EVS-Islands: 2006-04-02

The above map shows some of my completed island mapping projects. Each icon contains the name of the primary island associated with the project and a link to the post. Once all of my projects are posted, the map will be covered with icons. To productively use the map, zoom into a region of interest. Then select an icon.

Each of my maps is constructed of numerous layers of information. All of the layers are vector files. I will make these files available upon request. You are free to use them with certain restrictions - 1) Don't sell them. You can use them on research projects, post them to your website or things of that nature. If you aren't sure about the use of my maps, drop me a line and we can discuss your idea. 2) Give me credit when you use my vectors or images of my maps. Credit them to Peter Minton @ EVS-Islands

If I have the island vector file(s) and based upon your need, I will make them available. Images of my maps are yours to download and use, with the above restrictions applicable. Enjoy!

Saturday, April 08, 2006

Many More Greek Islands to Post. Are You Interested?

I have completed island shoreline maps from the southern end of Turkey (Geyikova Adasi) up to Nisos Chios (Chios Island). I can post many more Greek and Turkish islands. Each post takes about an hour. I have to do some map cleanup and cosmetics (adding EVS Ocean Mask). I snag a tilt image from Google Earth and capture my Landsat ETM+ image and Marplot map. All three images are then uploaded into Flickr, where I finish organizing them into a single set (named for the main island). Then I post, by attaching the three images and adding text. I try to research a solid link that will give the curious more information about the main island. That all takes about an hour. It is a labor of love, but a labor none the less. So let me know if you would like to see more of the Greek and Turkish Islands posted, or , for that matter, mapped. Or should I continue working on Pacific Ocean islands?

Posted by Mr Minton at 4/08/2006 06:21:00 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Nisos Nisyros GR

Nisos Nisyros - Image (N-35-35_2000)

Nisos Nisyros - Map

Nisos Nisyros - Image (Tilt) (Google Earth)

Nisos Nisyros is a dormaint volcano. It is reputed to be the only Greek island with a volcano. But, how about Santorini (Thera). Maybe this tourist-directed website didn't want to scare you away. Apparently, daytrippers come to the island from Kos, an island to the north, and hike to the rim of the volcano and take sulfur baths. The link takes you to a touristy website.

Posted by Mr Minton at 4/08/2006 06:06:00 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Geyikova Adasi TU

Geyikova Adasi - Image (N-35-35_2000)

Geyikova Adasi - Map

Geyikova Adasi - Image (Tilt) (Google Earth)

Geyikova Adasi (aka Kekova Island) is just off the coast of southern Turkey in Antalya Province. Based on the internet hits, this is a tourist hot spot. Looks like they go for the crystal clear waters (diving and water sports) and to explore the countless ancient ruins (Greek and Roman). Looks wonderful. This map was composed over 2-years ago. It was done without landcover layer considerations. It is a shoreline study. The Landsat and Google Earth images give you a good understanding of this island. Also the link takes you to a site that gives you detailed information about what to do and see on the island.

Posted by Mr Minton at 4/08/2006 05:02:00 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Thursday, April 06, 2006

How To View My Maps and Images

You Begin With My Image

Starting with the image, you first select it (left click on your mouse). This will take you to my Flickr site.

This is the Flickr page

This is the first image you see on the Flickr page. It is still in medium size. If you select "All Sizes", in the upper left above the image, you will be taken to the image projected as the Original size.

Original Sized Image

This is the Original size of my images. This might not be the size you ultimately want to work with, but it is the best size to download and then resize to the size you do need to work with.

The Download

You can then download the image at it's original size. After you get these images (map, Landsat and outline map), you can either resize and use the images within MS Word documents, Power Point presentations or however you wish.

Posted by Mr Minton at 4/06/2006 06:47:00 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Wednesday, April 05, 2006

Manuae Atoll CW

Manuae Atoll - Image (N-04-15_2000)

Manuae Atoll - Map

Manuae Atoll - Map (Outline)

Manuae Atoll (Hervey Islands) (19˚21'S., 158˚56'W.) consists of Te-Au-o-Tu, a small island on the E side of a lagoon, and Manuae, a small island on the W side of a lagoon. A coral reef surrounds the atoll and there is no passage through the reef. There is no safe anchorage, but with offshore or light winds, temporary anchorage can be found off the NW side of Manuae, in 16 to 22m, about 0.1 mile off the reef. (SD Pub-126)

You can also learn more about the uninhabited Marine Sanctuary at this site. I inspected the other pages on the site and it looks to be of very high quality. If you want to know more about the Cook Islands, go the the above linked site. This map took about 3-hours to digitize, construct and post. The lagoon located on the eastern motu was a complicated feature to digitize. First, the lagoon is a dark green, so I classified it as EVS Vegetation Wetland. This map is composed of 16-layers. 14-layers are identified in the legend. 2-layers, EVS Land Island and EVS Shoreline, are found in every one of my maps. Also, I am posting my Outline Map again. I like the outline map.

Posted by Mr Minton at 4/05/2006 11:18:00 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Not For Nautical Purposes!

All of the readers/viewers of my maps do realize that they are not intended for nautical purposes. These maps take coarse map files (World Vector Shorelines @ 1:250,000) and improves upon the shoreline delineation (Enhanced Vector Shorelines @ 1:62,500 or finer). Nautical charts require extensive on-site surveying to accomplish their accuracy. That is not my goal, nor my ability.

Posted by Mr Minton at 4/05/2006 06:41:00 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

Nisos Gavdos GR

Nisos Gavdos - Image (N-34-30_2000)

Nisos Gavdos - Map

Nisos Gavdos - Image (Tilt) (From Google Earth)

Nisis Gavdhos (34°50'N., 24°05'E.), 368m high, lies 20 miles S of Ormos Loutro. Akra Tripiti, the S extremity of this island, is marked by a main light and is prominent because of three natural arches. The SW side of the island is formed by high cliffs and the N side is low and shelving. A sunken reef, on which two rocky islets lie, extends up to 1.6 miles N of the N side of the island. Anchorage can be taken by vessels, with local knowledge, in depths of 20 to 40m, mud and sand, off the E coast of the island. During N winds, vessels can also anchor, in a depth of 25m, about 0.2 mile E of the S extremity of the island. (SD Pub-132)

As you can see, I have added Sailing Direction information. The difference in spelling of the island name reflects a quandry when you work with islands throughout the world. The same island can be transliterated in a number of ways (Gavdhos vs. Gavdos). They both work, because they are both describing the same chunk of land. The most important aspect of any of these islands is their geographic coordinates. Once those are accurately fixed, you can call the place whatever you want and it doesn't matter - you'll be able to locate it with those coordinates.

Posted by Mr Minton at 4/04/2006 11:00:00 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Atiu Island CW

Atiu Island - Image (S-04-20_2000)

Atiu Island - Map

Atiu Island (20˚02'S., 158˚07'W.) lies about 21 miles WSW of Mitiaro. The island is thickly wooded and rises to a height of 120m near the center. The coast is encircled with a coral cliff. A bold, rocky cliff about 91m high, intersected by sandy bays, forms the N side of the island. The fringing reef surrounding the island extends no more than 0.5 mile from the coast; depths of 220m are found 0.2 mile seaward of the reef, and there are no apparent off-lying dangers. With an E wind, a current sets strongly onto the island's N side. There are a number of landings on the island, but local knowledge is necessary for all. The island's center is so thickly settled that the separate villages can be regarded as one. Taunganui, on the W coast, is the residence of the Resident Agent. The landing here cannot be used in NW winds and a S swell. A lighter harbor contained within a concrete jetty lies on the island's W side. This harbor requires local knowledge and is available to small craft less than 9m in length. The harbor is reportedly hazardous to enter. There is an aviation runway at the N extremity of the island.

What do you think of the clouds? From a mapper's perspective, they obscure everything that is beneath them. So I used a series of dark green EVS Shoreline Obscured line. These lines makeup the possible shoreline beneath the clouds. The extensive cloud cover over the central part of the island obscures any sign of villages. Most of the Landsat images are relatively cloud free. The day will come when all images are cloud free. Until that day, you just have to deal with it. Make your maps the best way you can. By the way, the map is incomplete. I have not included the EVS Reef Awash (Sea). I will update this weekend.

Posted by Mr Minton at 4/04/2006 09:05:00 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Global Mapper, Marplot and My Maps

The WVS Map of Canton Island @ 1:250,000 (2)

Marplot Display - WVS Vector File Map

I use Marplot because I am used to it. It is consistently easy to use. That is in some areas. Any of you that visit this site frequently know that my maps are vector files. That means I create them by digitizing from a base image (Landsat). Marplot is easy to digitize from, but lousy to georectify the base image. Marplot only allows for 2-anchor points in georectifying. That ain't enough! I've used other digitizing platforms, but they had restrictions as to what images could be easily imported into their work areas.

Global Mapper Display - Landsat Image

Then I discovered Global Mapper. The primary image I map from is Landsat mosaics. They are in a format called MrSID. It allows for the compression of a multi-gig file into usually about 250 MBs. If you sling images, you know that this is one hell of a big image. Now imagine having to place multiple images of comparable sizes into your digitizing software and you have problems. Global Mapper, on the other hand, allows for the importation of these MrSID formatted images easily and quickly. My base images are seamlessly matched and I can digitize right away. From load to digitize, maybe 30-seconds. Global Mapper is a full function mapping program (my idea of full function is what I produce for this web site). The problem is I am very used to working with Marplot and have all (50+) of my EVS map layers defined and working on that software. Also, I find altering digitized lines and area polygons easy to do. In other words, Marplot works for me. Now for the best part - Marplot is absolutely free. If you are in the business of mapping and you are experienced (many years of work) you will sneer at my choice and suggest that ArcGIS is the only software to use. However, it is expensive, complicated and intimidating. Marplot, on the other hand, is free, simple to use and relatively forgiving in what it requires of the end user. Most Marplot users do not load World Vector Shoreline files into their software. I did and the files work like champs! The maps that I am able to produce are precise, pleasant to look at and highly flexible. And, its FREE! (Thought I'd say it again.)

My Finished EVS Map of Canton Island @ 1:75,000 (3)

Marplot Display - A Finished Map

Global Mapper will eventually become my primary digitizing and mapping tool. But for the time being, I love working between the two platforms. I know that is the secret. Find software that allows you to create what you desire and then just do it!

Posted by Mr Minton at 4/04/2006 12:38:00 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Monday, April 03, 2006

Takutea Island CW

Takutea Island - Image (S-04-15_2000)

Takutea Island - Map

Takutea Island (19˚49'S., 158˚18'W.), located 12 miles NW of Atiu, is a small island with a white, coral sand beach protected by a fringing reef. The tops of the trees are about 24m high and are visible from Atiu. A reef, occasionally marked by heavy breakers, extends 1.8 miles SE from the island. A shoal, with depths of 7.3 to 12.8m, extends about 0.3 mile W from the W extremity. Tide rips exist N of this shoal. (SD Pub-126)

Another site has quite alot of information about Takutea Island. Go on and explore it. They also have some great photos taken at the island. Although the island is small it has an interesting story - owned by all of the landowners of Atiu island. Seldom visited, it has returned back into a pristine state. Now at least one large ship will make a stop and put visitors ashore. It just doesn't seem right. I think the island should be left alone.

Posted by Mr Minton at 4/03/2006 10:51:00 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Any Interest In My Completed Greek Islands?

If any of you are interested in having me post my numerous completed Greek islands, let me know. Just post a comment and I will respond. I have all of the Turkish coastal islands completed up to Samos (I think).

Posted by Mr Minton at 4/03/2006 07:05:00 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Sunday, April 02, 2006

Palmerston Atoll CW

Palmerston Atoll - Image (S-03-15_2000)

Palmerston Atoll - Map

Palmerston Atoll (18˚04'S., 163˚10'W.) lies about 200 miles WNW of Aitutaki. They belong to the Northern Cook Islands and are administered from Rarotonga. The atoll consists of six sandy islets on a coral reef and encloses a lagoon. The islets are covered with coconut palms, with the exception of some low cays on the NE part of the reef. The inhabitants state that heavy gales occur every year, usually in January and February, blowing from the NE and E, and lasting 24 to 36 hours, the wind remaining in that quarter. During good weather, anchorage can be obtained, in 10 to 30m, coral, about 0.2 mile from the reef, on a prolongation of the W point of the reef extending from the W islet. It is impractical for large vessels to anchor. The atoll is dangerous to approach at night. (SD Pub-126)

Palmerston Atoll - Image (Detail)

Palmerston Atoll - Map (Detail)

I have included this detail of Leicester Island to demonstrate the varied layers that make up this project. The layers are pronounced on this page. You can see from the image what and why I classified the various layers the way I did.

Palmerston Atoll - Map (Outline)

And finally, for all of you school teachers out there give your students an outline map and have them add yours or their own data. I love outline maps. They allow your students the opportunity to express themselves.

Posted by Mr Minton at 4/02/2006 08:28:00 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post