GIS Sites: January 2007

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

The BIG Map of Springfield

Here are some maps from the magical land of the Simpsons. Springfield, Anywhere, U.S.A. While Springfield is fictional it didn't stop mapmakers from building a replica of the cartoon town.

MAP OF SPRINGFIELD The BIG Map of Springfield

Monday, January 29, 2007

Andy Warhol Elvis Google Earth Panorama

In another in a series of posts detailing how to create 'step inside panoramas' viewable in Google Earth we combine 3D models with panoramas to go inside the Tate Modern, London.

By embedding a panorama inside the building and combining a series of viewpoints you can fly around the outside of the Tate and then go inside to view the Andy Warhol exhibition.

Real stories about real people trying to get on Google Maps

As Google Maps scans Australia, the people and media are all over waiting for their chance to caught on the Google. Check out the wing on the plane to the left. Google's logo is clearly marked. Check out more from Google Maps Mania.

The World’s Largest Plasma TV

Google Earth satellite images have unearthed Samsung’s top secret development of the World’s largest Plasma Television. After Japanese manufacturer Matsushita topped the South Korean electronics company’s 102″ plasma with a 103″ model Samsung moved developments to the African country of Algeria where Matsushita’s spies wouldn’t know what they were up to. Rather than risking another embarrassment Samsung have gone all out and developed a 4,975″ Plasma screen. However, this may have been a mistake - the TV is so big that it keeps falling onto its back.

Google Sydney Aerial Photo Shoot Update

As feared, the photo shoot did not go as planned. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the plane Google hired was unable to get approval for the flight plan it had filed and it did not fly in all the locations or at the times Google had announced. So, many of the people who had arrived did not get their photos taken as planned. As mentioned last week, holding an aerial photograph as a PR event is very risky. [via Google Earth Blog]

Sunday, January 28, 2007

Yosemite suit could affect park access

Efforts to safeguard the Merced River have spawned a court battle over the future of development in Yosemite National Park's most popular stretch. The case may come down to the challenge facing all of America's parks: Should they remain open to everyone, or should access be limited in the interest of protecting them?

In November, a federal judge barred crews from finishing $60 million in construction projects in Yosemite Valley, siding with a small group of environmentalists who sued the federal government, saying further commercial development would bring greater numbers of visitors, thus threatening the Merced's fragile ecosystem.

...continue article

Saturday, January 27, 2007

Dolphins Stadium on Virtual Earth

The Super Bowl is coming up in one week and that means nothing to watch tomorrow. Oh well, I guess I'll visit the site of this years game in Miami on Virtual Earth.

You can get a very close & detailed image of the stadium. Just hit the 3-d button.

Dolphins Stadium, Miami, Florida.

Tour Miami in 3D

Textured 3D buildings in the Miami area are beginning to appear in VE. We've also just published birds eye imagery for Miami and Miami Beach. The BE imagery is so high res that if you look really really close you can actually see an episode of girls gone wild being shot.

Friday, January 26, 2007

GIS PILOT MySpace

Thanks for all the people that have made the GIS PILOT & GIS SITES MySpace profile such a success. If you'd like to come over and join up, please feel free to do so. All are welcome!

CAMDEN COUNTY GIS SITE

PRAISE ESRI!

Camden County, Missouri, has joined the digital revolution and instituted a GIS site. They are the last of the 3 big counties around the Lake of the Ozarks (Miller and Morgan the others) to have a GIS site and in my job they are the biggest client. SO, naturally I'm happy as a hog that it's up!

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Google Puts Australians on the Map

Google Australia is celebrating Australia Day 2007 by photographing Sydney Harbour from the air, and we want to make sure as many of us as possible squeeze into the picture.

Google Puts Australians on the Map

Space Invaders Invade Google Maps

Some O'Reilly FOO Camp attendees took advantage of an announced Google fly-over to make their mark on Google Maps and Google Earth with some Space Invaders inspired artwork.

It may not be as precise as some crop circles, but it's cool nonetheless. And by "cool" I mean really, really nerdy.

Space Invaders Invade Google Maps

Rare primitive shark captured on film

A species of shark rarely seen alive because its natural habitat is 600 metres (2,000 ft) or more under the sea was captured on film by staff at a Japanese marine park this week.

Marine park staff caught the 1.6 metre (5 ft) long creature, which they identified as a female frilled shark, sometimes referred to as a "living fossil" because it is a primitive species that has changed little since prehistoric times.

Watch the video of the Frilled Shark!

Very cool satellite image of a SR71 Black Bird

Very cool satellite image of a SR71 Black Bird on an Aircraft Carrier via Google Maps!!!

What Manhattan might look like if sea levels continue to rise

From Vanity Fair's 2006 Year in Pictures comes an eco-photo rendition of what Manhattan might look like if sea levels continue to rise

What Manhattan might look like if sea levels continue to rise

Monday, January 22, 2007

GOOGLE MAPS GETS LOST!

GOOGLE MAPS gets lost and doesn't ask for directions. Funny!

Sunday, January 21, 2007

SHARK REPELLANT

You may recall the long and winding tale of David Schneider, the man behind the SharkSkunker chemical shark repellent. In order to prove his invention worked the way he hoped it would, he needed to capture footage of sharks being scared away by his repellent.

After securing a permit from the federal government to feed the sharks off Florida's east coast, David recently embarked on a mission to find sharks, get their attention, and then scare them away, in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of his repellent system. Over the past few weeks, David and his team of shark-skunkers have made dozens of dives, expressly to get this on film.

Lucky for me, I got to tag along on some of the dives.

JAPAN

Another great gallery of pictures of Japan. There's just something that appeals to me with the bright lights and condensed buildings that is so unique to Tokyo. Enjoy this gallery of Japan!

Saturday, January 20, 2007

TOKYO QUICKTIME VR

Take a trip around TOKYO, Japan, in this Quicktime VR presentation. The fact is, most of it is in Japanese, but if you click around enough and use some logic, you'll find some cool picture tours of Tokyo. The above picture is a screen shot of the tour.

Concorde - The Greatest Plane Ever Built?

The Concorde is no more. After 30 years of service, the famous jet hit rock bottom after a fatal crash in France that killed all on board and several people on the ground. Since then the fleet has been grounded and officially retired.

One man, Stuart Carter, explains why the loss of the Concorde is the loss of the greatest plane ever built. He details the creation and physics behind the plane which are quite astounding. From its supersonic speed to multiple gas tanks to balance it in the air, the Concord was no ordinary plane.

Concorde - The Greatest Plane Ever Built?

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Secret test tracks on Google Earth

Inside story: secret test tracks

Secret test tracks Manufacturers don't want you getting near the hidden circuits where they trial their newest cars – but we've dropped in using the latest satellite software...

Check out the secret test tracks on Google Earth!

Find toxic wastelands via Google Earth

The Environmental Protection Agency wants to make it easier for Google, Microsoft and other enterprising online mappers to spread the word about potentially hazardous sites in your neighborhood.

The agency's ultimate goal is to boost public awareness of its activities--with a loftier aim of improving public health and the environment in the process--by allowing federal agencies, companies and even mashup artists to get their hands on the data more easily. Such data can play a key role in everything from land-use planning to real estate transactions, they said.

...continue article

Also, in Google Earth news:

Amazing Space Pictures

Using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, scientists have created a stunning new image of one of the youngest supernova remnants in the galaxy.

This new view of the debris of an exploded star helps astronomers solve a long-standing mystery, with implications for understanding how a star's life can end catastrophically and for gauging the expansion of the universe.

See more Amazing Space Pictures

Virginia and West Virginia GIS Links Update

I have started the much needed update of dead, missing, and new GIS links for GIS PILOT. It'll take awhile but for now I've started on Virginia and added about 10 links and 1 link to West Virginia (Wood County GIS). Here are the Virginia links that I have so far:

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Atlas Of World Religions

This chart shows various religions plotted on a map of the World as well as the percentages of believers and non-believers.

There is also an accompanying article.

Atlas Of World Religions

Monday, January 15, 2007

DUBAI IS THE PLACE TO BE...

The Dubai Waterfront will be the largest in the World after completion with over 100 different waterfront developments and over 150 master planned communities and Dubai Waterfront will be bigger than Manhattan and Beirut.

Approx. 15-25% of the World's Cranes are in Dubai!

By now, you probably know about my fascination with all the construction going on in Dubai. In what will not doubt be recognized as the largest building boom in the last century, Dubai is on tap to build not only the tallest skyscraper (and 2nd, if plans go right), the world's first 7-star hotel, a series of private islands shaped like palm trees and a globe, an underwater hotel, the first ski resort in the Middle East, the largest mall, and a ton of condos and private communities.

The Underwater Hotel

To get an idea of how much the building boom has gripped the area, look at this picture of Dubai taken from the 90's and a new one taken a year ago:

Throw in this huge, extra-fancy hotel that bills itself a the world's only 7-star hotel, The Burj al-Arab.

The iPad is a luxury condo inspired by the iPod. Serious!

Dubai set the bar higher by creating The Palm, a series of private islands shaped like a palm tree and visible from satellites. The Palm was such a success before it opened, that more islands were started. There's even one shaped like the world. Click here for satellite image of Dubai from 1973-2006!

The Dubai Mall

With an impressive array of leisure pursuits, including a world-class aquarium, fashion show arena, gold souk and an ice rink, The Dubai Mall will be the largest mall on earth. The Mall of the Emirates houses the first indoor ski resort for the Middle East. With outside temperatures easily cracking 110 degrees, the climate controlled slopes of Ski Dubai make their own snow. Click here for more Pictures of Ski Dubai!

The Burj Dubai is, or will be, the world's tallest building (click here for building comparison to world skyscrapers) . However, the Al Burj is being constructed now and should take the title. Both constructions are being secret about their final height, although the Burj Dubai is a little more than half done and is expect to reach over 800 meters high. Similar to when the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building were built in New York to competing groups, the race to be the tallest is top priority in Dubai

The Burj Dubai

The Al Burj

Thanks to Dubai is nuts for additional pictures.

Learn more about Dubai's Future constructions from Buisness Week.

Sunday, January 14, 2007

16th-20th Century Maps of Africa

Northwestern University has scanned and uploaded a collection of 113 maps of Africa, dating from 1530 to 1915. The map collection is a part of the university’s Herskovitz Library, named after the scholar who founded the African Studies program at the university. [Geo Carta]

Tsangpo Gorge Deepest in The World

From the Google Earth Community (click link for more info):

Tsangpo Gorge is located in Tibet and is over 150 miles long. The Gorge sits 15,000 feet below the Gyala Perli mountain towering 23,901 feet high to the north and the Namcha Barwa at 25,446 feet high to the south.

The mountains are only 13 miles apart with the Yarlung Tsangpo River- 15,000 feet below .There had long been legends of large magnitude waterfalls leading into deep and dark Gorges. The Hidden falls Gorge was found in 1998 after years of searching .This is the deepest Gorge in the world and the most remote.

The map is large with locations for points of interest. When you get the feel of the map one should click it off to switch to the embedded satellite image. Zoom into and view the satellite image from the north for proper perspective. Be sure to use Terrain mode on and just see how deep the Gorge really is.

Thursday, January 11, 2007

Frozen in time: The Antarctic's hidden treasures

This article would be better with pictures. I know, I hate to be 'that person,' but seeing the riches of the Antarctic is priceless.

Frozen in time: The Antarctic's hidden treasures

Beneath four kilometres of Antarctic ice lies a vast lake sealed off from the world for tens of millions of years. It could be home to all kinds of unknown life forms - but can we get to them without doing irreparable damage? Steve Connor reports

Polar Bears are invisible?

A few years ago, scientists doing an aerial census of the polar bear population in the arctic encountered a problem. The polar bears being counted were hard to spot because their white fur blended into the snow. Scientists decided to use infrared, heat sensing technology for the survey, but found that curiously, the polar bears became invisible. Scientists could see the eyes, nose and breath, but not the bear.

ME student discovers a unique fact about polar bears