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The initial version of the Costa Rica map is now up and running, here:

http://www.ecomapcostarica.com/map/index.shtml

If you are using a small computer screen, you may need to scroll the page down to see three "Zoom To" buttons and some notes. Select the visible layers by using the "+" button on the upper right of the map.

The actual map display that you are seeing is being rendered by OpenLayers, running as a Javascript client.

The base layer (outline), ASTER satellite image, and 'synthetic streams' (artificially generated river routes) are being served from MapServer using WMS. The outline and stream layers are shape files, whilst the satellite image is a GeoTIFF (it was initially a JPEG which I converted using some of the MapServer/GDAL tools).

At the moment, there is only one "client-level" layer. This is the Leaves & Lizards which is served as KML. In two weeks (to the day) we shall be in the field and start adding real data such as topographic information (roads/paths,creeks, hot springs, buildings), panoramic photos, and ecological field points. The latter two will have their own KML data layers.

A version using Virtual Earth for the base layer should go live in the next 2-3 days.

Richard

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Very cool! I like that you can pan and zoom in with the mouse scroll wheel..

Curious what it will look like with the VE tiles!
Costa Rica Overview in Virtual Earth

Eric

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I'll keep the ASTER image tile on the Virtual Earth version - Virtual Earth's coverage of Costa Rica is too poor resolution. San Jose (the capital) is pretty good, so in a few years it is possible that Microsoft might improve things. (also in their favor, Microsoft actually replied when I emailed them asking about better coverage a few months ago - that's more than Google managed).

We may also purchase our own aerial imagery for next year - the ASTER tile might be a big improvement on Virtual Earth's current imagery but the resolution is still only 15m/pixel.


Richard

__________________
Winwaed Software Technology LLC
http://www.winwaed.com
See http://www.mapping-tools.com for MapPoint Tools
Pre-Order MapPoint 2009 today: http://www.mapping-tools.com/mappoint2009

I've been fine tuning things over the past few days. We have a nicer set of icons although only the volcano icon is currently visible (you need to "Zoom To Arenal"). I've also streamlined some of the OpenLayers code which helps to remove some unnecessary WMS fetches of empty tiles.

The course started earlier today. I gave my presentation on volcanoes (very different from MapPoint). Some of the students have also started to write blog entries. We fly on Sunday, with blog, map, and panoramic photo updates "from the field" through to early June. There will probably be further updates after that - eg. if we have to post-process any data back at base. Student reports will also be published after we come back.

Track our progress here: http://www.ecomapcostarica.com


Richard

__________________
Winwaed Software Technology LLC
http://www.winwaed.com
See http://www.mapping-tools.com for MapPoint Tools
Pre-Order MapPoint 2009 today: http://www.mapping-tools.com/mappoint2009