The Maine Office of GIS and the GeoLibrary Board have provided a preliminary web mapping service for the NAIP 2007 data. We would like you to try it out and let us know how it works for you.
A WMS service is not a web application which you can see in a web browser, it requires you to add it to some GIS software. For example in ArcGIS you would go to "Add Data - GIS Servers - Add WMS Server" and then paste in the URL below. If you just click on the link below, you will get an error message in your web browser.
http://geolibportal.maine.gov/wms/mapserv.exe?map=c:\wms\orthos.map&
This service will be updated (and notices sent to this list when that happens) with other imagery throughout the winter/spring. Also we will eventually add a 5m overview of the NAIP data to speed performance.
If you are unfamiliar with NAIP data, it is a statewide 1-meter color orthophoto collection from USDA, summer 2007 (leaf-on imagery). Metadata are available at
http://geolibportal.maine.gov (just search on 'naip').
This service has been successfully tested in ArcGIS, MapInfo, Google Earth, QGIS, and gvSIG. It currently does not work with MapWindow - we're looking into why. Note to QGIS users - make sure you specify image type PNG24 or it will not look good. The service by default is provided in lat/long, but it will also work in UTM, State Plane, Lambert, Albers, and probably any other projection system.
Any comments please direct them to me personally (off-list).
michael.smith(at)maine.gov
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Michael Smith
State GIS Manager
Maine Office of GIS