Tuesday, August 31, 2004
Washington Coast Map
This isn't a map either, it's another digital elevation model image of the State of Washington Coastline, also showing a few of the Cascades volcanoes. It is from a set of even higher resolution images that are part of the GLOBE Image Collection described in yesterday's post.  See higher resolution images at GLOBE High Resolution Collection.
# posted by MapWatch @ Tuesday, August 31, 2004
Monday, August 30, 2004
Africa Elevation Map
This really isn't a map, it is an image of Africa made using digital elevation models. A collection of these images for Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America is available for public viewing at the National Geophysical Data Center.  Visit their GLOBE: A Gallery if Images
# posted by MapWatch @ Monday, August 30, 2004
Sunday, August 29, 2004
Vanishing Farmland Maps
The California Department of Conservation has prepared some excellent animated maps that show how urbanization is dramatically reducing the amount of farmland in several areas of California. These maps have been produced by interpreting aerial photos and ground truthing.  Learn more at Vanishing Farmland Maps
# posted by MapWatch @ Sunday, August 29, 2004
Saturday, August 28, 2004
Microsoft Streets and Trips with GPS Locator
Microsoft has entered the automotive GPS market with the Streets and Trips with GPS Locator package. The GPS plug right into your laptop, pocket PC or SmartPhone with a USB port enabling you to see your position, speed, altitude, latitude and longitude on screen.  Read more at Microsoft... purchase at Amazon.com Microsoft Streets and Trips with GPS Locator
# posted by MapWatch @ Saturday, August 28, 2004
Friday, August 27, 2004
MyTopo Offers New Aerial Photo Sizes
MyTopo.com, providers of custom printed aerial photos and topo maps announced yesterday that they have added two additional size options for customers ordering aerial photos. Now available are 18"x24", 24"x36" and 36"x44" sizes. These photos are printed on glossy paper and range in price from $9.95 to $39.95.  Compose and order your custom aerial photos at MyTopo.com.
# posted by MapWatch @ Friday, August 27, 2004
Thursday, August 26, 2004
"Earth at Night"
Here is a very interesting image of what the earth would look like at night from space. City lights make this image possible. It was created by compositing hundreds of individual images collected by the Defense Meteorological Satellites Program.  Read more at Astronomy Picture of the Day
# posted by MapWatch @ Thursday, August 26, 2004
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
Maine Lake Depth Maps
Tim Thurston of Maine Lake Charts produces some of the best lake depth maps that I have seen. An article in MaineToday.com explains how he produces the maps and you can learn much more at his website. Maps available include Sebago Lake, Cobbossee Lake, Rangeley Lake, Androscoggin Lake, West Grand Lake plus many more.  Read more at MaineToday.comVisit Tim's website at MaineLakeCharts.com
# posted by MapWatch @ Wednesday, August 25, 2004
Tuesday, August 24, 2004
Inappropriate Map Was a Big Expense for Microsoft
When Microsoft released Windows 95 it included a clickable map for setting timezones. On that map Kashmir was not shown as a part of India, which is against the law in India. As a result, Microsoft had to recall over 200,000 copies of the software. Read more at Independent.co.uk News
# posted by MapWatch @ Tuesday, August 24, 2004
Monday, August 23, 2004
USGS Stream Flow Map
The United States Geological Survey maintains a nationwide network of stream monitoring stations. These stations report in real time and USGS has a public access website for sharing this data. The map below shows relative stream levels for August 23, but on the website the map is updated in real time. Each dot represents a monitoring station and clicking on a dot at their website will take you to a webpage for that station with hydrographs and much more information.   Access the USGS data at WaterWatch
# posted by MapWatch @ Monday, August 23, 2004
Saturday, August 21, 2004
Blue Marble image of Earth
Earth Observatory has posted the most detailed true-color image of earth to date. It was created by digitally combining months of satellite image coverage into a single "view" from space.  Read more and download much higher resolution images at Earth Observatory
# posted by MapWatch @ Saturday, August 21, 2004
Friday, August 20, 2004
GPS for Golf and Running
GPS units are not just for use while hiking, hunting and driving. More and more are being sold and specifically designed for other sports. Golfers want to know how far they hit the ball, runners want to know how fast they covered a specific distance. Read more at India's Financial Express
# posted by MapWatch @ Friday, August 20, 2004
Thursday, August 19, 2004
Northwest Passage Mapping Project
The Northwest Passage is a treacherous and generally unpassable shortcut between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the Canadian Arctic. However, many believe that global warming could make the Northwest Passage a viable shipping lane within just a few decades. The Ocean Mapping Group is working to create more accurate maps of the Northwest Passage area. Read more at CBC News - Northwest Passage Mapping
# posted by MapWatch @ Thursday, August 19, 2004
Wednesday, August 18, 2004
Total Rainfall Map for Tropical Storm Charley
Earth Observatory has posted a total rainfall map and animations for Hurricane Charley. The track of the storm can clearly been seen in this precipitation record with up to ten inches of rain falling in many areas.  Read more at Earth Observatory
# posted by MapWatch @ Wednesday, August 18, 2004
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
Digital Maps Save Australian Trucking Company $380,000 AD/year
Closed bridges, turn restrictions, one way streets and a human's idea of how to get somewhere can all lead to inefficiencies in truck routing. Bidvest, an Australian company that delivers food, kitchenware and hospitality supplies, turned to a digital mapping product to make their deliveries faster and more efficient. The result has lead to a $380,000 AD/year savings. Read more at Australian IT
# posted by MapWatch @ Tuesday, August 17, 2004
Sunday, August 15, 2004
Mapping Rainfall from Space
NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency are cooperating on the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite project. The agencies are monitoring rainfall from space and using the data for mapping and forecasting purposes. The map below is a cumulative rainfall map created by the TRMM project.  Visit the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Website for details, more maps and animations.
# posted by MapWatch @ Sunday, August 15, 2004
Saturday, August 14, 2004
Hurricane Strike Map for Hurricane Charlie
The National Weather Service Tropical Prediction Center has created some experimental maps that show the probability that a hurricane/tropical storm will pass over a given area. Here is their "hurricane strike map" for Hurricane Charley.  More info and a better view of this map at Hurricane Charley pages at NWS
# posted by MapWatch @ Saturday, August 14, 2004
Friday, August 13, 2004
Hurricane Track Map for Charley
The National Weather Service Tropical Prediction Center is posting hurricane track maps for Charley and other storms. Here is the three day forecast map showing areas under hurricane and tropical storm warnings and watches.  More info at Hurricane Charley pages at NWS
# posted by MapWatch @ Friday, August 13, 2004
Thursday, August 12, 2004
Typhoon Rananim image from Aqua
NASA's Aqua satellite transmitted this true-color image of Typhoon Rananim on August 11th. The storm has sustained winds of 80 knots and gusts to 100 knots. It is currently bringing high winds and heavy rains to northern Taiwan.  More on the storm and higher resolution images at Earth Observatory
# posted by MapWatch @ Thursday, August 12, 2004
Wednesday, August 11, 2004
Thirty-two years of Landsat
July 23rd was the 32nd anniversary of the first launch of a Landsat satellite. These satellites have provided us with a contiunous stream of impressive images and data. Here is a Landsat shot of Lake Powell, Utah.  Get more information on this image and the Landsat program at USGS Landsat Project Website
# posted by MapWatch @ Wednesday, August 11, 2004
Tuesday, August 10, 2004
Ancient Chinese Maps Settle Historical Questions
China and Korea have both laid claims that Koguyro has been a part of their history. Now, ancient maps have been presented which show Koguyro as an independent nation. Read more and get a glimpse of the maps at Digital Chosun Ilbo
# posted by MapWatch @ Tuesday, August 10, 2004
Monday, August 09, 2004
Navigation Lessons for Teachers
The Institute of Navigation has posted ten lesson plans for teachers on a variety of map reading and navigation topics. Lessons on maps, latitude, longitude, compass use, topographic maps, triangulation, and GPS are included. Download PDF lesson files at the Institute of Navigation
# posted by MapWatch @ Monday, August 09, 2004
Sunday, August 08, 2004
Christopher Columbus - a Dead Reckoning Navigator?
Here is an older, but interesting website by Keith Pickering that presents ideas and evidence portraying Christopher Columbus was a dead reckoning navigator. It also contains lots of other information about Columbus and his voyages. Columbus Navigation Homepage
# posted by MapWatch @ Sunday, August 08, 2004
Saturday, August 07, 2004
ASU Offers GPS-Enabled Campus Tours
Arizona State University has developed a GPS-guided walking tour of its Tempe, AZ campus. Dozens of GPS hotspots throughout the campus are featured in the tour which is powered by a handheld computer. Visitors select the locations that they want to visit, the GPS guides them to the locations, and the hand-held computer delivers a multimedia program. Read more and see a sample at PR Newswire
# posted by MapWatch @ Saturday, August 07, 2004
Thursday, August 05, 2004
Pennsylvania Rail Trails Mapped by DCNR
The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has published a website that provides maps for 96 Pennsylvania rail trails. Photographs, trail descriptions, contact information, access points and parking locations are included for each trail.  Visit the site at http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/railtrails/default.asp
# posted by MapWatch @ Thursday, August 05, 2004
Wednesday, August 04, 2004
David Rumsey Map Collection - 18th/19th Century Maps
David Rumsey of Cartography Associates has posted over 10,000 historical maps on a Insight-enabled website for public viewing. The collection is mainly of 18th and 19th century maps of North and South America but maps of other areas are also included. Downloading the Insight Browser is necessary to fully appreciate the collection but this small amount of effort is well worth the time required. See the collection at http://www.davidrumsey.com/
# posted by MapWatch @ Wednesday, August 04, 2004
Monday, August 02, 2004
Duplicate Street Names Cause Plenty of Confusion
In St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, three Oak Streets, two Pine Streets and many other streets with identical names have caused plenty of trouble for years. Mail and pizza gets delivered to the wrong address. But more disturbing is when emergency response teams have difficulty locating their destinations. GPS technology tied to land-based telephone lines have reduced this problem but additional action is now being taken. Read more at The Times-Picayune
# posted by MapWatch @ Monday, August 02, 2004
Sunday, August 01, 2004
Crop Analysis with Aerial Photos
Matt Nelson of the Iowa Soybean Association offers a number of tips for taking your own aerial photos for crop analysis in an article by Mick Lane, also of ISA. Tips on selecting camera, film, altitude, shutter speed, weather conditions and more are provided. Read more at Agriculture Online News
# posted by MapWatch @ Sunday, August 01, 2004
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