gis and the neogeographer

GIS and the Neogeographer

Schuyler Erle <[email protected]>


What the heck isa “neogeographer”?


What the heck is“GIS”?


What the heck isa “Geographic Information

System”?


GIS is ...● cadastral mapping● urban planning● demographics● hydrology● forestry● geology

● disaster relief● search & rescue● route planning● logistics● fleet management● and much more...● analysis, not just

cartography


GIS is ...● Analytical


GIS is ...● Analytical● Precise


GIS is ...● Analytical● Precise● Deliberate


GIS is ...● Analytical● Precise● Deliberate● Money is at stake


GIS is ...● Analytical● Precise● Deliberate● Money is at stake● Lives are at stake


Neogeography isn'tmuch like that

at all.


Moore's Law +


Moore's Law +Cheap Bandwidth +


Moore's Law +Cheap Bandwidth +Consumer GPS devices +


Moore's Law +Cheap Bandwidth +Consumer GPS devices +Google Maps =


Moore's Law +Cheap Bandwidth +Consumer GPS devices +Google Maps =

“Neogeography”


( ... in other words ... )


● Current Events● Favorite Places● Photo Albums● Traffic Conditions● Public Transit● Weather Reports● Housing & Real

Estate Listings

● Find Local Schools, Churches, ...

● Find Places to Shop● Find Restaurants● Employment

Opportunities● Classified Ads● Walking, Hiking,

and Bicycling Trails


● Ski Slopes● Wi-Fi Hotspots● eBay Auctions● Local Concerts and

Sporting Events● Sightseeing Guides● Hotel Guides● Airfare Search● Fuel Prices

● Crime Patterns● Blogrolls● Personal Histories● Personal Ads● Natural Disasters● TV and Movie

Shooting Locations● UFO Sightings


● Map Creation Tools● Map Viewing Tools● Map Collections● ... and even Map

Games!

(whew)


Neogeography is...● “Mashups”


Neogeography is...● “Mashups”● “Web 2.0”


Neogeography is...● “Mashups”● “Web 2.0”● “Red Dot Fever”


Neogeography is...● “Mashups”● “Web 2.0”● “Red Dot Fever”● Hacks


Neogeography is...● “Mashups”● “Web 2.0”● “Red Dot Fever”● Hacks● Imprecise


Neogeography is...● “Mashups”● “Web 2.0”● “Red Dot Fever”● Hacks● Imprecise● Fast


Because maps are cool!


Ordinary Folks

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Potential GIS ExpertsPotential Neogeogra-


Ordinary Folks

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Potential GIS ExpertsPotential Neogeogra-


What can the GIS expert learn from the neographers?


What can the neogeographers teach us?

● Anyone can be a cartographer...



● Anyone can be a cartographer...● ... and that's a good thing!



● Anyone can be a cartographer...● ... and that's a good thing!● It's also okay to imprecise sometimes



● Anyone can be a cartographer...● ... and that's a good thing!● It's also okay to imprecise sometimes● It's good to be enthusiastic...


... because maps are cool!


... because maps are cool!(In case you forgot.)


What can GIS expertsteach the neographers?


What can GIS experts teach the neogeographer?



● How not to reinvent the wheel



● How not to reinvent the wheel● How to reuse existing Open Source tools



● How not to reinvent the wheel● How to reuse existing Open Source tools● How to understand the basic concepts

(e.g. projections, ellipsoids, coordinate systems)



● How not to reinvent the wheel● How to reuse existing Open Source tools● How to understand the basic concepts● The real meaning of “Free” and “Open”


“I don't understand why half the world is crying, man, when the other half is crying,

too? We got to get it together, man.”

- Janis Joplin


A little patience and wisdomcan go a long way...

Thank you!

gis and the neogeographer

Technology