TerraServer explicitly allows access to their USGS map database from programs like ExpertGPS. They even have a webpage with step-by-step instructions on how to do it.
ExpertGPS could just as easily grab its maps from sites like TopoZone and deprive them of ad revenue. Other programs have actually done that, and caused the nice guys at TopoZone a lot of hassle and lost revenue. The guys at Geocaching.com spend lots of time dealing with database scrapers who mine the site continually, chewing up bandwidth.
The moral of the story - play nicely. If a website like TerraServer is generous enough to offer you a way to scrape their data, say thank you. If a website asks that you refrain from using automated scripts, either work out a licensing agreement with them, or start your own website and learn how it feels to be on the other end of the scraper.
I ran a banner ad for my GPS software company which was designed to look like a Windows dialog. It got a 5 percent clickthrough rate, when the average clickthrough rate was 0.5 percent. (It was running on an outdoor mapping website, so it was targetted advertising as well.)
Junkyard Wars is the only show I watch on TV - my girlfriend tapes it each week, and we watch it together later. Over the years, we've noticed some unfortunate trends in the format of the show.
In the earlier Scrapheap Challenge episodes, two teams competed against each other for the entire season, and we got to know and love them. Each episode dealt with a basic scientific or mechanical process (hydraulics, bridge building, etc), and a good bit of the airtime actually focused on the science involved.
In later seasons, and especially this season, the teams almost always have a gimmick - usually a flamboyant leader who dyes his hair or gets in fights with the other team. The challenges are almost always car-oriented, and most of the airtime deals with cutting down the cars to make them lighter. There's very little explanation of the science behind the challenge, and the difference between the two vehicles is usually just "light and fast vs. big and heavy". Several of the shows this year have devolved into "bumper cars" matches as both teams realize their design works better as a battering ram than as their original plan intended.
We find ourselves getting less excited about the shows, and suspect others have lost interest as well. So, my question for you is: How do you feel about the way Scrapheap Challenge and Junkyard Wars have evolved over the years? If you had complete control over the way the show is run today, what would you change?
Thanks for entertaining and educating us over the years, and best of luck with Full Metal Challenge!
ExpertGPS gets its maps from the Microsoft TerraServer site, which gets the maps directly from the USGS. USGS topo maps are only updated when major changes to the topology occur, so it's normal for their maps to be 20 years old in some areas.
The next version of ExpertGPS will allow you to use your own scanned maps (street maps, nautical charts, etc) for areas where the maps aren't up to date.
I write GPS mapping software for Windows, aimed at the outdoor recreation market. You can check it out at http://www.expertgps.com/
ExpertGPS is unique in that it pulls down topo maps and aerial photos over your Internet connection, so you can scroll the map across the country and the program automatically downloads and displays the correct maps. For the geocachers out there, ExpertGPS reads geocache data downloaded from http://www.geocaching.com/, and even links back to the geocaching website to report your finds.
The next release will support scanned paper maps and additional file formats, and a PocketPC version is in the works.
About a year ago, a bunch of GPS developers got together to work on a standard XML file format for exchanging GPS data. A number of programs now support GPX (the GPS Exchange format), including programs for Mac, Windows, and Linux.
For details, see http://www.topografix.com/gpx_resources.asp
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TerraServer explicitly allows access to their USGS map database from programs like ExpertGPS. They even have a webpage with step-by-step instructions on how to do it.
ExpertGPS could just as easily grab its maps from sites like TopoZone and deprive them of ad revenue. Other programs have actually done that, and caused the nice guys at TopoZone a lot of hassle and lost revenue. The guys at Geocaching.com spend lots of time dealing with database scrapers who mine the site continually, chewing up bandwidth.
The moral of the story - play nicely. If a website like TerraServer is generous enough to offer you a way to scrape their data, say thank you. If a website asks that you refrain from using automated scripts, either work out a licensing agreement with them, or start your own website and learn how it feels to be on the other end of the scraper.
I ran a banner ad for my GPS software company which was designed to look like a Windows dialog. It got a 5 percent clickthrough rate, when the average clickthrough rate was 0.5 percent. (It was running on an outdoor mapping website, so it was targetted advertising as well.)
Here's the banner ad.
Is it effective? Very.
Is it misleading? A bit.
Is it illegal? I don't think so. IANAL.
Will it increase the size of your penis? Yes, but only if you ACT FAST and buy today! (Larger penis requires mail-in rebate)
Cathy,
Junkyard Wars is the only show I watch on TV - my girlfriend tapes it each week, and we watch it together later. Over the years, we've noticed some unfortunate trends in the format of the show.
In the earlier Scrapheap Challenge episodes, two teams competed against each other for the entire season, and we got to know and love them. Each episode dealt with a basic scientific or mechanical process (hydraulics, bridge building, etc), and a good bit of the airtime actually focused on the science involved.
In later seasons, and especially this season, the teams almost always have a gimmick - usually a flamboyant leader who dyes his hair or gets in fights with the other team. The challenges are almost always car-oriented, and most of the airtime deals with cutting down the cars to make them lighter. There's very little explanation of the science behind the challenge, and the difference between the two vehicles is usually just "light and fast vs. big and heavy". Several of the shows this year have devolved into "bumper cars" matches as both teams realize their design works better as a battering ram than as their original plan intended.
We find ourselves getting less excited about the shows, and suspect others have lost interest as well. So, my question for you is: How do you feel about the way Scrapheap Challenge and Junkyard Wars have evolved over the years? If you had complete control over the way the show is run today, what would you change?
Thanks for entertaining and educating us over the years, and best of luck with Full Metal Challenge!
ExpertGPS gets its maps from the Microsoft TerraServer site, which gets the maps directly from the USGS. USGS topo maps are only updated when major changes to the topology occur, so it's normal for their maps to be 20 years old in some areas.
The next version of ExpertGPS will allow you to use your own scanned maps (street maps, nautical charts, etc) for areas where the maps aren't up to date.
I write GPS mapping software for Windows, aimed at the outdoor recreation market. You can check it out at http://www.expertgps.com/
ExpertGPS is unique in that it pulls down topo maps and aerial photos over your Internet connection, so you can scroll the map across the country and the program automatically downloads and displays the correct maps. For the geocachers out there, ExpertGPS reads geocache data downloaded from http://www.geocaching.com/, and even links back to the geocaching website to report your finds.
The next release will support scanned paper maps and additional file formats, and a PocketPC version is in the works.
About a year ago, a bunch of GPS developers got together to work on a standard XML file format for exchanging GPS data. A number of programs now support GPX (the GPS Exchange format), including programs for Mac, Windows, and Linux. For details, see http://www.topografix.com/gpx_resources.asp