NetLink
NETLINK
RESOURCEOFTHEMONTH
www.mpa.gov/mpaviewer
NOAA MARINE PROTECTED AREAS CENTER An arm of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) created an online mapping tool that lets users access data on more than 1,000 marine protected areas (MPAs) across the nation. The MPAs are conservation areas that include a marine environment (e.g., some national parks and wildlife refuges) as well as national marine sanctuaries and areas managed by state and local governments. The new tool, launched by NOAA’s National Marine Protected Areas Center, lets users view all MPAs in a region and search for specific attributes such as conservation purpose, managing agency and level of protection. Data for the mapping tool come from the newly updated MPA Inventory, a comprehensive database on existing U.S. MPAs. Originally launched in June 2008, the inventory contains a range of information on 1,637 protected areas. “Our staff gets calls from people who want to know more about the management of their local waters,” said Joseph Uravitch, director of NOAA’s MPA Center. “This new mapping tool provides a snapshot of what activities are allowed and how
people can get more information about MPAs. The site brings together information from dozens of management agencies creating an efficient one-stop resource.” Launch of the MPA mapping tool is part of a broader update of the MPA Center’s Web site. Comprehensive information on ocean uses for the entire California coast also is available through the Ocean Uses Atlas, a public/private partnership project among NOAA’s National Marine Protected Areas Center, the Marine Conservation Biology Institute, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and the Resources Legacy Fund (www.mpa.gov/atlas).
Envirocheck.co.uk
BLUESKY
Bluesky signed a reseller agreement with Landmark, making its historical aerial photographs available through the Envirocheck Web site that helps professional users make informed decisions based on comprehensive environmental site-assessment information.
feature labels and the ability to fly along user-defined paths.
PublicEarth.com
PUBLICEARTH
Discover Boating now provides marina locations and details on those marinas to PublicEarth, which combines such data with other relevant information in its recently launched Web site, “the Wiki for Places.” Users can contribute to PublicEarth by adding photos, descriptions and other bits of information about their favorite boating facilities, waterfront restaurants, boat repair shops, boat ramps and slips.
www.vic.gov.au/ visualplace.html
GEOMATIC TECHNOLOGIES
Information Victoria, a business unit of the Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development, teamed with Geomatic Technologies to launch VisualPlace, which tests innovative ways of capturing, exploring and visualizing government information and services through maps.
www.esri.com/ arcgisexplorer
ESRI
The new release of ESRI ArcGIS Explorer improves access to geoprocessing services and expands available maps in the Basemap Gallery. In addition, Bing Maps services (Aerials, Hybrid and Roads) are built into ArcGIS Explorer and are ready to use with no registration required. The new release also supports enhanced layer package properties, improved
www.geo-portal.hr/Portal www.getmapping.com
GETMAPPING
Getmapping launched a new online Planning Maps service for architects and individuals who have to submit site-location plans to comply with local-authority planning regulations. An enhanced Planning Maps Plus service also offers the ability to annotate and markup plans.
REPUBLIC OF CROATIA
The Republic of Croatia simplified access to countrywide geographic data through an online geoportal hosted by the State Geodetic Authority. The geoportal is modeled after the European Union’s Infrastructure for Spatial Information in Europe directive.
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