Introducing Google Map Libraries

Google Maps Javascript API V3 Geometry Library

One of the initial aims of V3 of the Google Maps API was to minimise the time it takes to load and display a Google Map. However if new features are added to the API and it grows in size the load time of the JavaScript grows as well.

The Google Maps team have therefore decided to implement libraries for the API. A library is a set of Maps API features that are only loaded when explicitly requested by the application. This request is added to the call to load the API, e.g.,

http://maps.google.com/maps/api/js?libraries=geometry

The Geometry Library is the first library to be added to the Google Maps API V3. The geometry library provides a set of utility functions for performing distance, heading, and area calculations in a spherical geometry, such as on the surface of the Earth, and also provides functions for handling encoded polylines.

Ed Parsons has provided a good explanation of why and how you might want to use the Geometry Library in a post called 'Because the world is not flat...'. You can also examine the library in more detail in the Maps API Documentation and Reference.

Via: Google Geo Developers Blog

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Iraq IED Attacks on Google Maps

BOOMsys

The rather unfortunately named BOOMsys is a Google Map of improvised explosive device incidents in Iraq.

BOOMsys actually stands for Basic Ordnance Observational Management System and they have created a very impressive map displaying all the improvised explosive device incidents in Iraq in 2006. The map features an animation control that allows you to view the data over the full year.

As well as the animation controls BOOMsys includes a calendar navigation control that allows you to view the incidents for any month, week or individual day. The size of the polygons shown on the map reflects the number of incidents recorded at that location.

Hat-tip: Street View Funny

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Google Maps Lottery

Million Mole

Hers's how to win money with Google Maps or lose lots of money trying.

Last year GeoSweep launched in the UK. Geosweep is a Google Maps based lottery game, where players can buy locations on Google Maps. These virtual plots are then entered into two daily cash prize draws.

Million Mole is a similar concept from Italy, however, instead of buying plots you pay to capture one of 1,000 moles hidden on a Google Map. My Italian isn't good enough to work out all the cash prizes available but the current jackpot seems to be just over one thousand Euros.

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Pacman on Google Maps

PacMap

PacMap is an application that turns your neighborhood into a real-life Pac-Man game.

PacMap overlays yellow pac-dots on top of a Google Map of your location. Your goal is to walk your neighborhood gobbling up the dots whilst avoiding the familiar Pac-Man enemies.

You score points by eating the yellow pac-dots and lose the game if an enemy manages to capture you. You can adjust the difficulty level of the game and you can also set the time limit to 10, 15 or 20 minutes.

PacMap includes a couple of options that can help to save your battery life and data usage. If you disable the animation option your battery drains less quickly and if you switch from the default satellite view to map view you will decrease data usasage.

PacMap is available from the Android Market.

Via: AppBrain
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Plant Hardiness on Google Maps

PlantMaps

This Google Map displays the current USDA plant zone hardiness zones. Hardiness zones are helpful in deciding which trees and plants will survive in a particular area.

There are detailed interactive zone maps for each US state, for example this map of California.

It is possible to search zones by zipcode and view zones down to the sub zone level. By entering your zipcode you can also get first/last freeze, heat zones, drought conditions and annual climatology for your area.

You can also embed the zip to zone search in your website using the PlantMaps widget at Hardiness Zone Zipcode Search Widget

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Hyper Local Communites on Google Maps

bubbleby

Bubbleby uses Google Maps to allow anyone to create an active community around any location in the world.

Bubbleby calls these communities bubbles. Bubbles can be created by anyone and placed anywhere on the map. Founders of bubbles can then customize them with applications to allow visitors and members to interact and contribute content to a place. Every bubble comes with a unique link and a unique physical location.

As well as the community applications added to a bubble you can also view social media associated with any location on the map. When you zoom to a location the latest geo-tagged Tweets, Flicker photographs and YouTube videos associated with that location are displayed beneath the map.

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Skateboarding with Google Maps

Longboarding and Skateboarding Map

Here is a great map to help skateboarders find the best places to skate in their neighborhood. Edmonton longboard and skateboard shop Local 124 has created this worldwide Longboarding and Skateboarding Map of crowdsourced skating routes.

Anyone can add a route to this Google Map of skating spots and the map can be searched by location and by category. If you click on a map marker you can read details about the spot, rate it and leave comments.

A map sidebar lists the latest routes added to the map and it is also possible to view the locations of upcoming sessions and races on the map.

Also See

• Skatespotter - Skatepark locator map
• Skatemap - Google Map of European skateparks.

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