Disasters Live!

Ok, so the data are not exactly live, but they are real time, in a new website (click on Launch Viewer on the left) from USGS does show the latest earthquakes, fires and other severe events in the U.S. and some other areas. The app looks just like the National Map and likely uses the same engine. I have a sneaking suspicion that once GOS 2 is done, all of these website will run off of it.

ArcGIS 9.1 Ships

Hard to believe but I learned ArcGIS 9.1 is shipping in a blog. There is no press release (or maybe there is; it’s dated 5/25 on the ESRI website, but we don’t have it yet), but details are here, and there’s an ArcNews article, too. The best news for many folks: “We’ve also bundled some of our extensions products with the core desktop runtime (ArcView, Editor and Info) for free. This means that you’ll be able to use StreetMap, ArcPress, and ArcScan for free. If you’re running an ArcInfo license you’ll be able to use Maplex for free. If you’re on Engine and Server you can now use Streetmap for free as well.” Full detail on that here. There’s some pretty interesting discussion about how ESRI should implement EDN in the blog, too.

Tilting the UK Weather Map

There’s been a bit of disgruntlement by Scottish viewers of the BBC’s new weather map. Many maintain that the new high-tech angling of the map is biased to the southern part of the Island. There were other complaints about new symbology as well, but only the Scottish question made it to Parliament. After a motion on the topic and some questions, the BBC agreed to look at re-tilting the map. If you want more on weather - in particular how weather people should be trained as journalists - read this piece from Poynter.

Quote of the Week

“If all else fails, I guess I’d have to get a job in GIS studying the earth and help save the environment, but who knows.” Big Ten 400-meter hurdles champion Jaret Campisi, on his “back up plan” after he finishes his final semester at Penn State in GIS.

Autodesk Users: Caveat Emptor

Reader Simon shared this article from Australia’s The Age regarding Autodesk’s licensing agreements. It reads in part: “The real eye-opener is the clause that stipulates users allow Autodesk access physically, or electronically, to their systems and premises. This is to allow Autodesk to conduct an audit of customers’ systems. Under the same clause, Autodesk indicates its intent to recover (unspecified) costs for the audit.” The author, head of a CAD company, goes on to note that this agreement means he cannot insure his own clients that their data is indeed safe. A local reseller he contacted refused to discuss the license and Autodesk is “considering a response.”

Update: A response from Autodesk is posted at CADinfo.NET.