Terrain Layer now on Google Maps

You may have not noticed it yet but on Google Map there is a new "Terrain" button allowing to switch to the terrain layer showing the physical representation of the ground and its elevation.

Some of the Largest U.S. Cities also have Oblique 2.5D Buildings in Terrain Mode.

Another difference you may have noticed is that there isn't a Hybrid button anymore. It is now incorporate into the Aerial layer. Just turn on and off the labels by clicking the box.

Compare maps using Flash Earth

Flash Earth is a very cool mashup which lets you enter an address, find a location and switch between several mapping application aerial/satellite views - like Google Maps, Virtual Earth, Yahoo Maps, and more. This is a very handy way to quickly check to see if other aerial databases have a different view of a selected location.

There is something more...Flash Earth can now be used within Google Earth 4.2! As you move around the globe a little white arrow follows you around, simple click it to get an approximation of the current view in FlashEarth in a popup balloon. Click here to download the application.

Virtual Town created using ESRI's ArcScene and Google SketchUp

This video shows a fly-over of a virtual reconstruction of Morgantown, West Virginia in 1900. Over 350 historic structure models were created in SketchUp, and then imported into ESRI's ArcScene to generate the final virtual town.

For information on how the the guys from the Laboratory for Geographic Information Science at West Virginia University did it, including the workflow, a picture gallery, and other information, visit their project web site. They also created a Virtual Morgantown collection of models in the the 3D Wareouse.

Cartograms - a different way of mapping world data

Worldmapper is a collection of world maps, using equal area cartograms where territories are re-sized on each map according to a particular variable.

In the first map the territories are proportional to their land area. In the second one the territories are in proportion to their population. The largest is China, bright green. The next largest is India, orange. Are you surprised by the relative sizes of Japan, purple, or of North America or Africa ? Population is just one variable. Every map is of a different variable, and the sizes of each territory are in proportion to the value of that particular variable.

There are 366 maps you can view and download. They are also available as PDF posters. Worldmapper is definetly worth a visit.

Yahoo! MapMixer (Beta)

The world is a big place. There are thousands of maps out there that provide unique details about any given destination. Yahoo! MapMixer is a new site that combines your maps with Yahoo! Maps to give you a better view of the world.


It's easy to mix your own map. Upload an image of your map, use the layering tool to align it with Yahoo! Maps and They will do the rest. Your map will have all the features of Yahoo! Maps (zooming, panning).

You can also embed it on your own site or blog. It is a pretty simple process, just paste the url in your blog page. Scroll the opacity bar of the below embedded map to adjust the transparency . This is an example of a map created using MapMixer that shows how to access Kensington Town Hall.

Welcome to explore from Ordnance Survey

Ordnance Survey has launched 'explore', an exciting new web-based community portal, which invites outdoor enthusiasts to share their favourite routes, pictures and stories with the rest of the world.


"Explore is more than just maps - it's a whole new way of exploring and sharing your favourite parts of the country.

Search for a location and then view the routes that people are sharing for that area. This will include details and points of interest - even photos, so you will be well prepared for a satisfying walk. When you've done the route for real, why not add comments and enhance the experience for future users?

To start exploreing visit http://explore.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/

Fined because stopping on box junction...

I have to say that the CCTV camera system in Islington works quite efficiently. Does that innocent man driving the grey Golf look like me?

In the embedded map below is the incriminated spot...


View Larger Map

This is my first blog

I may use this space to dicuss thoughs and ideas about GIS, add news and curiosities from all around the world.

I may use this space to add links to cutting edge web mapping applications or add videos, perhaps some cool 3D urban visualizations or maybe just a funny one like the one below: