Comments for Spatiality http://spatialityblog.com My thoughts on GIS, data access, and all things spatial. Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:59:40 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Opening up access to NYC data? by NYC data, wide open « Spatiality http://spatialityblog.com/2009/09/02/nycpublicdata/#comment-26 NYC data, wide open « Spatiality Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:59:40 +0000 http://spatialityblog.com/?p=81#comment-26 [...] two related initiatives, a new “DataMine” website and the NYC BigApps competition.  I blogged about both items last month, and though I was skeptical then, I’m quite impressed [...] [...] two related initiatives, a new “DataMine” website and the NYC BigApps competition.  I blogged about both items last month, and though I was skeptical then, I’m quite impressed [...]

]]> Comment on Opening up access to NYC data? by » Improving Access to Information is One Way to Make Reporting Cheaper Velo, Rapido http://spatialityblog.com/2009/09/02/nycpublicdata/#comment-25 » Improving Access to Information is One Way to Make Reporting Cheaper Velo, Rapido Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:13:49 +0000 http://spatialityblog.com/?p=81#comment-25 [...] Romalewski, a pioneer of web-based GIS and community mapping projects, is also skeptical of the contest. He notes that it offers no explicit guarantee that any datasets will be fully [...] [...] Romalewski, a pioneer of web-based GIS and community mapping projects, is also skeptical of the contest. He notes that it offers no explicit guarantee that any datasets will be fully [...]

]]> Comment on Online cartography for richly layered maps by “Neo”, “Paleo”, “Geo”, what? « Spatiality http://spatialityblog.com/2009/08/12/multi-layered-cartography/#comment-20 “Neo”, “Paleo”, “Geo”, what? « Spatiality Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:41:59 +0000 http://spatialityblog.com/?p=24#comment-20 [...] we decided on different GIS technologies/techniques for the Long Island Index mapping site.  And an earlier blog post discusses our cartographic decision-making for the new OASIS [...] [...] we decided on different GIS technologies/techniques for the Long Island Index mapping site.  And an earlier blog post discusses our cartographic decision-making for the new OASIS [...]

]]> Comment on Online cartography for richly layered maps by Homage to the people behind OASISnyc « Spatiality http://spatialityblog.com/2009/08/12/multi-layered-cartography/#comment-19 Homage to the people behind OASISnyc « Spatiality Mon, 28 Sep 2009 05:15:28 +0000 http://spatialityblog.com/?p=24#comment-19 [...] in New York City — see “A new OASIS for New York“.  (Also see an earlier blog post about how we designed the cartography in the new OASIS [...] [...] in New York City — see “A new OASIS for New York“.  (Also see an earlier blog post about how we designed the cartography in the new OASIS [...]

]]> Comment on Manhattan’s daytime population: map source found! by Joshua Daniel Franklin http://spatialityblog.com/2009/08/22/map-source-found/#comment-17 Joshua Daniel Franklin Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:54:55 +0000 http://spatialityblog.com/?p=68#comment-17 Hey, thanks for the legwork. The 2007 Time article graphics are online here, by the way: http://www.time.com/time/2007/america_numbers/commuting.html This is probably my all-time favorite issue. I noticed some problems with the Seattle data--for example, it shows the UW campus as empty at night. That's not even true in the summer, when various camps and conferences use the dorms. Hey, thanks for the legwork. The 2007 Time article graphics are online here, by the way:
http://www.time.com/time/2007/america_numbers/commuting.html
This is probably my all-time favorite issue.

I noticed some problems with the Seattle data–for example, it shows the UW campus as empty at night. That’s not even true in the summer, when various camps and conferences use the dorms.

]]> Comment on Opening up access to NYC data? by Community Media’s Path Out of Obscurity « The Levisa Lazer http://spatialityblog.com/2009/09/02/nycpublicdata/#comment-15 Community Media’s Path Out of Obscurity « The Levisa Lazer Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:49:40 +0000 http://spatialityblog.com/?p=81#comment-15 [...] Romalewski, a pioneer of web-based GIS and community mapping projects, is also skeptical of the contest. He notes that it offers no explicit guarantee that any datasets will be fully [...] [...] Romalewski, a pioneer of web-based GIS and community mapping projects, is also skeptical of the contest. He notes that it offers no explicit guarantee that any datasets will be fully [...]

]]> Comment on Opening up access to NYC data? by Steven Romalewski http://spatialityblog.com/2009/09/02/nycpublicdata/#comment-11 Steven Romalewski Thu, 03 Sep 2009 20:02:09 +0000 http://spatialityblog.com/?p=81#comment-11 Thanks for your note. I'll take a look at the Open Gov NYC group site. I only have the 2001 inventory in hard copy and the scanned PDF version. It was part of a series of meetings hosted by the New York Area Data Council in 2002 on the topic of "data integration" within New York City agencies and on a regional basis. Your comment reminds me, though, of another similar effort in 1997 that also might be a helpful starting point for a public data directory. The Center for Urban Research created a regional compendium of statistical data sets called "FYI : a comprehensive guide to statistical sources for the New York City Metropolitan Area : 1997". Here's the <a href="http://www.urbanresearch.org/docs/FYI_Cover.pdf" rel="nofollow">cover image</a> and <a href="http://www.urbanresearch.org/imgs/FYI_screenshot.png/" rel="nofollow">a screenshot</a>. We have a couple of extra copies at our Center, and the NY Public Library has a reference copy (http://www.nypl.org/research/sibl/govt/govlocal.htm). But here's a link to an Access database with the underlying entries: <a href="http://www.urbanresearch.org/docs/FYI2000.zip" rel="nofollow">FYI database</a>. Thanks for your note. I’ll take a look at the Open Gov NYC group site.

I only have the 2001 inventory in hard copy and the scanned PDF version. It was part of a series of meetings hosted by the New York Area Data Council in 2002 on the topic of “data integration” within New York City agencies and on a regional basis.

Your comment reminds me, though, of another similar effort in 1997 that also might be a helpful starting point for a public data directory. The Center for Urban Research created a regional compendium of statistical data sets called “FYI : a comprehensive guide to statistical sources for the New York City Metropolitan Area : 1997″. Here’s the cover image and a screenshot. We have a couple of extra copies at our Center, and the NY Public Library has a reference copy (http://www.nypl.org/research/sibl/govt/govlocal.htm). But here’s a link to an Access database with the underlying entries: FYI database.

]]> Comment on Opening up access to NYC data? by Philip Ashlock http://spatialityblog.com/2009/09/02/nycpublicdata/#comment-10 Philip Ashlock Thu, 03 Sep 2009 07:10:40 +0000 http://spatialityblog.com/?p=81#comment-10 I wasn't aware that this 2001 directory was available anywhere online, thanks for posting it. The Open Gov NYC group has been working with Sunlight Labs through transparencycorps.org to digitize the public data directory, but until now, we just had access to the 1993 document. It'll be interesting to compare the two. The goal was to first digitize the directory, update it piece by piece as much as possible and provide that for the National Data Catalog. I'm guessing you only have this document as a scanned PDF, not in any machine readable form? In any case, it'd be great if you could help the group out with this effort. I've got a blog post that covers some of this work and frames it in the larger context - http://topplabs.org/civichacker/2009/08/help-open-the-big-apple/ I wasn’t aware that this 2001 directory was available anywhere online, thanks for posting it. The Open Gov NYC group has been working with Sunlight Labs through transparencycorps.org to digitize the public data directory, but until now, we just had access to the 1993 document. It’ll be interesting to compare the two. The goal was to first digitize the directory, update it piece by piece as much as possible and provide that for the National Data Catalog. I’m guessing you only have this document as a scanned PDF, not in any machine readable form? In any case, it’d be great if you could help the group out with this effort. I’ve got a blog post that covers some of this work and frames it in the larger context – http://topplabs.org/civichacker/2009/08/help-open-the-big-apple/

]]> Comment on Manhattan’s daytime population: map source found! by Lou klepner http://spatialityblog.com/2009/08/22/map-source-found/#comment-7 Lou klepner Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:01:38 +0000 http://spatialityblog.com/?p=68#comment-7 Excellent sleuthing, I look forward to future installments. Excellent sleuthing, I look forward to future installments.

]]> Comment on Manhattan’s daytime population: map source found! by Steven Romalewski http://spatialityblog.com/2009/08/22/map-source-found/#comment-6 Steven Romalewski Tue, 25 Aug 2009 21:16:29 +0000 http://spatialityblog.com/?p=68#comment-6 Good point re: spatial precision vs accuracy. We do need to know more about how the Oak Ridge data was compiled in order to evaluate it, which is one reason I wanted to write about it here. I've received some feedback already, and will post more after I hear back from the LandScan team directly. Good point re: spatial precision vs accuracy. We do need to know more about how the Oak Ridge data was compiled in order to evaluate it, which is one reason I wanted to write about it here. I’ve received some feedback already, and will post more after I hear back from the LandScan team directly.

]]>