EarthByte Paleomap Maker is a web service launched by EarthByte group in the Geosciences School of the University of Sydney, designed to provide researchers with plate-tectonic data reconstruction and visualization services. The core reconstruction engine is powered by the cutting-edge open-source plate-tectonic reconstruction software, GPlates. The visualization is made available by using Matplotlib Basemap Toolkit. The EarthByte group have prepared a range of sample datasets and models that allows user to quickly and easily get up-and-running with plate tectonic reconstructions.
Users are able to choose datasets that they want to plot, and set a geological time and map projection. After hitting the "Create Map" button, the map will be presented in the web browser in a few seconds. User's configurations can be kept in their workspaces. So, next time when they login again, they can continue working on the map that they had left behind last time. The power users are allowed to upload their datasets and reconstruction models to create their own maps.
The Paleomap Maker is intended to help researchers who have little computer knowledge to plot their maps with modern computer techniques. The Paleomap Maker also serves as a platform for scientific data sharing and publishing. In the near future, the Paleomap Maker will provide reconstruction service which allows users to reconstruct their data online.
Getting Started: It is very easy to get started.
