[EHPweb] RSS Earthquake Plotting

Fri Jan 29 17:30:11 UTC 2010

Hi Eric,

I also put these comments on the web form.

If the map starts at the global level, it's difficult (and very frustrating)
to zoom into a scale and region of interest. For example, to zoom into the
San Francisco Bay area region, one must either

a)      use the zoom slider bar, which is a guess as to the proper level.
It's clumsy going from the globe to my target area.

b)      repeatedly alternate between the + zoom button and re-centering.
That took me 30 seconds to get to where I wanted (I timed it)

c)       continue to  double click *off* the area of interest. If you double
click on the area, then you are likely to hit an earthquake, which pops open
the information balloon, but doesn't zoom in.  If you double click away from
the earthquakes, then you miss your target and often get lost.

If we were to use this tool, I'd like to see a number of standard entry
points to get users to common starting maps.  Perhaps a hybrid system of the
old fixed maps, and a cookie system where users can preset at what level
they want to see the Google display. I'm not sure how that would work.

I have other concerns. It seems that there is a real risk of getting in bed
with Google for primary information delivery. Has the USGS worked out an
agreement with Google regarding advertising?  What about the competing "map"
service from Microsoft?  

I recall that Barbara B did a test with lots of earthquakes, and the map
really bogged down.  This test didn't have many quakes on it (M>2.5).  It is
absolutely necessary to be able to see quakes down to M1, because in
aftershock sequences they rapidly map out the rupture zone, or in volcanic
sequences indicate changing levels of unrest. In CA, the map is boring
without all of the little quakes.  Moreover, many users just want to see all
the quakes, regardless of their motivation. This map interface must be able
to smoothly handle that level of information.  For example, on the CA-NV map
today, there are 600 quakes/week.  It could easily jump to 3000 quakes
during a volcanic sequence.  Have things improved since Barbara did her
test?

-David

-------------------------------------------------------

David Oppenheimer                   office:650.329.4792

U.S. Geological Survey              fax:   650.329.4732

345 Middlefield Road.-MS 977    email: oppen at usgs.gov

Menlo Park, CA 94025

From: ehpweb-bounces at geohazards.usgs.gov
[mailto:ehpweb-bounces at geohazards.usgs.gov] On Behalf Of Eric M Martinez
Sent: Wednesday, January 27, 2010 11:49 AM
To: EHP Web
Subject: [EHPweb] RSS Earthquake Plotting

- All -

Below is a link to a proof of concept mapping tool that plots recent
earthquakes on a Google Map using the RSS feed as a data source. This
application isn't perfect but can serve as a starting point for a more
elaborate effort. Please take a moment to look at this tool and also to fill
out the feedback form about it so I can know what people are thinking and
how well the tool is working.

Because the RSS feeds aren't being updated on EHPDevel, the data you see may
be out of date, but this is driven dynamically on the client side so if this
goes into production we will automatically get updated mapping assuming our
RSS feeds are working (they should be).

Application

            http://ehpd-earthquake.cr.usgs.gov/earthquakes/rssmapping/

Please, I appreciate your feedback.

                http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en
<http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dEd5NVF5cW5EZEZBTVRkY
3haQ3FMQkE6MA> &formkey=dEd5NVF5cW5EZEZBTVRkY3haQ3FMQkE6MA              

Please feel free to forward this along to others who might be interested,
but keep in mind they will need to be on the USGS network (or eRAS) in order
to view the application.

Thanks,

                ~Eric.

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