Google Maps won’t help you much in Seoul…

That could be my whole blog post. Just a PSA. Google Maps in Seoul is like Apple Maps was when they launched — dangerously inaccurate. *I don’t know what is helpful on iOS. I traveled last year with Android only, and my searches so far on iOS are coming up short.* So what should you use? Anything OSM-based isn’t too bad. I really like OSMAnd. … Continue reading Google Maps won’t help you much in Seoul…

And I will fly ten thousand miles…

Contemplating FOSS4G 2015, Seoul, South Korea | SEPTEMBER 14TH – 19TH, 2015, but don’t speak Korean? That’s ok. You will be treated oh so well even without Korean. But…  if you want to show your hosts and hostesses a little care in return, maybe learn a little basic Korean. I highly recommend the sweetandtasty channel on YouTube, starting with the word “Love” or “sarang”. You’ll … Continue reading And I will fly ten thousand miles…

OpenDroneMap — Humanitarian uses of outputs

In response to a recent query about OpenDroneMap, I’m writing a quick summary here, and then a brief write-up on how it could relate to humanitarian response / crisis mapping applications, as discussed in my Deep Dive session at International Conference of Crisis Mappers in New York, this past November.  Ahem. The summary: OpenDroneMap: Open Source Toolkit for processing Civilian Drone Imagery “OpenDroneMap is an … Continue reading OpenDroneMap — Humanitarian uses of outputs

OpenDroneMap — Orthophotos and Textured Mesh

Good news to report, though I haven’t finished my own testing yet… but OpenDroneMap, which previously would just create point clouds from drone images, now also produces: Meshes! Textured meshes! Georeferenced textured meshes (if the exif data has geographic coordinates) Georeferenced orthophotos! (if the exif data has geographic coordinates) Now, I’d like those ifs to go away, but that requires a bit of thoughtful interface … Continue reading OpenDroneMap — Orthophotos and Textured Mesh

And I will fly ten thousand miles…

Contemplating FOSS4G 2015, Seoul, South Korea | SEPTEMBER 14TH – 19TH, 2015. It’s only 18 cents a mile to get there from Cleveland, but only 0.11 dollars a kilometer, because the metric system is more economical. If you need inspiration for your own travels to Korea, Mr. Sanghee Shin has that for you. He starts with technology, food, arts, culture, economic potential, but also solicits … Continue reading And I will fly ten thousand miles…

ICCM — International Conference of Crisis Mappers

The mark of a great conference is one that not only is well run and orchestrated, interesting from a content perspective, and full of bright minds, but also one that experiments with elements of interactions to maximize the value delivered to attendees. By these measures, the International Conference of Crisis Mappers (ICCM) succeeds. Normally, I struggle with the call to attend sessions vs. the conference … Continue reading ICCM — International Conference of Crisis Mappers

Public Sector GIS done extraordinarily well

Today I’ll highlight the work of Mr. Byeong-Hyeok Yu, one of two GIS people at Korea National Park Service (KNPS). The other GIS person is (if memory serves) in the research branch of that institution. I’ll highlight a few of Mr. Yu’s projects. To start with, we have the classic natural resource management projects — you remember — those analyses that you did in your … Continue reading Public Sector GIS done extraordinarily well

OpenDroneMap — The MOVIE

Apparently travelling for 20 days straight back and forth through 3 time zones across 13 hours of time difference  makes me calmer, more rational, and a better presenter than normal. All 27 minutes and 35 seconds. And then don’t forget to check out the rest: http://vimeo.com/foss4g Continue reading OpenDroneMap — The MOVIE

OpenDroneMap and the art of sneakernet packet making

Current scene in the smathermather household — OpenDroneMap sneakernet packets being produced for training 53 people in OpenDroneMap on Monday. (Yes, I’m using rsync, not tar. Old dog. New tricks.) edit: let’s throw some code up there, ugly though it may be:   Continue reading OpenDroneMap and the art of sneakernet packet making