USGS google Maps Google Earth Topo Quad Index KML

Thanks to Scott and the crew at DDS in Lakewood, CO for making available this sweet USGS quad index, easily used within Google Earth or google Maps. Simply browse around, locate your quad, click on the bubble icon, then download the free TIF or purchase a high-res digital version or paper map from DDS... freaking awesome! Here's the KML file
Note, the file is large and takes some time to draw fully in G. Maps!

USGS google Maps Google Earth Topo Quad Index KML

Global Mapper R 10

The popular Global Mapper tool has been updated to R 10 today. Notable new features include:
- Added support for importing ESRI personal geodatabase (MDB) files.
- Added support for importing and exporting BigTIFF files.
- Added more control over placement of labels for point features. Now when
- Added support for selecting/changing the layer that features are in when
editing existing features and creating new ones with the Digitizer Tool.
- Added KML/KMZ Super Overlay Support!
and much more! See more details in the announcement or jump to globalmapper.com

Global Mapper R 10

Fort Collins, CO Free Downloadable GIS Data

The GIS division currently maintains a website that allows free search and view functions for several datasets. In an effort to expand this service, the GIS Division is now providing some of the more frequently requested data in a downloadable format for free on an FTP site. Numerous data layers are available for download including: parcels, topos, centerlines and much more. See http://www.ci.fort-collins.co.us/gis/downloadable-data.php

Fort Collins, CO Free Downloadable GIS Data

Open Access to USGS DEM data... Myth Or Reality? You Be The Judge

One of my favorite topics to stir up... free government data! Say what you want about the SDTS format, however, given that data format there's not much you can do about that. But what about access to native USGS SDTS DEM data? You actually do have a say (somewhat) about it and many GIS professionals are still left wondering why these data are only available from a select few commercial data providers (portals)? Read on as we explore this topic a little deeper. See more in this article

Open Access to USGS DEM data... Myth Or Reality? You Be The Judge

ICSM Guidelines for Digital Elevation Data

ICSM has released a new publication titled ‘ICSM Guidelines for Digital Elevation Data’. The aim is to provide guidelines and recommendations for acquiring elevation data depicting the earth's surface based. It represent a first cut in the preparation of best practice for Australia and have been prepared as an outcome of a review of existing available material from around Australia and selected countries. It was prepared under the auspices of the National Elevation Data Framework (NEDF) initiative. See http://www.icsm.gov.au/icsm/elevation/index.html

ICSM Guidelines for Digital Elevation Data

Free ESRI User Conference San Diego Gaslamp District Map

Thanks once again to Marth Rogers (www.T3W.com) for creating and sharing with us an new, updated map of the San Diego Gaslamp District! If you're headed to the ESRI UC next week be sure to print this one out and carry it with you so you won't get lost... nice stuff Martha!! Download the 1.3 MB PDF map here from our LBSzone.com server

Free ESRI User Conference San Diego Gaslamp District Map

Google now locking Bloggers out of their Blog Dashboard... nice move!

I got a weird email message last night that I first thought was junk, then I realized it was actually legit! Google has some new automated system that is flagging potential spam blogs and locking out owners. I was one of the many unlucky ones with my very popular GISuser AnyGeo blog gisuser.blogspot.com being flagged for some reason and locked! Friggin marvelous move Google.

Above is the message that appears... since I was human I entered a code, however, that doesn't resolve the issue.

After searching the web for how to contact the blogger team -- good luck with that one!!! - it seems many others are having the same mis-fortune.

Above is how the blogger dashbopard appears when a blog owner attempts to publish from teh blogger UI

For one, I'm very pi#@#$#@$ed off about this, particularly since I'm off to San Diego for the ESRI UC bnext week and had planned on blogging.. great! So, if anyone from Google happens to read this, maybe contact me (glenn at gisuser.com) and offer up some help or advice. Otherwise, WordPress is sure starting to look good!!

Google now locking Bloggers out of their Blog Dashboard... nice move!