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Exploring Google Mapping Products

Exploring Google Mapping Products. WORKSHOP. Jeff Blossom, Senior GIS Specialist Center for Geographic Analysis Harvard University gis.harvard.edu March 14, 2014. Workshop objectives and flow. Objectives:

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Exploring Google Mapping Products

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  1. Exploring Google Mapping Products WORKSHOP Jeff Blossom, Senior GIS Specialist Center for Geographic Analysis Harvard University gis.harvard.edu March 14, 2014

  2. Workshop objectives and flow Objectives: 1)In 2 hour, hands on, interactive session, learn about Google’s free free mapping products 2) Practice using MyMaps, Earth, Fusion Tables, and Mash-ups (the Google API) 3) Learn how and when to apply these different mapping technologies Workshop flow: • Introduce a technology, demonstrate, everyone practice. Repeat x 4

  3. What is a Google Map?Maps.google.com - interactive street, satellite, terrain maps and more.

  4. Google Maps Exercise • Open Google Chrome • Start > All Programs > Google Chrome > Google Chrome • 2) Download the exercise by going to: • maps.cga.harvard.edu/gw • 3) Click on the GmapsExercise.pdf file to download and open.

  5. Google Maps API Coordinate System NotationGeographic Decimal Degrees Values of latitude (south to north range from -90 to 90)and longitude (west to east range from -180 to 180) A pair of latitude, longitude values represent a discreet spot on Earth. 90.0 45.0 0.0 -180.0 180.0 -90.0 90.0 0.0 -45.0 -90.0

  6. Google Maps, Earth, Fusion Tables, and MashupsDifferences and similarities • Google Maps Engine Lite • A free web application (no software installation necessary) • 2 dimensional map view, with street, satellite, terrain basemaps • Data creation possible (points, lines, polygons), reads limited kml. • A selected set of map overlays and functions available. • Specific maps can be saved and shared easily on the web. • Google Earth • A free desktop application (downloading and installation necessary). • 3 dimensional map view with satellite basemap, many map overlay layers, and a rich set of visualization tools. • Data creation possible (points, lines, polygons). • Complex kml creation is possible. • Google Fusion Tables • A free service allowing one to upload LOTS of tabular / spreadsheet data, and map it. • Google Maps Mashups • A free service allowing one to embed a Google Map into a web page. • 2 dimensional map view, with street, satellite, terrain basemaps. • Highly customizable to include everything in MyMaps and more. • Customization requires using javascript and HTML. • Requires access to a web-server to publish to the web.

  7. Google Maps, Earth, Fusion Tables, and MashupsWhich one to use? • Google Maps (Engine) • Locating, measuring, or learning about the geography of a place. • If you want to share a map. • Communicate geographic information quickly. • Google Earth • Visualizing terrain, 3d buildings, historical imagery, and access to many thematic map layers. • Virtual tour creation (movies) • Small amounts of data collection, geocoding, and image geo-referencing. • Google Fusion Tables • To map lots of tabular data, and allow others to load to the same table. • To make a quick thematic map • To link your data to other tables of information. • Google Maps Mashups • Used to embed a map into a new or existing website. • Create interactive web maps for your users.

  8. Conclusion Google mapping products are free, and contain an incredible amount of information with creative, intuitive ways to access and use it.Use Google mapping products to communicate geographically!! Contact info: jblossom@cga.harvard.edu or contact@cga.harvard.eduCGA Website: http://gis.harvard.eduCourse exercise: http://maps.cga.harvard.edu/gw Credits: This presentation includes material and information from maps.google.com and wikipedia.org

  9. What is Google Maps - summary • A web mapping service, free for non-commercial use that contains: • Detailed global basemaps: streets, satellite imagery, and terrain. • Useful services such as address and place locating by searching against an information rich gazetteer. • Ability to overlay a wide variety of map layers, (weather, traffic) from static or dynamic sources. • Map feature customization is possible by logging in and using My Places and Maps. • An API that allows for embedding and extensive customization.

  10. Application Programming Interface (API) • API - An interface to a software program that allows users to interact and customize it. • Determines the vocabulary and calling conventions a programmer uses to employ the software services. • Usually based on an existing programming languages (C, .NET, VisualBasic, Java, javascript) • Many desktop and web software applications have API’s • Google Maps API uses javascript

  11. Google Maps API • Allows embedding of a Google map into one’s own web page using javascript. • Free to use, on any website that is provided free of charge to others. • Relatively gentle learning curve. • Highly customizable and easily transferrable. • Evolving - new functionality consistently being added.

  12. What is a Mashup • A web page or application that combines data or functionality from two or more external sources to create a new service. Therefore: MyWebPage + Google Map = mashup Even better: MyWebPage + Google Map + Other web service(s)

  13. Google Map mashups examples: embeddable and customizable

  14. Markup languages and javascript • Markup languages – • Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML), Extensible Markup Language (XML), Keyhole Markup Language (KML), and many more… • Text encoding schemes used to create and format a web document. • Use tags contained within brackets <> to define formatting that web browsers read. • Markup language code sample: • <html> • <body> • <p><b>This a new paragraph of text that is bold</b></p> • <p><big>This text is new paragraph of text that is big</big></p> • <i>This text is italic</i> • </body> • </html>

  15. Markup languages and javascript • Markup language code sample: • <html> • <body> • <p><b>This a new paragraph of text that is bold</b></p> • <p><big>This text is new paragraph of text that is big</big></p> • <i>This text is italic</i> • </body> • </html> • Rendered in a web browser:

  16. Javascript • Javascript: A programming language used primarily in web browsers. • Uses variables, loops, and functions to generate output on the web. • Allows for the development of enhanced user interfaces and dynamic websites. • Javascript code sample(Adds a placemark on a Google map) • function createMarker(point,html) { • var marker = new GMarker(point); • GEvent.addListener(marker, "click", function() { marker.openInfoWindowHtml(html); }); • return marker; } • var point = new GLatLng(35.6,-106.8); • var marker = createMarker(point,’<b>Info in Window</b>’); • gmap.addOverlay(marker);

  17. Axioms to follow for fledgling Google Mashup mappers • If MyMaps or an existing mashup can be used to accomplish your web mapping goal, use it. • In your internet browser, use “View > Page Source” to learn what code is used to produce a specific website. • When coding, pay attention to every character. • Comment your code thoroughly. • Organize, document, and backup your maps and data. • Other web map mashup API’s exist (Yahoo!, Microsoft, OpenLayers). If Google’s API doesn’t serve your needs, explore the others.

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