New Orleans Map Mashup Tracks Recovery

The Google Map mashup site tracking recovery projects had been talked about for some time, but it’s finally up.

EU Objects to TA/TomTom

It’s not a deal breaker; TA has until May 5th to respond to the objections.

- Reuters

Tele Atlas had no comment.

- Reuters

And Tom Tom shares fell up to 1.55 euros, or 5 percent, to 29.65 euros in early morning trading in Europe.

- Bloomberg News

Proposed CT Law Would Allow Contractors to Set the Price of State Data to the Public

An editorial in The Day (Hartford) is ok with one part of a new bill providing a few more details are added. That part of the bill restricts access to risky data held by utilities. It’s the second part that’s not ok and seems related to GIS: “Adjusting the Cost of Obtaining Public Records.” The idea is that when such functions as creating a GIS are outsourced to the private sector, the cost of those data to the public be set in the contract. There are no limits to the potential charges. The head of the state’s Freedom on Information Commission, Colleen M. Murphy, agrees this is not a good idea. 

Two Oblique Imaging Systems for Alachua County, FL

The Alachua County Property Appraiser Ed Crapo signed a nearly $200,000 deal in May to acquire Multivision’s oblique imagery for the county. Just two weeks earlier, the county’s Growth Management Department bought similar technology, at about half the cost, from Pictometry. There are allegations of conflicts of interest, and a lawsuit between the vendors. Most people seem to agree that the duplicate systems are not needed.

- The Gainesville Sun

Friend Density Maps on FaceBook

Reader Kyle passed along news of a new Facebook app called Friend Density. It does what you’d think - plots the density (thematic heat map of sorts) of where your friends are. Apparently at launch it was not worldwide, but is now.

A few comments on The Wall note that this app is of interest to a few geography majors. Says one:

As a geography major and frequent GIS user, this is the first facebook application that I felt compelled to get!

In other Facebook news, Net Ventures, a Sydney-based development outfit that built “Shout Out,” won Sensis’ app contest and $15,000. It locates friends either as a Facebook plug in or a stand-alone app. The contest is for apps that use Sensis’ Whereis platform.

- ZDnet Australia