The Mapsters - Nokia Maps Launch

The Mapsters - Nokia Maps Launch


Video courtesy of http://thenokiablog.com/
So this is what happens when maps and drugs mix....

http://www.themapsters.com/ [click on the 23rd May]
only a teaser before that.


Source
http://thenokiablog.com/2008/05/22/preview-nokia-maps-20-mapsters-website/
preview-nokia-maps-20-mapsters-website/

DEFRA Noise Maps (England)

DEFRA Noise Maps (England)


Defra Map of Bristol day time road noise levels.

Noise maps only cover cities, but cover day noise (Lden) and night time (Lnight) noise levels
4 Layers are available - Road, Rail, Industry and Air noise.

The Noise Mapping England site currently supports the following urban areas only:

Birkenhead
Blackpool
Bournemouth
Brighton
Bristol
Coventry
Hull
Leicester
Liverpool
London
Manchester
Nottingham
Portsmouth
Preston
Reading
Sheffield
Southampton
Southend
Teeside
The Potteries
Tyneside
West Midlands
West Yorkshire

"The noise maps have been produced by Defra to meet the requirements of the Environmental Noise (England) Regulations 2006, and are intended to inform the production of noise action plans for large urban areas, major transport sources, and significant industrial sites in England.
Directive 2002/49/EC - more commonly known as the Environmental Noise Directive (END) - concerns noise from road, rail and air traffic and from industry. It focuses on the impact of such noise on individuals, complementing existing EU legislation which sets standards for noise emissions from specific sources. The END requires:
the determination of exposure to environmental noise, through noise mapping;
provision of information on environmental noise and its effects on the public;
adoption of action plans, based upon noise mapping results, which should be designed to manage noise issues and effects, including noise reduction if necessary;
preservation by the member states of environmental noise quality where it is good."

The Interactive Maps can be found at:

http://noisemapping.defra.gov.uk/wps/portal/noise

Related News Sources:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7403280.stm

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1967803/Noise-pollution-map-warns-of-health-risks.html

Blog

http://bridgetfox.wordpress.com/2008/05/16/noise-mapping/

Grand Theft Auto IV - Map

Grand Theft Auto IV - Map


Powered by Google Maps API, there is a community collection of 'points of interest' to help you through the game.

"Liberty City Map- See what's been discovered by Liberty City locals! Check the categories on the right to show markers for just about any person, place or thing in Liberty City. First to find something? Right click on the map location and choose "Add Marker" to share your original discovery"

http://grandtheftauto.ign.com/maps/1/Liberty-City-Map

There are also other Maps ranging from Neighbourhood Maps, Stunt Maps to Armour Maps.
http://grandtheftauto.ign.com/wiki/Liberty_City_Map_Image_Collection

The first game to be in full High Definition. So when are HD Maps coming??
Make sure your using a HDMI cable or its not going to be full HD.

OpenStreetMap Now Exports Maps!

OpenStreetMap Now Exports Maps!


Need a map for Terminal 5 now you can export to PNG,JPEG,PDF,SVG or Postscript (for Mapnik Image style)


Osmarender Image output is PNG or JPEG

Nice and easy function gives users the ability to export the map they see to a map in different formats.

"And this is just the start - our mailing lists are already buzzing with possibilities for new formats, such as Adobe Illustrator for cartographers, or shapefiles for GIS professionals."

http://www.openstreetmap.org/

source: http://www.opengeodata.org/?p=290

Google Add Contours in Terrain

Google Add Contours in Terrain



Now more cartographic and informative
A nice touch and now more useful to the users (hikes, cyclists mountaineers etc)

See the contours in effect here
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=banff&ie=UTF8&t=p&z=14

Source:
http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2008/04/last-summer-somewhere-in-adirondacks.html

3D Geology Maps

3D Geology Maps using Virtual Earth

Geology Maps Available (US only)

Arizona Grand Canyon NP

Colorado (western half)

Utah (state level)

Washington State (state level)

http://www.3dgeomaps.com/ (3D-plugin required to view in 3D)

Future of Virtual Earth?

There is some impressive functions and new features coming to Virtual Earth very soon.

Microsoft is storing 15 PetaBytes of data that is used with Virtual Earth. (a lot)
The next VE release is April (due 10th April 2008)

• "Enhanced experiences with bird's eye view in 3D, and new bird's eye hybrid view..."
• Reverse geocoding for U.S. users.
• Walking directions for North America and European Union users.
• Traffic-based driving directions.
• New cross-browser support.
• Improved printing support for maps.

Sources:

http://www.nateirwin.net/VirtualEarth61BringsMoreFeatures.aspx

http://www.liveside.net/blogs/main/archive/2008/03/19/virtual-earth-at-mix08-with-silverlight-and-seadragon.aspx

Compatiablity with Virtual Earth + Silverlight
Virtual Earth + Silverlight + Seadragon
MS VE Silverlight 2.0 Beta SDK coming soon

Google Chart API - Maps New!

Quick update:
Overlaying Google Charts in Google Map (Via KML GeoXML Overlay)
http://mapperz.googlepages.com/chart_overlay.html

Google Charts API - Maps New!

The Google Chart API lets you dynamically generate charts on the fly.


Google Chart API now generates thematic Maps.

From the Google Chart API Group:

"We released a new version of the Google Chart API. It adds many new features that you requested here in this group, for example sparklines, radar charts and thematic maps.

The most important change however is that we removed the limit on the number of requests. This means you can use the Google Chart API without worrying about reaching a limit.

For the documentation about the new features and usage policy please see the updated documentation page: "
http://code.google.com/apis/chart/

The example Chart API Map (above) can be generated with this url.
http://chart.apis.google.com/chart?cht=t&chs=440x220&chd=s:_&chtm=europe&chld=GB&chco=ffffff,edf0d4,13390a%20=GBFR&chd=s:Af9&chf=bg,s,EAF7FE

This would be good if you could overlay kml...
or overlay pie charts (or any other) onto a Google Map.

Other changes to the Chart API

• Text encoding with data scaling New!
• Bar chart zero line New!
• Radar charts New!
• Sparklines New!

• Solid fill Extended!
• Line styles Extended!
• Shape and range markers Extended!
• Required and optional parameters Extended!
• Usage policy Extended!
  

More UK Bluetongue Outbreaks Maps

More UK Bluetongue Outbreaks Maps (Defra)



Defra have released layered pdf's (able to switch on and layers of detail)

*you can have Ordnance Survey MiniScale Maps for 'free' if you switch off all the layers and save - but your not going to do that are you?


"As at 14:00 on 19 March 2008 there were 110 confirmed premises affected by Bluetongue. The most recent cases were found as a result of pre-movement testing during the vector-free period. This figure will normally be updated weekly on a Friday where necessary."

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/bluetongue/pdf/map-bt-pzsz080319.pdf
(197kb)

New York Times - Mapping the other 70%

New York Times - Mapping the other 70%


Shipping is impacting oceans across the globe.


Acidification is also impacting oceans across the globe.

All the maps

• Human impact
• Shipping
• Invasive species
  
• Temperature
• Ultraviolet Light
• Acidification

"scientists are building the first worldwide portrait of such dispersed human impacts on the oceans"

Full article
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/26/science/earth/26coas.html

Credit to Benjamin S. Halpern, National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis; Science

& New York Times Graham Roberts, Jonathan Corum

Google 'Static' Maps API

Google 'Static' Maps API

"The Google Static Maps API lets you embed a Google Maps image on your webpage without requiring JavaScript or any dynamic page loading."

Pro's:

1. No Javascript
2. Works on standard webpages
3. Designed for mobile/cell device developers
4. Normal and Mobile Map Types

Con's

1. Limited to only 1000 unique image requests per user per day.
2. Limited function, non interactive
3. GIF-format only
4. Very long urls

Source:
http://googlemapsapi.blogspot.com/2008/02/google-maps-without-scripting.html

OpenSpace API - More Examples Please

OpenSpace API - More Examples Please

15/02/2008
Keep them coming... (and keep asking the OS for 1:25,000 Explorer Mapping!)


http://www.geothings.net/openspace/index.html

blog post
openspace-licences-limits-and-first-steps-plus-demo

OpenSpace API - More Examples Please

A few weeks on from the Ordnance Survey releasing the OpenSpace API there are a few that are taking up the small challenge and using the API to full effect.


Very Clever

http://wheresthepath.googlepages.com/wheresthepath.htm

Note: Spilt screen half OS OpenSpace API and half Google Maps API Aerial imagery and is linked by location (pan and zooom can be enabled)
Blue transparent box shows the extent - switches between the maps.

Another Great Example


Geograph Photos on a OpenSpace Map (v0.2c)
http://openspace.nearby.org.uk/geograph.php
(Please do not use the page to plot locations for Geograph!)

Suggestions to make a better Mapping API - OS 1:25k would complete the set as there is a big jump between 1:50k mapping and 1:10k Streetview mapping.

Note: 1:25k is available on the Get a map service. Then you would be able to plan walking and hiking trips using the OpenSpace API. (1:25k has all public footpaths)
Not asking for 1:10k Rasters or MasterMap but there needs a scale.
There needs to be more Official Examples and better documentation with clear examples.

http://openspace.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/openspace/support.html
maybe and Advanced Section showing users the full potential of what can be done.

Working pages rather than static images with code would also be a helpful guide to newcomers to mapping API's.

Know of another OpenSpace API Map or have another suggestion? Then add yours via the comments.

Note:
"Newcastle-upon-Tyne" needs to be "Newcastle upon Tyne" or you will get an error.

Note:
"There will be a outage today 14th Feburary OpenSpace has a planned downtime from 5-6PM GMT today."

Nokia Maps 2.0 Beta (pre-release)

Two blogs in one.... "Nokia aiming to banish paper maps" & Nokia Maps 2.0 Beta (pre-release)


BBC News Technology

"Nokia expects to sell 35 million mobile phones equipped with GPS (Global Positioning System) in 2008"

Nokia Maps 2.0 Beta (pre-release)

What is new?

• Pedestrian mode

• Enhanced driving navigation mode

• Satellite maps

• Hybrid (satellite and important map features overlayed)

• Vastly improved search

• New real time traffic information

Official Release here

http://www.nokia.com/betalabs/maps


Screenshot of Nokia Maps 2.0

Image source: Allaboutsymbian

Beta means Beta! here are the known issues:

" We recommend you do not purchase or use Traffic info yet with this Beta release."

"New map data also still in beta and, for example, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau are not drawn correctly"

"N95 users, please make sure you have the latest firmware (v20.0.015)"

"The help texts have not yet been updated from previous Maps version"

"Localization is not completed in all languages so some menu items might still be in English"

"Please note that extra services like Drive and Walk navigation and City guides require" purchase."

Allaboutsymbian as ever releases some great screenshots and first impressions on the application.

Questions...
Navigation is now SIM locked not to the device.
If you have purchased a license (for example, for navigation) in Nokia Maps 2.0 Beta, you can transfer it freely from one device to another as long as you keep using the same SIM card.

In case you change your SIM card, you can regain your navigation license in the Nokia Maps application for the remaining time period of your navigation license.
(but you require your old SIM card to put in the licence onto the new one very the device)

Changed device and SIM card?
First, use your old SIM card (the one you used when purchasing the license in Nokia Maps) and insert it into your new device. You can now transfer your license by connecting to the license server. Go to
Options > Extras > Drive & Walk. Choose the region for which you purchased the navigation license
and go to Options > Update.

Well it better than using the IMEI code which means if the device is sold or given away you cannot move navigation license.

Look out for a review on this from here in a few weeks

Mapperz sources:

http://www.nokia.com/betalabs/maps

http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/news/item/6704_Nokia_Maps_20_hits_beta.php

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7230686.stm

and keep an eye on
http://www.womworld.com/nseries/
for more blog posts in the coming hours

London Low Emission Zone Maps

London Low Emission Zone Maps

The Low Emission Zone (LEZ) commenced on 4 February 2008.


bigger than you thought?
Image source page 10
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/

"The Low Emission Zone (LEZ) affects older, diesel-engined lorries, buses, coaches, large vans (exceeding 1.205 tonnes unladen weight) and minibuses (over eight seats and below 5 tonnes)."

• The LEZ does not apply to cars and motorcycles.

• The LEZ applies to all roads and some motorways across most of Greater London NOT just the central London Congestion Charging zone

• The LEZ operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year which is different to the central London Congestion Charging hours.

• Your vehicle must meet Euro III standards for particulate matter to be driven within the zone or you will need to pay a £200 daily charge
  

Over 257 Maps for the fringe boundaries.
** All maps in PDF format some are large file sizes (14mb+)

Nokia Internal vs External GPS

Nokia GPS Internal vs External
"The Nokia Bluetooth GPS Module LD-4W is for you if you’re looking for a navigation solution to send you effortlessly on your way. The lightweight, slim design makes this technology a great travelling companion" (AND DON'T HAVE AN INTERNAL GPS BUILT TO YOUR MOBILE PHONE)


Nokia GPS Module - it's light, small and gets good fixes with good battery life.

(though users with built in Internal GPS (i.e.N95, N82 etc might be surprised on this independent review...)

GPS Module LD-4W generously supplied by WOM World, not only did they just supply a bluetooth GPS but also a Nokia N95.

Mapperz likes thank them once again for this opportunity.

Nokia says you can...With a Nokia Bluetooth GPS Module LD-4W you can: Turn your mobile device into a navigator (but only if you sign up to Nokia Maps with Navigation)Explore with GPS features on Nokia Maps, or compatible software (correct)tap in an address to Nokia Maps and let voice-guided directions take you there (see note 1)
Take it along with the belt clip or suction cup (yes it comes with this though you might not ever use it)
Operate up to 11 hours on a single, fast charge (fast charge is 1 hour approx -came with a car charge but not a mains charger, though you can use the N95 mains charger.)

If on a long trip 11 hours or more your likely to need a double car charger or if not driving out on the mountains then a Power Monkey is recommended.

Tech Spec:
The GPS Module Tech spec:

SiRF Star III LT, 20 parallel channels, Weighs 31 g (It is small and super light
Up to 11 hours, continuous tracking (so your phone will need a charge by then
Stand-by up to 4 days (seems pretty good for a small device
Typical ± 5-10 m (seem better than that most of the time with 8 or more satellites)1 second refresh rate-30°C up to +70°
Cold start (when the Nokia Bluetooth GPS Module has been switched off more than 2 hours): up to approx. 45 seconds on average - TrueHot start (when the Nokia Bluetooth GPS Module has been switched off for less than 2 hours): up to approx. 2 seconds on average - True
DatumWGS84 (world geodetic system) only - (this seems the main stream format these days)
Supports most Nokia bluetooth phones - though you will need a map application or tracking application to use it.

Here is Mapperz tested Map Application List...
Tested with:Google Maps Mobile (with 'My Location')

Google Maps used the fully capacity of the GPS Module and got 9 satellites
(less than 4 metres in true terms)

MGMaps (Internal GPS worked but failed to detect the paired bluetoothed GPS device)



but does overlay kml from sport tracker

Yahoo Go! (beta 3) worked but no coverage maps of aerial for the UK (yet).


Maps24 (no gps tracking support but was 3D and has traffic alerts)


All required a internet link either wifi or more likely GPRS when out and about.

combine these mapping applications and you will get a first class mapping application

**Though Nokia Maps was pre-installed and map data loaded onto the memory card - but will use mobile/cell network if required.
Nokia Maps - worked in the same way as the internal gps device as expected.Nokia Sports Tracker (v1.7) worked well as expected.

Nokia Navigation, but beware of a few strange things - the route is correct but is the symbolisation?
Also told Mapperz to do a U-Turn on a dual carriageway!! though was traveling at speed.

The trial had almost ended from WOM World when Nokia Labs released Location Tagger (not used here) though see post.
Interesting the Nokia GPS device has 20 channels however their software seems only to support 5 channels (satellite fixes)

Google Maps Mobile used as many as 9 channels (max 12?) and seemed to get almost within a metre of 'my location' in several occasions.
*note to be fair the Assisted GPS and Network positioning was switched off as not all applications supported it.

Conclusion - if you have gps on your phone then you might not need to use this but if you want to take the strain off your mobile phone battery then you might consider this option, though remember that the bluetooth link will use battery life up too but not as much as internal gps chips.
Non-GPS phones (with bluetooth) that can install S60 mapping applications and want a nice little gps which does not need to be attached to the phone physically. This device is for you.

Price

Two options available:

The £59.99 version (just the module)

or the £169.99 version (includes Nokia Maps - but unsure if includes Navigation...)

London Maps gets SuperZoom - 192.com

London Maps gets SuperZoom - 192.com

update: 28/01/2008
Full Screen Beta Version
of SuperZoom


(aerial photography at a resolution of 4cm for London)




"See 280 square miles of London in amazing aerial photography, from Parliament Hill to Dartford, Tooting to Upminster"



Images are very high resolution but concerns over privacy.

**The west of London is unavailable because of flight restrictions around Heathrow.

More details and privacy concerns raised here Guardian Technology

12.5cm Aerial Photography is available for the rest of the UK on
http://www.192.com/maps/

Defra UK Airport Noise Maps

Defra UK Airport Noise Maps Available


"In 1996 the European Commission issued a Green Paper in which it was stated that an estimated 20% of the EU citizens were exposed to noise levels that scientists and health experts considered to be unacceptable, at which most people become annoyed, sleep is disturbed and health may be at risk."


All available from
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/noise/ambient.htm#aviation
(1 to 4mb PDF's with Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Rasters included, Arcview 3.2 was use - north arrow and scale bar giveaway there.)

Airports included:
Birmingham International Airport
Blackpool Squire’s Gate Airport
Bournemouth Airport
Bristol Lulsgate Airport
Coventry Airport
Leeds Bradford Airport
Liverpool John Lennon Airport
London City Airport
London Gatwick Airport
London Heathrow Airport
London Luton Airport
London Stansted Airport
Manchester International Airport
Newcastle International Airport
Nottingham East Midlands Airport
Shoreham Airport
Southampton Eastleigh Airport
Southend Airport

Glossary to help understand the maps

Decibel (dB)
The decibel (dB) is a logarithmic unit of measurement that expresses the magnitude of a physical quantity relative to a specified or implied reference level. Its logarithmic nature allows very large or very small ratios to be represented by a convenient number. Being a ratio, it is a dimensionless unit. Decibels are used for a wide variety of measurements including acoustics, and for audible sound A-weighted decibels (dBA) are commonly used.

dB(A)
A unit of sound pressure level, adjusted in accordance with the A weighting scale, which takes into account the increased sensitivity of the human ear at some frequencies

LAeq,T
The notional A-weighted equivalent continuous sound level which, if it occurred over the same time period, would give the same noise level as the actual varying sound level. The T denotes the time period over which the average is taken, for example LAeq,8h is the equivalent continuous noise level over a 8 hour period.

Lday
The A-weighted average sound level over the 12 hour day period of 0700 – 1900 hours.

Levening
The A-weighted average sound level over the 4 hour evening period of 1900 – 2300 hours.

Lnight
The A-weighted average sound level over the 8 hour night period of 2300 – 0700 hours.

Lden
The day, evening, night level, Lden is a logarithmic composite of the Lday, Levening, and Lnight levels but with 5 dB(A) being added to the Levening value and 10 dB(A) being added to the Lnight value

LAeq,16h
The A-weighted average sound level over the 16 hour period of 0700 - 2300

Noise Bands
Areas with similar noise exposure in 5 dB(A) ranges according to the key shown with the maps

Noise Contours
Lines showing the locations with the same noise exposure according to the key shown with the maps.

Yell Maps - New Features

Yell Maps - New Features



MultiMap Based Mapping
Microsoft Virtual Earth Birds Eye View Mode
Points of Interest (POI)

• Car parks
  
• Cash dispensers
• WiFi Access
• Railway stations
  
• Speed Cameras
• Blue Badge parking
• Motorbike parking
  
• Public toilets
• Tube stations
• Bus stops (Includes Bus Routes for that location)
  
• Traffic news
• Bicycle parking
  
• Taxi ranks
• River taxis

Note: POI Features are available in the Birds Eye View - Helps visually to users and builds a mental picture for when they get there.





Where to find these maps
http://www.yell.com/ucs/HomePageAction.do
and search with the 'Show on Map' ticked.

Think this is the first type of cross Mapping as using Multimap for the base mapping - but then Microsoft Virtual Earth is being used in the Birds Eye View.

Yell have done a good update and this will be the best mapping they have had on there website.
Prediction - 2008 Hybird Mapping API. Though check Terms and Conditions on using different mapping applications together, some prohibit use with 'competitors' mapping solutions.
i.e. Yahoo Geocoder is only allowed to be used with Yahoo Maps.

New Improved Microsoft Live Maps Soon

Update 16/10/2007
This is now live to all
New Post
http://mapperz.blogspot.com/2007/10/new-live-maps-goes-live.html

Nearly New Microsoft Live Maps


Image Source LiveSlide
They have listened to users feedback and have released a few 'sneek' peek improvements.

Live Maps Preview

Whats changed?

1. The second confusing search box is gone.
2. The map control moves to the upper left corner
3. more too be announced ... (support for KML geothought thinks so?)
   

Major improvements in traffic and driving directions includes

• directions with either the start or the finished directions compressed.

• another directions improvement is a traffic re-director based on real-time traffic data.

• one click directions if you are inviting others to an event,supports multiple starting points

• 1-click directions will show directions from the North, South, East, and West

3D Improvements

• incorporating Birds Eye photography pictures directly into the 3D map

• a new way to create 3D collections that "flyover" of collection points

More new features and improvements pending - reportedly due in couple weeks.

More screen shots and details at LiveSlide.net

Also Version 6 of the Virtual Earth Map Control is soon to be released, good news for developers of Custom Live Maps.

Mapperz

Google Moon Update (Map & Charts)

Google Moon Update (minus the cheese)

• Higher Resolution Images
• Moon 'Walk' View
• No Cheese (was on max zoom - Wallace & Gromit ate it all?)

Data/Map Types:

Visible - A mosaic of images taken by the Clementine mission. This is a black-and-white version of what you would see if you were in orbit around the moon. This composite imagery was prepared by the USGS.
Elevation - A lunar terrain map generated by the USGS in conjunction with the The Unified Lunar Control Network 2005, and shaded using an airbrushed shaded relief map. This map is colour-coded by altitude, so you can use the colour key at the lower left to estimate elevations.
Apollo - A collection of place marks that tell the story of the Apollo missions that landed on the moon. This includes stories, quotes, images, panoramas, audio clips, and links to videos of the astronauts' adventures on the lunar surface.
Charts - A collection of geological and topographic charts of various regions of the moon.

Official Post
http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2007/09/new-moon.html

N95 Free Mobile Software (including Maps)

New N95 Free Mobile Software (including Maps)



Nokia Download! New
"Download! for PC enables you to discover mobile content using a PC. When you connect your mobile device to the PC, Download! for PC automatically synchronises with the corresponding software on your device. This makes it easy for you to find, download and manage content (maps) that is compatible with your device."
http://www.nokia.com/betalabs

Opera Mini 4 Beta v2
http://www.operamini.com/beta/
A Good Mobile Browser that allows you to view web based mapping now in landscape mode.

amAze 4.0
http://www.amazegps.com/index.php?page=countries&language=uk
The best Free Sat Nav For GPS enabled phones (includes N95)

Mosh Nokia New!
http://mosh.nokia.com/
"Your Stuff. Any Phone. Everywhere."
A good resource for finding and sharing Apps, Software,Music, Maps, Games, Pictures, Ringtones etc.

Local Search (Yell and Yahoo Search integrated with Map Option with results)
http://mobilesearch.nokia.com/A4160040


Mapperz Top Pick
reLive! a unique and handy leisure application, allows you to take photos and write notes along your trip route, and seamlessly attach them to their locations on the map (geo-tagging).



Demo ( in Flash)
http://relive.atlasct.com/map.asp
Download reLive! at
http://relive.atlasct.com/wap/ (via your mobile)

more info at
http://www.atlasct.com/Applications-ReLive.html