GoogleMap Gone Too Far?
You may have already marveled at GoogleMap’s new “street view” but have you seen it marvel at you?
Portfolio
Selected Projects
IndianaMap Return on Investment Study
Role: Project conceptualization, funding, research and analysis, presentation development. Click here to download the complete report.
“… Perhaps the best marketing for 1) coordination, 2) public domain information, and 3) GIS/mapping in general I’ve seen anywhere. In no small part because people actually read them.”
Steve Aichele, USGS Geospatial Liaison to Michigan
“It was one of the most interesting and informative final reports I have seen.”
Gita Urban-Mathieux, Federal Geographic Data Committee
National GIS Inventory Tool
The Ramona GIS Inventory is produced by the National States’ Geographic Information Council (NSGIC) as a tool for states and their partners. Its primary purpose is to track the status of GIS in US state and local government to aid the planning and building of Spatial Data Infrastructures. Ramona is designed to work in concert with Geospatial One Stop (www.geodata.gov).
Role: Project conceptualization, needs assessment, technical project management, training, documentation (in cooperation with BurGIS, LLC and Runskip, LLC).
“When emergencies strike, I go to the GIS Inventory first to find other GIS experts in the area of the event. It helps me connect with them to perform my support role for state and local government.”
Christina McCullough, Geospatial Analyst, B.A., Joint Forces Headquarters of Indiana
“This increased the opportunity to have the imagery products be in line with existing county products.”
Chris Kannan, former USGS NSDI Liaison for North Carolina
IndianaMap Statewide Orthophotography Project
In 2005, Indiana completed a first of its kind high-resolution statewide single-season aerial photography project to support Indiana’s most pressing homeland security, economic development, and environmental issues. The public domain imagery is available at www.indianamap.org and on GoogleMaps.
Role: Project coordination, requirements definition, development of funding partners, overall project management (in cooperation with multiple collaborating partners).
Huck Finn Project
Youth groups across Indiana were invited to participate in the Huck Finn Project by producing large outdoor works of art to be captured by the IndianaMap orthophotography. In the process, kids tracked the planes and learned about geography, geospatial technology, scale and resolution, and more. Lesson plans were developed by the Indiana Geographic Educators’ Network, and GPS units were provided to participating youth groups.
Role: Project conceptulization, web site development, content, coordination.
GIS Issue Briefing
A series of subject area issue briefs authored by project steering committee members and other contributors who have been engaged to support the Information for Indiana project work through activities such as conducting case studies and assisting in pilot project initiation and implementation.
Role: Author.
Google Mashing Up the Mashups
Hoping to make it even easier to turn its online maps into collages of local information, Google is introducing tools that will stitch together applications from a hodgepodge of Web sites. Google is hoping to unite the information mishmash by encouraging mashup developers to package the creations into mini-applications called “mapplets” that will be posted under the “My Maps” section of Google’s Web site. Multiple mapplets can be laid over Google’s map simultaneously, meaning a user theoretically could get a glimpse at where homes are being sold in a specific neighborhood while also analyzing the area’s recent crime patterns. While it looks promising, I attempted using the new feature using Firefox but was unsuccessful it getting it to actually work. It may be a browser compatibility issue with the “mapplets” I was adding, so I’ll try testing it again and report back later.
Yesterday, I Visited Syria… on 360cities
Use the new web site “360cities” as your virtual travel guide when you plan your next arm chair vacation. 360 is traveling the world capturing 360-degree images of landmarks and key cultural locations. You can fully rotate the scenes, tilt and zoom. Check out the World’s Virtual Reality Portal to navigate to your next stop, put your feet up, and enjoy!
Census Mapping Made Easy
Social Explorer is a website designed to help people easily map Census data from 1940 – 2000. The site has a friendly user interface and is very intuitive. One of the coolest features is the ability to create a slide show from the Census data to visualize change over time. This is a public edition, and a subscription edition is available for institutions (with expanded data sets and down to Census block group geography). This is one of the best Census mapping tools I’ve seen. (©2006 Social Explorer and Queens College CUNY)
One Billion Bulb Challenge
I am issuing a challenge to YOU that I hope you appreciate. Help make this map green.
Last week I heard an NPR report on a website that is helping to make a difference with global warming, our environment, and our own individual energy costs. We all know the U.S. isn’t doing much with global warming and our energy policies. It has left me (and maybe you) wondering what in the world we could possibly do to make a difference. Well, last summer I purchased an energy efficient car (yes, I got an orange Fit!). Today, I finally checked out www.onebillionbulbs.com and was overly impressed with their challenge of getting one billion light bulbs changed – it is surprising how big a difference just one bulb can make. Of course, I LOVE that they use maps to communicate the results!!! So, I’ve set up a group and am asking you to PLEASE at least take a look. Better yet, join my group and change a bulb!
All my best, Jill
Folk Songs for the Five Points
New York map combines sound, art, and culture resulting in a remarkable cultural museum piece.
This is an excellent example of creative cartography – “folksongs for the five points.” This map of New York City’s Lower East Side is so interactive you can almost smell it. Have fun!
Can You Place the US States in the Right Place?
Try this geography game – it’s harder than you think! (I was reminded of one of this one from a recent post – thanks Very Spatial.
Fly a Plane!
This is one of my favorites in terms of creative uses of GoogleMaps. Try Goggles. Pick a city and try flying to another city, or fly around the world for the more adventurous. I have to admit I like crashing too.
To control the plane, use your keyboard’s arrow keys to bank and dive, the “A” and “Z” keys to change speed, and the space bar to fire.
Try GeoWhitePages, a bit cluttered but wow powerful (and a bit scary ;)
08.15.2010 >> geowhitepages.com is no longer active.
GeoWhitePages offers users the ability to search and find people geographically. I like the interesting way they’ve combined demographic information and bar charts on the Google Map interface. The information on people digs pretty deep (some will find this a bit scary, however this info is out there on the web already). You can look someone up, click on the person’s name, get more information such as the names of their relatives, and can even link to where you can purchase background checks. You can also search by phone number. From the pop-ups on the map, you can click “show neighbors” and it will return search results showing near-by neighbors and their contact information. To top it off, you can email all search results to a friend :}
