[kictanet] Flight KQ 507: Did the Media cross the line?

[Mike Theuri]

The problem could very well have been that the area was not mapped in an 
accurate manner using GPS thus causing the error/inaccuracy due to a mismatch 
between the coordinates from GPS and actual maps. Many African cities and 
locales outside of major cities remain GPS unmapped to date. This is evident in 
the web blogs of tourists who drive north to south across the continent from 
Europe and often post GPS coordinates to help future travellers who may take a 
similar trip to find their way.  Nairobi has been mapped geographically through 
JICA but such maps do not appear to have been availed freely to the public 
domain. The immense benefits of such mapping include the ability to use 
navigational systems in vehicles or simple to use driving directions through 
services such as google maps. However only a subsequent investigation can 
determine what truly happened with the erroneous signal. The collection of 
slides below for example shows how GPS can be inaccurate and what corrective 
measures can be taken to ensure accuracy :

http://www.codata.org/codata02/07med/hightower/hightower_files/frame.htm#slide0051.htm

The benefits of geographical mapping can be immense in many different ways. For 
instance it can be used to determine high crime rate areas or determine where 
certain types of crimes occur. A good example of such a free service is 
www.crimeindc.org which integrates google maps with street addressing and police 
reports to highlight high crime areas in Washington, DC. Such a service would be 
of benefit to the police for instance where a certain area shows a pattern of a 
particular type of crime then the appropriate crime fighting squads who 
specialize in solving those types of crimes can be assigned to the area. It 
would also help police and/or rescuers reach victims of accidents or crime in a 
faster than usual manner where newer mobile phones activate GPS tracking to the 
respective carrier when the user dials an emergency telephone number. In Kenya 
this makes practical sense particularly in the case of increased crime and the 
fact that ownership of a sim card can go untracked, however it also raises 
privacy concerns particularly if such technologies are abused by governmental 
authorities or those entrusted with the integrity of ensuring that users of such 
technologies maintain an reasonable level of privacy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assisted_GPS

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kagwe James" <JKagwe at aforbes.co.ke>
To: "Mike Theuri" <mike.theuri at gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 09, 2007 12:39 AM
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Flight KQ 507: Did the Media cross the line?


Just concerned and probably out of context as far as the discussions
we've been having are concerned. Isn't there a technology, probably GPRS
based that can be used to track aeroplanes all over the world?

Just like the way car track traces cars using GPRS. Is it possible to
have such to track and trace aeroplanes. The time it took to trace the
KQ plane was quite worrying and given that aeroplanes traverse deserts,
seas and forests, then a system like this would make a difference in the
time that it takes to trace a plane and probably save peoples lives.

Just a view, no politics please!!!!!!!