Google Maps as Mapserver Layer

Thu Mar 1 16:51:55 EST 2007

I'm not completely familiar with the details on the data being provided to
Google.  I'm almost positive there was no monetary exchange.  But like I
said, Arkansas might be a little different because the data is already
available, at no fee, for download, from our State clearinghouse.  So
providing the data to Google wasn't really that big of a deal.  Saying that
the States that do it are idiots is kind of harsh.  Yeah they could use the
cool tools that Google has in conjunction with great old MapServer and
PostGIS, but you aren't keeping in mind that 98% of the population can't
even spell GIS, and have no idea what it is we do.  All they want is a
pretty picture.  That's why the data is provided to Google.  So Joe Q.
Public can access the best and latest information.  They might not even know
it's the best and latest.  I think the more freely accessible data is
provided to big name companies like Google, so they can build their cool
tools on top of it, the better it will be for our industry.  The more people
see the good stuff the more they want it right?  Just my $.02

Richie Pierce
Sr GIS Analyst
a.c.t.GeoSpatial, Inc.
2900 Percy Machin Drive, Suite One
North Little Rock, AR 72114
Ph(501) 771-2985
rpierce at actgeospatial.com
www.actgeospatial.com

-----Original Message-----
From: P Kishor [mailto:punk.kish at GMAIL.COM] 
Sent: Thursday, March 01, 2007 3:09 PM
To: MAPSERVER-USERS at LISTS.UMN.EDU
Subject: Re: [UMN_MAPSERVER-USERS] Google Maps as Mapserver Layer

Thanks Paul, for the clarification. I would love to hear from Richie
(and others from _the_ States that have given their data to Google)
about the terms under which they have given it.

If the States just gave their data away without negotiating
substantive rights in return, then heck, those States are idiots. I
doubt though that that is the case. Google would have spent its money
on Digiglobe anyway, so I don't understand why these States are doing
this. And, these States could have used Google's cool tools in
conjunction with our good old MapServer and PostGIS serving data as
WMS, and gotten the best of everything. There is some opportunity for
education here.

We should really find out the real facts before making assertions
because it will make our arguments for open access that much stronger
and reliable. I am going to investigate this further to find out
really what is going on. If it takes a lot of squirreling to discover
the truth then I will be truly surprised.

On 3/1/07, Paul Ramsey <pramsey at refractions.net> wrote:
> Puneet,
>
> Sorry, don't have any particular details, just lots of anecdotal reports
> of public agencies giving their data to Google in order to achieve the
> holy grail of seeing "their data in Google Earth".
>
>    http://dailyheadlines.uark.edu/7507.htm
>
> This is not uncommon, and it is not particularly sinister from a
> "business" point of view, since the givers are receiving what they want
> (access in a kewl tewl) and the givees are receiving what they want
> (data they can add to Google Earth for free).
>
> I have heard tales of similar deals being struck here in BC, though the
> details are not currently available to me -- it may all just be talk at
> this point.
>
> Paul
>
> P Kishor wrote:
> > On 3/1/07, Paul Ramsey <pramsey at refractions.net> wrote:
> >> Richie,
> >>
> >> One of the quiet tragedies of the Google Earth/Maps mania is that once
> >> public data is handed over to the Googleplex it becomes slightly less
> >> public. You are only allowed to access mapping data served by Google
via
> >> Google-approved mechanisms, such as the Maps API or directly via Earth.
> >
> > This is an interesting assertion, Paul, and I would love to see more
> > info on this. As far as I know, "public data" are not "handed over to
> > the Googleplex." As far as I know, "private data" gathered by "private
> > companies" such as "Digital Globe" are "bought with real money" by
> > Google.
> >
> > As much as I am an advocate of open data access, I see nothing wrong
> > with a legitimate exercise of two private corporations' right to enter
> > into a trade as made possible by the currently accepted capitalistic
> > norms. Yes, Google has a lot of money, and they are able to book the
> > Quickbird satellites for pretty much everything useful leaving
> > everyone else out in the cold. But hey, that is the game we are
> > playing. And, they could have decided to just sit on it and not give
> > access to anything to anyone unless folks ponied up for cash. I am not
> > sure of Google's ultimate long term motives, but for now, they are
> > behaving rather well.
> >
> > Once again, I would love it if I could see the details of how Arkansas
> > ortho data, presumably "public data" were "handed" (by which, I infer,
> > "given away for free or very low cost") to Google. The details would
> > make for a very interesting sidebar in my dissertation.
> >
> >
> >
> >>
> >> Another public geodata issue, I suppose. If enough folks who wanted to
> >> "give their data to google" instead gave it to a 3rd party who
processed
> >> it into standardized tiles, then people could still get direct access
to
> >> the public data, and Google/Microsoft could easily integrate it as
well.
> >>
> >> Paul
> >>
> >> Richie Pierce wrote:
> >> > Like many of you we have space limitations when it comes to our
raster
> >> > files.  We just received notice however that Google will be
integrating
> >> > our new Statewide ortho flight into their Google Maps/Earth service.
> >> > This is exciting for me because it will allow me to get access to our
> >> > statewide imagery without needing the space on my own server.  I was
> >> > wondering if it was possible to use Google Maps imagery as a layer
> >> in my
> >> > map file.  I am using Mapserver and OpenLayers on some of my sites
> >> which
> >> > will work wonderfully.  But I also have other sites that I'm using a
> >> > custom Mapserver interface, and I'd like add the new orthos.
> >
> >
>
>
> --
>
>    Paul Ramsey
>    Refractions Research
>    http://www.refractions.net
>    pramsey at refractions.net
>    Phone: 250-383-3022
>    Cell: 250-885-0632
>

-- 
Puneet Kishor http://punkish.eidesis.org/
Nelson Inst. for Env. Studies, UW-Madison http://www.nelson.wisc.edu/
Open Source Geospatial Foundation http://www.osgeo.org/education/
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