Since it's the end of the year I wanted to share with you some of the best things that you'll find at GISuser.com. Since we launched back in March we've presented some interesting, useful, and educational features and "Spotlights". To cap off the year I'd like to share my favorites with you... Enjoy!
Note: This is not a Top "News" of 2004 list so please don't confuse it with news or PR. These are the Editor's Top picks from the feature content that has been featured at GISuser.com during 2004
GISuser Looks at Geobase Featured in GISuser Weekly #1, Geobase simply has to be discussed if your interested in Geomatics initiatives in Canada - recall that the GIS industry all began in Canada during the 60's thanks to the efforts of Dr. Roger Tomlinson. Through the GeoBase portal, users with an interest in the field of geomatics have access to quality geospatial information at no cost and with unrestricted use. GeoBase.. building a common ground.
A pixel is Worth 1,000 Words... or $100! This spotlight takes a look at the design process involved in using digital data to feature a map of Canada on the new $100 bill. Comments have been added from representatives of CCRS and The Bank of Canada. We received phone calls and an official letter of explanation from the Bank of Canada when we ran this item!
The GISuser's Guide to locating and downloading Free USGS data So, you need to work with USGS data. Perhaps you need DRGs, maybe some DEMs, or maybe even some DOQQs. Before you begin the search, make sure your familiar with some of the pieces of information we've provided below. Which quads do I need? How can I translate and/or view the data? Where can I download the data? Read on for some answers to these questions and more.
Location Based Solution with Natural Area Coding System This special contribution from NAC describes the Natural Area Coding System and proposes several wireless location based services that are enhanced with the Natural Area Coding System. I'm pleased to say that I was the first journalist in Geospatial to cover the efforts of NAC and I've been pleased to follow the evolution of it over the past couple of years.
USDA Geospatial Gateway - Free DRG, DOQs, DEMs, and more! Hands down, the best free data find around! When I first used this fabulous resource the first thing that came to my mind was that anyone out there who's being paying big $$ to download free DRGs, DEMs, DOQQs, TIGER files, Q3 flood data, and anything else in the public domain for that matter is going to be ticked off ... on the flip side though, you're going to love on us for pointing out this one.
Students use GIS in Cemetery Necrogeographical Study This was a great story about the use of GIS in k-12 education. The 5th Street Cemetery Necrogeographical Study is a GIS-based project that combines current technologies with traditional historical research and fieldwork. Begun in October 2001, the project has focused on two (2) cemeteries located inside the limits of Lewiston, Idaho, a city of 31,000
ICIS, building an integrated provincial geospatial data framework The Integrated Cadastral Information Society (ICIS) is a partnership of British Columbia's major utilities, provincial government ministries and crown corporations and local governments. Their vision is a simple yet compelling one: to create a single source of high quality, integrated provincial land and land-related data. This story is a great footprint for others seeking greater collaboration between State/Provincial agencies.
The GLOBE Program - taking geospatial education Global GLOBE is a worldwide hands-on, primary and secondary school-based education and science program. Over a million primary and secondary students in more than 14,000 schools have taken part in the program; there are more than 24,000 GLOBE-trained teachers and those numbers are growing! A great resource and a nice GIS EDU feature
A GISuser Spotlight on Autodesk Map 3D It was back in April that Autodesk Map 3D 2005, the latest version of Autodesk Map officially began shipping. Simply put, this release can best be described as a powerful 2D and 3D precision mapping and GIS analysis tool to create, maintain, and produce maps, and to integrate data from various sources and formats, perform data analysis, and produce thematic maps. This feature explores this release in detail and is important as it follows the company's trend to have their customers using true 3D.
The Mapper project for Symbian UIQ smartphones Psi-Mapper (or just 'Mapper') is a project for Psion palmtops and Symbian smartphones. The Psion version has been on hold since 1999, but there's now a new version for Symbian UIQ smartphones like the Sony Ericsson P800. Author Steve Litchfield provided us with the low-down. This is a favorite of mine as I also run a Symbian portal at SymbianOne.com and I'm always encouraged by the cross-over in the technologies, particularly as GIS goes more mainstream and mobile.
The Role of GIS Portals and Spatial Data Infrastructures Geographic intelligence is inherently distributed and loosely integrated. Rarely are all the necessary information sets present in a single database instance with a single data schema. GIS users count on one another for portions of their GIS data. GIS Networks enable users to connect to one another and to share their geographic knowledge. Read on in this feature contribution from Clint Brown, Director, Software Products Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI) - This feature was likely the most popular contribution we had on the site in 2004!
City of Loveland, CO moves ahead with LOGIC The City of Loveland’s (Colorado) award winning GIS has moved into the world of web-based GIS. Loveland’s GIS, known as the Loveland Geographic Information / Cartographic (LOGIC) System now offers on-line web applications for citizens and employees. This was a great success story!
USGIF Launches Geospatial Intelligence Academy Out of GEOINT 2004 in New Orleans, The United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF) has announced its plan to form a Geospatial Intelligence Academy. The Academy's mission will be to expand the workforce of highly-qualified geospatial intelligence professionals. Once again, another great GIS EDU story.
GISuser Spotlight on Education... Geospatial 21 The US DOL awarded a US$1 million grant to Nortel Networks Kidz Online, a non-profit digital education service, and the NASA Center for Distance Learning to conduct a special, two-year educational program that will use interactive multimedia tools and broadband connectivity to train workers of the future for jobs related to geospatial technology. US Presidential Election WebMapping Resources An announcement from ESRI boasted how their technology would be used by CBS in their computer mapping of the US Presidential election. This will be another great plug for the industry at-large as millions of network viewers will be exposed to the benefits of geospatial technologies. Read on for details of this and some other fine resources that have been mapping election results over the years. See also Maps and cartograms of 2004 US presidential election results
For you data hounds, here's some quick links and user guides to some of the finest Geospatial data sources around... have fun:
Since it's the end of the year I wanted to share with you some of the best things that you'll find at GISuser.com. Since we launched back in March we've presented some interesting, useful, and educational features and "Spotlights". To cap off the year I'd like to share my favorites with you... Enjoy!
