Map Watch News

An article in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette lets citizen speak their mind on the accuracy of online mapping services such as MapQuest, Google Local and Yahoo Local and Maps. These sites are among the top destinations on the internet and a reported 87 percent of internet users have consulted at least one of the online mapping services. Some of those interviewed enjoy the services and report great success but others cite incorrect directions that land users in confusing situations, on incorrect routes and making illegal turns.

MapQuest Screenshot (the #1 mapping destination on the web!Read more about Accuracy of Online Map Sites at the Post Gazette.

Seventeen hand-drawn and hand-colored maps dating from the King Rama I to King Rama III period (1782 - 1851) were discovered in the Grand Palace. These maps, on cotton cloth cover areas of Siam, Burma, Cambodia and China. They are richly in detailed and show terrain studded with hilltop temples, trees, forts, lakes, rivers, and Chinese junks. The offer a unique view of both geography and culture.

Read more about Ancient maps of Siam, Burma, Cambodia and China at IHT ThaiDay.

Target is making a name for itself via Google satellite images. Some Target stores can now be spotted easily because they have the familiar logo displayed as roof-top advertising. What next?

Image from Google MapsCheck it out for yourself... Roof-top Advertising.

Google is now showing blue pay per click markers on their Google Maps. The search below for New York City Hotel shows several


Image by GoogleTry a search at Google Maps

Declan McCaullagh has posted a commentary about GPS car tracking that is one of the best articles on GPS that I have seen. In it he describes government pilot projects to track cars using GPS and the potential ways that the data could be employed. These might include: taxing your road use depending upon where you drive and time of day - which is a fair use of the data. But it could also be subpoenaed by attorneys in divorce suits or by insurance companies who want to dig into the driving habits of a DUI customer. The uses of GPS car tracking data have privacy concerns.
Image by DelormeRead the full article on GPS car tracking at MSN Tech & Gadgets.

Thierry van Compernolle, of Montpellier University has discovered the oldest know map of the western world on a piece of terracotta dating from about 500 BC. It shows the heel of Italy and cities are marked as points, just like is done on modern maps.
Read more about the Oldest Map of Italy at the Discovery Channel.