|
|
|
Researchers from the University of Kansas published an article in the Archives of Neurology that suggests that “visuospatial” problems (trouble reading maps or building jigsaw puzzles) tend to appear about two or three years before memory loss. The study involved 444 people over the course of an average of six years; 134 developed Alzheimer’s.
The BBC, not the Atlanta Journal Constitution, is making a big deal of OpenStreetMap’s “mapathon” in Atlanta coming up this weekend. Among the leaders is Dr. Frank Howell from the Office of Research and Policy Analysis, who used to be a GIS professor, and new serves as Director of the volunteer GeoGeorgia Initiative. (Mission: to facilitate the growth of the geospatial industry in Georgia through training and the education of state and local governments to make geospatial data freely available to the public.) He hopes the city can “claim to the title of the most digitally mapped city by the new year.”
Among the participating organizations: CloudMade, Gainesville State College, GeoGeorgia Initiative, Technology Association of Georgia (TAG), Georgia URISA, the Georgia GIS Coordinating Committee, Southeastern GeoTech Center, Georgia 4-H Clubs and REI.
I like that the timing of the event helps raise further questions about what Google will be doing with its crowdsourced data. We know exactly what OSM will be doing with its data. We’d love a “report from the field” from anyone who is participating!
- press release (pdf)
The Napa Valley Register posted a map flooding in the area on Tuesday. It invites readers to contact the paper with reports, which it them posts to a Google Map. What’s interesting are the two comments:jefferson wrote on Oct 13, 2009 6:22 PM:
” “...minor flooding.” If you have ever been flooded out, you realize that there “minor” flooding doesn’t exist because you house and items are permanently damaged.
How about some clear reporting. Like the creeks or the river flooded out an area. Or, streets are one inch deep due to drainage problems.
People want clear and concise information. Not vague comments. “
UpValleyReader wrote on Oct 14, 2009 12:38 AM:
” It isn’t helpful when the press tries to frighten us instead of inform us. I want to know where there is standing water that could cause us to hydroplane while driving. Please avoid Skellenger Lane in Rutherford as the standing water is about 1 to 1.5 inches deep and could cause an issue at higher speeds. Thanks! “
This is a great way for citizens and news outlets to learn about the rewards and challenges of crowdsourcing.
The Challenger Center is offering a Webinar focussing on the Landsat Image Mosaic of Antarctica (LIMA) and how its used to explore the continent. It’s free and on October 21 at 12:00pm ET.
This sounds like an interesting paper for those considering using GIS in liberal arts. It’ll be presented at the Geological Society of America’s (GSA) annual meeting beginning later this week:
Additionally, Mike Taber, professor of education and director of CC’s [Colorado College] environmental program, will present his work on “Using GIS to Support a Data Driven Construction Approach to Teaching Global Climate Change.” Taber and collaborators at Colorado State University developed a curriculum that utilizes data-driven learning modules and challenges students to thoroughly understand climate change. Their work was sponsored by a grant from the Center for Multi-scale Modeling of Atmospheric Processes (CMMAP).
A faculty member and students from Northern Illinois University will tackle the economic climate in Riverside Illinois this fall. It seems the city will pay for the report produced, if it likes it; I’m not sure how that jibes with “volunteered.”
Six NIU students and their professor, Richard Greene, have volunteered to gauge downtown Riverside’s potential for economic improvement through a method of planning known as geographic information systems.
GIS is a complex system of collecting and computing geographic data, in this case to come up with a practical and sustainable business scenario for downtown.
It was back in 1946, when delegates from 25 countries came to London to create an international organization focused on facilitating standardization. The following year ISO was formed and in 1970 the day of recognition joined the calendar.
This year’s theme: “Tackling climate change through standards.”
So, a shout out to all our geospatial standards proponents, creators and users! This is hard work, that when best implemented, is invisible.
- ISO WSD page
- ISO PR
- The International News
