Expand Mapping with Mike Morrow

Expand Mapping with Mike Morrow explores the intersection of data analysis, mapping, and technology integration. It presents diverse applications, from geocoding and interactive map creation to leveraging AI for music composition and improving business processes. Mike also experiments with creative tech solutions and discusses the impact of AI pricing and data visualization tools.

Data Analysis Mapping and Geocoding Technology Integration Artificial Intelligence Music Composition Business Solutions Data Visualization Creative Tech Projects

The hottest Substack posts of Expand Mapping with Mike Morrow

And their main takeaways

Proposal for flying car cable gondola system

6 implied HN points • 14 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Transportation Innovations Mobility Urban planning Sustainability
  1. Flying cars, or eVTOLs, currently have limited range and perform poorly in bad weather. These challenges need to be addressed to make them more practical.
  2. A cable gondola system could help overcome the limitations of flying cars by allowing them to hitch onto cables for part of their journey. This could improve their efficiency and reduce the need for long-range flight.
  3. Using suspended cables could be a less disruptive transportation method compared to traditional roads and rail systems. It's worth considering if this approach is more environmentally friendly, especially for wildlife.

The problem with isochrones: overcoming false precision in drive time maps

3 HN points • 15 Dec 23
🔬 Science Mapping Accuracy Uncertainty Transport Data Visualization
  1. Drive time isochrones can give a false sense of precision because they are based on average traffic conditions, which can vary greatly.
  2. Improving isochrone accuracy can be done by increasing the number of trips, testing different conditions, and varied departure angles.
  3. To better communicate uncertainty, consider simplifying isochrone shapes and creating bands to show the range of possible outcomes.

Plotting an interactive map with Google Collab and Folium

6 implied HN points • 01 Aug 22
  1. You can use Google Collab and Folium to create interactive maps
  2. GeoPandas library is useful for working with spatial data
  3. Folium is a Python library that wraps around Leaflet.js for creating interactive maps
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Good LLM use cases

0 implied HN points • 12 Feb 25
🕹 Technology AI LLM Data Applications Innovations
  1. Many people are trying to use LLMs, but often they aren't sure what problems to solve. It's important to find the right match between the tool and the issue.
  2. LLMs can be really useful for tasks like translation, helping people find information, and working with data. These are some of the best ways to use them.
  3. Successful LLM applications will focus on these core uses. It's all about using the technology for what it does best.

PlacesGPT

0 implied HN points • 12 Dec 23
🕹 Technology APIs GPT Data
  1. PlacesGPT brings point of interest data into ChatGPT.
  2. Using Google's Places Text Search API helps with ambiguous address queries.
  3. The Google Places API usage for PlacesGPT will be limited due to cost until the GPT marketplace launches.

1st post test

0 implied HN points • 28 Mar 21
  1. The post is a test about sharing content.
  2. The post includes links to external profiles.
  3. The date of the post is March 28, 2021.

Alternative to Tableau Bridge

0 implied HN points • 22 Jan 23
  1. An alternative to Tableau Bridge for pushing data to Tableau Cloud involves a lightweight code-based approach.
  2. Considerations for using this alternative include avoiding management of Bridge servers, preference for code-based data pipelines, and not needing live connections for private data.
  3. The workflow includes connecting to a database, creating a Hyper file from a SQL query, and publishing that Hyper file to Tableau Cloud, with additional steps for further customization.

Black boxes, common sense, and the cost of mistakes

0 implied HN points • 13 Nov 24
🕹 Technology AI Machine Learning Data science Ethics Systems
  1. Machines today excel at specific tasks but lack general intelligence. They often produce outcomes that seem strange or unexpected even though they are based on data.
  2. Black-box machine learning models can provide great results, but they are hard to understand. In contrast, rules-based systems are easier to explain but often perform worse.
  3. Mistakes in AI can lead to serious issues, especially in safety-critical applications. There's an ongoing challenge in balancing the performance of machine learning with the clarity of rules-based systems.

The joy of remixing

0 implied HN points • 25 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Creative Arts Music Literature Design Media
  1. Remixing makes creativity easier and more fun. You can take something someone else made and give it your own twist, which helps overcome fears about starting from scratch.
  2. Many creative things we see today are built on what came before. We all use bits and pieces from other people's work to create something new, and that's totally normal.
  3. Remixing isn't just about adding your mark. It can be about changing something for a new purpose or audience, which can refresh old ideas.

Recommendation engines

0 implied HN points • 13 Nov 24
🕹 Technology AI Software Data User Experience Algorithms
  1. Recommendation engines can work in two main ways: using features like genre or through user behavior to suggest content. This means they can recommend similar items based on what you liked or what others liked when they liked the same thing.
  2. A good way to find new movies is by looking at the work of the same director or producer. This can help you discover different films outside your usual tastes.
  3. Using a network diagram can help visualize connections between different movies or content. This manual method can feel more personal and help avoid getting stuck in a 'filter bubble' of recommendations.

Bulk isochrone creation

0 implied HN points • 15 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Mapping Data Analysis
  1. The script was made to analyze fan travel impact between Capital One Arena and a proposed new arena in Potomac Yards.
  2. Isochrones were generated with Mapbox and inserted into Snowflake as geographic data types.
  3. The analysis included 2 addresses and 6 different drive times, but the script can handle any number of addresses.

Making minimalist chatbot iOS app so I don't have to pay $20/mo for premium LLM subscription

0 implied HN points • 06 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Software Mobile Apps Chatbots AI Development
  1. If you use a chatbot a lot every month, paying a flat fee like $20 is worth it. But if your usage is unpredictable, it might be cheaper to use LLM APIs instead.
  2. Many chatbot apps ask for your API key, which can feel risky since your data could be misused. Building your own chatbot app can help you feel more secure.
  3. The author's app is very simple and needs to be more user-friendly. They are looking for better, secure chatbot apps for iOS that don't require a subscription.

Winding down some projects

0 implied HN points • 05 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Web Apps APIs Project management Innovation Software Development
  1. Winding down projects can help clear your mind and spark new creativity. It feels refreshing to have a clean slate.
  2. The author decided to shut down some web applications that were not heavily used. It felt like a waste to keep them running without much purpose.
  3. Getting rid of unneeded projects can open the door for new ideas. It's good to let go of things that no longer inspire you.

First time using Fiverr for help on projects

0 implied HN points • 12 Feb 24
🎶 Music Freelancing Music Production
  1. Consider using freelancing services like Fiverr or Upwork to scale up projects and work with talented people
  2. Overcoming the mental barrier of creating something you didn't personally make can be liberating and rewarding
  3. Starting small by trying out platforms like Fiverr for fun projects can help to stop overthinking and start taking action

More things need to be made programmable

0 implied HN points • 13 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Software Programming Automation Innovation AI
  1. Creating small apps has become much easier with tools that let you describe what you want in simple language, and the code appears for you.
  2. Many everyday devices should be able to run code themselves without needing complex setups or smart home networks, like rice cookers and bread machines.
  3. It's important for more devices to have user-friendly ways to execute scripts and do useful tasks instead of just being controlled by apps.