MalaGIS

Sharing GIS Technologies, Resources and News.

Author: An anonymous GIS professional specializing in astronomy, geography, remote sensing, and geomancy.

Tianditu (National Platform for Common Geospatial Information Services), hosted by the Ministry of Natural Resources, provides public online geospatial services and promotes geospatial data sharing. For GIS professionals, a common requirement is loading various online basemaps. Tianditu offers convenient services for desktop software like ArcMap and QGIS. While QGIS has mature plugins, this guide focuses on ArcMap users.

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This article reviews prominent water detection indices - NDWI, MNDWI, NDMI, AWEI, and WRI - highlighting their distinct formulas, applications, and limitations in remote sensing analysis.

NDWI

Normalized Difference Water Index
Developed by McFeeters (1996) to identify open water bodies using spectral reflectance differences:

Formula:
NDWI = (NIR - Green) / (NIR + Green)

Principle:

• High reflectance in Green band
• Strong absorption in Near-Infrared (NIR) band
• Maximizes contrast between water and vegetation/soil

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Following my previous article "GIS Data: Global Time Zone Boundary Data (SHP Format)", several readers requested global continent boundary datasets. Surprisingly, this data proved readily available. Below is a comparative overview of three authoritative sources.

Data Preview:

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Recently, colleagues in GIS groups inquired about vector data for global time zone boundaries. While I hadn't previously worked in this specific area, I researched and found a relatively accurate dataset worth sharing.

Initially, I checked China's Standard Map Service website but discovered no officially published national standard time zone data:

After exploring public resources, I identified a suitable dataset on GitHub.

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As Mac gains popularity among professionals, many GIS users inquire about its suitability for geospatial work. While Windows remains the preferred platform for comprehensive GIS workflows, Mac + QGIS handles basic to intermediate geospatial tasks effectively.

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Geo Hound is a browser extension that automatically captures map service links from web pages and centralizes their management. In a previous article, I introduced this tool using a Japanese map service example. To demonstrate its practical value, I'll showcase its application with Wuhan's Unified Planning Map.

Wuhan Unified Planning Map

This platform integrates legally approved regulatory plans, including:

• Detailed Control Plans for Wuhan Main Urban Area (65 zones)
• New Town Group Control Plans (155 zones)
• East Lake Scenic Area Master Plan
• Municipal infrastructure corridor plans

Managed by Wuhan Planning Bureau, it dynamically updates per national/local regulations.

Access:
http://whonemap.zrzyhgh.wuhan.gov.cn:8020/
(Note: The site uses HTTP instead of HTTPS)

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Following our earlier report "GIS Professional Salary Survey (2025 Edition)", we've closed the data collection period and compiled key insights from 1,917 valid responses—significantly exceeding the 625 submissions in 2023 and 1,577 in 2024, improving statistical reliability.

Survey Results

(Click to enlarge)

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Recent viral news reports claim that during an India-Pakistan air skirmish on May 8, a Chinese-made J-10C fighter jet shot down five jets (including French Rafales) and two drones. While unverified by official sources (Observer Network cited), the internet erupted with memes. One standout:

"At home, I tolerate being called a nobody. Abroad, address me as 'The Printer'."

The GIS Connection

Beyond the memes lies a fascinating GIS link. The downed "Rafale" jets were manufactured by Dassault Aviation—a subsidiary of Groupe Dassault. Crucially, Dassault Systèmes, a global leader in 3D design software, originated from Dassault Aviation's engineering team. Its founding mission: developing advanced modeling tools to optimize aerospace design workflows.

J-10C fighter jet (Image source: Observer Network)

Dassault Rafale fighter (Image source: Dassault Aviation)

This connects directly to GIS/BIM. Dassault Systèmes' 3DEXPERIENCE platform powers major Chinese enterprises:

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As GIS professionals, we often browse websites with embedded maps and wonder: "Which map service is this? Can I use it in my own projects?" While some sites credit their map providers, many obscure this information, making it increasingly difficult to identify useful basemaps.

Is there a tool that automatically detects map service URLs while browsing and even formats them for direct import into GIS software like ArcGIS or QGIS?

Meet Geo Hound – the solution!

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The QGIS development team has officially announced plans for QGIS 4.0, with an expected release in October 2025 following QGIS 3.44. This major update centers on modernizing the platform's core infrastructure.

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