Enhanced Vector Shorelines of the World - One Island, One Coastline, One River and One Lake at a time.
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!
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Nghi Son Islands VN - The Rest Of The Islands
Nghi Islands VN - Outlying Islands
This is the rest of the islands. I posted Nghi Son Island previously. Nine smaller islands make up the balance of these islands. The outlying islands have little information posted about them on the Internet. Needless to say, due to heavy development within the area, these islands will be affected. Whether that effect will be negative or positive, only time will tell. Time and the Vietnamese government..
Nghi Son Island and Coast
Nghi Son Island, the main island of the group, is the large island just off shore. This island will become an integral part of both the existing cement factory and the oil refinery scheduled to be built in 2008.
This is about counting trees. Not just any trees, but Critically Endangered Cupressus Guadalupenses trees, according to the IUCN, Conifers Division. And this is about counting trees using Digital Globe imagery found in Google Earth. And, finally, this is about counting trees and placing their location and characteristics into a database that feeds into a vector map of Guadalupe Island.
Counting Cypress Trees On Guadalupe Island
So let's get started.
Slide-1) The first image shows the entire island. The island is 34-kms by 11-kms and is a high island with elevations in excess of 1200-meters. The lower elevations are desert like, whereas the higher elevations receive abundant moisture from rain and frequent fog. It is in these higher elevations that we find the Cupressus Guadalupenses. This post will focus on two of the larger groves of Cypress trees located above and to the west of the island's center.
Slide-2) Here are the two groves. The southern grove, at 1,440,000 sq meters, is twice as large as the northern grove, at 650,000 sq meters.
Slide-3) The area calculations are derived from my vector map of the island. Using DG imagery and Marplot mapping software, I digitized and mapped the shoreline and the stands of Cypress trees I could easily identify.
Slides-4,5 and 6) Let us look at the southern grove at a scale of 1:12,500. An accurate area boundary can be digitized at this level of resolution. Slide 6 is a ground-level view of the Cypress grove from a distance of perhaps 1-km.
Slides 7 and 8) These images display the benefit of hi-res DG imagery when it comes to flora identification and inventory. Single trees are easily discernable. To the trained eye, individual trees could be identified. Their color and foliage would permit health assessment. Dead trees, both standing and toppled. could be inventoried as well.
Slides 9 and 10) The northern grove has a greater density of trees. The same assessments could be conducted here as well as in the southern grove.
Currently, using Marplot, my name field for each tree would contain data unique to that specific tree. The database creation is a chore, but done once, anyone could maintain it. This sort of database, anchored to a vector map, would be invaluable to all of those with an interest in the preservation of these Critically Endangered trees.
#1 - Where In The World Are These Islands - The Answer
Where In The World Are These Islands Located?
Aland Islands, Finland
Where in the world are these islands located? In the midst of the Aland Islands is my small cluster of islands. So all of you that guessed southwestern Finland, Hyvä aikaansaada!
Green Islands PP - Kiwi Raid and "Lucky Lindy" Charles Lindbergh Again
Green Islands PP - Overview
The coral atolls, called Green Islands, is frequently referred to as Nissan because Nissan Island represents 90 per cent of the land area. Nissan is an elliptically shaped ribbon of land, less than a mile in width, surrounding a lagoon about eight miles long and three miles wide. The open sea enters the lagoon through three small gaps in the ellipse of land, thus making the two small islands of Sirot and Barahun at the north-west of Nissan. The main channel, which is between Nissan and Barahun, is only 15 feet deep, so that although the lagoon is deep, only shallow draft vessels may enter. There are no high hills and no watercourses on these islands, but the jungle is thick and substantial areas are covered by coconut plantations. (Extracted from "Landing on Nissan Island", NZTEC).
The article goes on to describe a hard-fought battle for this strategically important island group. It turns out that "Lucky" Lindy flew missions from this island as well as Emirau Island.
Green Islands PP - Nissan Island
The main island in the group is Nissan Island. It was the site of a Japanese base during WW-II. The base had an airfield and a docking area for seaplanes and barges. It was important to capture this island to disrupt the Japanese supply lines to their outer bases.
I read a recent report about Nissan Island and it stated that there are inhabitants on the island. They make their living off of fishing and copra. This individual was taken to sites on the island and shown unexploded ordinance. I think they need my vector maps to plot those potentially deadly bombs so that they can be initially located, relocated and removed.
Green Islands PP - Pinipel Island
I almost didn't map this island. I was busy with Nissan Island and thought that I might revisit Pinipel Island later. Well, later turned out to be sooner. Pinipel Island is mapped for your viewing pleasure.
Green Islands PP - 1:250,000 Mapping
My last comments concern the series of maps, New Guinea AMS Topographic Mapping, held by Perry-Castaneda Map Library, U of Texas, specifically, the map that covers the Green Islands. The map is titled Cape St George, New Ireland SB 56-3. What interests me the most is the source material for this map. The bulk of the land features are based on 1940's aerial photography. The nautical data (depths, harbors, reefs, and shorelines) is based on 1876-1912 small scale hydrographic charts. Now that is some old stuff. Much of the world's mapping is still based on these kinds of out-dated sources. I realize that Papua New Guinea most likely has some very recent mapping covering it's territory. However, I would be willing to bet that much of the mapping covering it's holdings is still based on these antiquated sources.
We have the base imagery and technology to make major mapping advances, but we seem content to rely on old source material (DCW and AMS) and say "It's good enough." I say - EVS precision is needed on a global scale. Let's get busy!
This Landsat ETM+ 2000 image at a scale of 1:25,000, covers a small portion of this island rich area. There are 1,000s of small islands within a relatively small area. Most of the islands are a few hectares in size. What country owns them? What body of water are they located in?
A moderately priced, easy-to-use GIS package, which I use to load, view and work with Landsat ETM+ imagery from which I digitize layers of information for my island maps.
Nghi Son Island and Coast
view Nghi Son Islands on Google Maps
