3D Agent Based Modelling in Second Life

Second Life is a natural home to agent based modelling, while not as graphically impressive as high end solutions such as 3D Studio Max, it does allow real-time data analysis and tracking.

The movie below shows our first tentative steps in CASA to setting up a agent based model in the Second Life environment:

Our next step is to look at examples such as evacuation analysis and pedestiran movement in the cityscape, the movie below issustrates our earlier example in 3D Studio Max - we should be able to port this into Second Life:



If you would like to know more about agent based modelling take a look at http://gisagents.blogspot.com/

Free Google Map Creator Software: MapTube from CASA

MapTube, the new mapping site from our lab CASA at University College London to view, overlay, mix and match choropleth maps now includes a free creation tool.

Google Map Creator provides a quick and free way to convert .shp or formated .csv for viewing in Google Maps and MapTube - allowing datasets to be quickly and easily shared and visually compared against any other data on MapTube. In short it is perfect for local councils, government organizations, academics and general users who want to view and share their data in the easiest way possible.

Unlike the Google Maps API method for displaying points, lines and polygons, Google Map Creator renders the map information as a series of raster image tiles (256x256 pixels) accordingly to the level of zoom required. This protects the raw data, easing issues of copyright and data sharing while allowing any dataset to be mixed, matched and visualised with any other data on MapTube.

Before uploading to MapTube, maps need to be created from shapefiles using the Google Map Creator tool and placed on the web. Maptube takes a link to this location and creates a new map reference from the information found there.

Quickstart - How to Create a Map for MapTube

• Create the map with the Google Map Creator and save the settings xml file.

  

• Copy the tile directory and xml settings file to a web server.
• Log in to MapTube and choose Add A New Map.
• Copy the url of the settings xml file into the XML URL box and click 'Test'.
• Fill in the rest of the information on the page and click on 'Submit' to upload the map.

We will be featuring a MapTube Map of the Week - currently The Credit Crunch from our work with BBC Radio 4 - on Digital Urban and while its difficult to be unbiased about MapTube (as we are part of it) it is a notable change in the ability to view, share and visually analyse geographic data online....

To start making maps simply login to http://www.maptube.org

See http://www.maptube.org/help-createmap.aspx for full details and as ever any thoughts are welcome.

Geographic Visualization: Concepts, Tools and Applications Book

Geographic Visualization: Concepts, Tools and Applications is now available in all good book stores, edited by Martin Doge, Mary McDerby and Martin Turner it includes a chapter by us on the 'Visual City' and is genuinely a must read for those interested in the field.

The text covers the impact of three-dimensional displays on user interaction along with the potentialities in animation and clearly explains how to create temporally sensitive visualizations. It also explores the potential for handling mobile data and representing uncertainty; as well as the role of participatory visualization systems and exploratory methods.

It's hallmark features include: an introduction to the diverse forms of geographic visualization which draws upon a number of theoretical perspectives and disciplines to provide an insightful commentary on new methods, techniques and tools; richly illustrated in full colour throughout, including numerous relevant case studies and accessible discussions of important visualization concepts to enable clearer understanding for non-technical audiences; and, chapters that are written by leading scholars and researchers in a range of cognate fields, including, cartography, GIScience, architecture, art, urban planning and computer graphics with case studies drawn from Europe, North America and Australia.

This book is an invaluable resource for all graduate students, researchers and professionals working in the geographic information sector, computer graphics and cartography.

You can buy the book online via our Amazon Essential Reading Store...

Welcome to MapTube from CASA: A Place to Put Maps

MapTube is a new site from our lab, the Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis at University College London. Put simply it is a place to share, mix and mash maps with a nod towards professional map makers rather than the more widely seen 'MyMaps' type applications.


The main principle of MapTube is that shared maps can be overlayed to compare data visually. For example, to see a map of the London Underground overlayed on top of a map of population you simply go to the search page and enter the keywords "tube" and "population". Then click on the two relevant maps to add them.

In this way any combination of data can be quickly and easily visually compared. The maps are created using our free of charge software - GMap Creator, a new version launches this week allowing any ESRI .SHP file or Formatted .CSV to be converted and used on MapTube.

For the last few weeks a back end section of the site has been used by BBC Radio Four's PM Show to create a mood map of the credit crunch in the UK. Radio 4 listeners have been inputting their postcode and answering a simple question on the credit crunch to automatically create a map of the nations mode. This indicates a future direction of the site with both freely available software and server based map applications, all subsequently viewable against any other local, national or global dataset on the site.

It is early days but we see MapTube as an exciting way forward in sharing and viewing maps online.....

Try it out yourself at http://www.maptube.org see BBC Radio Four for more info on Mapping the Credit Crunch

MapTube is part of the GeoVue project at CASA, a core node from the National Centre for e-Social Science.

Geolocate Comments in Panoramas: Street View in China by City 8

City8.com in China have a unique take on the use of panoramas to provide information about the city. Systems such as Google's Street View provide a blanket coverage of the road system but in reality are little more than 'eye candy'. City 8 on the other hand allows users to tag information inside the panorama - creating a simple yet effective way to geolocate comments and info on the urban environment.

The YouTube movie below provides an insight:

Take a look at http://www.city8.com for more info...

Maps- Miss West Carolina Speaks Out

*An update to the post - interestingly bringing in quite a few complaint emails and thus the joke it seems is on us :) our apologies if you took offense, take a look at http://admiralnovia.net/wp/2007/08/28/miss-south-carolina-vs-youtube/ for the full story

Its good to be back :) The original post is below*


We could comment on this one but really its almost beyond belief. Embedded below is Miss West Carolina's thoughts on Maps, sit back, turn up the sound and wonder what went wrong with the education system:

We are back, after a slightly extended break due to London having its warmest/sunniest start to May on record. In a city that is often cloudy and wet it was too much to miss the sunshine but from now on its back to the blog.

This afternoon look out for a post on our new mapping system known as 'MapTube', its use by BBC Radio 4 and news on its launch - its really rather good.....

Embedding Panoramas into Blogger: Update

This is an experimental post to see if its possible to embed a 'click and drag' panorama into a blog post using a flash based viewer.

As an update to the original post you can now view the panorama fullscreen by clicking the right hand side icon:

Click and Drag to look around:

How is it done?

1) See http://flashpanoramas.com/player/ for the viewer.

2) Create your webpage with the viewer and your panorama

3) Embed in blogger/wordpress using an iframe as per the code below:

How to Embed Flash Panoramas in Blogger and WordPress

Another test of embedding Flash based panoramas into Blogger - this time with the Houses of Parliament at Night, click and drag to look around:

An example of Gothic Architecture the Houses of Parliament were constructed between 1840 and 1888. The panorama is taken outside the main tower near Westminster Bridge and the River Thames. The tower stands 320 foot tall and is named after the largest bell, 'Big Ben' which weighs over 13 tons, and was cast in 1858 at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in East London.

How is it done?

1) See http://flashpanoramas.com/player/ for the viewer.

2) Create your webpage with the viewer and your panorama

3) Embed in blogger/wordpress using an iframe as per the code below:

Digital Geography Booklet: Available Now

We are pleased to announce the availability of our booklet: Digital Geography - Geographic Visualisation for Urban Environments. Printed in full colour the 10 x 8 inch booklet runs to 64 pages of insights and tutorials on Virtual Earth, Google Earth, Google Maps, Panoramas and Second Life.

With a focus on Neogeography, Web 2.0 and the various emerging techniques for urban visualisation the booklet has been written as a preview to the forthcoming Digital Urban 'recipe book' to be published fourth quarter of 2008.


The booklet is being sold at below cost price and is available now. For all those that have emailed to reserve copies, thank you, these are set aside and guaranteed for shipping soon as payment is received.


Priced at £9.99 (worldwide postage and packaging is free) it can be purchased direct via the Buy Now link using PayPal or any standard Credit/Debit card:

Alternatively you can fill out our Order Form (download in .doc or .pdf format) and FAX it direct to our offices at +44 (0)20 7813 2843. Payment is £9.99 per booklet with world wide postage and packing currently free of charge.

If you have any questions drop us a email or use the usual comment link.

We hope you enjoy the booklet.....

Embedding Panoramas into a Blog: Westminster Abbey

This is an experimental post to see if its possible to embed a 'click and drag' panorama into a blog post using a flash based viewer.

Westminster Abbey is a work of outstanding architecture, constructed between the 13th and 16th centuries. The Abbey has been the location for numerous Royal Weddings as well as every Coronation since 1066. The building as it is today features the west towers which were completed to the designs of Sir Christopher Wren and Nicholas Hawksmoor.

All being well you should be able to view the panorama below.

Click and Drag to look around:

We have over 100 panoramas on the blog so if this works for the majority of readers it could make a nice way to revisit some of the best.... (?)