Hacking Google Maps and Google Earth

by Brown, Martin C.

• ISBN13: 9780471790099
• ISBN10: 0471790095
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-07-24
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

This one-of-a-kind resource contains 500 pages of jaw-dropping hacks, mods, and customizations. These include creating mashups with data from other sources such as Flickr, building a space station tracker, hacking Maps with Firefox PiggyBank, and building a complete community site with Maps and Earth. Now you can map out locations, get driving directions, zoom into any point on the globe, display real time traffic, and much more.

Author Biography

Martin "MC" Brown is the author of numerous computer books and a devoted mapping geek. He's a regular contributor to ServerWatch.com and IBM developerWorks, and he is currently a member of the MySQL Documentation Team. His expertise spans multiple platforms and development languages.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	xix
Introduction	xxi
Part I: Basics	1	(92)
Chapter 1: Using Geographical Information	3	(10)
Understanding Your Location	3	(3)
Mapping a Location	3	(1)
Defining a Location	4	(2)
Moving to Another Location	6	(1)
Thinking in Terms of Geographical Location	6	(5)
To Find Places	6	(1)
To Identify Photo Subjects	7	(2)
To Understand Statistical Data	9	(1)
To Generate Data from Maps	10	(1)
Wrapping Up	11	(2)
Chapter 2: The Google Local Interface	13	(22)
System Requirements	13	(1)
Examining the Main Interface	14	(1)
Interacting with the Map	15	(13)
Moving the Map	15	(1)
Zooming In and Out	15	(10)
Changing the View Types	25	(3)
Conducting Searches	28	(2)
Understanding Markers	30	(3)
Markers	31	(1)
Pop-ups	31	(1)
Links	32	(1)
Overlays	32	(1)
Wrapping Up	33	(2)
Chapter 3: The Google Maps API	35	(18)
Using the API Key	35	(2)
Browser Compatibility	37	(1)
Basic Components of a Google Maps Application	37	(3)
XHTML (Extensible HTML)	37	(1)
VML (Vector Markup Language)	38	(1)
Styles and Elements	39	(1)
XML (Extensible Markup Language)	39	(1)
JavaScript	40	(1)
Understanding API Terminology	40	(2)
Overlays	41	(1)
Events	41	(1)
Information Windows	41	(1)
Controls	42	(1)
The Google Maps Classes	42	(10)
GMap	42	(4)
GMarker	46	(1)
GPolyline	47	(1)
Glcon	48	(1)
GEvent	49	(1)
GXmlHttp	50	(1)
GXm1	50	(1)
GXslt	51	(1)
GPoint	51	(1)
GSize	51	(1)
GB ounds	52	(1)
Wrapping Up	52	(1)
Chapter 4: The Google Web API	53	(12)
Downloading the Google Web API	53	(1)
Using the Google Web API	54	(10)
Conducting Searches	55	(5)
Comparing Language Samples	60	(4)
Wrapping Up	64	(1)
Chapter 5: Storing and Sharing Information	65	(28)
Format Types and Uses	65	(2)
Using Flat-Text Files	66	(1)
Using XML	66	(1)
Using an RDBMS	67	(1)
Parsing and Generating Text Files	67	(6)
Reading Delimited Files	68	(1)
Writing Delimited Files	69	(1)
Reading Fixed-Width Files	70	(2)
Writing Fixed-Width Files	72	(1)
Updating Text Files	72	(1)
Generating and Parsing XML	73	(9)
Generating XML	74	(3)
Parsing XML with Perl	77	(2)
Parsing XML with JavaScript	79	(3)
Working with SQL	82	(10)
Creating a Database Structure	83	(1)
Interfacing to the Database	84	(3)
Populating the Database	87	(2)
Extracting Data from the Database	89	(3)
Wrapping Up	92	(1)
Part II: Instant Gratification	93	(50)
Chapter 6: Working with Existing Address Information	95	(8)
Looking Up Geocode Information	95	(1)
Looking Up U.S. Information	96	(1)
Looking Up Global Information	97	(5)
Wrapping Up	102	(1)
Chapter 7: Extending the Google API Examples	103	(30)
Installing a Simple Example	103	(3)
Adding Controls to the Map	106	(3)
Moving about a Map	109	(2)
Adding Overlays	111	(9)
Adding a Single Marker	111	(1)
Adding Multiple Markers	112	(3)
Adding Lines	115	(5)
Opening an Info Window	120	(3)
Event Listeners	123	(8)
Monitoring Movement	123	(2)
Adding Markers to Multiple Maps	125	(3)
Monitoring Location	128	(3)
Wrapping Up	131	(2)
Chapter 8: Discovering Overlays and Mash-ups	133	(10)
Traffic Solutions	133	(4)
Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) Map	133	(2)
Toronto Traffic Cameras	135	(1)
U.K. Speed Cameras	136	(1)
Trackers and Locators	137	(5)
Hurricanes	137	(2)
Satellites	139	(1)
Blackbirds	139	(3)
Wrapping Up	142	(1)
Part III: Google Maps hacks	143	(148)
Chapter 9: Using Overlays	145	(36)
Building in Multiple Points	145	(12)
Extending the Source HTML	145	(3)
Making the Generation Dynamic with a Script	148	(9)
Pulling the Data from a Database	157	(4)
Creating a Suitable Database Structure	157	(2)
Generating XML from that Information	159	(2)
Extending the Information Pane	161	(6)
Formatting Information Panes	161	(2)
Creating More Detailed Windows from XML and XSLT	163	(4)
Making Your Example Truly Dynamic	167	(12)
Dividing the Application into Components	168	(1)
The JavaScript Component	169	(5)
Generating the XML on the Backend	174	(2)
Using the New Map	176	(1)
Extending the Content	177	(2)
Wrapping Up	179	(2)
Chapter 10: Overlaying Statistical Data	181	(26)
Generating/Obtaining Statistical Information	181	(3)
The U.S. Census Data	182	(1)
Converting the Source Data to XML	182	(2)
Using Polylines	184	(13)
Basic Point Map	184	(4)
Building an Internal Data Representation	188	(1)
Adding a Bar Graph	189	(3)
Adding a Circle	192	(2)
Plotting Multiple Data Sets	194	(3)
Using Custom Icons	197	(8)
Building Your Own Icon	197	(5)
Putting the Icon on a Map	202	(1)
Using Icon Size to Represent Data	203	(2)
Wrapping Up	205	(2)
Chapter 11: Building a Community Site	207	(20)
Displaying Highlighted Points	207	(1)
Adding More Data to the Output	208	(5)
Storing and Creating the Data	209	(2)
Backend Database Interface	211	(2)
Using Custom Icons to Highlight Different Attractions	213	(2)
Filtering Data through Layers of Information	215	(10)
HTML Preamble	215	(1)
Global Objects	215	(1)
Entity Object	216	(1)
Initial Function	216	(1)
Loading a List of Types	217	(1)
Moving the Map	217	(1)
Removing Existing Markers	218	(1)
Adding Markers	218	(1)
Loading Markers for a Type	219	(1)
Recentering the Map	220	(1)
Closing HTML	221	(1)
Final Application	222	(3)
Wrapping Up	225	(2)
Chapter 12: The Realtors and Archaeologists Toolkit	227	(24)
Alternative Markers	227	(12)
The TLabel Extension	228	(4)
Building a TLabel Application	232	(7)
Overlaying Images and Drawings	239	(5)
The TPhoto Extension	239	(1)
Using TPhoto Overlays	240	(4)
Identifying Elements from Click Locations	244	(4)
Creating a Unique Map Object	244	(1)
Registering the Objects on the Map	245	(1)
Identifying the Click Location	246	(1)
Resetting the Map Location	246	(1)
Resetting the Object Opacity	247	(1)
Final Overlay Application	247	(1)
Wrapping Up	248	(3)
Chapter 13: I Need to Get To...	251	(28)
Front-End Interface	251	(14)
HTML Wrapper	252	(2)
Global Variables	254	(1)
Enabling the Route Recording Process	254	(1)
Disabling the Route Recording Process	255	(1)
Clearing the Last Point	256	(1)
Clearing the Current Route	256	(1)
Initializing a New Route	256	(1)
Deleting a Route	257	(1)
Saving a Route	258	(1)
Loading a List of Routes	259	(2)
Loading a Single Route	261	(3)
Adding Markers	264	(1)
Initializing the Application	264	(1)
Recentering and Zooming the Map	265	(1)
Backend Database Interface	265	(7)
Database Structure	266	(1)
Basic Wrapper	266	(1)
Message Response	267	(1)
Listing Existing Routes	267	(1)
Saving a Route	268	(1)
Deleting an Existing Route	269	(1)
Obtaining a Single Route	270	(1)
Calculating Distance	271	(1)
Using the Application	272	(5)
Wrapping Up	277	(2)
Chapter 14: Merging with Flickr Photos	279	(12)
Flickr and the Flickr API	279	(2)
The Flickr API	279	(1)
Getting a Flickr API Key	280	(1)
Adding Geographic Data to Your Flicks Photos	280	(1)
Adding Flickr Photos to a Google Map	281	(9)
A Flickr Proxy	281	(1)
Searching Flick- for Photos	282	(2)
Getting Individual Photo Data	284	(6)
Wrapping Up	290	(1)
Part IV: Google Earth Hacks	291	(54)
Chapter 15: Introducing Google Earth	293	(16)
Google Earth Overview	293	(11)
Obtaining the Application	294	(1)
Google Earth Features	294	(10)
Extending Google Earth Information	304	(4)
Exporting Your Tags	305	(1)
Basic KML Principles	306	(2)
Wrapping Up	308	(1)
Chapter 16: Generating Google Earth Feeds	309	(18)
Showing Points	309	(1)
Generating KML from Existing Data	310	(5)
Generating KML Dynamically	315	(6)
Adding Icons	321	(4)
Wrapping Up	325	(2)
Chapter 17: History and Planning with Google Earth	327	(18)
Location Photos	327	(9)
Using a Photo for a Placemark	327	(2)
Scaling the Icon	329	(1)
Setting a View	330	(1)
Adding Detail to a Placemark	331	(1)
Final KML	331	(3)
Generating the Information in Google Earth	334	(2)
Generating a KMZ File	336	(1)
Revisiting the Realtor's Toolkit	337	(6)
Using an Overlay	337	(2)
Creating a 3D Structure	339	(4)
Wrapping Up	343	(2)
Appendix: Resources	345	(6)
Google Resources	345	(2)
Google Maps API	346	(1)
Google Maps API Documentation	346	(1)
Google Maps API Help	346	(1)
Google Web API	346	(1)
Google Maps Groups	346	(1)
Information Sources	347	(1)
Google Maps Mania	347	(1)
Maplandia.com	347	(1)
Google Maps on Wikipedia	347	(1)
Google Sightseeing	347	(1)
Geocoders	347	(1)
MGeocoder	348	(1)
Geocode America	348	(1)
Geocoder	348	(1)
Google Maps Tools	348	(1)
gMap it!	348	(1)
Mobile GMaps	348	(1)
MapBuilder	348	(1)
MapKi	349	(1)
Competitors and Alternatives	349	(2)
MapQuest	349	(1)
Virtual Earth	349	(1)
Yahoo! Maps	349	(1)
A9 Maps	349	(1)
Multimap.com	350	(1)
Map24	350	(1)
Index	351