Geoplatform.gov Launches; It’s Esri’s Portal for ArcGIS!

Here's the press release.

Here's the user interface.

Here's the help.

A Few New Geo APIs from Programmable Web

A few new APIs from the 61 recently added to Programmable Web. There are some other geo ones in the list, too.

Union County NC GIS API: Framework that allows spatial analysis to be performed on GIS data from Union County, North Carolina, through simple HTTP requests. Methods create and execute spatial queries against a PostGIS database (spatially enabled database). Analysis results depend entirely on user input and response format preference. Sample Community Mapper application uses these services almost exclusively to perform spatial analysis and return relevant results to users.

Vs30 map server API: Part of The National Seismic Hazard Mapping Project, this USGS map-based service supports online seismic analysis. Uses topographic slope as a proxy for average shear-velocity to estimate predictions of seismic site conditions across a region, including ground-motions following a global earthquake. Helps to predict earthquake hazards for a general location based on local conditions.

Alaska Satellite Facility API: The Alaska Satellite Facility (ASF) is one of eight Distributed Active Archive Centers (DAAC) which provide data to the NASA Earth Science Data and Information System (ESDIS). ASF's DAAC is the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) Data Center specializing in SAR data collection, processing, archiving, and distribution. An API allows access to the SAR Data Center archive using POST and GET protocols.

Local Search Maps Geocoder API: The Geocode API is a web service that allows users to easily integrate their site or application with the Google Maps or Virtual Earth API's. It is built to function with JavaScript, allowing the user to geocode based on criteria such as street address, city, state, and zip code.

UK Housing Org Wants Access to Gov Only Empty House Map

The UK Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) offers a map of vacant homes across the land. The map (GIS actually) is only available to public agencies. Thus, the Empty Homes Agency – which aims to create new homes by bringing empty properties back into use – does not have access. EHA calls that a “nonsensical bureaucratic rule”.

The HCA explained that the map, also called the Empty Homes GIS toolkit, “brings together publicly available data from a range of sources to enable local authorities and registered providers to target and tackle this issue within their area”.

All the data in the restricted map is public, so at least conceptually, EHA could build its own map.

- 24 Dash

Quote of the Week - 11/9/11

Naming Rights for Geospatial Lab in California Public School District

If I understand an article in California Watch correctly, the Santa Rosa City School District will soon have a gespatial tech center with corporate sponsorship. But the sponsor is not yet named.

In January, the district will finalize its first corporate partnership: a $1 million deal to name its new geospatial technology center. For students, the deal means more than just a name-brand building, Miller said. 

 

"We would hopefully want people from the industry to come in and speak to our students about career opportunities in the field in general, but also with their organization," she said. 

 

For the company, which Miller said she could not yet disclose, "it's the development of your next workforce." The company has asked to use the building during the summer, when school is not in session, as a training center for its employees. Local colleges also will use the facility for its observatory and weather station, she said.