Top Blogs in GIS, GeoWeb and Cartography

In September, 2008 the blog 'Off the Map', posts a great discussion, especially in the numerous reader responses, that debates the challenges and issues in classifying online materials related to cartography, geospatial technologies, and the geoweb. 


Off the Map Presents Top 25 Blogs in GIS, GeoWeb and Cartography

Loss of Map Reading and Navigation Skills?

Mounting concern has been expressed that geotechnologies such as satellite navigation systems (GPS) and online mapping (MapQuest) are contributing to the loss of map reading and navigation skills.

Global Impositioning Systems:  Is GPS technology actually harming our sense of direction?
by Alex Hutchinson.  From the November 2009 issue of The Walrus

Finding and retreiving a topographic map

Here is a step-by-step guide to the searching for and retreiving a topographic map from the Canadian NTS map series.

Topographic Map Search

General Criteria for Evaluating a Cartographic Web Site

Accuracy

Who is responsible for the site?  Who is the author?

Is there contact information for the author?

Are the maps accurate?  If not, why not?

Is the site in good repair?  Are there any dead links?

Has it been updated recently? 

Authority

What kind of site is it?

Who is publishing or hosting the site?

What is the primary activity of the host?

What are the author’s credentials or qualifications? 

What is the source of the maps?

Objectivity

Why has the information been brought together for you find on the web?  What is the purpose of the site?

Is there any detectable bias in the site or its information?  Is there any reason to suspect a bias, e.g. the business of the publishing institution or the author?

Who decided what kinds of information is available on the site?

What were the selection criteria for the items included in the site?

Is the information freely available or is it available for purchase?  If you must purchase information, who is the money going to and why was it necessary to purchase the information?

Where did the maps come from?  Who originally produced them?  For what purpose?

Currency

When was the site published?  Has it been updated?

Is the site recent enough to be useful to your topic?

Are the maps current?  If not, when were they produced and does this date impact their relevance to your use?

Is the information available on the page still current or relevant?

Coverage

Is the information available on the site in the public domain or protected by copyright?

Were the maps or links carefully chosen?

Is the information organized in a way that makes it accessible and easily obtained?

What is the quality of the maps?

What kind of site is it? Is there a focus? Is there any bias in the selection of map information?

Does the site have a thematic, chronological, or geographic focus?

Deborah Carter Peoples Science Librarian Librarian Liaison to Geography and Environmental Studies Ohio Wesleyan University Libraries Geography 222 The Power of Maps and GIS is a faculty/librarian collaboration for course enhancement with principles of Information Literacy.  Support for this project was provided by the Five Colleges of Ohio Mellon Grant for Information Literacy.

Geoweb concerns

Here are two recent news postings forwarded by a colleague:

Web Photos That Reveal Secrets, Like Where You Live

Smile! Aerial images being used to enforce laws