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The American Red Cross has launched an interactive online map that consolidates multiple sources of disaster data into a real-time, interactive tool to get information and updates about the Western Wildfires. The tool is a high-tech, user-friendly visual database for media and the public to learn the size and scope of current disasters and locate services such as Red Cross shelters.
The Red Cross “Map Journal” pulls together in one location multiple layers of Geographic Information System (GIS) data from the Red Cross and government sources.
The map provides the following information:
The link to the resource is: http://arc-nhq-gis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapJournal/index.html?appid=b3b9a01d09ad4ec0bea137ed96d9c4f1
“This map is one of the simplest and best ways to help people quickly grasp the very complex elements of a disaster,” said Greg Tune, Senior Geospatial Technology Associate for the Red Cross. “Our hope is to make it faster and easier for people to access vital information that will help them make informed decisions and take action. That includes the public as well as our own Red Cross volunteers who are out in the field delivering help.”
The Map Journal includes critical information pulled from the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, InciWeb, National Shelter System (NSS), the Red Cross and other sources. Users can explore the data by zooming in and out, scrolling across the map, and clicking on data points to bring up more detailed information. Individualized bookmarks also allow users to browse information related to specific incidents such as the Butte Fire and Valley fire.
Members of the public can use the maps to access services. Red Cross workers can use the maps to help in their plans to deliver services – for example, a quick click to view road closures can help the Red Cross better plan the safest and most efficient route for response vehicles to deliver supplies.
The Map Journal leverages the power of Esri’s ArcGIS Online Technology to create a customizable web mapping application that is also mobile friendly.
Although this “Map Journal” has been created specifically for the current Western Wildfires, using GIS mapping data and tools isn’t new for the Red Cross – in fact, the Red Cross maintains an ongoing series of web pages providing a variety of weather, disaster and other informational maps and data year-round: http://maps.redcross.org.
first published week of: 09/21/2015
Apple dropped between US$25 million and $30 million to buy Mapsense in its continuing efforts to beef up its own Maps service. Mapsense specializes in visualizing and analyzing location-based information, and considering how much location data Apple can collect, those could go a long way to helping the iPhone and iPad maker compete with Google Maps.
Mapsense is a San Francisco-based company founded in 2013. Here's how it describes itself:
“There are over 10 billion devices on the planet streaming location data on a daily basis. While collecting location data has become mainstream, the traditional tools to visualize, understand, and harness it have been hampered by the speed and scale of this massive and complex new datasource. Mapsense's platform and developer tools help organizations quickly ingest and analyze billions of rows of location data to make more intelligent, locally targeted business decisions across the organization. ”
In other words, Mapsense can pick apart the location data collected from smartphones to find patterns and trends companies can then use to form more effective business and marketing strategies.
Sources tipped off Re/code to the purchase, and when asked about the deal Apple replied with its usual, "Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans." continued…
first published week of: 09/21/2015
For a long time, Apple Maps was a laughing stock. Then it started getting better. Apple ironed out the glitches, began updating Apple Maps every day, and introduced Flyover, which gave you a 3-D view of major cities as they would look from the sky.
Now it’s taken that technology one step further in an effort to win the mapping war versus Google: Apple Maps is going real-time.
Thanks to a new update, London’s Big Ben clock tower will now show the real time, while the iconic London Eye will rotate. Those are the only real-time updates we’ve spotted so far, but Apple is reportedly looking to add more moving elements to cities over the following year.
Of course, in a real sense, Apple Maps isn’t real-time in the true sense of the word. What it has done is to cleverly map on (no pun intended) moving, animated elements onto the static images used by Flyover’s wireframes. This is something Apple hinted at in its original patent for the Flyover 3-D camera, but which we’ve not had the pleasure of seeing up until now. continued…
first published week of: 03/02/2015
If you've ever taken the subway in a major city or have gotten lost in a large travel terminal like Grand Central, you probably understand how frustrating it can be to find the exit that brings you closest to your destination.
Apple plans to make that a whole lot easier in iOS 9. In addition to adding public transit directions to Apple Maps, the company is also adding a feature that can tell you exactly which exit you should take when departing the subway or train station.
So, for example, if you're sitting at the front of the train, Apple may suggest that you take the exit in the middle or at the opposite end of the track because it might be closer to where you're going.
It's a small feature, but one that's bound to be really useful in a big city like New York, where getting out at the right exit could save a lot of time and confusion. continued…
first published week of: 06/29/2015
We took the two mapping apps for a walk, drive, and bus ride to see which gave better directions.
Google Maps (Android, iOS) has been widely regarded as the go-to mapping software. But after a rocky start three years ago, Apple has worked steadily to bring Apple Maps up to speed. Earlier this year at its developer conference, Apple announced that Apple Maps usage on iOS is "3.5 times higher than the next leading mapping app," and iOS 9 has brought an improved version. It seemed like a good time to give Apple Maps another go-round to see how it compares with longtime favorite Google Maps.
Cliff relies on Google Maps on his Samsung G6, and Josh uses Apple Maps on his iPhone 6s. We decided to test the two apps on quintessential autumn errands: a day trip to an apple orchard and pumpkin patch; a walk across the streets of San Francisco in search of a spooky Halloween costume; and a bumpy bus ride back to work. We didn't want to do a tightly controlled mapping experiment: our goal was to take a few everyday trips and see how each mapping app behaved.
Our first destination was Hale's Apple Farm in sleepy Sebastopol, 65 miles north of our San Francisco base. continued…
first published week of: 11/02/2015
Many navigation systems have filters that allow us to plan our route using different criteria. Usually these are traffic, distance, or time. However, Apple could be working on a new type of filter that offers a route based on cellular connectivity.
A patent application filed by Apple in 2012 and awarded just this week details a system in which your phone transmits signal strength to your navigation system. The system would then factor in signal strength in its selection for the best possible route to your destination. Apple’s application also mentions a scenario where the navigation system might present a longer route purely based on its signal strength as opposed to travel time, distance or traffic.
“When selecting from among multiple different routes of vehicular travel between a specified source and destination, the system may employ an algorithm that considers wireless network signal strengths along those routes, in addition to the other factors,” Apple’s patent abstract explains. “Consequently, the system can select a longer route having better signal strength over a shorter route having worse signal strength. The system can present the selected route within a set of suggested routes, potentially along with reasons for each route’s suggestion.” continued…
first published week of: 03/09/2015