MalaGIS

Sharing GIS Technologies, Resources and News.

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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Recently in the MalaGIS discussion group, we debated the seemingly stagnant development of GIS and the career paths for GIS professionals. Honestly, I too feel uncertain. Coincidentally, I came across a 2018 interview with the founder of QGIS. I've translated it below, hoping it offers insight to readers.

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In the realm of 3D GIS, the FBX format inspires both admiration and frustration. Developed by Autodesk as a proprietary 3D file format, FBX has been an industry standard for decades. Yet as technology advances, FBX's limitations become increasingly apparent—demanding a critical reassessment of this legacy format.

The debate intensified when ThreeJS officially tweeted four unambiguous words:

FBX needs to die

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In a recent video on MalaGIS's WeChat Channel showcasing national expressway mileage rankings, viewers noted the data appeared outdated. I've now updated the dataset using official National Bureau of Statistics records. Download the verified figures below.

PS: Follow MalaGIS on WeChat Channel, Douyin, and Bilibili for more geospatial content.

Data Overview

Source: National Bureau of Statistics of China
Coverage: 1993–2023
Format: CSV
Granularity: Province-level statistics
Unit: 10,000 km (Note: 1 unit = 10,000 km)

Visualization Guide

Simple visualization can be achieved in QGIS/ArcGIS. Below is a QGIS example:

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A reader recently noted that my earlier guide on purchasing licensed ArcGIS Pro is outdated. Upon review, I confirmed this—Esri no longer offers ArcGIS Desktop 10.8.2 for personal purchase, leaving only ArcGIS Pro available. Essentially, individual users can no longer legally acquire Desktop versions.

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The recent sale of 43 global ports by Li Ka-shing—including two along the Panama Canal—has drawn international attention. I attempted to develop an interactive Cesium visualization showing these ports' geographic distribution, but news reports only mentioned quantities without specific coordinates. This required manual data collection.

PS: Video demonstration available on MalaGIS Video Channel.

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