In+ersec+ion for Spatial People

Here's the recent geonews that we haven't mentioned yet, in batch mode.

On the open source front:

• You can now animate your maps with the GeoServer WMS Animator Tool
• Here I found out about oculu-Z, an open source, open data platform for collaborative Computer Vision technology
• Want to know where OpenStreetMap is heading? Read this entry on the 2012 OpenStreetMap Foundation Board. Related to OSM, TripAdvisor now uses OpenStreetMap
• DM shared the first of a series of articles on open source geospatial software in the classroom, called Open Source Desktop GIS: Let’s Get Started
• APB mentions the Ushahidi2ArcGIS prototype, which imports Ushahidi data into ArcGIS
• I could only smile when I learned about the PostGIS Day, a day after 'GIS Day'
• gvSIG shares 60 new case studies

In the everything-else category:

• APB reports about an estimation of Esri's worldwide market share at 40.7% in 2010
• MapQuest wants to make certain we know that they don't have preset limits on their free Map API transactions
• DM shares an article named Effective Offshore GIS Data Management Services
• SS informs us that Trimble launched custom printed maps with MyTopo.com, for the U.S. and Canada
• The Map Room shares lists of Map Books of 2011 to help us with our Christmas gifts, TMR also reviews Maphead by Ken Jennings
• V1 discuss a EU Geographical Indications (GI) Scheme report, what ? "The aim of this program is to geographically assign product names, for example, champagne can only come from the Champagne region of France."

In the maps category:

• O'Reilly shares what they call A better U.S. migration [interactive] map
• The popular xkcd cartoon share a funny and geeky cartoon on what your favorite map projection says about you

Last week was Esri's International User Conference 2011, one of the biggest geospatial events and pertinent even to those who don't use Esri software on a daily basis. There's an estimated 15,000 attendees for the whole week. Here's what I found the most interesting on the geoblogs - well worth reading.

• To begin with, you get 5 hours of Plenary Videos, Part 1 — Understanding Our World, Part 2 — What's Next in ArcGIS, Part 3 — GIS in Action. You can also read James Fee's transcript of the introductory plenary. Here's some snippets: "Esri is the link between GIS Professionals and the world. [...] Dynamic legends are finally built into ArcGIS Desktop as well as feature edit tracking 4 and some great new generalization tools. [...] Jack started talking about the way ArcGIS Desktop and ArcGIS Online work together.  Simple as a right-click to share. [...] The thing about ArcGIS Online vs GEB [Google Earth Builder] is that Esri sees their analytic tools are their secret sauce that will take other companies year (if ever) to replicate."
• Directions Magazine offers many links for the whole event in three parts, July 9-10, 11-12, 13-14 and a summary of the big ideas, starting with "ArcGIS Online is the new center of the Esri universe"
• APB has a short but important entry on understanding the differences between ArcGIS.com and ArcGIS Online: "So, ArcGIS Online isn't a website, it's more of a repository hosted in the cloud, that you can visit via a number of different clients (some browser-based, some not)."
• SS share the Esri Top Ten Improvements in 10.1 for Desktop, Server and Mobile
• SS also share an interesting 4-minutes video of the Gatewing UAV to map small areas of about 1km2. Surprising how it looks easy these days
• Unrelated to the Esri UC itself, V1 offers a book review of Getting to Know ArcGIS ModelBuilder by David W. Allen and on the same topic, mandown offers Considerations When Exporting A ModelBuilder Model To A Python Script
• Mandown informs us that an ArcGIS Mobile 10 Build 2500 update is available and details the ArcGIS Online Ocean Basemap that has been available for about a month
• MapHawk has an entry on geography and journalism, as part of the session for News Media at the Esri UC

Other Esri geonews we mentioned recently: Several Esri Products Renamed, No More ArcInfo and ArcView, Esri's File Geodatabase API version 1.0 Available and ArcGIS for Home Use Program.

Here's the recent geospatial open source / data news for the last 8 days or so.

On geospatial open source:

• The Autodesk-supported web mapping software MapGuide Open Source 2.2 was released
• Here's a preview of GeoRepository, and advanced authorization manager for GeoServer and the new GeoServer-Manager, a simple Java client library for GeoServer
• OpenGeo introduced the OpenGeo Gallery, to answer the question 'who uses the open source software that OpenGeo supports'
• There's the first release of Image Georeferencing View for uDig 1.2.1
• GeoTools has a new User Guide and so does Sextante GIS
• Shapely 1.2.10 has been released

On open geospatial data, mostly OpenStreetMap:

• We mentioned the book last September, and now Geoweb Guru offers a review of the book 'OpenStreetMap: Using and Enhancing the Free Map of the World'. From the review: "Due to the overview nature of a wide range of different applications and projects, it is likely that quite a bit of the book will become out of date quite quickly. It is also likely that the data model will evolve."
• Here's an entry on directions (and correcting erroneous routing behavior) with OpenStreetMap
• Spatial Sustain shares a perspective asking Is Open Location the Next Open?
• Here's a screenshot of JOSM on a tablet

John Krygier and Denis Wood, the authors of the book 'Making Maps: A Visual Guide to Map Design for GIS', 2nd Edition, informs us that it is now available.

From their own pre-publication reviews: "The book uses extraordinary map exemplars to address the full range of basic cartographic concepts and to demonstrate many subtle and advanced design techniques as well. Addressing current social issues including map agendas, ethics, and democracy, it is the kind of book that will inspire readers and cultivate admiration for the field. [...] The second edition meets the needs and expectations of the ‘Google generation’ of map users while remaining true to the guiding principles that govern how maps look, work, and function. The very accessible, extensively illustrated format makes the book easily usable by students at all levels, as well as those taking steps to develop expertise in cartographic design."

Here's The Map Room review of the first edition in 2006, and he liked it.

On Amazon:

Making Maps, Second Edition: A Visual Guide to Map Design for GIS

Yesterday, James Fee shared his enthousiasm for Adam Duvander's "Map Scripting 101" book about web mapping.

From the review: "Adam starts off with some simple maps built on a couple APIs, but quickly gets into how you can use Mapstraction to simplify it. Once he gets beyond the intro to creating maps with these APIs, he gets into some samples that should get the attention of those who this book was written for. [...] Adam also got into some of the formats that are important to web mappers; GeoRSS, GeoJSON, KML and even threw in a MySQL example. [...] The one thing about the whole book though is that it is clear that Adam is a great writer who is excited about technology and it shows. The book is very accessible for beginners and even intermediates who might want to get more familiar with Mapstraction."

We already linked to the review of the same book by Geoweb Guru.

The V1 Magazine reviews "The GIS 20 Essential Skills" book by Gina Clemmer published at ESRI Press.

From the conclusion: "'The GIS 20 Essential Skills' provides valuable supportive information to new and experienced GIS. It does contain the 20 essential skills for working with a GIS and many people will find that the author's experience is evident in every single chapter. The book is concise, focused and provides the details that one needs to know to work with ArcGIS, including those transitioning within ArcGIS versions. First time users or even those who may have forgotten some of the basic skills and the way to accomplish them will appreciate this book. The graphics are exceptional, the text and the graphics logical. This book makes a lot of sense and will have you making sense of ArcGIS effectively and quickly."

Here's the book on the ESRI Press website, including the actual list of the 20 essential skills.

As you know, with the website migration and my attendance at FOSS4G, there haven't been a 'Friday geonews' batch mode for a while. Well, there it is!

In the LBS category:

• A Slashdot discussion named "Burglary Ring Used Facebook Places To Find Targets"
• O'Reilly discusses local ads, check-ins and place pages
• There's a new Twitter's Tweet With Your Location feature
• If you wonder, RFID is still not secure: "New German Government ID Hacked By CCC"

In the GPS category: