Map Watch News

Dr. Philip Tappe and his students at the University of Arkansas are using GIS to map and understand the distribution of deer - car accidents. They map the accident locations and compare them with other geographic variables. They have developed a model that estimates the probability of a deer - car accident at any given highway location.
Read more about Deer - Car Accidents at siftingshearld.com

USGS has posted a gallery of interesting satellite images. Locations from all parts of the Earth are included - here is a satellite image of the Grand Canyon from their collection.
See more at Grand Canyon Satellite Image.

Thousands of people have been evacuated as Mount Egon in Indonesia spews ash up to 2500 meters from the crater. This MODIS satellite image shows the large cloud of ash and smoke that has been erupted (image acquired on September 4.
Read more at Earth Observatory's Mount Egon page.

The online edition of the Washington Post has a very thoughtful article on the merits of using one of the free internet mapping websites such as MapQuest or purchasing a GPS unit with software to use on your laptop. (Access to this article is free but you will need to register to read it.) Every person has different map reading skills and different attitudes about time and money - so you will need to make up your own mind.

I love maps and GPS but I also like to hold on to my money. However, I recently decided to treat myself to a DeLorme Earthmate. After just one trip I immediately realized that I should have been using GPS in the car a long time ago. If is still possible to make a wrong turn - but you realize immediately and the GPS with maps on your laptop can get you back on the right track quickly. I love maps and I like money but my TIME and peace of mind when driving to an important destination make the GPS an investment. My only advice is to learn how to use it and get it set-up before you hit the road.
Read more at The Washington Post
Obtain a DeLorme Earthmate at Digital Map Store

You have probably heard many people refer to soft drinks as "pop" or "soda" or "coke". If you wonder WHERE those terms are used check out the map created by Matthew Campbell and Greg Plumb. Their map CLERLY shows where these terms are most frequently used.
Read more at Pop vs. Soda Map

More and more people are biking to work in Beaverton, Oregon and the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Washington County has prepared a new bike map to guide them. The map has incorporated a color palette that enables all lines and shading to be seen by color-blind map readers. Certainly more maps should consider this as a full seven percent of the male population is color blind. Only about 0.5% of women are color blind.
Read more at Maps for Color Blind Cyclists by OregonLive.com