ZDnet Government: More Gov Mashups Please

Google Map Mania points to a ZDnet blog post that “encourages” government agency Google Mashups after seeing some for coverage of the hurricane. I suggested this in an article some time ago and think it’s inevitable. Now, will these augment fancier (read expensive, more powerful) Web GIS apps or replace them, is the big question in the GIS industry. See, if you haven’t, Nanaimo, BC’s app.

More DOQQs from USGS

Gary at Resource Shelf shares that USGS has added new DOQQs to The National Map and make them available for download at EROS. “USGS Digital Orthophoto Quarter Quadrangles with 1-meter ground resolution are now available for most of the United States and its territories. These images, which are available for viewing in The National Map Viewer, are black and white, natural color, or color infrared. Additionally, the images may be downloaded in both native and GeoTIFF formats from the National Center for Earth Resources Observation (EROS).” I guess Google is getting all the attention these days and we journalists/bloggers/GIS professionals need to work harder to keep up.

ESRI Hurricane Resources

James Fee, who writes a fine blog called Spatially Adjusted, points folks to ESRI resources for those dealing with the latest hurricane. He wonders why no one at ESRI blogged it. He wonders about that RSS feed he’s about which he’s been asking. ESRI didn’t let the press, at least the folks here at Directions, know about this resource, either.

On the other hand, ESRI did put the link on its main page, right bang in the center. Moreover, after 9/11 ESRI and the other vendors have been quick to provide support in cases of natural disasters, including software and staff to pretty much anyone, “regardless of platform.” So, I suppose first responders have come to expect it.

Out of the Way Places Lose Bus Service

In an effort to rebound from a large loss, Greyhound has or will cut service to about 1000 towns. Passengers want speed and rural routes simply lose money. One small town in Tennessee had just 121 outbound passengers in all of 2004.

Free Money

The United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF) is offering nine $5,000 academic scholarships to students interested in studying geospatial intelligence or presently pursuing a degree in the tradecraft. Applications due October 1. Awards will be made at GEOINT.