May 2008 eNews
WALIS eNews
May 2008
What’s Happening in the WALIS Community?
Spatial Technology in Schools Competition
WALIS Stakeholders in the News
Native title information faster
Shires of Broomehill and Tambellup to Amalgamate
Federal Budget Summary – Significant Outcomes for Local Government Sector
Australian Angle
Bushfire Trails Get $5 Million Boost
UN confirms Australia's extended marine jurisdiction
Investment of AUS$200m to rescue the Great Barrier Reef
Exploration scientist joins the NASA space race
News from Around the Globe
Satellite Data to the Rescue: Burma
Environmental protection vital to reducing natural disaster impact
Virtual Worlds, Pubs, Direction, and Just Plain Cool
NAVTEQ Launches Enhanced Traffic Patterns
ESRI and Google Offer New Solutions for Finding and Using Geospatial Data
Planet 9 Studios’ RayGun could make GPS fun
Gov. Schwarzenegger Highlights Need to Upgrade Technology Infrastructure
Upcoming Events
Details of events in Australia and around the world
27-28 May 2008 Data Capabilities & Strategic Data Mining
28 May: WinGIT Facilitated Workshop
27 May: SSI Cadastral Interest Group
3-4 Jun: OGC Technical Interoperability Day and Business Interoperability Day
16-17 Jun: Regional Perspectives Conference
18-19 Jun: BITRE Transport Colloquium
24-25 Jun: ESRI Australia Resources Symposium
14-18 Jul: Curtin Spatial Sciences 5 Day Course
17-19 Jul: Queensland Spatial Conference 2008 Global Warning
21-23 Jul: KM Australia 2008
29 Sep-3 Oct: Australasian Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Conference
27-29 Oct: OZRI 2008 – ESRI Australia’s National Client Conference
What’s Happening in the WALIS Community?
WALIS Seminar Series
The WALIS Office runs a series of seminars and workshops throughout the year. Is there a topic that you'd like us to arrange a seminar or workshop on? Some topics that may be of interest include creative commons and environment and health surveillance systems. If you would like provide input to a WALIS Community seminar or have a topic you would like to share with everyone, please contact Tessa Barkman on 9273 5947 or email tessa.barkman@walis.wa.gov.au
Spatial Technology in Schools Competition
Entries have been trickling in over the last few weeks. We now have confirmed entries from 10 schools with one school entering 3 separate teams! Plans are underway for a meet and greet session so that schools and mentors get to know each other.
We are still desperately seeking mentors for the following areas – Mandurah, Fremantle and Southern River. If you are keen to be involved, please get in touch with Liz Marjot at stiscomp@bigpond.com as soon as possible.
Interragator+
A WALIS Metadata Group meeting is scheduled for Monday, 9 June, 2pm at the WALIS conference room North Ground in Midland. Agency Metadata Administrators are encouraged to attend.
Discussion points include: Issues you are facing and what can be done, as well as future developments and plans to migrate to open source GeoNetwork software to partner with national initiatives
Creative Commons
The Cooperative Research Centre for Spatial Information (CRC-SI) has been funding a digital licensing copyright project. The Government information licensing framework and CRC-SI Project 3.05 is a legal platform to support inter-agency and inter-jurisdictional exchange and sharing of data.
Treasury Queensland and partners visited Western Australia to present their findings. The data services under SLIP will undergo an audit to assess the type of CC layers. The Creative Commons Presentation can be found on the WALIS website.
WALIS ISO certification
On 13 May, the WALIS Office operations were reviewed as part of the process for attaining the International Standard Accreditation ISO9001;2000. The review was carried out by BSI Benchmark Certification (external audit consultants) and the results of their findings and potentially ISO certification, will be made known in the near future.
WALIS Stakeholders in the News
Native title information faster
Finding information on native title is easier than ever following the launch of the National Native Title Tribunal’s new website. The website has been designed to provide up-to-date information on claims and applications, as well as important introductory information about what native title is and how it works in Australia.
Public affairs manager Tim Evans said research and feedback from the previous site’s users had prompted a major upgrade. “Native title can be a complicated area and even now, some 15 years after native title first made headlines, confusion sometimes persists about what native title actually is,” he said. “Recognising this, the priority in upgrading this site was to explain native title and the issues surrounding it in a way that would promote a greater understanding while maintaining information to the people currently involved in current and past native title claims.
“Among the changes are a new range of interactive features, an enhanced search facility and easier page navigation. “A number of multimedia presentations have also been added to the website. For example, it is now possible to access information on the state of native title activity in any Australian state or territory simply by clicking on the map on the homepage. “There is also the opportunity to hear native title holders discuss the importance of their native title rights and interests.”
The site makes keeping up with native title news easy. Visitors can sign up to the Tribunal's publications and news service or complete an online form to receive hard copies of Tribunal publications. To view the changes visit www.nntt.gov.au
Shires of Broomehill and Tambellup to Amalgamate
The Minister for Local Government accepted the Western Australian Local Government Advisory Board’s recommendation to amalgamate the Shires of Broomehill and Tambellup in order to establish the new Shire of Broomehill-Tambellup from July 1, 2008.
The State Government will provide $433,000 under the Department’s Connecting Local Governments and Structural Reform (CLGSR) program to support a number of change management and infrastructure programs to make a seamless transition to a new local government.
Both councils have been working towards the creation of a new local government over a number of years, initiated in 2005 through the appointment of a joint Chief Executive Officer and a subsequent Resource Sharing Agreement which saw both Shires enter into a number of other partnership arrangements.
Full article: http://www.dlgrd.wa.gov.au/LocalGovt/Connect/RecipientsReports.asp#amalgamation
Federal Budget Summary – Significant Outcomes for Local Government Sector
The recently handed down Federal Budget included a number of significant outcomes that affect the core functions of Local Government in Western Australia.
Financial Assistance Grants to Local Government in WA were increased by $14m – which at 6.8% is the highest proportional increase for any State – taking the total to from $205m in 2007/08 to $219m for 2008/09.
It comprises $131m in general purpose assistance (up from $122m in 2007/08) and $88m in untied local road funding (up from $83m). In addition the sector made progress on three issues critical to the future operation of the sector with inclusion in the Budget of commitments to:
· Review the full tax system which is seen as the first step towards Local Government receiving a direct percentage of tax revenue.
· Establish a regional and Local Government infrastructure fund to take effect in the 2009/10 Federal Budget.
· Commence the process to deliver Local Government Constitutional recognition.
However the Budget also terminated the Regional Partnerships Program which encompassed more than 200 projects in WA. Clarification as to the number of projects that will now not receive funding has been difficult to establish. However it has been suggested that those affected will be applicants yet to receive written confirmation of funding approval. Local committees are urged to check directly with the Federal Department of Infrastructure, Transport Regional Development and Local Government as to the status of their specific application.
Further Information please contact, Deputy CEO Wayne Scheggia on 9213 2024, or email: wscheggia@walga.asn.au Source: Local Government News
Australian Angle
Bushfire Trails Get $5 Million Boost
Australia’s bushfire trails will be better maintained with $5 million in funding under the Bushfire Mitigation Program for 2008-09, the Rudd Government announced today.
Attorney-General Robert McClelland said the funding will help construction, maintenance, and signage works on Australia’s extensive network of bushfire trails. “Bushfires are part and parcel of Australian life,” Mr McClelland said. “This makes it imperative to ensure that when bushfires hit, firefighters can get to the scene quickly and safely.” “The Bushfire Mitigation Program helps to make this happen by bringing together State fire suppression and land management agencies with local governments to identify and address the most critical fire trail works.”
Through building and maintaining fire trails, the program complements existing fire risk management activities around Australia and works in conjunction with State and Territory bushfire mitigation priorities and assessment procedures.
“I encourage State and Territory agencies and local governments to develop applications for the program,” said Mr McClelland. Information on how to apply and eligibility criteria are available from Emergency Management Australia (EMA), a division of the Attorney-General’s Department, at www.ema.gov.au.
Source: http://www.ema.gov.au/agd/EMA/emaInternet.nsf/Page/NewsMedia
UN confirms Australia's extended marine jurisdiction
Australia's submission for jurisdiction over an additional 2.5 million square kilometers of seabed has been confirmed by the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf.
The Commission has confirmed the location of the outer limit of Australia's continental shelf in nine distinct marine regions, which entitles Australia to large areas of continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles. This decision means Australia now has jurisdiction over an extra 2.5 million square kilometers of continental shelf, which is almost five times the size of France, almost ten times the size of New Zealand, and approximately the same size as Western Australia.
In these areas, Australia has exclusive rights to what exists on the seabed, including oil, gas and biological resources. "This is a major boost to Australia's offshore resource potential and also to our ability to preserve the marine environment on the seabed," Minister for Resources and Energy, the Hon Martin Ferguson AM MP, said.
Full article: http://www.ga.gov.au/news/archive/2008/april/#clcs
Investment of AUS$200m to rescue the Great Barrier Reef
Threats to the Great Barrier Reef, including the effects of climate change and declining water quality will be tackled by the Rudd Labor Government’s $200 million reef rescue plan announced in today’s Budget. Environment Minister Peter Garrett and Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister Tony Burke said the funding will support land management grants to farmers and community groups and fund vital research. The rescue plan will help protect one of the world’s great natural wonders, while benefiting local conservation and Indigenous groups, agricultural production and tourism, fishing and aquaculture industries.
It is a key component of the $2.2 billion Caring for our Country initiative, to restore the health of Australia’s environment and build on improved land management practices.
The Australian Government will work closely with stakeholders, including governments, farmers and the community to implement the five-year program. Funds will be focussed on achieving clear, measurable outcomes in terms of improving water quality in the reef and achieving best value-for-money for taxpayers over the long-term.
Full article: http://www.environmental-expert.com/resultEachPressRelease.aspx?cid=19956&codi=31906&idproducttype=8
Exploration scientist joins the NASA space race
CSIRO Exploration and Mining scientist, Dr Brent McInnes – who recently worked at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre – says there is huge potential for US-Australian collaboration in lunar and planetary exploration technology.
“My work with NASA involved investigating whether a CSIRO instrument for mineral dating, called the Alphachron™, could be adapted for measuring the ages of minerals on Mars,” he says.
CSIRO currently uses this technology to determine the age of iron oxide minerals formed during weathering of Australian ore deposits.
“Using the Alphachron to date minerals on Mars can tell us when liquid water may have been present, and by inference, when life may have been sustainable near the surface of the planet,” Dr McInnes says.
Other exploration synergies include the application of instruments developed for the 2009 NASA Mars Science Laboratory mission to mineral exploration and environ mental monitoring in Australia.
Full Article: http://www.csiro.au/news/SpaceExploration.html
News from Around the Globe
Satellite Data to the Rescue: Burma
Satellite data is at the centre of international efforts to provide relief to millions of Burmese devasted by Cyclone Nargis. Relief organisations such as Direct Relief International are using Google Earth as a planning and management tool, while agencies including the United States Geological Survey are providing satellite imagery to aid rescue and recovery efforts.
Full article: http://www.asmmag.com/news/926
Environmental protection vital to reducing natural disaster impact
Environmental degradation is a key factor turning extreme weather events into natural disasters, a new WWF report has found. Natural Security: Protected Areas and Hazard Mitigation, prepared with environmental research group Equilibrium, examines in detail the impacts of floods in Bangladesh (2000), Mozambique (2000 and 2001) and Europe (2006), heat waves and forest fires in Portugal (2003), an earthquake in Pakistan (2005) and the Indian Ocean tsunami (2004) and Hurricane Katrina in the USA (2005) in illustrating the natural disaster prevention and mitigation potential of environmental conservation.
“It is deforestation and floodplain development that most often links high rainfall to devastating floods and mudslides,” said Liza Higgins-Zogib of the WWF’s Protected Areas Initiative. “Extreme coastal events cause much more loss of life and damage when reefs are damaged, mangroves are removed, dune systems are developed and coastal forests are cleared.”
The World Bank estimates that more than 3.4 billion people, or more than half of the world’s population, are exposed to at least one natural hazard and according to the report, over the past 50 years the severity of impacts from natural disasters has increased, due in part to the loss of healthy ecosystems in the regions affected. Full Article: Environmental News Network [l3]
Virtual Worlds, Pubs, Direction, and Just Plain Cool
Geography is just as important in virtual worlds as it is in the real world. While the users of these technologies (e.g. Second Life or World of Worldcraft) may inhabit distinctly different locations IRL (in real life) they interact with a distinct landscape and within very real communities when they are online in virtual worlds. In the US we are oddly behind in certain areas such as mobile technology (mostly thanks to carrier limitations) and virtual worlds (in some ways related to our mobile limitations). Why am I rambling on about this (again)? Well it is because GeoMullah himself twittered (indirectly) about a new journal that has been announced, the Journal of Virtual Worlds Research. As you might imagine from our discussions on the topics of Virtual Worlds, Serious Games, and Virtual/Augmented Reality (not the same thing, just didn’t want to type Reality twice…DOH did it anyway) we here at VerySpatial are all about how these technologies will flow back into the real world. There were a few examples at Where 2.0 this year (hopefully we will see more integration of VW and IRL geo next year a la Sue’s work with XNA) but it is just the tip of the cliched iceberg . Just this week we received the registration announcement for the next Virtual Worlds conference (this time in LA) and we even saw David Wortley of the Serious Games Institute at Where this week (just saw him walk by while we were interviewing someone so we couldn’t grab him and talk unfortunately, SGI is really creating a presence). All of this (to me) seems to come back to the need for a publication like the Journal of Virtual Worlds Research which shows the potential to become a great communication tool. I hope that they will have New Media content to support the journal. Screencasts of new projects as well as industry and research news would be great communication tools between issues of the journal.
But wait! There’s more. Great things have a way of being simultaneously developed in different locations so there are other journals that are on the way in this arena including the Journal of Gaming and Virtual Worlds (targeting a 2009 release), The Yale Law Journal’s Pocket Part has a call for papers on the legal and economic impacts of Virtual Worlds, while Wiley’s Computer Animation and Virtual Worlds is up to Volume 19 this year. This is a rich area, full of potential with a wealth of research moving out of some of the traditional arenas thanks to an invigorating shot from commercial interest. Just as the geoweb has kicked off great ideas and amazing innovation, geographic data and representation will get another boost from virtual worlds and serious gaming at some point (heck the globes already have opened the door). You know that we will talk about this again on the podcast, but if you are working in Geography and virtual worlds and will be either at the ESRI UC in August, SEDAAG in November, the AAG in March (09), or just want to connected with like minded folks contact us so we can talk about how we can move from being a few scattered voices in geospatial research to a group with a shared vision (and maybe reduce a little duplication of effort while we are at it). Source: http://veryspatial.com/index.php
NAVTEQ Launches Enhanced Traffic Patterns
NAVTEQ Launched Enhanced Traffic Patterns (TM) Historic Traffic Database. NAVTEQ (NYSE: NVT), a leading global provider of digital map data for location-based solutions and vehicle navigation, announced the availability of NAVTEQ Traffic Patterns (TM) North America v3.0, a significantly updated historic database which includes typical traffic speeds on nearly one million miles of primary and secondary roads across the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada.
NAVTEQ Traffic Patterns gives product developers and service providers a reliable, easy-to-use data set for a variety of smart-routing applications. Routing applications utilizing NAVTEQ Traffic Patterns put at drivers' fingertips the information they need to decide when and how to avoid typically congested areas. From commuters to emergency service providers, NAVTEQ Traffic Patterns enables more accurate route planning and improves trip time estimates based on likely traffic conditions.
NAVTEQ Traffic patterns is created using historical observations from GPS probe and sensor data which is aggregated, verified and then matched to traffic location codes in the NAVTEQ Map database. Full Article: http://www.directionsmag.com/press.releases/?duty=Show&id=22737
ESRI and Google Offer New Solutions for Finding and Using Geospatial Data
At the Where 2.0 conference held in Burlingame, California, Google's John Hanke and ESRI's Jack Dangermond shared the stage to describe their updated vision for making ESRI's users' geodata and services more usable across the Web.
ArcGIS Server 9.3 will make its metadata service "scrapable" into KML and thus findable via Google's geographic search (once known as KML search). Further, ArcGIS Server will be able to publish not only that data as streaming KML (and GeoRSS) but also related services. Dangermond showed finding data from a Portland, Oregon service, visualizing it and then performing analysis, all from Google Earth. Said another way, all data and services served by ArcGIS Server could potentially be findable and usable in any Google mashup. Further, the resultant KML can be used in app that supports the OGC standard. Full article:
http://apb.directionsmag.com/archives/4293-GoogleESRI-Announcement-in-Plain-English.html
Planet 9 Studios’ RayGun could make GPS fun
Can someone build a GPS system that’s not a boring necessity and instead is a fun way to socialize with your friends? That’s what Planet 9 Studios, a San Francisco startup, wants to accomplish with RayGun, a GPS navigation and social networking application. It is already available in 2D and is about to launch a 3D version.
With RayGun, you can create an avatar to represent yourself, and move around in the application. You can also share routes, text chat, share photos and video, and even talk to each your friends over VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol).
By combining these social networking features with GPS, the company calls RayGun the first social navigation application. The application runs on cell phones, personal navigation devices, in-car navigation systems, and PCs. There’s also a 2D version that runs on Google Earth and on Google Maps. RayGun runs in 3D on Windows Mobile, Symbian and Linux based phones. Support for more platforms is coming, says Planet 9 chief executive David J. Colleen.
Full article: http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/05/19/planet-9-studios-raygun-could-make-gps-fun
Hands On With Google Health
After the usual lengthy alpha phase and more than a little hullaballoo over potential privacy concerns, Google Health has launched. While it remains to be seen whether entrusting your personal health records to Google is ultimately a good idea, the service does offer some value as a convenient online place to store and manage your health information. So rather than join the fray in debating whether or not you should actually give Google Health a try, take a tour of the service and leave your health care privacy decisions up to you.
Full article: http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/05/20/hands-google-health
Also note related article: Hold Off on Google Health at http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/05/20/hold-google-health
Gov. Schwarzenegger Highlights Need to Upgrade Technology Infrastructure
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger addressed hundreds of local and state information technology (IT) personnel, technology officials and industry leaders at the GTC West 2008 Conference on California's Future. The Governor discussed his vision for California's future, and the role that technology and government can play in meeting the challenges that lie ahead.
"We are in a new age where technology is everywhere around us and drives everything that we do. It is also our greatest partner and asset as we work to conquer the challenges that threaten our future."
The Governor also highlighted how technology can be used to better protect Californians. He called on State Chief Information Officer Teri Takai to create a task force to help other agencies and departments tap into Geographic Information Systems (GIS). GIS is a technology that utilizes geographic mapping, like Google Earth, that is layered with data that allows users to navigate in an environment where they can visualize scenarios in unlimited new ways.
The GIS technology has tremendous potential to serve the public in a variety of areas, including emergency response, public health and the environment. During last year's firestorms, for example, GIS allowed firefighters to see through the smoke-giving them a more accurate, real-time view of conditions on the ground.
Full Article: http://media-newswire.com/release_1066663.html
Upcoming Events
Data Capabilities & Strategic Data Mining
27 - 28 May 2008, Sydney
Realising the Capabilities of your Data Warehouse and Repository. Effectively managing your organisation’s data through consolidation, analysis and reporting. For professionals seeking to expand and maximise data capabilities within their organizations and Strategic Data Mining; Techniques, Tools and Tactics for professionals seeking to extract information from large or complex data sets
For more information: http://www.arkgroupaustralia.com.au/events-c013-datacapabilities.htm
SSI - Cadastral Interest Group
27 May 2008, 18:00 - 20:00, SSIWA Office, 2/154 Hampden Road, Nedlands
Contact: Eugene Browne, 9472 0828
WinGIT Facilitated Workshop
28 May 2008, GHD Offices
Enquiries to Natalie Ladner secretary@wingit.asn.au
OGC Technical Interoperability Day and Business Interoperability Day
3-4 June 2008, GFZ Potsdam, Telegrafenberg 326, 14473 Potsdam, Germany.
OGC Interoperability Days will coincide with the OGC Technical Committee meetings, which are being held in Potsdam that week. The first day will be in English and the second day in German.
On Tuesday, Mark Reichardt, President of the OGC, will open the event with a keynote on the value of open standards and their potential to open new market segments. For customers as well as software suppliers and solution integrators there is a huge win-win potential in using open standards based components to build sustainable geospatial solutions.
There will be a presentation and discussion of funding opportunities in the context of the 7 th Framework Program of the European Commission: OGC is actively involved in a number of high profile projects and OGC staff will describe how OGC Membership can help to build successful proposals and support the R&D work in future projects. Participants in current projects will describe their use of OGC standards and talk about their experience in using OGC as a communication platform to advance European research and development.
The third topic to be addressed on Tuesday is the world of 3D and the latest news on CityGML, an OGC standard. A number of real world examples will highlight how 3D models and visualisation are becoming part of geospatial data infrastructures.
Contact: Martin Klopfer (atrakas@opengeospatial.org)
Detailed programs and registration information are available at: www.opengeospatial.org/event/080603techinterop
Registration is free, but attendees must register separately for each day.
Regional Perspectives Conference, 'Understanding Sustainable Regions'
16 – 17 June 2008, Mural Hall, Parliament House, Canberra
This conference will present and discuss issues effecting Australia's regions across three main themes, Understanding Community wellbeing; Understanding growth, change and contrasts across Northern Australia and climate shocks - understanding regional adaptation. Keynote speaker Professor Philip McCann, Professor of Economics, The University of Waikato, New Zealand.
http://www.bitre.gov.au/info.aspx?ResourceId=621&NodeId=86
8th BITRE Transport Colloquium
18-19 June 2008, Mural Hall, Parliament House, Canberra.
Australian transport faces many challenges including ensuring infrastructure capacity and providing competitive service against a background of high oil prices, labour market skills shortages and a need for transport to be part of an effective response to global climate change and security threats. The Colloquium will discuss a range of issues for Australian transport and infrastructure policy, including aviation growth, supply chain efficiency, urban transport, skill shortages, transport security and climate change policy for international transport emissions.
http://www.transportcolloquium.com.au/
ESRI Australia Resources Symposium
24-25 June 2008, Sheraton Hotel, Perth
The 2008 ESRI Australia Resources Symposium provides the perfect opportunity to hear from international experts and leading industry figures about how others are using location intelligence to meet the complex challenges of managing resources operations. The Symposium will focus on the application of GIS across all stages of mining, pipeline and petroleum life, from exploration, planning and production through to facilities management and closure.
Enquiries to 1800 447 111; connect@esriaustralia.com.au; www.esriaustralia.com.au/resources_symposium
Curtin Spatial Sciences 5 Day Course
14-18 Jul, Department of Spatial Sciences, Curtin University, WA
A 5-day series of Professional Development Courses: 14-18 July 2008.
Basic Surveying Concepts (14 July 2008)
Basic Introduction to GPS (15-16 July 2008)
Coordinate Transformations and Datums for the Spatial Industry (17-18 July)
Queensland Spatial Conference 2008 - Global Warning: What's Happening in Paradise
17-19 July 2008, Spatial Sciences Institute, Surfers Paradise
The purpose of this Conference is to identify the threat, present factual arguments, provide innovative methods of spatial analysis/monitoring and to develop sustainable solutions to a phenomenon that is now a household name but not very well understood. The QSC2008 Conference will facilitate the opportunity for spatial professionals to provide sound solutions to the potential effects of global warming.
Enquiries to Susan Harris qsc2008@absoluteevents.com.au on +61-7-3394 2310; www.qsc2008.com.au/.
KM Australia 2008
21-23 July 2008, Melbourne Convention Centre
Moving forward with an enterprise approach to knowledge, information and digital cultures
For more information visit: www.kmaustralia.com
Australasian Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Conference
29 Sep-3 October, 14th; Spatial Sciences Institute, Darwin
Enquiries to +61-2-6282-2282; info@spatialsciences.org.au; www.14arspc.com.
OZRI 2008 – ESRI Australia’s National Client Conference
27-29 October 2008, National Convention Centre, Canberra
ESRI Australia's national client conference, OZRI, will be based on the theme "Putting knowledge into place". While exploiting the location component of information to solve complex issues is nothing new to those experienced in the use of GIS, location intelligence is increasingly being recognised as an important problem solving tool by a growing number of new users and new industries. Conference sessions will explore the different ways organisations in Australia and around the world use location intelligence to work smarter and gain real benefits, while also exploring what the future holds for GIS and location intelligence.
Enquiries to 1800 447 111; ozri@esriaustralia.com.au; www.esriaustralia.com.au/ozri
Interesting Website of the Month
See what Jack Sees
Go to http://www.mapjack.com/ to see what Jack sees. Jack may look like an ordinary guy, but he sure gets around, with the help of a small team dedicated to high quality Immersive Street-Side Imagery, and bringing mass coverage online. Jack’s on a mission, on foot, by car, and by boat. The coverage area doesn’t stop street-side, it also include walking areas such as Parks, Universities and famous walking streets. San Francisco is only the starting point, more coverage and more cities coming soon.
Mapjack.com showcases a new level of mapping technology. What others have done with NASA budgets and Star Wars-like equipment, they have done on a shoestring budget, along with a few trips to Radio Shack. Specifically, we developed an array of proprietary electronics, hardware and software tools that enable to capture an entire city’s streets with relative ease and excellent image quality.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this newsletter is provided for general information purposes. It does not constitute professional or expert advice and you must not use or rely upon it for that purpose. WALIS and the State of Western Australia, do not guarantee and do not accept responsibility for the accuracy, currency, completeness and reliability of the information contained in this newsletter. The opinions contained in the information do not necessarily reflect the opinions of WALIS or the State of Western Australia. Links to other Internet sites are provided for your convenience only and they do not constitute an endorsement, approval or recommendation of the material contained in those other Internet sites. It is your responsibility to evaluate the relevance, accuracy, completeness and reliability of material contained in those other Internet sites.