A Field Guide to GIS for Non-GIS Folks

The NGO mapping organization MapAction earlier this year published a Field Guide to Humanitarian Mapping (PDF) that sets out to provide "a comprehensive manual to selecting and using free and open source GIS and other software for humanitarian operations."



MapAction, based in the UK, describes itself as "the only non-governmental organisation (NGO) with a substantial track record in field mapping for disaster emergencies." It explains its purpose this way:

Before an aid agency can respond to a disaster, their first need is for...information. Where are the affected people? Where are the relief resources? Who is doing what already?

MapAction delivers that vital information in the form of maps, created from information gathered at the disaster scene. By conveying a 'shared operational picture', our maps play a crucial role in delivering humanitarian aid to the right place, quickly.

The Field Guide to Humanitarian Mapping includes basic introductions to GIS mapping and to the use of GPS to collect data. It also offers detailed tutorials on using free and/or open source tools such as Google Earth and MapWindow to create and manage GIS data and maps for humanitarian response efforts.

GeoTools to Enable Big Ideas

Google has opened voting for its Project 10¹⁰⁰ which launched a year ago as a search for ideas to "change the world by helping as many people as possible." There were some 150,000 suggestions, from which 16 "big ideas" have been developed.

As we reviewed these submissions, we started noticing lots of similar ideas related to certain broad topics, and decided that combining the best aspects of these individual proposals would produce the most innovative approaches to solving some very pressing problems.

What struck me, in reading through the 16 big ideas, is how many include some aspect of geospatial data, either as a major focus or in a supporting role among the suggestions that led to these ideas. For example:

• Create real-time natural crisis tracking system includes both the collection of data via geospatial remote-sensing tools and the use of on-line mapping as a user-interface.
• Make government more transparent includes calls for map-based issues reporting and legislative updates.
• Collect and organize the world's urban data is in and of itself a geospatially-based initiative.
• Create genocide monitoring and alert system includes the use of map-based reporting and monitoring "to track, predict, and prevent genocides."
• Promote health monitoring and data analysis includes suggestions to use a geospatial component to health data to "spot community trends."
• Create real-world issue reporting system is another suggestion that calls for a largely map-based interface and monitoring system.
• Build real-time, user-reported news service includes suggestions for location-based reporting and news services.
  

And several of the other nine ideas are ones that may include a geospatial component.

My purpose in reporting these ideas is not to promote voting for any of them. Rather, I was struck by the extent to which geospatial data and tools are fundamental to nearly all of the big ideas now being discussed, whether as part of social-media driven initiatives such as Google's or among government leaders at all levels.

It suggests to me that geospatial data is not the end in itself -- not the "big project." But it is essential to almost all other big projects and must be reliable, widespread, and accurate.

Google on Geospatial Data Sharing

Dylan Lorimer, of Google's Strategic Partnerships Team, has posted some thoughts on the Google Lat Long Blog on why and how Google would like to share data from state and local governments.

In the post (Why we believe in geospatial data sharing), he points to recent blog posts from Google about their interest in sharing data, and notes the importance of working with state and local partners:

We undertake these partnerships because, by definition, organizations like local governments are the most authoritative source of geospatial data for their jurisdiction.

But, he adds, with so many state and local government agencies now providing data, it is important for Google to work with "organizations that seek to streamline access to and simplify the sharing of geospatial data." And we're pleased to see NSGIC used as an example.

Several Google folks were with us at the NSGIC Midyear in Annapolis, and we had some good discussions about issues of data sharing between the states and Google (similar to our on-going conversation with federal partners). Mr. Lorimer points to a shared support, among Google, NSGIC and federal partners, for development of the NSDI and important initiatives such as Imagery for the Nation.

From those discussions has come a set Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about sharing data with Google, which is now posted as part of the Google Map Content Partners site.

He finishes with a look ahead:

We applaud the work of GIS agency managers and policymakers who are working, at all levels of government, to ensure that the public's investment in geospatial data is shared and thereby used across agencies and governments, but also is made readily available to the public through free services like Google Maps. We look forward to collaborating with NSGIC and other organizations to advance such efforts in data sharing.

Google Goes to Washington

The Washington Post this morning pays a visit to the newest corporate offices set up to work with the federal government -- the Reston, Virginia, offices of Google.

In Google Goes to Washington, Gearing Up to Put Its Stamp on Government the Post looks at Google's efforts to get federal and other governments to use Google Maps, Google Earth, Google Docs and other tools.

Among the examples cited are some of the Google-related applications that NSGIC's own Barney Krucoff has been involved with for the Government of the District of Columbia.

NSGIC's Own Barney Krucoff Featured in Google Lat Long Blog

Barney Krucoff, GIS Manager for Washington DC and a valued member of NSGIC, has posted some thoughts on adding his city's data to Google Earth (Google LatLong: Our city in 3D).

As noted yesterday on the Lat Long blog, Washington DC is among the first group of cities for which 3D models have been added to Google via the Cities in 3D Program. The others are Amherst, Massachusetts; Greenville, South Carolina; McMinnville, Tennessee; Nanaimo, British Columbia; Jamestown, New York; and Nashville and Davidson Counties in Tennessee.

Barney's blog post today offers a some thoughts on why the District government's GIS team was eager to take part. He notes that it was the right thing to do, it is a benefit to district neighborhoods, the Google "cloud" is an effective ad free data distribution approach, and that it is a good way to communicate with District residents, the government's clients.

ESRI/Google Alliance

People thought it might never happen, but ESRI and Google are working together to deliver serious information on the GeoWeb. Jack Dangermond of ESRI and John Hanke of Google shared a keynote presentation at the Where 2.0 Conference May 12-14 to talk about their shared vision and demonstrate its use. That presentation, nearly 30 minutes long but totally engaging. Click on the title of this article to see the video. There are a growing number of interesting comments.

The basic point is that Google can deliver interesting information quickly, while ESRI does useful analysis of many phenomena. Why not allow Google mashups of ESRI analyses? ArcGIS 9.3, delivered this summer, will allow users to publish their data and services to the GeoWeb.

The Where 2.0 conference began in 2005. It is billed as the place “where the grassroots and leading edge developers building location aware technology intersect with the businesses and entrepreneurs seeking out location apps, platforms, and hardware to gain a competitive edge.” The focus is on open source information..

For more information on the conference and videos of other presentations are posted on the Where 2.0 web site. (The Hanke / Dangermond presentation is roughly 2/3 down the list.)

Worth Repeating.....

Frank Taylor, at Google Earth Blog, has an interesting discussion today on the sources of imagery in Google Earth (and, by extension, Google Maps and other ortho-viewing applications) . It bears repeating. Google Earth Blog is not officially connected to Google, but does a nice job of tracking and discussing issues related to Google Earth.

Today's post is actually points to very cool, very "near real-time," but very low-resolution imagery from NASA. But first it takes a detailed look at just how all that "satellite" data gets into Google Earth in the first place. Mr. Taylor explains the (lay-person's version) basics of satellite imaging, aerial photography, ortho-processing, and the complicated web of private- and public -sector partnerships that get the data from data creators and funders to sites like Google Earth.

Not all the imagery in Google Earth comes from satellites. A lot of the imagery comes from aerial photographers mostly in airplanes with special high resolution cameras. Some of the imagery even comes from kites and balloons. Google acquires imagery from a variety of providers. Some of the imagery is given to Google by city or state governments. The age of the imagery varies greatly, but most of the high resolution imagery is between 6 months and 5 years of age. Again, because the imagery comes from a variety of sources, the process to get this imagery into Google Earth is complex and involves a great deal of time and effort.

Thank you. We are all often surprised at how little the data users who interact with imagery via Google Earth, and Maps and their competitors actually know about where the data comes from. Any explanations that get out into the general conversation can only help.

Update on the Scribbled ZIP Map

We noted with some aesthetic pleasure last year the "ZIPScribble" map created by Robert Kosara. Now we find further joy in a Google Earth visualization of that scribble that an enterprising KMLer has created. In fact, said KML jockey -- James of barnabu.co in the UK -- has made an animated KML ZIPScribble that, well, scribbles the ZIPs!

I'm not sure what this means for the NSDI, but it is fun. (And found via Google Earth Blog)

"Volunteered Geography"

Michael Goodchild has an article in GeoJournal on the phenomenon of everyday folks creating and publishing geospatial data through websites like Google Maps. He calls it "volunteered geographic information."

The article -- Citizens as sensors: the world of volunteered geography -- is not available for free on-line. A news release about the article from Springer, publisher of GeoJournal, gives an idea of some of the concepts Mr. Goodchild explores, and a statement of his conclusion:

He concludes that “collectively volunteered geographic information represents a dramatic innovation that will certainly have profound impacts on geographic information systems and more generally on the discipline of geography and its relationship to the general public.”

Update: Many thanks to commenter "phantomplanet" who has provided a link to the full article in PDF format.

"Part of our Ecosystem"

Directions Magazine's Adena Schutzberg offers a brief editorial this morning on what she calls "a big week for Google Maps news" and what that news might mean for GIS practitioners. She outlines a few practical thoughts on on the news that Google Maps now includes an elevation visualization, collaboration on user-created data, and non-GPS location tools for mobile applications.

She had an interesting side-thought, though, on why it is that GIS pros, with much more powerful GIS tools at their disposal, take notice of these logical next steps for Google:

Google, whether we like it or not, is part of our technology ecosystem. Even if we don't use Google Maps for analysis or Google tools for search, we know ultimately many of our end-users, clients, and citizens do.

That observation matches what several states have shared in recent forums. Google and its several data visualization platforms are becoming another in the several pathways through which we share data with our constituents and partners.

Distributed QA/QC?

The ability for registered users to edit some of the location data in Google Maps is starting to get notice in the media. The Washington Post included a story on the day after Thanksgiving (Google Lets Users Fine-Tune Its Maps). The San Jose Mercury News had the story a few days earlier (Google lets users change maps). And there are others.

The Washington Post version includes a quote from a Google staffer that has a familiar ring:

"We're constantly working to improve the quality and accuracy of the information available in Google Maps," said Google spokeswoman Kate Hurowitz. "Accurate, detailed local information about neighborhoods, towns and the world around us is important to our users, and yet no one knows a town better than the people that live there."

That "no one knows ... better than the people who live there" echoes a theme we've stressed in GIS coordination; the best data comes from the most local sources. That has generally meant state and county data (and some major municipal players) with our challenge being to find ways to aggregate that data at larger and larger geographies.

The idea of having members of the public help edit data is not new, but the fact of Google's large presence in the social networking, "live web" world, may make a difference.

The USGS has its National Map Corps, an attempt to harness the power of interested geo-hobbiests. TeleAtlas and other large geospatial data providers enable their clients to submit suggested corrections. And some states offer channels for citizen corrections. In my own state of Delaware, the DataMIL on-line mapping system includes an invitation to submit error reports.

Google may trump all of these efforts through market penetration, and that's a good thing. More accurate data is an important goal. I'll be interested to see the extent to which this catches on as an on-line activity. And I'm curious to see whether, and how, this corrected data can be
spread back to a variety of data providers and local governments.

If nothing else, though, it is exciting to think about a wide community taking responsibility for where things are.

New York Times Looks at Citizen Web-Mapping

The New York Times has a look at citizen web-mapping (With Tools on Web, Amateurs Reshape Mapmaking) today. The article, which reviews the tools provided by Google, Microsoft and others, predicts some changes in the way geospatial data will be created and shared as more and more 'regular folks" create geo-content on-line.

In the process, they are reshaping the world of mapmaking and collectively creating a new kind of atlas that is likely to be both richer and messier than any other.

They are also turning the Web into a medium where maps will play a more central role in how information is organized and found.

The challenge for state and local GIS coordinators, it appears, will be finding ways to integrate government-created geospatial data into this larger "geo-web" in a way that supports citizen-creation of content and ensures an accurate, up-to-date basic geospatial infrastructure needed for a wide range of governmental services.

And, while we can celebrate the blossoming of data creation that seems to be taking place, we shouldn't forget to take the new data with a pinch of salt, as one NSGIC-friend is quoted in the article.

“Some people are potentially going to do really stupid things with these tools,” said Donald Cooke, chief scientist at Tele Atlas North America, a leading supplier of digital street maps. “But you can also go hiking with your G.P.S. unit, and you can create a more accurate depiction of a trail than on a U.S.G.S. map,” Mr. Cooke said, referring to the United States Geological Survey.

When We Get Hi-Res Local Imagery Out to as Many People as Possible

Indiana is one of the states that has gotten their high resolution orthophotography added to Google's Earth and Maps systems. The photos are hi-res enough that the image-hunters at the Google Earth Community have spotted an Amish horse and buggy on a rural Indiana road.

As communities will, they looked deeper, researched the presence of the Amish in Indiana, and have collected and published a series of placemarks showing photographic evidence of where a few members of the Amish Community happened to be on an unspecified day in late winter/early spring of 2005.

While I was interested to see Amish folks visible on Google Earth (they are a part of Delaware culture as well), what was coolest about this for me was to see "IndianaMap Framework Data" credited on Google Earth.

Well-played, Indiana Geographic Information Council! (Via Google Earth Blog)

Clearing Up Google's Take on New Orleans

Google now has recent, high resolution, and most importantly, Post-Katrina imagery loaded to Google Maps and Google Earth. This is in response to a recent storm of criticism over the loading of pre-Katrina imagery last fall.

Google took this seriously. John Hanke, the Director for Google Maps/Local/Earth, posted about it this morning on the Official Google Blog (About the New Orleans imagery in Google Maps and Earth).

...we recognize the increasingly important role that imagery is coming to play in the public discourse, and so we're happy to say that we have been able to expedite the processing of recent (2006) aerial photography for the Gulf Coast area (already in process for an upcoming release) that is equal in resolution to the data it is replacing.

Hanke did note that the change to pre-Katrina imagery took place back in the fall of 2006. He expressed some surprise at the very recent storm of controversy.

The folks at Google should recognize the speed that ideas can move on-line, and the momentum they can generate, even when they are very late in getting started.

Update: Adena and her folks over at All Points Blog make a very good point (Will the Google/Katrina Affair Finally Push Metadata on GM/GE?) about the helpful role that metadata might have played in this situation. had there been any metadata.

We Call This "Leverage"

The GeoLibro blog has an interesting thought about the US National Grid and Google.

In a posting titled "Mountan View, CA Now Our Prime Meridian?", the author notes a casual on-line reference to "Google Earth Coords" and muses:

...if the U.S. government is serious about us learning and using the National Grid (USNG), they need to have Google use it for U.S. locations.

Indeed.