Archive for March, 2008

  • 31 Mar

    Posted by
    joesonic


    Category

    SensorWeb the new trend word

    0

    Everyone is talking about the SensorWeb, but what is this all about and where is the relation to Geoinformatics?

    Wikipedia defines the sensorweb as follows:

    The Sensor Web is a type of sensor network or geographic information system (GIS) that is especially well suited for environmental monitoring and control. The term describes a specific type of sensor network: an amorphous network of spatially distributed sensor platforms (pods) that wirelessly communicate with each other. This amorphous architecture is unique since it is both synchronous and router-free, making it distinct from the more typical TCP/IP-like network schemes. The architecture allows every pod to know what is going on with every other pod throughout the Sensor Web at each measurement cycle.

    The basic concept of a network of sensors is not new. The novelty of the Sensor Web architecture lies in the ability of the individual pieces to act and coordinate as a whole. This immediately allows the system to be synchronous throughout, unlike many other networks. In addition, the individual pods of a Sensor Web are all equal with one another and a Sensor Web architecture does not require special gateways or routing to have each of the individual pieces communicate with one another or an end user. By definition, a Sensor Web is an autonomous, stand-alone, sensing entity that does not require the presence of the World Wide Web to function.

    The term “Sensor Web” is sometimes used to refer to sensors connected to the Internet (or “World Wide Web”). Such terms are occasionally used in conjunction with projects of the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) or SensorNet. In this case, the network architecture requires the Internet to link together the individual sensing elements. The OGC architecture is very different than that of a true Sensor Web system and requires schemes to bring together vastly different datasets, in the same way that TCP/IP is used to tie together vastly different pieces of hardware and computing platforms. Note also that a single Sensor Web may be an individual sensing element inputing into an OGC-type network.

    Some further readings:

    Written and submitted from Home, using my 802.11g WiFi network.

  • 29 Mar

    Posted by
    joesonic


    Category

    GITA Keynote adresses Americas Aging Infrastructure

    0

    Between the Poles the Bolg of Geoff Zeiss the director of Technology gives a review on GITA 31 and the keynode by Tom Murphy.

    GITA 31 just kicked off this afternoon with a fascinating keynote by Tom  Murphy, former Mayor of Pittsburgh.  He made a number of interesting points but there are three that really hit the mark with the audience.

    Asce_scorecard_on_americas_infras_2

    • There will be a change in northern America life style becuase of the increasing price of oil and gas.
    • Aging american infrastructure and the needed renewal of infrastructure.
    • traditional sources of funding for infrastructure are drying up.

    For more details read the full article.

    [via Between the Poles]

    Written and submitted from Home, using my 802.11g WiFi network.

  • 28 Mar

    Posted by
    joesonic


    Category

    Examples of GeoRIA based on Flex

    1

    Following examples should show what is possible with Flex, and how do Geoweb applications in Flex look like.

    • Homelocator (http://www.asfusion.com/apps/homelocator/) Home Locator is an intuitive real estate searching application. It lets users search by area by clicking on a US map and then filter the results by price, number of bedrooms, bathrooms and other relevant criteria. For each property, detailed information is shown and actual location is plotted on a map, all in one screen. Users can see pictures for a property, helping them determine whether or not they want to visit the property. They can also save properties as favorites to be reviewed at a later time and can let other people see their favorite list. As a bonus, it also includes an administration to edit properties.
    • GIS Portal Aalen (http://www.gisserver.de/aalen/start.html) Aalen is a German town which has implemented their GIS Protal competely in Flex. It has all major function you would expect from a City WebGIS portal.
    • ArcWeb Explorer (http://www2.arcwebservices.com/v2006/solutions/awx.jsp) ArcWeb Explorer is a Web application that demonstrates browser-based map rendering. The result is improved speed and performance, greater control over the map appearance, and desktop-like functionality over the Internet. ArcWeb Explorer also demonstrates what you can develop with the ArcWeb Explorer JavaScript API. In addition to mapping streets, data, and imagery, ArcWeb Explorer exposes other ArcWeb Services functionality through various easy-to-use widgets. For example, you can use ArcWeb Explorer to quickly find locations, create driving routes, and generate demographic reports.

    Note: For running all these apps you need intalled Adobe Flash Player.

    If you know other Flex based Geoapplications you are welcome to post a comment.

    Written and submitted from Home, using my 802.11g WiFi network.

  • 27 Mar

    Posted by
    joesonic


    Category

    I’m a fan of simplicity

    1

    The simplest way to achieve simplicity is through thoughtful reduction. (the law of simplicity by John Maeden)

    Does this look familiar to you while working with your company (GIS) applications? Can we focus more on usability for GIS applications? Simplicity is also possible for GIS.

    [via stuffthathappens]

    Written and submitted from Home, using my 802.11g WiFi network.

  • 26 Mar

    Posted by
    joesonic


    Category

    SVG – is there a future in the Geoweb?

    6

    SVG (scalable vector graphics) is a recommendation of the W3C and used for rendering vector graphics. It was predicted that SVG is the future in the visualisation of geospatial vector data over the internet. Adobe announced that with Jannuary 2009 they will discontinue the support of their SVG Viewer plug-in (see here the official announcement). According to this Silverlight will most likely become the new Intergraph preferred standard for rendering vector graphics. (see reference entry).

    Silverlight is a promising technology and the possibilities are huge. but I see some problems with this:

    • Microsoft and Cross Platform
    • Market share of Silverlight is currently near 0
    • Strong competitor with Flash and Adobe’s Flex technology

    Furthermore there is the open question: Does SVG need a repacement? SVG is nearly a standard and a World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) recommendation which integrates with other W3C standards such as the DOM and XSL. I think browsers can or will nately represent SVG and there will not be a need for a plug-in.

    Written and submitted from Home, using my 802.11g WiFi network.

  • 25 Mar

    Posted by
    joesonic


    Category

    Jack Dangermond at 2008 ESRI Federal User Conference Plenary

    0

    An Excerpt:

    The world has currently a lots of porblems to solve. Therefore GIS Specialists have a lot to do. Some examples are:

    • growing population
    • global warming and related consequences
    • loss of biodiversity in social conflicts
    • resource shortages
    • aging infrastructure
    • …

    What is what we can do collectively?

    Some topics: data and model sharing, desktop systems, geoweb, fusion of desktop and web GIS, ArcGIS 9.3, ArcGIS Server

    listen to full talk.

    [via Jack Dangermond, 2008 ESRI Federal User Conference Plenary]

    Written and submitted from Home, using my 802.11g WiFi network.

  • 23 Mar

    Posted by
    admin


    Category

    Map Chart

    0

    Recently Google Updated their Google Charts API. Now there are some new chart types available. These new chart types and the new unlimited API calls for the Chart API makes this API even more useful.

    Interesting is the new chart type Map. this chart type allows you to color countries of the world. For the map cou can choose either a world map or maps from the continents. For more information check the official google sites.

    [via code.google.com]

    Written and submitted from Home, using my 802.11g WiFi network.

  • 22 Mar

    Posted by
    admin


    Category

    Real Time Trains in Google Maps

    1

    The portal swisstrains.ch is trying to provide real time train poistions on the internet. It is planned to record the locations of the trains via GPS and visualize the location on Google Maps.

    Currently the site is in ALPHA-phase, we keep on developing. The current view is based on the Swiss traintimetable, and does not yet show the actual GPS-positions of the trains. But, as Swiss trains are almost always on time, most of the time the position is accurate.

    train

    In near Future this is a good tool especially if these can be visualized on your mobile phone. I think this is very usefull for Location Based Services (LBS) and Location Based Decision Support (LBDS).

    [via www.swisstrains.ch]

    Written and submitted from Home, using my 802.11g WiFi network.

  • 21 Mar

    Posted by
    admin


    Category

    Is it a little or a lot? A lot and a little!

    0

    Spatial applications arise from a strong tradition of of the importance of spatial information and techniques to represent our place or other phenomena in our world. Maps are the basic concept to achive this.

    Maps are informative.

    Maps are directive.

    Maps are aesthetic.

    Maps are a lot of things.

    Maps are changing…

    In the era of the internet and new Web 2.0 techniques the question arise how much is the unterstanding about spatial information changing? What’s new in mapping? Is it a little or a lot? It think it is a lot and a little.

    Hockenberry has a great presentation on this entitled with Design of Spatial Applications.

    [via Hockenberry, MIT]

    Written and submitted from Home, using my 802.11g WiFi network.

  • 20 Mar

    Posted by
    admin


    Category

    Awareness Test

    0

    Spend 30 seconds for this clip and test your awareness;

    You need to a flashplayer enabled browser to view this YouTube video

    [via seth godin's blog]

    Written and submitted from Home, using my 802.11g WiFi network.

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