Friday, September 30, 2005

GIS Standards, Template and Data Models

Geospatial Bluebook Documents - download site

The "Geospatial Bluebook" is a document from geodata.gov that attempts to outline standards, best practices, data templates and other relavant information on everything from parcels and transportation to emergency operations and raster data.

A nice poster outlining the 14 themes covered is available here.

Draft Geospatial Bluebook Description:
The Introduction is a short document that provides an overview of the goals of this effort. The Case Studies section introduces the Application-Driven Design method that was key to developing the Data Theme definitions, but this method will also be useful for tailoring the template design for your own specific needs. The Data Theme and Dataset specifications provide a detailed reference for the proposed information model. As a template, this model is not intended to be a final answer for your specific needs, but it should provide a good starting point for your own analysis and design work.

Thursday, September 29, 2005

ArcMap to Google Earth KML - Extensions

Here are a couple of extensions for ArcMap that will allow you to convert your ArcGIS layers to Google Earth KML files.

I'm sure there are more - if you have any recommendations, please post them in the comments.

Export to KML 1.0 - ESRI ArcScripts Download

KML Home Companion for ArcGIS

Global Landsat Mosaic - WMS & Download

OnEarth, server of the Landsat 7, WMS Global Mosaic:

If you need quick and easy access to satellite imagery for vitually anywhere on the globe (Landsat7) - the Jet Propulsion Lab has put together a WMS with it all in a single source. Apparantly, downloads of the data are also in the works (see SlashGISRS Article).

This is the home site of the WMS Global Mosaic, a high resolution global image mosaic of the earth, produced from more than 8200 individual Landsat7 scenes. Each scene requires more than 500MB of storage, or about one standard CD. These images have been collected during 1999-2003. The highest resolution image has a ground relative resolution of 15 meters, or 50 foot. The mosaic contains all nine spectral bands of the Landsat7 ETM instrument. Together with the associated Web Map Service Server, the mosaic is known as the WMS Global Mosaic.

Book Review: Beginning MapServer

Book Review: Beginning MapServer - Open Source GIS Development - Articles

Kevin Flanders, of Directions Magazine, has put together a nicely done review of "Beginning MapServer - Open Source GIS Development".

As I've posted before, if you are into web mapping (or thinking you might be getting into it in the future) you will want to pick up this book. It is an excellent starting point, tutorial, reference manual and cookbook all in one.

Wednesday, September 28, 2005

Using Your Imagery in Google Maps

ArcIMS to Google Maps...

This is a very interesting article that discusses ideas on incorporating your own raster data into Google Maps. The technique would work for both ArcIMS and MapServer. The methodology described isn't new, but the explaination is clear and concise. (Similar articles are also available on the target blog for using your imagery in Google Earth.)

MapServer users - you will want to check out KaMap, as it is designed to provide this type of functionality.

Tuesday, September 27, 2005

JSEclipse :: Javascript Editor w/ Code Complete

JSEclipse :: Edit JavaScript with ease.:

I haven't tried this app yet, but I will shortly. If it is as nice as some of the reviews I've seen, it will be great.

One draw back is that it is an extension for eclipse, which is a larger open source development environment, and not a standalone app. (So you'll need to install eclipse first)

My assumption is that this won't necessarily be the best thing for beginners...but will be great for experienced javascript developers. The lack of code completion in JavaScript makes it a real pain the ass to write and debug - maybe this IDE will help make JavaScript a little more fun.
JSEclipse is a freeware Javascript plug-in for the Eclipse environment. Designed to help web developers edit JavaScript files with ease, it has built in support for:

  • Code completion for JavaScript function and classes.

  • Code completion for JavaDoc.

  • Function and class names are displayed in the Outline panel for the currently open file.

  • Open declaration

  • Error reporting

  • Warning reporting

  • Code wrap

Monday, September 26, 2005

Society of Cartographers - '05 Powerpoints

SoC Summer School 2005

Here are more than a dozen very interesting, mapping presentation, powerpoints that would be been nice to see in person.

Organizers of these conferences really should start figuring out a way to record these events (video or audio - hell, I'ld be happy with either).

The 2005 SoC Summer School was held at the Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, and consisted of a stimulating variety of lectures, workshops, demonstrations, visits and social activities.

The following are the Powerpoint files from the presentations at this year's Summer School. Please be aware that they may be large files (check data in table).

Books: Google Maps Hacks - Dec '05

Amazon.com: Books: Google Maps Hacks

Oreilly looks to be coming out with a 'Google Maps Hacks' book in December 2005. (only $17 for pre-order)

Maybe I am getting to be a bigger nerd...it seems the only books I actually get excited about any more are dorky computer books.

GPS-2 Satellite Launched

Spaceflight Now | Delta Launch Report | Launch of modernized GPS satellite set for this week:

The first modernized Global Positioning System satellite featuring additional navigation signals to benefit military and civilian users around the world will be launched [the night of September 25] aboard a Boeing Delta 2 rocket.

GPS 2R-M1 will assume the Plane C, Slot 4 position, taking over for the GPS 2A-20 craft launched in May 1993. The aging satellite, although still operational, will be repositioned within the GPS constellation for the remainder of its life. The new slot for the old spacecraft will be determined later.

The military's orbiting GPS constellation began to take shape in 1989. To replace the original satellites as they age, Lockheed Martin built 21 so-called "replenishment" satellites. Dubbed the "2R" series, this current generation of GPS spacecraft has seen 13 flown since 1997, although the first one was lost in a launch explosion. Now, the remaining 8 are being retrofitted with upgrades to provide additional capabilities once deployed in space.

Carrying the re-titled name GPS 2R-M, for Modernized, these upcoming satellites increase the power for existing signals and offer two new military signals as well as a second civilian signal.

The changes fit within the existing GPS 2R satellite design. The Modernized spacecraft, which will weigh 4,545 pounds at launch, only 60 pounds heavier than the earlier model, have a redesigned external antenna panel; and higher-power, more-efficient transmitters highlight the internal changes.

The improvements will provide greater accuracy, added resistance to interference and enhanced performance for all users, according to the Air Force. The advancements for the military will provide warfighters with a more robust jam-resistant signal and enable better targeting of GPS-guided weapons in hostile environments, while the new civilian signal removes ionospheric errors and improves accuracy, officials say.

I believe this is an image of the satellite (certainly not what I had imagined...looks kind of 70's/clunky to me)

_

Web Browser Keyboard Shortcuts

Firefox Help: Keyboard Shortcuts

This is a nice (and very thorough) table of keyboard shortcuts for FireFox, Internet Explorer, and Opera.

Sunday, September 25, 2005

Student Arrested for Short Story

Zero Intelligence: Student arrested for threatening school with zombie invasion

Back in March 2005, a high school student in Kentucky was arrested for making terrorist threats. This story might not be unusual, except it was because he wrote a short story that had zombies attacking a high school. That's right...ZOMBIES! As of July 28, 2005...the kid is being held on $75,000 bond. WTF!?

This kind of police action really is sickening. Where the hell did common sense go...let alone the freedom of speech. I don't know what to be more wierded out by...the kid's grandparents for bringing it to the attention of the police (sickos) or the police, prosecutor and judge actually trying to make something out of this.

If you think I'm jumping the gun on this one, read the articles and supporting documents. If you can find anything related to terrorist threats, please point it out.

The above link will get you to a blog with all the updates & supporting docs (since the 'real' media wouldn't think of providing follow-up information). The below link will get you to the original news story.

News story link

Friday, September 23, 2005

Go-Geo: UK Geo-Spatial Datasets

Go-Geo : Home Page:
Go-Geo! is a tool designed to help you find details about geo-spatial datasets and related resources within Great Britain tertiary education and beyond.

Free Computer Books, Tutorials, Lecture Notes

Ju Rao's Homepage: Free Computer Books

Opera - Now Free - Excellent Browser

Welcome to Opera.com

Opera is now advertising free for the full version. As a result, I downloaded it and took it for a spin. I must say that it really is a nice browser with a lot of great features.

The best thing about Opera is that it is by default extremely simple and clean. It looks to be ideal for any non-web savvy person. To that end, I'll install it for my grandmother and see what she thinks.

I will be sticking with FireFox because of the way it handles "Live Bookmarks" and for the plugins (mainly ForecastFox). However, it's nice to have options.

It will be interesting to see if this move takes away from Internet Explorer's usage or from FireFox. My bet is that it will take another big bite out of Internet Explorer in a relatively short period of time.

Comparison of BitTorrent clients

Comparison of BitTorrent clients - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A nice table comparing the features of 25 different Bittorrent clients.

Personally, I prefer Azureus, but it doesn't hurt to try the others.

Thursday, September 22, 2005

Satellite Imagery Wallpaper Collection

Satellite Image Wallpaper

A very nice collection of high resolution satelite imagery of the earth, geographic features and urban centers.

Geovisualization of the 2004 US Election

Geovisualization of the 2004 Election

Download the 2004 US Presidential election results (by county) and/or a custom viewer for graphical/cartographic analysis of the results. The viewer/analysis toolkit is really well done and excellent for election results.

(It's nice to see that someone else is as nutty about this kind of data as I am and graciously compiled all the data from the hundred or so sources.)

Doesn't anyone else think it is odd that there isn't a central/federal repository for downloadable election data as it becomes available? Minnesota posts election results as they come in on the night of the election in downloadable (updated every 15 minutes). That means any user can get the same data at the same time or faster than any reporter. (I suppose you have to be a nerd to care)

30 Cheatsheets for Developers

Cheat Sheet Roundup - Over 30 Cheatsheets for developers:

Topics Covered:
- Web Development
- Databases/SQL
- Programming Languages
Lets face it, unless you have a photographic memory, no developer can remember all the different functions, options, tags, etc. that exist. Documentation can be cumbersome at times, thats why I like cheat sheets. They are quick references that feature the most commonly forgotten things on a specific topic. You can print them out and hang them on your wall, or just keep them handy in your bookmarks for quick reference.

I have rounded up over 30 cheatsheets that developers might find useful.

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

Etymology of @

A Natural History of the @ Sign: Part One

An interesting look at the etymology of '@'.

Monday, September 19, 2005

Interview with Tyler Mitchell - Audio

An Interview with Tyler Mitchell — Hobu, Inc.:

Howard Butler interviews Tyler Mitchell, author of "Web Mapping Illustrated" (O'Reilly; Amazon).
We discuss Open Source GIS (obviously), the Canadian government's role in supporting OGC and Open Source tools, and the hurdles to data access in both the US and Canada.
Direct Link to mp3 (~16.5MB)

Map Projections

Map Projections - Welcome

There is an endless variety of geographical maps for every kind of purpose. When looking at two different world maps one can wonder why the differences: do we draw the world as a rectangle, or an oval? Shouldn't it be a circle? Should grid lines be parallel, straight or curved? Does South America's "tail" bend eastwards or westwards? What's the "right" way (or, more properly, is there one?) to draw our unique planet?

One important concern of cartography is solving how to project, i.e. transform or map points from an almost spherical lump of rock (our Earth) onto either flat sheets of paper or not-so flat phosphorus-coated glass.

Here are informally described important cartographic concepts, how maps are drawn and why there are so many different kinds of projections for world maps. You may start reading here and follow the Click buttons like this one to go ahead buttons, or use this table of contents

MapServer '05 Conference Downloads

OSG '05 Conference Proceedings and Materials — UMN MapServer

Materials (presentations, workshop materials, etc.) from the 2005 Open Source Geospatial [MapServer] conference are available for download at the above link.

There is a lot of really great information. Most of the materials deal with items that are otherwise very difficult to find on the web. If you are into web mapping, this is a great resource.
Open Source Geospatial '05, an international conference addressing geospatial data technologies developed by or of relevance to the Open Source community, was held June 16-18, 2005 in Minneapolis, Minnesota USA.

The 2006 conference will be held in Switzerland, September 12-15, 2006.

Materials from the 2004 Conference are available for download here.

Integrating Google Maps into Your Web Apps

Integrating Google Maps into Your Web Applications:
Google offers a free Application Programming Interface (API). Provided you abide by the Terms of Use, and don't surpass 50,000 page views per day without obtaining prior permission, you're free to use this API to embed Google's mapping technology into your website. In this article you'll learn how to do exactly this. Specifically, you'll learn how to integrate maps into web pages, extend the mapping feature to mark locations of interest to your site users, and even display location-specific descriptors simply by clicking on the corresponding icon.

Sunday, September 18, 2005

GreaseMonkey - FireFox Extension

mozdev.org - greasemonkey: index:
Greasemonkey is a Firefox extension which lets you to add bits of DHTML ('user scripts') to any web page to change its behavior. In much the same way that user CSS lets you take control of a web page's style, user scripts let you easily control any aspect of a web page's design or interaction.

How to Search Google Efficiently

Google MyWay - How to search Google efficiently

Learn to use Google’s advanced query syntax

Friday, September 16, 2005

Free Comp Science and Prog Books

FreeTechBooks.com - Free computer science and programming books:

This site lists free online computer science books and lecture notes, all of which are freely and legally available over the Internet.

All the books listed here are available for free, as they are hosted on websites that belong to the authors or the publishers. You are most welcome to view, download and print the books for your own private use at no charge.

These authors publish their books for free to give you a chance to review their books, to get as much good information distributed as possible. So, if you like what you read online, you can always support the authors by buying the paperback at your local or online bookstores.

World Sunlight Map

World Sunlight Map:

"A world map showing current sunlight and cloud cover:"

"Also available is a semi-realistic view of dawn and dusk from far above the Earth, a look at the moon, and information about how this works."

Interview with Frank Warmerdam - Audio

An Interview with Frank Warmerdam — Hobu, Inc.

If you do anything with web mapping, open source development...ah hell, if you are a geek, I would recommend this interview with Frank Warmerdam.

Frank Warmerdam, developer of GDAL, OGR, MapServer, and Proj.4 maintainer agreed to an interview with [Howard Butler] about Open Source GIS. We discussed a little bit about project governance and management, how he came to develop GIS software, and interesting bits about being a GIS software developer.

Here is a direct link to the MP3 (~29MB)

_

Terrain Modelling via Cellphone Monitoring

MIT researchers map city by cellphone

Researchers at MIT have used cell phone usage information to generate a terrain model of an Austrian city.

The methodology is certainly interesting...

Thursday, September 08, 2005

DIY: Solar Panel

Homemade Solar Panel

This is another do-it-yourself type project and shows (with pictures) just how simple and NOT-complicated it can be to build your own solar panels. ($150 in materials)

Here is a related project that will allow a mounted panel to track with the sun.

DIY: Bicycle Computer Anemometer

Bicycle Speedometer Anemometer

OK - now this is just something so simple and ingenious I can't believe I hadn't though of this before.

You make an extremely INexpensive wind guage ($10-$50, depending on how fancy you get with the bike computer) by combining a cheap bicycle computer (speedometer) with either commercial anemometer cups or even those tacky Easter Egg containers used to hold candy. This would be a good science class project for nearly any age class.
It uses a digital bicycle speedometer to count pulses from a magnet and reed switch on the anemometer cup assembly, and the speedometer translates this automatically to mph or kph. It also keeps track of your maximum gust, average windspeed, and total wind miles -- so it works as a wind odometer too! Very useful for doing wind power site evaluations.
And for the really ambitious, they even show you how to build your own circuit (here) so that you can build this thing without the bicycle computer! (Or you can purchase the completed circuit for $3 [that's THREE] here.)

Wednesday, September 07, 2005

New Orleans Flood Map

New Orleans Flood Map

This site claims to have current (or at least recent) water depths throughout New Orleans. I'm not sure how accurate it really is, but it is a nice, quick Google Maps implementation.

Mystery Bulge in Oregon Still Growing

Mystery Bulge in Oregon Still Growing:

Apparantly there may be a new volcano forming in Oregon.

BEND, Ore. (AP) -- A recent survey of a bulge that covers about 100 square miles near the South Sister indicates the area is still growing, suggesting it could be another volcano in the making or a major shift of molten rock under the center of the Cascade Range.

...The results of the late August survey won't be ready for weeks, but scientists have reached some conclusions about the bulge from past monitoring.

They say it probably began growing in 1997 and has been rising ever since at a rate of about 1.4 inches a year. It was first observed from space using a relatively new imaging technology known as radar interferometry that can measure changes in the Earth's surface.

Tuesday, September 06, 2005

Free Stock Photos (Personal & Commercial)

CreatingOnline.com

Here are a couple sites that have free stock images that you can use for both personal & commercial use.
Creating Online is a free webmaster resource site featuring a wide variety of web design, image editing, photo editing, site promotion, and digital photography online tools, including website templates, free stock photos, free online image editing, and free online web design tools.


Browse through the categories of our huge gallery containing over 100.000 quality stock photos by more than 9.000 users! Need a wallpaper for your desktop? Need a pic for your commercial website design? Looking for inspiration? Have a look around.

Realistic Developer Salary Survey '05

2005 SALARY SURVEY - ADTmag.com

This 2005 salary survey of developers has realistic numbers that actually seem to correlate with what I've seen in the Midwestern US.

The advice I would give to any newbies or wanna-be developer looking to make as most cash as possible: be a database expert and develop your programming skills (both Web & application) around that.

Comparison of different SQL implementations

Comparison of different SQL implementations:

The following tables compare how different DBMS products handle various SQL (and related) features. If possible, the tables also state how the implementations should do things, according to the SQL standard.

Monday, September 05, 2005

DIY: Building Your Own Generator

Building your own generator.

Combine a small lawn mower engine and an alternator to build your own generator. Kind of a neat project.

Sunday, September 04, 2005

NOAA 1.2 foot Aerial (Entire Coast Region)

NOAA News Online (Story 2495)

NOAA has catalogued and posted hundreds of 1.2 foot aerial photos that cover nearly all of the hurricane affected region (post-hurricane, August 31, '05).

The above link will take you to an overview page with descriptions and additional options.

This link will take you to the map index site, where you can also review images from previous hurricianes (Dennis, Ivan, Jeanne).

This link will take you directly to the photo index for hurricane Katrina. Click on a map tile to be taken to a regional tile index.

Hurricane Katrina has proven how invaluable it is for the public to have quick, easy and free access to aerial imagery. Millions of people displaced by the storm and unable to return to their homes can at least go online and get some current information about the state of their property and communities.

Saturday, September 03, 2005

US Media On the Attack

The Rebellion of the Talking Heads - Newscasters, sick of official lies and stonewalling, finally start snarling. By Jack Shafer

A couple of days ago I wondered if the news media would ever ask the important questions, and more importantly demand answers. Starting yesterday, the collective U.S. media started going for blood, by pointedly asking officials and politicians the tough questions.

It seems a tipping point has been reached in the U.S. media. It is now clearly appropriate (expected even) for reporters to stop playing nice with the talking heads, politicians and officials who were supposed to be in charge of this mess. Even the President has been a target for open and direct critisism.
In the last couple of days, many of the broadcasters reporting from the bowl-shaped toxic waste dump that was once the city of New Orleans have stopped playing the role of wind-swept wet men facing down a big storm to become public advocates for the poor, the displaced, the starving, the dying, and the dead.

Last night, CNN's Anderson Cooper abandoned the old persona to throttle Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., in a live interview.

The political pundits have clearly left partisianship aside, with both the standard left- & right-wingnuts aiming sharp attacks at any official which tries to come up with excuses for why this disaster has unfolded (or fallen apart) the way it has...

I wonder if this shift in the media has anything to do with the sharp decline in the number of press conferences given by public officials. The first couple of days was filled with non-stop interviews by the Governors and legislators...now they are nowhere to be seen. (maybe they realized that they need to get off TV and get their asses to work)

One other thing...I have to say that once again "Newsnight with Aaron Brown" on CNN has been the abosolute best source for unique, geniune, calm and reasoned reporting and commentary. That program really is a jewel on the dial.

Friday, September 02, 2005

Relief Timed for President's Photo Op?

Crooks and Liars

* Update * Sat, Sept 3. 16:30 (-0700 GMT) *
Thankfully, rescue and evacuation efforts have taken extreme steps forwards today. Perhaps, instead of being a photo op, the President's visit gave the rescue personnel the kick in the ass they needed to get into New Orleans and save the tens of thousands of stranded people.
*

CNN's Jack Cafferty made a real great point today. (If you missed it, you can watch the video at the above link.)

Is it possible that today's single shipment of food & water to the New Orleans Convention Center was timed to coincide with the President's tour of the region? Honestly, now that I think about it...it sure looked like it. They dropped off food & water, picked up a few dozen people and got the hell out of there. Reporters at the scene asked when they would be back to deliver more and would bring busses...apparantly the guardsment could only answer with blank stares.

Any suspisions of this being a public relations move by the white house will be confirmed or dispelled tomorrow. If there isn't significantly more relief delivered tomorrow...well, let's just hope there is more help tomorrow.

I just can't believe that our country can't help these people. The response to 9/11 was immediate, swift, and overwhelming. The response to this has been, well, embarrasing and shameful. I'm sure we aren't seeing the whole picture - but what we can see has been terrible.

Thursday, September 01, 2005

Bush Gutted Orleans Flood Protection

Former Clinton Advisor (Sidney Blumenthal): "No One Can Say they Didn't See it Coming" - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News:

Der Spiegel (German magazine, English article) has a very comprehensive and interesting article on the background behind New Orleans flood/hurricane protection programs, and how the Bush administration apparantly gutted them over recent years.
In early 2001, the Federal Emergency Management Agency issued a report stating that a hurricane striking New Orleans was one of the three most likely disasters in the U.S., including a terrorist attack on New York City. But by 2003 the federal funding for the flood control project essentially dried up as it was drained into the Iraq war. In 2004, the Bush administration cut funding requested by the New Orleans district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for holding back the waters of Lake Pontchartrain by more than 80 percent. Additional cuts at the beginning of this year (for a total reduction in funding of 44.2 percent since 2001) forced the New Orleans district of the Corps to impose a hiring freeze.
Perhaps it is simply too early for American media to be discussing this angle of the story...but I doubt that the kind of issues brought up in this article will ever be seriously discussed in media or among the general population. (All someone has to do is say - now isn't the time to talk about the decisions of the past, we have today to worry about. And somehow that answer is allowed - indefinately!)

Past government action/inaction rarely sees consequence or questioning. American media is really good about forgetting the history behind anything (unless you can find some new dramatic or sensentational video). If it didn't happen 5-seconds ago...it's just not news. And if has to do with history...well, that story is just too hard to tell. Now, let's get back to this new video of a building fire and a dramatic car chase.

In any case, I found the article very informative and covering topics that will hopefully reach the surface before the nation moves on to the next big story.

**
Here is a Yahoo! News story along the same lines:
Bush administration funding cuts forced federal engineers to delay improvements on the levees, floodgates and pumping stations that failed to protect New Orleans from Hurricane Katrina's floodwaters, agency documents showed on Thursday.

...Since 2001, the Army Corps has requested $496 million for that project but the Bush administration only budgeted $166 million, according to figures provided by the office of Louisiana Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu [$250 million was ultimately approved]

Disaster Predicted 4 YEARS ago

Scientific American: Drowning New Orleans:

The current devastation in New Orleans was clearly predicted, and this Scientific American article (linked above) clearly had predicted the situation that we are seeing today.

There had been talk for a long time about doing something to prevent this type of situation...but for whatever reason (money & politics) the status quo was apparantly worth the risk.
A major hurricane could swamp New Orleans under 20 feet of water, killing thousands. Human activities along the Mississippi River have dramatically increased the risk, and now only massive reengineering of southeastern Louisiana can save the city

One of the questions I have is, what would it have cost to prepare the delta for this kind of problem? Apparantly the answer doesn't come with only a dollar figure, but it had to have a tremendous human price as well. I just hope that the problems are addressed to handle this kind of event (and larger) immediately following the clean up.

(Perhaps someone can dig up the names of the officials who stopped any projects that would have protected the region. It would be nice to ask these leaders what they think about their decisions today.)

GIS Volunteer Corps Requests Volunteers

GISCorps:

* Update: 16:30 (-0700GMT), Thursday, Sept 1 *
GISCorps has increased their call for GIS volunteers to 20.
Details on this request, desired qualifications, etc can be found at this link.
*****

The GISCorps needs 5-10 GIS volunteers to assist in the management and recovery efforts for the hurricane affected regions in the US Gulf Coast.

Here is an unofficial thread with discussion on the types of professionals that would be most desired for this incident.

The immediate need is for 5-10 volunteers at this point. These volunteers must have enough GIS experience to work effectively in an emergency situation. Volunteers must have expertise in map production, performing analysis, data management, and etc. Expertise in disaster management and working with GPS equipment is highly desirable. If you are interested and are not already a volunteer, please fill out the application form.

Operating under the auspices of the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA), GISCorps coordinates short term, volunteer GIS services to underprivileged communities worldwide. Our volunteers' services help improve the quality of life. They support humanitarian relief, environmental analysis, economic development, community planning and sustainable development, GIS implementation and management, local capacity enhancement, aboriginal issues, health and education.

2.4 Meter Aerial of New Orleans Flooding

Digital Globe has an aerial image (2.4 meter resolution, jpeg, 4062x4544 of downtown New Orleans flooding. Note: The link goes directly to the image (3.3Mb)

Site that allows you to overlay the above image in Google Earth.

Older image of New Orleans pre-Katrina flooding.

Digital Globe has put together a gallery of aerial photography of New Orleans and the sorrounding area following the disaster.