DATA | INTERFACE | COMPUTATION

All digital projects need data and a means to manipulate that data. GIS as both a hard- and soft-ware interface has many, many proprietary formats and new interfaces can even be developed independently using existing software tools.

The biggest difference between spatial applications is the manner in which data, software, and hardware are organized. Some for-profit groups keep everything in a big, expensive, but powerful and consistently supported package. Other projects piggyback on either proprietary data or software; suplementing it with components from the public domain. Still other projects utilize both data and software publicly available from large providers/ aggregators and adapt them to specific purposes.

The fragmented nature of contemporary GIS tools and cultures present either serious obstacles or rich oppoprtunities to integrate a comprehensive sense of natural relationships into our developing technology. These case studies are intended to outline the development and distribution of geo-locational mapping technology online. They are not exhaustive critiques of particular projects of methods.

Mapicurious is an interesting example of a forprofit web enterprise using existing software (google maps)and data products . This site allows users to add their own mark,s tags, or maps onto the existing map. Users can outline their favorite resteraunts, running paths, or historical sites.

This kind of site has potential for developing/sharing intimate knowledge of the nature of a place. Favorite or unique trees can be marked. City arborists may enlist it as a tool for citizens to identify sick or dead trees or suggested sites for new plantings.

Due to the "un-scientific" nature of this application it is best suited for collaboration and discovery. Unfortunately, it appears that commercial sponsorships and personal commercial facinations are dominating current use.

sharing, community exploration, real-estate development, education, sports & recreation, tourism, community planning &collaboration

commercially oriented, no analytic tools, limited marking tools,