Maps on the Internet

Name: Date:

Assigned 4/5 Due 4/12 (in class)

Before you forget, save this document and create a folder for this assignment; File -> Save As …, in the window that opens, go to My Documents, right-click, and choose New -> Folder, name the folder lab2myname, and save this document with your name in the filename in that folder).

A useful hint for keeping track of documents is to email them to yourself, I find the especially useful if I need to move between locations or stop-and-start things often.

Maps on the internet

* In bold red are the action items you need to complete and hand in.

This lab is intended to familiarize you with geospatial information on the internet. As this exercise depends on the use of the internet, do not put it off until the last minute! Should you have problems with a particular site I need to hear about it at least 24 hours before the lab is due (send me email).

Procedure

It may be helpful to print this exercise so you have it on paper, but it would be convenient to have the links digitally so you can copy-paste them. If something is giving you problems ask for help (please).

Read the overview of maps on the internet in Slocum, Ch 12 p245-247.

Visit all of the links under each of the five category and, as best you can, write something based on the following guidelines:

• The title of the site (what the webpage is titled). • The title of one map or page you locate (a name of a map, or link within the site). • Insert a copy of the map you find (instructions below). • A few sentences describing the map and what purpose it serves. • A few sentences describing issues you encounter while trying to use the map and what is interesting/useful or problematic.

You will turn in about one page (including graphics, more or less as necessary) per site/category so there should be about 6-12 pages total, or more if you want to go nuts. The grade will be assigned based on both content and completeness (not just the number of pages).

WARNING ... Many internet map sites depend on bandwidth, and sophisticated hardware/software, so they may be slow for short periods of time. Expect delays when loading sites. You may be using a wimpy computer or a browser doesn’t have the right plug-ins (Internet Explorer usually works), so be patient.

But, before you begin, let me introduce you to capture.exe and give you a chance to make a little graphic with AdobeIllustrator (or PowerPoint, or whatever graphics program you want). I want you to make a super-simple map, show me where you live or where you like to eat.

1 capture.exe is a useful little time-saving program. It lets you make “screen shots” of whatever you see on your monitor. Sometimes this is the easiest way to get what you want, but the output capabilities of sophisticated geospatial software, (i.e. ArcGIS, Erdas, ENVI, Idrisi etc) are improving. capture.exe makes 24-bit Windows Bitmaps (.bmp) images, bmp is an uncompressed image format (it is a large file when you save it) so beware because your document will get HUGE if you insert a lot of them without compressing them. To “compress” a bmp image, save it as a JPEG (.jpg) image; open the bmp with MS Paint or AdobePhotoshop, or whatever, and do “Save As …” and choose jpg as the output file type (jpg is a type of compression, and a file format).

Get capture.exe from the link below, save it somewhere you can find it (like the Desktop. It would be a good idea at this point to make a well named folder for this assignment, go to My Documents and create a folder called “yournameers105lab2” or something, and save stuff there as you go. Emailing things to yourself works too. http://www.geog.ucsb.edu/~jeff/exes/capture.exe

To insert an image in MS Word open a document, go to Insert -> Picture -> From File …

2 Where do you live, and where is a good place to eat?

Make a simple graphic showing where you live. I don’t expect perfection and I’m not going to grade “good” or “bad”, all I want to see is that you tried.

Go to the link below and zoom in-out and pan until you find your house and favorite eats. Maybe do it with two sets of images; one zoomed-out showing the general vicinity with features that can be easily recognized, then a zoomed-in view showing where you live, or favorite place to eat is, with maybe some lines overlays on streets with names? Its up to you.

Use this image (map) generator to get the base images (its flash, so you will have to use capture.exe to get images) http://www.ci.davis.ca.us/gis/2003aerial/

You can be fancy, or boring and simple. My expectations are not high so just do it for fun (please). Use Mapquest to get some street names. http://www.mapquest.com

3 Begin the real work …

Maps on the internet are available in many different forms and formats: you can order hardcopy (paper) maps, or find digital copies of maps, make maps 'on-demand,' and even interact with 'live' maps that are updated constantly. There are several general categories of maps on the internet. The categories used in this lab follow those outlined by Pima Co. CA CAD/GIS. "Developing GIS for the Web" [ http://www.dot.co.pima.az.us/gis/webdev/ ].

1. Paper Maps

Lets being by getting information about paper maps from the US Geologic Survey (USGS). The USGS is the federal government agency responsible for maintaining different scale maps for the entire United States. Find a USGS Topographic map at a scale of 1:24,000 (the finest scale map series for the entire US) that has the area where you were raised.

Use Map Locator to find where you are from:

[ http://store.usgs.gov/ ]

Here is an example:

Even if you were not born in the US, or you may have moved around a lot, there is a place you consider “home” or a close equivalent.

All you need to do for now is to locate the specific identification metadata for the map which includes the area around your "home". To figure out the specific topo name (“Long Name” in the above example) go to the USGS 1:24,000 Map Finder. Note that place names do not always correspond to topo names.

If your home is in or near an actual town (or city), you can search by the name of the place instead of using Map Finder. Some smaller places will not show up using this method, nor will some suburban place names. If you’re having a hard time with Map Locator, try a different search option.

4 Next go to a commercial reseller, these are the same maps as USGS sells but sometimes are more prompt with their delivery.

Explore the collection of maps at MapLink Inc., one of the largest wholesale mapping products distributors in the US. No free commercial intended here, but MapLink is in Santa Barbara. Go to the USGS Topographic link and find the map covering your home.

[ http://www.maplink.com/ ]

You will see that the sheet price is slightly higher than if you ordered directly from USGS's MapFinder page. Now, make sure the window containing the meta data (topo name, lat long, ordering number etc) is showing in the browser window and then print a copy to hand in for both USGS Map Finder and Maplink.com. Briefly, in addition to the two printed pages, comment on your “shopping” experience and this process of locating and purchasing paper maps. (#1)

2. Map Snapshots

This category of online maps are typically static digital maps: in essence the same as paper maps, but in digital formats such as .png, .gif, .jpg, etc. For example, go to the Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection at the University of Texas which provides links to significant historical and general reference maps in digital format. The maps can be viewed or downloaded.

[ http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ ]

Follow links until you find a map image that catches your interest. Once you find a map, right- click and choose Copy, then go to your lab document and paste it in the appropriate place. Or you can save the map image; right-click and choose Save As …, be sure to save it somewhere you can find it, and insert it into your lab document. Also include the map’s name URL (copy- paste it from the browser). (#2)

3. Spatial database catalogs and libraries

This category consists of map metadata (data that describes the map), indexes (of what kinds of maps are available), graphic previews (how the map will look when displayed), and raw geospatial data (which can be downloaded and needs further processing with a GIS).

For example, explore the U.S. Geologic Survey’s National Atlas. This page links A LOT of spatial data in the form of lists of digital map data provided by the US Geologic Survey (USGS) and other U.S. Government agencies, much of these data sources can be used to create maps in GIS software or in graphic design software.

[ http://www-atlas.usgs.gov/ ]

Explore the “Map Layers” of the USGS National Atlas and in a brief paragraph (#3) describe the scope of spatial data available. Focus on one type of data that you find interesting and see what you can learn about that data. Don't worry if you don't yet understand all the technical jargon; the point is for you to get a sense of the kind of spatial data that are out there.

5 4. Map Generators, GIServices and Location Based Services (LBS)

This type of internet map is dynamic and is typically generated on the fly based on user input. The server’s software generates a map image file (in .gif format usually), and returns it to the user’s browser. Map Generators do not supported GIS operations, like overlay, but the line between them and GIServices and LBS is becoming blurred by increasing software sophistication and the ubiquitous access to bandwidth and computing horsepower.

GIServices are similar to Map Generators but use a different software architecture which allows for GIS functionality over the internet (e.g. such as overlay). Software, such as ESRI’s ArcIMS (Internet Map Server) enhanced with Java Script or AutoDesk’s MapGuide, are specifically intended for generating real-time maps based on user specifications.

The USGS National Map Viewer is an example of such a product. Use the link below, find the dynamic (flash) map “Wildlife Mortality - Avian Cholera”. Use the controls in the window to view the progression, and get an image of the last date in the series, 1999. You will have to use capture.exe to get the image, and insert it in your lab document. Experiment with some of the other dynamic maps, and comment generally on this type of online map as per the instructions at the beginning of the lab. (#4)

[ http://www-atlas.usgs.gov/dynamic.html ]

Go to the two map generators listed below and get a map from each show the extent of Davis, but make the extent (zoom) so it does not show not too much outside of the city. Save the maps you get (right-click, Copy or right-click Save As … and Insert), and put them in your lab document. Also, comment on the general layout of each page, simple, complex, cluttered, obnoxious colors etc. (#5, 6, 7)

[ http://maps.google.com/ ] - Search for Davis CA, then do a Local Search (at the top) for something, almost anything, i.e. pizza, and get a map of it for Davis. What happens when you click on the icon representing the location of the Local Search thing you searched for? - Is this more of a “Map Generator”, as described above, or a “GIService”? Why?

[ http://maps.yahoo.com/ ] - Search for Davis CA, and get a map. What is different about this map’s appearance? Do you think this site’s map looks better or worse? Why or why not? (this is subjective) - Is this more of a “Map Generator”, as described above, or a “GIService”? Why?

[ http://yellowpages.superpages.com/supermaps/mapform.jsp ] - Search for Davis, CA, and get a map. Do you like this map better than Yahoo or Google? Why or why not? (this, again, is an opinion but I’m asking for what you like or dislike).

6 Yellowpages (cont.)

[ http://yellowpages.superpages.com/supermaps/mapform.jsp ] (cont.) - Create a map of the location(s) of specific business(s) or a name of a business. Tell me what it is you searched for, what happens when you hover over one of the mapped points with your cursor? Note: this web app. uses Java which will might require patience to load and execute your search, so you might have to wait. Now that you’ve done it though, the next time you access this it’ll load much faster.

US Environmental Protection Agency (online GIS)

EPA [ http://www.epa.gov/enviro/wme/ ]

Create two maps of Davis showing 9.1) Special and Moderate Flood Hazards Areas, and 9.2) Air monitoring sites. In addition, provide a brief summary following the guidelines at the beginning of the lab. (#8)

7 Location Based Services (LBS)

A new type of dynamic Mapping is emerging, based on mobile, wireless technology, such as in handheld devices like cell phones, pagers, PalmPilots/NotePads, Tablet PCs. GPS and the like. These mapping systems are often Internet-based, and the major GIS companies enhance their Internet mapping tools to work with mobile handheld devices. Check out Multimap's LBS applications. You can search for an address in many countries in the world from your cell phone or personal digital assistant (e.g. palm pilot). As you will most likely not have a international cell phone or high-end palm pilot with internet uplink, you will not be able to see this in action.

It works, but since you can’t see it in front of you and even if you could it might be hard to make a printable map from it let’s just use Multimap’s interface to make a map of some portion of downtown London, England. Change the scale by using the zoom bar. Watch how the symbolization of the map changes as you change extent. Zoom all the way in, save the map image. Now, after you’ve saved the map, click on the Aerial button at the top, and save the air photo image. Insert these two images you’re your lab document, as well as your summary. (#9)

[ http://multimap.com ]

5. Real-time Maps and Images

Real time maps and images differ from map generators and browsers in that they consist of continuously updated images or maps usually focused on a particular topic or site. These are so- called "live maps" or "image broadcasts." Real time, on-line video images, usually entail connecting a video camera to the internet and regularly updating.

There are two basic kinds of real-time online maps, still images that get updated in regular time intervals, or streaming video. Visit the sites listed below, comment on what you find there, and how useful this kind of information is to you. Save at least one map from each of sites and include it in your Word document along with your comments. (#10)

Visit these links and type something describing what you find, or what it would be useful for (be inventive! you can do a lot with these data)

• USGS Earthquake maps [ http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/current/world.html ] • USGS Hydrologic data [ http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/rt/ ]

Traffic maps, aside from describing in basic terms each of these three (NYC, WA, TX, CA) tell me which you like best and why. Here I’m asking for an opinion, so anything goes but keep it real.

Traffic cameras in Manhattan, NYC. - [ http://nyctmc.org/xmanhattan.asp ] Traffic conditions for Puget Sound Area, WA - [ http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/seattle/ ] Traffic conditions for Houston, TX - [ http://traffic.houstontranstar.org/layers/ ] Traffic in the Bay Area, CA - [ http://traffic.511.org/sfgate/ ]

• Real time flight tracking for the US

[ http://www.cheaptickets.com/trs/cheaptickets/flighttracker/flight_tracker_graphic.xsl ]

THE END

8 Explore Odden’s Bookmarks and find an obscure map. Save the map you find and insert it, copy-paste the URL so I can find it too. (extra) [ http://oddens.geog.uu.nl/ ]