map overlays for fun and profit (or, how to break google maps)

Map overlays for fun and profit(or how to break Google Maps)

Tom Parkerpalfrey@tevp.net

@palfrey

Why did I do this?

What is KML?

● “Keyhole Markup Language (KML) is an XML schema for expressing geographic annotation and visualization within Internet-based, two-dimensional maps and three-dimensional Earth browsers. KML was developed for use with Google Earth, which was originally named Keyhole Earth Viewer. It was created by Keyhole, Inc, which was acquired by Google in 2004...” - Wikipedia

● Blah, blah, blah● You can use it to make overlays for Google

Maps so you can show more information

What you need

● Big spec (tl; dr)● This is all you need

You also need data!

● http://borisapi.heroku.com/

Into Google Maps

● Goto “My maps”● “Create new map”● “Import” - hand it the KML you just made● Profit!

● Alternately, do a search on “User-created maps”● Find one● Click “Save to My Maps”

Useful?

● Kinda fun in browser● More fun in Android

● Overlays● “More Layers”● “My Maps”

Back to the original idea...

Streetcar

● More data sources wanted● Tried Streetcar

Streetcar data

● Dug through web frontend, found http://www.streetcar.co.uk/LocationsXml.xml

● Can make KML from this :)

Link ATMs

● Website has a search system, but not very mobile friendly...

● Some work with Firebug later, we can get the data directly :)

Google map limits

● Only part of the Link data was coming up :(● Built a stress-tester

● Meant to show a square grid of points

Varying results

● 19x19 grid● Left is desktop, right is Android...

What now?

● Need a better Google maps interface● Partial loading of arbitrary maps● Might be able to work around the issues....

https://github.com/palfrey/kml-generators