Tell Us About Yourself
I live in Wellington, New Zealand. I’m a data analyst at Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand, and have a background in Geology. I am also the founder of MapHustle. My website, www.maphustle.co.nz showcases a portfolio of my works, blog posts (to expand on, currently only one blog post) and more information about myself and the tools I use. My passion lies in making maps/data visualisations, namely with LiDAR data, which New Zealand has an abundance of under an open-source license.
Other things I enjoy are; spending time with my partner and cat, tramping (basically staring at landscapes in wonderance), and video games.
Tell us the story behind your map (what inspired you to make it, what did you learn while making it, or any other aspects of the map or its creation you would like people to know)
My inspiration came from New Zealand’s natural beauty. The country sits on the boundary of two major plates. As a result, we have quite fascinating, and unique, natural landforms, of which volcanoes feature quite prominently in the Auckland Region.
I was developing a workflow and a “MapHustle” style, which is an attempt at digital, model dioramas. I made this map quite early on in my career, and reflects a lot of trial/error to refine a particular style. It now reminds me of how far I have come and how my skills and knowledge have developed.
Tell is about the Tools, data, etc., that you used to make the map
I use only open-source tools and data.Pdal/gdal/LAStools to work with point cloud data and create DEM and DSMs. The geospatial work was done in QGIS, layering/blending bathymetric depth polygons, relief shading and aerial imagery together. The map was output using Blender, this bit of kit is how I can most effectively achieve this model diorama look and feel.
An important aspect of the MapHustle brand is to share knowledge, where using open-source tools and data is integral. Not only do I want to showcase my work, I am also attempting to emphasise the detail these LiDAR datasets contain, what can be done with them, and how people can use this data, but in a more artistic manner.
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