The City of Ann Arbor released some GIS datasets in KML and shapefile format. The local paper shows them off but doesn’t seem to link to where they can be downloaded. I found a list of datasets here.
The article does note that at one time the datasets included a limitation that at least some of the data was to be for internal use only, but that’s changed. When I went to look for a license, I found just this statement:
Source Data
Applications using data supplied by this site must perform the following:
1) Notify the City of Ann Arbor via email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address);
2) Include the following disclaimers on their sites or in their application:
“The data made available here has been modified for use from its original source, which is the City of Ann Arbor. The City of Ann Arbor makes no claims as to the completeness, accuracy or content of any data contained in this application; makes no representation of any kind, including, but not limited to, warranty of the accuracy or fitness for a particular use; nor are any such warranties to be implied or inferred with respect to the information or data furnished herein. The data is subject to change as modifications and updates are complete. The City disclaims any liability of any kind whatsoever arising from the use of the data provided to the public. It is understood that the information contained in the web feed is being used at one’s own risk.”
- AnnArbor.com
In Maricopa County, Arizona officials plan to be the first to track election equipment with GPS. Unfortunately, exactly how the tech works is not explained.
Over the last year, elections employees have worked to automate the system of tracking ballot boxes, ballot bags, voting machines, optical scanners and other equipment with bar-coded seals and labels as they prepare to kick off the program.
...
“It (the program) will snap the coordinates of the locations through GPS devices so when we’re looking up a piece of equipment, we can locate exactly where it’s at.” [Terry Thompson is the information-technology director for the County Recorder’s Office]
...
The new program captures the exact coordinates of the equipment and sends them to a handheld device that shows officials the precise locations.
I guess the scanners are GPS receivers (not sure how that works indoors) and I guess they are also on a cell network so they can transmit the location info back to a central server. So, in short, this would be like how UPS tracks packages?
- AZ Central
Just last week the South African Metro Police said they supported a specific navigation device that highlights speed cameras for drivers. This week they’ve changed their mind, arguing, among other things, the device which uses only an onboard database of cameras, interferes with the speed cameras.
[Metro Police spokesman superintendent Wayne]Minnaar says the police have picked up that some navigators affect the speed camera readings. “Despite their ability to detect cameras and then make people slow down, the devices are very disruptive. It disrupts the laser beam and then the camera doesn’t capture the correct readings. It’s not just jammers but navigators as well,” he explains.
He says the metro police have decided to “keep their distance from” navigators because they have discovered the devices cause the cameras to give incorrect readings and promote irresponsible driving where people will only slow down when they get camera or speed trap alerts.
It seems clear very few people understand how GPS devices work.
- ITWeb
