shp2text - Export your SHP's to Google Maps

Who isn't looking for an easy way to distribute SHP files to non-GIS users? The guys over at Obviously.com have a real quick way to do just that. Check out their ideas here. Its all based around the Shapefile C Library V1.2.

Free WebCast: Pliable Display Technology (PDT) by IDELIX

This free webseminar looks very interesting and could have tons of applications. From their website: Pliable Display Technology (PDT) by IDELIX is an advanced user interface technology that can be integrated into new and existing software applications to improve the way users view and interact with data. Taking the shape of a "virtual lens," PDT provides multi-layer data viewing and data fusion capabilities, allowing users to work with rich, converged content more effectively and with greater ease of comprehension. Available in a Software Development Kit, PDT is easily integrated to enhance existing software applications' toolsets. PDT works on all forms of data from satellite imagery to text and video, and on all platforms from PCs to smart phones. Already proven in applications built for the National-Geospatial Intelligence Agency, PDT can improve the data visualization and interaction capabilities in your software offerings - join the Carahsoft Webcast for a demo.

Google Earth Creating a Placemark Tutorial......enjoy while we all wait for ArcGIS Explorer to be released

Using Mapdex.org to View Spatial Data with or without ArcGIS

ArcIMS services are great. There are terabytes of data from Iraq, NOAA, and Federal as well as local communities. But you are not limited to only viewing that data from within the IMS site. You can easily add the data you need right in ArcGIS!

It gets even better for those users who don't have ArcGIS, because mapdex will display the information directly into Google Earth.

First navigate over to mapdex.org. There is a good chance you will find something of interest, as the site claims to be:

"A global index of 2,067 servers, serving 37,178 map services, containing
over 400,000 GIS Layers, covering more than 4,000,000 columns"

Once you find your data, click the "layer viewer" icon. A overview window will show a sample of the data and provides an option to display in Google Earth. However, hope it contains a projection - otherwise it cannot be displayed in Google Earth. This is a good place to remind us all about projecting our own data whenever possible. As you will find out, you will find valuable data, only to be frustrated that you cannot display it because it is not projected - it's just good practice to add a projection.

Now, let's bring this same data into ArcGIS. First, jot down the server name. I want to catch up on some locations that Seth and Summer have been this past week in the Fox hit the O.C. So, it's off to Newport Beach, California!

One result comes up. The data I am looking for is at www6.city.newport-beach.ca.us, (the city's IMS site.)

In ArcGIS:
Select 'Add Layer'
In the Lookin Drop Down, 'Select GIS Servers'
Double click 'Add IMS' Server
Paste in the URL from above
After a moment, the server will appear in the window
Click on the data you want in your map and select ok.

You map now has a live connection to the O.C.!

Note: this does not work with sites that require a user login feature, so results may vary.

Google PHP Mashup - Hotels for UC

That time is upon us again, and hopefully you have already made your reservations in sunny southern California for 2006 ESRI User Conference. I wanted to take this chance to show an easy Google Map that I made. It really just took the amount of time to type in the addresses of the hotels listed in the back of 2006 UC guide. And then another map was born!

What made it so easy is the PHP script called Phoogle Maps 2.0 by system7designs. Once I uploaded the phoogle.php script, I customized my main page script with just my unique Google API key, and added in the hotel addresses. Thats it! Phoogle Maps uses the Yahoo engine to geocode your addresses, and then plots them on the map on the fly.

I havn't been able to fix the Firefox 1.5 glitch in the info window, as I am not a PHP programmer. But the maps looks great on IE (not that I condone using IE!). There is a noticiable lag while the points geocode. Check it out:

GEOSPATIAL21.org Portal
In an effort to increase geospatial awareness, Geospatial21.org is a useful resource for any geospatial professional, however it is geared towards students. Developed by KZO Media with a $1 million grant from the Department of Labor, the site features videos, training modules, and offers a Geospatial Generalist Certificate for those passing a validation exam.

ArcDex Tutorial - Display Your ArcMap Data in Google Earth

Looking for a free, lightweight ArcMap extention to plot your ArcMap data in Google Earth? This tutorial demonstrates a quick project showing recent tornados in Florida, and just might be your answer.

Download the final product here to skip the tutorial and see the data in GE.

Google Maps moves to version 2 (officially)

Google has announced that it has moved over to version 2 today, April 3rd, 2006. Some new features include:

• Much smaller JavaScript download
• Two additional satellite zoom levels
• Overview map control
• Custom map controls
• Custom map overlays (GOverlay)
• Fewer memory leaks and more

Read all the detailed info here at the API homepage.

New York TV Channel 1 Highlights SmugMug and Google Map-Mashups (video)