Google Maps Hacks

reviewed by Dr. Eric Flescher

Maps are useful for helping us find locations, how and where to go and giving us Òvisual road maps of our WorldÓ. But most importantly, maps can assist us with making information more visual through markers that help us explain our world around us. However there is more to maps Òthan meets the eyeÓ.

Maps can help us improve our lives, show us different types of information, and display information in ways usually not thought possible. With computers, The GIS (Graphic Information Systems) tool has allowed scientists, people, historians and others to elaborate upon and show us much more. We can find clues to what is happening in varied locations over time, creating visual maps which allows us to compare and contrast phenomenon, events and much more. Visual tools are powerful instruments and more have been created since the personal computers have arrived. Possibly you have used Mapquest, Yahoo Maps and others to find directions and show a map to go somewhere. However in 2005, a new piece of software took Òcenter stageÓ regarding spatial mapping. This free innovation created by the software giants Google, is called Google Maps.

The authors of Google Maps Hacks use their knowledge to apply maps using Google Maps for an even better sense of diverse needs. The purpose for the authors and the book was to embrace the technology to a higher level. Many books do this by easing the user into initial uses of the technology by using clear tutorials, offering clear explanations and keep from ÒstrandingÓ the user on how to proceed to the next follow steps. Apparently the authors decided to not follow this educational route to making their book more useable.

Rich Gibson believes the world is made of stories and his GIS-related training led him to create this book. Schuyler Erle believes that GIS applications and maps and help improve peoples lives can tell compelling stories. The two authors utilize 26 people to demonstrate examples of how Google Earth can assist with helping peopleÕs lives. Their contributions help provide 60 various activities and information that make up the exercises in this book. So far so good.

The black on white (only ) 366-paged book includes screenshots of maps produced and include the code which produces the results for the new modeled individual maps. Actions can be added by writing the Javascript code after the gmptrack (never fully explained in the book). The code listing are seemed very interesting and could provide many more ways to use Google. Several examples were tracking your UPS packages on your own. Writing the code is not a simple task. I was a little concerned about trying to copy the code from the book. The authors did not explain such a dilemma. But there is a online part of the book (stated in the book, but not really explained until one goes into the other website called Safari), that already has the sample codes and more.

Looking at this other website, there is a free 14 day subscription use. After that there are various plans to search for quick answers, to read on screen, download chapters for printing and off-line viewing. Use Safari primarily as a reference tool to quickly pinpoint answers online and to read books on screen. So I thought I was in business and decided to try the free plan to try. I was wrong.

The sample activities addressed are divided into three different levels: beginner, moderate and expert. Unfortunately these tutorials and the screenshots are not in color to liven up the process and activities. Each chapter and maps stand alone, so that as once you understand what to do, skipping around to the different chapters is acceptable for trying the exercises at your leisure. Some examples of Ómashing upÓ (creating the maps and layers which once again are now fully explained by the authors) Google maps include weather mapping, finding where the ISS (International Space Station is right now, finding restaurants or locating a place to live.

Since I do stormchasing, I was interested with a beginner one ÒTrack official storm reportingÓ. Coincidentally I was planning to try something like this that I already use on a weekly basis regarding other storm websites and forums. I decided to see if I use the ÒhacksÓ using the book and particularly this storm map tutorials. Since the book seemed fairly well put together, I thought that even with the intrepedations, creating and viewing the task related ÒhacksÓ would be fairly straightforward. But I was very wrong.

The authors and the book left me ÒstrandedÓ, unable to proceed any further, even after searching in books, forums and other resources. Their lack of any basic tutorial set up and explanations regarding the use of maps, hacks and how to weave all this together was really confusing, to say the least. It was really an exercise in futility even though I wanted to follow through and use the exercises now.

A tutorials laden exercise based book is only is as good with how well the book takes you to the next levels to use the application or technology (whether Photoshop, iPod or more). I know users who already know and use Google Maps since itÕs inception in 2005 are comfortable with using it even with these more advanced hanks. But for me and others who are still learning, this book stops right in your tracks, like a car in a big mud field unable to go anywhere further. Maybe somewhere or some how I will be able to pull myself out of the mud, but this review is for now and I am not wasting my time anymore until a tow truck shows up. Sometimes thatÕs what you have to do with technology. Move on to something else.