Move over Google Maps, it's time to get medieval on your pixels. Well, perhaps not that ancient, but Charles R Carpenter has cornered the market in historical property maps, known as cadastral maps.
Cadastral maps recorded property ownership at every address in the US and Carpenter’s company, Historic MapWorks LLC of Scarborough, Maine, now owns the rights to some 1.2 million of them, covering the entire country.
Seven employees are scanning the map library and linking them street by street to current maps, using latitude and longitude points where old streets have disappeared and old neighborhoods are paved over. “We have produced a digital, historic Google Earth,” said Carpenter.
Earlier this month, Google announced in a blog post that its Google Earth product would begin offering historical images. All this is free, but Carpenter believes subscribers will pay $30 a month for unfettered access to many times more and deeper historical data in an online map collection that is expanding daily.
So if you want to take a (limited) look at old Florida, and Manatee County in particular, click on the Historic MapWorks site
If you're coming to Anna Maria Island, make our vacation rentals site your first port of call. From two-bed condos to huge family homes, we have it all. Visit Anna Maria Vacations for the best the island has to offer.
Friday, 27 February 2009
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
Maps are what divide us
Hi there map lovers!
Now we don't like to get too controversial over here at Florida Map and Travel Information, but this issue is just too big for us to ignore.
Picture the scene. You're in a car, travelling somewhere you've never been before. In the driver's seat is a man, in the passenger's seat is a woman. With a map. There is an argument waiting to happen.
But maybe you should just chill, accept your differences and agree that men are good at some things, women at others. And while you're at it you can cite some recent scientific findings to back up your argument.
According to the Telegraph newspaper in England, scientists believe the reason the sexes differ is due to their different roles in evolution.
It says: Men had to hunt and stalk their prey, so became skilled at navigation, while women foraged for food and so became good at spotting fruits and nuts close by.
The theory emerged from a study which looked at the different ways in which men and women appreciate art.
Researchers discovered that a brain region called the parietal lobe, which governs spatial awareness, is active in both men and women when they admire a "beautiful" picture or photograph.
But while neurons on both sides of the brain were stimulated in women, only those in the right hemisphere were activated in men.
The left side deals with closer range objects while the right is better at co-ordinates.
The scientists, led by Dr Francisco Ayala from the University of California, and reported in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, believe differences in the way men and women appreciate beauty probably arose early in the evolution of early modern humans, say the researchers.
Hunting, traditionally done by men, required a "co-ordinating" ability to track animals accurately while on the move. Closer spatial awareness was better suited to foraging for fruit, roots or berries, a job mainly carried out by women.
"Women tend to be more aware than men of objects around them, including those that seem irrelevant to the current task, whereas men out-perform women in navigation tasks," the scientists wrote.
"Men tend to solve navigation tasks by using orientation-based strategies involving distance concepts and cardinal directions, whereas women tend to base their activities on remembering the location of landmarks and relative directions, such as "left from", or "to the right of"."
So there you have it. Evolution is to blame. Not men, nor women. Glad to have cleared that up.
Come to Anna Maria Island and stay in some of the best accommodation available. Luxury villas, condos and cottages from Anna Maria Vacations.
Now we don't like to get too controversial over here at Florida Map and Travel Information, but this issue is just too big for us to ignore.
Picture the scene. You're in a car, travelling somewhere you've never been before. In the driver's seat is a man, in the passenger's seat is a woman. With a map. There is an argument waiting to happen.
But maybe you should just chill, accept your differences and agree that men are good at some things, women at others. And while you're at it you can cite some recent scientific findings to back up your argument.
According to the Telegraph newspaper in England, scientists believe the reason the sexes differ is due to their different roles in evolution.
It says: Men had to hunt and stalk their prey, so became skilled at navigation, while women foraged for food and so became good at spotting fruits and nuts close by.
The theory emerged from a study which looked at the different ways in which men and women appreciate art.
Researchers discovered that a brain region called the parietal lobe, which governs spatial awareness, is active in both men and women when they admire a "beautiful" picture or photograph.
But while neurons on both sides of the brain were stimulated in women, only those in the right hemisphere were activated in men.
The left side deals with closer range objects while the right is better at co-ordinates.
The scientists, led by Dr Francisco Ayala from the University of California, and reported in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, believe differences in the way men and women appreciate beauty probably arose early in the evolution of early modern humans, say the researchers.
Hunting, traditionally done by men, required a "co-ordinating" ability to track animals accurately while on the move. Closer spatial awareness was better suited to foraging for fruit, roots or berries, a job mainly carried out by women.
"Women tend to be more aware than men of objects around them, including those that seem irrelevant to the current task, whereas men out-perform women in navigation tasks," the scientists wrote.
"Men tend to solve navigation tasks by using orientation-based strategies involving distance concepts and cardinal directions, whereas women tend to base their activities on remembering the location of landmarks and relative directions, such as "left from", or "to the right of"."
So there you have it. Evolution is to blame. Not men, nor women. Glad to have cleared that up.
Come to Anna Maria Island and stay in some of the best accommodation available. Luxury villas, condos and cottages from Anna Maria Vacations.
Friday, 20 February 2009
Carbon data shows disturbing detail
Hi map lovers!
Today we're going to look at a new scientific discovery which has used Google Maps to chart the carbon dioxide emissions across America. Those scientists, always up to something!
Here's the story as reported by AFP.
A team of US scientists led by Purdue University unveiled an interactive Google Earth map on Thursday showing carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels across the United States.
The high-resolution map, available at here, shows carbon dioxide emissions in metric tons in residential and commercial areas by state, county or per capita.
Called "Vulcan" after the Roman god of fire, the project, which took three years to complete, quantifies carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels such as coal and gasoline.
It breaks down emissions by the sectors responsible including aircraft, commercial, electricity production, industrial, residential and transport.
"This will bring emissions information into everyone's living room as a recognizable, accessible online experience," said Kevin Gurney, the project leader and an assistant professor of earth and atmospheric sciences at Purdue.
"We hope to eventually turn it into an interactive space where the public will feed information into the system to create an even finer picture of emissions down to the street and individual building level," he added.
The United States accounts for some 25 percent of global emissions of carbon dioxide, which scientists have identified as the most important human-produced gas contributing to global climate change.
Simon Ilyushchenko, an engineer at Internet search giant Google who worked on the project, said "integrating the data with Google Earth was a way to advance public understanding of fossil fuel energy usage.
"Dynamic maps of the data, broken down by the different sources of emissions, easily show where people burn more gasoline from driving or where they use more fuel for heating and cooling homes and businesses," he said.
Vulcan integrates carbon dioxide emissions data from the US Environmental Protection Agency and US Department of Energy. The current data is from 2002, but the scientists said they plan to incorporate more recent data.
Besides Purdue, the project also involved researchers from Colorado State University and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
It was funded by NASA, the US Department of Energy, the Purdue Showalter Trust and Indianapolis-based Knauf Insulation.
Today we're going to look at a new scientific discovery which has used Google Maps to chart the carbon dioxide emissions across America. Those scientists, always up to something!
Here's the story as reported by AFP.
A team of US scientists led by Purdue University unveiled an interactive Google Earth map on Thursday showing carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels across the United States.
The high-resolution map, available at here, shows carbon dioxide emissions in metric tons in residential and commercial areas by state, county or per capita.
Called "Vulcan" after the Roman god of fire, the project, which took three years to complete, quantifies carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels such as coal and gasoline.
It breaks down emissions by the sectors responsible including aircraft, commercial, electricity production, industrial, residential and transport.
"This will bring emissions information into everyone's living room as a recognizable, accessible online experience," said Kevin Gurney, the project leader and an assistant professor of earth and atmospheric sciences at Purdue.
"We hope to eventually turn it into an interactive space where the public will feed information into the system to create an even finer picture of emissions down to the street and individual building level," he added.
The United States accounts for some 25 percent of global emissions of carbon dioxide, which scientists have identified as the most important human-produced gas contributing to global climate change.
Simon Ilyushchenko, an engineer at Internet search giant Google who worked on the project, said "integrating the data with Google Earth was a way to advance public understanding of fossil fuel energy usage.
"Dynamic maps of the data, broken down by the different sources of emissions, easily show where people burn more gasoline from driving or where they use more fuel for heating and cooling homes and businesses," he said.
Vulcan integrates carbon dioxide emissions data from the US Environmental Protection Agency and US Department of Energy. The current data is from 2002, but the scientists said they plan to incorporate more recent data.
Besides Purdue, the project also involved researchers from Colorado State University and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
It was funded by NASA, the US Department of Energy, the Purdue Showalter Trust and Indianapolis-based Knauf Insulation.
Tuesday, 17 February 2009
Why Latitude is not on the level for everyone
Google Maps' new feature, Latitude, appears to be dividing those who have i-Phones and plan to use them. One person who admits he will not be taking advantage of the tracking service is JR Raphael from PC World, who wrote on his blog three very good reasons why not.
Google unveiled its new mobile location tracking service, Google Latitude, on Wednesday -- and it took me only a matter of minutes to determine it's one service I won't be using.
Google Latitude, if you haven't heard, lets you have your location monitored and shared in real time with your friends, family, or whomever you choose. Once you sign up, GPS satellites and cell towers watch your whereabouts. They pull location data from your laptop or smartphone, then pinpoint you on a pretty little Google Map as you go about your day.
While Google Latitude isn't the first mobile location tracking service to hit the market, it may be the first with the potential for mainstream and widespread adoption. Here are three reasons why I won't be hopping on the bandwagon.
1. It's just a little too friendly.
Call me old-fashioned, but I don't want every aspect of my life to be public domain - even when it comes to my close friends and family. I may be in the minority within the open book, share-it-all sentiment of the Web 2.0 world, but there's something nice about not having everyone knowing what I'm doing every minute of my day. If I run out for a quick cup of coffee, I may not want my buddy to see that I'm right around the corner from his house. If I tell someone I can't make it to dinner because I'm visiting a friend in the hospital, I don't want him to know that I'm really sitting at home eating biscuits.
2. Google already has enough dirt on me.
We've heard for years about how much Google knows about us. From cookies to calendars and crazy search queries, the G-gods probably know more about me than my own mother does. The last thing I need is Google also knowing where I am every second.
3. Who knows who could end up getting the data?
Right now, the location data from Latitude stops at Google's servers. But who's to say what agency might demand it at some point down the line?
So there you have it - the three reasons I won't be using Google Latitude. Maybe I'm overly protective of my privacy, but in an era when the verses to "Every Breath You Take" can serve as a literal description of a day, you've gotta hang on to what little you can.
Well, time to get back to work. If you need me, I'll be right here at my desk. That's my story, anyway - and, thanks to the lack of location tracking technology in my life, I'm sticking to it.
Read the whole of JR's blog here
Google unveiled its new mobile location tracking service, Google Latitude, on Wednesday -- and it took me only a matter of minutes to determine it's one service I won't be using.
Google Latitude, if you haven't heard, lets you have your location monitored and shared in real time with your friends, family, or whomever you choose. Once you sign up, GPS satellites and cell towers watch your whereabouts. They pull location data from your laptop or smartphone, then pinpoint you on a pretty little Google Map as you go about your day.
While Google Latitude isn't the first mobile location tracking service to hit the market, it may be the first with the potential for mainstream and widespread adoption. Here are three reasons why I won't be hopping on the bandwagon.
1. It's just a little too friendly.
Call me old-fashioned, but I don't want every aspect of my life to be public domain - even when it comes to my close friends and family. I may be in the minority within the open book, share-it-all sentiment of the Web 2.0 world, but there's something nice about not having everyone knowing what I'm doing every minute of my day. If I run out for a quick cup of coffee, I may not want my buddy to see that I'm right around the corner from his house. If I tell someone I can't make it to dinner because I'm visiting a friend in the hospital, I don't want him to know that I'm really sitting at home eating biscuits.
2. Google already has enough dirt on me.
We've heard for years about how much Google knows about us. From cookies to calendars and crazy search queries, the G-gods probably know more about me than my own mother does. The last thing I need is Google also knowing where I am every second.
3. Who knows who could end up getting the data?
Right now, the location data from Latitude stops at Google's servers. But who's to say what agency might demand it at some point down the line?
So there you have it - the three reasons I won't be using Google Latitude. Maybe I'm overly protective of my privacy, but in an era when the verses to "Every Breath You Take" can serve as a literal description of a day, you've gotta hang on to what little you can.
Well, time to get back to work. If you need me, I'll be right here at my desk. That's my story, anyway - and, thanks to the lack of location tracking technology in my life, I'm sticking to it.
Read the whole of JR's blog here
Friday, 13 February 2009
Get interactive in Florida
Hi map lovers!
Check out this great new feature from Visit Florida, for all those who are thinking of coming to our great state, or maybe those who are already here but want to know more.
The state tourism agency has just launched interactive area maps, telling you such useful information as where to find lodging, attractions, where the best spots are for outdoors, sightseeing, golf, entertainment, camping and shopping. All you do is click on the subject you want to know more about, choose the city you are interested in and the interactive map does the rest.
It's great for finding out about each area of Florida and what there is to do there. You can also access visitor services, view photos and even videos of your chosen area. Just click on www.visitflorida.com/maps to start your interactive experience.
If you're coming to Anna Maria Island, don't forget to check out the very best in vacation rentals at http://www.annamaria.com/at-a-glance-vacancies.html
Check out this great new feature from Visit Florida, for all those who are thinking of coming to our great state, or maybe those who are already here but want to know more.
The state tourism agency has just launched interactive area maps, telling you such useful information as where to find lodging, attractions, where the best spots are for outdoors, sightseeing, golf, entertainment, camping and shopping. All you do is click on the subject you want to know more about, choose the city you are interested in and the interactive map does the rest.
It's great for finding out about each area of Florida and what there is to do there. You can also access visitor services, view photos and even videos of your chosen area. Just click on www.visitflorida.com/maps to start your interactive experience.
If you're coming to Anna Maria Island, don't forget to check out the very best in vacation rentals at http://www.annamaria.com/at-a-glance-vacancies.html
Tuesday, 10 February 2009
There but for the grace of God...
Hi there map fans.
You may have been following on the TV news the terrible tragedy taking place in Australia at the moment, with wild fires tearing through the South Eastern part of the country.
We in Florida know all about the dangers of nature and the havoc it can wreak.
The real problem for those caught up in the fires is the speed at which they move. Google Maps have plotted a map guide of where the fires are currently burning, and those which have been put out. Check it out below.
You may have been following on the TV news the terrible tragedy taking place in Australia at the moment, with wild fires tearing through the South Eastern part of the country.
We in Florida know all about the dangers of nature and the havoc it can wreak.
The real problem for those caught up in the fires is the speed at which they move. Google Maps have plotted a map guide of where the fires are currently burning, and those which have been put out. Check it out below.
Friday, 6 February 2009
Big Google is watching you...
Here's an interesting story about a brand-new feature from Google Maps, Latitude. It comes from the website www.mobileshop.com and explains how the global giants had to consider many factors before launching its new service.
A new feature launched by Google this week required the company to think "long and hard" about how to give users total control.
In a statement to mark the release of Latitude - an opt-in accompaniment to Google Maps that enables people to see the location of their friends and family - the company said privacy settings for the gadget are adjustable so participants can measure how much information they share.
The system works by allowing a user to invite others to join Latitude, after which their profile then appears on a map to show where they are. Although "it won't pinpoint your exact location", it can provide directions to where people are and provide "a good idea of where your friends are at a given time".
However, Google said people with this feature on their mobile phones can choose to hide their profile, or even turn it off altogether if they want privacy.
The feature is available for various handsets including some BlackBerry devices and Nokia smartphones. Support for the Apple iPhone and the T-Mobile G1 is "coming soon".
Google's official blog suggested that the gadget might be ideal for those who need to see if a loved one is stuck in traffic or if their plane has landed safely.
Would you share your location with friends?
Well, would you? It seems as though, far from being scared of such 'Big Brother' technology, people are prepared to accept it as long as it's their choice. Can you imagine the outcry if the state tried to impose something like this?
Come to Anna Maria Island and stay a while with us at www.annamaria.com for the best in luxury vacation rentals on the island.
A new feature launched by Google this week required the company to think "long and hard" about how to give users total control.
In a statement to mark the release of Latitude - an opt-in accompaniment to Google Maps that enables people to see the location of their friends and family - the company said privacy settings for the gadget are adjustable so participants can measure how much information they share.
The system works by allowing a user to invite others to join Latitude, after which their profile then appears on a map to show where they are. Although "it won't pinpoint your exact location", it can provide directions to where people are and provide "a good idea of where your friends are at a given time".
However, Google said people with this feature on their mobile phones can choose to hide their profile, or even turn it off altogether if they want privacy.
The feature is available for various handsets including some BlackBerry devices and Nokia smartphones. Support for the Apple iPhone and the T-Mobile G1 is "coming soon".
Google's official blog suggested that the gadget might be ideal for those who need to see if a loved one is stuck in traffic or if their plane has landed safely.
Would you share your location with friends?
Well, would you? It seems as though, far from being scared of such 'Big Brother' technology, people are prepared to accept it as long as it's their choice. Can you imagine the outcry if the state tried to impose something like this?
Come to Anna Maria Island and stay a while with us at www.annamaria.com for the best in luxury vacation rentals on the island.
Tuesday, 3 February 2009
Google goes under water
Google has done it again! Check out this latest news from the Telegraph Online website telegraph.co.uk
Google Ocean, which will be included in the newest version of Google Earth, will allow users to swim around underwater volcanoes, watch videos about exotic marine life, read about nearby shipwrecks, contribute photos and watch unseen footage of historic ocean expeditions - all from the comfort of their homes.
Footage of polar bears, beluga whales, sea urchins and king penguins from the BBC's award winning series Planet Earth and The Blue Planet will also be available.
The world's oceans cover more than 70 per cent of the planet's surface and contain 80 per cent of all life on Earth, yet humans have only ever explored around 5 per cent of that space.
Google Earth, which combines satellite imagery, maps and information to allow users to explore streets and cities around the world, has been downloaded 500 million times since it was introduced in 2005.
Google Ocean was developed with an advisory council of more than 25 leading ocean advocates and scientists.
Sylvia Earle, oceanographer and Explorer in Residence at the National Geographic Society, said: "I cannot imagine a more effective way to inspire awareness and caring for the blue heart of the planet than the new Ocean in Google Earth.
"For the first time, everyone from curious kids to serious researchers can see the world, the whole world, with new eyes."
In addition to Ocean, Google has also introduced other tools for Google Earth 5.0 users, including Virtual Time travel - where users can revisit the past and observe changes in areas where historical satellite imagery is available. For example, users will be able to see construction of Germany's soccer stadiums in the build up to the 2006 World Cup, witness the desertification of Africa's Lake Chad and track the melting of ice on the Grinnell Glacier in Montana.
Users can visit the planet Mars with a click of a button to see high resolution imagery and 3D terrain and a bit closer to home, users will be able to download GPS Tracking, making it easy to visualise and record running, hiking and biking routes.
What will they think of next?
Google Ocean, which will be included in the newest version of Google Earth, will allow users to swim around underwater volcanoes, watch videos about exotic marine life, read about nearby shipwrecks, contribute photos and watch unseen footage of historic ocean expeditions - all from the comfort of their homes.
Footage of polar bears, beluga whales, sea urchins and king penguins from the BBC's award winning series Planet Earth and The Blue Planet will also be available.
The world's oceans cover more than 70 per cent of the planet's surface and contain 80 per cent of all life on Earth, yet humans have only ever explored around 5 per cent of that space.
Google Earth, which combines satellite imagery, maps and information to allow users to explore streets and cities around the world, has been downloaded 500 million times since it was introduced in 2005.
Google Ocean was developed with an advisory council of more than 25 leading ocean advocates and scientists.
Sylvia Earle, oceanographer and Explorer in Residence at the National Geographic Society, said: "I cannot imagine a more effective way to inspire awareness and caring for the blue heart of the planet than the new Ocean in Google Earth.
"For the first time, everyone from curious kids to serious researchers can see the world, the whole world, with new eyes."
In addition to Ocean, Google has also introduced other tools for Google Earth 5.0 users, including Virtual Time travel - where users can revisit the past and observe changes in areas where historical satellite imagery is available. For example, users will be able to see construction of Germany's soccer stadiums in the build up to the 2006 World Cup, witness the desertification of Africa's Lake Chad and track the melting of ice on the Grinnell Glacier in Montana.
Users can visit the planet Mars with a click of a button to see high resolution imagery and 3D terrain and a bit closer to home, users will be able to download GPS Tracking, making it easy to visualise and record running, hiking and biking routes.
What will they think of next?
Monday, 2 February 2009
This is why we live here
Hi map lovers!
Just thought you might be interested in a map showing just why so many people choose to live in this fantastic place.
This map shows the average rainfall for the years 1951 to 1980. Over such a long period of time the averages are a pretty good indication of levels so it is interesting to note how the different areas had different averages.
Orlando and the central area, for instance, had appreciably less rain than parts of the pan handle and the south west.
Interesting also that two of our major Gulf Coast tourist areas - around Tampa Bay and Fort Myers - also had a very low average.
If you want to come and experience why Anna Maria Island is so special, click on www.annamaria.com for the very best in vacation rentals from Anna Maria Vacations.
Just thought you might be interested in a map showing just why so many people choose to live in this fantastic place.
This map shows the average rainfall for the years 1951 to 1980. Over such a long period of time the averages are a pretty good indication of levels so it is interesting to note how the different areas had different averages.
Orlando and the central area, for instance, had appreciably less rain than parts of the pan handle and the south west.
Interesting also that two of our major Gulf Coast tourist areas - around Tampa Bay and Fort Myers - also had a very low average.
If you want to come and experience why Anna Maria Island is so special, click on www.annamaria.com for the very best in vacation rentals from Anna Maria Vacations.
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