Geoplatform.gov was apparently launched in 2 weeks. I’m not sure at all if that means all the tech was gathered, or if the tech was in place and data was fed in in two weeks, but I’ve asked.
“GeoPlatform.gov was launched in two weeks…”
- GCN
—- original post 6/25/10—-
The NOAA site that provides one of the most regularly updated maps of the state of the Gulf spill was not expected to be made public so soon. I am also perplexed that almost none of the coverage mentions this effort as part of the FGDC efforts. The two efforts continue to appear completely separate. Another anecdotal story supporting my assertion: the NOAA press person I pointedly asked in an e-mail if the map was part of the FGDC Geospatial Platform Initiative has not responded to my question.
Researchers began the website development effort to create an open-source environment that would enable users to maintain a fast and flexible system. It also was designed to provide real-time information instead of static maps and to put all the pieces together in a seamless manner. Merten [Amy Merten, chief of the Spatial Data Team in the Office of Response and Restoration at NOAA and co-director of the administration’s Coastal Response Research Center] says another driver was developing the systems for non-GIS users so everyone could access it quickly. When NOAA and the University of New Hampshire first started this project, they had no plans to deploy it in a real-world situation so soon. The site had been through one exercise and was scheduled for another drill when the rig exploded, and the oil spill began.
