First Teams Google Map

[Damian Manda]

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!

[Elgin Clock]

Looks cool.

As far as data entry is concerned, does it matter whether a 3 digit team number is entered in as 3 or 4 digits?
(ie: 237, or 0237 in my team's case)

[Damian Manda]

Originally Posted by Elgin Clock

Looks cool.

As far as data entry is concerned, does it matter whether a 3 digit team number is entered in as 3 or 4 digits?
(ie: 237, or 0237 in my team's case)

No, it would not matter which way the team numbers are entered.

Also, I have noticed that some people have submitted team information without latitude or longitude points, or with them rounded to the nearest integer. These points are the only way that the teams can be mapped, so I need this information for any entry. Please try to make the lat/lon accurate to at least 4-5 decimal places, as otherwise the pushpins will not appear in the correct place. The maximum decimal places supported is 13.

If you don't have Google Earth, some free sites to find you lat/lon are:
http://www.ffiec.gov/geocode/default.htm
http://www.geocode.com/modules.php?name=TestDrive_Eagle
http://geocoder.us/
http://www.travelgis.com/geocode/

[dubious elise]

www.terraserver.com is also fairly accurate (to approximately 8 decimal places).

Awesome plan, Damian! It's always interesting to know exactly where teams are from, and I'm sure that it will come in handy for many people.

[ahecht]

I looked up team 190, and it was not found, but when I tried to add an entry, it said something like "duplicate entry in field 1".

[dubious elise]

Originally Posted by ahecht

I looked up team 190, and it was not found, but when I tried to add an entry, it said something like "duplicate entry in field 1".

Once you look up your team number, all of the fields on the next page should be cleared, then you can fill in all of the information on the righthand side of the page. It may not be added to the database for some time, so I wouldn't expect any instantaneous results.

[mechanicalbrain]

I love this! Great work!

[ahecht]

Originally Posted by dubious elise

Once you look up your team number, all of the fields on the next page should be cleared, then you can fill in all of the information on the righthand side of the page. It may not be added to the database for some time, so I wouldn't expect any instantaneous results.

Nope, still getting "Duplicate entry '190' for key 1"

My guess is that team 1190 (which is in the database) is screwing things up.

[Damian Manda]

Originally Posted by ahecht

Nope, still getting "Duplicate entry '190' for key 1"

My guess is that team 1190 (which is in the database) is screwing things up.

I just wrote the insert thing quickly last night, so there will be problems like this until I finish the code. The problem here is that someone else on your team already entered info for your team, but the add database is not searched when records are loaded, but when you try to add a duplicate number problems ensue. I will fix this shortly.

I will post again when this is done, so you can retry. The other entry is not very complete (no city/state, rounded to nearest integer lat/lon).

[Damian Manda]

Ok, the problem addressed by ahecht should be mostly fixed. One case I haven't included yet: team has map entry and update (chooses map entry to load).

I still have to write the page to tranfer updates to the main database (shouldn't take long, but I have no time), so it may be another day before your new entries show up.

[Ryan M.]

Very nice work, Damian.

[rangersteve]

I registered 931. This is really cool. One team seems to be set at 0,0.

[mechanicalbrain]

I posted our team a week ago and when i search for it it goes to the right location but it doesn't give us a marker.

[Justin]

Very nicely done. It would be cool to have a different color pin for each of the regionals as well or possibly a different map and then have driving directions to each regional, that would be a pretty nice resource as well.

Justin

[mechanicalbrain]

Uh i just started to notice a problem.... The markers are WAY to big. Like i can't see New York! Its a blob of red!