EVS-Islands

I have to go play cards. So I am going to post this and add research information later. Wikipedia does have an entry on Ile Glorieuse. Perhaps you will find it interesting. I did get my inspiration from a radio amateur that made a trip to this island to provide QSL's for people around the world. Apparently this is a desirable island to make radio contact. OC: Indian

Posted by Mr Minton at 4/29/2006 04:38:00 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

"Before dawn the crew was ready and on the beach. There are no docks or launching facilities. All the boats are pulled out on the sand with a communal one ton surplus army truck. Boats are launched by extending a pole from the truck and then shoving the boats into the water. The boat was loaded with gear and people and pushed into the bay. Isla Asuncion is about 2 miles from the town. It is a protected island and has a large population of seals and birds. At one time, there were people living there and the cement foundation of a small building is still present as well as some cement steps that have been set into the cliff. This is where we landed to the objections of several large seals that had been using the steps. Pulga had arranged to supply a helper to assist us in carrying all the gear up the cliff to the campsite. We had to restrict our activities to the area where we landed so as not to disturb the wildlife. The seagulls that occupied this area were not inconvenienced by our presence and seemed to accept us." XF1K; NA164-NA165 Some of the most interesting island information I gather from the Internet comes from IREF aka RSGBIOTA members. These are radio amateurs that travel to these small parcels of real estate to try and be heard by the greatest number of radio amateurs throughout the world. The beauty of these hardy souls is that they gather real time information about the happenings on these distant, difficult to reach islands. Plus I have this soft spot in my heart for these adventurers. In a time in my life I copied Morse Code, the dits and dahs I still understand. With satellite technology, cell phones and other elegant forms of communication there is not much use for Morse Code. That is except for a few radio amateurs that keep this art form alive. Plus, they blend in travel to islands. Life is surely swell. OC: Pacific

Posted by Mr Minton at 4/29/2006 11:57:00 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

OC: Pacific

Posted by Mr Minton at 4/29/2006 08:50:00 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

The previous post was for the benefit of the true mapping neophyte - that individual that looks at a picture with no considerations for the inherent limitations that picture has for a mapper. Digitizing off of Landsat ETM+ 2000 imagery has well documented limitations. I typically work at about 1:10,000 scale where I can consistently depict ground features. God forbid, I should get clouds mixed in as well. If you should recklessly try to zoom in to a scale of 1:2,500 using Landsat, you do not improve your digitizing efforts, you degrade your product. I have digitized 1,000's of miles of shoreline and realize that Landsat product is a static image taken from a satellite orbiting high above and it will render a dynamic geographical entity (shoreline) imprecisely for many traditional mapping purposes (coast & geodetic surveys, marine surveys, property delineation). However, when you want to dramatically improve upon World Vector Shorelines (WVS) at 1:250,000 scale, you can using Landsat imagery! My Enhanced Vector Shoreline (EVS) maps, typically digitized at a scale between 1:25,000 to 1:10,000 (depending upon the quality of the image), are such a radical improvement over WVS that I will never be satisfied to use WVS mapping for anything under 1:250,000. And even that is coarse rendering of shoreline details when compared to EVS map files. Do I suggest that my maps handle the dynamic shoreline with total accuracy. No, they do not. Do I emphatically state that my shorelines for many of the areas I have mapped are the best renderings freely available. Yes! Do I realize my mapping prowess is a constantly evolving set of special skills. Yes! Do I know that other processes, other software could produce equal or superior product. Yes! I like to make maps! I like to make excellent maps that can be used in a variety of situations. Show me the better way and I will adapt. Show me the faults of my work and I will adjust to correct. In the mean time, I will continue to make the best maps possible using the processes that I am perfecting. Enjoy my maps! I do. OT: Special Topic

Posted by Mr Minton at 4/27/2006 04:48:00 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

If you are going to digitize the outline of an island, you begin by selecting an island. This is an old project that I worked on previously. I like to work at this zoom level (1:10,000). It alllows me to fine tune my digitizing. I feel my ability to accurately interpret the image data is solid at this level. It would make sense that the closer I can get to my work the more accurate the digitizing would be. Not so! The above image clearly shows a key zoom problem - the individual pixels overpower the image they are intended to depict. Instead of seeing a picture of an island I see a picture of colored squares. If I didn't know I was working on an island shoreline, I could not guess what the underlying image was supposed to be. However, Global Mapper has an option that allows me to "interpolate" the underlying data, even at this scale. The option is Anti-Alias Pixels (Interpolate). The process smooths the pixel edges and makes a "best guess" as to what those pixels are trying to show - an island shoreline with a vegetation layer. The point of this exercise is to demonstrate that raster images (pictures) when zoomed too far become a collage of colored squares - pixels. Some smart programs, like Global Mapper, created routines that attempt to overcome this weakness. The best type of map when working at these very close zoom levels is a vector map. A vector file will show crisp clean lines at whatever scale you choose to work in. The one above is 1:6-meters. If you want a pretty map, work with pictures (raster images). If you want a practical map for a wide variety of applications and dynamic scales, work with vectors. OT: Special Topic

Posted by Mr Minton at 4/27/2006 12:35:00 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Nisidhes Fournoi (37°35'N., 26°30'E.) is a group of islands, islets, and rocks which provide shelter to small craft with local knowledge. The group is separated from the SW end of Nisos Samos by a passage known as Stenon Fournon. The current in this passage always sets N and causes a confused sea. Nisis Fournoi, the largest island of the group, consists of two parts joined by a narrow isthmus. The summit of this island is 514m high and stands near its N end. A light is shown from Akra Alonaki, the N extremity of this island. Nisis Fimaina, the W island of the group, is 470m high. A light is shown from Akra Trakhili, the W extremity of this island. Nisis Alatonisi, 142m high, lies 3.8 miles SSE of the light and is the outer islet on the SW side of the group. A shallow isolated shoal lies about 0.6 mile WSW of the islet. Poros Fournon, the passage leading between the E side of Nisis Fimaina and the W side of Nisis Fournoi, is not recommended except in case of necessity. Nisis Dhiaporoi, a long islet, lies at the E side of this channel. The fairway is 137m wide and has a least depth of 18m. Ormos Korseon indents the W side of the S part of Nisis Fournoi. This small bay is affected by winds from between W and N, but otherwise provides good anchorage, with a bottom of sand and weed, to small craft. The village of Fournoi stands at the head of the bay and two prominent windmills are situated on a ridge 0.4 mile SW of it. A small pier, used by small craft, fronts the village and is sheltered by a breakwater. (SD Pub-132)

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Here are some facts about Nisidhes Fournoi (aka Fournoi Islands). They are an important Bird Area. At Holidays in Greece web site the island of Fournoi is said to be "very laid back" and simple. The island has lots of quiet beaches and the village of Fournoi offers one an authentic glimpse of Greek village life. A wonderful web site full of current and timely information is called simply Fourni. It looks to be a labor of love from the inhabitants of the village of Fournoi. Enjoy your online visit.

Posted by Mr Minton at 4/26/2006 11:12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Howland Island (0˚48'N., 176˚38'W.), about 38 miles NNW of Baker Island, is a low, flat island devoid of vegetation other than a few stunted trees. It is ringed by a relatively flat coral reef almost completely exposed at LW extending out to about 0.1 mile, except on the W side where the reef averages about 73m in width. Outside of this reef is a coral shelf extending about 0.3 to 0.5 mile on the N, E, and S sides, and about 0.1 mile on the W side. The depths on this shelf vary between 5.5 to 21.9m. A broad, sandy, and in some places, gravelly beach slopes upward at a slight angle on the W side of the island. On the windward, or E side, there is practically no beach and the island rises abruptly from the reef to an average height of 3.7m, with the highest point about 5.5m in the N part. Amelia Earhart Daybeacon is situated near the center of the W side of the island. Winds—Weather.—Winds from the E predominate throughout the year. From December to May, the prevailing winds are sometimes interrupted by W winds and bad weather. Regulations.—Howland Island is a National Wildlife Refuge under administrative responsibility of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The refuge extends outward to the 3-mile limit. Entry into the refuge without a permit is prohibited except in an emergency. Permits must be obtained from the Refuge Manager, Hawaiian/Pacific Islands National Wildlife Refuge Complex, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, P.O. Box 50167, Honolulu, HI 96850. Anchorage.—A vessel anchored (1966) 0.4 mile from the N end of the island in 22.8m, with the E tangent of the island bearing 144˚, the W tangent bearing 185˚, and the daybeacon bearing 167.5˚. A vessel anchored (1967) about 0.3 mile NNE of the N end of the island in 11.9m, with the E tangent of the island bearing 153˚, the W tangent bearing 213˚, and the daybeacon bearing 176˚, distance 1 mile.

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This project was completed in about 1-hour. The island is fairly simple in composition. The reef system is fairly simple as well. A simple composition of an island with an interesting history. Supposedly this is one of the possible crash landing sites of Amelia Earhart. But now it's claim to fame is as a National Wildlife Refuge.

Posted by Mr Minton at 4/25/2006 10:00:00 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

These islands are located south of San Diego CA (Home-Sweet-Home) opposite of Rosarito MX. They are often visited by fishermen and divers. At one time, in the distant past, there was a casino located on North Island. The depression happened and the casino stopped happening. Now, it is a distant memory. Supposedly, South Island has a rattleless rattle snake. Snakes, birds and seals populate the islands.

Posted by Mr Minton at 4/25/2006 01:49:00 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Late in the day on Friday the 21st, I received a job offer too good to believe. A representative from a highly respected firm, Noble Denton Consultants, suggested that I merely send a CV (like a resume) and I would be offered a position as a map-maker within this world-renowned company. The pay was going to be $16,000 per month. "Wow!" I said to my wife. "This is one hell of an offer." She said, "I don't trust it." "Why don't you give the personnel department at company headquarters a call and see if this offer is for real?" Meanwhile, Saturday and Sunday were days filled with numerous emails from Dr Jonathon Cook from Noble Denton. His final email, received Sunday night, said unless I apply for this position by submitting a comprehensive CV by April 25th, the window of opportunity would close. Monday morning I called Noble Denton, London. They responded back with a phone call to inform me that Dr Cook was in fact a fraud. The offer is bogus. He trys to extract money to help facilitate your entry into your new "fake" job. The people at Noble Denton said over the past 2-weeks they have been flooded with questions concerning this offer. They are aggressively attempting to located Dr Cook and will prosecute him to the full extent of the law. If the offer seems too good to be true . . . it is! Be careful out there, friends.

Posted by Mr Minton at 4/24/2006 02:41:00 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

I am working on Fakaofo Atoll in the Tokelaus. It consists of lots of small motus and a fairly complex reef system. I have mapped about 1/3 of the atoll already (the western side). I thought it might be interesting to show you some of the steps I take to construct my island maps. The above image is of Fonua Loa Motu. Let's begin. I like to begin with the vegetation. I try to ensure the layer is uniform in appearance. The layer is EVS Vegetation Mixed (Hi-Lo). That allows for the type of ground cover one would typically encounter on these islands - some native trees, palms and brush in the midst of it. The sand layer is just that - the exposed surface of the island. I realize that "sand" has many different appearances and consistencies, but for the purposes of these maps "the sand layer" works. It is the layer that one would typically find a beach or clear land where a village might be located. If you map atolls, you will map reefs. In the beginning I was content to create a polygon around the entire reef and be done with it. Now I try to determine the different types of reefs based on color, proximity, and appearance. It is one of the most difficult and tedious parts of the mapping process. But when it's done consistently I know I've produced a good map. When I have finished digitizing in Global Mapper, I like to finish up in Marplot. What you see above is a temporary map layer (vector files). My job will be to assign each of these temporary layers into permanent EVS layers. I compare the image and my layer choices to make my final determination. This layer will become the EVS Vegetation Mixed (Hi-Lo) layer. And that's how it's done!. I do that for each motu within each atoll within each ocean . . .

Posted by Mr Minton at 4/23/2006 07:14:00 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post