oh damn, Allan beat me to it... anyways heres my thoughts: -------- What about raster geodata? -- http://mapknitter.org and http://publiclaboratory.org/tool/balloon-mapping show you how to collect, composite, and publish your own raster maps. I think some people at first wonder why, but you only have to look at some of the maps people are making to see why mapmaking is a lot more subjective than we thought:
* A map of OccupyOakland days before it was shut down (a perspective you won't see up on Google...): http://publiclaboratory.org/map/occupy-oakland-10am/2011-11-2 * A map of pollution plumes in urban waterways: http://mapknitter.org/map/search?q=newtown, http://mapknitter.org/tms/2011-08-06-brooklyn-newtowncreek/openlayers.html * A map of illegal logging in Sumava, Czech Republic: http://mapknitter.org/map/search?q=sumava (I should mention that if you want to get started balloon mapping quickly, you should get in on the Kickstarter to get your own balloon mapping kit: http://kck.st/x5vsyA) Beyond that, what about multispectral raster mapping? Public Lab folks have been replicating NASA earth observation techniques by hacking cameras for infrared vegetation analysis, landfill monitoring, etc: http://publiclaboratory.org/tool/near-infrared-camera http://publiclaboratory.org/wiki/mapknitter-multispectral There's a world of geodata out there which doesn't come from big corps or gov'ts, and tells a very different story. Jeff On Fri, Jan 13, 2012 at 2:43 PM, William J. Spat <[email protected]> wrote: > Mention of this list’s quietness got me to wondering why?**** > > ** ** > > My feeling is that good maps and 3d location data are in the process of > becoming commoditised, so there’s less about which to fantasize.**** > > ** ** > > I mean, three-dimensional spatial data is being built out to the point > that if it is a lasting visible structure, it’s going to be on the map. > And we tend to fantasize about the unknown. So what’s left about which to > geowank?**** > > ** ** > > I suppose there’s a historical dimension – putting Paxton’s crystal palace > back on the map and that kind of thing.**** > > ** ** > > One area that intrigues me – and probably because I know so little about > it - is the mapping of non-spatial data. I mean stuff that is associated > with a point or area, but is not itself three-dimensional in any meaningful > sense. **** > > ** ** > > For example, I once read of a riff on forestry software used to predict > optimum snow conditions on ski hills. So presumably inputs that were > relevant to tree growth (precipitation, sunlight, slope, and so on) were > mapped to conditions relevant to really good snow for sliding sports. This > might be an example –and one that has been commercialised, at least in a > ski-hill consultancy.**** > > ** ** > > What else might there be?**** > > ** ** > > We have had wikis of crime scenes placed on maps (the crimes generally > having occurred at a location, but not having a lasting visible structure > {leaving aside architectural crimes ;-)}), and there are great wikis of > transient spatial activities (http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/ is a > favourite of mine)**** > > ** ** > > What else?**** > > ** ** > > I’ve fantasized about maps that input to policy decisions. For example, > it’s a tired (pardon the pun) saw that cyclists systematically disobey > traffic rules. To which, as a cyclist, I counter that the number of > infractions by motorists far exceeds those by cyclists since disregard for > speed limits by motorists is endemic. Could we map those areas of > excessive speed as we have live maps of congestion? Pinpoint potential > profit centres for Treasury?**** > > ** ** > > I supposed the challenge is (as it was in the early days of this list) > getting good data. For example, I read that one good argument for the > establishment of marine parks came from records of large fish catches after > an exclusion zone was established for the moon shots at Cape Canaveral.*** > * > > ** ** > > And even if good data can be found and geocoded, it is not really ‘geo,’ > so perhaps harder to manage with our systems and approaches?**** > > ** ** > > As smartphones get more sensors, perhaps we can get them to harvest more > data? Or just tap into more silos of data that are already there, but not > adequately mapped? As we have all been turned into wardrivers by Apple and > their ilk?**** > > ** ** > > I am reminded of a short story from Peter Carey’s “Fat Man in history”. > But that’s another topic for discussion….**** > > ** ** > > ** ** > > *From:* [email protected] [mailto: > [email protected]] *On Behalf Of *Anselm Hook > *Sent:* 12-Jan-12 09:20 > *To:* S. E. > *Cc:* geowanking > *Subject:* Re: [Geowanking] When and Where is WhereCamp SF/Bay Area?**** > > ** ** > > I'm not doing it this year but Steve C say's he'll pick it up - looking > forward to attending :-)**** > > ** ** > > a**** > > On Wed, Jan 11, 2012 at 2:00 PM, S. E. <[email protected]> wrote:**** > > I have not seen this posted and the list has been awful quiet (aside from > LinkedIn requests ;)**** > > ** ** > > O'Reilly's Where conference is 4/2-4, so I imagine it will be 3/31-4/1 or > 4/8-9, but would be great to know now for scheduling.**** > > ** ** > > Looking forward to it!**** > > ** ** > > ** ** > > Steven Echtman **** > > **** > > *HearPlanet***** > > *www.HearPlanet.com <http://www.hearplanet.com/>***** > > *iPhone > Apps<http://ax.search.itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZSearch.woa/wa/search?entity=software&media=all&page=1&restrict=true&startIndex=0&term=hearplanet> > * | Android Apps <https://market.android.com/developer?pub=HearPlanet>**** > > ** ** > > Ph/Fx: 415-324-8555**** > > Cl: 310-962-1021**** > > *[email protected]***** > > ** ** > > > _______________________________________________ > Geowanking mailing list > [email protected] > http://geowanking.org/mailman/listinfo/geowanking_geowanking.org**** > > > > **** > > ** ** > > -- > @anselm 415 215 4856 http://twitter.com/anselm**** > > _______________________________________________ > Geowanking mailing list > [email protected] > http://geowanking.org/mailman/listinfo/geowanking_geowanking.org > >
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