TopoEmployees: A Blog About USGS National Mapping Program

A brave soul has started a blog about “Rumors, rants, and a little actual information about happenings in the USGS national mapping program.” It’s “unofficial” and the writer/editor warns folks not to post to it from government computers.

Google Maps/Yahoo Traffic Mashup

I guess it had to happen: here’s a mashup of Google Maps and Yahoo Traffic…Officially, says the app, there’s some weather. “Inspired by John Resig. Traffic data by Yahoo! (thanks!), icons by Yahoo!, maps by Google, original glue by Phil, weather data by worldweather.org by way of Chris Heathcote.”

GPS Ok’d by USGA on a Per Tournament Basis

GPS and laser measuring devices may be used in golf tournaments at the discretion of the organizers. That’s the word from the United States Golf Association (USGA). I suppose that opens the door to more endorsements and advertising during TV coverage.

In my sport of running there are no limitations on using GPS during a race, so far as I know. One fellow even had a device that sent out an audible beep each time he was to take a step. He ran alone for the entire 26.2 miles I suspect.

India Prints Imagery Atlas

The Times of India reports that India’s National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA) has chosen to publish a print atlas of Indian 2.5 meter imagery from Indian satellites. The 212 page book will be out in about a month and will not include images of defense installations, something that brought Google under fire in that country. The publishers tout the value of the book for planner and even emergency response. While I know this is a big step for India, which has had a very limited tolerance for sharing spatial data, I wonder how long it will take to get the imagery online where it’s more accessible and potentially more useful.

At GEOINT: FBIS- “And what do you do?” ... “We make maps.”

While roaming the floor of the GEOINT conference, I stopped at the FBIS (Foreign Broadcast Information Service; www.fbis.gov) booth. "And what do you do," I asked. "We make maps," was the reply. "Oh," I said, "I’m not familiar with your agency, and who do you make them for." "We make them for all government agencies," was the terse reply. "Oh," I said, "And why would they come to you and not the USGS." Suffice to say the answer was even more terse and not very helpful. FBIS is the map services center of the CIA. Don’t bother going to the website because you can’t login unless you are a government agency or customer thereof. The material at the FBIS booth was most low level political maps, some showing topographic features but suffice to say that these were not the most helpful people and were not very knowledgeable about the agency’s mission. I suggest they may want to staff the booth with someone a little more helpful next time. When I sent an email to the agency to get permission for the website, I was referred to wnc.dialog.com, which is supported by the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) as well. My entire conversation with the FBIS booth staff reminded me of conversations I had when I taught remote sensing workshops at the USGS and when we asked certain attendees about their affiliation, their reply was sometimes a mumbled, "Well, I work for the government." Right.