Monday, April 10, 2006
Mapping disasters
It may have triggerred a natiowide debate on security issues, but online maps are now providing succour to happless victims of natural disasters. Be it Hurricane Katrina or the Pakistan earthquake, online maps have emerged as handy tools in the hands of both the amateur as well as the expert.
With many governments continuing to restrict publication of detailed maps, private individuals have effectively utilised satellite imagery from providers like Google to identify spots that require help. Scores of individuals all across the world have uploaded relevant maps of quake-hit areas on the web, with details like location of rehabilitation centers as well as access paths and routes. Today relief agencies are looking towards online maps for directions rather than governmental help.
Blogs are full of maps of earthquake hit areas with minute details like locations of relief teams and informing others of locations where help has not reached.
In India, Google maps did create a furore when the President AP J Abdul Kalam raised the issue of security of developing countries after he saw details of many important installations on the Google website. This arms the terrorist with information about vital installations and could seriously breach our security, he reasoned. Kalam, who was a pioneer in India's missile development program, remarked that current laws on spatial observation were not adequate.
While Google did respond to security issues stating that the images provided are not real time, and that they are willing to discuss the issue with governments, the help provided by their maps in facilitating relief operations has opened a new vista in spatial observation.
Competing with Google maps is the service, Visual earth, by Microsoft where you are able to view even your car parked outside your garage, since you can view pictures at a 45 degree angle as well. Other services include MapQuest and Yahoo Maps, Most have API (Application Programming Interface), which helps you browse the map with ease.
So next time you plan to visit Survey of India to seek permission for a detailed map of your city, think again.
With many governments continuing to restrict publication of detailed maps, private individuals have effectively utilised satellite imagery from providers like Google to identify spots that require help. Scores of individuals all across the world have uploaded relevant maps of quake-hit areas on the web, with details like location of rehabilitation centers as well as access paths and routes. Today relief agencies are looking towards online maps for directions rather than governmental help.
Blogs are full of maps of earthquake hit areas with minute details like locations of relief teams and informing others of locations where help has not reached.
In India, Google maps did create a furore when the President AP J Abdul Kalam raised the issue of security of developing countries after he saw details of many important installations on the Google website. This arms the terrorist with information about vital installations and could seriously breach our security, he reasoned. Kalam, who was a pioneer in India's missile development program, remarked that current laws on spatial observation were not adequate.
While Google did respond to security issues stating that the images provided are not real time, and that they are willing to discuss the issue with governments, the help provided by their maps in facilitating relief operations has opened a new vista in spatial observation.
Competing with Google maps is the service, Visual earth, by Microsoft where you are able to view even your car parked outside your garage, since you can view pictures at a 45 degree angle as well. Other services include MapQuest and Yahoo Maps, Most have API (Application Programming Interface), which helps you browse the map with ease.
So next time you plan to visit Survey of India to seek permission for a detailed map of your city, think again.
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