Comments on: Cloud computing and GIS http://blog.timwarr.net/2008/08/21/cloud-computing-and-gis/ Maps, Photography and Mountains Mon, 30 Aug 2010 19:05:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: timwarr http://blog.timwarr.net/2008/08/21/cloud-computing-and-gis/comment-page-1/#comment-10 timwarr Fri, 22 Aug 2008 13:01:45 +0000 http://timwarr.wordpress.com/2008/08/21/cloud-computing-and-gis/#comment-10 Of course. I prefer the myths to "lies, dammed lies and statistics"... Of course. I prefer the myths to “lies, dammed lies and statistics”…

]]> By: mpd http://blog.timwarr.net/2008/08/21/cloud-computing-and-gis/comment-page-1/#comment-13 mpd Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:42:21 +0000 http://timwarr.wordpress.com/2008/08/21/cloud-computing-and-gis/#comment-13 Does that "99%" figure come from the same source as the near mythical "80% of all data is spatial"? Does that “99%” figure come from the same source as the near mythical “80% of all data is spatial”?

]]> By: timwarr http://blog.timwarr.net/2008/08/21/cloud-computing-and-gis/comment-page-1/#comment-11 timwarr Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:44:55 +0000 http://timwarr.wordpress.com/2008/08/21/cloud-computing-and-gis/#comment-11 Ok, my statement was a little extreme (but it got you to comment!). Perhaps I could rephrase it as: “The starting point should always be to look to web mapping services to provided background mapping/aerial data (unless there are specific needs around granular scale, coordinate reference systems, etc)" What's wrong with purdy pictures, it is still 99% of GIS use (or are we back to the '90s debate of "what is GIS")? Ok, my statement was a little extreme (but it got you to comment!).

Perhaps I could rephrase it as:
“The starting point should always be to look to web mapping services to provided background mapping/aerial data (unless there are specific needs around granular scale, coordinate reference systems, etc)”

What’s wrong with purdy pictures, it is still 99% of GIS use (or are we back to the ’90s debate of “what is GIS”)?

]]> By: mpd http://blog.timwarr.net/2008/08/21/cloud-computing-and-gis/comment-page-1/#comment-12 mpd Thu, 21 Aug 2008 08:11:35 +0000 http://timwarr.wordpress.com/2008/08/21/cloud-computing-and-gis/#comment-12 "Who in their right mind would now host their own background mapping and imagery as a default?" In my experience, lots of people. Like those who want to use a coordinate reference system other than Spherical Mercator. Or those who want to view/print/publish at a specific scale that is not divisible by two from the extents of the world. Or those who have more up-to-date imagery than GYM (they do exist you know). Also, downloading pre-rendered tiles is hardly GIS in the cloud. It is just tiles in the cloud. GIS is not just purdy pictures you know. You used to know that before being assimilated :) That said, GIS in the cloud obviously has a big future. I just don't think that GIS has been severely hindered by the lack of - and therefore been waiting for - the cloud. “Who in their right mind would now host their own background mapping and imagery as a default?”

In my experience, lots of people. Like those who want to use a coordinate reference system other than Spherical Mercator. Or those who want to view/print/publish at a specific scale that is not divisible by two from the extents of the world. Or those who have more up-to-date imagery than GYM (they do exist you know).

Also, downloading pre-rendered tiles is hardly GIS in the cloud. It is just tiles in the cloud. GIS is not just purdy pictures you know. You used to know that before being assimilated :)

That said, GIS in the cloud obviously has a big future. I just don’t think that GIS has been severely hindered by the lack of – and therefore been waiting for – the cloud.

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