[OpenLayers-Users] Porting Fm GMaps?

Arnie Shore ashore3 at verizon.net
Fri Jan 2 12:46:24 EST 2009


Hello all.  Let me tell you a bit re what I'm doing (he sez, as though 
he really knows!) and invite suggestions.

I've written a free open source computer-aided dispatch application, 
targeted to teams/agencies with zero budgets for software of this 
nature.  (It's Tickets by name, and with a demonstration/download site  
at http://www.saefern.org/tickets/  - in addition to SourceForge.)  It's 
built using the usual open source suspects, PHP and MySql.   Of special  
relevance here is that I've included Google Maps as the geo-spatial  
component.  Justification for the latter is, not surprisingly, its zero  
cost, ubiquity, and convenience - as well as its capabilities.  By  
design for its expected installation by first-timers, it avoids use of  
any other than the most basic components.

But a portion of the user community  are (properly) concerned re its 
dependence on Google - for the mapping and API.  Now I'm looking at what 
it takes to port Tickets to a mapping base that wd allow its use in  
situations where - at least temporarily - there's no Internet access;   
the maps/tiles/images wd need storage and accessibility at the local 
web  server.  (Client browser and server are readily configured onto a 
single  box.)  Certainly, OpenLayer's open Source aspect is  especially 
attractive, given all of the above.

Tickets can/is deployed where there's limited mapping available, but I  
expect that users - many of them ham radio enthusiasts - might be 
willing to spend some effort in developing the kinds of map information  
appropriate to their particular situations. From what I see on this  
list, there's no shortage of tools and advice to help them do so.  This  
might be a particularly positive aspect in such an  implementation,  
although possibly more than countered by the possible lack of immediate 
out-of-the-box availability.

What I'm looking for is any experience in porting a GMaps-based 
application towards OpenLayers, and, especially, re what 
maps/tiles/images you used, including those fm OpenStreetMap, and why.

Th - th - th - that's it folks.  Comments and suggestions invited.  With 
best wishes for a peaceful new year,

Arnie Shore
Annapolis, MD

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