EVS-Islands: 2006-11-12

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, November 18, 2006

Pinaki Atoll FP

Pinaki Atoll - Landsat Image S-07-15_2000 (1-15,625)

Pinaki Atoll - Shuttle Image ISS-004-E-12986 (1-15,625)

Pinaki Atoll - Marplot Map (1-15,625)

Pinaki Atoll, according to various sources, is uninhabited. It is visited on occassions by villagers from Nukutavake Island 14-kms to the NW.

My original post containing the Landsat image, which I had used as base imagery, and my Marplot map. At the time, the map was solid at depicting features that were derived from the Landsat image.

Since those early efforts I have discovered other sources of base imagery. Most often, I will use Google Earth imagery. It is typically 1-meter imagery. I will also use Shuttle imagery. Although, it is typically very high quality. However, you have to align and occassionally stretch and skew the imagery.

I used a Shuttle image for my base imagery. I was able to georectify it using four ground control points. The map I was able to produce corrects many Landsat imprecisions.

I typically keep my single island posts simple - orientation map, image and map. This time I am going to include a Flickr slideshow. The Smithsonian has a large collection of archived photos and reports. One of these series of photos are of Pinaki Atoll. They were taken by Charles Townsend Haskins in 1900.

Pinaki Atoll FP - From a 1900 Exploration Trip

Enjoy!

Labels: atoll, Digital Globe, EVS, Global Mapper, Google Earth, island, Landsat, map, Marplot, Pacific, Polynesia, Smithsonian, Tuamotus

Posted by Mr Minton at 11/18/2006 04:34:00 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Thoughts - World Villages

French Polynesia, Tuamotus, Reao Atoll Village

World Village

My mother spent her young years in small towns scattered throughout the American Midwest. She always said it was the best of times. Life was uncomplicated. You knew who to watch out for and you knew who was your friend. Sure, everybody knowing everbody can be a problem. It is uncomfortable when everybody you come in contact with knows your business. That is a small drawback to the positives of village life.

Other villages scattered throughout the world offer the inhabitants unique challenges. Some of these challenges determine life or death. Some determine where you will lead the goats to graze and water.

I have spent the last few days putting together a blog dedicated to villages. I do not add comments, I merely provide a village-encompassing image taken from Google Earth at 1-meter resolution. I also provide geographic coordinates for the curious. The blog has a series of tabs that will allow you to look at villages by geographical regions or you can enjoy the slideshow on the main blog.

American TV would have you believe that life exists only in New York City, Los Angeles and a few other very large cities. World Villages acknowledges that many many people live productive, interesting and challenging lives in small places scattered about the world.

Enjoy!

Labels: farming, fishing, Google Earth, herding, trading, village

Posted by Mr Minton at 11/16/2006 11:07:00 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

Sunday, November 12, 2006

Thoughts - Gaps in PGS Coverage Covered by EVS

Pepel Island - PGS Shorelines 1:30,000)

The shorelines in the above image are PGS precision shorelines. They are typically excellent in tracing Landsat imagery shorelines. That is until you have shorelines that contain wetlands. According to individuals at MDA that worked on the project, wetlands were to be excluded as shoreline. I can appreciate the logic behind the decision to exclude these water-logged areas. However, there is a problem.

Pepel Island - Landsat Image N-28-05_2000 (1-30,000)

This is the Landsat imagery that Prototype Global Shoreline (PGS) was derived from. You can see that PGS tracks only the non-wetland shoreline. Enhanced Vector Shoreline (EVS), my product, not only tracks the island shorelines, but includes the wetlands.

Pepel Island - Marplot Map (1-30,000)

This is my solution for mapping Pepel Island. The entire island is mapped to include both land and wetlands. The two warfs at the sourthern end of the island was derived from Google Earth Imagery. If I'm a dude in a boat heading into Pepel Island port, I definitely would want to see the wetlands.