This Blog
14-07-2010 New DASC Catalog Design Features
29-10-2009 All the primary downloads are now online
26-10-2009 Current status of the new DASC web site
29-10-2009 All the primary downloads are now online
26-10-2009 Current status of the new DASC web site
Other Blogs
| 14 |
| Jul |
| 2010 |
New DASC Catalog Design Features
The redesign of the DASC web site is intended to improve access and usability. The new online Catalog will make it easier for users to search for, find, bookmark and understand the data we host at DASC.
A summary of new functionalities in the Catalog include the following:
* Permalinks: At the bottom of each catalog entry is a web site link entitled "Permalink". If you want to bookmark or add a catalog entry to your "favorites", click the permalink before adding the entry to your browser's list of links. Likewise, these links can be copied and pasted into an email to share.
* Search: Note that there is a "Search" tab next to the category listing to help you find entries in the catalog. Your search results are displayed along with their categories.
* Online Services: DASC is committed to providing the best services to our users, and the catalog now reflects our ever-increasing list of online services that can be used with web applications and desktop applications.
Your input is welcome, and we would appreciate hearing any thoughts or suggestions you may have to improve this site.
A summary of new functionalities in the Catalog include the following:
* Permalinks: At the bottom of each catalog entry is a web site link entitled "Permalink". If you want to bookmark or add a catalog entry to your "favorites", click the permalink before adding the entry to your browser's list of links. Likewise, these links can be copied and pasted into an email to share.
* Search: Note that there is a "Search" tab next to the category listing to help you find entries in the catalog. Your search results are displayed along with their categories.
* Online Services: DASC is committed to providing the best services to our users, and the catalog now reflects our ever-increasing list of online services that can be used with web applications and desktop applications.
Your input is welcome, and we would appreciate hearing any thoughts or suggestions you may have to improve this site.
Category: Web Site Updates
| 29 |
| Oct |
| 2009 |
All the primary downloads are now online
The "primary" downloads - i.e., those that aren't hidden under the ARCHIVE tab on the old web site - are now all converted and available as download links on this web site.
There is one BUT that I should mention, however. And that is this: all the LIDAR data is out there, and you can get to its FTP directory. Unfortunately, however, it is not organized in a way that makes it easy to find what you're looking for.
In particular, LIDAR data is organized semi-geographically - probably in the order it was delivered, by region - and then by LIDAR type and by file type below that. That means there's no one link to the DEMs, for example. Instead, you would need to pick out the DEMs from each of the different regions where that data is available - and I don't currently know where that is.
Now that I know about the problem - which, by the way, exists on the old site, as well - I hope to have a solution sometime soon. All you LIDAR users out there: I'm really sorry it's taken us so long to find this little problem.
We'll get it fixed. Promise.
There is one BUT that I should mention, however. And that is this: all the LIDAR data is out there, and you can get to its FTP directory. Unfortunately, however, it is not organized in a way that makes it easy to find what you're looking for.
In particular, LIDAR data is organized semi-geographically - probably in the order it was delivered, by region - and then by LIDAR type and by file type below that. That means there's no one link to the DEMs, for example. Instead, you would need to pick out the DEMs from each of the different regions where that data is available - and I don't currently know where that is.
Now that I know about the problem - which, by the way, exists on the old site, as well - I hope to have a solution sometime soon. All you LIDAR users out there: I'm really sorry it's taken us so long to find this little problem.
We'll get it fixed. Promise.
Category: Web Site Updates
| 26 |
| Oct |
| 2009 |
Current status of the new DASC web site
Thank you for checking in on kansasmaps.org - the Kansas GeoPortal. My name is Lisa and I am the web application developer for the Kansas Data Access and Support Center, also known as DASC.
This new web site is intended to be both a repository and catalog of Kansas' GIS data, as well as a resource for the GIS community in the State of Kansas, a place to find not only GIS data for download, but also assistance, resources and answers to your questions.
There are a lot of things going on with this web site, and the hope is to make them all work seamlessly towards the goal of getting you the data and the information you need, with as little effort as possible.
The truth is, a web site like this will always be "Under Construction". There are always new ideas, new tools, and new information to be developed and shared. But, at the moment, the web site is still "Under Construction" because all the catalog functions aren't yet in place.
Here's a run-down of what needs to be built so that DASC can launch this web site and let all the subsequent development simply be termed "upgrades":
* All the download links from the old site (kansasgis.org) must be working in the new site.
* All the Archived entries from the old site need to be moved over to the new site.
* The data request form - and the process tools for the DASC staff - need to be completed.
* The members of the old site must be converted and moved over to this site.
When those steps are complete - which should be soon - then we will send out an email to all the subscribers of the old site and announce the completion of this one. At that time, we'll also disable the downloads from the old site and direct users to register with and use the new site.
Moving to the new site will be a learning process for everyone, I know, but I hope it will be a positive experience. We welcome any feedback or comments you have.
This new web site is intended to be both a repository and catalog of Kansas' GIS data, as well as a resource for the GIS community in the State of Kansas, a place to find not only GIS data for download, but also assistance, resources and answers to your questions.
There are a lot of things going on with this web site, and the hope is to make them all work seamlessly towards the goal of getting you the data and the information you need, with as little effort as possible.
The truth is, a web site like this will always be "Under Construction". There are always new ideas, new tools, and new information to be developed and shared. But, at the moment, the web site is still "Under Construction" because all the catalog functions aren't yet in place.
Here's a run-down of what needs to be built so that DASC can launch this web site and let all the subsequent development simply be termed "upgrades":
* All the download links from the old site (kansasgis.org) must be working in the new site.
* All the Archived entries from the old site need to be moved over to the new site.
* The data request form - and the process tools for the DASC staff - need to be completed.
* The members of the old site must be converted and moved over to this site.
When those steps are complete - which should be soon - then we will send out an email to all the subscribers of the old site and announce the completion of this one. At that time, we'll also disable the downloads from the old site and direct users to register with and use the new site.
Moving to the new site will be a learning process for everyone, I know, but I hope it will be a positive experience. We welcome any feedback or comments you have.
Category: Web Site Updates
