There are some very clever mapping folk about. Here are 4 different representations of the Walk2012 route as it currently stands. I think the only area likely to change now is the route across the New Forest.
Please have a play with them and give me your views as to which ones you like or don’t like.
I’d like to add photos, campsites, B&Bs, points and pints of interest, etc, so that we get a really rich view of the walk. I don’t want to do it on multiple sites so I think I am probably just going to pick one and stick with it. I will of course make the data freely available so if anyone wants to do anything clever (or daft!) with it, then they can.
First up are the lovely people at SocialHiking. If you haven’t come across them then you are missing out! Their website is here and you can follow them on twitter @socialhiking.
Next is the Google Maps view of things. The route on here is not as accurate because their maps don’t show the footpaths so I had to guess in a few places.
View Walk2012 – the Games Way in a larger map
Thirdly, the veritable Ordnance Survey and their Getamap offering. I couldn’t find an elegant way of embedding the map on their site so I’ve just stuck it below. Like SocialHiking’s version there is more info available if you click the View Full Map link.
There is a fourth version which my friend Curly is working on for mobile phones. If you have an Android phone and are happy taking the risk of installing an early work in progress version of the app, then you can ask me for a copy. I think it’s looking really good and I love that you can see the position of any registered walker and link through to campsites etc.
So folks, over to you -please have a play with them and let me know what you like. Cheers!
There’s some more information on the Android application here -> http://softwyer.wordpress.com/2011/06/03/mapcial-and-walk-2012/
V0.4 of Mapcial is out.
New features around mesaging and some general UI improvements .
More details here -> http://softwyer.wordpress.com/2011/06/08/mapcial-walk2012-update-1/
Mark, I’d say the google one looks best – its giving us more info then the others (is this because curly is updating this one?). Though i agree the lack of footpaths on google’s offering is a major pain.
I couldn’t see the veritable Ordnance Survey and their Getamap offering, as browser said i needed a plugin running in 32-bt mode.
@Joe
Yup, I’ve been embellishing Mark’s route with info, mainly to see how much can be displayed in the Walk2012 Android app. There’s a comparison of screens here -> http://softwyer.wordpress.com/2011/06/09/mapcial-update-2/
Google has recently improved their integration of Maps with mobile devices. You can view the exact same Walk2012 Map in the native browsers on your phone. It’s a little bit clunky, compared to the native app I’ve written, but could be used by iPhone users for whom there is no alternative.
One has to wonder why the OS went with a mapping solution that relies on the poorly supported browser plugin Silverlight? With Apple firmly rejecting Flash, there’s no chance of Silverlight getting into iPhone so the OS have restricted their implementation choice, regardless of their undisputed map superiority, firmly to some Desktop browser users. This is useless if you’re ‘in the field’.
Thanks Joe,
The OS thing is very annoying – bad choice of technology. Real pity in my view. One of the great things about social hiking is that it uses the OS maps so it must be possible to duck the silverlight issue.
It’s great to see people playing with the walk2012 app too
Do you know if google can import gpx data? If it can then I may be able to export the data from OS and import it into google, sidestepping the lack of footpath problem.
Cheers, Mark