EVS-Islands

Nisos Patmos (37°20'N., 26°33'E.), barren and rugged, consists of three distinct masses which are connected by two narrow and low isthmuses. The coasts of the island are generally steep and cliffy and are fronted by rocks and small islets in places. A conspicuous white church stands on the summit of the island which is 272m high and rises in the SW part of the central mass. Other prominent peaks include Korifi Prasso, which is 243m high and stands in the S mass, and Korifi Grosso which is 228m high and stands in the NE part of the N mass.

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I will aim you to United Helles and their information about Nisos Patmos. This site also has a map showing roads and towns on the island. I attended Good Friday services today and felt this sense of urgency to post this island. The traditional site of St John the Theologians imprisonment and writing of Revelations.

Posted by Mr Minton at 4/14/2006 10:17:00 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Nisis Pserimos (36°56'N., 27°08'E.), a small island, rises to a height of 268m and is fronted by small islets and off-lying rocks in places. Akra Roussa, the S extremity of this island, is marked by a main light. A wreck, with a depth of 11m, lies about 0.6 mile S of the light. Nisis Plati, a large islet, lies 1 mile W of Nisis Pserimos and is fringed by rocks, some above water. Vrakhonisis Nikrothikes, a small rocky islet, lies close N of the N end of Nisis Plati and is marked by a main light.

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Now let me tell you everything else I learned about the island while scouring the internet. The village of Pserimos (Google search for Pserimos Island+images) is small. The 100 permanent inhabitants are sponge harvesters or fishermen. The small village is fronted by an inviting beach. The tourist agencies say this is the place to get away from it all. Daily ferry service from both Kos and Kalymos gives the explorer convenient access. I've decided on a way you should view the simple shoreline map I post. It is a map waiting for your adventures to be recorded upon. Geotag your photos to the map and it comes alive for you and any future viewers. Fill in the blank spaces and it becomes a record of your journeys. Or just admire the fine looking shoreline map, as I do.

Posted by Mr Minton at 4/14/2006 06:54:00 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Posted by Mr Minton at 4/12/2006 06:41:00 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

WVS and GSHHS - The Most Detailed Worldwide Map Files (1:250,000) I am a long time user of both WVS (World Vector Shorelines) and GSHHS (Global Self-consistent, Hierarchical, High-resolution Shoreline) vector map files. They are both drawn at a scale of 1:250,000. Beginning with WVS map files over 4-years ago, I quickly ran into frustrations as I attempted to convert vector lines into vector polygons. WVS has many inherent issues that make this transformation difficult. I learned of GSHHS and set about to replace my WVS map files. However, GSHHS requires a conversion into ARC Ungenerate format (the format I work with). I managed to have the file converted and I started working with GSHHS map files. I appreciated the fact that I had the "best" free worldwide vector map coverage. But something was missing. Using Space Shuttle imagery, I found that GSHHS was too coarse and the Shuttle imagery was not georectified. Landsat ETM+2000 Mosaics - The World Below 1:100,000 I then discovered Landsat ETM+2000 mosaics. I produced my first vector map from it and compared it to GSHHS shorelines. The difference was dramatic.

After that, I now use GSHHS produced maps only for broad area coverage (1:500,000 and above). I've seen the promised land and I can't settle for anything less! Enhanced Vector Shoreline (EVS) World Map - A Map Waiting To Happen My quest is to produce an Enhanced Vector Shoreline (EVS) World Map using a collaborative approach consisting of a trained team of 100+ map makers. They will be trained to digitize shorelines following a rigorous protocol, to include all features unique to this highly dynamic environment. Each individual will be responsible for either a portion, single or multiple ETM+ mosaic(s). They will digitize all assigned shorelines found on their Landsat mosaic, using a carefully developed criteria and procedure. Their finished vector map files will be evaluated and corrected by a quality assurance team of professional geographers (volunteers). Finally, the finished product (1:100,00 scale and better) will be compiled and made available to all potential users at no cost. The construction of the EVS Worldwide map will be done as a non-profit project. The cost of development, implementation and final product support will be covered by donations of cash, software and computer hardware from both public and private organizations and/or grants that will enable my team to: 1) Introduce the project to the target group of potential participants - highly motivated high school and college students from the America's, Africa, Asia, Europe, Australia/Oceania. 2) Select and train the team of digitizers/mapmakers. 3) Develop and implement the communication system to move Landsat mosaic images, transfer digitized pre-processed vector map files, provide for daily contact and easily facilitate the processing of a completed Enhanced Vector Shoreline map file. 4) To take all of the processed vector map files and combine them into a single world map product. EVS World Map - A World of Map Makers Ideally, this project will have worldwide participation. It should be a mapping effort by a worldwide community of dedicated mappers. Each participant, upon completion of their assigned portion of the project, will receive a laptop computer loaded with GIS software as tangible compensation for their efforts. The same one they used to compile their respective parts of the project. More importantly, they will have received consistent, quality training and practical experience in the "gentle" art of map making. From this group will come the next generation of map makers, trained and experienced. EVS World Map - Layers, Layers and More Layers This project will take from one to two years to finish. As the completed EVS World Map is broadly disseminated new layers of information will be required. This is where the project is transformed into a for-profit enterprise as these desired layers will be completed at a fair market cost. And what team better to accomplish this next phase then the original members of the EVS team (highly motivated, highly trained and experienced map makers). The creation and integration of additional layers of useful information will engage this team in a highly profitable enterprise for many years to come. EVS will be the default worldwide map for years to come. Mine is the vision. Now, I need the team and the funding. Any takers?

Posted by Mr Minton at 4/10/2006 06:40:00 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

I finished the last island (Mauke Atoll) in the Southern Cook Islands. A couple of them looked like a classic coral atoll. However, some were of the raised reef, higher island types. They are called makatea. The lower 6-islands fit easily on the above image. If I include Palmerston Atoll the image is too small. I am tired and I have a full day of teaching tomorrow. I am going to hit the sack. See you in the morning.

Posted by Mr Minton at 4/09/2006 09:49:00 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Mauke Atoll (20˚09'S., 157˚23'W.), 148 miles ENE of Rarotonga, is the farthest E of the Lower Cook Islands. It is low and wooded, somewhat circular in shape, and has a diameter of 2.3 miles. A reef fringes the island, but does not extend more than 0.3 mile. There is no anchorage, but local boats will come out in good weather. The principal landing place is at Taunganui, on the NW side of the island. The island has an airstrip. (SD Pub-126)

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Back to the Cook island Information site and specific information about Mauke Atoll. The people of Aitu Atoll used to invade and cook the men and save the pretty women. As a result the most beautiful women in the Southern Cook Islands are those of Mauke Atoll.

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

Mitiaro Atoll (19˚50'S., 157˚41'W.) lies about 24 miles NW of Mauke. It is a small island surrounded by a barrier reef; there are apparently no dangers outside the reef, and there is no anchorage. (SD Pub-126)

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This small sparsely inhabited atoll is off the beaten path. Few tourists ever visit. The island has an inland lake, which I classified as a brackish lake. The landforms near the lake were relatively complicated to digitize. The entire island took about 2-hours to finish from digitization to posting. I do have a couple of links for those interested. One is an interesting site with good information and the other is a Atoll Research Bulletin #341 (PDF format). It is about the geology of the island.

Posted by Mr Minton at 4/09/2006 03:37:00 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post