Technology 2.0

I still have a lot of spatial data that was created using ESRI ArcView 3.x, and I continue to use 3.x because I have a wealth of extensions that do the things I need to do.  One problem with creating shapefiles with 3.x is that projection files (.prj) are not automatically created along with the shapes, so there is no spatial reference.  I normally end up with a whole directory full of shapefiles without .prj files.  I finally broke down and searched arcscripts.esri.com for an easy way to define the projection of all of those shapefiles in the directories.  I ran across Batch Define Projection by Owen Evans, downloaded it, and tried it out.  Works wonderfully.  It creates a custom toolbox and includes a few different handy scripts, including a batch define projection.  Run the script, point to a bunch of shapefiles, choose your coordinate system, and you're done!  Why didn't I look for this a long time ago?  Highly recommended.

I finally got around to using Garmin's WebUpdater Utility this morning.  It had probably been four months since I last tried it.  Lo and behold Garmin had an update for me.  It seemed like I had been running the 3.60 firmware on my GPSMAP 60CSx forever, but it appears that on July 2, 2008 they posted the 3.70 update.  Here are the issues that were fixed:

• Fix issue where bathymetric (underwater depth) lines would not show up in non-marine night color mode.
• Fix issue where tide page can show the wrong date.
• Fix shutdown when the day view calendar page has more than 9 waypoints and a point at index greater than 9 is deleted.
• Fix issue where tracklog setting was changed when unit was put into mass storage mode.

If you don't use WebUpdater, go to http://www8.garmin.com/support/collection.jsp?product=010-00422-00 to download the update.  This software is designed for the 60Cx/60CSx/76Cx/76CSx models.

from the CORS newsletter:

NEW CORS GOOGLE MAPS

The CORS web site (www.ngs.noaa.gov/CORS/) features a new set of dynamic Google maps to facilitate access to CORS information.  These updated maps were designed and implemented by The CORS Team. Please view these maps when you get a chance and share with us (ngs.cors@noaa.gov) your thoughts on their effectiveness.

For a while, the CORS web site will continue to display the static CORS maps that we have relied upon for nearly a decade.  These static maps, however, will eventually be discontinued.  The static maps have well served CORS users, but they are labor intensive to keep up to date.

I welcome this update.  This is a perfect use for Google maps.

Both the United States-based NAVSTAR (operational) and European Union-based Galileo (in development) will use a MBOC (multiplexed binary offset carrier), making the systems compatible and available for GPS users in the future.

 More details are available at GPS Daily.