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Route Planning Where to go, when, what are the interesting places to see
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia



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  #1  
Old 4 Jun 2007
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Biker Friendly Accomodation - Goodle Earth / Google Maps

Hi,

Does anyone know some sort of archive of biker-friendly accomodation for a RTW trip? Anything from biker-hotels/campsites to friendly hotel-owners who are happy to put our beloved vehicles in a safe place/inside...

Just a thought:
If such a list doesn't exist yet: What do you think of the idea of starting one and logging places on Google Earth. Since I'm not a great expert on Google Earth & GPS: Does anyone know an easy-to-use way of maintaining a Google Earth database? I mean - is it possible to have our own "Google Maps Group" of interesting places/safe accomodation/friendly & thorough mechanics/...

Bjorn
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  #2  
Old 5 Jun 2007
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Already done?

Hi Bjorn, there are already two forums for that on the HUBB. Have a look and see if they are what you have in mind.
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...on-rest-world/
and
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...north-america/

The Google Maps thing sounds good, I'm looking forward to hearing from someone who nows about such things.

Regards
Nigel in NZ
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  #3  
Old 25 Jul 2007
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I like it

I like the idea for this. If this has not already been done elsewhere and enough people are interested I could maybe pitch in and do something about it. I'm a computer programmer during the day although pretty busy tiling a bathroom at the minute

So what say you - a google earth database with points of interest, accomodation, workshops and maybe members?

Neil
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Old 25 Jul 2007
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Sounds a great idea Neil!
Are there any tools from Google to make this easier to set up?

Kind regards

Nigel in NZ
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  #5  
Old 25 Jul 2007
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Originally Posted by crazymanneil View Post
I like the idea for this. If this has not already been done elsewhere and enough people are interested I could maybe pitch in and do something about it. I'm a computer programmer during the day although pretty busy tiling a bathroom at the minute

So what say you - a google earth database with points of interest, accomodation, workshops and maybe members?

Neil
Neil,
Tiling always gets in the way of riding!!

Anyway, I have taken a look at google earth and it seems to be a powerful tool for this sort of project - my problem was that I found it a bit complicated to understand how to use it and I think this was because I did not have anything definite in mind to either get from it or put into it at the time.
I think the concept is correct; as said elsewhere, there are plans to develop GPS databases and probably other things within the HUBB but some existing bit of software, such as google earth, that is provided free anyway would take some of the effort out of it I would have thought; however, as the computer programmer, you may know another way of doing these type of things.
Another aspect that strikes me about the concept is who moderates what goes into there? - as I understand google earth, once the database goes public then anyone can modify it etc. Therefore the information in there is not necessarily accurate or even given by someone with "honest aims"; perhaps it is possible to have a secure area in GE with password protected access or maybe the GE database for HU can be accessed only via HU?
Over to you for more information!!
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Old 25 Jul 2007
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Guys,

The key here is KML files -

Keyhole Markup Language - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

These are basically files with the GPS co-ordinates plus some other info in them which are then loaded into google earth (or google maps ). Our KML file would need to be stored and updated somewhere centrally (i.e. the HU website presumably). Managing what goes on there, deletion of outdated stuff etc could then be handled by appointed administrators.

I'm interested you mention the desire to create GPS databases - any pointers what others are planning? A really sweet solution would be to have a webpage which allows people to put in points of interest which are then stored in a database. Then a piece of code could turn this database into a KML file automagically, meaning management of placemarks can all be done in the database.

I think something like this could be superb when planning routes when a map helps you visualise stuff. I'm just pondering how this could be linked into geotagged photos, GPS tracks and all too now

Neil
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  #7  
Old 25 Jul 2007
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Originally Posted by crazymanneil View Post
Guys,

The key here is KML files -

Keyhole Markup Language - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

These are basically files with the GPS co-ordinates plus some other info in them which are then loaded into google earth (or google maps ). Our KML file would need to be stored and updated somewhere centrally (i.e. the HU website presumably). Managing what goes on there, deletion of outdated stuff etc could then be handled by appointed administrators.

I'm interested you mention the desire to create GPS databases - any pointers what others are planning? A really sweet solution would be to have a webpage which allows people to put in points of interest which are then stored in a database. Then a piece of code could turn this database into a KML file automagically, meaning management of placemarks can all be done in the database.

I think something like this could be superb when planning routes when a map helps you visualise stuff. I'm just pondering how this could be linked into geotagged photos, GPS tracks and all too now

Neil

Neil,
Sounds good!


This is what I was referring to:-
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...lication-28328

(a thread which is talking about putting together a GPS database)

Cheers,
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  #8  
Old 26 Jul 2007
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Ta, I've posted to that thread now too. Best to have it all in one place and one consistent database that everyone uses probably.

Neil
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  #9  
Old 26 Jul 2007
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I don't think you need to fuss with KML, requiring people to download Google Earth, etc, it can be easily done on Frappr. ADVRider has been doing this:
The Tent Space List ... - ADVrider
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