[LINK] Google did it!

[Tom Koltai]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: link-bounces at mailman.anu.edu.au 
> [mailto:link-bounces at mailman.anu.edu.au] On Behalf Of Jan Whitaker
> Sent: Monday, 8 November 2010 4:29 PM
> To: link at anu.edu.au
> Subject: [LINK] Google did it!
> 
> 
> http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/google-map
> s-error-sparks-international-conflict-20101108-17jl3.html
> 
> 
> A Google Maps error is being blamed for Nicaraguan troops 
> accidentally invading Costa Rica last week.
> 
> The troops have been accused of crossing the hotly disputed Nicaragua 
> border into Costa Rica and setting up camp for the night after taking 
> down a Costa Rican flag and raising the Nicaraguan flag.
> 
> But their commander, Eden Pastora, told Costa Rica's largest 
> newspaper, La Nacion, that Google Maps was used to 
> <http://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=U
TF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http://www.nacion.com/2010-11-04/El
Pais/NotasSecundarias/ElPais2577867.aspx>justify 
the incursion. Nicaraguan government officials have also blamed a 
"bug in Google" for the error.
  [article shows two different maps: Google and Bing]

The reason for the contretemps is obviously that the Nicauraguan
Government has the same cost control on information charges as the
Australian Government for maps.

In other words, you wanna map? Then pay please.
E,g,:
http://www.ga.gov.au/bin/mapserv36?querymode=&mode=browse&zoomdir=0&map_
gaz_x=150.693&map_gaz_y=-34.057&map_gaz_name=CAMDEN&ref.x=73&ref.y=47&ca
t_type=&layers=index250k&layers=index250kspecials&layers=index100k&layer
s=index50kOPM&layers=index50kTLM&INPUT_TYPE=&INPUT_COORD=&qlayer=prod&ma
p=%2Fpublic%2Fhttp%2Fwww%2Fdocs%2Foracle%2Fagsocat%2Fgeocat.map&zoomsize
=4&mapsize=440+270&imgxy=219.5+134.5&imgext=1384988.527609+-3963424.4264
71+1547951.490572+-3863424.426471

Possibly the army had run out of funds and was forced to use Google as a
budgetary alternative.

This does though paint a picture of future possible snafu's in Oz. I.e.:
Who will bother to buy a map from Geoscience Australia if Google have a
satelite image overlayed alternative available for free [or your GPS has
an update service included.]

Government still hasn't quite "got it" they are here to serve the
population.
Whatever we think of Googles' data collection policies, at least they
are providing a service.

Geoscience Australia and other Government departments need to consider
the ramifications of nickel and diming the population to the point where
economic progress is either stopped - for lack of funds or slowed - for
transfer of funds.

Not-withstanding the foregoing commentary, obviously the Australian army
get their official maps for free....  I hope.

Tom