Category Archives: General

Green Map System

According to their website, ” The Green Map System (GMS) is a locally adaptable, globally shared framework for environmental mapmaking.”

Basically, it’s a collaborative worldwide project that is collecting Green Map projects together on one website and also offers tips and examples on using Green Maps in local community planning and education. They’ve already got an impressive list of projects from around the world (though many are still in progress or just started)

If you are interested in environmental issues and how geospatial technologies can be used, check out Greenmap.com

WebMap widget

widgetThe writing frenzy has ended for now, so on to the promised widget. The widget is for use with Konfabulator/Yahoo! Widgets (which must be installed before trying to use this widget). The WebMap widget allows you to search on an address to find a location and choose from existing map services, or a custom map service that you provide (widget preferences are accessed through a right click on the interface). The interface is very minimalistic with buttons to control pan and zoom functionality (for full details please read the README included). While this was my brain child, most of the work was done by Nate and Andrew (right click and choose about). This is the opening salvo, but there are more ideas waiting to be implemented.

Let me know what you think. Also, to find more OGC compliant WebMapServices to use in the widget head over to Mapdex to search.

Download WebMap widget

More on USGS mapping consolidation

I saw a link to this article from Federal Computer Weekly over on The Map Room and, while a number of blogs, including ours, have previously covered the consolidation of USGS mapping activities in Denver, this article talks a little bit more about the implications of the move.

Google Maps could aid terrorists, says Indian President

This has pretty much been an ongoing debate in the GIS community ever since the WTC bombings. Google’s offereings pretty much brings this debate into a more open arena. What’s interesting is that the we’re seeing a larger group of countries from different regions beginning to complain. This issue is just going to get bigger and bigger with each passing day – how much information is too much? I wonder what the incidence of terrorism verses the countries that are complaining? I can’t imagine the Netherlands having a huge terrorist problem.

The Wired article

Who will control the Internet?

You may or may not already know this, but a controversy that could change the way the Internet is run has been simmering since the spring and now will be coming to a head next month at the U.N. meeting on the Information Society. Basically, the US has always controlled the root servers for the Internet, through the private company known as ICANN. During the Clinton administration, a memorandum of understanding was apparently signed saying the US would eventually give up some of that control. In April, the Bush administration announced that the US would no longer be abiding by that agreement. There have been tense negotiations since then, but after no luck getting the US to budge, the European Union and the UN are now putting together a coalition to wrest control of the Internet from the US at the meeting in Tunisia in November. The implications of this will be far-reaching, and anyone who depends on the Internet should be paying attention to how this plays out.

The Guardian, a UK newspaper has been covering this, and you might want to check out their most recent article

US media outlets have had a couple of mentions, but not a lot of coverage. It has also been mentioned on SlashDot and other blogs.

5000 downloads and counting

We have served over 5000 downloads of the podcast, with an average of around 300 downloads per episode. Looking over the logs I would have to say that we are growing 10-15 listeners per week. This doesn’t include those of you who have just joined us after finding us through Directions Magazine. We would like to thank everyone for your support, and on that thought keep an ear out for our first avsp contest which we will be announcing in a couple of weeks (in Episode 15). Nothing too large unless we magically come up with some cash or a sponsor before then, but hopefully something fun.

Thanks again!

Map-o-Rama! widget

Map-o-Rama WidgetThere is a Konfabulator/Yahoo! Widgets widget that uses www.maporama.com. I had a couple of the undergrads at the lab whip up a map service based widget back in July, but they didn’t accept it to that gallery due to one of the map services we were pointing to being down. That version is specific to work, but I will edit in the next couple of days and post it without the work logo and not centered on Morgantown. Look for it Tuesday night or Wednesday after I finish my write-a-thon.

Until then check out this widget at Konfabulator – Gallery – Map-o-Rama!