Playing with Google Maps

I'm messing around with the Google Maps API for an app I'll be deploying for my project.

The idea is to map all available (preferably web-based) information on agriculture in the Philippines. The resulting map can also be used to display other agricultural information resources like available seed stocks, farmers cooperatives, learning centers for extension workers and farmers, etc. For now, I'll just be displaying the locations.

The (very) alpha app (baby steps here...) uses GPS waypoints from an XML file, then display them as markers on the map, with the corresponding info in the infowindows. Our GIS people here at the office were off on a field study so I couldn't grab the available GPS data. (Memo to self: suggest a central {shareable} repo for their accumulated data.) I had to grab some sample GPS points from WayPointsDotPH. I use dBoracay for, sort of, my centerpoint in the map. Heh.

There's plenty of room for improvement. The XML, for example, is flat and could be a lot richer. (Had to snatch the sample XML file from the Google Maps API reference.) The infowindows should also display a lot more, er, info. I'll look it over during the break. Not! (It's Christmas, my goodness! :)) But this project is definitely worth the extra hours.