Google Maps as Mapserver Layer

[P Kishor]

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.


-- 
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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