Map Geekery

[Gorkamorka]

I was listening to Ross speak on his love for maps on episode 85: Maps and Legends.  And since I make maps for a living, I figured that this forum needs a map thread. 

What do fellow mapsters want to talk about?  I can provide some insight into real world maps, GIS systems, methods, public data access and cartographic rules if people are interested.  I can also show you where to find good tutorials on making fantasy maps, but fantasy maps are not my strong field, so it would just be links.

Any interests?

[PirateLawyer]

Where to go to find good useful map for a modern Delta Green game. For example, they want to surveil location X - let's say it's a warehouse or mall - what can I have handy as a visual aid?

[Gorkamorka]

For outside, just snatch images of Google earth (Print screen button and then paste into a word or powerpoint document).

For inside plans google: (building type) floorplan, (building type) layout or (building type) blueprint.  So for a good warehouse image I googled [ warehouse layout ] and got lots of good stuff.

If you want to draw your own then you can use GIMP, Incscape or Google Sketchup. 

GIMP is a open source raster painting program.  In layman terms it's Photoshop, but for free.
Incscape is a open source 2D vector painting program.  In layman terms it's Adobe Illustrator or CorelDraw, but for free.
Google Sketchup is a free 3D vector painting program. It's sort of like a simple version of AutoCAD.

[Setherick]

The university that I work at (for three more weeks) has one of the best map collections in the Midwest. When I teach early American literature classes, I bring in replica colonial and exploration era maps to show the students how America was being imagined by English and Spanish explorers/colonists: http://collections.lib.uwm.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/agdm

[Gorkamorka]

The university that I work at (for three more weeks) has one of the best map collections in the Midwest. When I teach early American literature classes, I bring in replica colonial and exploration era maps to show the students how America was being imagined by English and Spanish explorers/colonists: http://collections.lib.uwm.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/agdm

Cool stuff.  Thanks.  I like the zoom in feature.
Here is a LINK to the collection of old Icelandic maps