GeoLocateFox extension for Firefox

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For all you Firefox users, There is a firefox extension that adds locational information for select web pages. See http://robert.accet tura.com/projects/geolocatefox for more info. Click here with your browser (Firefox) for download and install. Extension adds a little globe in the bottom right of the browser, which glows yellow when it detects a geo-enabled web page. Hover for a small pop up window, and when double clicked, it will bring up a new window with maps.yahoo.com and display whatever locational information saved with that particular web page. See the GIIF web site for an example (you may have to refresh the website if it is already cached). All you have to add to your own web page in order to geo-enable it is a simple geo-tag (eg. place '< meta NAME="geo.position" CONTENT="37.872250; -122.264804" >' somewhere between HEAD and /HEAD in your default.html file).

Mapserver Foundation

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Mapserver is an open source web mapping software package that I use for the VTM site and that Brent uses for the Fire Information Engine. Recently, several core Mapserver developers announced the formation of a Mapserver Foundation, an organization intended to unite Mapserver with several related open source projects under a single banner for the purpose of standardized development and release procedures, and to provide a single body to mediate funding requests and donations, among other things. Most likely modelled after the Apache Software Foundations, this is certainly a Good Thing, as all these kinds of management and governance issues were previously handled in an ad hoc manner by the developers and a handful of contributing organizations like the University of Minnesota and DM Solutions, which has lead to a lot of inconsistency and occasional gaps in documentation.

However, in addition to Mapserver, the new Mapserver Foundation will also host the newly open sourced AutoDesk MapGuide, a web mapping package from the company that makes AutoCAD. Confusingly, MapGuide will now be known as Mapserver Enterprise, and the old Mapserver will be called Mapserver Cheetah (although the naming is apparently still up in the air). Several people in the Mapserver user and developer communities are peeved because the Foundation was planned without community input. Many are also displeased by this alliance with AutoDesk, a company not generally known for its commitment to open source. Some argue that this new naming scheme will confuse potential users and dilute the Mapserver brand, eventually resulting in less use and development for the traditional Mapserver we all know and love. While I think the new naming scheme is stupid and possibly detremental, I think the Foundation will ultimately be a force for good. Anything that provides greater stability and more documentation can't hurt, right? Links for the interested: Mapserver Mapserver Foundation AutoDesk MapGuide Official announcment of the Mapserver Foundation Comments by Ed McNierney (founder of topozone.com) Comments by Gary Lang (a lead MapGuide developer) Discussion on mapserver-users (a search for 'Foundation' should bring up most of the relevant threads, assuming there aren't any Asimov nerds getting way OT)

Open Source GIS Review (plus dynamic web modeling)

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Aaron Racicot up at Ecotrust has recently posted his review of open source GIS software that he presented at the Oregon State University GIS Day. It's great material, providing an excellent overview of what packages are out there, what they're good for, and what they're not. He's also made some excellent posts on the OPENNR list about his work integrating open source tools in a web-based decision support tools for natural resource management.

Google Maps/Earth shows evidence of ancient ruins

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Article from a while back describing an Italian programmer who found evidence of ancient ruins near his property, using Google Maps/Earth. There were TONS of results when I searched for this, but this website links to the location on Google Maps, and links to the Italian programmer's personal map of the area. Then a follow-up: Google Map Archaeology Gets a Website

Dynamic GRASS map and PHP

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Here's a small demo of PHP displaying a dynamically rendered GRASS map. The script just makes GRASS shell commands, and GRASS renders a PNG to a web-readable directory. I don't really understand the GRASS stuff, but the PHP looks dead simple. Tim, if the GRASS commands look relatively simple to you, maybe we could try this with a simple SOD model some time in the unspecified future.