Outside Resources

GPS Visualizer

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 16:16:36 -0400

Quoting from the site:

GPS Visualizer: Do-It-Yourself Mapping
GPS Visualizer is a free, easy-to-use online utility that creates maps and profiles from GPS data (tracks and waypoints, including GPX files), street addresses, or simple coordinates. Use it to see where you've been, plan where you're going, or visualize geographic data (business locations, scientific observations, events, customers, real estate, geotagged photos, "GPS drawing," etc.).

The site allows you to quickly make topographic map overlays and add range circles to Google Earth and a lot more.

USGS Topographic Maps

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 08:40:30 -0400

The USGS Maps Store allows you to download any USGS topographic map. A variety of types and sizes are available beyond USGS quadrangle maps. Use the Map Locator to find and download maps.

Weather Stickers from Weather Underground

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 23:53:40 -0400

If your VFE includes a web page, you can easily include the current weather at the actual field site. Weather Underground (http://wunderground.com), offers free “Weather Stickers” for your site.

These are html snippets that can be pasted into sites that automatically update and provides links to more detailed information. Enter the VFE location into the box at the top of the page, and click on ‘go’ to find the current weather. Scrolling down to or search the page for “Free Weather Stickers,” and follow the link. The stickers are available in a variety of styles. Here’s another:

On the wunderground site, you’ll also find weather history, climate data, climate descriptions and more. Climate data will be added to the VFE database, and this is one of several good sites for finding that information.

Just For Fun -- Mapping (and other Science) Amusement

Sun, 7 Dec 2008 23:01:43 -0500

• Find your antipode – the spot on the Earth exactly opposite your location: http://www.antipodemap.com/
• Geogreeting: http://www.geogreeting.com/main.html This site allows you to use the Earth to spell out a greeting.
• Singing Science Records: This one is a throwback… http://www.acme.com/jef/singing_science/

Photosharing Websites

Sun, 7 Dec 2008 22:59:43 -0500

All the widely used photosharing websites allow for posting pictures easily into Google My Maps and Google Earth.
• http://picasaweb.google.com/
• http://www.flickr.com
• http://www.snapfish.com/
• http://www.shutterfly.com/
• http://photobucket.com/

Very High Resolution Photosharing:
• GigaPan: http://gigapan.org/ The GigaPanSM process allows users to upload, share, and explore brilliant gigapixel+ panoramas from around the globe.
• Photosynth: http://photosynth.net/ “Photosynth creates an amazing new experience with nothing more than a bunch of photos. Creating a synth allows you to share the places and things you love using the cinematic quality of a movie, the control of a video game, and the mind-blowing detail of the real world.” Photosynth can be viewed on any computer, but Photosynth is currently only Windows compatible.