Thoughts - Rapa Iti's Hydrographic Layer

Rapa Iti Island - Ikonos Image (1-55,000)

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Rapa Iti Island - Other Precision Map (Ikonos Image) Hydrography Layer (1-55,000)

I believe Rapa Iti's hydrographic layer is almost complete. I always QC my digitizing before I determine a layer finished. I am watching the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl (score Okla St 31 and Oregon 42) and composing this post. A few moment ago my mother-in-law asked what my map showed. I explained that I had mapped all of the places where water would flow during a rain storm. She thought that was interesting, but liked the colors best.

The QC of this layer will involve a final classification of the streams. They will be classified as permanent streams identified by vegetation, stream width and visible water. Any or all of these characteristics evident will cause me to classify the stream as permanent. All other streams will be classified as intermittent streams.

This system of classification will have to do short of me visiting the island for a month during the rainy season and spending the time hiking to various points about the island to study water flow. Oh well, one can dream.

Enjoy! And Happy New Year!

Thoughts - Digitizing Rapa Island's Hydrography Layer

Rapa Island, North Shore - Ikonos Image with Digitized Hydrography Layer (1:1,250)

Rapa Island, North Shore - Other Precision (Ikonos) Map with Digitized Hydrography Layer (1:1,250)

Sure, I've been busy with family, friends and 12 dozen tamales served all day Christmas day at my home. Come Christmas evening I was still entertaining guests and wishing I could continue working on my current mapping project, Rapa Island. I have mapped this island a number of times, each time not completely satisfied with the finished project. So I've decided to work on this island one more time. First I redigitized the shoreline working at scales between 1:1,250 to 1:850 using a hi-res Ikonos image. After completing the shoreline, I decided to work on the island's hydrographic layer. Initially I've classified each valley as a potential stream course. The island has a number of permanent streams fed by frequent rain storms and springs. Most of the streams I've currently mapped will be reclassified as intermittent.

Rapa Island - Other Precision (Ikonos) Map with Hydrography Layer (1:52,500)

I've mapped most of the hydrographic layer over the last 5-days, actually over the last 5-evenings. The hydrography of the western portion of the island remains to be digitized. I hope to have the layer completed within the next few days. When it is finished, I intend to digitize the vegetation layer next. I'll keep you informed as to my progress.

Enjoy! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Coronado Islands MX - For The Birds and Fishermen

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Coronado Islands - Spot Image from Google Earth (1-35,000)

Coronado Islands - Other Precision Map Using Spot Image From Google Earth (1:35,000)

Located about 25 kilometers south of the entrance to San Diego bay, these Mexican islands are often mistaken as US possessions. Most San Diegans know of these islands and a few of the stories associated with them. For instance, we know that there was a gambling establishment on South Island that was a going concern well into the Depression. We know that the islands were used as a haven for Prohibition smugglers. Today there is a small Mexican military detachment stationed on South Island to keep an eye out for human smugglers and fishing poachers. The islands are visited daily by fishermen, divers and numerous sea birds, especially brown pelicans.

I first saw the islands as a young boy back in 1954. From that perspective they appeared to be two buffaloes. To others they look like coffins. To me they are always a welcome site.

The map was constructed from an image mosaic I created using the Spot image found in Google Earth. From this georeferenced mosaic I was able to work at a scale of 1:5,000. As a result, the shoreline details are excellent. I tried using SRTM 30-meter to generate contours and the results were not satisfactory. I knew of a series of geologic maps of the islands containing 20-meter contours on a San Diego Geology website. I georeferenced the contour containing images and copied the 20-meter contour intervals. When necessary, the contours were adjusted to align with the underlying Spot image.

Because my digitizing work was done at a scale of 1:5,000, the zoom factor for these islands gives one excellent details. I would suggest using Google Earth imagery to take a detailed tour of the islands. To enjoy an excellent map of the islands, this is the place.

Enjoy!

Thoughts - Generating Reliable Contours from SRTM Data

Isla la Plata - Other Precision Map (1-20,000)

Here is a comment and question concerning my use of SRTM data...

I am working on a similar project, in some aspects, about generating contours, and was wondering when the contours do not line up with your coastline (having 25 m intersect the shoreline of your polygon) do you alter the polygon or the raster data before generating the contours? Anyways, I think you work is beautiful, keep it up.

Here is my response...

Thank you for your kind words. I love making maps of islands and to be able to add meaningful contours is a great benefit. However, my experience with the SRTM 30-meter and 90-meter data is as follows. After loading both a georectified image and an SRTM file into Global Mapper, I am able to quickly generate contours at an interval I deem appropriate for the scale I am working with. In nearly every instance the lower level contours do not conform to the actual imaged shorelines. I end up manually realigning the contours to best match the imaged shoreline. As a result my lower level contours are reasonable, but suspect.

When I am dealing with a very large void that cannot be handled by combining SRTM 30-meter with SRTM 90-meter data or be filled with existing void-filling software (I use SRTMFill), I end up guesstimating alignments of contours. Consequently, all of my maps containing contours are as good as the underlying SRTM data - sometimes excellent (upper elevations of Isla la Plata map) and less reliable (10-meter to 30-meter contours and northern contours due to a void).

I am not practiced enough to correct the underlying SRTM ASCII data, so I rely upon working with software (SRTMFill), imagery to contour reconciliation, or when cloud-obscured, an educated guess using secondary imagery.

Hopefully, this answers your questions. Perhaps you have techniques or know of SRTM void-filling software that might correct many of my issues concerning misaligned or voided elevation data. I do believe that SRTM 30-meter and Landsat ETM+ at 14.5-meter resolution can work reasonably well together. However, combining SRTM 30-meter with 1-meter resolution imagery most often creates many slight, but consistent contour misalignments.

SRTM elevation data, as stated above, gives us a reasonable idea of the topography of the underlying land. I would use it to go hiking, but I sure would not bid a construction job based on it.

Enjoy!

Isla la Plata - Ecuador's Bird Island

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Isla la Plata - Landsat Image S-17-00_2000 (1:20,000)

Isla la Plata - DigitalGlobe Island Mosaic from Google Earth (1:20,000)

A group that removes feral animals from islands asked if I could help them with a map of Isla la Plata located off the coast of Ecuador. I said sure and began to search for a map or image of the island. The only map was something that was painted on a sign posted on this island. Not very accurate, but colorful. I tried the Landsat ETM+ image and found it to be obscured by clouds at a number of points on the island. I finally looked into Google Earth and found the DigitalGlobe image that covers the island. Except for clouds over the northern tip of the island, the image is exquisite. To create the above mosaic which is 12.4MBs and 4500 x 4120 lines, I copied 24 images (1280 x 911) and pieced them together. This image was georectified using Global Mapper, Landsat ETM+ and Google Earth coordinates.

Isla la Plata - Other Precision Map (1-20,000)

This is the resulting map. The parties wanting to use the map did not require a vegetation layer so all that I had to map was the island shoreline. That took about 4-hours to map, not just the shoreline, but all of the offshore rocks as well. Finally, using SRTM 90-meter and 30-meter data, I generated 10-meter contour intervals. As so often happens, the 10-meter to 30-meter contours ended up in the ocean. I spent another 4-hours adjusting contours so that they resided on the island and not in the deep blue sea.

This map is done. I hope the party using it will find it helpful. I reminded them that they could not publish this map without permission from DigitalGlobe. It is my experience that DigitalGlobe is very open to allowing maps derived from their data to be used for educational research and perhaps for the removal of feral animals from fragile islands.

Enjoy!

Desecheo Island - Puerto Rican National Wildlife Refugee

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Desecheo Island - Google Image

Desecheo Island - EVS Precision Map (1:8,000)

Last summer I came across an aerial image of Desecheo Island on the front of a PDF document produced by a group representing Desecheo Island National Wildlife Refugee. I had been asked to make a map for a person intending to do wildlife research on the island. I called a person connected with the refugee and asked if I could use the image to create a map. He said that the image was property of the Federal Wildlife Service and since the image was federal government property, I could use the image to create my map. The map was completed and delivered to the researcher. End of story. Not quite.

I was reading from one of my favorite website, 425 DX News, a publication that gives all of the latest news about intended trips to far out places that radio amateurs will be broadcasting from, like Desecheo Island in February 2009. I decided to upgrade my Deseceo Island map. The upgrade took about 2-hours, but the image was another story.

I could not find my original image anywhere on my computer. The new Desecheo Island NWR PDF document has been reworked and the island overview image was missing. The old image is shown in a Google image search, but the link is gone. I decided to look in Google Earth and, lo and behold, there is the original Desecheo Island NWR image I had mapped from. It is now part of Google Earth. The image is not credited to any source, save Google. I downloaded a Google imaage of the island and it is posted above.

Really, not a lot of drama connected to this post, just an interesting image story, as far as images go. In fact the NWR image of Desecheo Island still exists on their reworked website (see above link). It is just interesting how it is not credited in Google. That's all.

Finally, I intend to offer my Desecheo Island map to the DX'ers that will be operating from the island in the February 2009 time frame. I wish them well and hope QSLs abound!

Enjoy!

Ahe Atoll - Crusing Tourists & Black Pearls

Ahe Atoll

Ahe Atoll - Landsat Image S-06-10_2000 (1:100,000)

Ahe Atoll - EVS Precision Map (1:100,000)

Ahe Atoll occupies a favorable position within the Tuamotus. It would be a potential first landfall for sailors departing from Hawaii heading south. The atoll has a single village with a population of approximately 100 hearty souls. The other 300 plus inhabitants live on the many small motus ringing the atoll's lagoon. Primary sources of income are black pearl farming and tourism, to a lesser degree.

If you followed the above link to Wikipedia, you will notice that the article has not been modified with my island article changes. I have been too busy. Give me a day or so and I'll make the changes to the Ahe Atoll Wikipedia article.

Ahe Atoll - Lagoon Entrance

My complements to Ekrem Inoru and his excellent set of photos detailing Ahe Atoll. I have included one photo from Ekrem's Ahe Atoll set showing the entrance to Ahe lagoon. Ekrem states that there is an 8-knot flow at lagoon entrance. This would be a challenge as tides flow in or out of the lagoon. Have a look at the entire set of Ekrem's Ahe Atoll photos found at Flickr. Just follow the link.

Enjoy!

Tematangi Atoll - Updated Map and Wikipedia Entry

Tematangi Atoll

Tematangi Atoll - Landsat Image S-07-20_2000 (1:70,000)

Tematangi Atoll - EVS Precision Map (1:70,000)

Tematangi Atoll is located at the southern end of the Tuamotus. I've posted an article dealing with this atoll previously. This post contains a redo of my original map and a locator map.

This atoll is of interest to Muslims as the antipode of the Qibla is about 50-kms NW. At this precise position one could face any direction and still be facing the Qibla.

I hope you find the reworked map useful.

Enjoy!

Thoughts - EVS Islands and Wikipedia

How To Get Back To Page One On Google Search Results

One gets spoiled having your posts consistently showing up on page one of Google search results. Having recently (11/01/2008) undergone the shame of having my posts moved from page one to page fifty-one, I have pondered how best to get back to page one. I think I have a way - Wikipedia, both praised and reviled, but consistently it's articles are page one on most Google search results.

Aratika Atoll Wikipedia Page (Old Style)

Enter Aratika Atoll and Google returns the Wikipedia entry at page one number two. Go to the entry and previous to my rework of the Wikipedia article, you would have seen the above. An Astronaut Photograph of the atoll, a brief text entry, along with a few Reference links make up the entire article. Frankly, it's okay. However, I decided these atoll / island entries needed a few changes.

Aratika Atoll Wikipedia Page (New Style)

This is the same article with my changes that not only benefit the reader by adding consistent image content, but also applies some formatting to aid in the flow of information. Let's see what I've done.

Aratika Atoll Wikipedia Page (New Style - Top)

Up top I've included a Tuamotus Locator Map (see the red arrow). It will allow the reader a view of the island within a broader spatial context. I've not added anything to the text portion.

Aratika Atoll Wikipedia Page (New Style - Bottom)

I've added a section called Images & Maps. It is in this section that I post any Wikipedia qualified image or map of the entire atoll. For sure I include the EVS precision map and Landsat image and when available, the ISS (Astronaut Photograph) of the atoll. The External Links section now lists links to the appropriate posts/image/article in EVS Islands, Astronaut Photography and Oceandots.com. Any other links of value would be added, but the first three will always be included.

In my opinion, these changes gives the article a more respectable look and the additional image/map content provides the reader with important spatial information. So far I've modified Wikipedia articles for Aratika, Apataki, Arutua and Tikehau Atolls. I believe what I've done is good for Wikipedia and good for EVS Islands. You know - Win / Win! What do you think?

Aratika Atoll - A Butterfly Shaped Island Jewel

Aratika Atoll - Landsat S-06-15_2000 (1:115,000)

Aratika Atoll - EVS Precision Map (1:115,000)

Aratika Atoll, at first glance looks to be a pretty place with little of significance save balmy breezes and lazy days. There are about 240 inhabitants living on the atoll with the majority living in the village of Paparara. The island is not a usual tourist destination. Now for some interesting facts.

One of the founders of modern physical oceanography, Charles Wilkes, visited Aratika Atoll on Sept 3, 1839. Wilkes was given command of the United States Exploring Expedition that was to explore the southern oceans. For the next 3-years his team circumnavigated the globe gathering legions of information. Due to some unfortunate actions on Wilkes part, he was court-martialled for cruelty to members of his crew. He was acquitted of most charges. His later years were spent organizing and writing the results of this expedition.

One other interesting fact associated with this island has to do with two children using their inheritence to invest in a pearl farm on the atoll. A brother and sister made the investment and in 1997 the sister, Dora Fourcade took over the entire pearling operations. Today her company is a success. She is one of only a handful of women in this male-dominated industry.

So what started as just another Tuamotu atoll proved to be rather interesting after all.

Enjoy!

Thoughts - Mapping Truk Atoll and Still Frustrated and Angry With Google

Truk Atoll - EVS Precision map (1:350,000)

Truk Atoll - EVS Precision Masp (1:100,00)

Yes! I'm still making maps. This latest unfinished project resulted from a conversation with the Chief Machinist on a ship that travels periodically to Truk Atoll, now known as Chuuk Atoll. It was the site of a devastating air raid, Operation Hailstorm, that sunk 70 Japanese ships. Aircraft and ground fortification were also targeted. The attack was a total success and viewed by some as America's revenge for Pearl Harbor. Today, divers from around the world travel to this lagoon of ghost ships to explore the relics of war. The young man said charts of the lagoon were of poor quality. I promised him a high quality map (not nautical chart) of the atoll. In addition, I intend to plot sunken ship locations.

GOOGLE, YOU REALLY MESSED WITH MY VISIBILITY

I finally figured out why I am so frustrated first and angry second with the folks at Google. On November 1st someone at Google made a change that negatively affected my post's page rankings. Let me share what I've discovered about the ranking of just one of my past mapping efforts, Anaa Atoll, which previous to Nov 1st, was on Google's page 1 search results.

Anaa Atoll shows up in the number 8 position on page 1 of Yahoo! search results and in the number 3 position on page 1 of MS Live Search results. Yet, it shows up in the number 10 position on page 12 of Google's search results. I am sorry, but that's messed up! The 120 sites pushed ahead of mine are largely of little value (weather, airfares, hotels, etc.) to a person wanting to learn something of substance about this atoll.

I don't want to sound pompous, but my map work is of a high quality and I share it with any and all. I work hard at perfecting my mapping craft and ensure my Google website maintains the highest quality. And now, someone at Google made a change that negatively affected the ranking of information from my site. As a result, my European and Asian readership is down to 4 or 5 pageviews a day and was previously 30 to 50 pageviews a day. My USA readership is down to 10 to 20 pageviews per day and was previously 100 plus pageviews per day and growing. All of this because a Google techie made a change that has wreaked havoc on my website's visibility.

I've checked my "robots.txt" file and it seems to be in order, but even if it wasn't I couldn't change it. Google controls that. I've emailed twice to the black hole called Google Webmaster and was assured someone would read my email, but would not contact me with their solution. Google is so good on so many levels, but truely sucks when it comes to resolving an issue such as mine. They allow you to email, but do not answer. They never give you a name, a phone number...

Argh! I'm just really frustrated. I've worked very hard for the past 3-years building the quality of my website. Things were great. My hard work and the quality mapping projects produced were paying off with increasing pageviews. Now, because somebody at Google made a change affecting my website on Nov 1st, my 3-years of hard work have been virtually erased. I am back to square one, trying to figure out a Google-less way to share my island mapping projects. But, if Google isn't in the picture, neither is your work. Damnit!@

Apataki Atoll FP - Another One Bites The Dust

Apataki Atoll FP - Landsat ETM+ S-06-15_2000 (1:225,000)

There are ten islands within the Palliser Islands. With the completion of Apataki Atoll, I have mapped nine of the ten. Still to do is Rangiroa Atoll, the largest in the Tuamotus and one of the largest in the world. It will have to wait for another day.

Apataki Atoll is 27-km wide by 36-km long and approximately 105-km in circumference. It has a population of 430, with the majority living in the village of Niutahi. The lagoon has at least two entrances permitting larger sailing vessels passage into and out of the lagoon. There is an airfield located adjacent to the village. The island does have accomodations for visitors.

With all that said, lets get to the real joy - the EVS precision map of the atoll!

Apataki Atoll FP - EVS Precision Map from Landsat S-06-15_2000 and DigitalGlobe (1:225,000)

Using two base image sources, Landsat ETM+ and DigitalGlobe, this project took approximately six hours to complete. The map consists of 192 island polygons. If Landsat shows a vegetation color signature, I map it as a portion of the vegetation layer. The other two layers consist of a shallow reef and a deep reef. Once the EVS precision mapping was completed, I finished my work using ImageForge, which allows me to add lat/lon, legend, north arrow and credits.

Apataki Atoll FP -Niutahi Village - Landsat ETM+ S-06-15_2000 (1:7,500)

This is an extreme closeup of Niutahi village. I do have an EVS precision map of this portion of the atoll, but I decided to work with a DigitalGlobe overlay to provide additional details to the village area.

Apataki Atoll FP - Niutahi Village - Georectifying DigitalGlobe Image using Global Mapper

Finding the atoll in Google Earth and determining that DigitalGlobe imagery exists for the atoll, I zoomed in and saved an image of the village proper. In order to georectify the image to create an overlay that would align with my Landsat base image, I had to import the DigitalGlobe image into my mapping software, Global Mapper. Using GM's georectifying tool, I determined that the triangulation method using seven GCPs would create the best alignment.

Apataki Atoll FP -Niutahi Village - Georectified DigitalGlobe Image from Google Earth (1:7,500)

Once georectified, the DigitalGlobe image aligned quite well over my base Landsat image. Using the triangulation georectifying method, which requires a minimum of 5+ GCPs, allowed for image distortion, which was necessary. This method allowed the DigitalGlobe image to be stretched and tugged into place.

Apataki Atoll FP -Niutahi Village - EVS Precision Map from DigitalGlobe Image from Google Earth (1:7,500)

I was able to map Niutahi village at 1:7,500 scale. I could have pushed to a finer scale, but for my purposes, this scale worked just fine. I did add a road layer (orange lines) and an airfield layer (grey polygon).

In the center of the lagoon the Landsat image has cloud issues. I was not able to map any of the central lagoon coral heads which I identify as shallow reef, otherwise this EVS precision island map is done.

Enjoy!

Thoughts - What If EVS Precision Maps Were Included in OpenStreetMap?

OpenStreetMap - Arutua Atoll - NGA PGS Shoreline Map

I've been making EVS Precision island maps for well over three years. Using Landsat ETM+ imagery as my base image from which I have created most of my 10,000 plus island polygons. All of my island maps currently reside on my E-Drive and on my I-Drive. Lots of islands doing few people any good. About three weeks ago a person from Google contacted me and wanted to discuss EVS Islands. I continue to hold out hope that my EVS Precision island maps will be licensed by one of the big three map folks. So far, I still have the 10,000 islands on my computer.

A number of readers have suggested I upload my island map files into OpenStreetMap. I have resisted the suggestion. I keep thinking that someone will want to pay me a fee to use my island maps.

The question I pose to my knowledgeable readers, "Who owns my map files if they are posted to OpenStreetMap? Do I continue to own them? Could I sell them to another user, yet still keep them on OpenStreetMap?

OpenStreetMap - Arutua Atoll - EVS Precision Map

If EVS Precision island maps were posted to OpenStreetMap this is what the user could view. That is if all four to five layers of information were included. I would suggest an ocean color change. My ocean blue looks a lot better than OSM's puke green color.

Depending on the answers to my previously posed questions will help me to determine whether I should post my EVS Precision island maps. Any answers?

Enjoy!

How To Digitize EPIP's Four Atoll Layers

What is EPIP?

Enhanced Vector Precision Island Polygons - Using Landsat ETM+ ortorectified image mosaics as my base images, I digitize various layers of information, most typically from islands. I use Landsat ETM+ because: 1) It is free. 2) It is typically cloud-free. 3) It is consistent in quality. 4) It covers the earth. 5) It is virtually copyright free. This is the degree of precision over 8,000 South Pacific island polygons have been digitized to. This level of digitizing precision over such a broad expanse (South Pacific) is quite an accomplishment. What does this level of digitizing precision entail? What are the layers of information being captured?

Atoll Digitizing - First Layer Vegetation (Hi-Lo)

The first layer I digitize is vegetation. Working at a scale of between 1:25,000 to 1:15,000, I carefully digitize layer outlines. Working with the vegetation layer, I have been known to make a number of vegetation classifications. For the purposes of EPIP, I make one classification - Vegetation (Hi-Lo). This broad classification focuses primarily on land vegetation. I am reasonably certain I digitize some patches of reef vegetation as well.

Atoll Digitizing - Second Layer Island Polygon

My second layer of information is the island polygon. As the name implies, this should be any above-water land feature. When digitizing an atoll made up of many small motus located on a complex reef that is often awash the difference between above-water, reef awash and below-water can get fuzzy. It is within this layer that I am certain I include reef features that are either awash or just below water. In this layer, I prefer to digitize too much as opposed to too little. Perhaps the next generation of Landsat imagery will allow for a clearer land vs reef determination. Until then, I'll digitize in as consistent a manner as possible.

Atoll Digitizing - Third Layer Reef Shallow

This is another layer that I have used a number of classification. For the purposes of EPIP, whatever is visible (shade of blue) that I have not classified as a island polygon, makes up my Reef Shallow layer. This layer on the outer reef edge is typically defined by waves and/or a faint blue area along the shore. The inner reef shore also contains this blue area in varying shades and thicknesses. All of these blue areas are classified as Reef Shallow for the puposes of EPIP.

Atoll Digitizing - Fourth Layer Reef Deep

The final layer is Reef Deep or the central lagoon. It is basically everything within the atoll that isn't an island polygon or reef shallow. A crude classification, but it works well for EPIP.

I do all of my digitizing using Global Mapper. It is: 1) dependable 2) fairly inexpensive 3) simple to use 4) produces consistent product and 5) is serviced by Mike, absolutely the best customer service/owner of a product.

Atoll Digitizing - EPIP's Four Atoll Layers

And there you have it, EPIP's four atoll layers in all their glory. I'll share a few of my recently completed atolls with you. North is up and I realize they are unfinished maps without lat/lon, titles, north arrow and such, but they make the point, EPIP is a quality product.

Tahanea Atoll - EPIP (1:200,000)

Motutunga Atoll - EPIP (1:100,000)

Tunake Atoll - EPIP (1:50,000)

Tepoto Atoll - EPIP (1:25,000)

Enjoy!

Arutua Atoll FP - Beautiful Atoll and Long Mapping Hours

Arutua Atoll FP - Base Image From Landsat S-06-15_2000 (1:170,000)

Arutua Atoll FP - EVS Precision Map From Landsat S-06-15_2000 (1:170,000)

According to a Wikipedia entry, Arutua Atoll has a population of 500 with the majority living in Rautini Village. These hearty souls earn their living off of copra, fishing and pearling.They do have a small airfield located on their island.

Let's talk about what went into the construction of this map. I worked in excess of 12-hours on this map over a period of 4-days. The excessive amount of time devoted to this project had to do with the size of the atoll (31-km by 24-km). This map consists of 812 unique features. The majority of these unique features are motus (small island polygons) and coral heads within the lagoon. The trick to digitizing this atoll is determination, patience and cloud-free imagery. I initially worked off of the Landsat ETM+ mosaic, digitizing at scales between 1:25,000 to 1:12,5000. The digitizing process was tedious and tiring, but the final map looks great.

Arutua Atoll FP - Rautini Village From DigitalGlobe Image (1:6,800)

Arutua Atoll FP - Rautini Village in Other Precision Map From DigitalGlobe Image (1:6800)

Just for the fun of it, I digitized Rautini village using a DigitalGlobe image from Google Earth as my base image. The village took about 2-hours to complete. I added the road layer as a bonus feature.

All in all, I am pleased with this series of maps and I hope you find them interesting.

Enjoy!

Spinalonga Island Crete - Site of One of Europe's Last Leper Colonies

Spinalonga Island - Locator Map

Spinalonga Island Crete - DigitalGlobe Image from Google Earth (1:3,500)

Spinalonga Island Crete - Other Precision Map - DigitalGlobe Image from Google Earth (1:3,500)

Once the site of a Venetian fortress built to protect the harbor to the southwest. For decades this fortress turned away invading forces, pirates and unwelcomed visitors. As happens to all fortresses, this one was ultimately overrun and then abandoned. For years this small island was home to no one. At the turn of the last century the island was reinhabited. From 1903 to 1957 the island's guests were lepers. Where other inhabitants had abandoned Spinalonga for new homes, these poor souls were abandoned to the island, outcasts from society. Those of you interested can find an article about Spinalonga Island on Wikipedia. Now days the island is a popular tourist destination. I'm not sure it would be high up on my list of "sites to see" as I travel about the Greek islands. But, everyone to their own desires.

Spinalonga Island - Looking at it from west to east.

I worked off of the DigitalGlobe image taken from Google Earth to create my Other Precision map of Sinalonga Island. As the island is quite small, the 1-meter resolution imagery allowed for a detailed study of the island to include remains of the fortress and the leper colony. The mapping took about 3-hours from start to finish.

Enjoy!