We're living in exciting times, technologically. Anything seems possible and indeed every year some new gadget is introduced into the marketplace that appears to be the next stepping stone towards cartographic nirvana. Every few months, I find myself thumbing through webpages looking for the technical solution to our CRM (Cultural Resource Management) mapping problems. I just keep thinking that there should already be some perfect device and the perfect software that combines sub-meter accuracy GPS technology (Trimble), High-Res Imagery (NAIP), and in-field GIS data management capability (ArcPad with bluetooth). All of the pieces of the puzzle already exist, and have for quite sometime now. It's really just a matter of some anthro-geek-goddess sitting down with a few geolocation, visualization and OS folks to develop our own private heaven... an instrument that would allow for in-field development and on-site verification of site maps, pushing productivity to levels only attainable in our dreams.
Well, sadly, that day, still has not come. But it's close, very close, and I am hopeful that with the release of the Google tablet (sometime in the next 9 months apparently), all my dreams will come true. (Yes, I am a big fan of Go-Ogle) But for those of you who actually dream about this technology like I do, Dr. Engel in the Anthro Department at Stanford wrote up a nice little synopsis of her experience with the Ipad. It will get your wheels spinning and raise your hopes.
https://www.stanford.edu/group/ats/cgi-bin/hivetalkin/?p=609
Heidi,
ReplyDeleteTo me, you seem like some anthro-geek-goddess.
Make it happen?
D Pentoney
Sadly, I'm not even close. I don't have the programming background necessary for such a endeavor and I certainly don't have the connections. I'm thinking someone at the company who that makes the software we use (ESRI). They've got the connections, and the geeks. I just don't think they have much of an archeology team.
ReplyDeleteSome years ago, I went to the federal govt users conference for ESRI and 90% of the presentations were for DOE or DOD, only maybe 5% were for DOI. In other words, there's way more money in dropping bombs and building dams than there is in saving arch sites. So, naturally, the company's arch team (if they even have one) isn't home to the shining stars in the company.
Oops, DOE= Department of Energy, DOD=Department of Defense, DOI=Department of the Interior.
ReplyDelete