Introducing the ClassicParker User Map for GoogleEarth
Ever wonder if there are any Classic Parker users living nearby?
Got GoogleEarth?
Click on this link, and select "OPEN", or "SAVE" the file to disk then open in GoogleEarth:
ClassicParker User Map
What is it?
Very simply, GoogleEarth is a PC application that lets you view satellite imagery of the entire globe. You can zoom from a view that shows the entire earth to a close-up shot of your house, and everything in-between. People use GoogleEarth to view the world, get driving directions, explore new areas and take virtual tours of famous places like Niagra Falls, the Grand Canyon and Mount St. Helens. Since most of the world is covered, you can see just about anything, in varying levels of detail based on available satellite imagery.
GoogleEarth also lets users display their own data as an overlay on top of the virtual globe. There are all sorts of overlay maps available, showing everything from available real-estate properties, the nearest pubs, live weather radar, topo-maps, etc.
The ClassicParker User Map shows the location of all CP users who have provided valid locations in their user profile. Clicking on a user will show their avatar image and a link to their website from their profile.
The file above is a GoogleEarth network link. This means that it will always point to the latest version of the CP Users Map, so you should only have to load it once. Every so often I will update the map to include new users that have joined since the last map creation.
Ok, how do I get GoogleEarth?
GoogleEarth is a free download for PC users, it can be found here:
http://www.googleearth.com
It is not recommended if you only have a dial-up connection to the Internet.
How do I get added to the map?
If you are already a CP user, you should be included. If you haven't provided a valid location in your user profile, you won't be shown in the correct location.
If you have joined CP since the map was created, you will be automatically included the next time I update the map. This is NOT an automated process, so it may take a couple of weeks before I update the map again.
How do I change/edit my location?
Easy. Click on the "Profile" link above, and scroll down to the "Location" field. Enter your location as a "City, State" to ensure that you are displayed in the right spot.
How does all this work?
When I want to update the map, I run a program that dumps each username, location, Avatar URL and homepage URL into a file, which I then open in an Excel Spreadsheet. The spreadsheet then pulls out the different fields and populates a table with all the data.
This information gets copied into a web application which converts the Location into a Lat/Lon, and writes out a GoogleEarth file which contains all the relevant info. Once it is completed, I upload it to the CP server.
This is NOT an automated process, so the CP User Map will get updated on a pretty random basis if there is enough interest.
The screenshot below shows one example using our most prolific Parker poster's location. Its a shame he uses a Mac :roll:
Enjoy!
-- Tom
Ever wonder if there are any Classic Parker users living nearby?
Got GoogleEarth?
Click on this link, and select "OPEN", or "SAVE" the file to disk then open in GoogleEarth:
ClassicParker User Map
What is it?
Very simply, GoogleEarth is a PC application that lets you view satellite imagery of the entire globe. You can zoom from a view that shows the entire earth to a close-up shot of your house, and everything in-between. People use GoogleEarth to view the world, get driving directions, explore new areas and take virtual tours of famous places like Niagra Falls, the Grand Canyon and Mount St. Helens. Since most of the world is covered, you can see just about anything, in varying levels of detail based on available satellite imagery.
GoogleEarth also lets users display their own data as an overlay on top of the virtual globe. There are all sorts of overlay maps available, showing everything from available real-estate properties, the nearest pubs, live weather radar, topo-maps, etc.
The ClassicParker User Map shows the location of all CP users who have provided valid locations in their user profile. Clicking on a user will show their avatar image and a link to their website from their profile.
The file above is a GoogleEarth network link. This means that it will always point to the latest version of the CP Users Map, so you should only have to load it once. Every so often I will update the map to include new users that have joined since the last map creation.
Ok, how do I get GoogleEarth?
GoogleEarth is a free download for PC users, it can be found here:
http://www.googleearth.com
It is not recommended if you only have a dial-up connection to the Internet.
How do I get added to the map?
If you are already a CP user, you should be included. If you haven't provided a valid location in your user profile, you won't be shown in the correct location.
If you have joined CP since the map was created, you will be automatically included the next time I update the map. This is NOT an automated process, so it may take a couple of weeks before I update the map again.
How do I change/edit my location?
Easy. Click on the "Profile" link above, and scroll down to the "Location" field. Enter your location as a "City, State" to ensure that you are displayed in the right spot.
How does all this work?
When I want to update the map, I run a program that dumps each username, location, Avatar URL and homepage URL into a file, which I then open in an Excel Spreadsheet. The spreadsheet then pulls out the different fields and populates a table with all the data.
This information gets copied into a web application which converts the Location into a Lat/Lon, and writes out a GoogleEarth file which contains all the relevant info. Once it is completed, I upload it to the CP server.
This is NOT an automated process, so the CP User Map will get updated on a pretty random basis if there is enough interest.
The screenshot below shows one example using our most prolific Parker poster's location. Its a shame he uses a Mac :roll:
Enjoy!
-- Tom