An Example of Dynamic Map/Data Visualization

The Flowing Data blog posted a nifty time-series map of the spread of the Walmart franchise: Watching the Growth of Walmart Across America. (Via Planetizen)

This map visualization of change over time draws on data from Freebase (an open source database of databases, I think) and uses the flash-based map-tile tool Modest Maps.

Is it GIS? It is certainly a good example of using map data to make a simple point.

And, if we're being honest with ourselves, it's fun to watch the little green lights flashing across the map.

IndianaMap Featured in Television Report

Indiana's Jill Saligoe-Simmel reports on her Professional Geographer blog that the Indiana Geographic Information Council's IndianaMap is featured on the series "Across Indiana" on Indianapolis' WFYI Public Television station.

Dr. Jill reports that the segments are the result of several months of work by members of the Council and feature information on the uses and benefits of Indiana's 2005 very high resolution orthophotography project.

The blog entry includes a few highlights.

"Yes, Senator, GIS is a map, but it is also so much more."

NSGIC has released a series of GIS marketing materials produced under a contract with the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC). They follow the development of strategic and business plan templates. Both are part of the Fifty States Initiative, designed to bring all public and private stakeholders together in statewide GIS coordination bodies that help to form effective partnerships and lasting relationships.

The Marketing Materials were designed by GIS professionals under the expert guidance of a public relations and marketing firm. They are intended to help statewide coordination councils market their plans and other initiatives to executives and elected officials.

The marketing materials include a treasure-map-themed "Z-card" that plays on the stereotype image of GIS as map-making software but opens up to reveal the broad spectrum of modern governmental activities that are informed by geospatial data.

There are also a series of issue-focused cards that mark clear statements about the importance of GIS and spatial data coordination for energy planning, economic development, education, and emergency response.

NSGIC has provided a limited number of printed versions of the new marketing materials to each state's GIS Coordinator. The graphics are available on-line on the NSGIC web site.