Just thought I'd throw in a little more weight to the Google Maps camp.
We fairly recently launched a map displaying Kew's global work - see http://www.kew.org/science-conservation/index.htm
Still some way to go in terms of data, but try clicking on something like the Africa region marker and then 'Zoom into region' (or just go to http://www.kew.org/science-conservation/index.htm?lat=4.214943141390651&lng=24.9609375&zoom=3)
This was all custom developed, both in terms of user interface and back-end contribution through our CMS, but it doesn't have to be too elaborate.
A few headline comments (more generally about Google Maps rather than specifically our one):
- using different functionality and markers at different zoom levels can give a rich user experience
- you can basically put what you like into callouts and tabs, so be creative!
- it's not too hard to create quite a customised look and feel
- watch out for presenting users with excessive data downloads
- like Mike's great example, look at tools that you can use to make contributor experience more streamlined (I've used a Wordpress plug-in which is also really neat for this)
James
----------------------------------------------------------------------
James Morley [log in to unmask]
Website Manager Tel. +44 (0)20 8332 5759
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew www.kew.org
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
> Behalf Of Mike Ellis
> Sent: Monday, June 21, 2010 10:06 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Maps etc
>
> Hi Fiona
>
> I just blogged about creating maps using Dropbox which is
> nice because it requires minimal expertise from the person
> editing the content:
>
> http://labs.eduserv.org.uk/blog/2010/06/using-dropbox-as-a-dat
a-source/
>
> May or may not be of interest. Happy to help out off-list if
> you want to drop me a line.
>
> Thanks
>
> Mike
>
>
>
> Mike Ellis
> Research & Innovation Group
> eduserv
> t: 01225 470522
> m: 07017 031 522
> twitter: @m1ke_ellis
>
> www.eduserv.org.uk
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
> Behalf Of Fiona Marshall
> Sent: 17 June 2010 19:20
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Maps etc
>
> Hello all. I'm helping a small rural industrial museum
> create a spec for a small web development. ('Small' as in
> budget, anyway.) They want to create an 'interactive map'
> that helps people to understand the extent of the original
> site and the location of key features - probably with a then
> and now thing going on and, if possible, some oral history
> clips. Google maps Satellite view shows ghostly traces of
> much of the original workings of the site - now mostly
> invisible on foot.
>
>
>
> I know about Powerhouse Museum/Paul Hagon's street view mash
> up
> (http://www.paulhagon.com/blog/2008/08/19/powerhouse-street-vi
ew-mashup/),
> but can anyone recommend any other map based interfaces that
> might be a good model? There must be some good things linked
> to archaeological sites out there, but not being an archaeologist...
>
> Thanks for your help.
>
> Fiona
>
>
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