Mapping the Maya: Technology Integration Captures Cultural Heritage
This first article was written by someone that I almost know. We met once and have talked a little. The project that he worked on is really interesting. I will admit that I am a little jealous that he was able to get out to this area and collect a significant amount of data. As he discusses, the equipment was capable of collecting indiscriminately throughout the project. This is an issue that many archaeologists fall too. They are concerned about not collecting everything. They are also concerned about collecting too much and destroying their budget. Using a scanner like this they are able to collect information without personal bias, environmental conditions, or financial concerns. Projects like this are becoming the norm. It is a very exciting time to be tangentially connected to archaeology.
Google Earth is aiding landmine clearance efforts in Kosovo
I have said it before, I will say it this time, and I will say it in the future, GIS shines best when it is helping humanity. It allows people in high position to influence on a large scale. More importantly it allows people in lower positions to influence their local areas on a level that could never be achieved before computers. This project and article show how Google Maps can help in the removal of landmines in Kosovo. Landmines are a significant blight on any community.
The first benefit is that the teams removing the landmines can now plan well in advance and also keep track of areas that they have already surveyed. The second benefit is that they can get information from local members of the community. These people have a significant amount of knowledge of the area and can easily and safely point the team members toward live field locations. You cannot get much better than crowd sourcing for humanitarian missions.