Track: Public Access and the Internet
Defining a Coordinate System for Cyberspace
Paul TerpstraThe potential for spatial analysis of cyberspace is demonstrated in a method that maps Internet addresses (URLs) using ArcInfo. An AML program called CYBERMAP generates a coordinate file from a URL list with help from an embedded UNIX script that provides a decimal dump of rearranged URL segments. A unique point location or each URL is defined in polar coordinates, where the angle (theta) is determined by the top-level and primary domains, and the radius by the subdomain(s), host, directory(s), and file. Point coverages can be displayed in ARCPLOT or ArcView GIS and color-coded by attributes extracted from other fields of the input site list. Cyberspace maps can be an effective way to document the rapid changes occurring in these first few years after the "big information bang."
Paul Terpstra
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
524 S. Second St.
Springfield, IL 62701-1705
USA
Telephone: (217) 785-0399
Fax:
E-mail: terpstra@etana.osmre.gov