BBC: What3words: The app that can save your life. “Kicked. Converged. Soccer. These three randomly chosen words saved Jess Tinsley and her friends after they got lost in a forest on a dark, wet night. They had planned a five-mile circular stroll through the 4,900 acre (2,000 hectare) woodland Hamsterley Forest, in County Durham, on Sunday evening, but after three hours they were hopelessly lost.”
outdoors
Bloomberg: Sandee Wants to Be the Yelp of Beaches
Bloomberg: Sandee Wants to Be the Yelp of Beaches. “Does it have to be on an ocean? Is a sandy shore on a lake a beach? What about a peaceful river bank? For… a new site dedicated to cataloguing and rating every beach in the world, the answer is: all of the above. Its goal is to help users find the right beach—no matter their definition of the word. Its growing database includes more than 50,000 beaches in 178 countries and territories around the world, says founder Randall Kaplan.”
Department of Environmental Conservation, New York: DEC Launches New ‘DECinfo Locator’ to Increase Transparency and Access to Data and Reports
Department of Environmental Conservation, New York: DEC Launches New ‘DECinfo Locator’ to Increase Transparency and Access to Data and Reports. “With more than 50 interactive data layers, DECinfo Locator lets users see and download permits, former industrial site cleanup plans, water quality reports, and more based on where they live, work, or play. Selecting a map feature can bring up links to database records for petroleum bulk storage facilities, oil wells, or permitted mines…. The map’s Near Me feature lets users narrow data results by creating an interactive list of data points within an area of up to 10 miles from a selected point. In addition to environmental quality information, users can explore new places for recreation such as hiking, cross-country skiing, or mountain biking, or look up the rules for a nearby Wildlife Management Area.”
KULR: Plan your next backpacking trip with new Wilderness. net from UM
KULR: Plan your next backpacking trip with new Wilderness. net from UM. “The University of Montana’s Wilderness Institute unveiled a new website that aims to be one-stop shopping for learning about wilderness areas and planning backpacking and camping trips. The… site guides users to over 800 wilderness areas across the United States, allowing hikers to better prepare before hitting the back country, said Wilderness Institute Communications Director, Lisa Ronald.”
Providence Journal: Interactive map reveals all the hidden access points to Rhode Island’s shore
Providence Journal: Interactive map reveals all the hidden access points to Rhode Island’s shore. “Rhode Island is known as the Ocean State, and sure, every Rhode Islander knows East Matunuck Beach, Oakland Beach and Narragansett Town Beach. But what if you want to get off the beaten path and explore the hidden gems, secret swimming holes and private beaches scattered throughout our coastline?”
WTTW: New ‘Get Outside’ Map Features 350 Places to Enjoy Nature in Chicago
WTTW: New ‘Get Outside’ Map Features 350 Places to Enjoy Nature in Chicago. “Chicago-based environmental nonprofit Openlands recently launched a ‘Get Outside Map’ that serves as an interactive guide to hundreds of outdoor sites in and around the city, including parks, forest preserves, hiking trails, picnic shelters and more.”
USDA: Millions of Acres in the Palm of your Hand
USDA: Millions of Acres in the Palm of your Hand. “How many times have you been out for a weekend drive or on a trip and decided to visit a national forest or grassland only to discover that you have no idea how to get to the areas where you can have the most fun? Well, problem solved—and just in time for National Great Outdoors Month! The USDA Forest Service has launched a free mobile app version of its very popular online visitor’s map called, simply, Visitor Map.”
