Two great things at work today- arrival of SAR data and approval to get 3D analyst to add into Arc Map. I do GIS (Geographical Information Systems) mapping for Chester City Council.


What you see below is a synthetic aperture radar map of Birkenhead and south Liverpool. Originally a military application, such data is now used by companies and local authorities. The military application scans for movement, ie the software identifies vehicles and objects on the move. It can also see through cloud.


http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/465/sar4tn.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

So whats the point of it? Well, the radar data provides the user with the third dimension of mapping- heights. Therefore 3D maps can be produced, like Google Earth, but also with building heights to allow models of towns / cities. Ill post some examples when I get my head round it all!!!

Two great things at work today- arrival of SAR data and approval to get 3D analyst to add into Arc Map. I do GIS (Geographical Information Systems) mapping for Chester City Council.


What you see below is a synthetic aperture radar map of Birkenhead and south Liverpool. Originally a military application, such data is now used by companies and local authorities. The military application scans for movement, ie the software identifies vehicles and objects on the move. It can also see through cloud.


http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/465/sar4tn.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

So whats the point of it? Well, the radar data provides the user with the third dimension of mapping- heights. Therefore 3D maps can be produced, like Google Earth, but also with building heights to allow models of towns / cities. Ill post some examples when I get my head round it all!!!

Superb!!