Customizing Web Content Using Google Maps

Kay Benjamin & Nancy Cannon LiSUG

October 10, 2008 Utica, NY

Today’s agenda

• An overview of the things you can do with Google Maps

• Examples of library applications• Demo of creating a Google Map the simple

way

What are Google Maps?

• Get directions• Map view• Satellite view• Terrain view• Maps with “things” on them – restaurants,

bookstores, libraries…

Google Maps are used as a basis for many “mashups”

The concept of mashups

“A web application that combines data from more than one source into a single integrated tool” – Wikipedia

If you dig straight through the earth from Utica, will you end up in China, like your mother told you?

No. You were lied to. How do I know?

I checked it out on “If You Dig Straight Down.” It’s a Google map mashup!

Map + real estate info =Zillow

http://www.gnocdc.org/repopulation/

http://capstat.oca.dc.gov/mapping/

Applications of mashups at your library Applications of mashups at your library

Google maps & historical data –Google maps & historical data – the story of Lucy Ann Lobdell the story of Lucy Ann Lobdell

Another example of local history data Another example of local history data merged with Google Mapsmerged with Google Maps

Google Earth viewGoogle Earth view

Google Earth detailGoogle Earth detail

Creating a Your Own Google Maps --

it’s easier than you think…

Google maps – how to do it• Create a free Gmail account at

http://mail.google.com/mail/ • Go to Google Maps, log in with your Gmail

username, select My Maps• Select Create a new Map• Options include features such as place marks

with photos, text, hyperlinks, videos; drawing shapes and lines; overlaying other maps

• Google maps can be published for the world to view since a unique URL is created

Google Maps: My Maps demo

Click on the tab for “My Maps”

Google Maps Resources

Google Maps Mania (blog) http://googlemapsmania.blogspot.com/

My Maps - Google Maps User Guidehttp://local.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=68480

Creating Google Maps – videohttp://maps.google.com/help/maps/mymaps/create.html

Questions?

• Contact us:– Nancy Cannon at cannonns@oneonta.edu– Kay Benjamin at benjamkd@oneonta.edu

• Access this presentation at: http://www.oneonta.edu/library/kb/googlemaps.pptx

ORhttp://www.oneonta.edu/library/kb/googlemaps.ppt