Converting GPS Degree Format to Decimal for Google Maps API
One of the coolest free services of Google is the Google Code with lots of free APIs to play with. Recently, I was working on a web project which requires me to plot some points of LatLong (Latitude and Longitude, GPS) on Google Map and as the Google Maps API provided, it only accepts GPS or LatLong coordinates in a decimal format like 10.741658, 119.338733.
When I attended the Google DevFest Manila last July 6, 2010, I asked the speaker during the Q&A portion about the LatLong issue I have because the available GPS data we have is on a degree format like 10° 44′ 29.97″ N, 119° 20′ 19.44″ E. I asked if Google Maps API only accepts decimal format for LatLong (GPS) and he replied YES. So I followed up and asked if the API has this built-in function that converts it to degree format GPS to decimal format GPS. Like for instance, we have this 10° 44′ 29.97″ N, 119° 20′ 19.44″ E to 10.741658, 119.338733. The speaker said the API does not support it yet and suggested to get some third party function to do the conversion. Read more…
Travelogue: Map of Places I Visited Using Google Maps
Been playing with Google Maps lately, so I mapped the places I visited (with the blue markers.) All are places in the Philippines, no overseas yet… perhaps soon. Here’s my travelogue map:
View My Travelogue in a larger map
Cebu Precinct Mapping Party
Ederts, a fellow GTUG member here in Cebu, invited me to join the Cebu Precinct Mapping Party yesterday, May 3, 2010, at their office for the Google’s Find Your Precinct – 2010 Election Project. This project is basically a collaborative effort from volunteer Google mappers across the country aiming to help Filipino voters to locate their voting centers. Here’s a detailed post by Aileen Apolo – de Jesus for this project – Google Find Your Precinct (and Help by Mapping Too!).
Trying out Google Map Maker
The trend in web technology is just awesome. Now, you can even map your community or city online and make it visible to the rest of the world. With Google Map Maker, you can label cities, roads, establishments, etc. in just few clicks. It also allows to collaborate with others who might want to help you with your mapping.
The above photo is the screenshot of my community. I created a polygon shape that covers the area of my barangay and labeled it as seen in the pop-up balloon.
Google Map Maker tool is easy to use. All you need to do is login with your Google Account and locate the place you want to map. There’s a set of tools located above your map which you can use: point, line and shape. Just click on it and select a feature you want to add to your map, like the coffee shop you usually hang-out with your friends. Read more…
Hi! I am Jerome Locson from Zamboanga City, Philippines. I am programmer, web developer and designer, technopreneur, and blogger. I blog about technology, foods and my travel. Thank you for visiting!
