Geospatial Revolution Comrades!
I'll claim to have been busy as a reason for the long silence. That is staying on top of all my course work, which is somewhat unusual for me, and filling my spare time playing Europa Universalis III with the Magna Mundi mod, as the sweet laptop I got for my course is the first computer I owned that can run it (and with gusto). Unfortunately, I do not have administrative privileges on my own machine because of all the licensing issues with cartographic software I have access too. Technically it is a lease until the course ends, but I had to pay the full price up front. Reasons like that is why I am currently working as an activist for the anti-copyright Pirate Party of Canada. If you're in the area, there's a meeting at the Uncommon Grounds on Argyle Street in Halifax at 4pm on Sunday October 4th.
Anyway, cartography has come along way from large wooden tables, constantly re-furling maps and big ass rulers, although we still do all of that. The hot thing these days is Geographic Information Systems (GIS), which is basically attaching a database to a map. This video give a short and flashy overview. Google Earth is a lay man's version, but still very powerful in what it can do. The applications of GIS are virtually unlimited, because it is not so much about the static location of things, but rather how the relationships between things can be visualized in spatial contexts. And you can do this with anything, from the best location to put a coffee shop based on neighbourhood demographics, to more efficient patterns of global commerce, to organizing a revolution to remake the political system. Maps have long been used as a tool of domination, giving a visual legitimacy to political boundaries (the borders of Israel are a good example), to perpetuating imperialism (a pink British Empire), to selling big development projects (omitting the wetlands under a proposed mall). GIS allows everybody to organize and participate in creating a collective map of our world, because maps are one of the most powerful tools we have at our disposal.
Anyway, that's enough of that for now. I've got to think more on the possibilities, and I have a paper to write on my "life goals" and other personal development junk. *Sigh*
As a parting link, the most excellent Karl Schroeder gives us a neat idea for a future GIS application through his concept of "The Rewilding: A Metaphor" (WARNING - MINDBLOWING CONTENT). I had also talked with him at Worldcon about the idea.
Anyway, cartography has come along way from large wooden tables, constantly re-furling maps and big ass rulers, although we still do all of that. The hot thing these days is Geographic Information Systems (GIS), which is basically attaching a database to a map. This video give a short and flashy overview. Google Earth is a lay man's version, but still very powerful in what it can do. The applications of GIS are virtually unlimited, because it is not so much about the static location of things, but rather how the relationships between things can be visualized in spatial contexts. And you can do this with anything, from the best location to put a coffee shop based on neighbourhood demographics, to more efficient patterns of global commerce, to organizing a revolution to remake the political system. Maps have long been used as a tool of domination, giving a visual legitimacy to political boundaries (the borders of Israel are a good example), to perpetuating imperialism (a pink British Empire), to selling big development projects (omitting the wetlands under a proposed mall). GIS allows everybody to organize and participate in creating a collective map of our world, because maps are one of the most powerful tools we have at our disposal.
Anyway, that's enough of that for now. I've got to think more on the possibilities, and I have a paper to write on my "life goals" and other personal development junk. *Sigh*
As a parting link, the most excellent Karl Schroeder gives us a neat idea for a future GIS application through his concept of "The Rewilding: A Metaphor" (WARNING - MINDBLOWING CONTENT). I had also talked with him at Worldcon about the idea.