New embedded maps, Postcode search and more

Submitted by Andy B on Sunday, 25 March 2007 Page Views: 15245

Some new features currently under test, including embedded Yahoo Maps and GeoRSS. On any of our site location pages ('site pages'):
Look for the links about half way down that say
NEW: View this page with an embedded Yahoo Map
NEW: Download or link to a GeoRSS feed of these sites

As we add more and more locations based on information gleaned from archaeology news feeds I think this is an excellent way to bring to life rather dry news items from the other side of the world and give them some geographic context. Tracking down the locations of sites in the news based on sometimes vague reports is very challenging and fun, and more help to do this is always welcome.

What GeoRSS can be made to do is that A.N.Other web sites could have a drop-down box saying: 'View the 25 nearest sites on the Megalithic Portal'. And vice versa the Portal could have a reciprocal 'View the 25 nearest sites on A.N.Other'. Also things like 'mashups' of maps become possible featuring data from various different sources on the web overlaid. There is more on how to use the new GeoRSS and other ways to link geographically in the 'Portal Talking Shop' Forum.

I am using Yahoo rather than Google maps as they hook very nicely into the GeoRSS, Google maps may be coming in the future although they are rather more complex to make work properly. I think these Yahoo maps are pretty good.

I have also just now created an international Postcode/Zip code search function.

Just enter a UK, German or US zip code into the search box at the top-right of any page.

UK post code can be either the two part code (SW1 1NN) or just the first part (SW1)

German post codes can be D- or DE- followed by a number, eg. D-01234

US zip code is just a number so just put that in and if it's a valid zip code then you'll be transported there straight away! If anyone can point me towards postcode to long/lat data for other countries I will add them too.

As you will see, the Megalithic Portal is not just European in scope but now truly international, with active contributors from the USA, Middle East, India and South Korea.

More new developments are coming soon. I will end by sending many thanks to the team of volunteer admins who now handle the day to day running of the Portal virtually unaided by me, this is what gives me the time to be able to take a step back and work on longer term improvements such as
these.
Cheers,
Andy

Contributor Bio for Andy B: Megalithic Portal Founding Editor.

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