Global Economic Intelligence System (GEIS)
For a while now I’ve been planning to build what I call a ‘global economic intelligence system’. The basic idea is to create a visual, map-based, tool for investors and traders. Basically you’ll have a clickable world map with various kinds of overlays, links, and information boxes. I started building a prototype using the Google Maps API, but quickly realized it wasn’t going to be adequate. That’s the broken Google map thing over on the main tradefreeordie.com url. For the level of complexity and interaction I want to create, I’m going to need something a lot more substantial.
Anyway, the bottom line is that this project will be put somewhat on hold for a while so I can explore other ways of implementing it. In the meantime, I’m taking a class on GIS and remote sensing at UAH where I go to school. The professor has a background in computer science(my major)so that should make it even more useful for me.
This is actually a really good place to learn this kind of thing. We’ve got NASA and the National Space Science and Technology Center here on campus, and a strong CS department. I should be able to get something good pieced together eventually, but it might take a little time so be patient.
Off the topic of trading and investment, but related to remote sensing, we’ve also got an archaeologist, Tom Sever, here at school who uses satellites to find Mayan ruins in the jungle. If you’re interested in that kind of thing, check out this PBS/Nova site. If you live in Huntsville, and are interested, he also teaches a very interesting class on the collapse of civilizations, and the impact of humans on their environment. Just sign up for ES210.
Matt @ January 10, 2008