Jakebrooks mapplan

Adding mapping to hampedia
This page describes the ongoing process of adding mapping functionality to hampedia with semantic layers. Please feel free to edit this page- add any future ideas you have, and if you have suggestions for problems, add them as bullets

View the test/example map

 * go here: http://s89238293.onlinehome.us/w/index.php?title=Layer:Hc_buildings
 * if the map doesn't show up, click this plus sign on the right side, and select the google layer.
 * to try adding a building go here: http://s89238293.onlinehome.us/w/index.php?title=Form:Hc_building

Openlayers vs. Google

 * It's possible to use both, though in the end there has to be a default even if both are used. I'd prefer Google, it looks a lot nicer, but perhaps it is un-wikithical? Opinions?
 * If we did use google maps it would be much easier to integrate 3d buildings into the wiki because maps already has this functionality. -Fletcher

What's Been Done / Changes Needed
This section describes the current state of hampedia and the changes which have already been coded


 * Some parts of hampedia are already organized semantically- this should be changed as little as possible and built upon.


 * Students- Students will be able to choose a location, which will appear in their studentbox. Semanticlayers will be able to generate a map of all students.
 * Create page Layer:Students
 * Modify Template:Studentbox to include a coordinates point and a command to include students in layer.
 * Modify Form:Student to have fancy 'map picky thingy'


 * Buildings - Buildings will show up on a map
 * added Property:coordinates
 * Add Layer:Buildings
 * Modify Template:BuildingBox... remove current 'rotating earth' map, add replace with {{#slmap:point= {{coordinates}}}|layers=+GoogleSatellite|startextent=-72.54191,42.31809,-72.51637,42.33680}}, also add In layer::Layer:Buildings coordinates:=
 * Add Form:Building Box for easy adding of buildings

Future Ideas
These maps would either be really helpful to current members of the hampshire community or helpful in attracting new members of the hampshire community, or a mix of both


 * The same thing as students but for alumni... this would be REALLY cool for networking whenever alumni start using hampedia more.
 * also for faculty... why not?
 * A map of the 5 colleges (sortof easy, maybe helpful)
 * A map of hampshire 'nooks and crannys' (with justin)
 * A map with photos of student-run spaces which links to the pages of those spaces
 * A map of all the exchange programs hampshire has to offer, with links to a hampedia page or the website about those programs
 * A map of hampshire students on exchange programs, with a picture of the students face mapped where they are studying, which when clicked links to their hampshire blog.
 * A map of the 5-college Bus Routes, which when clicked gives the times (this would require lines, which I'm not sure how to make in openlayers yet... but is definitely possible)
 * A map of restaurants that deliver, which knows what time it is and queries to only display currently open restaurants (this... would also be hard)

depending on when the server gets upgraded..... I will add a map to my magnum opus 'commencement' hampedia page with the location of all the events which are happening during commencement.


 * tutorials
 * shorter tutorials on adding content to maps through forms
 * more advanced tutorial on making maps- it's kindof a pain but this tutorial will definitely need to be made at some point so that other people can added mapping functions otherwise when i stop they will go to waste or someone will have to figure everything out again which would suck.

Current Impasses / Problems

 * semantic layers is yet installed on the server :(


 * is it a problem that the map can't zoom in more? Instead of over a satellite image, would people rather have a graphical representation of the school tagged out? It's possible and possible to do both....