St John Villas- Google Maps collaboration?

[sherban]

Hello All- While preparing for our April trip, I have been experimenting with Google Maps instead of my regular, Google Earth. I had recently seen a couple people use Google Maps (thanks Margy)and I liked the results because it is more consumable and user friendly for the general public.

They have a feature called collaborate that I would like to try with a few people on the forum here. I'm not sure how it works but I think it allows anyone on the collaboration list to edit the map. All I need is your email address and I can add you as a collaborator.

Pls let me know if you are interested in trying it out, no commitment required, just a fun thing to try and see what we can learn about the tool...
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie ... 2&t=h&z=14
Thanks-
Sherb

[Anthony]

Sherban we are actually working on this to have as a feature of an updated version of this website. I am planning on mapping as many villas as possible, and was going to make a post similar to yours asking for help. I am struggling a bit with how to present the map - as one big one, or to have several by area, etc. I have been doing some research with Google maps and the API. The simple "My Maps" is good - but you quickly run into the limitations of it. I have a list of about 500 villas now I think. If I make this a public Google doc, would people be willing to collaborate on it? With the API, you can make a spreadsheet, with a lot more information (pictures, links, etc.) and then the map is much more useful also...

Let me know what you think and let's hear from other people -

Ideally we wanted to work this into our reviews - so each villa on the map would have a small image, and then link to a page on the site where you get a blur about the villa, etc. and the review form.

[sherban]

Sounds like a good idea Anthony, I'm looking forward to seeing it. I was thinking that these maps would be valuable tools on forume since alot of questions are ..."where is..."

A similar concept I have seen in action is Wikimapia, there are a group of people who have used this alot for Aruba.

Cheers

[sherban]

A few people PM'd me and sent me their emails, they are now collaborators and we are experimenting with the community editing idea.

All- Please send me your email address if you want to experiment with the map collaboration idea.

Anthony- I was wondering if it might be productive to start with a smaller project scope...like a map of restaurants on STJ, just because there are sooo many villas and not many restaurants. In addition to the villas map, I also put togeteher the attached maps with help from this forum over the past 2-3 years...you are certainly welcome to use them any way you want to...

STJ Eats and drinks map-
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie ... 5&t=h&z=14
STJ Beaches Map--
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie ... 3&t=h&z=14
STJ Ruins-
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie ... 0&t=h&z=14
Peace.

[sherban]

FYI from Google----
Collaborating with others
Once you have created a map, you can invite individuals or anyone to collaborate on editing your map. To do this:

Create or edit a map.
Click Collaborate in the left panel. A dialog box appears.
Enter or choose the following:
Invite persons as collaborators - Enter the email address(s) of anyone you want to collaborate on your map.
Message - Type the message you want to appear in the invitation to your collaborators
Collaborators may invite others - Check this to allow your collaborators to allow other collaborators
Allow anyone to edit this map - Check this to enable any Google Maps users to edit your map
Collaborators - You can remove any or all collaborators
Click OK. Google Maps sends an invitation to any collaborators you specified.

Sharing maps
Once you have created a map, you can share it with others. To do this:

Open the map you want to share.
Click Link to this page in the top right corner of the orange title bar. This puts the map's URL in your browser navigation bar.
You can share this URL with your friends by sending it in an email or posting it on your blog or website.
You can also click Email in the top right corner of the orange title bar to open your default email software or service with the map URL in the email body.

[tralei714]

Does anyone know where Jazz Villa is on the map? Thanks

[Jimm]

I believe I have the correct location for Jazz Villa on my Google Earth.

[Steve S]

Sign me up Sherby.

[sherban]

Sign me up Sherby.

Ok, will add new collaborators later today.

Thanks all...

[Anthony]

This is definitely coming soon! Real soon - hopefully by tomorrow (there will at least be something to work on).

Sherban I like the idea of starting with restaurants... either that, or just an area. With the thing I was working on for months last year there (never launched it!) was a problem with the number of villas and how to sort/search them. I was trying to use "tags" and then let people sort by tags, but never got it fully finished.

Anyway - I need to check out your links and also show you my idea - where it was leading to anyway. I think I could get a quick and version of Cruz Day Dining up in no time and we can see where/how it goes from there.

Anthony

[Jimm]

Sherban,

It looks like many of the markers are off to the left. I think this happened when Google updated the map image. On my Google Earth I had to correct all my push pins to match the correct villa. I believe a couple years ago I worked with you adding more villas to your Google Earth map, so I think we have similar ones marked. I believe I sent you my .kmz file back then. Since then I have corrected the push pin shift and have added probably another 100 villas. I have about 220 villas marked. I am happy to re-send the .kmz file.

[sherban]

Sherban,
It looks like many of the markers are off to the left. I think this happened when Google updated the map image. On my Google Earth I had to correct all my push pins to match the correct villa. I believe a couple years ago I worked with you adding more villas to your Google Earth map, so I think we have similar ones marked. I believe I sent you my .kmz file back then. Since then I have corrected the push pin shift and have added probably another 100 villas. I have about 220 villas marked. I am happy to re-send the .kmz file.

Jimm- Yeah you are correct....I never compensated for that Google Earth shift, the challenge is that other stuff has probably been added which will get blown away if we do a wholesale upload/replace KMZ but that may be best at this point because it looks like you have done some great work. I'll PM you my email.

[sherban]

Sherban I like the idea of starting with restaurants... either that, or just an area. With the thing I was working on for months last year there (never launched it!) was a problem with the number of villas and how to sort/search them. I was trying to use "tags" and then let people sort by tags, but never got it fully finished.

I think I could get a quick and version of Cruz Day Dining up in no time and we can see where/how it goes from there.

Anthony

Sounds great, I would love to see this stuff transfer over to the forum / website somehow. It belongs with you and your forum, just not sure how that will work in practice...I can send you my cell phone number if we need to talk...

I see other people on the "other forum" gettiung intersted in my STT map too....very cool...

[mahojim]

Sherb-
Cool!
Can you find Just Enough & New Moon villas for me?
I'm so not good at this computer stuff!
They're over Coral Bay.
Smiles-
MJ

[Jimm]

I have those two villas mapped, but I am not 100% sure on it. I know I have the correct area, but I'm not sure if I have the correct two.