EVS-Islands

Easter Island - Finally Finished

2008-07-06T14:13:00.000-07:00

Easter Island - Other Precision Map (1:100,000)

Yep! Finally finished with this map. I have worked off and on on this map for a year. Back in August 2007 I completed everything but the water features in Rano Kau crater and modifying three minor contours (20-m, 40-m and 60-m). A few months back I got an email from a person wanting to use this map in a publication. That presented two problems. First problem, the map was constructed from DigitalGlobe imagery. First problem solved - I got in touch with my contact at DigitalGlobe and explained the problem. He got back to me with permission to use the map ensuring proper crediting took place. Second problem, had to finish the map. Second problem solved - I went back to work and finished the Rano Kau crater water features and finished modifying the minor contours. Problems solved and map will appear in this person's soon to be published book.

Rano Kau Crater - DigitalGlobe Image from Google Earth

Just thought I would share the DigitalGlobe imagery I used to complete the Rano Kau crater water features. After many hours of small water feature digitizing, I am here to tell you there are lots of little ponds and puddles at the bottom of this crater.

Easter Island - Other Precision Map (1:8,340) - Rano Kau Crater

After finishing, I am satisfied with my completed Easter Island map. Also, I am happy that my map will be used to make a person's book a better one.

How To Map Reef Features at EVS Precision

2008-07-05T07:55:00.000-07:00

How To Map Reef Features - EVS Precision Map with Island Polygons (1:95,000)

During the month of May 2008, I digitized approximately 8,000 island polygons scattered throughout the southern Pacific Ocean. All of Papua New Guinea to the Cook Islands were mapped at EVS precision using Landsat ETM+ base imagery. And I got paid for my efforts! The above map is of a stretch of coast along the eastern shore of Bougainville, specifically approaches to Kieta and Anewa Bays. The customer purchasing the vector mapping wanted only shorelines as depicted on Landsat ETM+. All of my digitizing was at scales between 1:25,000 to 1:12,500, pushing the limits of Landsat ETM+.

How To Map Reef Features - Aus 683 Nautical Chart

The above image is an enlargement of a thumbnail chart view provided by the Australian Hydrographic Service. It is intended to show you a rough depiction of the Kiela and Anewa Bays. Nautical charts have always been my inspiration for shoreline mapping. They typically minimize the on-shore details and focus, as you would expect, on the actual shoreline and off-shore features. I wondered if I could use Landsat ETM+ imagery to mirror Aus 683 reef details.

How To Map Reef Features - Landsat and DigitalGlobe Images (1:95,000)

Landsat is not DigitalGlobe. 14.5-meter resolution compared to 1-meter resolution is Minnie Pearl compared to Angelina Jolie. However, if you really work with the "Minnie Pearl" resolution, one can create an accurate, within reason, and pretty gool looking map.

How To Map Reef Features - Landsat False Color Image (1:95,000)

Having gained considerable experience at mapping reef features over the last few years, I've developed a reef mapping method. Using Global Mapper's image enhancement features, I trick my Landsat image using an enhancement called "Difference". It creates a consistent series of false colors causing reef features to display more clearly. Using a blue background, the reef features appear as sickly yellow colors.

How To Map Reef Features - EVS Precision Map with Island Polygons and Reefs (1:95,000)

My first pass created reef polygons. I use a layer designation EVS Reef Shallow. Any yellow patch of color is identified as EVS Reef Shallow. I realize that one is able to extract a great deal of subtle reef information, given time. However, my goal is to try and emulate Aus 683's shorelines and reefs. The above map should be my finished product. It isn't.

How To Map Reef Features - EVS Precision Map (1:95,000)

How To Map Reef Features - DigitalGlobe, EVS Precision and Landsat

When one works at scales between 1:25,000 to 1:12,500 other reef features become visible, the white spots at the reef's edge, for instance. They could be sand bars, above water coral or waves. It turns out, when comparing 1-meter imagery of the same area, they are waves - turbulent white water sloshing across a reef shelf. I label these wave features as EVS Reef Awash. I define a reef awash feature as a visible feature typically at the reef's edge. Most often these features are waves. These breaking waves give a fairly consistent signature whether they are sliding across a reef or smacking against a continental shoreline.

My finished EVS precision map of this area now contain reef features - EVS Reef Shallow and EVS Reef Awash. I think they provide important information to all map users. And by the way, it turns out my EVS precision map of Bougainville is far superior to AHS's coverage. They have two charts covering this island. One at 1:300,000 (Aus 399) and the other covering five different areas along the east coast (Aus 683). My EVS precision map covers the entire island and outlying islands, with reefs, at scales between 1:125,000 to 1:50,000.

Enjoy!

Thoughts - United States Should Be Energy Independent in 5-Years

2008-06-30T23:54:00.000-07:00

Green River Formation

According to USGS publication, Geology and Resources of Some World Oil-Shale Deposits , the Green River Formation, located in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming, has 1.5 trillion barrels of oil. At a 30 MMBO (million barrels of oil) per day consumption rate, this single formation could provide the United States with crude oil for the next 136 years. Again, let me state, the United States would be energy independent in crude oil for the next 136 years from this single formation.

This deposit is not a recent discovery. Since the turn of the century geologists have explored and assessed the oil potential of this formation. The oil is inside of a rock called oil shale. There is plenty of oil, but until recently, due to technology limitations and costs, the extraction of this oil was both technologically difficult and not cost effective. The primary extraction method was to dig oil shale out of the ground and by using heat, the oil could be induced to flow from the shale. A recent innovation is sideways drilling. The vertical drilling takes place until the oil shale is reached. Then a near 90 degree angle is accomplished and the drilling continues sideways. Some deep deposits in the Williston Basin (North & South Dakota and Montana) are 10,000 feet vertical and another 10,000 feet horizontal. The horizontal pipe has holes throughout it's length. Once in place, the perforated pipe is heated allowing the trapped oil to flow.

I'll bet you, if I had invested 1.5 trillion dollars (the cost to fight the Iraqi War which ultimately will allows us to purchase Iraqi oil) in oil shale extraction over the last 5-years, I would now be pumping all of the oil the United States would ever need, 30 MMBO per day.. We could be sellers of petrochemical products, if we so desired. And the best part, our oil could be extracted and sold to our citizens for considerably less than $140 a barrel. Companies extracting oil from oil shale estimate $60 to $70 per barrel of oil would allow for handsome profit margins for those involved in all aspects of crude oil to gasoline.

I wish Canada, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Nigeria the best. I hope their crude oil deposits continue to bring riches into their respective countries for many years to come. Not our riches though. It is time that the United States takes charge of our own energy supply situation. Establish a national goal of energy independence within the next 5-years. We need to perfect the technology to extract and process our very own crude oil from our very own oil shale. Make it a national priority. When we become energy independent, at that time we can reclaim our self-respect and pride in our American "Can Do" attitude.

Enjoy!

P.S. - I know this has nothing to do with islands, mapping or EVS precision, but it is my blog and I can share whatever info I wish.

Thoughts - My Evolving Map Product

2008-06-27T09:05:00.000-07:00

Marutea Atoll - EVS Precision Map (1:125,000)

In February 2006, my mapping craft was beginning. I could digitize a shoreline with the best of them, but my color selections were evolving. Not only my color selection, but the entire layout of a finished map was evolving. I enjoy using Marplot to finish my maps. I know there are more flexible mapping packages that will allow one to finish maps as functional and appealing products. I know, but Marplot is my package of choice for the time being. When I really have to "pretty" a map, I work in ImageForge. It is a freeware draw and design package. I tried Gimp, but I am quite comfortable working with ImageForge.

That said, in February 2006, I completed all of my map finish work using Marplot. At the time, I liked my efforts, but saw room for improvement. For the past two plus years, that is what I have attempted to do, improve all aspects of my mapping work. I now digitize shorelines from Landsat ETM+ mosaics at scales between 1:25,000 to 1:12,500. I know that is pushing the limits of Landsat ETM+ and 14.5 meter resolution, but the final map is of a greater accuracy when my initial digitizing is done at the aforementioned scales.

I have continually evolved my island mapping color scheme. Now I use bolder colors, fewer soft pastels and less brilliant greens. I expect my color scheme to continue changing. The aim is to give the viewer colors that contribute to a positive map reading experience and that share information meaningfully.

My map layout is changing. I see this aspect of my work being the most dynamic. Depending on the map's end use, the layout will either be quite simple (for posting) or more stylistic, more "pretty" if the subject is of great interest, the map for an end-user or I have time.

Marutea Atoll - EVS Precison Map (1:85,000)

This is the current Marutea Atoll EVS precison map product. I like it.

Enjoy!

Comparison - DCW, VMAP0 Shorelines and GYM's Mapping Opportunity

2008-06-25T09:34:00.000-07:00

Shoreline Map Comparison - Yahoo, Google, MS and EVS Precison

Shoreline Map Comparison - DCW and VMAP0

This post shows that Google Maps, Yahoo Maps and MS Live Search Maps use DCW/VMAP0 global shorelines for their mapping, at least in the area of Rabul. That is 1:1,000,000 scale global map coverage. James Fee, a well-respected GIS professional, commented, "When it comes to precision, I think the efforts for GYM (Google, Yahoo, Microsoft) should be on the navigation/geocoding/routing and not shorelines." First, one must agree with James' statement that GYM's maps are intended primarily for navigation/geocoding/routing. I believe that their customers, global in reach, would subject GYM's maps to many other GIS uses beyond navigation/geocoding/routing. I know that there is an agressive effort within the GIS community to provide a richer, more powerful set of tools, allowing any of us the opportunity to explore more complex spatial issues using Google Maps and Google Earth as platforms of choice. Ultimately, the end user, faced with a spatial problem requiring small scale maps would either have to make their own map, pay to have a map made, use a substandard map in place or not use a map at all.

In addition, James seems to suggest that 1:1,000,000 scale is satisfactory for GYMs primary efforts of navigation/geocoding/routing. I understand his reasoning, but I disagree. Before teaching, I did extensive geocoding of environmental risks. Locational precision was critically important. 1:1,000,000 was an unworkable geocoding scale. To follow the flight path of an enemy aircraft using 1:1,000,000 is doable. However, to locate enironmental risks at that large of a scale is asking for problems. A misplotted environmental risk could well result in a lawsuit. Business locations was another area I worked in and locational precision determined an exclusive market and was a contractual promise to the franchisee.

James goes on to say, "For me the shorelines are somewhat irrelevant to the routing provided. If I do need good shorelines, I'll probably just be using the aerial imagery in the first place." Again, his reasoning seems to make sense, but I disagree. First, shorelines are not somewhat irrelevant, they are a dynamic boundary between man and water. A raster image of a shoreline is practical for some applications, but a vector defined shoreline offer one a wide range of mapping possibilities. If I am GYM's map guru, I want my customers to have the greatest mapping precision possible. I don't want to impose precision limitations when there is no need. EVS precision shorelines, on a global scale, requires money to fund the mapping effort and time to complete the project. It will be money well spent. The resulting shorelines and other feature/land use layers will allow the "G", the "Y" or the "M" to be the number one mapping destination for all users and that could generate lots of ad dollars.

Finally, vector maps allow for infinite zooming with no lose of detail. If the initial vectors are created from quality base imagery (i.e., Landsat ETM+) and the map customers are able to easily access these detailed vector maps, they can tackle complex spatial issues using GYM's hi-precision mapping. Thus a marketing boon to the company savy enough to provide the product.

Enjoy!

P.S. - After yesterday's post, I received a query from an individual about EVS precision mapping for a section of Canadian shoreline. He had used WVS/GHHS vectors and they were unsatisfactory for his project. I sent him NGA PGS vectors covering his target area. They looked okay at 1:250,000 scale. He loaded them and acknowledged they were a significant improvement over the WVS/GHHS vectors, but were angular and did not track a cloud-free shoreline as one would expect. I created EVS precision vectors for him. He compared them to NGA PGS vectors and immediately acknowledged their higher quality. He asked if I would go ahead and create EVS precision vectors for his entire study area. I will, but wouldn't it have been cool for him to go to one of the big three mapping portals and find this mapping not only available, but downloadable? I think so.

Comparison - Google Maps, Yahoo Maps, MS Live Search Maps and EVS Precision Maps

2008-06-23T08:25:00.000-07:00

Shoreline Map Comparison - Yahoo, Google, MS and EVS Precison

Whose shoreline maps are currently the most accurate? Is it Google Maps? They have loads of bucks and a keen desire to put the best product into their sites. They must have the most accurate shorelines. Right? Nope, not them. Yahoo! Maps, the current darling of the stock market and Google "wannabe", has the same clunky shoreline used by Google. MS Live Search Maps has the prettiest maps. Lots of shaded hills and valleys, but clunky shorelines. For sure, MicroSoft must have the most accurate shorelines. For sure, not.

Would you believe, EVS Precision Maps has the most accurate shorelines compared to the big three map moguls. EVS precision mapping is derived from Landsat ETM+. Typically, it provides accurate shoreline depiction at scales between 1:100,000 to 1:50,000.

Rabul - MS Live Search Map

All map maker struggle with PPL (populated place) placement. The PPL data is available through NGA. I'm reasonably certain most of their data and locational information was derived from ONC (1:1,000,000) charts. Looking at the PPLs on the MS Live Search Map of the Rabul area, we see towns lined up in a grid. In the real world, this only happens in the midwest, not on New Britain Island in Papua New Guinea. One should replot these PPLs using Landsat ETM+ or hi-res imagery. The only thing certain about the above plots, is their locational uncertainty. But, back to shorelines.

Rabul - EVS Precision Maps

EVS Precision Maps provide the most accurate shoreline maps of the four being compared. The big three use, what appears to be DCW's 1:1,000,000 shorelines. 1:1,000,000 has it's uses, but when one zooms to 1:63,500 (1" to 1-mi), a shoreline that approximates reality is expected. EVS Precision Maps show that expected shoreline. Google Maps, MS Live Search Maps and Yahoo Maps do not.

Enjoy!

P.S. - I am aware of NGA PGS vector files, 24 tiles covering much of the world. They were derived from Landsat ETM+. EVS Precision Maps and NGA PGS should parallel each other. They do not. NGA PGS vectors used a digitizing algorithm to automate their work. Peculiar stutters, uncalled for strings of vectors and angular shorelines are often the norm. Also, NGA requested that water inundated areas (swamps, marshes, tidal flats) be excluded. This caused a great many problems in shoreline mapping. Also, the slightest cloud cover often thwarted their automated digitizing efforts. EVS Precision Maps consistently improve upon NGA PGS.

Reao Atoll FP - The Finished Map

2008-06-21T08:53:00.000-07:00

Reao Atoll - ISS004-E-12987, 12988, 12989 Images (1:100,000)

Reao Atoll - Other Precision Map - Source ISS004 Images (1:100,000)

This is my finished shoreline map of Reao Atoll FP. The imagery covering this atoll is of sufficient detail that other layers of information can be digitized, if I wish. For now I just want to complete shorelines within the Tuamotus at EVS precision or better.

Enjoy!

How To Map Motus

2008-06-20T07:58:00.000-07:00

View Larger Map

Zoom In to See Pukaruha and Reao Atolls

Reao Atoll FP - ISS004-E-12987, 12988, 12989 Images Modified (1:75,000)

For whatever reason Landsat ETM+ does not have a mosaic that covers Reao Atoll. Google Earth has Landsat imagery, but no imagery for this area at the NASA site where I download my Landsat ETM+'s. As I am making all of my maps without using DigitalGlobe imagery, because one day I might want to sell my shorelines, I must locate other imagery sources. The International Space Station (ISS) is a source of sometimes excellent imagery. And, in fact, ISS004 has 3 cloud-free, highly detailed images covering Reao Atoll, my current target project.

I downloaded, modified their sizes, constructed a "whole atoll" mosaic, rotated the image to align it with my base island shoreline vectors (NGA PGS vectors) and georectified this image using 7 GCPs.

Reao Atoll FP - Other Precision Mapping on ISS Images - Finished Motus (1:40,000)

Reao Atoll FP - Other Precision Mapping - Finished Motus (1:40,000)

Once I had a georectified image, my digitizing could proceed. I decided to map motus first, thus the title of this post. Motu mapping is quick, repetitive and gives one a sense of completion. Each motu is actually a small island. Reao Atoll will ultimately be made up of a 100 or more islands. The two above images show the results of about 2-hours worth of digitizing. I always strive for EVS precision, Landsat ETM+ resolution or better. This imagery allows me to exceed EVS precision. For mapping quality purposes, I label it as Other precision and label it's Source attribute as ISS-Hi Res. I have completed 58 Other precision island polygons. Let's look at the challenges one encounters as they map motus.

Reao Atoll FP - Other Precision - Digitizing Motu (1:10,000)

First, I am working at 1:10,000 scale. At this scale, I am able to maintain sharp feature clarity. In addition, this resolution allows me to make consistent shoreline determinations that will work with the scale of my finished map, between 1:50,000 to 1:25,000. My mapped shorelines consist of actual or suspected (based on color) above-water features. Sounds easy enough to consistently identify, but it isn't. After mapping a few thousand motus, I have learned to make a color(s) to shoreline decision and rigourously adhere to that definition. In imagery, color is god.

In the Reao Atoll image, the motu shorelines are identified as a white sand color. Having studied enough hi-res 1-meter imagery of reefs and motus, I know that between motus are features called hoas. These serve as channels allowing water to flow in and out of the lagoon. Eventually, these hoas fill up with coral rubble and sand, vegetation takes root and motus join motus to form a continuous land ring around a lagoon. Given enough time, the lagoon quite often fills in and, sea level cooperating, a flat island forms where an atoll once stood. Using my white sand color as my motu shoreline, I began digitizing.

Reao Atoll FP - Other Precision Mapping - Finished Motu (1:10,000)

If I do a good job, my project consists of a series of motu shorelines. The digitizing is monotonous, eye-straining and lately, my feet hurt because my chair is uncomfortable. But the finished map is what I work for. I'll share it with you when I've finished. Until then...

Enjoy!

Yadua Taba Island FJ - Home of the Fijian Crested Iguana Project

2008-06-19T22:29:00.000-07:00

Yadua Taba Island - Landsat S-60-15_2000 (1:12,500)

Yadua Taba Island - EVS Precision Map (1:12,500)

As I was mapping this island, I kept repeating the Fred Flintstone saying "Yaba Daba Do". That was what Yadua Taba did to me. Now what it does for iguanas is something else. Yadua Taba is home sweet home to the few remaining Fijian Crested Iguanas. It is the hope of the Fijian Crested Iguana Project to enable the few remaining iguanas to survive. Not just survive, but perhaps to thrive.

Fijian Crested Iguana (from Reuters)

"A Fijian Crested Iguana sits on the head of a statue of a Komodo Dragon at Taronga Zoo in Sydney during an announcement of a funding boost for their conservation June 19, 2008. Only a few wild populations remain of the endangered iguana which is found on a several Fijian islands. The species faces possible extinction due to habitat destruction and competition from introduced species."

Enjoy!

How To Digitize Cloud-Obscured Shorelines

2008-06-17T11:34:00.000-07:00

Raivava'e Atoll - EVS Precision Map on Landsat S-06-20_2000 (1-55,000)

As most of my regular readers know, the bulk of my mapping work is derived from Landsat ETM+. My primary reason for using Landsat ETM+ as base imagery is consistency of product. Typically, anywhere on earth this imagery is freely available, virtually cloud-free and consistently resolved to 14.5-meters per pixel. Great for my worldwide island mapping work. Plus, there are minimal copyright issues when using this imagery. All that is asked is that you credit the source imagery. Did I say "virtually cloud-free"? That is everywhere but in humid climates, in other words in and around islands. Oh, well, it is merely a challenge that the accomplished mapper learns to work around.

The above image is an example of cloud-obscured island imagery. Most of Raivava'e Atoll is visible, but those areas not visible are significant. How does one resolve these areas using copyright-free data (credit source data)? If I am unable to secure Landsat 1990 imagery, which quite often enables one to resolve cloud-obscured areas, I go to Shuttle photography. Specifically, searching for ISS (International Space Station) imagery.

Raivava'e Atoll - EVS Precision Map on ISD_ISS001-375-13 Modified (1-55,000)

Raivava'e Atoll has two images that show the atoll with virtually no clouds. These images are sufficiently large enough that one is able to zoom into and digitize features. First, however, the ISS image must be georectified. Global Mapper allows me to georectify ISS imagery using my Landsat base imagery. In georectifying this ISS image, I used 7 GCP's to ensure the ISS image lay precisely on top of the Landsat base image.

Raivava'e Atoll Outlying Motus - EVS Precision Map on Landsat S-06-20_2000 (1-10,000)

Raivava'e Atoll Outlying Motus - EVS Precision Map on ISD_ISS001-375-13 Modified (1-10,000)

Beginning with the cloud-obscured Landsat image above, I digitized as much of the atoll as possible. The cloud-obscured portions were identified and designated for further work. Visiting Shuttle photography, I found 2 cloud-free images of Raivava'e Atoll. I selected ISD_ISS001-375-13 as the better of the two images. I rotated it and cropped to the atoll. Using this modified ISS image, I was able to complete digitizing the cloud-obscured shoreline. When all else fails, I use WVS shorelines. They are crude compared to EVS precision, but they work.

I use red shorelines to designate EVS precision derived from Landsat base imagery. The green shorelines are designated as Other precision. The source for all Other precision shorelines in my Raivava'e Atoll map is the ISS imagery.

My EVS precision island map of Raivava'e Atoll is complete and I was able to digitize all shorelines in spite of clouds. Pretty cool, huh?

Enjoy!

Espiritu Santo NH - EVS Precision Details

2008-06-14T22:33:00.000-07:00

Espiritu Santo NH - EVS Precision Map

A simple slideshow is all you get with this post. A simple slideshow of a detailed map of Espiritu Santo island. What I intended to demonstrate with this post is how detailed a shoreline one can create at EVS precision. Mapping created from 1-meter resolution imagery is far superior to Landsat ETM+. However, nothing in the public sector rivals EVS precision. Not WVS, Not NGA PGS, Not DCW. No non-commercial shoreline mapping rivals it. Not many commercial shorelines mapping rival it either. The nice thing about mapping at EVS precision, once it is finished there is no reason to redo. It is finished. And tonight, so am I.

Enjoy!

North Sentinel Island IN - Still The Most Isolated People

2008-06-11T08:25:00.000-07:00

North Sentinel Island - Landsat ETM+ Image Circa 2000 From Google Earth (1:62,500)

North Sentinel Island - ESA Image 2005 (1-62,500)

Let's begin this post with a discussion of my two base images. The first one is a modified Landsat ETM+ extracted from Google Earth. I have the Landsat ETM+ image found on N-46-10_2000 and used it for one of the vegetation layers found on my completed map. However the shoreline, sand beach and forest was extracted from the Google Earth image. Both of the above images were georectified to my N-46-10_2000 image. The Landsat image is circa 2000. The ESA image was taken following the devastating December 2004 earthquake and tsunami. The offshore reefs underwater in the circa 2000 image are uplifted. They were raised as a direct result of the 9.0 earthquake. The island was also hit by a series of tsunamis which created death and destruction throughout the region.

North Sentinel Island - EEVS Map (1:62,500)

My map displays both shorelines of North Sentinel Island. The enlarged beaches and submerged reefs are parts of the new shoreline. The island proper was mapped at scales between 1:12,500 to 1:6,250. The new shoreline and raised reefs were mapped at a scale of 1:50,000. The map is a nice effort. It looks good and reflects the effects of the December 2004 earthquake.

Sentineli Man ShootIng Arrow at Helicopter

I want to say a few things about a group of people that call North Sentinel Island home. They have called it home for about 60,000 years. They are a remnant of the original "out-of-Africa" movement around 100,000 years ago. Follow this link to the Andaman Association and their fascinating site about the Lonely Islands (Andaman Islands). George Weber has gathered information about the inhabitants of the Andamans and specifically the people inhabiting North Sentinel. This group wants nothing to do with the outside world. The population estimate is about 250 individuals. The picture, taken from the Andaman Association website shows the Sentineli's defiant attitude. After the December 2004 earthquake and tsunamis, the Indian government sent a group of concerned scientists to North Sentinel to check on the well-being of the inhabitants. The heli was greeted by the lone man attempting to shoot the big bothersome machine out of the sky. The Sentinelese are doing just fine and they could care less about the world and all of its mysteries. In fact the few crude attempts at contact are clumsy, at best, and insulting most often. I hope they are able to survive, if only to remind us of that different way in which we all once worked with nature and which is so different from our attempts to mold and control nature today.

Enjoy!

Thoughts - Mapping New Britain PP

2008-06-07T22:46:00.000-07:00

I was explaining my mapping work to a person I met at a party earlier today. This individual asked all of the right questions ( What do you do? Where do you get your images? How do you digitize the shorelines? What do you do with your finished maps?) Poor guy! I answered every question with a detailed, lengthy and somewhat technically boring response. After my fifth lengthy reply, he excused himself and joined another group.

As I reflect on my exchange with this curious person, I am amazed at the breadth of my knowledge and convinced that I can be very boring. I really do know quite abit about digitizing shorelines. After a few thousand kilometers of continental shorelines and 9,000 island shorelines, I am able to digitize a precise shoreline (within the limitations of Landsat ETM+'s 14.5-meter resolution).

Early on, I had professional cartographers tell me my maps would be useful at 1:125,000 to 1:63,500. I have learned that my island shoreline maps are useful at scales well-below these upper limits. I typically post completed maps at 1:25,000 scale. After adding layers of information, they work well for an individual attempting to determine a relatively coarse view of an island. Landsat is not DigitalGlobe's hi-res imagery, but it does a great job at giving one a highly resolved broad view of a geographical area.

New Britain PP - Digitizing from Landsat S-55-05_2000 (1:19960)

So, how is it that I do what I do? In digitizing, that is. The above image shows a typical stretch of large island shoreline. An attempt to generate vector shorelines from Landsat ETM+ was done a few years ago. This data, called NGA PGS, is fairly good at defining a shoreline, but coastal swamps are excluded causing some very strange looking maps of islands. If the island or shoreline contains water-innundated shoreline, NGA PGS does not map it. They could have, but someone, somewhere thought it would be good to exclude it. My shorelines include these water-innundated areas. The red line in the above image is my completed EVS precision shoreline. Except for the final vector which I purposely placed in the sea, the shoreline is much more accurately delineated than NGA PGS, WVS, DCW or any of the other available global shorelines. I am not saying EVS precision shorelines are global yet. I am an optimist. Someone, somewhere, sooner than later will fund my mapping efforts and the result will be a global shoreline at EVS precision.

Enjoy!

Thoughts - FLASH! 8,000 Pacific Islands Mapped at EVS Precision

2008-06-04T06:55:00.000-07:00

EPIP - Pacific Islands Overview

The 8,000 islands located in the following island groups: Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, Cook Islands, Western Samoa, Tonga and portions of Kiribati were mapped at EVS precision. Using Landsat ETM+ ortorectified image mosaics, which typically resolve to 14.5 meters per pixel as base imagery, Mr Minton spent in excess of 240-hours over 31-days digitizing, correcting and finalizing island shorelines throughout this region of the Pacific. Mr Minton used a variety of strategies to resolve cloud-obscured shorelines. Those that ultimately could not be resolved were mapped using World Vector shorelines. This impressive effort is being fine tuned using 1990 Landsat imagery, when available.

You heard it right! I spent the last month mapping thousands of islands at EVS precision. I did get paid to do it. Part of me wants to rest, as I sure deserve it. However, the island mapper in me demands that I resolve problem areas, primarily cloud-obscured areas, by correcting island shorelines using cloud-free imagery.

If you are interested in these shorelines, email me and let's talk.

Finally, I will finish mapping the balance of the Pacific islands at EVS precision. Stay tuned for updates on this effort.

Enjoy!

Thoughts - One Day's Traffic From 28 Countries and The US

2008-05-05T16:16:00.000-07:00

One Day's Traffic From 28-Countries Plus the US

I've been at this island blogging business for going on three years. Other blogs have millions of viewers (Strange Maps) in a relatively short time. Whereas other blogs explore highly specialized topics (GIS Java Script Troubleshooting Thoughts) and consequently service a much smaller audience. It turns out that people throughout the world like islands. Maybe not for the reasons I like them, but they enjoy them for their reasons. I strive to ensure my site's content is consistent, easy-to-read, visually appealing and interesting. I am passionate about my work on islands and allow that passion to come across in my posts.

If I'm doing a good job at maintaining my site's integrity, my readership should be growing - and it is! An average day attracts upwards of 120 page views. When NASA highlights an island (Nukuororo Atoll) my readership spikes to 200 plus page views a day. A year ago, I was thrilled to have 30 page views a day.

What impresses me most is where my readers come from. On a typical day (last Wednesday) people from 28 countries visited my site to look at islands. Many are regular readers, some are first time viewers. They literally come from almost all countries throughout the world. My latest reader's country count is at 188 countries. I love it that people in Mongolia find my island posts interesting.

Bloggers, take heart. What we share is appreciated by like-minded souls scattered throughout the world. Give your readers consistently good product and they will continue to visit. Also it helps to have your posts show up on the first page of a typical Google search and almost all of my island posts do.

Enjoy!

Thoughts - Green Dots on a Deep Black Sea

2008-04-30T08:22:00.000-07:00

Cook Islands - Landsat ETM+ Coverage

I have been very busy digitizing islands. In fact, I have just completed digitizing over 3,000 large and small islands making up the western portion of the Solomon Islands. I'm currently digitizing island shorelines in Papua New Guinea. All of this work is being done at EVS precision - using Landsat ETM+ base imagery and digitizing shorelines at a scale between 1:25,000 up to 1:50,000. Some of you have reminded me that because Landsat ETM+ is typically 14.5-meter resolution that digitizing at the scale I work at is overkill. After spending close to 3-years working with 14.5-meter resolution imagery, the maps I am able to produce work quite well. I wouldn't want to sail into a lagoon using only ETM+ imagery, but I could do excellent advance planning and rough navigation using maps derived from this imagery. I know my maps are often far superior in shoreline validity when compared to some of the very old nautical charts still in use today.

Anyway, this is supposed to be about green dots on a deep black sea. In between work on the Solomons and Papua New Guinea, I completed EVS precision mapping of the Cook Islands. The first image in this post struck me. It took seven Landsat ETM+ mosaics to cover the Cook Islands. If you study the above image at full size, almost all of these very small islands are impossible to see. Yet, they enable countries, like New Zealand, to claims (EEZ) enormous chunks of liquid real estate. These very small islands play a significant role in the distribution of world resources. Interesting.

Cook Islands - Marplot Map with 25-km Ocean Masks

The Marplot map of the Cook Islands shows their distribution more clearly. They are scattered about within a peculiarly shaped border, that is if one finds rectangles peculiar. Actually, their EEZs would spill outside of their international border. I'm not sure if the border serves to limit their 200-NM EEZs. If that is the case, too bad for New Zealand and the Cook islanders.

Penrhyn Atoll CW - Landsat S-04-05_2000 Image (1:125,000)

Just to confirm that there are islands located in this broad expanse of black ocean, here is one of them, Penrhyn Atoll. It has a classic atoll shape with a lagoon full of near surface coral heads. I have not researched Penrhyn as I was in a digitizing mode when I worked on it, not in an investigative one.

Penrhyn Atoll CW - EVS Precison Island Polygon Map (1:125,000)

This is my EVS precision map of Penrhyn Atoll. It is a solid shoreline depiction. My customary mapping effort of an atoll would include a number of additional layers of information - reefs, beaches, vegetation. As my client requires only shorelines, I digitizied and mapped the island's above-water shoreline and portion of it's awash reef. Again, it is a solid shoreline mapping effort and one that I will revisit to complete the other layers of information I would typically map.

I am still here, just not able to post as often as I would like. When I finish my paying mapping project (Whoopee!), I will share many, many, many more islands. Until then...

Enjoy!

Thoughts - Be Careful What You Wish For...

2008-04-22T08:48:00.000-07:00

It has been a few days since my last post, but it has been a very busy few days. I am working on a paying island mapping project. The client ( who shall remain anonymous) wants the eastern Pacific islands mapped at EVS precision (using Landsat ETM+ as base imagery). For the past four days I've been mapping the Solomon Islands. All I have to do is create a shoreline polygon for each island. If you've ever studied the Landsat imagery for this part of the world there a lots of clouds. Clouds are a royal pain to the shoreline digitizer. However, I am an enterprising soul and am using Landsat 1990 imagery to try and skirt the cloud issue. It works! Now for the challenge associated with this project. I have 1,000s of islands to digitize, label, add elevation contours and bathymetry, create urban polygons and label, and all of this within two to four weeks. This is what I wished for and now I have it. I will work many many many hours on this project and get paid a few thousand for my efforts (it's never enough). But am I complaining. No, not at all. This is what I want to do - make EVS precision maps of islands. At the end of this project I will have completed EVS precision mapping for the eastern Pacific. That is quite an accomplishment. So my "For Hire" shingle is out. Any more takers? Enjoy!

Thoughts - How and Why I Did What I Did When I Did What I Did

2008-04-18T18:50:00.000-07:00

Titan's Methane Seas - Radar Swaths PIA 10008 Modified

Reviewing my RSS science links, I came across an article describing Titan's liquid methane seas that were imaged by the Cassini spacecraft. The article contained a link to the base image of these seas, PIA10008. Studying these seas, I noticed what looked like islands. There they were swimming in a methane sea. Not one or two, but an entire archipelago of islands scatter about the sea. I figured I would construct a map of the islands. To begin my extraterrestrial island mapping project, I downloaded the base image, PIA10008. I was able to determine the appropriate lat/lon grid and this allowed me to georectify the base image. Using Global Mapper v9.01 software, my favorite digitizing software, I created vector shorelines for the islands within the methane sea. A few days later, I went ahead and digitized the entire shoreline of this unnamed methane sea.

Titan's Unnamed Methane Sea

I selected a funky mustard color for the land and pretty blue for the sea and rivers. The resulting map was posted and then the world came to view my creation. I have made so many maps of islands that I failed to appreciate just what I had fashioned - a first map of an extraterrestrial sea and islands. I feel I've made more satisfying maps of islands, but this other worldly depiction is still widely viewed, vigorously discussed and enjoyed by thousands of readers.

Life is swell when you are able to create something appreciated by an audience of first time visitors to your website. I am pleased that my efforts have fired the imagination of island lovers throughout the world.

Enjoy!

Gough Island UK - An Atlantic Isolate

2008-04-16T00:34:00.000-07:00

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Gough Island - Landsat S-29-40_2000 (1:65,000)

Gough Island - EVS Precision Map with 50 Meter Contours (1:65,000)

Gough Island, a dependency of Saint Helena Island, is located in the distant south Atlantic. Today, South Africa maintains a weather station on the southeastern tip of the island. This is a blustery portion of the Atlantic and the island is subject to weather extremes. For more detailed information follow this link.

I actually digitized the island shoreline last summer. I wanted to fancy the map up, but had other chores to do. Now that I fancy my maps with Marplot, I finished this map tonite, April 15th - Tax Day. Taxes are a drag, but my map is nice.

Enjoy!

Thoughts - The Kanzius Cancer Cure

2008-04-15T11:08:00.000-07:00

This video has nothing to do with islands, mapping, GIS or any of the other subjects I discuss here. It does have to do with a major breakthrough in the area of cancer treatment. It aired this past Sunday evening on 60 Minutes. If the device created by John Kanzius does what he hopes, we could have the ultimate cure for any type of cancer in as little time as 4-years (when human trials will begin). Let's hope so!

Lukuga River - All Finished! 1,000 Riverine Islands Later.

2008-04-13T12:12:00.000-07:00

Lukuga River - Entire River Overview Landsat S-35-05_2000 (1:1,000,000)

I am done! To manually digitize a river is a challenge. Lots and lots of twists and turns make up the river's shoreline, as well as water-inundated areas. One frequently must decide where the river shore ends and the river begins. After one completes the river shore, then comes the islands. The Lukuga River has almost 1,000 island polygons. The majority of this polygons are very small, but the conscientious map maker digitizes every visible feature that might possible belong to a certain layer. Let's take a look at what I was able to accomplish.

Lukuga River - Entire River Overview EVS Precision Map with 100-Meter Contours (1:1,000,000)

At this scale the effort might not look very impressive. However, having digitized this east-west flowing African river and it's many islands, it is an impressive effort. I've added SRTM generated 100-meter contours. Lake Tanganyika makes up the eastern edge and the Lualaba River is the western edge. Now for a few close-ups.

Lualaba and Lukuga Confluence - Landsat S-35-05_2000 (1:50,000)

Lualaba and Lukuga Confluence - 3D View Landsat S-35-05_2000 (1:50,000)

Lualaba and Lukuga Confluence - EVS Precision Map (1:50,000)

This series of images show the confluence of these two rivers. The Lukuga has meandered over relatively flat westward sloping terrain for about 200 kilometers before joining the Lualaba. The large island at the western end of the Lukuga is a water inundated feature that was a challenge to digitize. Water and land quite often blend making digitizing difficult.

Lake Tanganyika and Lukuga Confluence - 3D View Landsat S-35-05_2000 (1:250,000)

Lake Tanganyika and Lukuga Confluence - EVS Precision Map with100-Meter Contours (1:250,000)

These images show the Lukuga flowing from Lake Tanganyika through the town of Kemba. The Landsat image shows agricultural lands throughout this area. The river then courses through a cleft between the hills to the west.

I'm going to go ahead and post this. I have one more series of images to include, but I'll add them when I return after a date with my wife. I hope you all find this effort interesting. I, myself, find it extremely satisfying. This river is mapped at EVS precision, manual digitizing from Landsat ETM+ 14.5-meter resolution base imagery.

Enjoy!

Data - Locations of 506 Crude Oil Refineries

2008-04-09T06:25:00.000-07:00

Locations of 506 Crude Oil Refineries

First, I'd like to credit RoadRunner for his original Google Earth (GE) post titled "The World's Crude Oil Refineries". This data was compiled and posted to GE in October 2005. In his post he references a list of Oil Refineries in Wikipedia as his source. Whatever his source, I wanted the locations of these refineries and bpd production figures so that I could map them in Marplot.

I took his data, which was in the form of a KMZ file. Then I loaded it into Global Mapper and exported the data into a SHP file format. I took the resulting DBF file and modified the data so that my Marplot record would read - refinery name and 2005 production in bpd. I connected this with the refineries lat/lon. I created a layer within Marplot called Refineries, imported my modified file and now have the locations of 506 Crude Oil Refineries in my EVS Projects map file. Oh yes, I do have the original data in SHP and KMZ/KML formats. If you want to see RoadRunner's original data, follow the above link. If you want to see my data, look at the map. If you want a copy of the file from which to create your own layer of information, drop me a line and tell me your desired file format and I'll see what I can do.

The original file is the work of RoadRunner. He gets all of the credit or non-credit. The production figures for many of these refineries have changed. I don't have the new figures, that is for you to gather. Some of the refineries within the list are not refineries at all, but something else. However, if you are an energy industry person, this is a great starter list.

Enjoy!

Bastoy Island NO - Radio Amateurs and Prisoners

2008-04-05T20:18:00.000-07:00

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Bastoy Island - Landsat ETM+ Image N-32-55_2000 (1-20,000)

Bastoy Island - EVS Precision Map (1-20,000)

When I was a young man I learned a language that used to be widely practiced. Now it is an oddity employed by radio amateurs. Morse code was once the primary method of communication within many sectors of the world of the 1960's and 70's. I encountered it in the military. I still enjoy hearing the "dits" and "dahs".

This island is home for Norway's privledged prisoners. Apparently, Bastoy Island is a minimum security prison that is a choice location for all convicted Norwegian criminals. Not only prisoners visit this island, but radio amateurs as well.

Bastoy Island will be the location that LA4HNA and friends will transmit from between June 20-22, 2008. He will not transmit in CW (morse code), but will use RTTY and SSB. Oh, well, that's ok. I like RSGBIOTA (Radio Society of Great Britain Islands On The Air). They encourage amateur radio transmissions from islands around the world - a real natural for me.

Someone that looked at LA1NIS's website visited EVS Islands, perhaps looking for a map of Bastoy Island. If they wanted one, now they have it. The map took about 2-hours to complete. The best resolution imagery is Landsat ETM+. However, Statens Kartverks has excellent, highly detailed mapping for all of Norway. I used their mapping to digitize the road network on the island.

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#5 - Where In The World Is This Island?

2008-04-04T05:17:00.000-07:00

What is this island's name and where is it located? All of you lighthouse affectionados should know. Happy hunting.

Enjoy!

Congo River Journey - Into Africa's "Heart of Darkness"

2008-04-02T17:06:00.000-07:00

When I was in 5th grade (10-years old), I told my folks that as soon as school finished, I planned to leave home and do a "Huckleberry Finn" along the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. I would construct a raft and float along at a carefree pace. I yearned for that freedom, that independence. Needless to say, I didn't make the raft trip, but a long voyage into uncharted, unexplored waters still holds a fascination for me.

Lukuga River (280-km) - Landsat S-35-05 (1-1,500,000)

The Dark Heart of Africa, the Congo River basin is an expansive, sparsely traveled hydrological highway encompassing the center of Africa. To the west is the Atlantic coast and to the east is the Rift Valley lakes. What a place to explore!

The above image is centered on the Lukuga River, the only major outlet for Lake Tanganyika. It connects to the Lualaba River, which flows into the Congo River. 3067-kilometers later, one would arrive along the Atlantic coast of Africa. What a magnificent journey it would be! The trip of a lifetime.

Lukuga River - Landsat S-35-05 (1-25,000)

My mapping of the Lukuga River, is progressing. I have completed 60% of the river shorelines. The additional 40% of shoreline will be completed before the weekend. Then I will work on the many riverine islands that are found within the river.

Congo River Journey (3067 km) - Lukuga, Lualaba and Congo (1-7,700,000)

Picture yourself in a kayak plenty of supplies and with the assurance you will always have access to necessary supplies. Each day the beauty and magnificence of tropical Africa would be yours to explore.

Unfortunately, this part of Africa is in dramatic turmoil. It is the playground of thugs, killers and miguided fighters that believe a well-aimed bullet solves local, regional, national and multinational problems. Problems that the dead and dying will never solve. An intrepid river explorer would be well-advised to avoid exploring this stretch of river without local guides that have well-established connections with all warring factions. Even then, the trip would be extremely dangerous.

Now let's dream. Image exploring this river system without the fear of death from bullets or machetes. Where the only challenges facing you would be those presented by the rivers, not the people living along the rivers. Maybe a 10-year old kid could seriously dream of exploring these rivers that make up the heart of Africa.

Enjoy!