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Un Planet est un site Web dynamique qui agrège le plus souvent sur une seule page, le contenu de notes, d'articles ou de billets publiés sur des blogs ou sites Web afin d'accentuer leur visibilité et de faire ressortir des contenus pertinents aux multiples formats (texte, audio, vidéo, Podcast). C'est un agrégateur de flux RSS. Il s'apparente à un portail web.
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03 septembre 2010
2:50
Cameron Shorter: OSGeoLive 4.0 Lightening Overview
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

Click to Play This presentation provides a lightening overview of all the applications installed on the OSGeoLive DVD.
OSGeoLive is a self-contained bootable DVD, based on the Xubuntu linux distribution, that is pre-installed and pre-configured with 43 of the best GeoSpatial Open Source applications along with sample datasets.This presentation effectively gives you a birds eye view of the breath of robust GeoSpatial Open Source Software available.
2:31
The Map Room: The Times-Picayune’s Interactive Oil Spill Map
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

With the wellhead capped this is rapidly approaching old news, but it's still worth admiring the cartographic virtues of the Times-Picayune's interactive map of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, with a timeline from April 20 to July 28. Via Andrew Matranga....
2:12
The Map Room: Navteq Unveils Landmark-Based Navigation
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

At the IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin today, Navteq announced a new form of voice navigation called Natural Guidance: NAVTEQ Natural Guidance leapfrogs today's linear navigation instructions -- e.g. "turn right in 50 meters on Kurfürstendamm" -- by guiding the way humans instruct each other, through descriptions of orientation...
1:57
The Map Room: Hodder Wants Your Map ‘Doodles’
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

Hodder Geography is running a map doodle competition: they want entrants to draw "your own map of your world, real or imagined," scan it and send it in. Via Thierry Gregorius. Not the first hand-drawn map competition, not by a long shot -- I may have to create a new...
0:27
AnyGeo - GIS, LBS, Geo Mashups, Mobile & Social Location Technologies: Google Earth Hurricane Response 2010 and Google earth Portable
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

A recent Twitter post from Google Geo Evangelist @manomarks pointed me to an interesting blog post about Google Earth Portable – the post describes a Google Earth Portable Implementation and includes a pointer to an interesting video (below)

About Google Earth Enterprise Portable - With the Google Earth Enterprise Portable solution your users can select and [...]
0:10
Off the Map - Official Blog of FortiusOne: Map of Yesterday’s Discovery Channel Hostage Situation
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

Yesterday much of the D.C. area was watching a stand-off between James J. Lee and police at Discovery Channel’s Headquarters just outside of Washington D.C. I found out about the incident as I get most of my news, through Twitter. I was interested in seeing if people were actually tweeting about the incident from the area. Lately I’ve been playing with location searches in the Twittering Stream API, so I set a search for a bounding box around Silver Spring. I started the query around 2pm (an hour after things started) and ran it until 8 a.m. when I got into work today.

There were a couple interesting things about the data. Nobody was tweeting with location enabled directly from the Discovery Channel, though one person checked into the Discovery Channel on FourSquare about the time that the stand-off ended.

There was also a decent amount of pictures of the Police SWAT vehicles as well. Investigate here yourself.

02 septembre 2010
23:00
La carte sans qualités
sur Serial Mapper

Nos fidèles lecteurs savent que pour le SerialMapper un texte est aussi une carte. Il existe même un art de la mise en scène graphique qui s'appelle la typographie. Ainsi la carte (l'image) du texte se doit de satisfaire, notamment pour des raisons d'efficience cognitive, au gris typographique.
Quelque soit son utilité ce travail d'orfèvre ne remplace pas les extraordinaires capacités du cerveau humain à remettre les choses dans le bon ordre :
"Sleon une édtue de l'Uvinertisé de Cmabrigde, l'odrre des ltteers dans un mtos n'a pas d'ipmrotncae,la suel coshe ipmrotnate est que la pmeirère et la drenèire soit à la bnnoe pclae. Le rsete peut êrte dans un dsérorde ttoal et vuos puoevz tujoruos lrie snas porlblème. C'est prace que le creaveu hmauin ne lit pas chuaqe ltetre elle-mmêe mias le mot comme un tuot."
Qu'en est-il pour les cartes ? Une carte sans fond de carte et sans légende aurait-elle un sens ? Et si l'on inventait une carte mots ?
Le site web Fata Morgana utilise ce procédé pour afficher les résultats de Google Maps

En guise de commentaire je laisse la parole à l'incontournable Infosthetics :
"The website features a fully functional Google Maps like view of the world, although the map is reduced to include only place names and does not feature any geographical feature.
Strangely, even this text-only view provides for sufficiently rich visual clues to interpret most of the unique characteristics in our environment."
Étonnant non ? A mon humble avis il y aurait moyen de simplifier bien des cartes complexes en ne faisant pas l'impasse la résilience de notre perception visuelle.
PS : le titre de ce billet fait bien sur sur référence à l'homme sans qualités de Robert Musil "

22:32
GIS Lounge: Satellites and Solar Flares
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

Article reprinted with permission from the European Space Agency Just as we grow used to satellite navigation in everyday life, media reports argue that a coming surge in solar activity could render satnav devices useless, perhaps even frying satellites themselves. Is it true? No. It is a fact that variations in the gigantic unshielded fusion reactor we [...]
22:27
Ogle Earth: The last days of old Kashgar
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

Kashgar, in China's remote far-west Xinjiang province, lies on a fertile crescent at the convergence of ancient caravan routes linking India, Central Asia and China. For over a millenium, this fabled city was a crucial link in the Silk Route economy, and its culture thrived.

I have long wanted to visit Kashgar. In May 2009, traveling there took on some urgency when it became apparent that the Chinese local government had begun implementing plans to demolish 85% of the remaining old town. The New York Times sounded the alarm; the news raised hackles from preservationists around the world, because Kashgar's old town was until then regarded as “the best-preserved example of a traditional Islamic city to be found anywhere in central Asia.”

I finally managed to visit Kashgar in late July 2010, and stayed for over a week, walking through practically every alley I could find, documenting the the old town's transformation and photographing its people.

Click on Kashgar photos to enlarge

The photos I took are up on Flickr, but a project like this is made to be published on Google Earth, so I georeferenced the photos using GPS. I also mapped the demolished areas as I walked through them. The resulting files — georeferenced photos, GPS tracks and a superimposed map — can be downloaded as a KMZ file for Google Earth. This is a documentary snapshot of Kashgar circa August 1, 2010.

What did I find? I can report that almost half of the remaining old town has been razed, and much of the rest is set to go. Most of the buildings facing the old town's main streets have been preserved, but the areas behind them are being hollowed out. Many alleys now end in wide-open spaces, empty save for the occasional denuded hold-out home whose exterior walls show the interior decorations of vanished neighbors. Here and there, a lone tree marks the spot of a demolished courtyard. Children have colonized these open spaces as a massive romping ground, for now.

In other parts of the old town, where the bulldozers were only just beginning to venture, I found families busily gutting their own homes, dragging out metal staircases, recovering bricks, salvaging what is salvageable for use in their new home. They looked resigned but not despondent, and were always happy to have me around taking photos. (Kashgaris are extraordinarily friendly and engaging, young and old alike.)

I have learned from living in Shanghai and now Beijing that Chinese authorities — and to a certain extent mainstream Chinese culture — do not attach much importance to protecting traditional vernacular architecture. Imperial palaces and grand religious temples are worthy of preservation or even reconstruction, but not on the whole the hutong of Beijing or the lane houses of Shanghai, which are deemed too ordinary, especially when there is money to made building high-rises in their stead.

In Europe, by contrast, entire towns can remain unmolested, from Óbidos to San Gimignano to Visby. The West's record is not unblemished, of course: In New York City, Robert Moses was able to do some damage before he found his match in Jane Jacobs, whose 1961 book The Death and Life of Great American Cities redefined how we view and value lower-income urban communities. In Europe, wars did far more damage than Moses ever could, but even there the destruction set in place a process of valuing what was lost, with towns like Ypres and Dresden choosing to meticulously reconstruct their destroyed cores.

Moses might also have had a go at Kashgar, so we Westerners shouldn't feel too smug; as recently as 1961, when Jane Jacobs's book was educating us, the Chinese had far more pressing concerns, namely avoiding being among the 35 million who perished through famine in Mao's Great Leap Forward.

As anyone who has been to Kashgar can attest, the alleys do not divulge much by way of opulence. The public-facing walls of the old town's homes are bare — made of mud- or baked yellow brick rising 2-3 stories. A wooden door, if open, reveals a curtain preserving the privacy of a shady courtyard inside. The exteriors are not beautiful in an aesthetic sense, though that is not where the effort lies; it's on the inside that these homes reveal their real wealth, through the ornate woodwork on covered verandas and the intricate stucco interiors.

As old Kashgar is dismantled, the remaining homes are losing their shared exterior walls, affording just for a brief moment a view into their covered courtyards. It's a swan song, however; soon enough these homes too will disappear, once compensation is agreed to.

(Or if their owners hold out indefinitely they'll be denied electricity and water until their cause is made irrelevant by "facts on the ground":)

How are these empty spaces being refilled? It is already possible to discern a two-pronged strategy. Encroaching on the perimeter of the old town, contiguous to main roads or previously built modern construction, 4-6 story medium-rise residential buildings are sprouting. Meanwhile, in the interior of the old town, work crews are constructing 2-3 story reinforced concrete frameworks, at roughly the same scale as the structures they replace. In at least a few cases, I saw new owners filling in the walls themselves with bricks recovered from their old homes. The new construction I've seen differs from the old in three ways: It does not in the main conform to the traditional layout of a central covered courtyard; the new alleys are wider, allowing vehicle access; and because they are wider, there is little opportunity to expand homes by building across alleys, as was often done with the old homes.

Work is progressing rapidly. The most recent imagery in Google Earth right now, dated October 26, 2009, shows just the beginning phases of the demolition. When a section has been demolished, crews start prepping the ground for new construction while the next section is cleared. The razing and rebuilding of Kashgar is thus happening concurrently. At this pace, it looks to me like they can get all of it done by mid-2012.

But why does this need to happen at all, let alone so quickly? Some reports (such as the one in Time Magazine) espouse theories portraying the demolition of old Kashgar as an attempt by the majority Han to better subjugate the Uyghurs. The problem with this theory is that demolition on such a scale is not just foisted on China's ethnic minorities. In Beijing I cycle daily past newly demolished hutong districts. Here too, the process is not transparent, residents are not consulted, and in general are told only at the last possible moment when to vacate homes up for demolition. (Michael Meyer's The Last Days of Old Beijing is a great read if you want to know more.)

One reason given to journalists for the demolition is that the whole region is earthquake-prone, and thus the only way to preëmptively save Kashgari lives is to destroy their unsafe homes. I mooted that explanation to a local Uyghur guide, who scoffed at it, pointing out that these buildings have survived for centuries. More likely, I think, is that Chinese bureaucrats surveying old Kashgar saw only embarrassing poverty, and unilaterally decided to drag it into the 21st century. These officials may never have been inside a meticulously decorated Uyghur courtyard home, or perhaps they visited a few but did not care much for them. The prospect of handing out building contracts could also have helped the decision to demolish.

But even if I were convinced of the need for a Kashgar makeover, why does it need to happen so quickly? Why not gradually renovate over a 10-15 year period, one neighborhood at a time, replacing just the most precarious structures and bringing modern amenities to the rest? To make a forestry analogy, why clearcut when you could fell selectively, removing just the dead wood, preserving the special character of an old-growth forest?

I can think of a few reasons. First, blunt instruments are cheaper. Second, just as in Beijing, speedy implementations of opaquely arrived-at demolition orders thwart opportunities for organized local resistance. Third, 10-15 year-long projects take too long to be compatible with the hoped-for career trajectories of the local Communist Party bosses, eager to take credit for their initiatives now. (Separately, I fear to think what happens to all the archaeological material that must become visible when an entire city strata is churned over. At this pace, there cannot possibly be time for proper excavations.)

Why hasn't tourism been a better incentive for preservation? You do see the occasional westerner exploring the town, but the overwhelming majority of tourists in Kashgar are affluent visitors from within China, and they uniformly travel in bussed tour groups, deposited at various locales where they are led to photogenic spots by guides bearing portable loudspeakers. Among these destinations are the two officially protected parts of the old town, the 15% where bulldozers won't tread. These neighborhoods have been turned into open-air museums, with an entrance fee (RMB 30, USD 4.40) that entitles access to various courtyard homes and souvenir shops. I suspect that the Chinese authorities think these two areas should suffice for the majority of tourists. Depressingly, they may be right.

But tourism alone shouldn't motivate preservation. Traditional urban geography anchors local culture through the unique social interactions it facilitates; Kashgar's alleys, with their many small mosques and nearby teahouses, foster micro-neighborhoods safe enough for bare-bottomed toddlers to play unsupervised. Preserving a token part of the old town for touristic purposes is of no value to the ex-residents who have lost their particular neighborhood.

Will old Kashgar's urban culture survive the wholesale uprooting of its building stock? A number of residents are opting to spend their compensation on apartments in new high-rises at the edge of the city, which promise decent plumbing and insulation — as did one guide I talked to. (I too like my amenities, so I cannot blame them). Perhaps the new 2-3 story buildings at the center of the old town will be similar enough in scale and function that they can simulate the old urban geography. I hope so, though I fear that the character of old Kashgar will soon change irrevocably, not through necessity or war or natural disaster, but through fiat. And that would be a great pity.
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22:11
GIS Lounge: GIS and Productivity Profile
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

GIS and its role in increasing productivity for businesses is part of an article in Globe and Mail. The article also features Alex Miller, president of ESRI Canada who is quoted, “Every government and every business needs to know where things are, where people are, how processes work, and how you get from here to [...]
21:21
AfriSpatial: get OpenLayers, tilecache and Google maps to work nicely together
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

I found this description how OpenLayers, Tilecache and Google maps work together (or not) and thought I’d extend it with some more pointers. Conflicts with zoomlevels, bounding boxes, resolutions and scales are easy to get and can be confusing to solve. I hope this makes it clearer and gets all your tiles rendering as you [...]
get OpenLayers, tilecache and Google maps to work nicely together is a post from: AfriSpatial
21:02
Ogle Earth: links for 2010-09-02
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com
- Archaeology Magazine Blog - Beyond Stone and Bone » Google Earth and A New Generation of Archaeologists Heather Pringle blogs about her (paywalled) Science Magazine article which looks at how Google Earth is changing the field of archaeology.
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19:43
Slashgeo.org: Google Geonews: SketchUp 8 Released, Android vs Consumer GPS, 3D Sound in Google Earth, and more
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com
Some Google-related geonews for the last two days:
- Google SketchUp 8 has been released: Major new features for modeling in geospatial context and for creating new 3D building models for Google Earth. [...] new “Solid” tools in SketchUp Pro for common additive/subtractive modeling operations [...] additional features in LayOut for documenting models professionally.
- Google added business logos to Google Maps.
- The FGT blog offers an informative 2-parts article on Android and the future of consumer GPS. An excerpt: "Android has the capability to turn GPS into a commodity market, meaning less control and more competition, leading to lower prices. And this is an environment that the old-school GPS vendors may have trouble with." FGT also decided to launch a new blog named AndroGeoid.
- Google's Ed Parsons wonder if 'When' is the next big thing after the 'Where'.
- Here's an entry named Mapping with Google Fusion Tables .
- The GEB has an entry on 3D sound with the Google Earth plug-in.
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19:14
Des conditions dans le « Field calculator »
sur arcUtilisateurs

Bonjour, l’outil « Field Calculator » (accessible avec un clique droit sur le nom d’un champ) est très intéressant pour modifier les valeurs de plusieurs cellules d’un champ. Si rien n’est sélectionné, les modifications se font sur tous les enregistrements d’un champ. Si une sélection est faite, seulement les valeurs des cellules des enregistrements sélectionnés seront mises à jour. Pour une utilisation de base de l’outil, rien n’est vraiment compliqué.

Cependant, il arrive parfois que nos besoins soient un peu plus particuliers. Bref, que l’on veuille une mise à jour de nos données selon certaines conditions. C’est à ce moment que l’on peut utiliser l’option VBA (cocher la case « Advanced »).

Voici un exemple : qualifier la taille des municipalités.

On possède une table de municipalités ayant les champs suivants :?

On aimerait, selon la taille de la municipalité, inscrire une information dans le champ « Type_Mun ». On décide de mettre l’information « PA » pour petite agglomération (par exemple, égal ou moins de 10000 habitants) et «GA » pour grande agglomération (par exemple plus de 10000 habitants).

Donc pour remplir l’information du champ « Type_Mun », on peut entrer les informations suivantes dans l’outil « Field Calculator » :

Explication: la première ligne du code sert à vérifier si la valeur du champ « population » est plus petite ou égale à 10000 habitants. Si oui, on insère dans la variable « VarTex » l’information « PA » (ligne 2) . Sur la troisième ligne, « sinon si » (on aurait pu aussi utiliser le « else » plutôt que le « else if », si ce n’est pas l’un c’est effectivement l’autre) la valeur du champ population est plus grande que 10000 habitants, la valeur de la variable « VarTex » sera « GA »(ligne 4). Pour terminer, on indique à l’outil de prendre la valeur de la variable « VarTex » pour l’insérer dans la cellule correspondante. Il ne reste qu’à appuyer sur « OK » et le traitement des cellules du champ « Type_Mun » commence.

Évidemment, il serait ardu de vous présenter toutes les possibilités du VBA. Mais avec un peu de logique, il sera facile de transformer cet exemple pour le transposer, dans d’autres calcule.

Martin

18:46
AnyGeo - GIS, LBS, Geo Mashups, Mobile & Social Location Technologies: Video – NAVTEQ offers “true” human-like Guidance – NAVTEQ Natural Guidance
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

NAVTEQ Natural Guidance breaks new ground by enabling guidance the way humans provide directions to each other—through the use of descriptive reference cues (think real directions) . Launched at the IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin, NAVTEQ Natural Guidance leapfrogs today’s linear navigation instructions—e.g. ‘turn right in 50 meters on Kurfuerstendamm—by guiding the way [...]
18:39
Spatial Sustain: Intergraph Works to Stay on Top of Technology Trends #intergraph2010
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

Mark Doherty, CTO of Intergraph’s Security, Government and Industry (SG&I) division related details on the company’s view on technology trends and the company’s approach to the markets that they serve. Spatial data infrastructure is a growing issue, with kudos to the European INSPIRE initiative for raising awareness. While the initiative is focused at the national [...]

18:28
Over the Rainbow with Google Maps
sur Google Maps Mania

OMG Rainbows!

♪♫ Google Map's the only thing / To take you over the rainbow to the land where cartography is King. ♪♫

I love discovering new uses for Google Maps and I'm pretty sure that this is the very first rainbow predicator to feature on Google Maps Mania.

The map uses the regularly updated National Weather Service radar mosaic to find where rain is falling and combines that with current solar elevation and azimuth to show areas that have a high potential for rainbows. The areas that have a potential for rainbows are shown in red on the map.

You can quickly zoom into an area marked in red or you can use the search engine to look for rainbows near your current location. And who doesn't want to search for rainbows?

_____________

18:26
Street View et Arcade Fire
sur BloGoMaps - google maps france

Certains d'entre nous vivent désormais loin de l’adresse notre enfance. Je me suis souvent intéressé à la nostalgie que peuvent ressentir les gens lorsqu’ils regardent des photos de la rue ou la maison dans laquelle ils vivaient auparavant. Nous avons essayé de nous appuyer sur ce sentiment pour développer une expérience musicale interactive entièrement pensée pour le Web.
Cette expérience musicale, appelée "The Wilderness Downtown" a été créée par le réalisateur Chris Milk avec le groupe Arcade Fire et plusieurs d'entre nous chez Google. En nous appuyant sur Street View, l'API Google Maps, ainsi que des fonctionnalités rendues possibles par le HTML5, nous avons créé ce que nous espérons être un unique voyage dans les rues de votre enfance. Tout cela est accompagné par la nouvelle chanson d'Arcade Fire "We Used to Wait", premier single de leur nouvel album “The Suburbs”.

“The Wilderness Downtown” a pu voir le jour grâce aux développements récents des technologies web et de la nouvelle génération de navigateurs internet. Il a été optimisé pour Google Chrome. Aussi, il fonctionnera au mieux dans Chrome ou un tout autre navigateur internet HTML5 conforme.

Vous pouvez retrouver ce projet et en savoir plus sur notre site Chrome Experiments. Bon voyage dans le passé !

Thomas Gayno, Google Creative Lab.

18:17
Henri Bergius: category "geo": buscatcher: Never miss another tram
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

Opening public data is a hot topic in Finland at the moment. As a small experiment with the data that is available I wrote buscatcher, a simple N900 app that displays Helsinki trams (and some buses) moving on a map in real time. This makes it easy to determine when your next tram is coming to the stop, or where it is stuck.

So far I'm keeping this application away from Extras until HSL gets scalability issues solved with their dataset. In the meanwhile you can grab and run the application from the GitHub repo.
17:45
AnyGeo - GIS, LBS, Geo Mashups, Mobile & Social Location Technologies: Fleet and Asset Management USA 2010, 17th-18th Nov, Atlanta, GA
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

Here’s details of an interesting event taking place this fall. The annual Fleet and Asset Management USA 2010 (17th-18th Nov, Atlanta, GA, USA) is the most influential show for the commercial telematics and vehicle ICT industry! This year’s senior-level speakers will include US DOT, NHTSA, Ford, John Deere, GE, Lo-Jack, PACAAR and many more. Check [...]

17:23
Communiqué - Capgemini lance son centre d’excellence Géo Information Solutions (GIS)
sur PortailSIG - Actualité

Communiqué - Capgemini lance son centre d’excellence Géo Information Solutions (GIS)

17:02
Sharing Locations with Google Maps
sur Google Maps Mania

WhereMark

WhereMark is another start-up trying to break into the Location Based Services market. Using the site's website, or the iPhone application, users can share and find find local points of interest. Essentially the site enables you to save and share your favourite locations with Google Maps.

To save a WhereMark you need to double click on the map. When you do so an information window opens that allows you to share information about the location. The information window for each saved location includes tabs to view a Street View and get driving directions. From the map sidebar you can choose to view all 'public' WhereMarks or only those submitted by you.

The site includes the option to connect with Facebook and share your WhereMarks with your Facebook friends.

_____________

16:50
API ArcGIS for Windows Phone en beta
sur arcOrama, un blog sur les SIG, ceux d ESRI en particulier

Après la sortie en juin dernier d'ArcGIS for iPhone et l'annonce d'ArcGIS for Androïd pour la fin de l'année, Esri annonce la sortie en novembre prochain d'une nouvelle application et d'une nouvelle API ArcGIS pour la plateforme Windows Phone 7. Très similaire à ArcGIS for iOS, ArcGIS for Windows Phone hérite des développements déjà réalisés par Esri pour le développement l'API ArcGIS for

15:49
got geoint?: College Students Crash NASA Satellite Into Arctic
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

Many of us got to experience some pretty fun things while in college. From travels abroad to sports and let’s be honest, some good old-fashioned college partying. But, we have yet to run across any college students who get the rare privilege of crashing a NASA satellite. University of Colorado at Boulder undergraduates were lucky to have the opportunity to crash (come on now – how cool is that?) the Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite, or ICESat, in the Arctic. The satellite had been in orbit for seven years – and UC Boulder students have been controlling the satellite for that time period. Why did they crash the satellite? The satellite had outlasted its targeted design life, before its primary sensor – a laser device intended for measuring ice thickness, forest cover – failed last year. So, yes, while college can often include learning how to do keg stands, it can also present an incredible opportunity like this for students. Go U.C. Boulder.
15:33
Slashgeo.org: Microsoft Geonews: Hotmail and Bing Maps Integration, Batch Geocoding and Reverse-Geocoding, Bing Maps on Android, and more
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com
Here's the recent Microsoft-related geonews.
- Bing Maps and Hotmail come together: "When you select “Maps and Places” [in an Hotmail message] a task pane opens that allows you to add new locations or interact with a set of previously defined locations."
- Part of the Bing Spatial Data API, Microsoft introduced batch geocoding and batch reverse-geocoding with Bing Maps.
- In addition to the Windows Phone, the Blackberry and iPhone, now there's Bing Maps on your Verizon Android device.
- For the developers amongst us, MS introduced PHP and VB .NET SDKs for Bing Maps Platform. There's also an entry on Bing Maps and MS Visual Studio LightSwitch.
- The official blog also mentioned Geo Fact Finder, "the application includes over fifteen distinct data themes that includes several dozen specific variables" for the U.S.
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15:03
All Points Blog: DigitalGlobe CEO Jill Smith to Resign Sept 2011
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

That marks the end of her current contract and she plans not to renew, per a statement released on Wednesday. The company has begun a search. - Daily Camera...Read more

15:03
DigitalGlobe CEO Jill Smith to Resign Sept 2011
sur All Points Blog

That marks the end of her current contract and she plans not to renew, per a statement released on Wednesday. The company has begun a search. - Daily Camera...Read more

14:54
Slashgeo.org: OpenDragon: Open Source Imagery Analysis Program
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

Still catching up recent geonews, last week the FGT blog mentioned the open source imagery analysis project named OpenDragon. While the project has been around for over 5 years, we never mentioned it in the past.

From the official website: "OpenDragon provides a robust suite of image processing operations, via an intuitive, responsive, multi-window graphical user interface. Software functionality includes full-color display, annotation, enhancement, measurement, supervised and unsupervised classification, georeferencing, on-screen vector capture, and a broad range of other capabilities to support image processing education and research. OpenDragon can access image and data files created by earlier releases of commercial Dragon, can run scripts created for other versions, and is backward compatible in its organization and navigation. OpenDragon uses an innovative client-server architecture and is based on platform-independent industry standards including Java, XML and HTML. The OpenDragon architecture supports new levels of user extensibility and will eventually allow the software to execute on Windows, Linux, Mac OS/X, and Solaris and other Unix variants. "

We previously mentioned a few other similar software, Opticks is one example.
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14:38
Google Earth Blog: 3D sounds with the Google Earth Plug-in
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

Paul over at PlanetInAction is at it again. The man that brought us Ships and Helicopters has a new toy for us to play with. This is more of tech demo than a game, but it's quite impressive.

He's simply calling it a 3D sound demo. Here is a brief video of it in action:

You can read the full write-up on his site, but here's the basics of it:

sound3D manages a collection of soundSource objects that have knowledge of the location they are at. A soundSource has a collection of channels. Each channel represents a sound file with associated falloff range. Outside this range the channel can not be heard.

Multiple sound channels per sound source enables you to use different sounding audio files for nearby and far away. The "far" file should sound more muffled and have a longer falloff range. These audio effects can be prepared in a sound editor such as Audacity.

The helicopter on the beach is a great example showing how this works. Move in close and notice how the engine sounds louder but also sharper.

Be sure to check out the PlanetInAction site for more info.
14:36
All Points Blog: World Economic Forum Pioneers in Tech Winners include LBS Players
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

Among a class of 31 companies deemed Technology Pioneers (Google Inc. was one once) are Foursquare and Layar. Also noteworthy to me: Scribd Inc. To be selected as a Technology Pioneer, a company must be involved in the development of a major technol...Read more

14:36
World Economic Forum Pioneers in Tech Winners include LBS Players
sur All Points Blog

Among a class of 31 companies deemed Technology Pioneers (Google Inc. was one once) are Foursquare and Layar. Also noteworthy to me: Scribd Inc. To be selected as a Technology Pioneer, a company must be involved in the development of a major technol...Read more

14:24
Slashgeo.org: ikiMap, create and share your maps
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

ikiMap (www.ikimap.com) is a free web service which allows its users to create and share their maps.

The objective is to combine the concept of a social network together with the use of cartography and maps.

Users can create their own maps (by uploading files in KML, GPX…formats or directly by drawing on the map), vote for other users maps, add comments, create groups of friends, theme channels and more! Users can actually label the map as private and grant access to it only to certain people.

ikiMap is a free service, and it's based on freeware:

* OpenLayers (http://openlayers.com/)
* MapServer (http://mapserver.org/
* PostGIS (http://postgis.refractions.net/)

There are more info about ikiMap on:

• Blog: http://ikimap.blogspot.com/
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/ikimap
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/ikiMap/200361580929
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/ikimap
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14:14
Spanish Google Maps Mashups Round-up
sur Google Maps Mania

Guifi.net

Guifi.net is a free telecommunications network in Spain. The network is composed of peer-to-peer connections. Guifi.net have used Google Maps to show the extent of the network.The map shows all the nodes on the network and the connections between the nodes.

Yata!

Yata! is a mobile based social network for sharing upcoming sporting events, shops with promotions, upcoming concerts or anything else you want to share. The application, for Vodafone, uses Google Maps to show the user submitted places around your current location.

A system of positive and negative votes is used to crowdsource the best user submitted locations. The home page of Yata! even includes a Google Map so you can explore the social network from your desktop.

Mapa Furgoperfecto

Furgovw is a website catering to the needs of Volkswagen camper van owners looking for places that they can park overnight. The site is a collection of user submitted suggestions for great spots where you can pull up and sleep when your are out touring in your van.

The site uses Google Maps to show the locations of parking locations. The map is not restricted to Spain and covers most of Europe and even parts of north Africa.

Previously Featured Spanish Google Maps

_____________

14:05
All Points Blog: Google Tidbits
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

There's a new version of SketchUp v8 3D. - Google Earth Blog and via Google PR Google has introduced a beta of sponsored icons for Google Maps. Instead of a generic pin, those who pay will have their own logo appear. First takers include: Bank ...Read more

14:05
Google Tidbits
sur All Points Blog

There's a new version of SketchUp v8 3D. - Google Earth Blog and via Google PR Google has introduced a beta of sponsored icons for Google Maps. Instead of a generic pin, those who pay will have their own logo appear. First takers include: Bank ...Read more

13:18
Slashgeo: Still being able to read this? Patience!
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

If we're not mistaken, most people worldwide now access the new Slashgeo website, launched a week ago, when they hit slashgeo.org. However, some users still end up on the old website. It's your case if you're reading this.

There's sadly nothing we can do. ISPs can take days to update their DNS tables. We obviously have no control on when your own Internet service provider (ISP) updates their 'domain names' to 'IP addresses' table. But one thing is certain, come back in a few days and eventually, your ISP will update and you'll be able to access the new site.

A quick reminder: you'll have to re-register on the new site to get the daily newsletter. The old RSS feed URL still work is almost all cases, so you shouln't need to update the RSS feed manually. We already resumed publishing geonews on the new website last Monday... it will be your turn to do some catching up! ;-)
Read more of this story at Slashgeo.

12:44
[INSPIRE by clouds] Des guides de recommandations?
sur GeoRezo.net - Géoblogs

Neogeo a publié l'information ici : "Une version 2.12 du guide d’implémentation des services de visualisation d’INSPIRE (datée du 16 juin 2010) est disponible (PDF)".

Je reconnais que j'ai fait l'impasse sur ces guides, d'abord parce que, selon la Commission elle-même, « il convient de garder à l'esprit que ces documents ne peuvent être utilisés pour interpréter ou expliquer les obligations de la directive INSPIRE. La seule référence légale est la directive elle-même et ses règlements », mais peut-être aussi parce que je n'ai pas réussi à les faire traduire en français. Nonobstant, même en anglais, ils apportent de nombreux éclairages utiles aux règlements. En effet, si ceux-ci sont traduits en français, leur langue reste le juridique...

La source officielle est le site du Centre commun de recherche de la Commission : http://inspire.jrc.ec.europa.eu/. On accède aux guides soit par la rubrique "INSPIRE library", soit par les grandes catégories (Metadata, Data Specifications, Network Services, Data and Service Sharing, Monitoring and Reporting).

Pour ceux qui préfèreraient un environnement en français, l'IGN réunit les guides avec leur règlement-source dans la rubrique "Textes de référence", notamment pour les métadonnées, les services, et le partage.

12:44
Des guides de recommandations?
sur INSPIRE by clouds

Neogeo a publié l’information ici : “Une version 2.12 du guide d’implémentation des services de visualisation d’INSPIRE (datée du 16 juin 2010) est disponible (PDF)“. Je reconnais que j’ai fait l’impasse sur ces guides, d’abord parce que, selon la Commission elle-même, « il convient de garder à l’esprit que ces documents ne peuvent être utilisés pour interpréter [...]

11:00
Jackie Ng: SQLite: Is there anything you CAN'T do?
sur Planet OSGeo
One of my key areas of focus in preparation for the next beta release of FDO Toolbox 1.0, was to bring the Join implementation up to par. Since all my efforts thus bar has been improving the Bulk Copy functionality, joins have been somewhat left out in the cold in terms of functionality and my attention.

As it stands, the primary problem with the current join implementation is one of performance. Without going into detail the current implementation is one that uses nested loops. This, being a O(m*n) operation will get slower as the size of the data you're working with increases.

In thinking about the different join algorithms available to tackle this problem, I came to the conclusion that implementing what is essentially a core DBMS component is just too much effort, so being the lazy programmer that I am, I've updated the join implementation to delegating the join functionality a DBMS which day-by-day continues to impress me with its amazing performance and capabilities: SQLite

So now, the updated implementation can be described as follows:
- Create a temporary SQLite database with table structure identical to our "left" and "right" sources.
- Pump the data from our "left" source into this temp SQLite database
- Pump the data from our "right" source into this temp SQLite database
- Create a view in our temp SQLite that encapsulates a join between these "left" and "right" tables
- Do some metadata hacks to make this view be recognised as a FDO feature class.
- Pump the data from this view out to our target data store.
How much faster is this approach? I've done some tests by joining the Sheboygan Parcel SHP file (only the bare ID/Geometry attributes, approx. 17600 records) with the corresponding Parcel data in an Access Database (approx. 16100 records):
- Old approach: 16 minutes
- SQLite approach: 21 seconds!
That's a 45x performance improvement! Now it is true that this is only a single data point :-), but if a single data point can indicate such a monumental improvement, then I can comfortably say that you will get similar results with different data sources.

I truly <3 SQLite!

10:49
Missing Persons on Google Maps
sur Google Maps Mania

Live Police Appeals Map

UK website the Missing List has created a Google Map to display information about missing people in the UK. The data for the map comes from appeals made by the police for information about missing people.

If you click on a map marker you can view photos and a brief description. You can click through to read further details. You can also refine the results shown on the map by month and year.

The Missing List has also created a Police Appeals Google Map. The map displays appeals made by the police concerning recent criminal offences in the UK. Again you can refine the map by month and year. You can also refine the results by type of crime.

_____________

10:29
The Map Guy(de): SQLite: Is there anything you CAN’T do?
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com
One of my key areas of focus in preparation for the next beta release of FDO Toolbox 1.0, was to bring the Join implementation up to par. Since all my efforts thus bar has been improving the Bulk Copy functionality, joins have been somewhat left out in the cold in terms of functionality and my attention.

As it stands, the primary problem with the current join implementation is one of performance. Without going into detail the current implementation is one that uses nested loops. This, being a O(m*n) operation will get slower as the size of the data you're working with increases.

In thinking about the different join algorithms available to tackle this problem, I came to the conclusion that implementing what is essentially a core DBMS component is just too much effort, so being the lazy programmer that I am, I've updated the join implementation to delegating the join functionality a DBMS which day-by-day continues to impress me with its amazing performance and capabilities: SQLite

So now, the updated implementation can be described as follows:
- Create a temporary SQLite database with table structure identical to our "left" and "right" sources.
- Pump the data from our "left" source into this temp SQLite database
- Pump the data from our "right" source into this temp SQLite database
- Create a view in our temp SQLite that encapsulates a join between these "left" and "right" tables
- Do some metadata hacks to make this view be recognised as a FDO feature class.
- Pump the data from this view out to our target data store.
How much faster is this approach? I've done some tests by joining the Sheboygan Parcel SHP file (only the bare ID/Geometry attributes, approx. 17600 records) with the corresponding Parcel data in an Access Database (approx. 16100 records):
- Old approach: 16 minutes
- SQLite approach: 21 seconds!
That's a 45x performance improvement! Now it is true that this is only a single data point :-), but if a single data point can indicate such a monumental improvement, then I can comfortably say that you will get similar results with different data sources.

I truly
10:22
Linfiniti Geo Blog: Welcome to our first employee!
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

This week we have taken on our first employee! Samantha Booysen will be working as office manager. She will keep things running smoothly so that the geek in residence can focus on coding. She is all set up with an Ubuntu computer to do her work on and we will include her on our training courses so that she starts to learn about FOSS GIS too. Samantha doesn’t have an IT background but she is very interested in social upliftment which is something close to our hearts here at Linfiniti so we are sure she will fit right in. Welcome Samantha, we hope you enjoy working here!

10:22
Tim Sutton: Welcome to our first employee!
sur Planet OSGeo

This week we have taken on our first employee! Samantha Booysen will be working as office manager. She will keep things running smoothly so that the geek in residence can focus on coding. She is all set up with an Ubuntu computer to do her work on and we will include her on our training courses so that she starts to learn about FOSS GIS too. Samantha doesn’t have an IT background but she is very interested in social upliftment which is something close to our hearts here at Linfiniti so we are sure she will fit right in. Welcome Samantha, we hope you enjoy working here!

10:10
Journée Interopérabilité 2010
sur Le Forum français de l'OGC

Retenez dès maintenant cette date dans vos agendas : la Journée Interopérabilité 2010 du Forum français de l'OGC aura lieu le 24 septembre à Toulouse. Merci à Météo France de nous accueillir dans leur centre de conférences.

Vous pouvez d'ores et déjà vous inscrire en ligne.
Le programme complet de la journée sera très prochainement disponible.
10:02
4ème Journée de l'Interopérabilité Géospatiale, le 24/09/10
sur Le Forum français de l'OGC

Pour sa 4e édition, dont le thème porte sur "Les standards d'interopérabilité pour l'environnement", la Journée Interopérabilité 2010 organisée par le Forum français de l'OGC sera accueillie par Météo-France à Toulouse.
Inscrivez-vous rapidement, la participation est gratuite.

9:55
L'Update 3 pour Autodesk Topobase 2010 est disponible
sur Geospatial made in France

Je poste ci dessous un article que m’a confié Sébastien Baudin, un des experts Topobase d’Autodesk Consulting.

Dans son souci d’optimiser de manière continue ses solutions, Autodesk met à disposition l ’Update 3 pour Autodesk Topobase Client 2010 et Autodesk Topobase Web 2010.

Pas de confusion : la version actuellement sur le marché est bien Autodesk Topobase 2011. Cette mise concerne la version précédent : Autodesk Topobase 2010.

Vous trouverez tous les Updates Topobase en vous connectant à :

www.autodesk.com > Products > Autodesk Topobase > Support > Data & Downloads > Updates & Service Packs

Une alternative :

www.autodeskconsulting.eu > Subscription Support > Autodesk Topobase Updates & Service Packs

Les liens directs vous sont également fournis ici :

Autodesk Topobase Client 2010 Update 3

Autodesk Topobase Web 2010 Update 3

Cette mise à jour contient des correctifs pour les composants Topobase Administator, Topobase Client, Module Eaux usées, Module Electricité et Topobase Web. Nous vous suggérons de lire attentivement le Readme livré avec chaque Update.

6:20
geo.geek.nz: Mosaic Pivot Viewer Demonstration Using The Silverlight PivotViewer Control
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

It’s been a while since we have heard from the Applications Prototype Team in Redlands. As always they are busy working on the next greatest idea that could eventuate into a product or provide a good showcase of technology. The Applications...
6:04
All Points Blog: Changes and Challenges at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

Speaking at the Intergraph 2010 user Conference, Paul Weise, the Chief Functional Manager, and Director, Office of Geospatial Intelligence Management for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) address the challenges associated with coord...Read more

6:04
Changes and Challenges at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
sur All Points Blog

Speaking at the Intergraph 2010 user Conference, Paul Weise, the Chief Functional Manager, and Director, Office of Geospatial Intelligence Management for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) address the challenges associated with coord...Read more

5:37
All Points Blog: Intergraph Geospatial Embarking on Goal Toward Native 64-bit Architecture
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

In a briefing delivered by Intergraph's Security, Government and Infrastructure (SG&I) division CTO, Mark Doherty, he reported that the company is moving forward in developing the next generation software based on a native 64-bit architecture, ...Read more
Continue reading "Intergraph Geospatial Embarking on Goal Toward Native 64-bit Architecture "

5:37
Intergraph Geospatial Embarking on Goal Toward Native 64-bit Architecture
sur All Points Blog

In a briefing delivered by Intergraph's Security, Government and Infrastructure (SG&I) division CTO, Mark Doherty, he reported that the company is moving forward in developing the next generation software based on a native 64-bit architecture, ...Read more
Continue reading "Intergraph Geospatial Embarking on Goal Toward Native 64-bit Architecture "

5:19
All Points Blog: UAV’s Fill the Skies: So Much Data, So Few Ways to Analyze It
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

At the Intergraph 2010 conference, the defense and intelligence group was demonstrating their Motion Video Analyst (MVA) solutions to help manage data from the growing usage of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in support of the warfighting efforts ...Read more

5:19
UAV's Fill the Skies: So Much Data, So Few Ways to Analyze It
sur All Points Blog

At the Intergraph 2010 conference, the defense and intelligence group was demonstrating their Motion Video Analyst (MVA) solutions to help manage data from the growing usage of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in support of the warfighting efforts ...Read more

5:07
All Points Blog: #GeoMedia 3D Launched by #Intergraph
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

Today, Intergraph launched GeoMedia 3D, an add-on product for GeoMedia, the company's flagship geospatial software. It will be released with GeoMedia v6.1.8 in Q4 this year. The product uses technology from Skyline and includes features such as: fr...Read more

5:07
#GeoMedia 3D Launched by #Intergraph
sur All Points Blog

Today, Intergraph launched GeoMedia 3D, an add-on product for GeoMedia, the company's flagship geospatial software. It will be released with GeoMedia v6.1.8 in Q4 this year. The product uses technology from Skyline and includes features such as: fr...Read more

4:49
The Map Room: The United States of Star Wars
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

The United States of Star Wars assigns a planet from the Star Wars universe to each state (list here), which then illustrated appropriately. According to the creator, Rebecca Crane, "Planets were assigned based on partial terrain, landmarks that correlate with the planet and state, types of people in the...
4:46
Spatial Law and Policy: Spatial Law and Policy Update (September 1, 2010)
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

From the Centre of Spatial Law and Policy

Privacy

The Government Can Use GPS To Track Your Moves

California bill would protect privacy of FasTrak Users

Facebook's new geotagging ability brings potential to abuse

Facebook Places fights privacy concerns

USA Today article on security risks associated with location

German law would prohibit use of Facebook for hiring decisions

Technology aside - most people prefer not to be located

Miscellaneous

Knocking Down [Geodata] Brick Walls

Augmented Reality App for Autos

Intellectual Property/Copyright

Has Google Purged Yelp

UK Row Over Publishing of Public Mapping Data

National Security

Navy loses control of UAV over Washington
4:36
The Map Room: GPSMAP 62 and 78 Reviewed
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

As I understand it, the Garmin GPSMAP 62 and 78 series, like their 60-series and 76-series predecessors, are essentially the same under the skin, except that the 76 series is for marine use (and floats). GPS Information reviews them both. Via GPS Tracklog. Previously: GPS Tracklog Reviews the Garmin GPSMAP...
4:25
The Map Room: The Globe and Mail on GIS and Productivity
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

Today's Globe and Mail included this article discussing how GIS helps business productivity, with an aside on the challenge of getting good data in Canada (exacerbated by the federal government's recent decision to drop the long-form census). Via All Points Blog....
4:21
The Map Room: BBC Homes and Antiques on Map Collecting
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

BBC Homes and Antiques has a piece on map collecting; unfortunately, like several other such articles I've read on the subject, it doesn't really cohere and isn't well-written at all. Via Jonathan Potter Ltd....
1:24
The Field Guide: Hexagon participates at Intergraph 2010 event
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

Today Ola Rollén, President and CEO of Hexagon AB, participates at the Intergraph Corporation's annual international users' conference in Las Vegas, USA. The event "Intergraph 2010" hosts approximately 2 000 Intergraph customers from across the world and offers previews of new Intergraph technology, presentations by industry experts and hands-on training of Intergraph technology.

In a keynote address Ola Rollén comments on the planned acquisition of Intergraph announced on 7 July 2010. He reiterates Hexagon's intentions of continuous commitment and investment in Intergraph's vision, solutions, customers and employees. Ola Rollén also confirms Hexagon's intent to support Intergraph's product roadmap and to further invest in research and development.

"It is our intention that Intergraph's solutions will become Hexagon's core software platform, providing differentiated and vertically-focused software solutions. By combining Intergraph's technologies with our global resources and technologies, Hexagon will be able to create new exciting solutions to customers going forward", says Ola Rollén.

The acquisition of Intergraph is subject to completion of regulatory process and satisfaction of customary closing conditions. Competition law notifications have been submitted to the relevant regulatory authorities and the applicable waiting periods have expired. Completion of the remaining regulatory procedures is pending. Financial consolidation is estimated to take place in the fourth quarter of 2010.

At closing, Intergraph will become a fully owned subsidiary of Hexagon AB and will operate as a separate Hexagon division under the Intergraph name and branding. Following closing, it is planned that Ola Rollén will assume the role of CEO of Intergraph in accordance with the Hexagon model for successful integration into the Hexagon Group. Following closing, the two Intergraph divisions Process, Power & Marine and Security Government & Infrastructure will continue to operate under the leadership of Gerhard Sallinger and John Graham, respectively.

For further information please contact: Sara Kraft, Corporate Communications, Hexagon AB, +46 8 601 26 23, sara.kraft@hexagon.se
Hexagon AB is a global measurement technologies company with strong market positions. Hexagon's mission is to develop and market leading technologies and services to measure in one, two or three dimensions, to position and update objects and to time processes. The group has about 7 500 employees in 39 countries and net sales of about 12 000 MSEK.

Extracted 09/01/2010 [investors.hexagon.se]
0:26
GIS Lounge: Resources on GIS Lounge
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

Here is a quick guide to some of the resources available on GIS Lounge: Geospatial Conferences and Events – listings by date of events relating to the geospatial field. Jobs – Looking for a job in the geospatial field? Stop by the jobs section on GIS Lounge. Jobs are free to post and are listed for two [...]
0:08
All Points Blog: Intergraphs Federal Division to be Managed by Proxy Board
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

After the acquisition of Intergraph by Hexagon AB, Intergraphs Federal Division will be run by a proxy board. Though owned by Hexagon, the new Intergraph division will be essentially autonomous. Intergraph VP Jack Pellicci is likely to head the ne...Read more

0:08
Intergraphs Federal Division to be Managed by Proxy Board
sur All Points Blog

After the acquisition of Intergraph by Hexagon AB, Intergraphs Federal Division will be run by a proxy board. Though owned by Hexagon, the new Intergraph division will be essentially autonomous. Intergraph VP Jack Pellicci is likely to head the ne...Read more

01 septembre 2010
23:19
Linfiniti Geo Blog: A week in Tanzania
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

I spent most of last week in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. A lovely tropical country in the heart of Africa. I was there as part of a project I am working to create tools for Biodiversity Informatics practitioners. Of course the tools are based on Free Software: Quantum GIS and openModeller.

The attendees at the workshop were entertained by my talk about what FOSS is and why it is important, an introduction to QGIS slideshow (superbly presented by Marco Hugentobler), and ending with a tour of openModellerDesktop. We also did some live demonstrations of QGIS and openModeller, before going on to discuss details about how these tools can be used to support their Biodiversity Informatics workflows.

The meeting was funded by the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) with Juan Bello as their representitive, and hosted by the Tanzanian Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH).

In case you are unfamiliar with the aims of GBIF, they are facilitating the digitisation (or digitization for our american readers) of the worlds biodiversity records – herbarium records, museum collections and so on. COSTECH provides the local infrastructure and staff for the ‘TanBif’ node in Tanzania.

The meeting also included ‘in-country’ experts in the fields of GIS, Meteorology, Ecology, IT and so on. I think for all of the attendees, the concept of FOSS was a real eye-opener. African economies can’t compare with those in Europe and the USA and the capital outlay for proprietary software that presents an irritation in the Western world is a major burden in the third world. So just knowing that they could dive in and use QGIS was a great revelation.

We finished our workshop a little early on the Friday so Marco and I offered to go along to the COSTECH offices and geo-enable their PostgreSQL species occurrence database and install QGIS on their desktop PC’s running Windows XP. In the space of a couple of hours we were done – the major part of which was spent showing the TanBif staff members how to bring up the PostGIS layer in QGIS, perform simple queries and make maps. Having spent days in the past trying to get proprietary software like Oracle and Arc*** configured, optimised, licensed and generally usable, I was struck by just how easy and quick it is to get someone up and running with a robust enterprise ready PostGIS geospatial datastore and a user friendly Free Software desktop GIS like QGIS.

Thanks to the friendly Tanzanian folks for their hospitality – I look forward to my next visit! Here are some piccies from the trip…

Juan Bello telling us about the cool things you can do with a good Biodiversity Information repository.

The workshop attendees (Marco and Juan out of shot)

Marco showing Godfrey how to use QGIS to bring up their PostGIS Biodiversity dataset.

Godfrey proudly showing off his first map (made with QGIS)!

Marco killing a mosquito – he became something of an expert!

23:19
Tim Sutton: A week in Tanzania
sur Planet OSGeo

I spent most of last week in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. A lovely tropical country in the heart of Africa. I was there as part of a project I am working to create tools for Biodiversity Informatics practitioners. Of course the tools are based on Free Software: Quantum GIS and openModeller.

The attendees at the workshop were entertained by my talk about what FOSS is and why it is important, an introduction to QGIS slideshow (superbly presented by Marco Hugentobler), and ending with a tour of openModellerDesktop. We also did some live demonstrations of QGIS and openModeller, before going on to discuss details about how these tools can be used to support their Biodiversity Informatics workflows.

The meeting was funded by the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) with Juan Bello as their representitive, and hosted by the Tanzanian Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH).

In case you are unfamiliar with the aims of GBIF, they are facilitating the digitisation (or digitization for our american readers) of the worlds biodiversity records – herbarium records, museum collections and so on. COSTECH provides the local infrastructure and staff for the ‘TanBif’ node in Tanzania.

The meeting also included ‘in-country’ experts in the fields of GIS, Meteorology, Ecology, IT and so on. I think for all of the attendees, the concept of FOSS was a real eye-opener. African economies can’t compare with those in Europe and the USA and the capital outlay for proprietary software that presents an irritation in the Western world is a major burden in the third world. So just knowing that they could dive in and use QGIS was a great revelation.

We finished our workshop a little early on the Friday so Marco and I offered to go along to the COSTECH offices and geo-enable their PostgreSQL species occurrence database and install QGIS on their desktop PC’s running Windows XP. In the space of a couple of hours we were done – the major part of which was spent showing the TanBif staff members how to bring up the PostGIS layer in QGIS, perform simple queries and make maps. Having spent days in the past trying to get proprietary software like Oracle and Arc*** configured, optimised, licensed and generally usable, I was struck by just how easy and quick it is to get someone up and running with a robust enterprise ready PostGIS geospatial datastore and a user friendly Free Software desktop GIS like QGIS.

Thanks to the friendly Tanzanian folks for their hospitality – I look forward to my next visit! Here are some piccies from the trip…

Juan Bello telling us about the cool things you can do with a good Biodiversity Information repository.

The workshop attendees (Marco and Juan out of shot)

Marco showing Godfrey how to use QGIS to bring up their PostGIS Biodiversity dataset.

Godfrey proudly showing off his first map (made with QGIS)!

Marco killing a mosquito – he became something of an expert!

22:29
Biblio : 6 books of Euclid
sur Serial Mapper

C'est la rentrée ... Euclide ça vous rappelle sans doute des souvenirs (et pas forcément de très bon;-°))
TASCHEN vient de publier dans un magnifique fac similé d'un magnifique manuel d'introduction à la géométrie du 19ème siècle véritable hymne à la couleur et à la créativité .

<<Oliver Byrne (env. 1810 env. 1880) était un auteur et un ingénieur civil irlandais. On sait peu de choses sur sa vie, bien qu il ait écrit de très nombreux ouvrages. En tant que Géomètre des Colonies de Sa Majesté aux îles Malouines, Byrne avait déjà publié des manuels de mathématiques et d'ingénierie, mais rien de comparable à son édition d'Euclide. Ce remarquable exemple d'impression victorienne a été décrit comme l'un des livres les plus étranges et les plus beaux du 19ème siècle.

Chaque proposition est présentée en italiques de Caslon avec une initiale de quatre lignes de haut, tandis que le reste de la page ressemble à une émeute de rouge, de jaune et de bleu unique en son genre. Sur certaines pages, seuls les nombres et les lettres sont imprimés en couleur, éparpillés ça et là comme autant de minuscules fleurs sauvages, exigeant un alignement extrêmement méticuleux des différentes plaques en couleur pour l impression. Ailleurs, les carrés, les triangles et les cercles pleins sont imprimés en couleurs vives, se faisant l expression d une verve qu on ne trouvera plus dans un livre jusqu à l époque des Dufy, Matisse et Derain.<<

Évidemment on va encore se demander pourquoi en plein 21 éme siécle nos livres de maths ne sont pas tous comme celà.
Les lecteurs de Tufte connaissent déjà cet ouvrage. Pour les autres il faut absolument le consulter et ne pas oublier que c'est bientôt Noel (moins de 40 euros)...!
A noter un excellent supplément critique avec plein d'exemples étonannat rédigé par Werner Oechslin

22:21
Capgemini lance son centre d’excellence Géo Information Solutions (GIS)
sur BalizMedia : Communiqués de presse

Capgemini lance son centre d’excellence Géo Information Solutions (GIS) afin de développer les activités d’intégration de systèmes d’information géographique
Lire la suite...

22:15
Spatial Sustain: Intergraph Adds 3D to their GeoMedia Product #intergraph2010
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

Intergraph will launch a new 3D capability within their GeoMedia product in the fourth quarter of this year. The 3D capability is an add-on component that will add the capability to view and manipulated 3D models via another desktop window. The tight integration with GeoMedia means that the learning curve will be very quick for [...]
22:06
geothought: Hello again, and upcoming events!
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

As a few people have remarked to me recently, I haven't posted anything in a while ... have been otherwise occupied the past few months, between some interesting new work projects and some personal things. But I have quite a few talks coming up, and next week will be launching an exciting new product at the Smallworld User Conference in Baltimore, which is what I've been focused on the past few
21:46
AnyGeo - GIS, LBS, Geo Mashups, Mobile & Social Location Technologies: Design in 3D With Google SketchUp 8
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

In a recent blog post, Google has reminded users that it’s been 10 years since SketchUp was first released… to celebrate Google has announced SketchUp 8. From Google… We’ve added significant new geo-modeling capabilities that leverage Google’s vast collection of geo-spatial data to make it quicker, easier and more fun than ever to build models [...]

21:19
Les investissemnts d'été de Google...
sur GEMTICE

Les mois de juillet août ont été prolifiques pour les investissements de Google.
Google Energy LLC a signé un contrat avec la société NextEra Energy Ressources pour l'achat de l'électricité produite par ses éoliennes basées dans l'état de l'Iowa aux États-Unis. Ce contrat longue durée (20 ans) et à prix fixe, a pour objectif d'alimenter les datacenters de Google. Pour rappel, outre l'image écologique de Google, cette initiative s'inscrit dans une double perpective: une volonté affichée des fondateurs de développer des constructions et des énergies durables, qui un des éléments de la si particulière culture d'entreprise Google (avec les espaces de vies, du temps pour les idées, l'alimentation bio...). Par ailleurs, d'un point de vue beaucoup plus pragmatique, l'essor de Google en terme de gestion du web est proportionnel au déploiement de ces immenses datacenters qui gèrent toutes les données collectées et retransmises par la société. L'un des principaux postes de dépenses reste donc l'énergie électrique necessaire pour alimenter en permanence tous ces serveurs. Produire ou acquérir ce type d'énergie est devenu une des priorités de Google. L'achat de cette électricité représente 114 MW, production très largement suffisante pour couvrir les besoins de plusieurs datacenters.L'énergie qui ne sera pas utilisée sera ainsi revendue.
Enfin, ce contrat sur 20 ans repose sur un prix fixe du mégawatt, mettant Google à l'abri de hausses importantes sur une longue période...
Autre initiative de la fin de l'été, Google est partenaire de la Bancorp Commmunity Development Corporation des Etats-Unis, une division de la Banque américaine, afin d'alimenter un fond de 86 millions de dollards en vue de la création de logements à faible loyers. Cette démarche, si elle correspond à l'image d'équité sociale que veut se donner Google depuis sa création (notamment avec l'épisode de son entrée en bourse...), c'est aussi un moyen de réduire les taxes fédérales , puisqu'une partie des sommes engagées sont déductibles dedites taxes.
Deux autres projets ont aussi vu le jour: deux maisons de retraites à faible loyer: l'une à Sunnyvale, dans la baie de San Francisco, et l'autre à Inglewood, dans le comté de Los Angeles.

Sources: Google et Clubic pro

21:04
Google Earth Blog: SketchUp 8 released
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

Google's SketchUp 3D Basecamp in Boulder, Colorado has just begun, and they kicked it off with a big announcement -- the release of Google SketchUp 8!

The biggest difference in this version of SketchUp is the amount of geodata that can be pulled into it. They've rewritten the UI for geolocating models, and they'll pull in a patch of terrain data along with color aerial photos via the Google Maps API. Because they're doing that way, Google Earth doesn't need to be open while you're working in SketchUp, saving system resources.

You can also perform geospatial searches from the 3D Warehouse to show nearby 3D models from other SketchUp users. This helps to add context to your project and offers some nice advantages.

Another neat feature is Building Maker integration with SketchUp. You can start Building Maker from within SketchUp, work on your building, and then convert the Building Maker model into a SketchUp model. The model will be cleaned up a bit (removal of unnecessary interior polygons), but it will maintain the imagery that you'll applied to the exterior of the building.

SketchUp Pro has also seen some upgrades, including some new tools and support for boolean operations such as intersect, union and split.

If you're a SketchUp user, this is a great update for you. You can download SketchUp 8 here, or watch the video below to learn more about the new features available to you.
20:55
AnyGeo - GIS, LBS, Geo Mashups, Mobile & Social Location Technologies: A few random thoughts, comments, and observations from the Apple Livestream event
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

Some random thoughts and comments about today’s Apple product launch event… as in previous years, Steve Jobs used the annual event to provide a glimpse at the fall product lineup as well as new application and service offerings. Most notable (in my mind) were news of the new iPod Touch, a powerful device that basically [...]

20:46
Google Maps Means Business
sur Google Maps Mania

Google today announced the release of sponsored map icons in the United States. It is an extension of a pilot project that started in Australia earlier this year. Currently business icons appear in grey on Google Maps. Now business owners can add their own icons to Google Maps, replacing the grey icons with their company logos.

Google says that sponsored map icons are being offered as "a limited beta to companies in the U.S. with multiple locations and a well-known brand. Google also point out that participation in this beta does not affect visibility on the map. The new feature is only available to businesses that already appear on the map, and whose default icons can be swapped out for their logo."

The icons will also be visible on Google Maps for Mobile starting sometime later this week.

Via: Google LatLong

_____________

20:45
Google Sketchup 8, in english only!!
sur GEMTICE

La version 8 de Sketchup est en approche! La principale nouveauté vient de l'intégration de l'API de Google Mpas directement dans logiciel. il n'est donc plus necessaire d'ouvrir et de solliciter Google earth pour psitionner, voir rectifier les volumes d'un modèle ainsis crée. On peut désormais aussi faire apparaître les autres modèles de la banque d'images 3D. Enfin Building Maker est intégré au logiciel: un modèle commencé sous Building maker peut être continuer sous Sketchup et enregistré en tant que tel. C'est un peu la fin de l'obligation de visionnage des modèles réalisés avec Building Maker par Google...
Ce qui reste pénible c'est l'impossibilité de télécharger cette version depuis le lien proposé puisqu'il renvoit à une version française (qui reste au stade précédent; pour rappel la version actuelle française avait été mise à jour plus de 6 mois après la version américaine...)
Une petite vidéo de présentation:

Source: Google Earth blog
20:34
Des évolutions linguistiques
sur GEMTICE

Dans le domaine des nouvelles technologies de géolocalisation, la Commission générale de terminologie et de néologie a rendu délivré ces dernières inventions lingustiques.
On ne doit plus dire GPS mais "géonavigateur"; un smartphone devient un "ordiphone"; la cartographie en ligne propose désormais la publication de "mappe" ("représentation de la localisation d'ensembles de données dans une mémoire d'ordinateur, en vue d'en faciliter l'accès et la visualisation")
De quoi rendre un peu plus complexe les appellations géolocalisantes autour du Géoweb!
Source: Indexel.net

20:28
AnyGeo - GIS, LBS, Geo Mashups, Mobile & Social Location Technologies: $500,000 in Prizes and a New SDK are Luring Developers to the Big Screen from Samsung
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

Samsung is holding its first Free the TV Developer Day in the U.S. The Free the TV Challenge is part of a global rollout of developer-focused contests and events led by Samsung around the globe that open up TVs to developers wanting to distribute their content on the biggest screen in the home and on [...]

20:27
Des images qui résument le Web
sur GEMTICE

Un exemple issu du site en une seule image qui mèle modèle géologique et web:

20:25
Vector One: OpenPlant 3D — Bentley Opens the Door to Plant Design
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

I had the opportunity to speak with Anne-Marie Walters, Bentley global director for Plant and Ken Adamson, Bentley’s vice president Electrical, Piping & Plant Products about the recent announcement of expanded OpenPlant products. These include Bentley OpenPlant Modeler V8i, Bentley OpenPlant ModelServer V8i and Bentley OpenPlant Isometrics Manager V8i. These products represent a new step forward [...]

20:21
Des nouveautés pour Google Mobile
sur GEMTICE

Google Mobile a ouvert sa chaine dédiée aux applications mobiles sur Youtube.
On y trouve notamment plusieurs vidéos dédiées à Google Googles , moteur de recherche visuel, grâce à la photographie prise par l'appareil photo du mobile:

Le site en une seule image propose également, un montage très juste de l'évolution de Google Maps pour Mobile:
20:07
Katrina...Cinq ans après
sur GEMTICE

Sur le site officiel Google Latlong, Kate Hurowitz propose quelques clichés de l'évolution des paysages après l'ouragan Katrina. Deux lieux sont ainsi présentés avec des images prises à différents instants entre 2005 et 2010: Lower Ninth Ward et le pont de Biloxi Bay.
Sur le site futura-science, on peut également découvrir la galeire que le site avait réalisé lors de cette catastrophe.
19:50
Un petit détournement...Google Earth et la Corée Du Nord
sur GEMTICE

Un peu de détente pour la reprise. Selon le site CollegeHumor, la Corée du Nord aurait permis la publication d'images satellites de son état. on y retrouve différents lieux indispensables...Un beau détournement de Google earth!

19:00
[Le blog SIG & URBA] info ... Numérisation des PLU
sur GeoRezo.net - Géoblogs

Le groupe de travail sur la numérisation des PLU publie une nouvelle version du cahier des charges de numérisation des documents d'urbanisme.

Ce document rebaptisé "prescriptions nationales pour la dématérialisation des documents d'urbanisme" a été retravaillé afin de prendre en compte les retours faisant suite à l'utilisation de la première version du cahier des charges.

Le cahier des charges et ses annexes prennent en compte l'ensemble du travail réalisé par le groupe pendant 12 mois. Ils tiennent compte également des remarques retenues dans le cadre de l'appel à commentaires du mois de Juin/Juillet 2010. Le travail réalisé a porté sur l'ensemble du document, du modèle de données aux annexes.

Le document mis en ligne concerne spécifiquement les PLU. Une version pour les cartes communales sera proposé plus tard.

Les prescriptions nationales sont accompagnées d'un document d'introduction ayant pour vocation d'accompagner à l'utilisation des dit documents. Ce document d'introduction est diffusé dans sa version 1.1. Il a vocation a évoluer et sera mis à jour régulièrement. vous pouvez les consulter à l'adresse suivante:

[www.geomatique-aln.fr]

18:57
AnyGeo - GIS, LBS, Geo Mashups, Mobile & Social Location Technologies: Geo Tech Webinar of interest – Leveraging Google Earth in State and Local Government
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

Here’s details of a webinar in the near future, of particular interest to those in local government or perhaps working for / contracting to local government. Attendeed will learn how the State of Louisiana is powering public Louisiana Earth and private LA Earth with Google Earth Enterprise.

Event details… Join Google, DLT and [...]

18:47
Chaipat Nengcomma: Dracones: a Web Mapping Framework
sur Planet OSGeo

_______วันนี้มีข่าวประชาสัมพันธ์มาบอกครับ เนื่องจากคุยกับพี่ๆเพื่อนๆหลายท่านที่คิดว่าเราน่าจะมีสถานที่แลกเปลี่ยนและชุมชนเล็กๆที่ใช้พูดคุยแลกเปลี่ยนเรื่องที่เกี่ยวกับ Opensource GIS เพราะปัญหาหลักของการใช้ Opensource คือมันใช้งานแล้วขาดคู่มือหรือรายละเอียดการใช้งานที่ดี รวมถึงการแก้ปัญหาแบบ work around ที่ต้องเจอในขณะทำงาน ซึ่งแน่นอนว่าถ้าผู้ใช่ไม่สามารถถนัดในการอ่านภาษาอังกฤษ หรือมีความอดทนในการค้น mailing list ท่านย่อมจะไม่สามารถหาวิธีการแก้ปัญหาได้แน่แท้ และแน่นอนว่าการ email มาถามผมอาจจะไม่ใช่ช่องทางที่ดีที่สุด เพราะผมเองก็มีข้อจำกัดในการตอบอีเมลทุกฉบับ ให้เร็วดังใจผู้ถาม ดังนั้นผมก็เลยเอา idea การสร้าง web board จากรัสเซียที่สร้างสังคมของนัก GIS จาก webboard แบบเดิม โดยเน้นไปที่การแลกเปลี่ยนประสบการณ์ เทคนิคและอื่นๆ ในเรื่องเทคโนโลยี โดยผมได้ใช้บริการ free web board โดยทุกท่านสามารถร่วมส่งคำถาม หรือจะเป็นผู้ร่วมสนทนาแรกเปลี่ยนความรู้ รวมถึงการตอบคำถามได้ที่ [excellentmap.fix.gs]

________ มาถึงเรื่องที่จั่วหัวแนะนำ Dracones ตัวนี้เป็น Web Mapping Framework อีกตัวที่ผมว่ามันใช้งานได้ง่ายและเข้าท่าดี โดย Dracones ทำงานบน Map Script รองรับทั้ง PHP และ Python Interface ซึ่งเป็น frame work ที่ค่อนข้างเล็กกระทัดรัด ทำงานในรูปแบบ API ซึ่งง่ายในการเขียนโปรแกรมเพื่อพัฒนาต่อเพิ่มเติม ในส่วนของ Web Application ผ่าน Javascript API และส่วนของ Server ผ่าน Python API หรือ PHP API มีการทำ subversion ที่เรียกว่า DraconesPH ตัวนี้มีการนำไปใช้ทำ Application ด้าน geostat โดยใช้ Dracones Core ร่วมกับ Postgresql+Postgis ,Extjs และเชื่อมต่อการประมวลผลกับ SaTScan ท่านที่สนใจแวะไปดาวน์โหลด source code มาใช้งานได้ที่ [code.google.com]

ตัวอย่างการใช้งาน SaTScan แบบ online บน draconePH

18:39
Mapperz - The Mapping News Blog: New BBC Travel Maps (Beta)
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

New BBC Travel Maps (Beta) Improved Navigation and live feeds (jamcams included), much better Travel News from the BBC. [www.bbc.co.uk] What's new: Updated design,...

Map and GIS News finding blog. With so many Maps and GIS sites online now it is hard to find the good from the not so good. This blog tries to cut the cream and provide you with the newest, fastest, cleanest and most user friendly maps that are available online. News has location and it is mapped.
18:17
OpenGeo: Howdy Partner!
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

In June, OpenGeo announced our initial partnership with Spatialytics in Canada. Today, we are launching the official OpenGeo Partner Program, our new, international network of service providers. We are aiming to bring more people into the open source ecosystem by aligning the financial incentives of consultants and solution providers with those of core software developers. Through our partner network, OpenGeo will offer OpenGeo Suite clients a wealth of proven technology solutions that solve real-world challenges.

There has been great interest in the OpenGeo Suite from around the world since its launch almost a year ago, from end users and solutions providers alike. We feel that the best way to foster greater access to the OpenGeo Suite is in collaboration with organizations that share our values and offer outstanding solutions expertise to end users. Our Partner Program will expand the capabilities of these solutions providers by giving them a complete, certified, and fully supported open source geospatial stack backed by core experts on PostGIS, GeoServer, GeoWebCache, OpenLayers and GeoExt.

Read more about our Partner Program.

OpenGeo managers and technical staff will be in attendance at FOSS4G, the leading conference for open source geospatial software, in Barcelona, Spain, September 6 – 9, 2010. Stop by booth #15 if you are interested in discussing partnerships and plans for the OpenGeo Suite.

17:09
La technologie LiDAR au service de l’archéologie
sur Remote In Every Sense

On n’a pas fini de trouver de nouvelles applications à la technique LiDAR ! On vous en parlait dans ces pages encore récemment. Et ce sont les archéologues à leur tour, qui découvrent les joies de l’exploitation du LiDAR et les possibilités de recherches que celui-ci offre. De nombreux projets sont en cours un peu [...]

17:05
The Aerial Blog - aerial-survey-base: Backing Up Emails – MailStore Home will help (1)
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

Making a Email Backup is difficult, and you can't search messages across multiple clients. MailStore Home solves both problems, importing messages from multiple systems and programs, storing them on your hard disk or server and allows you searching through them all. Once you've imported the mail, you can also back it up to a CD or USB or even to a network based storage solution, as a Synology or Home Server.
17:00
The Aerial Blog - aerial-survey-base: MailStore Presentation Videos (english, french & espanol) (2)
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

Mailstore Email Backup, Some presentation videos in english, spanish, french

16:50
Geoff Zeiss: Green BIM
sur Planet OSGeo

McGraw-Hill Construction has just released a new report, Green BIM: How Building Information Modeling is Contributing to Green Design and Construction, that forecasts that the growth of the green building market will accelerate adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM). The convergence of BIM and sustainable design, which McGraw-Hill refers to as "Green BIM", is just getting started, but a sharp increase in Green BIM is expected in the near future. According to the report, "78% of the survey respondents who aren't currently using BIM on green building projects expect to do so within just three years."
16:50
Geoff Zeiss: Autodesk Announces AutoCAD for Mac
sur Planet OSGeo

Autodesk has announced AutoCAD for Mac, a new version of AutoCAD that runs natively on Mac OS X. AutoCAD for Mac will be familiar to AutoCAD users, but will also take advantage of Mac OS X, for example, the Mac's multitouch gestures to pan and zoom. AutoCAD for Mac supports DWG files, including files from previous versions of AutoCAD. It will be available this fall in North America and Europe. It will also be available free for download to qualifying full-time students and teachers through the Autodesk Education Community.

16:48
Between the Poles: Autodesk Announces AutoCAD for Mac
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

Autodesk has announced AutoCAD for Mac, a new version of AutoCAD that runs natively on Mac OS X. AutoCAD for Mac will be familiar to AutoCAD users, but will also take advantage of Mac OS X, for example, the Mac's multitouch gestures to pan and zoom. AutoCAD for Mac supports DWG files, including files from previous versions of AutoCAD. It will be available this fall in North America and Europe. It will also be available free for download to qualifying full-time students and teachers through the Autodesk Education Community.
16:31
Between the Poles: Green BIM
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

McGraw-Hill Construction has just released a new report, Green BIM: How Building Information Modeling is Contributing to Green Design and Construction, that forecasts that the growth of the green building market will accelerate adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM). The convergence of BIM and sustainable design, which McGraw-Hill refers to as "Green BIM", is just getting started, but a sharp increase in Green BIM is expected in the near future. According to the report, "78% of the survey respondents who aren't currently using BIM on green building projects expect to do so within just three years."
16:31
got geoint?: Wednesday News Round Up: Google Collaborates with Arcade Fire and Sigourney Weaver
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

Once again, the editorial staff of got geoint? is faced with a dearth of news GEOINT-related news to share – and thus the new, and emerging “Wednesday News Round Up” post. They say that celebrities can sell anything and and this certainly rings true in today’s post — with news of Google collaborating with indie super group Arcade Fire (pictured) and veteran actress Sigourney Weaver. In addition, we have some news from DigitalGlobe and more. And to re-hash our ever-popular Monday morning expression: fire up that second cup of coffee and read on.

DigitalGlobe Announces the Development of WorldView-3
DigitalGlobe, a leading global content provider of high-resolution earth imagery solutions, today announced that it had contracted Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corporation to build its next imaging satellite, WorldView-3. The company also contracted with ITT Corporation to build the imaging system for WorldView-3. The imaging system will be capable of capturing 8-band multispectral high-resolution imagery. The WorldView-3 satellite is scheduled to be ready for launch in 2014 and will further expand DigitalGlobe’s industry-leading collection capacity, ensuring that DigitalGlobe can meet future assignments while continuing to deliver value-added products that satisfy current customers’ needs for information and insight derived from advanced imagery applications. Read the full press release here.

Google and Arcade Fire Collaborate on the Geekiest Music Video Ever
Google displayed the power of HTML5 this Monday, thanks to a unique music video collaboration with indie-rock band Arcade Fire. The unusual partnership, which goes under the project name of The Wilderness Downtown, was directed by Chris Milk and offers site visitors an undoubtedly new browsing experience. The project is made of an impressive mashup of Arcade Fire’s video for “We Used to Wait,” along with inventive use of Google’s mapping service. When you visit the site you will be instructed to enter the address of the home you grew up in, and after a few minutes–once the background technology loads and does its magic–the experience will begin. Read the full PC World article here.

Sigourney Weaver Narrates New Google Earth Animation on Brazil’s Controversial Belo Monte Dam for Amazon Watch and International Rivers
Amazon Watch and International Rivers have teamed up to create a state-of-the-art 10-minute Google Earth 3-D tour and video narrated by actress Sigourney Weaver, with technical assistance from Google Earth Outreach, in support of Brazil’s Xingu River Forever Alive Movement. Download the tour or view the video on amazonwatch.org. The tour allows viewers to learn about the harmful impacts of, and alternatives to the massive Belo Monte Dam on the Amazon’s Xingu River. If built, the Belo Monte Dam would be the third-largest hydroelectric dam in the world. The dam would divert the flow of the Xingu River, an important tributary of the Amazon River, in order to produce electricity for industrial mining operations in the region. The dam’s reservoirs would flood 668 square kilometers and displace more than 20,000 people. Late last week, the Brazilian government signed the concession to build the $17 billion-dollar project, ignoring local, national, and international opposition, proven financial and technical risks, and the ready availability of clean energy alternatives. Read the full Google Earth press release here.

Google to Use ‘Spy Drones’ for Street Mapping
Internet search engine giant Google has plans to use “spy drones” similar to the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) used in military operations for surveillance and bombing to prepare more accurate maps of streets across the globe. Sven Juerss, the chief executive of Microdrones GmbH, a German firm which builds UAVs, has said that his company has already supplied Google with one aircraft and expects to provide “dozens” more in the future, The Telegraph reported on Tuesday. While this story is a bit old, it is certainly worth checking out here.

Boeing’s Secret Robot Space Plane Vanishes… For Almost Three Weeks
Boeing’s unmanned space vehicle, the X-37B (also known by its prototype designation, OTV-1), launched in April. Its top-secret mission and undisclosed capabilities have engendered plentiful speculation from amateur astronomers, space-policy enthusiasts and arms-control activists alike. Recently, however, the spacecraft pulled off a new trick: a vanishing act. The robotic space plane, which looks like a scaled-down version of the space shuttle and has the approximate payload capacity of a standard-bed pickup truck, disappeared July 29 until it was spotted again Aug. 14. While it would be cool if the X-37B’s mysterious disappearance was due to a Star Trek-style cloaking device, amateur astronomers say it’s likely due to a minuscule change in the spacecraft’s orbit. Read the full Executive Biz post here.

Happy Wednesday!
16:14
Greetings from Manasquan, NJ: Preparing for Hurricane Earl with Google Earth Enterprise Portable
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

As of 0800 this morning, there is a chance that Hurricane Earl will glance the Eastern Seaboard of the United States, possibly as a Major Hurricane.

About a month ago, I created a screencast and blog post about the new Google Earth Enterprise Portable system and how we had prepared a Google Earth Enterprise globe of 1-meter NAIP imagery and OpenStreetMap.org vector data for the Gulf and Atlantic coasts of the United States in preparation of an active 2010 hurricane season.

The portable cutting works very well and it took just over 16 minutes to create a complete copy of the Google Earth globe that a first responder would want to take into the field with them should Earl make landfall and knock out communications infrastructure.

To review, this is how simple it is to create a Google Earth Enterprise Portable globe for field deployment.

1. Prepare to Cut

The Google Earth Enterprise software includes a web-based cutter application which asks you to name the globe you'd like to create, specify a spatial extent, and provide a brief description.

In this case, I'm using the NOAA National Hurricane Center's 72 Hour Cone of Uncertainty as my spatial extent. This means that the cutter will cut from the globe at relatively low resolution outside the cone, and at full resolution inside the cone.

2. Cut

The next step is to hit the "Build" button and wait while the portable globe is generated.

The cutting operation created a 4.61 gigabyte globe in just over 16 minutes. As the graphic illustrates, almost all of the Outer Banks in North Carolina and parts of the sound intersected the cone of uncertainty, so this globe will have the complete raster and vector data for these areas in full resolution.
3. Download and Serve

Once the globe is created, it is available to the entire organization or access group of the administrator's choosing and the single .glb file can be downloaded to run on Windows, Mac, or Linux desktop computers or laptops.

The globe can be either used locally by 1 user, or broadcast over a local area network for 10 users to share - all without any connectivity to the internet or external networks.

The .glb file can be instantly dropped into the Google Earth Portable "Globes" folder and the browser-based interface will allow you to select this or any other .glb file you have on your system. You can connect to the globe either with the Google Earth API browser plugin (by clicking "view in browser") or you can view the globe in the full Google Earth Enterprise Client by connecting to the localhost server.

Shown in the browser plugin, you can see how areas to the north and west of the area of interest are blurry and lack vector data, but areas where Hurricane Earl might make landfall are in full resolution.

Zooming in, you can see the detail of the cut imagery and vector data which would be available to anyone in the field.

For a more detailed discussion about this process, feel free to review the previously posted screencast about Google Earth Enterprise Portable and Hurricane Preparedness here:

If you have any questions, please contact us at google-hurricane-2010@googlegroups.com .
15:53
got geoint?: As Troops Withdraw, US Spying Scaled Back in Iraq
sur Planet Geospatial - http://planetgs.com

The scaling back of the US military mission in Iraq means Washington’s spies will have fewer “eyes and ears on the ground” in the country, a senior intelligence official said Tuesday. US military units operate with their own intelligence resources, including translators and officers assigned from spy agencies such as the National Security Agency and the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency. But the drawdown of US forces to less than 50,000 troops will curtail the reach of US intelligence services, the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told reporters. Read the full AFP story here.

15:29
Google Maps for California
sur Google Maps Mania

Apps for Californians

The state of California has partnered with Microsoft, Google and Programmable Web to run an apps contest. The state wants you to develop apps that will enhance the state government's transparency and services.

Back in July Google Maps Mania looked at some of the early entries that were using Google Maps. A number of other Google Maps mashups have since been entered.

Explore California

Explore California uses Google Maps to help present demographic data for Californian counties.

If you click on any of the counties on the map you can view population, income, unemployment and other data trends for the county. The application shows the trends for the chosen datasets in graph form over a number of years.

It is possible to select any combination of data sets by clicking the check boxes under the graph. Selecting a combination of data sets allows the user to compare and contrast the patterns of growth and decline in various categories and the relationships between them.

Social Map of California Schools and Universities

This application shows online social activity around universities and colleges in California. The application uses Google Maps to show the locations of schools and universities and shows the number of check-ins around each campus.

ZonabiltySF
This application shows San Francisco zoning ordinance information on Google Maps.

If you use the application to search for a San Francisco address you can view an interactive zoning map that provides information about the zoning code.

Just click on a shaded area on the map to get the zoning details for that block.

To view all the applications submitted to the competition visit Apps for Californians or Programmable Web

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15:15
Géo.RM lance CartoLander v.2.0
sur BalizMedia : Communiqués de presse

Fort du succès de la version 1 de CartoLander, la version 2 est maintenant disponible avec un festival de nouveautés. L'ergonomie de l'interface de paramétrage est entièrement revue pour plus de fonctionnalités et plus de simplicité lors de la préparation de vos projets :

- Fenêtres avec onglets plus simples à utiliser,
- Nouveaux champs calculés ou concaténés,
- Nouveau champs "hotlink",
- Création automatique de listes par la recherche des occurrences dans un champ,
- Listes avec présence de symboles (ou de photographies),
- Vision synthétique de l'ensemble du projet (données et cartes),
- Nouveaux formats d'échanges,
- Paramétrage des fonctionnalités disponibles sur l’interface terrain.
Lire la suite...

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