Geographic Visualization: Concepts, Tools and Applications Book

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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...

Worlds Best Urban Places and Spaces

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Our forthcoming reader contributed book 'The Worlds Worst Urban Places and Spaces' has spawned a companion entitled 'The Worlds Best Urban Places and Spaces' it comes courtesy of Russell Davies and Dan Hill.

To quote Russell on our notion of producing a blog reader contributed book:

I thought that was a really interesting idea, a great way to use a distributed publishing model. But, while chatting about it with Mr Dan Hill and, both of us being mindless optimists, we wondered if we could do a companion piece about The World's Best Urban Places and Spaces. That seemed like a good idea too. Accentuate the positive and all that. So we checked with Dr Hudson-Smith, he's cool with it, so here we go.

So over at the Russell Davies blog and City of Sound from Dan they have set up a Flickr group ready to receive to images for the book.

Two books to be honest is a great idea to celebrate the best and the worst of our cities and urban realms. While ours is the Worlds Worst Urban Places and Spaces it should be noted that its a celebration of everything that can be just a little bit 'crap' about our cities with a note that things can be changed. So its on a positive vibe, just looking at the monumentous cock-ups people can sometimes make in urban planning, architecture and urban design.

Embedded below is a slide show of the images submitted so far:



If you would like to be in the book its simple, wherever you are in the world simply take a photograph of anything you think is a bad example of architecture, urban planning, streetscape or anything related to the city.

Once you have your photograph, at as high a resolution as possible, you can simply upload it to our newly created group on Flickr, Worlds Worst Urban Spaces and Place including a description of between 100 and 250 words.

We will then include the text and image in a blog post as well as the book, full credit will of course be included on the blog and on your page/section of the book.

All we need is your images and then we can publish - as can Russell and Dan.

See Russells site for the Worlds Best Urban Places and Spaces and our earlier post for details on the Worlds Worst Urban Places and Spaces.

An archive of all the submissions so far is on the companion Worlds Worst Urban Blog.

We are looking forward to seeing both books in print, assuming the idea works of course...

Images To Date: Worlds Worst Urban Places and Space

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Our Flickr pool is slowly but surely filling up with submissions for the forthcoming book on the Worlds Worst Urban Places and Spaces. The book is in the spirit of Web 2.0 in that its content is created by you the readers of Digital Urban.

Embedded below is a slide show of the images so far, on each image you can roll over 'notes' to read about the context of each photograph:



If you would like to be in the book its simple, wherever you are in the world simply take a photograph of anything you think is a bad example of architecture, urban planning, streetscape or anything related to the city.

Once you have your photograph, at as high a resolution as possible, you can simply upload it to our newly created group on Flickr, Worlds Worst Urban Spaces and Place including a description of between 100 and 250 words.

We will then include the text and image in a blog post as well as the book, full credit will of course be included on the blog and on your page/section of the book.

See our previous post for full details on the book including how to get involved.

All we need is your images and then we can publish...

Worlds Worst Urban Spaces: Cheltenham

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The latest addition to the digital urban reader contributed book on the Worlds Worst Urban Places and Spaces comes from Dawid Gorny who has recently moved to Cheltenham Spa.

Wikipedia describes Cheltenham as a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, England, near Gloucester and Cirencester. The town has a population of 110,013 (2001 census) and the people of the town are known as "Cheltonians". The town motto is: Salubritas et Eruditio ("Health and Education").

The town is located on the edge of the Cotswolds and has an image of being respectable and wealthy. Cheltenham has been a health and holiday spa town resort since the discovery of mineral springs there in 1716. The town is famous for its Regency architecture and is said to be "the most complete regency town in England". The small River Chelt flows under and through the town.

Too quote Dawid:

'I took this photo in Cheltenham on a bridge on Tewkesbury Road. Depicting a subway path under this bridge of note is the sign telling you that it is open to public but it isn't and has been closed since I live in Cheltenham. I think it's such a waste of space when it's not open and there is no zebra crossing on the bridge instead so you have to pass all the way to cross a road'

It is these small overlooked parts of our urban environments that add up to create a grim and to be honest slightly down heartening scene. The photograph is well worth viewing at full size via Flickr as you can start to appreciate why Dawid sent it in.

If you would like to contribute it is easy, simply go out into your local urban environment and photograph anything that you think is an example of poor architecture, urban design or use of space. It could be a photograph of a run down phonebox or a disused building, perhaps a concrete monstrosity from the 1970's or anything that you think fits.

Once you have your photograph, at as high a resolution as possible, you can simply upload it to our newly created group on Flickr, Worlds Worst Urban Spaces and Place including a description of between 100 and 250 words.

Its as simple as that, see our previous post for full details on the book and how to take part.

A full archive is kept at the Worlds Worst Urban Spaces and Places blog (note this will take shape over the coming weeks as content is sent in via Flickr)

Worlds Worst Urban Spaces: Manchester

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Andreas Baeing has uploaded some stunningly grim images of his local urban environment to our Flick Pool the 'Worlds Worst Urban Places and Spaces' for the forthcoming reader contributed book.

Pictured above right is is an example of extreme CCTVing plus some barb-wiring, located in East Manchester. Andreas notes that living in England means, you are recorded on some CCTV system all the time. Which we have to say is true, the average person in the UK is recorded on CCTV 300 times a day.

Continuing Andreas's tour is, in his own words, a rather strange urban structure... It is the ventilation building for the Wallassey tunnel across the Mersey in North Liverpool. It is horrible and fascinating at the same time, somehow a reminder of early science fiction movies

And our final pick of Andreas's images from the pool is a vacant tower block in East Manchester. One can see that some of the rooms of been burnt out, he assumes by arson attacks.



If you would like to contribute it is easy, simply go out into your local urban environment and photograph anything that you think is an example of poor architecture, urban design or use of space. It could be a photograph of a run down phonebox or a disused building, perhaps a concrete monstrosity from the 1970's or anything that you think fits.

Once you have your photograph, at as high a resolution as possible, you can simply upload it to our newly created group on Flickr, Worlds Worst Urban Spaces and Place including a description of between 100 and 250 words.

Its as simple as that, see our previous post for full details on the book and how to take part.

A full archive is kept at the Worlds Worst Urban Spaces and Places blog (note this will take shape over the coming weeks as content is sent in via Flickr)

Worlds Worst Urban Spaces: Katowice, Poland

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This one made us smile, the majority of the images in the book we are assuming will focus on architecture and the urban scene in general but this image with the human element just sums up that sinking feeling of a terrible town.

Submitted to our Flickr Pool by Craig Nunn, Craig provides the background to the image:

Whilst working as English teachers in Poland, Tomek and I would often ask our students where the worst place in Poland was. The unanimous answer was Katowice.

We decided to make a journey around Poland by train and made a point of stopping off in Katowice. The weather was suitably ominous, and we were greeted with a crumbling mass of dirty grey concrete. Katowice was truly breathtakingly dull and average, and we spent about ten minutes loitering around the station taking it all in, took this photo as a memento, and left on the next train.

It turns out Katowice was all we hoped it would be, because for the rest of the journey we were in awe of the beauty Poland has to offer elsewhere.

To take part you can simply upload your photography to our Flickr Pool, Worlds Worst Urban Spaces and Place including a description of between 100 and 250 words.

The image and text will then be used in a post and included in the forthcoming book written in the spirit of Web 2.0 by readers of this blog.

See the Worlds Worst Urban Spaces and Places blog for the latest posts and full details (note this will take shape over the coming weeks as content is sent in via Flickr)

Worlds Worst Urban Spaces: Nihonbashi -Tokyo Metropolitan Expressway

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The latest submission to the forthcoming book is from Martinpfirrmann via our Flickr Pool.

This is an interesting one, in Martins' words - Imagine building an elevated highway over Pont Neuf, Pulteney Bridge or Ponte di Rialto? Well, Tokyo did this to its “Bridge of Japan”.

Nihonbashi was first built in the center of Edo in 1603. The area around Nihonbashi was the major business and financial district until the 20th century. The bridge is the origin of measuring distances for all places in Japan. Since then, it was rebuilt about 20 times; today’s renaissance-style stone bridge was constructed in 1911. Only in 1999, it was designated as a cultural asset.

Though being a significant element in Japanese history, shortly before the Olympics in 1964, the elevated Tokyo Metropolitan Expressway was constructed over the bridge.

Plans to remove the highway are without progress. The historic monument, located close to the exclusive Ginza Shopping Area rests in the shadows of the highway. The official Tokyo sightseeing guidebook does not even mention it, and if you pass over the bridge today, you would hardly notice it at all.

If you would like to contribute it is easy, simply go out into your local urban environment and photograph anything that you think is an example of poor architecture, urban design or use of space. It could be a photograph of a run down phonebox or a disused building, perhaps a concrete monstrosity from the 1970's or anything that you think fits.

Once you have your photograph you can simply upload it to our newly created group on Flickr, Worlds Worst Urban Spaces and Place including a description of between 100 and 250 words.

Its as simple as that, see our previous post for full details on the book.

See the Worlds Worst Urban Spaces and Places blog for the latest posts (note this will take shape over the coming weeks as content is sent in via Flickr)

Worlds Worst Urban Spaces: Blackburn in Lancashire

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Frannk has uploaded a great image to our Fickr Pool for the reader created Digital Urban Book 'The Worlds Worst Urban Places and Spaces.

In Frannk's words: This image was taken as part of a mass observation project of the town of Blackburn in Lancashire, North West, England. Over the last few years I've started to document the changes taking place in the town under their banner of 'Urban Regeneration' .

Blackburn had at one time come under Lancashire County Council but a few years ago opted out of their control and now looks after it's own finances. The result being, more money for the town and more investment rather than it being spent in 'places like Preston.

By 'opting out', Lancashire County Council no longer sees Blackburn as a Town situated in Lancashire and refuses to acknowledge the town even though Blackburn is bang in the center of Lancashire.... work that one out!!

If you would like to contribute it is easy, simply go out into your local urban environment and photograph anything that you think is an example of poor architecture, urban design or use of space. It could be a photograph of a run down phonebox or a disused building, perhaps a concrete monstrosity from the 1970's or anything that you think fits.


Once you have your photograph you can simply upload it to our newly created group on Flickr, Worlds Worst Urban Spaces and Place including a description of between 100 and 250 words.

Its as simple as that, see our previous post for full details on the book.

See the Worlds Worst Urban Spaces and Places blog for the latest posts (note this will take shape over the coming weeks as content is sent in via Flickr)

The Book - Worlds Worst Urban Places and Spaces Update 1

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A quick update just to let you know that we have our first contribution - as featured in the earlier post - and it is already inserted into the book template.

Overall design and layout are to be decided but what we need now is your content and your contribution.

See 'Become an Author: Digital Urban's Worlds Worst Urban Places and Spaces Book' for full info, we look forward to your posts....

First Book Contribution - Exhibition Road Pedestrian Subway, London

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Frankie Roberto has become the first contributor to the forthcoming book Digital Urban Book - The Worlds Worst Urban Places and Spaces authored completely by readers of the blog.

In Frankies' words the image captures the pedestrian subway that runs under Exhibition Road from South Kensington tube station to the three major museums of the area. In school holidays it echoes with the sound of excitable children, at other times it's just a souless, never ending tunnel of despair with little daylight, and no connection with the outside environment. Worse, the subway is prone to leaking when it rains, sometimes to the extent that the subway has to be closed, ironically at the time when it's most useful.

If you would like to contribute it is easy, simply go out into your local urban environment and photograph anything that you think is an example of poor architecture, urban design or use of space. It could be a photograph of a run down phonebox or a disused building, perhaps a concrete monstrosity from the 1970's or anything that you think fits.

Once you have your photograph you can simply upload it to our newly created group on Flickr, Worlds Worst Urban Spaces and Place including a description of between 100 and 250 words.

Its as simple as that, see our previous post for full details on the book.

See the Worlds Worst Urban Spaces and Places blog for the latest posts (note this will take shape over the coming weeks as content is sent in via Flickr)

Become an Author: Digital Urban's Worlds Worst Urban Places and Spaces Book

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We are looking for authors to contribute to a new book on the Worlds Worst Urban Places and Spaces. The book embraces the concept of Web 2.0 by being based around Flickr and self publishing, in essence it is a nod to the changing world of publishing, you the readers and the ability to print on demand.

Whats it About?

The book is aimed to be a tour around the worlds worst examples of architecture, urban design and urban space as photographed by the readers of this blog. Using photographs and short pieces of text uploaded via Flickr we are proposing 100 + pages with a foreword by ourselves at Digital Urban.

How Can i Take Part?

Simply go out into your local urban environment and photograph anything that you think is an example of poor architecture, urban design or use of space. It could be a photograph of a run down phonebox or a disused building, perhaps a concrete monstrosity from the 1970's or anything that you think fits.

Once you have your photograph you can simply upload it to our newly created group on Flickr, Worlds Worst Urban Spaces and Place including a description of between 100 and 250 words. Its as simple as that.

Can i Vew Progress?

We have created a new blog page 'Worlds Worst Urban Places and Spaces' where each new submission will be posted, we will put in some light editing before posting so don't worry about your writing skills per se. This will also allow you to see what text will be included in the book.

When will the Book be Published?

The book will be published when we have enough content so that is down to you, it could be out next week, next month or in the next year. The beauty about Web 2.0 and self publishing is that we can send it to print as soon as the content is there and update it on a regular basis.

How Much Will it Cost?

For a book of 100 pages we are looking at approximately $25 although final details are subject to change, we will probably be using Blurb as our publisher due to their reputation for high quality colour reproduction.

Will you make a Profit From the Book?

The book will be sold at cost and is a collective community effort in the spirit of web 2.0 and the blog in general, as such it will be non-profit.

So welcome to the start of a book completely based on the readers of this blog, we hope it takes off and a book is out of the door in the next few months, a collective book where you are the author.

See the Worlds Worst Urban Spaces and Places blog page for the latest posts (note this will take shape over the coming weeks as content is sent in via Flickr)