Mapperz - The Map & GIS News finding blog. With so many Mapping sites online. This blog tries to provide you with the best maps and services that are currently available online.
@mapperz
"Geocoding is the process of finding associated geographic coordinates (often expressed as latitude and longitude) from other geographic data, such as street addresses, or zip codes. With geographic coordinates the features can be mapped and entered into Geographic Information Systems, or the coordinates can be embedded into media such as digital photographs via geotagging."
"Reverse Geocoding is the opposite: finding an associated textual location such as a street address, from geographic coordinates."
Clicking on the map near roads sends a request to get the address by location (street number, street name,postcode/zipcode & country). In the screenshot a click was made halfway along 'Downing Street' response was 10 Downing Street, SW1A 2, UK.
Virtual Earth has been updated and there is lots of advances and new features this is just one working example that can be implemented in a few lines of code.
Find sporting events or concerts by location fast.
Map Channels is an exceptional website portal and provider of a range of free mapping tools and custom mapping services:
It has now expanded and now integrates events, mapping and ticket purchase in one website.
Quickly locate events all over the world and select the event by map or city search, also different currencies are supported.
"A world of events at your fingertips" • Interactive event calendars and venue maps • Find events by name, category, date or location • Ticket price comparison • View city tours, attractions and activities • Explore venues with Google Street View and Google Earth
* Static maps * Direct map tile access * Aerial map imagery metadata * Pushpin clustering * Landmark-based directions * Improved geocoding * Expanded rooftop geocoding in the US
# Pushpin clustering. Use the VEShapeLayer.SetClusteringConfiguration Method to set how to display and cluster overlapping pushpins for better shape display at higher altitudes.
# Hints for route instructions. Help your users find route turns with hints about nearby landmarks and intersections using the VERouteItineraryItem.Hints Property.
# Imagery metadata. Retrieve information about imagery using the VEMap.GetImageryMetadata Method.
# Base map disabling. Use the Virtual Earth Mercator projection in non-mapping applications by turning off the base map with the VEMapOptions.LoadBaseTiles Property. You can use the VEMap.HideScalebar Method as well.
# Support for other languages. Retrieve maps with labels in French, German, Italian, and Spanish from Virtual Earth. See the Returning Localized Results topic for a list of supported culture strings.
# 3D model import. Import 3D model data files into a shape layer using the VEMap.Import3DModel Method. Interact with these models as you would any shape.
# Updated interactive SDK. See the new functionality of the Virtual Earth map control demonstrated in the updated Virtual Earth Interactive SDK. [not yet available]
Seems to me that Nokia are now competing with Google Picasa 3. Though the Nokia application seems to be more seamless with loading geotagged photos from your phone and showing those photos on a map than Picasa is. Maybe Picasa 4 will make use of the Google Map API and overlay photos onto that.... there is hoping. Nokia ViNe Alpha (Mapping) Nokia ViNe application is currently in closed Alpha but the website is up and running.
"new geo-tracking-photo-and-video-and-music application" Clinton Jeff - Darla Mack
ViNe combines and uploads music, photos and gps tracks you record from your Nokia Device on one process.
Why the fuss? Why not use the applications that already exist? It's one application that encapulates three applications and expands the mapping potential of geo-location tagged files (photo,music & video). The Mapping is based in flash (website) - the users tracks link photo, music and videos that were captured when the ViNe Application is set to record. There are concerns over the battery life - lucky for Nokia this is still in pre-release alpha and can be addressed before a public beta version. Nokia's LifeviNe project has been renamed, it seems, to just Nokia ViNe.
There is nothing new but - for the non-savvy phone user it makes it easier for the user to record trip for sharing with friends afterwards.
For a more in depth review of the new application vist the Darla Mack Blog below where the whole process is shown.
As Google have released v2.3.1 of Google Maps Mobile It is now possible to access 'StreetView' and 'Walking Directions' on Mobile Devices
Here is the new Streetview functionality on a Nokia N82
Street view (screen shot from a Nokia N82 here) is new to mobile devices but there is huge data transfers (2000k+) so make sure you have access to wifi or an unlimited data plan (3G/GPRS) *Expand button makes streetview full screen. The images are large (in terms for mobile devices) and a little grainy when panning around but does sharpen up when paused.
"now live and contains the following 46TB of imagery and vector updates."
* Vector overlays for Navteq and MDS data sources for orthos and Bird's Eye * All mobile tiles * New British Isles Map style
for those interested the new map tiles are load balanced from r0.ortho.tiles.virtualearth.net r1.ortho.tiles.virtualearth.net r2.ortho.tiles.virtualearth.net
This is top news for GIS users who support Open Street Map, there is no longer any need to convert the osm.bz2 to shapefiles as it is supplied in shape format now. Directory Listing now with Shapefiles
This saves time (and money) Extracting Footpaths - No conversion needed only re-projecting the data for the UK into British National Grid.
Full Directory http://download.geofabrik.de/osm/ (updated daily)
TO DO: (fictional to-date) Load into a File Geodatabase Check Attribution (Q&A) Build Topology - Clean Data (snapping linework) Build Network (checking phase) export to SQL Routing (via Postgres and PG Routing) Create Buffering Routes - find my nearest... (pub on my footpath route) (load into an online mapping api and have UK footpaths route-able!)
Review of the Day at Wembley Stadium 17/09/2008 The new turf getting laid down for the next event England v Kazakhstan (thanks the friendly security guard for letting me go turf side to take this pic.)
Google Developer Day, London,UK Nothing amazingly new, geolocation for mobiles, GeoIP location, some new phone that shows maps fairly quickly. (though not it's real location)
Meeting some of the real developers people for Google Maps API but not all. Some wanting more details of what is coming - like the reverse geocoder and new geocoder response (creates a bounding box set of coordinates so zoom levels can be applied). But Google rarely give away what is likely to be coming out.
Seemed a little less busy than last years event maybe due to having more space.
Some items like 'clouds' and 'dojo' completely over my head for some of it. Like the Google Apps potential for saleability - 4 users or 400,000 users hosted and load balancing handled by Google.
(jump to 2.25 minutes in the video to view the maps)
Good Food, Good Location, Good Company made a nice day out.
Google have announced the full line up for the day
Here are the 'Mapping' related sessions
Mashing up Google Data APIs
Ryan Boyd
This session will provide a quick overview of Google Data APIs and demonstrate some ways to use them in mashups with other APIs like Maps, App Engine and more. Expect to see code in a variety of languages.
Prerequisites: Developers attending this session should be comfortable with at least one of PHP, Python, JavaScript or Java. Experience working with REST-based APIs a plus.
A Deeper Look at Google App Engine
Mano Marks
Google App Engine allows you to build and run applications on the same highly scalable web infrastructure that Google uses to run it own applications. This allows you to build an application once, and then never have to worry about how many people are using it, how many machines you're using, or how you're going to handle all the traffic. This talk will introduce you to the basic features of Google App Engine, and walk you through building a quick, interactive application.
Some of the topics we will cover are:
App Engine's Datastore
Authentication using Google accounts
The web framework
Our image manipulation API
Using Memcache
App Engine best practices
This session is intended for intermediate developers who are new to Google App Engine.
Prerequisites: If you want to follow along with setting up an application, then you should have a laptop with Python 2.5 and the App Engine Development Server installed and an App Engine account. Python knowledge is helpful but not required.
What's New in Geo
Russell Middleton
This session will cover recent developments in Google Maps and Google Earth, including the Earth browser plugin and new ways to share and leverage geographic data.
Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of XHTML, CSS, XML and Javascript
Gears for mobile and the new Geolocation API
Charles Wiles
This session will provide an overview of Gears and it's usefulness in mobile browsers and then focus on how you can easily location-enable web apps with a few simple javascript calls.
Prerequisites: You should have reviewed the Gears APIs on code.google.com/apis/gears and in particular, have familiarised yourself with the Geolocation API.
Note:It is recommended you have a laptop with the 'Prerequisites' installed.
There are prizes: Nokia maps navigation licenses [drive & walk] and Mapster's toy figures for top 50 score per week. Or just do it for fun. Post your high scores here in the comments.
Very impressive Silverlight Demonstration showing weather (cloud/radar) across the USA. (Hurricane Ike can be seen in the bottom right)
Silverlight 2.0 interface and Virtual Earth tiles with real time weather feeds showing current weather conditions. There also is a radar refresh rate 5 minutes or 15 minutes http://demo2.ischosting.net/weathersldemo/ [requires Microsoft Sliverlight]
Other geospatial applications that can be used with Virtual Earth:
26 September 2008 11:00 GMT, London (so 12 noon as UK is on BST)
Following the success of the previous webcast, the second of our quarterly Virtual Earth technical briefings is once again presented by Johannes Kebeck, EMEA Virtual Earth Technology Specialist.
This webcast is aimed at developers and offers an opportunity to get an update on the Virtual Earth platform. Additionally you will learn some of the latest tips and tricks and can take part in an online Q&A with Johanne.
Thursday, October 02, 2008 9:00 AM Pacific Time (US & Canada) (5pm BST)
Microsoft is excited to announce the latest version of the Virtual Earth platform, which can now deliver the Virtual Earth mapping experience on the desktop, on mobile devices, and via broadcast. The new release features mobile support, expanded international mapping, richer imagery, a broader range of data, and improved functionality. Organizations using Virtual Earth can see more and do more than ever, with enhancements that allow users to find, discover, and visualize data in new and innovative ways. http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/WebCastEventDetails.aspx?EventID=1032388370&EventCategory=4&culture=en-US&CountryCode=US
Virtual Earth Globalisation BBC 'The BBC BOX' that is getting tracked around the globe using a GPS beacon that is attached to a Shipping Container. Not very exciting stuff currently but in a year hopefully the paths of the all the routes it has taken will be shown on the Map. Update: They have just filled the BBC Box with whiskey in Glasgow.
This Shipping Container is going to be tracked for a year.
BBC Virtual Earth is being used to track the box at a 12 hourly rate.
"We decided to have a little fun and do a friendly ranking of some relevant blogs. The Top 25 Blogs in GIS, GeoWeb and Cartography will be ranked according to the number of sites/blogs linking to each, as reported by Technorati. If a blog does NOT have Technorati Authority (if they have not registered for example), then we’ll take the number of blog reactions listed and divide by 3 for an estimate.
We realize Technorati is not a perfect barometer, but it is open, and this is not a FortiusOne subjective ranking. We think this will be a great way to share blogs and get feedback from others regarding their top GIS, GeoWeb and cartography blog picks. We’ll note changes in rankings, new blogs and up and coming blogs.
If you’re on the list and feel so inclined, you’re welcome to place the following badge on your blog to share your ranking."
NOTE* The most annoying issue for this site is not the author's fault at all. It's the Ordnance Survey with ridiculously low openspace tile quota (currently 30,000 per 24hrs). This is a very popular site and 30,000 tile impressions needs to be 75,000 at least. Why does the Ordnance Survey insist of bottlenecking useful web mapping applications? And why allow users to have 1:50,00 colour rasters (Landranger Maps) and StreetView 1:10,000 and not the very useful 1:25,000 (Explorer Maps)?
The interactive tracking map will show storms current center location and forecasted positions based on the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center.
The predictor is activated when you click on labeled town/city in front of the current location of the storm.
Clean layout and ease of use make this a compelling map for all users.
Other information is available
Clicking ‘More‘ will bring up Wind Fields, Ocean Buoys, Map Grid, and Map Labels. Wind Fields will hide or show the reach of the storm’s winds, displayed as circles around the selected point. These circles represent Tropical Depression force (white), Storm force (yellow), and Hurricane force (orange) winds.
The Ocean Buoys option loads the latest observations sourced from the National Data Buoy Center. This may take a moment depending on your internet connection speed. Ocean buoys appear as blue boxes that can be clicked for more details. Land-based weather stations appear as red boxes that can also be clicked for the latest observations from that location.
The Map Grid option will hide and show latitude and longitude lines, including the equator and tropics.
The Map Labels option will hide and show labels for cities, countries, continents, oceans, and seas.
InLET Earthquake Simulator (Internet-based Loss Estimation Tool)
Customize your own scenario with this Earthquake damage predictor.
The results display potential damage to property (none, slight, moderate, complete) Also predicts the number of casualties that could arise. Number of bridges effected.
Other functions are available Ground Shaking: Peak Ground Acceleration Real-time (the past 7 days of activity)
Lots of other functions, layer controls, layer transparency, facilities.
There are currently lots of maps out there showing the status of hurricane Gustav but this one created by MSNBC simplifies all of the huge amounts of data and makes it easy for users to see what is currently going on right now.
. MSNBC map of hurricane Gustav includes a wind strength chart. The base mapping and Overlay data is unconventional but works .
