I wanted to see the distribution and location of FIRST teams and provide a resource to all teams wishing to locate others, so I created a Google maps application that plots a database of team locations. This can be found at
http://www.alpinerobotics.com/resources.php?section=map.
I have added the locations for all of the teams in Colorado (my state), but would like to expand the database. As I do not have the time to locate and map every FIRST team in the world, I have created a page on which you can submit data for your team (linked on map page or
http://www.alpinerobotics.com/resources.php?section=editmap). I found the locations of where each team works through Google Earth placemarks for the latitude and longitude points accurate to the aerial map. You could do the same or use another program or GPS reciever.
Currently this application is fairly crude, but if people like the ability to find other teams I am planning to add:
- Regionals Mapped (With different pin type)
- More information (What would people want? I could include some from the FIRST team info database)
- Auto window size (fit all pushpins)
- Open info window on search for team
- Address line switches so that teams can use a hosted map (without all of our surroundings) as a locator on their own sites (this would then only show the area surrounding their team point)
- Ability to hide/show pushpins based on regional attendance
- Anything else people might like!