ISDE5 Content Coverage

“The ISDE attendees seem to be an interesting mix of scientists, politicians, technologists, environmentalists, students, and even spiritualists. The common theme seems to be concerns about our planet, but the approaches and philosophies seem diverse.” Frank Taylor, Google Earth Blog ISDE5, NextNow Collaboratory‘s most recent project, received some excellent content coverage: Amnesty International chose to launch their new project called “Eyes on Darfur” at ISDE5, and there was a joint press release. The new program (www.eyesondarfur.org ) uses satellite imagery to prevent attacks on 12 certain at-risk villages, rather than evaluate where past attacks have been. It was thrilling that…

Meta-Earth Confluence (M-EC)

Meta–A prefix meaning one level of description higher. If X is some concept then meta-X is data about, or processes operating on, X. For example, a metasyntax is syntax for specifying syntax, metalanguage is a language used to discuss language, meta-data is data about data, and meta-reasoning is reasoning about reasoning. Confluentia–Latin for ‘act of flowing together’ One of the many great outcomes of the recent 5th International Symposium on Digital Earth (see photo samples online) is the emergence of Meta-Earth Confluence (M-EC), a commitment led by NNC members who were on the ISDE5 Program Committee and others. Meta-Earth, having…