I had a short discussion with Michael Jones, Google’s chief technology advocate, about the incorporation of the parcel layer in Google Maps. Jones said it was truly nothing more than improving Google’s ability to provide more accurate geocoding. When I discussed the notion that it was integrated so as to increase potential ad revenue from the real estate industry, he dismissed that notion. He conveyed that real estate was a narrow audience in terms of specific searches for commercial or residential information and that was not the intent.
He also mentioned that he believed at some point the supplier of the parcel information would eventually come forward which led me to believe that it was not Google that was suppressing the information about the source.
Why is it important to know the source? I think it’s simply a matter of understanding the intent that either party had by incorporating a data layer that seemed atypical for Google to do. Any more atypical than subsea terrain data? Any more atypical than displaying 3D buildings and their facades? Any more atypical than topographic data? All these data types seemed at one time the purview for applications by the GIS and CAD community but now are seen and used by millions of consumers on an atypical platform; i.e. not a GIS system, and are now being used by developers using the Google Maps API. With every new data type that Google introduces into Maps and Earth more questions arise about "what’s next?" Such as the new real estate listings layer just announced today. According to Mr. Jones, "It is interesting to use the price ranges (more than $20m, say, for expensive houses, or under $20k for inexpensive ones) to create a browseable information surface of the country’s housing demographics."
by Joe Francica on 10/21 at 01:22 PM |
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Director Vice Admiral Robert Murrett delivered an address at the GEOINT symposium and discussed the new charter of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) which was signed in July 2009 by the Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates. The charter establishes a dual role for the NGA as the geospatial intelligence functional manager for the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community. Elements of the charter that have been completely incorporated to date include the Central Imagery Office, the Defense Dissemination Program Office, the National Photographic Interpretation Center and the Defense Mapping Agency. One element that has been a point of controversy that is not as yet incorporated into the charter is the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), responsible for the nation’s spy satellites, whose existence is being questioned and whose charter is under review. Some of the controversy involves the plan for next generation of electro-optical satellites to support the intelligence community and what the role of the NRO should be, if any, according to an article in the Online Defense and Acquisition Journal.
by Joe Francica on 10/21 at 01:11 PM |
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The Director of National Intelligence (DNI), Dennis Blair, addressed the GEOINT Symposium audience this morning in a keynote address. Blair is the person responsible for the coordination of intelligence information between the various intelligence agencies in the U.S. government. The purpose of his presentation was to brief the audience on the four goals of the DNI:
- To enable wise national security policies and give a clear picture of the facts on the ground from around the world.
- Support effective national security action once the administration makes a decision to deploy troops or other teams (NGO’s, etc.) and to provide these teams with information to be effective in the field.
- Provide technological innovation.
- Work as a single integrated team – sharing information and skills. Basically, the DNI serves as a coordinator to balance intelligence for military requirements with cost and risk.
These are wonderful goals and perhaps need to be articulated to some. However, I find this type of presentation to be of little value as a whole. It is great PR but serves little to advance the dialog among the attendees. I think the charter of the DNI is well defined but most of his job is done in the "dark" anyway. To address a public forum seems counter to his role as an intelligence officer and, frankly, isn’t necessary. This information can be easily conveyed through other sources and seems somewhat a waste of the director’s time (and taxpayer money) to try and articulate his functional role. Finally, he just isn’t going to divulge information to this audience that is "news."
I can only imagine his job is difficult enough in trying to break down barriers of intelligence gathering among entrenched agency culture without having to determine what is or isn’t appropriate in a public forum.
by Joe Francica on 10/21 at 01:03 PM |
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In a conversation with Scott Little, First American Spatial Solutions (FASS) vice president, he confirmed that the company was not the provider of the parcel layers now seen in Google Maps. He wanted to dispel some of the rumors that have been circulating and feels that Google’s introduction of parcels will raise awareness of the potential applications that can now be developed with having these data available.
When asked if FASS had been in discussions with Google about supplying them with the data, Little said, “We have had general discussions for a pretty good amount of time. With that said, our focus has always been on providing a premium product…keeping it fresh and I think that for those reasons we’ve looked at this through different colored glasses. There is obviously room for multiple people to exist in the market. What Google is doing is very positive."
by Joe Francica on 10/21 at 10:49 AM |
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Turns out, per uLocate, the folks behind WHERE:
...BlackBerry users are more likely to compare gas prices online than other smart-phone owners. IPhone users, meanwhile, are eight times more likely to search for Starbucks ... locations than users of other smart phones…
- Forbes
by Adena Schutzberg on 10/21 at 07:13 AM |
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