Like most everyone who's posted about it so far, I'm pleased with the
new Google Earth site and its potential applications, especially for
local education, civic decisionmaking, community planning and improved
eco-systems understandings. However, Google Earth is only one set of
resources, and the issue of free public access via the Internet, to
maps and data from city, county, state and federal agencies is an
ongoing effort, with lots of GIS and photo mapping resources
increasingly available for civic projects. Many community networking
initiatives are now acting as trusted brokers, serving geo-spatial data
to their communities, in partnership with government institutions,
schools, libraries and businesses. As an example, Davis Community
Network, in current partnership with city government, has a dedicated
server and web site for free public access to (low, medium or high
resolution) aerial ortho-photos of this community. Such low altitude
aerial photo surveys are more current and much better than Google or
TerraServer satellite images. We also host other mapping, GIS and
spatial data, give occasional classes on such resources and tools, and
facilitate projects that incorporate geo-spatial data with other
eco-social info. Much yet to do. This is only the beginning of the
story.
rl
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Richard Lowenberg
Exec. Director, Davis Community Network (DCN), 1623 5th St., Davis, CA
95616
Ph. 530-750-1170 / Fax 530-757-2938 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.dcn.org/
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Home/Studio: 530-668-1100 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.radlab.com
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"If it is not Matter, it is Energy. If it Matters, it is Information.
If it does not Matter, it is Noise."
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