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washcycle |
The Path Forward
May 23 2008, 2:05 PM EDT
Ok, some good discussion here. I think we're moving toward an idea of a program that will deal with the limited item issue with MyMaps. Here is my proposal.1. Create a Master Map. This map will include pushpins that connect users to each of the regional or subject maps. Each of these pushpins will be custom tailored to it's situation, so a DC map for DC, the SmartBike logo for SmartBike etc... This Map will also include key bike trails (CCT, Mt Vernon, W&OD, Rock Creek, C&O, Anacostia Trail System) and tehse will each link to their own trail map. 2. Below the Master Map will be three kinds of maps regional (I propose DC, Arl, Alex, Falls Church, Moco, and PG) subject (Smartbike, Bike Shops, WMATA) and Trail (See the list above). 3. Each of these can have submaps as well (so DC bike lanes for example) but only if needed. Anonymous, you seem to know how to pull out the info into KML files. Do you think you could take what we have, pull it apart and put it back together in this way (If everyone agrees)? Thoughts? Do you find this valuable? |
mooniker |
1. RE: The Path Forward
May 23 2008, 2:51 PM EDT
Yeah, I can filter data from maps and reimport when we decide how it's gonna be organized. I extracted the Arlington data from the original mashup. It's really helpful if people label stuff well so I can recognize elements when they're not on a map.
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mooniker |
2. RE: The Path Forward
May 23 2008, 3:45 PM EDT
I've made a experimental master map with some temporary icons. The icons are really ugly because I just threw them in from Wikipedia. Everyone should fool around with it and see what they think:http://local.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=38.880343,-77.052612&spn=0.447928,0.933838&t=p&z=10&msid=109828520993903393750.00044dea83f1c20afbc00 Move things around and see how they look. I'm having trouble visualizing what this is gonna look like, so please show me. We will need well designed icons. They have to be 64x64px (or less), and I'd recommend that the name of the map (abbreviated) be in the icon. We can make more important maps max the 64 and less important maps 32x32 or whatever. Do you find this valuable? |
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washcycle |
3. RE: The Path Forward
May 23 2008, 4:27 PM EDT
OK, I moved things around a little. And replaced trail flags with lines (very rough). I don't think we need MD or VA on there, but I didn't want to delete the flags. It may be that we'll want to make the icons smaller but maybe not.
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mooniker |
4. RE: The Path Forward
May 23 2008, 5:31 PM EDT
Just put stuff we don't need or don't know what to do with outside the beltway. I dunno, like in Lorton or something.
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rcannon100 |
5. RE: The Path Forward
Jun 4 2008, 10:03 AM EDT
BTW This seems like a good design
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rcannon100 |
6. RE: The Path Forward
Jun 4 2008, 10:08 AM EDT
Re ICONs - doesnt Google do a pretty good job compressing the image? The Arl/Alex Community Bike Ride icon seems to have worked very well - although I guess it was small?
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Posted Anonymously |
7. RE: The Path Forward
Jun 14 2008, 10:30 AM EDT
So one of the things I am not sure of is what is the best way to input data. Do we just keep adding data to the google maps, or the KML??? thing you working on, is that the best way (and if we add to the google maps we are just getting in your way.) I looked at Arlington and I looked at the master map and there is now no W&OD trail. I think that is a mistake. I think on those maps we should have a very basic, not detailed, sorta straight line representation of the W&OD -- and then have that icon link to the W&OD map. We need a way to get from here to there. Do you find this valuable? |
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washcycle |
8. RE: The Path Forward
Jun 20 2008, 5:32 PM EDT
Mooniker that's a good question. I've been adding data to the maps figuring you could turn it into a KML file when needed. Is that correct?Right now we have links to other maps that are bicycles. Perhaps for the big trails that have their own maps a rough line like you describe makes more sense. Do you find this valuable? |
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mooniker |
9. KML primer
Jun 20 2008, 7:09 PM EDT
Yes, I can mess with the KML (export, re-import, re-organize, etc). But let me back up and explain some basics.When we make a My Map on Google Maps, the map's data is stored as a public KML file on Google servers. KML is an XML (plain text) file format, which is like the HTML of geospatial stuff -- instead of storing headlines, images, paragraphs, it stores lines, polygons, and placemarks. Essentially My Maps is a very basic but easy to use (what-you-see-is-what-you-get) web-based KML editor. I think we should keep drawing in the maps we have so far, like the D.C. and major trails maps. They're all like sandboxes at this point. If we need to reorganize later (which I think we will), I'll turn off collaboration, download the map's KML file, and then splice it up into separate KML files, and then re-upload each of those into its own map, and turn on collaboration for those. The process is similar if I want to merge or rearrange. We could keep the old map for reference or backup, but it should be prominently labeled OLD/OBSOLETE with collaboration turned off and pointers to the new maps so we don't get confused. Does that make sense? @Anon, let me know if I didn't answer your question about KML/data. Do you find this valuable? |
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mooniker |
10. RE: The Path Forward
Jun 20 2008, 7:26 PM EDT
"I looked at Arlington and I looked at the master map and there is now no W&OD trail. I think that is a mistake. I think on those maps we should have a very basic, not detailed, sorta straight line representation of the W&OD -- and then have that icon link to the W&OD map. We need a way to get from here to there."Yeah, I agree that we should include the W&OD (major trail) in regional maps in addition to maintaining a dedicated W&OD map. And I think the W&OD on Arlington should be detailed, not a straight/rough line representation, because the regional maps should be highly zoomable and detailed. This is what I did with my Falls Church and Arlington maps -- detailed W&OD included. A Metrorail map-like abstraction/symbolic lines would only work on a menu/master map, I think. I think it works out well to have the W&OD on its own detailed trail map AND on the regional maps. That way, when we layer a regional map with major trails, a trail like W&OD jumps out prominently with cumulative opacity like an interstate on a state atlas. Do you find this valuable? |
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Posted Anonymously |
11. RE: The Path Forward
Jun 20 2008, 11:59 PM EDT
Re major trails on regional maps -- okay, that makes a lot of sense. On the W&OD trail map, I have experimented with - taking pictures on the trail of noteworthy spots --- and then adding them as icons to the W&OD map. I figure that map would have a lot of detail about that one specific trail - where there would be no such W&OD detail on for example the Arlington regional map. Has anyone made the master menu map?? Thanks for your work on this - it is always cool to learn more about stuff. A geek in my office was explaining KML to me.
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rcannon100 |
12. RE: The Path Forward
Jun 21 2008, 12:01 AM EDT
I will remember to sign in. I will remember to sign in. I will remember to sign in. I will remember to sign in. I will remember to sign in. I will remember to sign in. Last comment was me.
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mooniker |
13. experimental master map
Jun 23 2008, 4:31 PM EDT
"Has anyone made the master menu map??"There's a link to an experimental master/menu map above. If you have any ideas, go ahead and draft them there, but I think the master/menu map has to wait on constituent maps to materialize and mature before it can have a purpose or use. Do you find this valuable? |
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mooniker |
14. Trail Pics
Jun 23 2008, 4:37 PM EDT
"On the W&OD trail map, I have experimented with - taking pictures on the trail of noteworthy spots --- and then adding them as icons to the W&OD map."I noticed that Flickr has GeoRSS and KML export features (for pics with long/lat data). So in theory we could make or use a Flickr group/pool (or unique tag), and use a mapplet to overlay Flickr pics on the map. I bet (Google's) Picasa and maybe other photo sharing sites have similar features. Just something to think about; maybe we can tap into trail pictures that have already been placed on the map. Do you find this valuable? |
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mooniker |
15. RE: Trail Pics, cont'd
Jun 23 2008, 5:16 PM EDT
OK, here's a cool trick.Go to Flickr, and navigate to all public photos tagged "Mount Vernon Trail" and get the link at the bottom for the GeoFeed (not the KML). It's a long and ugly address that starts with "http://api.flickr" and ends in "format=rss_200" with the tag info somewhere in between (no spaces). Copy that link location and now open up a blank Google Maps and plug that cryptic link in the search field and hit the button. If you got the link correctly, presto all the pics with lat/long are placed on the map, and if you go to the place in the world where the Mount Vernon Trail is located, the pictures will be there along the trail. Do you find this valuable? |
