[udig-devel] Integrate Google maps with Udig

[Eric Jarvies]

no, unfortunately it is not yet possible.  this has been on my wish- 
list for some time now, but i've not seen any other interest expressed  
about it on this list(until you).  the main reason why i need it, is  
because google maps(et, al) are off by as much as 5 meters in some  
places.  this means my maps, like roads, end up in the middle of  
properties and houses on the google maps, and vice versa.  and so, it  
would be nice to overlay my maps, adjust them to the google(et, al)  
maps, and then generate google-specific versions, and voila! problems  
solved.  another important aspect is when using google maps to capture  
data input, is if you have user input, wherein a user zooms in on a  
property and selects/placemarks it as theirs, and then enters their  
name, tel#, etc., the resulting coordinates are incorrect for that  
record when placed atop my maps, or imported into one of my maps,  
hence that needs to be geo-corrected.

and of course, there is the benefit of tracing.  the ability to place  
a google, yahoo, ms, etc. map below one's layers, and use it for the  
purposes of tracing atop it in a vector layer... that in itself is a  
wonderful capability.

i have been speaking with programmers familiar with building eclipse  
plugins, and so hopefully something will come of it sooner then  
later.   basically, the plugin allows the user to select google,  
yahoo, microsoft, mapquest, openstreetmaps, etc., after which the  
respective map site loads as the background layer.  the plugin takes  
the existing layer's coordinates, and essentially loads the respective  
browser-based map view according to those coordinates.  then, the  
layer-set essentially has to adopt the coordinates and zoom levels of  
the respective browser-based maps for the term of the edit, or as long  
as the user has that google background map loaded.   of course, it  
would be nice if the plugin kept track of adjustments per coordinate  
quadrant, so the user could load new/different maps, and adjust them  
to the google map with a push of the button, essentially making a copy  
of the user map, with the incorrect coordinates, so it essentially  
matches the google maps, and should apply to shapefiles and postgresql/ 
postgis layers alike.

also working on an address book importer/exporter plugin.  this will  
allow the user to import contacts from an os x or outlook address  
book(or an vcf file), as well as export them to os x / outlook address  
book.  the user may import to a new vector map, or to an existing user  
map.  if the address book has contacts that have lat/long fields, then  
those will be auto-placed onto the map as points.  for all the entries  
in the address book that do not have lat/long coordinates, then those  
all default to the xmin/ymin of the layer's existing coordinates.  of  
course, the user can then enter correct coords per record as s/he  
obtains them, or as they are input by the user via a public site.   
also having the ability to set decorations for the records/points,  
showing a person icon for personal contacts, and a building icon for  
business contacts(or whatever).  this uses the column in the vcf table  
that denotes the record type, providing that is possible within uDig.   
if not, then that will be to be addressed.  i have not found a way in  
udig to decorate points, much less apply multiple decorations to one  
point map.

third plugin is a timeline.  to simply be able to slide the timeline  
back into the past, or back into the present, and to view the records  
that existed at any of those points in time, like how property was  
divided, or if there was construction of a given property at a given  
time, etc.

eric






On Apr 2, 2008, at 3:33 AM, Rober Castro wrote:
> Hello
>
> I'm working with Udig and now I have a problem, I would like to  
> integrate
> Google maps with Udig, using them like a background layer for my own  
> maps. I
> was wondering if it is possible? I would appreciate so much if you  
> can give
> some advice or give me any ideas to make a start.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Roberto
>
> _______________________________________________
> User-friendly Desktop Internet GIS (uDig)
> http://udig.refractions.net
> http://lists.refractions.net/mailman/listinfo/udig-devel

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