Ryan Meekma is a GIS Team Leader at the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) and has been working at the ISWS since 2005. Ryan earned a Bachelors of Science Degree in Geography with an emphasis in Urban Area Development, a minor in Professional Business Computer End-User Technologies, an Economic GIS Certificate from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 2004, and earned the GISP certification in 2012. Beginning in 2005 he worked with the FEMA Map Modernization program creating digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps for 85 of the 102 counties in Illinois. Digital, tabular, and cartographic work was performed in conformance with the FEMA Guidelines and Standards. The majority of this work is now used as the regulatory standards for FEMA and the State of Illinois. Following Map Modernization, Ryan further refined Hydrologic and Hydraulic GIS methodologies and works as a liaison to the engineering team. Specific workflows were generated guiding users through the HEC GeoRAS process of creating GIS data and bringing it into hydraulic models, incorporating field survey data using automated techniques, and extracting model data into a GIS format for QAQC and production of project specific deliverables. The HEC GeoRAS methodologies were presented at a professional floodplain conference in a workshop format. His knowledge of geo-processing, human geography and floodplain guidelines allow utilization of powerful tool sets to analyze demographic data and deliver powerful geospatial digital data. Ryan has served on the ILGISA Board of Directors in the positions of Secretary (2012) and Treasurer (2013). He was chairman of the Bylaws Committee, Finance Committee chair, co-chair of spring 2013 conference, volunteered with 4 additional conferences planning committees, and received the ILGISA Service Award in 2011.

Experience

1. Gis Team Lead

   Illinois State Water Survey

   Jun 2012 — Present · Champaign, IL

   Prepare digital and tabular data and perform cartographic work in conformance with strict Federal Emergency Management Agency standards. Tasks include: creating and editing geospatial digital data, populating associated databases; conducting quality assurance and quality control review of maps and databases. • Plan, schedule, and communicate during the program with superiors and other program participants. Monitor progress and adhere to product deliverable deadlines. Report project progress and issues to supervisors.

Education

• University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

  B.S.

  1999 — 2004

Skills

• Database Management
• Arcmap
• Spatial Databases
• Geospatial Technologies
• Gis
• Esri
• Geomatics
• Geography
• Spatial Analysis
• Arcgis
• Remote Sensing
• Database Admin
• Cartography
• Geospatial Analysis
• Geographic Information Systems (Gis)
• Google Earth
• Geospatial Data
• Water Resources
• Data Analysis