Re: roadgeek heaven!
- From: grothebard <romeoskiss4u@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 03 Oct 2007 09:01:55 -0000
Oh, the format is widely supported - pretty much standard mpeg2/dvd
format.
Just to see what you think, A letter I wrote to the head honcho of the
department, to see if I could be supplied with the data in some form:
----------------------------------------------------
Mr Mathers
Thankyou for taking the time for seeing me today.
I should have mentioned this when I met you, but it was unexpected -
Based on your saying the total file size of all road videos it about a
terabyte, I realised that most of the roads are filmed in both
directions - this would mean that, since I'm only interested in 1
direction, it would cut the total file size to 500gb. Futher, there
are at least 3 camera angles for every road segment - I am only
interested in the front driver side, so this would cut down the data
I'm interested in to a bit over 150gb - certainly a much more
managable amount. Even then, I'm sure that there are some roads that
I'm simply not interested in. I have the means of supplying 200gb
hard drives, though selecting only the drivers' side videos would take
some manual intervention, so I could supply, or pay the department
for, 2x500gb drives or a single 500gb one. I believe that apart from
actually connecting the drive(s), almost no intervention would be
required - simply highlight the folders of the files I'm interested
in, copy, then paste to the target drive(s).
I'm fairly certain that the video files would be usable without the
tas e-drive program - when played full screen, "mjpeg decoder
evaluation version" appears at the bottom, and I notice that roads
when selected on the map are numbered by segments - I would bet that
the files would simply be stored in directories, for example, "lake
SR" then "segment 0-40", then those actual segments in order in that
folder. I'm willing to rename them if this were not the case.
"mjpeg" suggests to me that the video files are actually made up of
still images taken every so many metres - the videos seem to refresh
at about 5 times a second, vs. 25 for ordinary video, and judging by
how long the videos play for before going to the next segment - 5
minutes - my determining what files go where would be fairly simple,
even if they're not in logical directories.
I understand there may well be a fee involved for the copying of these
files, if it is possible, and certainly a charge for reimbursement of
the time taken and cost in producing the videos (in the U.S, work
undertaken by a government employee in the course of his/her duties
doesn't fall under copyright, but of course the law could be different
here, and I believe this case was to do with still images). Mr Steven
Sellers of DPIW has provided me with several map products for free, on
the understanding that they were for personal use only - though I
certainly don't expect the same to apply for data of this magnitude -
I'm just mentioning this because another government employee has
entrusted me with documents that may otherwise incur a charge. He may
also have taken into consideration that I'm on a disability support
pension, and don't realisticly have the means to buy the data that I
truly want (specificly, the complete set of 1:25,000 topographical
maps - $1,000).
I believe that providing me with some or all of the road video data,
on the basis that it is for personal use only, would benefit both I
and the department because:
1) I wouldn't be tying up a terminal that normally goes unused (I
understand though that staff needing the actual data have priority)
2) I have a disability which often prevents me from coming into the
library when it's open (you would probably have noticed today that I
looked dead tired - I struggle to stay awake until 1pm, letalone
closing time)
3) The library isn't truly public, insofar as a member of the public
needs to make an appointment to browse it - I feel I am being given
special privelage in being able to access it on short notice
4) Due to my disability, I am unable to drive, rendering me limited to
buses and taxis, and a camera with tripod can understandably make
transport operators uneasy until I explain my hobby
5) there would be a tremendous cost for me to perform this task myself
- public transport only covers about 30% of the DIER network, and only
covers the full extent of the Arthur and Huon highways. Including
taxi fares (I have actually considered using one at a cost of $200 to
cover Tullah-Burnie - this is likely a symptom of one of my
disabilities - Asperger's syndrome) - even though I have Transport
Access Scheme vouchers, these are only "good" for trips of about 30
minutes duration, factoring in this, the bus situation, and mandatory
overnight stays, I'd estimate the cost of taking on such an endeavour
at $6,000. I likely don't want access to the data for the reason that
it is intended for use, but it is in fact a "dream come true" for me,
in that I've always enjoyed taking trips around the state, but the
cost and time has been so prohibitive - you can imagine my disbelief
when I found this project existed! (I have spent about $3,000 covering
roads and railways in the sydney metro area - this is probably shows
more that I have an unusual interest in roads - unfortunately I cannot
afford to spend this amount on my hobby any longer)
6) More of a luxury, but I have a 3 metre projection screen at home,
and playback of the video files on this would really give me the
experience of "being there" even moreso than it has on a 15" monitor
Someone I know in the Northern Territory has actually applied for a
FOI request to obtain similar data, however I see this as a bit
excessive, and doubt that it would apply to this sort of work, and I
am faithful that we are able to reach some sort of an agreement. As I
stated before, I'm sure I only need 1/5th of the full data, and that
was even going by every road - I'm certain that there are many roads
I'm simply not interested in. If preferred, and subject to department
rules, I could get the data myself if granted access to the files
(though I'm only aware of the library terminal as being the only
computer normally available to the public for use), am able to pay for
staff time - within the confines of my savings, and can supply as much
hard disk storage as is required. I would also like to re-iterate
that I would not need, nor expect, the tas e-drive program which you
have understandably stated cannot be supplied.
I hope you can appreciate my unique situation in regards to my
disability making it difficult to access the library, my being my
hobby, and my genuine willingness to not want to "tie up" resources at
the department that I could use at home. I am open to any negotiation
of terms to possible provision of the video data.
Yours Faithfully,
Mark Smith
----------------------------------------------
.
- References:
- Re: roadgeek heaven!
- From: argatlam_roads
- Re: roadgeek heaven!
- From: grothebard
- Re: roadgeek heaven!
- From: argatlam_roads
- Re: roadgeek heaven!
- Prev by Date: Re: roadgeek heaven!
- Next by Date: Re: OT: Elkhorn streets assimilated into Omaha grid
- Previous by thread: Re: roadgeek heaven!
- Next by thread: Re: roadgeek heaven!
- Index(es):
Relevant Pages
|
