ShapeWiki: a collaborative shape repository
Apr 21 by
Andre
http://shapewiki.com is a an open repository for shapes you can use on Google Maps. It includes a point-and-click editor for creating new shapes, and is backed by a tagged, searchable database so you can find shapes made by others.
There are three export formats:
- JSON-- essentially an array of latitude/longitude pairs with some additional metadata
- JavaScript -- the same JSON array, but with some associated JS to easily allow you to add a GPolygon to your map
- XML
Potential future enhancements include: export as encoded polylines, and import from a variety of formats.
When you try out creating a shape, notice the reference image section on the right-hand side. Enter a URL there to pin an image to the map so you can trace neighborhoods, etc. Here's an image of the neighborhoods in San Francisco: http://real-estate-us.com/images/SanFranciscoNeighbourhoodsCA.gif
Comments
John-Scott Atlakson on Apr 21
Looks like an interesting and potentially useful site. If you're interested, I have already converted Mark McClure's (see http://facstaff.unca.edu/mcmcclur/GoogleMaps/EncodePolyline/) original polyline encoder from javascript to Ruby (see http://blog.portable-eggplant.org/2007/02/13/ruby-polyline-encoder-for-google-maps/). McClure has since changed the algorithm to use the Douglas-Peucker algorithm for polyline simplification, but I haven't tried to implement this new algorithm in Ruby. Also, I've also converted all the state/county/census tract boundaries (using boundary data from US Census) into encoded polygons, but these polygons are at full resolution.
Andrew Turner on May 09
Very neat - similar to Mapygon (http://mapygon.com) but in this case you can actually get the data back out. :)
I've added John-Scott Atlakson's Ruby encoder code to the YM4R Rails plugin. It's definitely very nice for doing drawing on GoogleMaps.
What about outputting GeoRSS of new items or based on searches (give me polygons that are added within a bounding box area?)
Andre Lewis on May 10
Thanks for the feedback . . .
@John-Scott -- I plan on incorporating encoded polylines, so I'll be getting in touch with you.
@Andrew -- It now imports and exports GeoRSS. In fact I'm going to put a post up on this soon.
Stephan on May 22
Very nice implementation.
Are you sure that your service is compliant with Google's terms of use? You wisely took out the photographic images, but what about digitizing based on the TeleAtlas data and converting this derivative to a Creative Commons license? See http://www.google.com/intl/en_ALL/help/terms_local.html.