The Map Room alerts us of a new map series released by NASA that shows a year’s worth of changes in vegetation, worldwide.

The All Points Blog points readers to a recent map released by the World Resources Institute that shows the fires that are currently burning through Indonesia, simultaneously causing the worst haze ever recorded in Singapore. The post also includes a report on the fires that considers the possibility that they were deliberately lit as a way to clear land.

In further news regarding the billion dollar acquisition of crowd-sourced traffic data company, Waze, by Google – The Next Web is reporting that Google has now attracted the attention of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which is carrying out an antitrust investigation.

Between the Poles has info on a new, US$19 billion program occurring in New York, to help protect the city from the effects of anthropogenic climate change. Most interestingly, by 2050, around one quarter of New York city will lie on floodplains, and already in one neighbourhood of Staten Island, where the average income is about $80 000, home owners are facing annual flood insurance rates of $10 000.

Speaking of climate change, Google Maps Mania has posted a web map entitled ‘Act of Facts’, which highlights renewable energy projects, Australia-wide.

Between the Poles also has a post talking of Canada’s recently released second version of its Open Government license, which is very liberating (in terms of data), and should serve as inspiration for governments in both Australia and elsewhere.

For the cyclists in the audience, Google Maps Mania has posted about the Strava Global Ride Heatmap, which charts the most popular bike rides globally, and gives users options to compare their times with others.