Better Printing with Google Maps

If you are a keen New Zealand walker, angler, hunter, or other outdoor pursuit enthusiast you are probably already familiar with New Zealand Topographic Map. The application overlays the official New Zealand LINZ topographic maps on top of Google Maps to provide a level of topographic detail simply not available through Google Maps alone.

New Zealand Topographic Map has now added an improved printing function that allows the user to print a far better quality topographic map from the site than by simply printing directly from the Google Map itself. It works by taking the area the user has selected on the map, producing a printer friendly page by increasing the map resolution. The increased map resolution is achieved by cramming more tiles in to the space to be printed than you would normally see on-screen in a web page.

The results don't always look pretty on-screen, but lead to very good quality print-outs when sent to a printer. This is a simple but very effective technique for ensuring good results when printing map overlays with Google Maps.

Follow Penguin Happy Feet on Google Maps

In June of this year an Emperor Penguin, who was soon named Happy Feet, was found on Peka Peka Beach in New Zealand. The penguin had ventured about 2000 km north of his normal habitat in the Antarctic.

During his stay in New Zealand Happy Feet was cared for by Wellington Zoo. Now, however, he has been released back into the wild. He has also been fitted with a Sirtrack KiwiSat 202 Satellite Transmitter.

Thanks to Sirtrack you can now follow Happy Feet live on a Google Map as he undertakes his long journey home.

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Google Maps meet Maori Maps

This Google Map displays the locations of the tribal marae of Aotearoa New Zealand. A marae is a communal or sacred place, the centre of Maori identity and activity.

Maori Maps is a nationwide map of Aotearoa marae, with photos of each marae, contact and background information, and photographs. Currently the map displays marae in the Tai Tokerau (Northland) and Tamaki (Auckland) regions. Eventually the map will show all of Aotearoa’s more than 800 ancestral marae.

Maori Maps

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Scrolling Backgrounds with Google Map

Tourism New Zealand has implemented a very clever and striking website using Google Maps in conjunction with a series of related background images.

As you use scroll through the New Zealand 100% Pure website the background images change to create some impressive effects. The scrolling images are used to create animated clouds moving across still landscape images or to provide a narrative, for examples as the people portrayed in the images move around.

The effect of the scrolling images is hard to explain, so you really need to see it yourself on the 100% Pure website. When you visit the page notice how the Google Maps inset changes as you scroll the page to reflect the location of the current background image shown on the page.

New Zealand 100% Pure

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There Be Gold ...

New Zealand Gold Permit Map

This Google Map has been created to help hobby gold fossickers stay off legally claimed land when looking for gold in New Zealand. Land that has already been granted a prospecting permit for gold is shown on the map in red.

It is possible to also view the gold permit layer on top of a detailed topographic map of New Zealand. The topographic layer use the official Land Information New Zealand 1:50,000 / Topo50 and 1:250,000 / Topo250 maps.

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The Great New Zealand Outdoors Mapped

Mappa

New Zealand is renowned for its extraordinary geography and astounding scenery. Therefore, if you are in the country, you will want to check out this Google Map of outdoor activities.

The map features locations where you can go hiking, rock fishing, trout fishing and camping. You can filter the results by the type of activity that you are interested in and search by location.

Registered users of Mappa can add other outdoor activities to the map. The map also includes an embed function to add the map to your own website or blog.

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Christchurch Aerial View on Google Maps

Christchurch Post-Earthquake Aerial Photos

NZ Aerial Mapping Ltd, at the request of the NZ Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management (MCDEM), flew a Rockwell Commander 690 at 5,500 feet over Christchurch two days after the 22nd February earthquake, capturing imagery of the damage suffered by the city. As you can see from the shot of Christchurch Cathedral above the imagery provides an incredibly close aerial view of the city.

Koordinates has created this Google Map that lets you view the aerial imagery on Google Maps. Using Google Maps means that you are able to find locations in Christchurch using the underlying map tiles and zoom in on the new aerial imagery.

Donate to the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal.



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New Zealand Walks on Google Maps

New Zealand Walks Information

If there is one thing that New Zealand is not short of it is gorgeous countryside. If you fancy experiencing the best of New Zealand's spectacular glaciers, picturesque mountains and rolling hills then you should check out the nearly 3,000 walks mapped by New Zealand Walks Information.

All the walks can be accessed by location from the Google Map on the site's home page. You can select to view each individual walk on its own Google Map. The individual maps show the route of the walk, the distance and include an elevation profile.

Each walk also contains handy links to other walks nearby and their distance from your selected location.

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Christchurch Earthquake Google Maps

Christchurch 22 Feb 2011 Earthquake

This Google Map uses the Ushahidi map reporting system to record the latest news from Christchurch. The map shows closed roads, open hospitals, recovery centres and hazard zones.

Anyone can post a report to the map by sending an email to eqnzfeb@gmail.com, by sending a tweet with the hashtags '#christchurch', '#eqnz' or '#ChristchurchQuake' or by completing a short form.

Christchurch Quake Map

The Christchurch Quake Map allows you to play time-lapse visualisations of the 4,870 quakes and aftershocks that have struck in the Christchurch area since September 2010. It is also possible to view visualisations of the last seven days of quakes or the 47 that have hit today. The Google Maps plot earthquake data from GeoNet.

The animations show the epicentre of each shock and are colour-coded to show the depth of each quake and scaled to reflect the quake's strength.

Google Person Finder - Christchurch
Google have released a person finder application for today's Christchurch earthquake. Using the application it is possible to search for information or add information for someone who may have been affected by the earthquake.

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Christchurch Buses on Google Maps

MetroMate

Now you never need to miss a bus in Christchurch again. Merging the official Christchurch bus stops and routes with Google Maps this application provides an invaluable tool for commuters.

Using the application you can view all the bus routes and bus stops on a handy Google Map. Place name searching allows hard-to-find bus stops and other places of interest to be tracked down easily. The application even provides a Street View of each bus stop on the map.

To find a bus, stop, eta or timetable, either enter a street / shop in the search box in the top left white box or zoom in on the map. Click on the icons to display the next bus's arrival times plus timetables. Favourite bus stops can even be stored for quick easy access next time you visit the site.

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NZ Topgraphic Overlays on Google Maps

New Zealand Topographic Map

If you are a keen New Zealand walker, angler, hunter, or other outdoor pursuit enthusiast you’re likely to already be familiar with the official LINZ ‘NZTopo’ Topographic Map Series, traditionally purchased as printed paper maps. These topo maps have now been made even easier to use and access through New Zealand Topographic Map.

Overlaying the official LINZ topo maps on top of Google Maps provides a level of topographic detail simply not available through Google Maps alone. Both the Topo250 and Topo50 map series are made available for New Zealand, Stewart Island and the Chatham Islands.

Place name searching allows hard-to-find streams, peaks, huts, and other land features to be tracked down easily. If you want to share a location with a friend you can even add a map pin and label to the map, then send a link. More advanced users can add their own KML overlay they’ve created in Google Earth. You can even embed mini topo maps in your own website or blog.

For access to topo maps while on-the-road a mobile version of the service is available for iPhones, Android devices and other smart-phones. If available, the devices built-in GPS capabilities can even be used by the service to pin-point your current location on the map.

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Garage Sales on Google Maps

Salecator

Salecator is a Google Map mashup from New Zealand that displays upcoming garage sales.

It is possible to select garage sales from the map sidebar or by clicking on a map marker. If you click on a marker the address, date and time of the sale is displayed. It is also possible to view the Street View for each sale.

All listings displayed on the map are validated by date and expired listings are not shown. You can list a garage sale on the map by logging in with a Facebook account.

Also See

Weekend Treasure - thousands of US garage and yard sales on Google Maps. The site maps sales from dozens of online sources, including newspapers and Craigslist.

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Kayaking Around New Zealand

NZKayaker

Tim Taylor set off today to try to set the record for making the first continuous solo circumnavigation of New Zealand by kayak. You can follow Tim's progress live on a real-time Google Map.

Tim is using the SPOT Personal Tracker to show his progress on his journey. SPOT Personal Tracker allows you to send and save your location with a SPOT GPS unit and display your location in near real time using Google Maps.

Tim will be kayaking over 5000 km on his journey, which will take him about 100 days. He hopes to finish his attempt sometime in April 2011.

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More Local Problems with Google Maps

Mark-a-Spot

Mark-a-Spot is a web-based platform to display, categorize, comment and rate places in urban environments. It can be used as a participation platform or it can be used to let local citizens report issues, like pot-holes, broken street lighting or lack of accessibility.

The system uses Google Maps to show the location of reported problems. You can see a demo of the system in action at MaS-City. Mark-a-Spot is free for local authorities to implement and licensed under the GNU Affero General Public License.

FixMyStreet (New Zealand)

FixMyStreet is a website that helps New Zealand citizens report, view, or discuss local issues with their local council by simply locating them on a Google Map. It launched in September 2010 and was inspired by the UK-based FixMyStreet.com.

If New Zealand citizens have problems with graffiti, unlit lampposts, abandoned beds, etc they can report the problem, showing the location on a Google Map. All submitted problems are then reported to the relevant council by email.

Also See

• Neat Streets -report local problems in Australia and New Zealand
  
• SeeClickFix - US site for citizens to report local problems
• FixMyStreet - UK site, allows citizens to report local problems. All problems are then passed onto local government
• Verbeterdebuurt - Dutch local problems reporting site
• Gerecht Geht Anders - German local problem reporting website

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Report Local Problems with Google Maps

Neat Streets

Australian website Neat Streets allows anyone to report community problems which are then passed on to the appropriate authorities. The application works in both Australia and New Zealand.

You can download a Neat Streets application for the iPhone, Blackberry, and Android based phones. With the apps you can take pictures and submit community problems directly from your smartphone. The latest submitted photos and problems are displayed on a Google Map on the Neat Streets website home page.

Using Neat Streets you can report road obstructions, vandalism, potholes, fallen trees, abandoned trolleys, litter, and graffiti. Neat Streets then automatically forwards the reports to the appropriate authority based on the GPS location

Also See

• SeeClickFix - US site for citizens to report local problems
• FixMyStreet - UK site, allows citizens to report local problems. All problems are then passed onto local government
• Verbeterdebuurt - Dutch local problems reporting site
• Gerecht Geht Anders - German local problem reporting website

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Story Map of the Christchurch Earthquake

Earthquake Map

"I didn't know what was happening! I thought it was a bad dream or that a giant was under our house shaking it wildly!

It was hard to get to the doorframe. We stumbled from side to side, it was almost like slow motion running because our floor was moving all over the place! First the house moved crazily from side to side then it started rolling like a bowling ball rolling down a bowling aisle."

Harriet Compton-Moen, 7 years old

New Zealand news website stuff.co.nz has created an incredibly moving Google Map to record and map readers' stories about the recent earthquake in Christchurch. Currently the map shows over 400 stories.

To read one of the reader submitted stories just click on the categorised markers on the map. These first hand accounts really help to convey the affect that the Christchurch earthquake has had on the city and its people.

Via: Living Geography

Also See

• Stuff.co.nz Post Quake Services - map of post-earthquake services available in Christchurch.
• Mapping Quakes in Canterbury - mapped storyboard of seismic activity for the Christchurch earthquake
  
• Christchurch Quake Map

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Time-Lapse of the Christchurch Earthquake

Christchurch Quake Map

The Christchurch Quake Map uses Google Maps to display an animated timeline of the recent New Zealand earthquake and its aftershocks.

The map plots earthquake data from GeoNet. The size of the circles animated on the map represent the level of magnitude of the shocks and the colour represents the focal depth.

You can pause and resume the animation. You can also rewind to the beginning of the animation or slow down the playback. The "Jump to" links beside the map allow you to start playback 3, 6, 9, 12 or 24 hours before the current time, so you can view the latest tremors.

Hat-tip: Street View Funny

Also See

• Stuff.co.nz Post Quake Services - map of post-earthquake services available in Christchurch.
• Mapping Quakes in Canterbury - mapped storyboard of seismic activity for the Christchurch earthquake

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Christchurch: Post Quake Services Map

Stuff.co.nz Post Quake Services

New Zealand website Stuff.co.nz has created a Google Map to show important post-earthquake services available in Christchurch.

The map shows road and bridge closures, water tankers where residents can collect drinking water, portaloos and welfare centres. The map also includes an animated map marker that shows the epicentre of the earthquake.

Also See

Mapping Quakes in Canterbury - mapped storyboard of seismic activity for the Christchurch earthquake

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Timeline of the Christchurch Earthquake

Mapping Quakes in Canterbury

New Zealand's Sciblogs has used Google Maps to create a storyboard of seismic activity for the Christchurch earthquake and its aftershocks. The data for the maps comes from New Zealand's GeoNet data portal.

Each map represents one hour. The circles on the maps represent seismic events and the larger the circle, the higher the quake’s magnitude. A reader of the blog has also uploaded images of the maps to Picasa to create an animation of the earthquake and its aftershocks.

GeoNet has created its own map of the Christchurch earthquake that shows instrument recordings of the earthquake and felt reports submitted by the public from different localities around New Zealand.

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Where Did You Lose Your Virginity Map

New Zealand Virginity Map

New Zealand television show Go Girls has created a Google Map for viewers to share with the world where they lost their virginity.

To add yourself to the map you just need to drop your 'virginity pin' on the map at the location where your first fumblings took place. If you don't want to share your first sexual experiences with the world you can just explore the map.

You can search the map by location or choose to view the 'hot spots' (at the moment Auckland seems the most popular place to lose your virginity). It is also possible to view the latest updates to the map.

If you do add your first sexual experience to the map you can choose from a selection of map pins that reflect the success of your first time and you can inform the world how long the experience lasted.

Hat-tip: Mapperz (don't bother searching for Mapperz on the map - I already did so and it looks like he hasn't added his virginity pin to the map)

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