Dave Astolfo (GIS A.S.) is a Project Manager/Business Analyst with the technical arm of a North American environmental consulting company. He currently provides project management, technical consulting, database design, and software architecture with a focus on geographic information systems ranging from desktop mapping software to Web mapping portals and mobile software applications. His specialties include database modeling and software design/architecture. Dave is a key contributor to the business development and implementation of products and services. As such, he develops enterprisewide technology solutions and methodologies focused on client organizations.

Dave holds a bachelor’s degree from Trent University and is a certified Geographic Information Systems Applications Specialist holding a certificate from Sir Sandford Fleming College. In early 2006, Dave was invited by LEGO to participate in the LEGO MINDSTORMS Developer Program (MDP) to help LEGO beta test the prerelease of the LEGO MIND-STORMS NXT robotics system. After the release of the NXT, Dave was invited back to participate in the LEGO MINDSTORMS Community Partner Program (MCP) to work with LEGO in developing the product further while providing an ear to the community. Dave has been involved with LEGO all of his life, and he has been working with the MIND-STORMS product since the initial release of the LEGO MINDSTORMS Robotics Invention System (RIS) in 1998. Dave is well known for building a MINDSTORMS domino-placing robot that was published in a previous Syngress book (10 Cool Lego Ultimate Builders Lego Mindstorms Robots, ISBN: 1-931-836-60-4). Since then, he has created newer versions with a more recent NXT version being used by LEGO marketing staff in Europe. Visit Dave’s Web site, www.plastibots.com, for more information on his work.