GTA: Grand Theft Auto or Greater Toronto Area? Google Mashup huh...

I did not plan to go to Liberty City during office hours today. I just wanted a map of Greater Toronto Area, my Karma land, but I flew to Liberty City..of course virtually! In order to enhance my GIS skills, I was looking for a reference map to get an idea for new type of map design. Great giant grand google gave me a map of GTA, except it was the GRAND THEFT AUTO, not the type of GTA I was looking for. Well, of course, as a geographer, I checked out the new city that I have never been before. Now, you know I have not played this game.
The interesting thing is not the map of Liberty City, it is the Google mashup that is presented. I did not spend time thinking how the mashup (I call this one decoding!) was done, but the user friendly customized search tool on the right side of the webpage. It is well organized and has things you would like to get in Liberty City. And, yes you can navigate well. Will I end up with the GTA I am looking for with similar custom built and user friendly Google mashup next time I Google GTA? Doubt it...

Read More

GIS, Second Life and Agent Based Modelling

I have been all over the websites that offer agent based modelling information recently. I found that the ULC CASA definitely is one of the leading groups in this field. The blog in GIS agent has provided me some more insights on what have been done and where it is going towards. I just started the search out of curiosity and with an idea of GIS world in Second Life. Of course, there are blogs to integrate and give you an idea how the agent move in Second life environments as well as some websites that offer tutorial on agent based simulation in GIS, there is more to develop in this field.
An article called Inside the Metaverse is a good example of how Second Life is being utilized by a geography professor to teach GIS. Yes geography professor...who else can it be when it comes to the location based service.

Of course, Second Life does have a location based linkage like the real-world example of irlconnect irlconnect. However, irlconnect is dedicated to geocode your facebook and twitter friend networks combining them in the spectrum of Google map (satellite, hybrid, maps offered).
So, the bottom line that I wanted to draw is: Where are we heading? Will a day come with an actual GIS embeded Second Life version? Will the teaching trend be modernized utilizing the virtual world more and more? And the most important thing: with the possibility of Google API key and people being able to bring Google Earth in a browser, what can we expect about the virtual world with agent-based modelling in future?
Photo source: www.secondlife.com

Read More

Want to know where the satellites are in the sky?

Google map has been modified,customized and revised. All of us know this phenomena as a "Mash up". Of course, this mash up has been able to bring you the varieties from identification of Toronto Neighbourhood (Toronto Star-map of the week March 1st week, 09) to real-time traveling hat (Google map mania-hat game in Google map-march 14th). But, isn't it a cool addition when you can track the satellites in real time?
Check out the link on the title of this post!!!

Read More