Eine jedes Jahr immer wieder sehr intereassante Veranstaltung findet am 14. September in Frankfurt statt: Die DOAG SIG SPATIAL.
Man kann den Event sogar noch um einen Tag verlängern zum "Hands-On" mit APEX und Oracle Maps.
Anmelden bitte über die DOAG Seiten.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Important Basics for Google Earth
[IMPORTANT NOTE: this post was initially written for Google Earth versions 4.0 through 4.2, but has been updated with tips covering Google Earth 5.2. For more info, you can read tips on navigating from the GE User Guide.]
If you are new to Google Earth (GE), or looking for ways to improve how you interact with GE, then this entry may be of help. Additional resources are referenced below. Note: this blog entry assumes you are using Google Earth 5 or higher. For tips on Google Earth 4, you can view the Google Earth 4 user guide.Learning to manipulate the mouse and keys to control GE is crucial to getting the most out of sightseeing the Earth. The first important thing to know is how to zoom in closer to the Earth. You have many ways to do this: double-clickyour mouse button (left button, if you have multiple buttons, to zoom in, right button to zoom out); use the mouse scroll-wheel (if you have one); use the + and - keys; or use the PAGE UP or PAGE DOWN keys to zoom more quickly. You can also use the navigation gadgets - the "+" and "-" buttons with slider on the far upper-right to change your altitude. The mouse scroll-wheel is probably the favorite method of most typical GE fans. All of these methods adjust your altitude above the Earth's surface. You can see your height above sea level in the lower right of the GE viewing window. You can move the Earth to position it where you want to see by clicking a point with the left mouse button and slide the cursor to the middle of the viewing window.
At first, many people don't realize Google Earth is much more than a map with aerial and satellite photos attached. GE uses data from NASA Space Shuttle missions which provides 3D terrain data for the entire land surface of the Earth. Let's demonstrate this.
Click on this link 
to go to GE and fly to Mount St. Helens. Beautiful view right? But, try this: hold your SHIFT-DOWN key combination and watch GE tilt your view so you can see Mount St. Helens as a 3D mountain (if you don't - check to see that the "Terrain" layer is turned on). Very cool right? SHIFT-UP will tilt your view back up. You can also use the slider control at the upper right of the navigation control for tilting. A nice tip: hit the "u" key to tilt back straight up automatically. The "r" key will reset to north and tilt up.
to go to GE and fly to Mount St. Helens. Beautiful view right? But, try this: hold your SHIFT-DOWN key combination and watch GE tilt your view so you can see Mount St. Helens as a 3D mountain (if you don't - check to see that the "Terrain" layer is turned on). Very cool right? SHIFT-UP will tilt your view back up. You can also use the slider control at the upper right of the navigation control for tilting. A nice tip: hit the "u" key to tilt back straight up automatically. The "r" key will reset to north and tilt up.An easier way to tilt and pan your view is to click and hold the middle mouse button or scroll wheel button (those of you who have a Mac with one mouse button have to use the above key or navigational control techniques - but, I would recommend getting a 3-button mouse). While you're holding the middle button if you move your mouse forward and backwards it will tilt the view. Side to side will pan your view around the point you are looking at.
While some of the tips no longer apply, this short 2 minute video tutorial from Google can help cover some of these navigation basics.
Related Resources:
- GE 5 User Guide
- GE 4 User Guide
- Google Earth Basics by Google Earth Blog
- Using Google Earth - Blog by a Google Earth documentation specialist
- Common Questions About GE
- SpaceNavigator - An advanced 3D mouse device for GE
MILF Location Finder
Gowalla MILF
I'm guessing the acronym used in the name of this application is entirely intentional and will probably ensure it gets a few more page hits than it might otherwise have done (it certainly caught my eye). In this case, however, MILF stands for 'Missing Items Location Finder' and not what you might have first thought.
The application uses Google Maps to help you locate Gowalla spots near you which contain items which are missing from your vault. To use Gowalla MILF you just need to log-in with your Gowalla account. Once logged in just double click anywhere on the map to scan that area for your missing items.
Via: Digital Urban
I'm guessing the acronym used in the name of this application is entirely intentional and will probably ensure it gets a few more page hits than it might otherwise have done (it certainly caught my eye). In this case, however, MILF stands for 'Missing Items Location Finder' and not what you might have first thought.
The application uses Google Maps to help you locate Gowalla spots near you which contain items which are missing from your vault. To use Gowalla MILF you just need to log-in with your Gowalla account. Once logged in just double click anywhere on the map to scan that area for your missing items.
Via: Digital Urban
Irish Mileage Calculator uses Google Maps
MileageSheet
Least week I posted about Tripcatcher a Google Maps based mileage logger for the UK. MileageSheet provides a very similar service for Ireland.
MileageSheet allows you to manage mileage rates, subsistence rates and expenses. The application allows the user to create routes and record journeys. It can then calculate distances and work out the mileage expenses.
MileageSheet can record employee information that is required by the Irish Revenue Commissioners and keep track of their expenses. It can also review employees' mileage sheets and the amounts payable according to their assigned schemes.
Least week I posted about Tripcatcher a Google Maps based mileage logger for the UK. MileageSheet provides a very similar service for Ireland.
MileageSheet allows you to manage mileage rates, subsistence rates and expenses. The application allows the user to create routes and record journeys. It can then calculate distances and work out the mileage expenses.
MileageSheet can record employee information that is required by the Irish Revenue Commissioners and keep track of their expenses. It can also review employees' mileage sheets and the amounts payable according to their assigned schemes.
Spatial Data Viewer on Bing Maps App
View
- ESRI Shapefiles (.shp & .dbf files) [best under 300k]
- GeoRSS Feeds (.xml with lat & lng)
- Well Know Text (WKT)
Known as Ricky's Data Viewer
Loaded Shapefile (World Countries) in the Data Viewer using 'select shapefile' option, .dbf if your want to see attributes (table data).
GeoRSS (.xml) recent earthquakes feed from (USGS)
Full list of Bing Maps Apps.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
The Toronto Star Map of the Week Ends
Patrick Cain, the author of the Toronto Star's excellent Map of the Weekfeature, has now left the paper, so unfortunately the column has come to an end. The Map of the Week feature launched in mid-2008 and every week published a new Google Map mashup.
The maps ranged from reports of sexually transmitted disease or postal codes of drunk driving suspects, to maps looking at dog ownership in Toronto. Invariably the maps were on subjects important to the lives of those who live in Toronto.
Over the two years the column attracted around 1.4 million page-views. In Patrick's last column for the paper he picks out some of his highlights. Here are just three of my favourites:
Toronto in 1878
Two maps using the Google Maps interface to present detailed 1878 atlas sheets of the east and west ends of Toronto.
2010 Toronto Centre Byelection Maps
A series of Google Maps examining the poll results of each of the political parties in the Toronto Centre Byelection.
Drunk Driving and Subway Location Map
This map looks at license suspensions from drunk driving and at the locations of subway stations. The map shows a correlation between the home locations of drunk drivers and their distance from subway stations.
It has been hard picking just three maps. I've really enjoyed reading Patrick's column over the last two years and I wish him all the best in his new endeavours.
The maps ranged from reports of sexually transmitted disease or postal codes of drunk driving suspects, to maps looking at dog ownership in Toronto. Invariably the maps were on subjects important to the lives of those who live in Toronto.
Over the two years the column attracted around 1.4 million page-views. In Patrick's last column for the paper he picks out some of his highlights. Here are just three of my favourites:
Toronto in 1878
Two maps using the Google Maps interface to present detailed 1878 atlas sheets of the east and west ends of Toronto.
2010 Toronto Centre Byelection Maps
A series of Google Maps examining the poll results of each of the political parties in the Toronto Centre Byelection.
Drunk Driving and Subway Location Map
This map looks at license suspensions from drunk driving and at the locations of subway stations. The map shows a correlation between the home locations of drunk drivers and their distance from subway stations.
It has been hard picking just three maps. I've really enjoyed reading Patrick's column over the last two years and I wish him all the best in his new endeavours.
Banff Hotels on Google Maps
Banff Hotel Map
This Google Maps mashup provides a guide to hotels, inns and other accommodation in Banff, Alberta, Canada.
The location of the hotels is displayed on the map and also listed in the map sidebar. If you click on a map marker you can get details about the accommodation available, including a link to the hotel's website. You can also view the hotel using Google Maps Street View.
This Google Maps mashup provides a guide to hotels, inns and other accommodation in Banff, Alberta, Canada.
The location of the hotels is displayed on the map and also listed in the map sidebar. If you click on a map marker you can get details about the accommodation available, including a link to the hotel's website. You can also view the hotel using Google Maps Street View.
Global Marine Life on Google Maps
OBIS-Seamap
OBIS-Seamap uses Google Maps to show the distribution and the ecology of marine mammals, seabirds and sea turtles across the globe.
It is possible to search and view data on the map for any of one of 324 different species. It is also possible to filter the data shown on the map by taxon group; 'sea bird', 'sea turtle' or 'marine mammal'.
OBIS-Seamap - Online Mapper
Whilst the OBIS-Seamap is hugely impressive enough on its own it is also accompanied by an Online Mapper. The Online Mapper lets you create your own map using multiple species/datasets as well as your own map elements.
Using the map you can map multiple datasets/species on a single map, upload your own ESRI shapefile(s) to filter the data by your region(s) of interest and overlay Google Earth KML. However an OBIS-Seamap account is required for some of the customisation features.
World Database on Marine Protected Areas
Did you know that only 0.7 of the world's oceans are protected? The WDPA-Marine wants to provide the most comprehensive set of marine protected areas (MPAs) data available. Part of this effort involves a very cool Google Maps mashup that provides information about the less that 1% of protected ocean.
The map uses shaded polygons to highlight protected ocean areas. For each protected area it is possible to select a number of layers showing coral, mangrove, seagrass and saltmarsh locations. The map also includes layers to display Wikipedia articles, photographs and videos of the selected protected area.
OBIS-Seamap uses Google Maps to show the distribution and the ecology of marine mammals, seabirds and sea turtles across the globe.
It is possible to search and view data on the map for any of one of 324 different species. It is also possible to filter the data shown on the map by taxon group; 'sea bird', 'sea turtle' or 'marine mammal'.
OBIS-Seamap - Online Mapper
Whilst the OBIS-Seamap is hugely impressive enough on its own it is also accompanied by an Online Mapper. The Online Mapper lets you create your own map using multiple species/datasets as well as your own map elements.
Using the map you can map multiple datasets/species on a single map, upload your own ESRI shapefile(s) to filter the data by your region(s) of interest and overlay Google Earth KML. However an OBIS-Seamap account is required for some of the customisation features.
World Database on Marine Protected Areas
Did you know that only 0.7 of the world's oceans are protected? The WDPA-Marine wants to provide the most comprehensive set of marine protected areas (MPAs) data available. Part of this effort involves a very cool Google Maps mashup that provides information about the less that 1% of protected ocean.
The map uses shaded polygons to highlight protected ocean areas. For each protected area it is possible to select a number of layers showing coral, mangrove, seagrass and saltmarsh locations. The map also includes layers to display Wikipedia articles, photographs and videos of the selected protected area.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Mileage Expenses with Google Maps
Tripcatcher
Tripcatcher is a free online mileage logger using Google Maps that should prove a great help in submitting your expenses. The application helps you keep an accurate record of your business miles which can save you money on your tax returns.
When you take a business trip Tripcatcher can calculate the distance travelled using the Google Maps API. Tripcatcher can then save the details of the trip, the mileage and other expenses for parking or tolls. If you are making multiple journeys over the same route Tripcatcher can quickly save the details for the added dates without you having yo re-enter all the details.
Currently the map is restricted to UK use because the developers are unsure about the tax rules for other countries.
Tripcatcher is a free online mileage logger using Google Maps that should prove a great help in submitting your expenses. The application helps you keep an accurate record of your business miles which can save you money on your tax returns.
When you take a business trip Tripcatcher can calculate the distance travelled using the Google Maps API. Tripcatcher can then save the details of the trip, the mileage and other expenses for parking or tolls. If you are making multiple journeys over the same route Tripcatcher can quickly save the details for the added dates without you having yo re-enter all the details.
Currently the map is restricted to UK use because the developers are unsure about the tax rules for other countries.
Live Australian Election Map
ABC.net Interactive Map - 2010 Federal Election
The results in so far in the Australian general election make this the tightest race in decades. At the time of writing pundits are saying the results are too close to call but that it looks likely that neither the ruling Labor party nor the opposition coalition will gain the 76 seats needed to win outright.
ABC Australia have produced a Google Map to display the results of the election as they are announced. The map lets you explore Australia's 150 electorates. You can click on any of the electorates to display detailed results.
The map also includes an overlay showing the overall results and the current vote share for each of the parties. The map has buttons so that you view at a glance which electorates have changed seats and also view ABC's predictions.
The results in so far in the Australian general election make this the tightest race in decades. At the time of writing pundits are saying the results are too close to call but that it looks likely that neither the ruling Labor party nor the opposition coalition will gain the 76 seats needed to win outright.
ABC Australia have produced a Google Map to display the results of the election as they are announced. The map lets you explore Australia's 150 electorates. You can click on any of the electorates to display detailed results.
The map also includes an overlay showing the overall results and the current vote share for each of the parties. The map has buttons so that you view at a glance which electorates have changed seats and also view ABC's predictions.
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