StayGeo

Google has announced the launch of Google Earth 6. This new version provides a well integrated street view, 3D trees and easier way to access historical imagery. Now Pegman icon is integrated into the navigation controls. It is possible to just drag Pegman to the street which is to be viewed (blue borders will instantly appear around streets having street view imagery available). Currently 3D trees are modeled for select city parks, neighborhoods and forests around the world. This number would increase in future to cover more. 3D tree view provides a enriching experience as soon as one flies down to the ground level of area/forest with 3D buildings layer enabled.  More than 50 different species of trees can be identified all over the world.

Image via Wikipedia It is known that FOSS4G conferences are held every year to discuss the latest developments in Open Source Geospatial Software. This year the conference was held in Barcelona, Spain in September (6th to 9th). In the year 2011 the conference is scheduled in Denver, Colarado, USA. Lot of workshops, tutorial sessions and presentations are a part of the yearly conference. In order to provide hands on experience during the sessions a linux-based ( Xubuntu ) live DVD is released which contains all the leading free GIS software. Luckily this DVD is also provided for free download in the OSGeo site  as well as the official site meant for these live distributions. Currently the DVD released during FOSS4G, 2010 is available.

Image via Wikipedia Very recently there have been reports of Linux's market share being less than 1%. Though I personally believe it is 100% false, statistics force one to trust the information. The reason for this may be lack of a single channel to register oneself as a Linux user. Using free software does not mandate registration. Conceptually it's good but other's take advantage of the available statistics to show that the user base is too low to innovate in these platforms.

In India, an expert committee under the chairmanship of Prof. Vaidyanathan has recommended use of Remote Sensing for improving the agricultural statistics scenario in the country. The committee has observed in its interim report that Remote sensing has the potential to collect primary data on land use and crop area data at a high level of spatial disaggregation. Thus it is said that use of remote sensing could significantly reduce (a) reliance on direct plot by plot inspection for area estimation and/or using it to check the accuracy of primary agency records and (b) help ensure that supervisors of the sub sample are present at the time actual harvest. (At present, given the wide variation in timing of harvests of particular crops in a given season, getting correct information on the date of harvest of different crops in selected sub-sample plots and ensuring that the supervisors are actually present to check that CCEs (Crop Cutting Experiments) are properly carried out presents a da