The Gartner hype-cycle for geotechnologies

David J. Maguire
ESRI

“Central to every discussion of the Information Age is the well understood trend of rapid technology evolution.”

 Submit Article

The race is heating up between China and Japan. Last week the first images from Chang'e 1 were beamed down. The ultraviolet images are the first of its kind claim the Chinese. In the mean time, JAXA has declared that on 3rd November, they have successfully demonstrated production of stereo movies (3 dimensional movies) of the Moon surface by using stereoscopic images obtained with the Terrain Camera (TC) on-board KAGUYA. This verification was performed as part of the initial check out of mission instruments on-board the Kaguya from a lunar orbit at an altitude of about 100 km. These are the first 3-D movies of the Moon including its polar areas with an aerial resolution of 10 meters.

These 3d views from the Moon remind me of the recent arguments on 2d vs. 3d in context with Google Maps and Google Earth. The possibility of Google Earth fading away and being taken over by Google Maps may be a company driven agenda, but the impact of a virtual globe on the visual cortex is unparalleled, and we will soon have Virtual Moon. A look at the 3d data from the Moon and I was reminded of the 'Moon flyby' in the film Armageddon.

India's 'Chandrayan' mission is scheduled for next year and will add to the deluge of lunar pictures. Till then, JAXA's TC seems to be a star performer and first contender to be Selene's Endymion.

  Dr. Hrishikesh Samant
hrishikesh@gisdevelopment.net