Archive for the ‘Web’ Category

  • Virtual journey on the Transiberian Railway

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    The combination between Google Maps and YouTube allows you to make a virtual travel from Moscow to Vladivostok. The video is georeferenced and synchronized with the map. This feature allows you to navigate on the map an see the corresponding section in the video.

    Original text to the application:

    The great Trans Siberian Railway, the pride of Russia, goes across two continents, 12 regions and 87 cities. The joint project of Google and the Russian Railways lets you take a trip along the famous route and see Baikal, Khekhtsirsky range, Barguzin mountains, Yenisei river and many other picturesque places of Russia without leaving your house. During the trip, you can enjoy Russian classic literature, brilliant images and fascinating stories about the most attractive sites on the route. Let’s go!

    You can see this widget on : http://www.google.ru/intl/ru/landing/transsib/en.html

  • Startup: Askaro – Why not to ask your neighbourhood for local events

    2

    Recently there were some news about Eduardo Manchón, the co-founder of Panoramio, leaving Google and the Panoramio team. After four and a half year he wants to address to his new task at Askaro. He stated in this blog post at Panaramio:

    Panoramio is the coolest thing I have ever done. I went through the greatest adventure of my life with this project. However for some reasons I can’t really explain I like changes and challenges, so it is time to move on to a new project.

    I’d like to make a short introduction about Askaro and give you an idea what it is all about:

    What is it?

    The founders call Askaro a hyperlocal site to exchange information where it matters the most: our neighborhoods, our places or work, etc. It can be used to ask a question which is realted to a specifc area of place. People who live there or live near by, are locale experts and can simply answer your question. Basically it is a system about georeferenced questions and answers.

    There are many possibilities to use this site, for example as tourist guid, resteraut review site or event planner. The founder see the site as experiments and are looking forward for feedback to improve the service and make it user driven.

    The name “Askaro” comes from “Ask around”.

    How does Askaro work?

    Askaro combines geolocation, question and answer model and reputation, as basis of its inner workings. Questions are asked, or placed, in a specific area of a city, in order to reach out to the people who live or intimately know the area and are capable of answering them. An analogy would be to stick a flyer at your local grocery store to reach out only to passersby, or people in your neighborhood.

    Answers can be voted once as “Good” or “Bad” by anyone, which have the effect of moving them up or down.The question’s author can also designate a specific answer as the “Best answer” if he or she considers it the most useful or appropriate one. Best answers turn green and move to the top.

    The number of votes and the answers marked as “best answer” are used to calculate the reputation score of a person, which is a measure of how valuable is someone’s contribution and how useful and trustworthy are his answers. The users with the best reputation in a city can be found in the “Local Heroes” page.

    Technology used

    Askaro server side code is written in python, and runs in the app engine, google’s cloud computing offering. Client side javascript relies on jquery.

    (information from askaro “about” page)

  • New delicious codenames for future Android versions

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    Google has decided to name different versions of Android according to sweet pastries. According to a recent interview by Erick Tseng Android’s next big interation will be known as FroYo. Froyo is the Short Term for “frozen yogurt” and another creative name in the Android version history:

    • Initial Version = Android 1.1 – Release Date: 10.02.2009
    • Cupcake = Android 1.5 – Release Date: 30.04.2009
    • Donut = Android 1.6 – Release Date: 15.09.2009
    • Eclair = Android 2.0/2.1 – Release Date: 26.10.2009/12.01.2010
    • Froyo = maybe Android 2.5 – Release Date: expected in April/May 2010

    So it will not be Flan for the “F” version of Android (alphabetical order), as most of you thought. So we will see when Froyo actually is officially released and what the “G” version of Android might be. Any suggestions for G? I think Android will success its sweet journey in 2010 at least until H. I think we will see a lot of usability improvements for the next versions.

    Bon Appetit!

  • Giveaway of 5 Google Wave Invitations

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    All you have to do is to write a comment on this post.
    google_wave_invitation
    I willl send your invitation to your email address specified in the comments form (spam protection).

  • How reliable are Directions (or Routes) in Google Maps?

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    Google Maps does not provide metadata about geographical data used for geocoding or routing. This could lead to some astonishment when the user see the routing results in Google Maps. For example a route from Hungary to Bulgaria will direct through Italy using ferry connections and lasting over 3000 km and 1 day and 15 hours. The reason for this behaviour is not well documented or presented to the user. Google Maps does not have routing relevant data (or the proper quality of data) for several countries. For example it is not possible to route in Serbia or Bulgaria. Therefore routes running through these countries will results in detours.

    gm_route

    An other interesting example is Moscow. Yon can calculate routes in Moscow but not in rural Russia. Google provides a document where all countries are listed and you can find out about their current map functionality.

  • How Japan understands Google StreetView :-)

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    With following video Google explains Japanese users how StreetView works. This advertising video focuses on the fact that Google blurrs out faces and car plates. Obviously Google uses a different marketing campain in East Asia.

    This video was embedded using the YouTuber plugin by Roy Tanck. Adobe Flash Player is required to view the video.

    [via GWB]

  • Introducing GoMoGi – a Carinthian GIS start-up

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    GoMoGi is an start-up company located in Klagenfurt, Austria. It was founded about one year ago by Michael Diener. GoMoGi covers the area of GIS services and Location Based Service (LBS) applications. Beside support for different kind of GIS support GoMoGi developed a software called GoBiz, which is a simple field data collector running on a Windows Mobile smartphone.  For example this software can be used in the areas of Road maintenance and planning, Sand and salt spreading, Snow plowing and removal, Sanitation services, Street lighting, etc. Watch the video to see a demo of the application:

    This video was embedded using the YouTuber plugin by Roy Tanck. Adobe Flash Player is required to view the video.

    For more information about GoMoGi visit their website: www.gomogi.com

  • Featured Sessions at ESRI UC 2009

    3

    ESRI has published a list of Featured Session for the User Conference 2009.

    uc09_84(logo by ESRI)

    How can we design our future with GIS?
    Jack Dangermond President, ESRI

    How can we design our future with GIS? UC Opening Plenary Session, Mon, Jul 13, 8:30AM – 3:30PM

    This inspiring session is a must-attend event where you’ll celebrate the accomplishments of the ESRI community with thousands of your fellow innovative and pioneering colleagues. ESRI president Jack Dangermond will welcome you and acknowledge the people, projects, and programs making a difference in today’s world. Also, hear him discuss geospatial trends, the direction of ESRI, and his vision for GIS.

    Can you protect nature without stifling the local economy?
    Willie Smits Biologist and Chairman, Masarang Foundation

    Can you protect nature without stifling the local economy? Designs for the Environment: Rebuilding Forests, Mon, Jul 13, During the Plenary Session

    Willie Smits will share his inspirational passion for rebuilding forest habitat and orangutan populations. He will talk about a project underway in eastern Borneo that is positively impacting communities by creating a better future for local people, trees, and the orangutan.

    How can GIS help alleviate poverty?
    Hernando de Soto President, Institute for Liberty and Democracy (ILD)

    How can GIS help alleviate poverty? Designs for Poverty: Formalizing Landownership, Mon, Jul 13, During the Plenary Session

    De Soto will share how geographic information system (GIS) technology is being used to formalize landownership—an approach he feels is helping the poor take a crucial first step away from poverty.

    Which mobile solution best meets my needs?
    Jian Lange ArcPad Product Manager, ESRI

    Which mobile solution best meets my needs? ESRI Mobile GIS Solutions Overview, Tue, Jul 14, 8:30AM – 9:45AM (1st offering), Wed, Jul 15, 1:30PM – 2:45PM (2nd offering)

    This session will help you select the most suitable ESRI software for your mobile application. Topics will include matching personas with products, demos, and providing a decision-making tree. Furthermore, the session will outline the complete ESRI mobile product line including ArcGIS Mobile, ArcPad, ArcGIS Engine, and Adapx.

    What should I be doing now to prepare for ArcGIS 9.4?
    Sud Menon ArcGIS Server Lead Architect, ESRI

    What should I be doing now to prepare for ArcGIS 9.4? ArcGIS Server GIS 9.4 Plans, Tue, Jul 14, 10:15AM – 11:30AM (1st offering), Wed, Jul 15, 3:15PM – 4:30PM (2nd offering)

    This session will discuss and demonstrate the key functionality being planned in the upcoming ArcGIS 9.4 release. ArcGIS 9.4 is the next major release of ArcGIS and will be in Beta later this year. This session will focus on the new improvements in ArcGIS Server at 9.4, including new web services, improved APIs, improved raster support, and much more.

    Are there better ways to tell stories with maps?
    Clint Brown Director of Software Products, ESRI

    Are there better ways to tell stories with maps? Bringing Your Geographic Information to Life, Thu, Jul 16, 8:30AM – 9:45AM

    The goal of this presentation will focus on how to turn your data into useful information and on how to bring it to life on the web — making it actionable, consumable, and understandable. We will describe and demonstrate a series of simple approaches that you can leverage to publish your geographic information, make it consumable, and to build effective, informative Web GIS deployments.

    Can GIS make government more efficient and transparent?
    Martin O’Malley Governor of Maryland

    Can GIS make government more efficient and transparent?, Mon, Jul 13, During the Plenary Session

    The State of Maryland is leading the way with GIS through years of state and local collaboration, all being brought together under the governor’s vision that geography is the common language and one map must be developed for one Maryland (creating an authoritative basemap of Maryland).

    How will we share and collaborate in the cloud?
    Scott Morehouse and Dirk Gorter

    Director of Software Development and Director of Product Management, Web GIS, Taking Advantage of the Cloud, Tue, Jul 14, 8:30AM – 9:45AM

    This session discusses the most recent pattern for GIS, “Web GIS” and how it compliments existing patterns of a GIS like Desktop and Enterprise. Together, these three fundamental patterns provide a more powerful and complete Geographical information eco system. We will review the key aspects of a Web GIS, how it relates to the other components and the latest technologies, including cloud computing, that have enabled this new concept.

    How do I justify my GIS budget in this economy?
    Victoria Kouyoumjian IT Strategies Architect, ESRI

    Getting at the Business Benefits of GIS—An ROI Approach, Sun, Jul 12, 8:30AM – 5:00PM

    This preconference seminar sets out to teach a standardized return on investment (ROI)-based enterprise GIS strategy and business case methodology for identifying, prioritizing, and calculating the business value of GIS technology for any organization. This will be relevant for those seeking funding for a new or expanding GIS program or seeking to prioritize their existing budget to realize the most impactful return.

    How is GIS being used to track stimulus spending?
    Pat Cummens Government Strategist, ESRI

    How is GIS being used to track stimulus spending in the US? GIS Delivers Transparency & Accountability: Tracking Stimulus Spending is just the Beginning, Wed, Jul 15, 8:30AM – 9:45AM

    Worldwide there is a growing the expectation for improved citizen engagement in government activities. This is promising to open up government; providing transparency into decision making and spending. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), commonly known as the Stimulus Act, designed to infuse $787 billion into the US economy is providing a proofing ground for this transparency. Citizens want to know what’s going on, particularly in their neighborhood, and expect easier ways to hold their government accountable. GIS can help citizens view and understand government information in a meaningful way.

    How can image processing improve my GIS work?
    Lawrie Jordan Director of Imagery Enterprise Solutions, ESRI

    How can image processing improve my GIS work? Imagery Then and Now; Detecting Change, Wed, Jul 15, 8:30AM – 9:45AM

    Image change analysis is the key component to updating geospatial data sets and reducing the cost. Permanent cultural changes can be pinpointed using 25 years of Landsat imagery to identify changes, while dramatically reducing production time and costs. Correlated Land Change (CLC) using MDA EarthSat’s patented change detection techniques will show how this can be done.

    [via ESRI.com]

  • Timeline diagram showing the development of Web Languages

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    On Wikipedia I found an interesting graph which summarizes the development of web languages very well. At least most prominent languages that are not discontinued are visualized in the timeline. You can also see dependencies between languages and they are separated into client side and server side languages.

    Web_development_timeline (click on the image to view in original size)

    [via wikimedia]

  • Data.gov – Also an Geospatial Datasource.

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    It is hard to compare American datasources with European ones, because of the different legal pre-conditions. In the USA all data produced with public resources such as taxes have to be available to the public without additional costs for usage. Most counties in the European Union (EU) follow an different strategy, where geospatial data have to be purchased. This is one point why for example the Inspire initiative and Data.gov can hardly be compared.

    datagov

    According to data.gov the platform was established with following reason:

    The purpose of Data.gov is to increase public access to high value, machine readable datasets generated by the Executive Branch of the Federal Government. Although the initial launch of Data.gov provides a limited portion of the rich variety of Federal datasets presently available, we invite you to actively participate in shaping the future of Data.gov by suggesting additional datasets and site enhancements to provide seamless access and use of your Federal data. Visit today with us, but come back often. With your help, Data.gov will continue to grow and change in the weeks, months, and years ahead.
    The platform provides different tools to search for data. One way is to use a searchable data catalog that includes access to raw data, but you can also use your applications to connect to this catalog. If in your opinion important datasets are missing you can suggest more datasets. The usage of the platfom is described in a tutorial.
    RAW data is available in XML, KML, CSV/TXT, ESRI formats or as maps and others.
    [via data.gov]
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