MaptimeDC's 2015 Wrap-up
2015 was a big year for MaptimeDC! We held 12 events, everything from learning QGIS to using the city’s open data to helping map Nepal on OpenStreetMap after the earthquake there so humanitarian groups will have better maps. We also held project nights where we came together and worked on different ideas together (and ate pizza!)
We’re planning our meetups for this year, and if you have any ideas for topics, or want to teach one yourself, let us know! You can follow us and contact us on our Twitter or our Meetup page. And we hope to see everyone soon!
June Maptime: Intro to Geospatial Data Formats
This month we’ll start to venture through the weeds of geospatial data–the containers of geographic information. We’ll explore the main data types and discover how they compare.
Some questions we’ll cover: What are the main differences between vector and raster data? What are the use cases for different types of data? What’s a shapefile and why does it have 4+ files within it? What’s best for web maps? How do we convert it? Where can I find this data in the first place?
After this Maptime you’ll be well on your way to become a vector detector or a raster master!
Beginners strongly encouraged! Please bring a laptop so we can get hands-on into the nitty gritty of geospatial data.
May Maptime: Making a simple web map with Leaflet.js
Have you ever been asked to make a web map and not really known where to start? Has your boss asked you to make a quick map to show on a news site. but you didn’t know how? If so, this is the meetup for you!
For this meetup, we will be discussing how to make a simple web map with some basic markers and popups using Leaflet.js. We will cover the basics of what Leaflet is, how to use it, and make a simple web map together step by step.
There are a couple things to keep in mind. The first is that this meetup expects you to have a basic understanding of Javascript, Javascript libraries, and how to use them. Also, please remember to bring your computers so you can code along as we go through!
About your presenter:
Brian Davidson is a UI/UX Developer working for DigitalGlobe in Herndon, VA. He received his MS in Cartography/GIS from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has been in the cartography field for roughly 6 years. Follow him on Twitter at @brianddavidson.
April Maptime: Introduction to OpenStreetMap for Humanitarian Response
This event will be a fun collaboration with the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team. The Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team applies the principles of open source and open data sharing for humanitarian response and economic development.
- Learn about the Humanitarian OpenStreetMapTeam (HOT)
- Get introduced to OpenStreetMap and
- Dive into contributing to a HOT project using the tasking manager.
OSM Tasking Manager is a mapping tool designed and built for the Humanitarian OSM Team collaborative mapping. The purpose of the tool is to divide up a mapping job into smaller tasks that can be completed rapidly. It shows which areas need to be mapped and which areas need the mapping validated.
This approach facilitates the distribution of tasks to the various mappers in a context of emergency. It also permits to control the progress and the homogeinity of the work done (ie. Elements to cover, specific tags to use, etc.).
March Maptime: DC Open Data
Tim Abdella, GIO for the Government of the District of Columbia, will talk about the District’s open GIS data site http://data.dc.gov – the 600+ spatial datasets the District has available for anyone to use for research, analysis, product creation and more! He will also showcase the many geospatial apps and tools the District has built for residents, such as tracking snowplows and finding property information and permits. Come ready to offer your feedback on what you would like to see happening next with DC’s GIS data!
Bring a laptop so you can use the data and tools yourself!