The UK is watching you Google! (Building StreetView)

The UK is watching you Google! (Building StreetView)


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These are reported sightings of the streetview cars are mapped by readers of the 'The Register' report found via the Guardian Blog
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/07/16/google_street_view_car_hoves_into_view.html

As expected the streets are getting mapped by Google, all the large cities and a few odd small locations (Ullapool,Highland in Scotland?)
is it right or is it wrong the debate rages on.
Remember there is thousands of CCTV cameras recording in the UK nobody blinks an eye. But as soon as you mention your front door been captured 'in a moment of time' everyone becomes paranoid.

Mapperz hopes Bournemouth is captured for the Dual Maps - Holiday Maps
also See Bournemouth

Google Add Contours in Terrain

Google Add Contours in Terrain



Now more cartographic and informative
A nice touch and now more useful to the users (hikes, cyclists mountaineers etc)

See the contours in effect here
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=banff&ie=UTF8&t=p&z=14

Source:
http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2008/04/last-summer-somewhere-in-adirondacks.html

Google Chart API - Maps New!

Quick update:
Overlaying Google Charts in Google Map (Via KML GeoXML Overlay)
http://mapperz.googlepages.com/chart_overlay.html

Google Charts API - Maps New!

The Google Chart API lets you dynamically generate charts on the fly.


Google Chart API now generates thematic Maps.

From the Google Chart API Group:

"We released a new version of the Google Chart API. It adds many new features that you requested here in this group, for example sparklines, radar charts and thematic maps.

The most important change however is that we removed the limit on the number of requests. This means you can use the Google Chart API without worrying about reaching a limit.

For the documentation about the new features and usage policy please see the updated documentation page: "
http://code.google.com/apis/chart/

The example Chart API Map (above) can be generated with this url.
http://chart.apis.google.com/chart?cht=t&chs=440x220&chd=s:_&chtm=europe&chld=GB&chco=ffffff,edf0d4,13390a%20=GBFR&chd=s:Af9&chf=bg,s,EAF7FE

This would be good if you could overlay kml...
or overlay pie charts (or any other) onto a Google Map.

Other changes to the Chart API

• Text encoding with data scaling New!
• Bar chart zero line New!
• Radar charts New!
• Sparklines New!

• Solid fill Extended!
• Line styles Extended!
• Shape and range markers Extended!
• Required and optional parameters Extended!
• Usage policy Extended!
  

Google Sky (Web Version) Released

Google Sky (Web Version)

Google have just released Google Sky (Web Version) - Works in the same way as Google Maps does, but you now look up from the Earth to view the Sky at Night.

Google Sky Web Version (English UK)
Date Collected from:

Digital Sky Survey
Digitized Sky Survey
Hubble Space Telescope.

"Select the thumbnail images at the bottom of the display to bring up the planets, the constellations, highlights from the Hubble Space Telescope, famous stars, galaxies and nebulae, views of the universe in the x-ray, ultraviolet and infrared"

Other items available through Google Sky:

Backyard Astronomy - Highlights the stars, galaxies and nebulae that can be seen with a pair of binoculars or a small telescope. These placemarks tell you about the celestial objects as well as providing links to sites such as Google Scholar where more detailed information can be found
Infrared - An infrared view of the sky from the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS). Change the transparency of this layer by moving the slide bar to blend the optical and infrared.

Microwave - A view of the microwave sky from NASA's Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP), which shows the universe as it was 380,000 years after the big bang.

Historical - The sky as drawn by Giovanni Maria Cassini (printed in 1792) showing the constellations in their classical form from the collections of David Rumsey

Is the imagery different from Sky in Google Earth?
The images seen in Google Sky are identical to those found in Sky in Google Earth. Google have changed the projection to display these images within Google Maps (the Mercator projection). As with Google Maps this means that the northern and southern celestial pole cannot be shown.
Source: Google Sky Help Pages

Official Google Blog: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2008/03/space-jam.html
Lat Long Blog: http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2008/03/organizing-more-than-one-worlds.html

StreetView - MapJack vs Google

Update3 17/03/2008
MapJack adds Sausalito, CA, USA to the list.

Update2, 15/03/2008
http://wanderingken.com/loc/street.htmlhttp://wanderingken.com/loc/street.html
has draggable markers and 'flip' to streetview mode (full screen)
just needs the directional markers to complete the set.

Update Google Map API StreetView New! 13/03/2008
Working well here:
http://keirclarke.googlepages.com/streetviewapi.htm
(just need the drag human icon now)

unofficial documentation (Mike Williams)
http://econym.googlepages.com/reference.htm#GStreetviewClient
Example
http://econym.googlepages.com/temp_streetviewpanorama2.htm


StreetView - MapJack vs Google

MapJack
MapJack is designed to provide good looking pictures from cities all over the world, and to get the "immersive" feeling of actually being there.
MapJack feature three main functions.
Displays immersive panorama pictures. Map the current location in both the panoramic pictures and showing directions.
The search function, find street addresses and local businesses
MapJack Coverage:
San Francisco, USA Chiang Mai, Thailand
Coming Soon are:
Lake Tahoe
Yosemite National Park
Pacifica
Palo Alto
San Jose
Las Vegas

Here is a Video showing the functionality of MapJack in Thailand.


Full Help
http://www.mapjack.com/Help.html
Unlike the Google Maps StreetView you can do the following in MapJack
Brightness
Sharpness
Preload pictures
Show visual aids (compass,loading wheel, address information, movement and zoom buttons on screen.)
Show blue dots (MapJack Coverage)
Show grid (texture and projection mapping the picture.)
Quality - you can increase or decrease the Quality of the panoramic image.

Top Tip
Click and hold the radar beam near the 'Jack' (Icon) and panorama picture shows what Jack can currently see. The 'radar' beam coming out from under Jack is an indication
of what direction Jack is looking, and how wide he can see.

Privacy and legal issues.
MapJack panoramas are all captured on public property with the intention to show a city and it's features. If you feel that a picture contains unproper exposure use the
Feedback Form.

Google StreetView
Google StreetView released on May 29th, 2007 with a few cities in the US, now covering more cities in the US. 32 cities in fact

We are now watching you Google.

Google Maps API StreetView New! (good timing)
A very recent development (today 12/03/2008) has been the found but Mike Williams. Version 2.103 of the Google Maps API has had StreetView functionality added.

This is NOT official so not supported (as yet). Mike Williams has a few *temporary links* in which users can view this.

See Google Maps API post 'Syntax changes for v2.103 - preliminary report'

Shows todays progress.
Mapperz version

http://mapperz.googlepages.com/GMAP_Streetview.html
(credit to Mike Williams)

Well who wins?

In this case, it's unfair to say either is a clear winner, Mapperz prefers MapJack's 'User Interface' has more functions more interaction on the surroundings, while the might of Google tries to map and photograph every square inch of every US City (and told not to in places) they do have more coverage.

But MapJack wins on being the first location outside of the US (Chiang Mia, Thailand). Well done.
No UK yet but maybe in the near future (?)
So a draw? Well I think there is a learning curve for both - seeing both developments is innvotation in itself, hopefully they can learn from each others methods and
visualisation. Comments welcome on this.

Future of Streetview.
Privacy and security is the big issue. Some Countries even neighbours of the US are aware of there own privacy laws (Canada) Coverage need to be complied with.
This will be a big presence in the coming months and years, rumours and sightings of cars with 360 degree cameras on them are abundant. Even London

Google 'Static' Maps API

Google 'Static' Maps API

"The Google Static Maps API lets you embed a Google Maps image on your webpage without requiring JavaScript or any dynamic page loading."

Pro's:

1. No Javascript
2. Works on standard webpages
3. Designed for mobile/cell device developers
4. Normal and Mobile Map Types

Con's

1. Limited to only 1000 unique image requests per user per day.
2. Limited function, non interactive
3. GIF-format only
4. Very long urls

Source:
http://googlemapsapi.blogspot.com/2008/02/google-maps-without-scripting.html

Google Transit Map UK

Google Transit Map UK - Real-Time Transit Information

Nothing new but a UK first, data from Traveline Southeast
for the Map above

Shame Transport for London (TfL) cannot make use of this.
They have the feeds (rss based) now.
Automatic Geocoding has undesired results (some outside the UK)

There is good coverage particularly in California, US
see more transit areas
http://maps.google.com/transit

Why only the South East?
It's all down to sources, currently only Travel Line have there data in the correct format for Google to read and be able to map it.
It's early days for this in the UK, hopefully National Rail and Transport for London & others start providing this information for third parties such as Google.
try:
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2008/01/public-transit-made-easy.html

Transit Feed Specification is available here
http://code.google.com/transit/spec/transit_feed_specification.html
hopefully this blog gets read by the companies to make it happen.
Again there will be copyright and legal issues on what can be done with the data

Google UK Carbon Footprint Project Map

Google UK Carbon Footprint Project Map



Google Aims
"Google aims to help people find information that matters to them quickly and easily. Through the UK Carbon Footprint Project we make information on calculating and reducing your carbon footprint, as well as information on climate change in the UK, easily accessible to everyone"

The project enables you to calculate your carbon footprint, choose personalised carbon-reducing actions and compare your footprint and actions to those of others around the country by placing yourself on the Google UK Carbon Footprint Map.

The Map

Use the Google UK Carbon Footprint Map to find resources and facts about the UK’s carbon emissions and climate change. They have worked with partners to create special layers for the map which will show information such as recycling rates of local councils, heat map images of famous buildings, where your nearest recycling points are and predicted future weather under different carbon emission scenarios.

The map also shows everyone taking part across the country, making it easy to see how individual actions add up to make a difference. The constantly updated project statistics will show how many people are taking part and the total carbon saved. To show the real impact of what is achieved, the carbon saving will be compared to carbon emissions of places across the country, effectively "wiping out" the carbon emissions of towns and cities.

Questions your be asked on your impact.

For Schools (Carbon Footprint Projects)

• Carbon Detectives
• Carbon Control
• Small Actions = Big Change
• Carbon Game

If everyone does there bit - it might just work.

Google Moon Update (Map & Charts)

Google Moon Update (minus the cheese)

• Higher Resolution Images
• Moon 'Walk' View
• No Cheese (was on max zoom - Wallace & Gromit ate it all?)

Data/Map Types:

Visible - A mosaic of images taken by the Clementine mission. This is a black-and-white version of what you would see if you were in orbit around the moon. This composite imagery was prepared by the USGS.
Elevation - A lunar terrain map generated by the USGS in conjunction with the The Unified Lunar Control Network 2005, and shaded using an airbrushed shaded relief map. This map is colour-coded by altitude, so you can use the colour key at the lower left to estimate elevations.
Apollo - A collection of place marks that tell the story of the Apollo missions that landed on the moon. This includes stories, quotes, images, panoramas, audio clips, and links to videos of the astronauts' adventures on the lunar surface.
Charts - A collection of geological and topographic charts of various regions of the moon.

Official Post
http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2007/09/new-moon.html

Google Sky Earth (inside Google Earth) New!

Update: As expected Ogle Earth does an excellent introduction to 'Google Earth 4.2'

One pointer that users should be aware is that it now supports KML 2.2 (beta)
http://code.google.com/apis/kml/documentation/kml_tags_beta1.html

now includes:

• ExtendedData (replacement for metadata)
• Atom feeds
• AbstractView
• ResourceMap
• PhotoOverlay
• Google Earth release 4.2, video is supported!

Official post on this http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2007/08/sky-final-frontier.html

Google Sky is an addition to Google Earth New!



You will need to download the newest version of Google Earth to use it.
version 4.2.0180.1134

http://earth.google.com/download-earth.html

More info
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6955787.stm

Works well so far - but only had 10 minutes...


The Google Sky button is here on the new version.

Map Seeaarch - but who wins?

Seeaarch is a quick fire, map and directions search website that uses 4 mapping solutions

Map Searches

• Yahoo

• Google

• Live

Directions

• Yahoo

• Google

• Mapquest

Though a quick test reveals a clear winner.


note: moving the columns is possible to show each one more clearly.

Yahoo gets confused but tries (finds an American route)
Google does the job - as you would expect
Mapquest failed to find the start location

Mapperz requests directions from
10 Downing St, Westminister, London, UK
to SW19 1AR (Wimbledon)

So there a quick and effective test.
(So why not just use Google Directions?)

When Planning a route, whether it is in the UK, Europe or any other part of the world, don't just rely on one solution.
The AA Travel Planner is more effective than any of the above in the UK. The driving times are more accurate and the congestion travel information is more up-to-date.
For Europe try Yahoo Maps

More Google StreetView Cities Mapped

More Google StreetView Cities Mapped

• Orlando, (including Daytona Beach, Miami)

• Los Angeles (including Long Beach, Anaheim)

• San Diego (including La Mesa, Escondido,Chula Vista)

• Houston (including Webster, Galveston, Texas City)

Orlando



Los Angeles

What is Street View? (Embedded Video)

Official Post from the Google Lat/Long Blog

UK to be next?

Mapperz

MyMaps Helping to Map UK Floods

Update

BBC Berkshire's interactive flood map

"The latest flood warning information, locations of emergency centres, photos, video and audio reports from our correspondents - all plotted on our interactive map of Berkshire."

BBC Berkshire Flood Map Feature

MyMaps helping Map UK Floods and useful up to date information


This MyMap records the flooding in Berkshire


The Power of MyMaps is use to display visually and geographically
Thanks to Ed Parsons for finding a map that is more useful and up to date than the Official Government Websites.

This map shows the bowsers available in Gloucester and Cheltenham

The cause of the flooding seems to be pointing at the jetsteam shifting south more than normal El Niño and La Niña (the rising and lowering of pressure and temperature in the pacific ocean)
could be possible causes, though human impact seems to cause more fluctuations in this natural process


Images: BBC and the Met Office

Google Developer Day 2007 - Map Slides

Reference Links for the main features that were unveiled from Google Developer Day 2007 in London.




Yes there is Adsense Code for Google Maps API but is not available until the 2.82 version of the API.

http://www.google.com/apis/maps/documentation/mapplets/
http://code.google.com/apis/kml/documentation/kml_tags_beta1.html
http://gears.google.com/

Google Maps API Adsense

Source: Mapperz (N95)

The Maps API allows you to embed geographical information into your site using JavaScript, you can add overlays to your map including markers, polylines and shadowed information windows. It is a great way to enhance your current site content and best of all, using the Google Maps API is free. To learn more and to find out whether your site meets the terms of use, visit the Maps API FAQ.


more information
http://googledeveloperday2007-uk.blogspot.com/2007/05/mapplets.html


Driving Directions now available in Google Maps API
http://www.google.com/apis/maps/documentation/#Driving_Directions

Mapperz Example
http://mapperz.kml.googlepages.com/uk_driving_directions_api.html
(though does not support UK driving directions thus far)

Google Developer Day 2007 - London

Teaser for all that could not make it....
More on the API's and Announcements later today.

(but look up version KML 2.2 and Google Mashup Editor + Mapplets)

Google Developer Day 2007

http://code.google.com/events/developerday/uk-home.html

The Day to find out even more under the Google Empire.

If you cannot go - this will be streamed live on the web

http://googledeveloperday2007-uk.blogspot.com/2007/05/london-developer-day-to-be-streamed-on.html

here to the stream

Google Map Public Calendars

Google Maps Public Calendars


example
http://www.google.com/calendar/events?q=Marathon
&ql=London&qt=&qtd=&sa=N&page=vl&afp=393d85a865eecf88

A New Feature in Google Calender is to be able to search Public Calenders and Events

"Now you can search the web for events and add them directly to your Google Calendar. Within Google Calendar, type an event search into the search box like "Symphony in San Francisco" and click "Search Public Events". You'll see a list of events that you can easily add to your Google Calendar."

more new features
http://www.google.com/intl/en/googlecalendar/new.html

There is also a Google Calendar API

The Maps for calendar only work when the user has inputted the location of the event.
All Events should have a location, therefore should be mapped.

Source:Mapperz

Though please remember Google Calendar is still Beta.

Google Book Search Adds Maps

Google Book Search Maps


Around the World in 80 days

Google Book Search now includes maps based on the content of the book.

More info on the Offical Book Search Blog


http://books.google.co.uk/

Mapperz

Crown Copyright crushing UK Mapping Innovations

This is a post to make people aware that government agencies are stifling UK innovations.

"Public money paid for it - but the public can’t view because of crown copyright"

Says the Guardians Free Our Data Campaign

"Imagine flying at rooftop height up the Thames. You dive under Tower Bridge, then twist between the Gherkin and Tower 42 skyscrapers. As the London Eye looms, you bank right and dive into a translucent globe which transports you into the middle of St Paul's cathedral."


But you can't put it online!

"Although Virtual London was funded by another state body, the computer model cannot be posted on the web without infringing Ordnance Survey's copyright."

"Public money funds it, yet "public" copyright keeps it shut away."

But how can Geographically data be locked down to some ceramic hard drive and not accessible to the people who paid for it?

Nicely timed just ahead of Christmas, the Department for Constitutional Affairs has put its Statute Law Database online. You can search for any extant law, and various others - including how upcoming legislation will affect existing laws.
This was protected under crown copyright so why can this be released to the public free of charge and available online?

Come on Ordnance Survey sort your out of date crown copyright.
Reduce your prices to commercial vender's and you will gain more consumers and increase your incomes 10 fold.

Sources:
http://freeourdata.org.uk/blog/
http://technology.guardian.co.uk/weekly/story/0,,1981821,00.html
http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/aboutus/
yourinforights/copyright/index.html

Even little company Google are having issues with Ordnance Survey -

"The sticking point is understood to be Google's attempt to negotiate a fixed fee for the data, rather than accepting Ordnance Survey's practice of charging by the number of transactions. Ordnance Survey would not comment on the specific case, but said that a fixed fee would "wreck the level playing field for other partners" - and it should be noted that it is obliged to treat all customers (including itself) on the same terms. OS said it is happy for its data to be used in a "Google-type" environment. "Sites such as Multimap and Streetmap use our data and their services are freely available to the public over the web.""

Google Patent - Digital Mapping System

Google Patent - Digital Mapping System
source: searchengineland.com

"Various methods, systems, and apparatus for implementing aspects of a digital mapping system are disclosed. One such method includes sending a location request from a client-side computing device to a map tile server, receiving a set of map tiles in response to the location request, assembling said received map tiles into a tile grid, aligning the tile grid relative to a clipping shape, and displaying the result as a map image. One apparatus according to aspects of the present invention includes means for sending a location request from a client-side computing device to a map tile server, means for receiving a set of map tiles in response to the location request, means for assembling said received map tiles into a tile grid, means for aligning the tile grid relative to a clipping shape, and means for displaying the result as a map image. Such an apparatus may further include direction control or zoom control objects as interactive overlays on the displayed map image, and may also include route or location overlays on the map image."

Full Text

Images related to text require Quicktime

Lots to comment on!