Great British Picnics Map

Great British Picnics Map


Search and select picnic sites across the UK by environment or activity.

The Guardian newspaper (&partners) have produced a useful Google Map on Picnic
The newspaper and lastminute.com to ideas where to picnic. They have also worked with Enjoy England to create a Google Map based guide to great destinations in the .

The Guardian has now partnered with Country Life Butter to create a Google Maps guide to great picnic spots in the England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

User and can search for a picnic sites or by activity, for example spots that are good for hikers, cyclists, bird watchers etc. Searches can be environment, such as by beach, riverside or country park.

The map can be viewed here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/great-british-picnics

Tour de France Real-Time Map

Tour de France Real-Time Map


Impressive Tour de France in Real-Time - almost on the spot - Map is real-time and covers Elevation and actual positions with speed:[kmh/mph] Cycle reps:[rpm] heart-rate:[bpm] and energy used in [watts].
http://data.srmlive.de/TDF/

Source:
http://googlemapsmania.blogspot.com/2011/07/live-tour-de-france-map.html

Switch Maps (Google,Yahoo,OSM, Bing...) in One Map

Switch Maps (Google,Yahoo,OSM, Bing...) in One Map

Map Channels have released Switch Maps


Switch Maps - Straight forward, easy to use and embed in your website or blog.
(Just copy and paste the code)

Switch Maps allow you to create a map that contains:

• Google Maps
• Google Earth (3D Globe) - plugin required
• Street View
• Bing Maps
• Bing Maps - Bird's Eye View
• Open Street Map
• Yahoo Maps.
  

Creating a map is very easy select your map type then customise the map controls and set the width & height of your map.
Then use the 'Update' Button then Switch Maps creates the code that will allow you to embed your map in a website or blog.


Try Switching Map modes: Useful if one map type doesn't coverage your area another will.

Switch Maps also includes the option to include layers that show user photos from Panoramio and Picasa.
You can see some of the many map views available in Switch Maps in the Switch Maps Gallery.

Related links:
http://googlemapsmania.blogspot.com/2010/01/google-maps-plus-some.html
http://www.mapchannels.com/SwitchMaps.aspx
http://www.mapchannels.com/News.aspx

Well done to Map Channels on creating this excellent and versatile map creation tool.

Marine Protected Area (MPA) Map - UK

Marine Protected Area (MPA) Map - UK


The interactive map illustrates the location of the different MPAs in the UK. For each site there is information about its designation, interest features and a link to a relevant website.

A Marine Protected Area (MPA) is often defined as any area of intertidal or subtidal terrain, together with its overlaying water and associated fauna, flora, historical and cultural features, which has been reserved by law or other effective means to protect part or all of the enclosed environment.

Related to this is the Marine and Coastal Access Bill
"The Marine and Coastal Access Bill will ensure clean healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas, by putting in place better systems for delivering sustainable development of marine and coastal environment."
More Information
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/marine/legislation/index.htm

Google Maps Adds Web Cam Layer - New!

Google Maps Adds Web Cam Layer - New!

Live Web Cams within Google Maps as a new layer in the 'More' tab.

Click the thumbnail images to view a live webcam - local time zones apply.

View Google Maps with web cam layer on

Source: Google Maps Mania

Transport for London - Cycle Maps - New!

Transport for London - Cycle Maps - New!

Transport for London first by using Google Maps for showing Cycle Parking and best routes.

Routes preferences:

• Cycling on quieter roads
• Cycling near to busy roads
• Cycling through parks and canal tow paths
• Cycling that may be on busier roads
• Cycling is not permitted
  

Google Map viewable here
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/roadusers/cycling/maps/maps-and-guides.aspx



Though the routing 'wizard' has different mapping (bespoke TfL created?).

There is a really good amount of options, 'I don't want to cycle more than xx minutes' very handy.

See the Cycle Planner and Map


The video shows the 'wizard' in action - suggestion speed and time might be a useful addition.

thelondonpaper knowledge map

thelondonpaper knowledge map

"News International's free daily newspaper, has launched an interactive map of London with daily listings of theatre, comedy and art shows, as well as live music and nightclub events."


up to date information overlayed Google Maps (including tube lines)
select 'when' [bottom right in the legend] and all the information updates in front of you.

Simple, Clean and Fast - the way maps should deliver information to the end user.

http://knowledge.thelondonpaper.com/

map found via http://www.brandrepublic.com

Nokia Sports Tracker Beta Map

Nokia Sports Tracker Beta Map



http://sportstracker.nokia.com/nts/main/index.do

Sports Tracker version 1.63 is available from this site (login required)

• Integrated with Google Maps: "satellite" or "map" view.
• Store and display your activities online
• View detailed data such as speed, distance etc
• Upload geotagged photographs of your activities
• Live Sharing of activities
• Free (no subscription)

Download for Nokia Phones
http://sportstracker.nokia.com/nts/download.jsp
But still not integrated with Nokia Maps!
(now that would be very useful)

for more detailed information on the sports tracker
http://www.e-series.org/archives/450

still not sure why it only uploads gpx files and not kml files

What tools do I need to use the Nokia Sports Tracker Online service?

For viewing the stuff on Nokia Sports Tracker Online you need a web browser.

Mozilla Firefox is recommended.

http://sportstracker.nokia.com/nts/faq.jsp

EveryScape - "Street View" Like Map

EveryScape - "Street View" like map.

Another very good application that works on similar lines to Google Maps StreetView
but it goes further - into plazas, squares and shops.
using the 'You drive' you can control your destination either click on the map (inside the polygon zone) or use the 'Go' icons on the EveryScape viewer.


"EveryScape is the only place you can discover your everyday world, your way. Today, you can check out Union Square, San Francisco as the first city to be scaped. You can check out restaurants, hotels, go shopping, drive by homes. You can see what other people are saying and share your comments as you stroll down the street. Click on the link to the right to vote for the next CityScape — it could be yours."

similar to the excellent MapJack

Try it out http://www.everyscape.com/

Tour de France 2007 - Live Tracking and Elevation

Tour de France 2007 - Live Tracking and Elevation

An updated version from last year adds elevation - as well as live tracking even includes heart rate, stress points and distance travel per cyclist




Move the Slider to see location and profile elevation. Also shows Current Distance

come back in 22 hours when the next stage is live to see live tracking.
2006 Version

2007 Version

Your Map Data to KML

Update 09/08/2007

WHAT'S NEW IN VERSION 2.3:
- graduated marker symbols are now supported
- multi-part features are now supported
- the feature name can now be explicitly defined
- bunch of other bug fixes, minor tweaks and improvements

INSTALLATION:
Refer to "Export_to_KML_Documention.pdf" for information on installing
and uninstalling the extension.

NOTE:
This is a free, open source product. While I'll continue to make improvements,
if you need much more sophistication than this tool offers,
check out the commercial software.

RECENT FIXES (Version 2.3):
6/12/07 - updated documentation; added uninstall script
5/10/07 - fixed issue with circles and curves not being exported from geodatabases
3/27/07 - removed unnecessary leading commas from KML coordinates; makes output
KMLs compatible with Google Maps API



Your Map Data to KML for use in Google Earth or Google Maps
(and gain more visitors to your site/blog)


World cities in Google Earth from a Shapefile


KML to Google Maps
So you have vast amounts of data offline?

You want more Visitors to your website.

Here is an unofficial and not supported post to boost your audience using geographical data.

Have tested this and works. mapperz

Ingredients

• 1 Webserver (or free service like Google Pages)
• Some data (say shapefiles of UK Towns)
• A little bit of code (honest it's only little bit)
• some links

OK here is some data in a Full fledged GIS



your right it a bit boring! and what has this got to do with KML?

OK for this to work you need your GIS data in WGS84 format.

In your GIS (in this case ArcMap) Project the data using project in the toolbox

Note:If you data does not have a .prj file with shapefiles use define projection before the project command.

This will make the data into Geographic projection (yes you will be able to overlay it in google map and google earth in a minute)

Now do a Calculate (ArcGIS 9.2 users have it easy by using the Calculate Geometry option)




pre 9.2 you need to create two fields x&y or lat&lng

if doing this a lot easier if you use the free code from Ianko Tchoukanski


So now you have the geographical values.

Using ArcGIS and a free script

Export to KML 2.3.4

http://arcscripts.esri.com/details.asp?dbid=14273

"Export to KML is an extension developed for ArcGIS 9.x by the City of Portland, Bureau of Planning. The extension allows ArcGIS users to export GIS data in “keyhole markup language” (KML) format for viewing in the free Google Earth data viewer. Any point, polyline, or polygon dataset, in any defined projection, can be exported. Features can be exported as either 2-dimensional features, or 3D features "extruded" upwards by an attribute or z-value. Some other features: ability to incorporate ArcMap layer symbology into the exported KML; labeling of point, line, and polygon features; "describe" individual features using the database attributes."

Please note: you will be making this data available to the whole world and make sure you own copyright to the data.

Why all this effort?
Make Kml available helps your potential users find you/your website/blog as google seem to be ranking geographical data higher than other web formats (plain old html, xml).
Making your kml available online is also available through the google earth application and with 200 million downloads, it is going to help pull people towards your website.
Remember content is King.

Working Examples
Google KML File Directory (for Example purposes)
http://mapperz.kml.googlepages.com/home
View in Google Earth of the Option of viewing in Google Maps

sitemap (key to indexing kml files)
http://mapperz.kml.googlepages.com/sitemap.xml


Sources:
http://googlemapsapi.blogspot.com/2007/01/get-more
-traffic-to-your-maps-api-site.html
http://www.sitemaps.org/protocol.html
http://www.google.com/apis/maps/sitemap.html

MIME types to the server and Network Links

• application/vnd.google-earth.kml+xml kml
• application/vnd.google-earth.kmz kmz

http://googleearthuser.blogspot.com/2007/03/
posting-kml-on-web-server.html

Save Your Post Office Map!

Post offices in crisis: the map


Britain's first and only interactive campaign map designed to highlight the state of our post offices.

Using the map:
"To open a report and post your comments, pictures and videos, click on a postbox symbol or the right hand links. For a closer look at a particular location, use the 'Zoom in' link. Otherwise, scroll around using the arrows or your mouse. Note: some maps for more remote rural locations may be low quality or missing - use the [+} and [-] buttons to make necessary adjustments."

more details on this hot topic: Silent assassin stalking your local post office

Add your Post Office Contact: postoffices@thisismoney.co.uk

Map information:

MapKit was use to create the embedded Google Map provided by platial.com

Think of all those people who do not drive and cannot get to a Main Post Office, for some it is the hub of the community.
Some are having to travel up to 14 miles to get to a post office - it's a UK service.
Find your nearest Post Office here

Mapperz

England Rocks! Map

Music Venues, Artist Locations, Gig Venues it all Rocks!

Click for the Map



Source:
Enjoy England

Top Tip - Click the Juke box page to see more Artists.

Travel Intelligence Maps

Travel Intelligence Maps

Nice Map Integration of the Mapsack

Features

• Hover on linked text (side panel) to highlight Point of Interest (poi's)
• Map display area is link with the photo rail at the bottom.
• Nice and clean interface
• Fast database retrieval of information (ajax?)
  

More Maps like these please!

NeoEarth - Blog Visitors by World Map

NeoEarth - Blog Visitors by World Map

These seem to get flasher...




Available from neoworx.net (NeoEarth)
Compare Free

• Basic display past 24 hours visitors.

Premium

• Detailed display
  All online and past visitors
• Fully customizable
  12 maps each in 4 sizes
• Exclusive Day/Night feature
• Full-scale map allowing detailed navigatio

Gchart - Currency, Local Time and Weather Map

Gchart - Currency, Local Time and Weather Map all available on from one source and one map.
Simple and a easy to use.

Also mapped is video and web blogs

Mapperz (now with rss email feed - visit blog to subscribe)

Food Tube Map - London Restaurants

Food Tube Map - London Restaurants




London Restaurants, searchable by Tube station or by cuisine, complete with live booking service.

Quick, easy and fast mapping.The live booking is an excellent idea.
Keep an eye on the special offers.

Mapperz

UK Wii Map

UK Wii Map


MapWii maps Nintendo Wii's, across the World. Use the map and simply click the "Request" to contact the Wii user. Over 7000 (Currently) Wiis have been mapped worldwide, with thousands added daily. Designed for the Wii Internet Channel, hence the long narrow map in most internet browsers.
To add your Wii (not wee) you need to login in and register.

Source: Google Map Mania

Golf Course Finding Map

Golf Course Finding Map



But with some clever integration

• Search 10,20 or 50 Mile Radiuses
• Dynamic Pan (Auto updates finding new courses in the radius range)
  
• Dynamic Overview Pan as above but the overview map syncronized with the main map
• Interactive Sidebar
• Hotels Listed

Very fast retrieval of Markers and a well thought out map.
Well done The Golf-Finder.net Team

Full instructions on use

Care Homes on the Map

Another UK first, Find a Nursing Home on a Map

http://www.carehome.co.uk/care_map_search.cfm

Search over 17,500 nursing homes, residential homes and care homes (only homes with 5 or more registered beds are included in the nursing, residential and care home database).

Another UK first, Find a Nursing Home.

Not a subject we would usually find to able to be mapped, but this shows the extent of geographical data. 85% of all data has a location so it can be mapped.

The search integration is very easy to use and works fast, for the amount of information it is clear an unclutter providing the user with good search results via the google maps api.

Nice and fast mapping - just how mapperz likes it. Well Done.