Technical Terrain
This blog is about exposing the real-world value of GIS. It may be of interest to technologists but it seeks a more general audience of people who need, want or simply like to work with maps. There are many excellent sites that deal with the curly braces, so we will speak geek sparingly. What is often missing, however, is a good explanation of why a particular approach or technical choice is being made. We'll do that here and have some fun, too. Please feel free to join in and comment any time!
— Fred Newcomer
SpherAware CEO
Recent Posts
Geographic Literacy
Posted in Activity, Geography on Jul 31, 2024
Declining geographic literacy in the hyper-information age is a curious paradox. It may also spell trouble for our over-used planet. This post starts to looks at this issue in more detail.
Mercator's Magic Map
Posted in Geography, History on Oct 10, 2023
One of the most profound and influential advancements in cartography is sorely misunderstood today. Let's take a look at when it happened, what it does and why it is still incredibly important.
The Address Dilemma
Posted in Geography, History on Apr 24, 2023
Have you ever encountered a misplaced marker? Geocoding may be the culprit. This post takes a look at the ubiquitous and erratic way we humans describe locations.
On the Flip Side
Posted in Activity, Geography, History on Nov 10, 2022
Have you ever wondered who or what is on the other side of the planet? This post takes a look at what is straight down and upside down. It also ponders the Earth's strange antipodal balance.
Invalid Geometries
Posted in Database, Open Source GIS, Techniques on Jun 08, 2022
How can a geometry be invalid? It sounds impossible but it can happen. Fortunately, invalidity is not at all fatal. Once you understand the problem, fixing it is easy.
Never Too Late to Tessellate
Posted in Database, Open Source GIS, Techniques on Dec 07, 2021
This is the final post in the simplification series. It reveals a new way to restore the congruent fit of a polygon layer after it has been simplified.
On Topo the World
Posted in Database, Open Source GIS, Techniques on Aug 12, 2021
What is topology and why does it matter? This post continues to explore the complications of simplifying GIS data.
Why Simplification Is Complicated
Posted in Open Source GIS, Techniques on May 24, 2021
Efficiency and resolution go hand-in-hand. This post challenges the accepted best practice for simplifying vector graphics for use at smaller scales.
The Pantry Principle
Posted in Database on Nov 02, 2020
Information is food for thought. It's the home-cooked data casserole we all crave. Of course, good information requires quality ingredients and careful preparation. Proper storage is also an important part of a healthy diet.
The Shadow Knows
Posted in Activity, Geography, History on May 26, 2020
The size of the Earth was calculated with surprising accuracy by Eratosthenes in the second century BC. His method was both brilliant and simple. This article describes a classroom experiment for repeating his results.