Jonathan Fristick, GIS/GPS Mapping
Earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand
From NASA’s Earth Observatory:
“At 12:51 p.m. local time on February 22, 2011 (11:51 p.m. February 21 UTC), a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck the South Island of New Zealand, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported. Several smaller aftershocks followed. The quake occurred near the city of Christchurch, a community of some 400,000 residents on the east coast. The initial death toll was 65, according to news reports, and authorities warned that the toll could rise sharply as search-and-rescue efforts continued.” Also see the associated image.
Resources for the Latest Christchurch Earthquake
From the Google Earth Blog.
A survey of sources for information.
Shields Up: Why Last Week’s Solar Storm Was a Dud
From Wired Science.
An explanation of why last weeks’ solar storm did not affect your GPS unit. Includes a wicked cool animated image of the Sun.
Blizzard Watch with ArcGIS Online
Do you stay up at night a little too late because you are keeping a sharp eye on the impending snow storm which never really lives up to expectations? Do you constantly scan NOAA, NWS, AccuWeather, and The Weather Channel? If you answered yes, then take a look at this ArcGIS Online Blog entry:
“You can keep an eye on the storm and current weather conditions and make your own maps using ArcGIS Online. Here’s some of the real-time weather resources that you’ll find. At ArcGIS.com click gallery to view featured maps. You’ll find a map showing the current snow forecast among those listed.”
Use ArcGIS Online Basemaps For Free
From the ArcGIS Online Blog:
“As of the end of January, ArcGIS Online basemaps published and hosted by Esri are now available at no cost, regardless of use. This is true regardless of whether your use is commercial, noncommercial, internal, or external use.”
From the ESRI Mapping Center Blog. Tools to use to improve color selection.
After iPad’s Head Start, Rival Tablets Are Poised to Flood Offices
From the New York Times:
“Companies as diverse as General Electric, Wells Fargo, Mercedes-Benz and Medtronic are putting Apple’s iPad to work in their offices. And as a string of devices tailored for the office enters the market — from the likes of Motorola, Research In Motion, Samsung and Hewlett-Packard — tablets are all but certain to flood America’s workplaces.”
Are you using a tablet for GIS/GPS fieldwork? In the office? Do you have suggestions for other GIS professionals who may be in the market for one? Write a comment below and tell us how it’s going.
Hydrogen Cartridges Fuel Laptops and Phones for Outdoor Enthusiasts
From: Science Daily:
“This week, SiGNa Chemistry Inc. unveiled its new hydrogen cartridges, which provide energy to fuel cells designed to recharge cell phones, laptops and GPS units. The green power source is geared toward outdoor enthusiasts as well as residents of the Third World, where electricity in homes is considered a luxury.”
The Winkle Tripel Projection, An Alternative to Web Mercator Projection
From the ESRI Mapping Center Blog:
From the Map Room:
New York City’s 311 service, which handles non-emergencies, has a map showing the number of service requests by community board district.
Google Opens Public Data Explorer to Your Data
What is the Google Public Data Explorer?
“The Google Public Data Explorer makes large datasets easy to explore, visualize and communicate. As the charts and maps animate over time, the changes in the world become easier to understand. You don’t have to be a data expert to navigate between different views, make your own comparisons, and share your findings.”
Posted by jfrish 
VCGI's Blog 