Hello all,
I've been thinking about this for a little bit. I work with GIS (Geographic Information Systems), maps and databases for my research and day job when I'm not at school. I was thinking, would it be at all useful to you guys if we had some sort of 914World database in which you could locate other members? I might try to utilize something pretty much point-and-click like Google Earth, but if it got enough use, I could look into something a bit more handy, in which you could pull up more information, including phone numbers, etc. Essentially if you were on a road trip and wanted to meet up with someone on your route, you would know that they were nearby, or if in the case of breakdowns, you could look up nearest owners, etc.

Of course the information would be voluntary and could be accessed with security so as not to broadcast people's information to the world (I mean the other one). In addition, it would be a nice visual to see where all of us are located across the U.S. The VIN database is a great start, this would be like an extension of it. Think of it like push-pins on a map but with as much or as little data as each person wants to share.

Give it some thought and let me know.

sounds great...we use GIS a lot at my work. Great tool. I am in PA and I do not know how many 914 owners are near me.

We used to have a frappr owner database but unfortunately that died with Howard.


He was the only one with a login and we could not retrieve the data before frappr went offline.


A few years ago, i started on a Google maps implementation that was to be integrated into the website and hooked into the existing 914world database, but real life work has been very busy for the last two years so no progress has been made on that codebase.

Good info Andy. If you would like help, I would be glad to assist. Sorry to hear that info went with Howard. I wish I could have met him

New enthusiasm to an old idea around here. Do it George! Just use open standards technology so it doesn't depend on a service that could die and kill all the effort (like frappr)

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=62034

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=114309

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=71867

yada yada, searchage....

Here's how far i got:
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?act=membersmap

Obviously, the data (Lat/Lng) you see is fake but it's already tied into existing user accounts and database driven.

I also added clustering to the map. If you zoom out of the view, you can see how it starts clustering datapoints. That would allow for potentially having several thousand vehicles on the map at once.

I figured I wasn't the first to bring this up

Andy, do you have an offline database already started then? I'll have to look into integrating an online point-and-click DB using something like Google Docs to allow people to automatically update it. Forgive me, most of the html coding stuff is still a bit new to me, but I should be able to get up to speed over the next few weeks. Maybe a little longer as my big comp exam is next week.

The database is MySql, the Lat/Lng is exported to JSON when needed and the map page reads the JSON from the server using AJAX.
Everything else is Google Maps using API v2, which will become deprecated soon and should probably be converted to API v3.

Adding locations is easy, i already have code to allow members to drag&drop an icon anywhere on the map which then would be saved as their Lat/Lng.
The idea was to also support uploads of car images and some text info.

None of this is hard to do, i just don't have the time right now ...

This would be a great Google Fusion Tables app..

This would be great if you can pull it together! I really miss the old one.

We used to also have a phone list. I believe it was name, city and phone number. Also, what tools you had. ie A lift, jack stands, tools, spare parts etc. Something like that would come in handy when you break down in a strange city. I can start with mine. Elliot Cannon, Paso Robles California (central coast). Scissor lift. Jack stands. Tools and limited expertise. I also have a pickup to tow you with if needed.
Cheers, Elliot

Due to privacy and security issues, maybe just use a zip code data base.

I don't mind if most members know where I live exactly but I'm not sure I want them all to know since I don't know all of you. But my zip code is 94583. Which I think is harmless.

If anyone wants to know exactly where I live just PM me and I'll send you the address and my schedule when I'm not home. I can leave a key under the mat too so you won't have to break in...

^ I agree.

You are over-thinking this ...

No one cares about your address or street. With the way i wanted the map to work, *you* are in control of where you place the icon.
Put it in the town center or off the shore in the bay or in front of the house of the guy you can't stand.

The whole map idea is more about who is in what general area of the country (or world).

It would be nice to know who is within a 50 - 100 mile radius of me. I don't need to see the Google Maps image of their home to decide whether or not I want to affiliate with them.

It would come in handy to have the ability to contact a local group of folks without starting a thread in the Garage and hoping that everyone in the area notices the thread before it goes to page 4.

It would help if you posted WHAT part of PA you lived in. Its a big state and plenty of us in it

I do that a lot.

Along with speaking my mind and pissing people off...

So just for clarification, you aren't pulling everyone's info that they already have in their profile and putting that into GIS? Instead, the map starts off empty and members have to personally add whatever location information they see fit to release?

Correct ...

Cool idea.

I like the idea. Would put the 914 community in more of a direct support to its members. I would like to support our community in various ways if and when they breakdown where I live. It can be very lonely out there if you do not have any support.

People traveling and breaking down have been known to contact various local car clubs to seek help. Either side depends on chance of receiving help. This tool could and would give 914 travelers better assistance and hopefully give more 914 owners a chance to drive their "classic cars" over long distances. These cars are made to be driven, not trailered.

Can be used for many things other than support along the road. Maybe one is traveling in an area and wants to know about 914 events; trip planning; information; to mention a few.

Great Idea.

Steve

I would love to be a part of the effort