Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Image search = Google Goggles; GIS data search = ?


A discussion posted by Ric Skinner, a fellow active linkedin member in GIS motivated me to bring up this topic. Yesterday, as I was browsing, I ended up at the ‘Google Goggles’ page and realized that my wish/dream has finally come true. I wished for a ‘Goggles’ type product during a discussion on a hiking trip with my friends. I am a big outdoor person and I always have wondered if I can take a picture, using my cell (smart, of course) phone, of a plant/animal species or a terrain or a rock, then load it in a search engine to learn more about it instantaneously. Well, Goggles has arrived. Though it couldn’t satisfy my type of search, given its infancy, it is an excellent start.
Also, discussion on the topic of image search pushes me into another one. My experience portfolio spans across different industries like renewable energy, health, economy, environmental, logistics, and few more. There are numerous state, federal, county level, private, non-profit organizations that supply data in each of these industries. I always had to search for data using different data collection strategies depending upon the industry. Although there are GIS data resources out there, I am sure they are not that robust. It would be more appropriate, if ESRI or any other organization provide an exclusive, centralized, free GIS data search engine. Is there already one that exists and that I can bookmark? Or yet to come? Who can complete my equation?

Image search = Google Goggles; GIS data search =  ???? ‘Geoggles’ ?

Monday, December 7, 2009

Bizarre GIS Poll - list

I thank all the participants of the 'Bizarre GIS' discussion. It was so much fun to read comments and learn about the bizarre GIS applications. I think its time to conduct a fun poll! Following is the list of bizarre applications that we received (forgive me if I have missed anything, please notify). Kindly review the same and cast your vote on the one that you think is the bizarrest! Just for fun!


#
Applications
Link , if any
Links shared / posted by
1
GIS to understand dance patterns in Choreography
Sentil
2
Mapping the Rectum
Ric Skinner, GISP & Viswanathan G Kumar
3
GIS to map the surface of cells to locate areas of specific cellular activities and/or external protein binding sites

John Roach
4
 GIS for mapping neural networks in the brain

Ariann Nassel
5
Hominid foot print map

Brien Green - MBA.
6
Space-time paths of people - temporal GIS
Kamal Paudel
7
Integration of GIS to 'Sixth sense technology'
Kevin D. Balmer
8
GIS for Ghost tracking

Sentil
9
GIS in Lymphoscintigraphy
Ric Skinner, GISP
10
GIS to map personal movements in space

Ariann Nassel
11
Use of GIS in 'Gapminder'

Shari Forbes
12
GIS landuse map NeckTie

Ric Skinner, GISP
13
GIS in Art

Ric Skinner, GISP
14
Mapping of congressional bills

Richard Wagaman
15
Fun Cartography
Duane Marble