Google Earth & More

Google Earth

First off, if you don't know what Google Earth is, know this: it is free to download and it is very cool. Picture a desktop version of Google Maps on steriods, only better.

Now one of the cool things about Google Earth is they have their own version (sort of) of the GPX data format called KML (Keyhole Markup Language). Like GPX, it is XML based, which means it is text based and structured, which means I can do things with it. And it is a very robust language, which means I can do cool things with it.

What did you do Ray?

Well, on its most basic level, you can now download KML files from this site. I wrote up a nice module that will take information submitted to this site (namely GPX files and waypoints) and build nicely formatted and stylized KML files. But the really cool thing here is its "Roll your own" abilities. Hop on into our Mapper thing, take for example this Middlesex Map with a few tracks and waypoints checked. Now open up the layer control and scroll down to the bottom, you should see a couple new little buttons - as illustrated in the image to the right.

Clicking either of those will generate a single KML (or GPX) file including all the tracks and waypoints you currently have selected and prompt you to download it.

Notice that the generated KML files have some extra special touches:

• If the map size is within reason, I generate Topo Map and Orthophoto overlays for each track.
• Trails, waypoints and tracks are all hyperlinked back to their Crankfire data records.
• I jam a picture into each waypoint (if there is one).

Google Earth KML View	GPX file shown in Topofusion	KML file with Topo Overlay and showing a waypoint info bubble.

As always, there are probably still a few bugs floating around that code, so if anything blows up on you or whatever, please let me know.

Lastly, as cool as this whole KML thing is to me (and the 2-3 of you out there that might care), Google Earth imagery for Connecticut bites.

More? Bike Shop Photos

I added the ability for bike shops to upload up to 3 pictures into their shop record. Check out Bikers Edge's shop record to see this feature in action. A caveat does come with this though - to upload photos into your bike shop record, you must be the owner of the bike shop record. With that being said, if you are a bike shop and are dying to upload some pictures but your shop record was entered by someone else, drop me a line and I will give you ownership of it.

Even more?

Yeah, I guess. I rewrote the photo association thing. Its much easier, faster and efficient to use now.

Final Thoughts

I am tired.

Comments / Discussion