UKMap makes ground
That's a horrible pun! But its true.Free Our Data have a nice summary roundup of news at UKMap, most notable of which is the acceptance by Land Registry of submissions using UKMap data. That is big news. And also a growing list of clients; as Charles Arthur notes "London councils and emergency services? That’s what I think you call an inroad into OS’s market, isn’t it?"
posted on: Sat, 06 Mar 2010 | path: /GIS | permanent link to this entry
ESRI at YouTube
Well it had to come; funny none-the-less!
posted on: Wed, 24 Feb 2010 | path: /GIS | permanent link to this entry
Tallest Eucalyptus tree mapped
Nice story over at GIS Development on mapping the world's tallest eucalyptus tree using LiDAR. OK, it's an ESRI plug, but a great example. And at just shy of 100m its damn big!
posted on: Mon, 22 Feb 2010 | path: /GIS | permanent link to this entry
Bing Maps at TED
Great presentation by Blaise Agueray Arcas of Microsoft at TED recently. Its specifically about the augmented reality features of Bing maps, going from the traditional "panels", through to "slippy" maps and then the integration of crowd sourced information all overlain together and explorable searchable. It is smooth, exquisite and thoroughly compelling. He saves the best till last which was the full integration of Flickr photography, including imagery inside buildings, then on top of this he overlaid a live video feed for true real time augmented reality. Then go back outside, look up at the sky and get full details of the visible night-sky.
posted on: Fri, 19 Feb 2010 | path: /GIS | permanent link to this entry
Great ESRI graphics
The Mapping Center blog points to supporting materials for the ESRI Press book "Map Use". And rightly so; the Powerpoint slides are excellent and provide some really good illustrations of underpinning GIS concepts as well as some nice examples. Well worth leafing through, staff and students alike.
posted on: Mon, 15 Feb 2010 | path: /GIS | permanent link to this entry
Your health depends on where you live
TED has recently released a talk by Bill Davenhall entitled "Your health depends on where you live". Presented at TEDMED, the talk provides a very simple exposition of "geo-medicine" (or more broadly epidemiology). In fact, when you watch it, it really espouses, first and foremost, the significance of geography and then the importance of GIS.
posted on: Mon, 01 Feb 2010 | path: /GIS | permanent link to this entry
Zoomable Map
Check out the Zoomable Map which uses a clever set of folds to give the effect of zooming in from an overview map to a streetmap. I can see this taking off for alot of city maps, so thought I would order the London one. Its not cheap but a really nice idea. I hope it takes off.
posted on: Sat, 23 Jan 2010 | path: /GIS | permanent link to this entry
Trouble and strife with OS data
I recently had a map submitted to the Journal of Maps that made good use of Mastermap data. Although not an extensive amount was used, it is primarily based upon it so I suggested he check out the JISC-OS license with particular reference to my post on what this means for PDF based maps....
posted on: Thu, 21 Jan 2010 | path: /GIS | permanent link to this entry
Gentle Introduction to GIS
GIS Lounge have a good summary of a Gentle Introduction to GIS, a PDF manual and accompanying datasets for use with QGIS....
posted on: Fri, 15 Jan 2010 | path: /GIS | permanent link to this entry
Map-OSM-atic
Great automated service for creating a town plan and index over at MapOSMatic using OpenStreetMap data. The site developed out of Hackfest2009 and is based upon the entire worldwide OSM data using the default OSM stylesheet. A really useful service. If your map doesn't already exist (and there currently doesn't appear to be a search engine for existing plans) then you can define a bounding box around your town of interest and queue it for processing. The queue is currently around 200 maps which seems to take about 24 hours to process, but of course it depends upon the complexity of the jobs. Outputs are PNG, PDF and SVG.
posted on: Wed, 06 Jan 2010 | path: /GIS | permanent link to this entry
Consultation on release of OS data
As reported by FoD and Mapperz, DCLG have begun the consultation concerning the release of OS data. There is an accompanying impact assessment. Well worth leafing through both.
posted on: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 | path: /GIS | permanent link to this entry
ERDAS goes where ESRI fears to tread
Slashdot reported earlier this year on the FOSS4G web server benchmarking. The big news was that ESRI were taking part, but then pulled out. The hope was to get both ESRI and MapGuide in to the frame to see how they did. With the recently announced ERDAS 2010 released, Chris Tweedie over at ERDAS took it upon himself to run some benchmarks (also reported in Slashdot). The results certainly look impressive (up to twice as fast as Mapserver) which I guess is why they were happy to put the product forward. ESRIs silence is deafening....
posted on: Thu, 17 Dec 2009 | path: /GIS | permanent link to this entry
A Practical Guide to Geostatistical Mapping
Tomislav Hengl has just published an open-access book on geostatistical mapping. The PDF is freely available with the printed version very modestly priced. The website links to datasets with the analysis performed in R, ILWIS and SAGA, whilst the book itself comes out of the courses he teaches at ITC. Well worth a look.
posted on: Sat, 12 Dec 2009 | path: /GIS | permanent link to this entry
Postcode data release proposal
The BBC reports today that the government is planning to release postcode data early next year. This is good news as postcodes underpin so much dynamic geospatial datasets. Their commercialisation has been wrong from the outset when you have public services such as the Royal Mail and OS trying to make as much money out of data ostensibly provided by local government (but with value added). It would appear that a short consultation process across all organisations due to release data will be begin. Early next year will prove an interesting time as we see what is released and then how it is made use of.
posted on: Wed, 09 Dec 2009 | path: /GIS | permanent link to this entry
For Sale board up at Ordnance Survey
I suspect this is one of many rumours doing the rounds at the moment, but what with the government announcing that (much)...
posted on: Mon, 07 Dec 2009 | path: /GIS | permanent link to this entry
Location now in Twitter API
Location has finally been incorporated in to the Twitter API. Have a look at the news item, but basically not from the main interface as yet. You need to use a third party app. Will be interesting to see the applications of this over the next few weeks.
posted on: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 | path: /GIS | permanent link to this entry
GIS Skills for a GIS career
Nice post on the essential skills for people to have in order to pursue a career in GIS. Worth seeing how this matches a GIS curriculum for any program you are looking it. It is very technology driven and perhaps emphasises the "technician" as opposed to an "analyst" but none-the-less its an interesting list. Worth a look.
posted on: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 | path: /GIS | permanent link to this entry
Government data to be freed
The Guardian covered the news piece today on the government announcement to release over 2,000 datasets for public consumption, including (some)...
posted on: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 | path: /GIS | permanent link to this entry
Locate your postboxes
The Guardian reports on something useful to come out of the "Show Us a Better Way" competition run by that Cabinet Office and that is a website to find your nearest postbox and its collection times....
posted on: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 | path: /GIS | permanent link to this entry
Wikileaks does it again.... this time with postcodes!!
Well Wikileaks is at it again. This time it's supposedly the entire Royal Mail Postcode Address File (PAF) as a 241Mb CSV text file. Its a little smaller compressed and purports to be from July 8th. I'm sure this will upset a few people, not least the Royal Mail as it's an income stream (and probably the OS as well). Of course postcodes change so for "live" lookups (e.g. address filling on shopping sites) it won't be good enough, but for everyone else.....
posted on: Wed, 16 Sep 2009 | path: /GIS | permanent link to this entry
Portable GIS v2
Portable GIS v2 has just been released allowing you to take all your key GIS apps on a USB key. Great stuff and a very useful summary over at Mapperz.
posted on: Thu, 03 Sep 2009 | path: /GIS | permanent link to this entry
Wikileaks posts "new" proposed OS business model
Wikileaks has posted a presentation purporting to originate from the OS outlining a change to their business model....
posted on: Thu, 27 Aug 2009 | path: /GIS | permanent link to this entry
And as if by magic.....
Twitter announces the addition of geolocation to tweets. Its currently being added to the API (with it's implementation being made available to developers) and thereafter to the interface. To be honest, that's all the announcement says and I imagine lat/long will come out of the 140 characters. No information on how location will be implemented although All Points notes that its likely to use GeoRSS.
posted on: Fri, 21 Aug 2009 | path: /GIS | permanent link to this entry
New JISC-OS License: devil is in the detail....
EDINA proudly announced a license renewal of OS data for the digimap collection which included a variation to the original agreement and some new clauses....
posted on: Fri, 07 Aug 2009 | path: /GIS | permanent link to this entry
OGC UK and Ireland Forum
I attended the the OGC UK and Ireland Forum today which was an interesting experience. OGC (Open Geospatial Consortium) should be well known to all as the over arching industry body that defines geospatial standards (GML probably being the most well known)....
posted on: Fri, 17 Jul 2009 | path: /GIS | permanent link to this entry
Open Source vs Commercial??
It's hardly a "new" story, but the whole issue of open source cropped up recently. I'm currently lead editor for a book on geomorphological mapping which will incorporate a DVD....
posted on: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 | path: /GIS | permanent link to this entry
OS Redacted Report
Following on from the OS review of the free data model, The Guardian placed an FoI request for the report itself and received a redacted version....
posted on: Thu, 02 Jul 2009 | path: /GIS | permanent link to this entry
Location in Twitter
Twitter, the micro-blogging website, has seen huge upsurge over the last year through it's ease of use and adaptability to a variety of uses (see BakerTweet)....
posted on: Mon, 08 Jun 2009 | path: /GIS | permanent link to this entry
Making satnav pay for itself
OK, so satnav is the spawn of satan (vsatan!!) and should be avoided at all costs. But this little snippet reported by All Points shows a genuinely useful application, namely used GPS/map (aka satnav) to pre-cool a hybrid car prior to coming to a standstill at traffic lights ensuring that the engine stays off for the maximum amount of time. Reported fuel efficiency of 9% which in my books is pretty good. Roll on more innovative uses.
posted on: Thu, 04 Jun 2009 | path: /GIS | permanent link to this entry
UKMap Update
Just a brief follow-on to yesterday's post on UKMap; GeoconnexionUK has an interview with Seppe Cassettari outlining the datasets, collection process, potential scope and future development. Worth a read although it's not yet listed on the Geoconnexion website.
posted on: Wed, 03 Jun 2009 | path: /GIS | permanent link to this entry
OS to scrap Mapping Services Agreement??
Ed Parsons, quick of the mark as ever, posted a blog entry on the recently announced UK Map. The GeoInformation Group have, for some time, been rumoured to have been collecting small scale mapping data allowing them to compete directly with the Ordnance Survey....
posted on: Tue, 02 Jun 2009 | path: /GIS | permanent link to this entry
OS Reviews Free Data Model
Charles Arthur has an interesting article over at the Free Our Data campaign, briefly summarising an invitee only presentation by the OS Chairman outlining their new "hybrid" strategy. Charles focuses upon the claims that the OS has reviewed the free data model, finding it non-viable. Quite rightly, Charles notes that this forms an important document within the debate on free data and should be made generally available. Assuming, of course, that it does exist in any formal sense. Well worth reading and pondering on.
posted on: Fri, 15 May 2009 | path: /GIS | permanent link to this entry
Reinstalling Windows
I've just completed a fun session of reinstalling Windows XP on to my home machine; I'm a big fan of apps that require no installation and carry all my data and many apps with me....
posted on: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 | path: /GIS | permanent link to this entry
Future of the OS?
Well there was much anticipation (e.g. GIScussions) about the budget and it's implications for the operation of the OS, particularly after all the reports that have been published (Power of Information, UK Location Strategy, Models of Public Sector Information Provision via Trading Funds)....
posted on: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 | path: /GIS | permanent link to this entry
More Python Training
After my Python taster at ESRI last November I was left wanting for more. It was only a 2-day course and in that time that had to introduce Python and focus upon the framework that integrates with ArcGIS....
posted on: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 | path: /GIS | permanent link to this entry
Making Maps and Free Books
John Krygier has a blog well worth keeping track of and his latest post is on some excellent free introductory PDF books on advocacy/graphic design/map making, including a nice one from Map Action introducing GIS for humanitarian use in developing countries and how to do the implement this using the very useful MapWindow open source GIS. All good stuff to look at.
posted on: Thu, 09 Apr 2009 | path: /GIS | permanent link to this entry
Philanthropic Google?
There has been a lot on the GIS blogs recently about "geographically volunteered information", that is (useful?)...
posted on: Sat, 04 Apr 2009 | path: /GIS | permanent link to this entry
Portable Python
For those developing with Python it's nice to have a (USB) portable environment to work in, particularly when you have multiple versions of Python you need to test in. I've written before about scripting ArcGIS with Python, but this equally applies to any Python programming (or scripting) you might be doing. Portable Python delivers the goods and is stuffed full of lots of software (including PyWin) in addition to Python itself. And there are 3 versions: 2.5.4, 2.6.1 and 3.0.1 which can be run entirely separately.
posted on: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 | path: /GIS | permanent link to this entry
Open spatial data formats
The Shapefile 2.0 manifesto has been doing the rounds on a few blogs lately. It's a nice article (and worth the read) simply because it identifies the the need for open file formats that allow us to easily work with data (and it makes the point that GML is a distribution format which is a different kettle of fish)....
posted on: Thu, 05 Mar 2009 | path: /GIS | permanent link to this entry
Microsoft's Earth
We had Johannes Kebeck from the Virtual Earth team at Microsoft (covering EMEA) talking at Kingston this week....
posted on: Mon, 23 Feb 2009 | path: /GIS | permanent link to this entry
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