foxtrot_xray Posted February 5, 2013 Posted February 5, 2013 Hey all - For those that use my Google Earth overlays/tools for NGS stations and USGS Topo map overlay, I'm letting ya'll know that the services may be up and down over the next couple weeks. Down time shouldn't be long (consecutively) so if you want 30 minutes or so and try again, it'll likely be back. The scripts, server, and processing are getting moved to a new server, one I have more control over and is faster. Once the transition is complete, you will need to get a new KMZ file from my website (not yet, it's not posted...) The data behind the scenes will be updated to Jan/Feb of this year (currently it's all dated from March of 2010) and with the new server, I'll be able to update it more frequently. Eventually - PERHAPS when the new server goes live - there will be an additional option, where you can view stations straight from the NGS database (always live data..). If it's not ready this month, it'll be ready soon. Cheers all - Mike. Quote
foxtrot_xray Posted February 19, 2013 Author Posted February 19, 2013 Hey guys - Okay, this week DNS will be updating to point to my new server. Likely tonight, the tool will stop working - when it happens, try going to http://ngs.tsqmadness.com.ge and download the new KMZ - v2.0. Loading stations will be faster, as should be the Topo Overlays, to a point. Cheers! -Mike. Quote
foxtrot_xray Posted February 28, 2013 Author Posted February 28, 2013 D'oh. Correct URL - http://ngs.tsqmadness.com/ge I can't type, I swear. -Me. http://ngs.tsqmadness.com.ge Quote
foxtrot_xray Posted January 14, 2014 Author Posted January 14, 2014 Hey All - An update.. It looks like MS finally took their old TerraServer (MSRMaps) offline. Not bad, considering it was supposed to go down almost two years ago. I'm working on a fix, may be a couple days, but you won't need to re-download anything - all I have to do is update my server to point to a new USGS server, and we'll be good. Quote
foxtrot_xray Posted February 19, 2014 Author Posted February 19, 2014 Well, magically, MSRMaps is back up. So topo overlay should resume working, though their server's running really slow. I'm still looking for an updated alternative, and having problems finding a service that will feed us one main image, instead of tiled images. But, enjoy for now! Quote
foxtrot_xray Posted April 10, 2014 Author Posted April 10, 2014 Hey guys - The Topo Overlay has been updated to use USGS's feed, instead of MSRMaps, due to flaky performance lately. Took advantage of auto-scaling, so now if you zoom out far enough, the map overlay will go from 24k to 100k, and then further and you'll get 250k. --Mike Quote
+billwallace Posted April 10, 2014 Posted April 10, 2014 I use GE Tools a lot - the quality of the USGS Topo overlays at Google Earth Library is so good, I went ahead and purchased a few. Check it out, they have a couple of freebies to try out. Quote
mloser Posted April 10, 2014 Posted April 10, 2014 Mike, Just wanted you to know I really appreciate all your efforts towards benchmarking--GE and Benchmap are both terrific products and I have used both and will continue to use both as long as they exist (and I can walk!). I know you did them because you wanted to use them, and like all programmers you wanted the challenge, but they are great! Quote
foxtrot_xray Posted April 10, 2014 Author Posted April 10, 2014 I use GE Tools a lot - the quality of the USGS Topo overlays at Google Earth Library is so good, I went ahead and purchased a few. Check it out, they have a couple of freebies to try out. Interesting. I downloaded his trial. Obviously, the benefit is that no internet is necessary, as you have all the files on your PC. The downside is that they're dated - not even the newest Topo version (before USTopo). Mike, Just wanted you to know I really appreciate all your efforts towards benchmarking--GE and Benchmap are both terrific products and I have used both and will continue to use both as long as they exist (and I can walk!). I know you did them because you wanted to use them, and like all programmers you wanted the challenge, but they are great! I still use mine a lot - I love maps. There's something odd about the USGS server though - at some specific zooms, the images is offset. I've determined it's not anything I'm doing - the WMS is cutting the images wrong. I'm going to try and see if I can adjust what I'm asking for to avoid this. It bugs me. Quote
foxtrot_xray Posted December 9, 2016 Author Posted December 9, 2016 For those using the GE Tools, at the moment the USGS Topo Map server is down. So any Topo Map overlays will be a giant red ugly 'X'. I informed them of it, but haven't heard back, don't know if they're working on it or not. Quote
mloser Posted December 13, 2016 Posted December 13, 2016 I assume this is the same problem Benchmap is having with topos?? Quote
foxtrot_xray Posted December 13, 2016 Author Posted December 13, 2016 I assume this is the same problem Benchmap is having with topos?? Yes! yes it is. USGS changed mapping servers. They DID put up a notice - but they put it up on USGS.GOV, and not NationalMap.gov - so I never saw it. GE will be fixed as soon as I get the new URL and set up, and then BenchMap will come shortly after. Quote
foxtrot_xray Posted February 3, 2017 Author Posted February 3, 2017 Whohoo, an update! FINALLY got in touch with the powers-that-be at the new hosting site for the Topo map imagery. We got it worked out. I'm currently working on getting the GE imagery back up. your current KML will work fine - however, I'm adding a layer to to show the 'new' "US Topo" maps from the USGS. To view these, if you want, you will need to download the new KML. (It's not up yet, so hold on there..) I have it mostly working, but GE is giving me a strange scaling issue which I haven't had before. Once I clear that up, I will update the KML and let everyone know. Then, I will put a patch in place to my BenchMap app. Quote
mloser Posted February 3, 2017 Posted February 3, 2017 Thanks Mike! I was wondering what happened to the topo stuff you said you were working on. Computer stuff can be a lot harder than you think at the beginning. Quote
foxtrot_xray Posted December 16, 2021 Author Posted December 16, 2021 Hey guys - Long necro-thread, but I thought this was important enough to post: The Earth KML uses my server and my copy of the database, to help speed up querying of the stations. Up until now, there was no regular updates performed on the DB - it happened once a year at *most*. However, starting earlier this fall, the DB is now getting updated monthly, whenever a new state archive is produced by the NGS. So, you'll now be looking at pretty-much live data. To top it off, the USGS topo overlay WILL be returning, though it WILL require a new KML to be downloaded. I will post here once that's ready. Quote
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