Google Summer of Code Ideas

[Jan Hartmann]

Hi Daniel,

You are right on both points. A regular WMS server based on Google 
Maps/Earth is outside the actual Google licence, as this requires 
reading Google images without using the Google Javascript interface. 
Technically, it is not difficult, and I don't see how Google can 
actually forbid reading raw images from their servers: the image URLs 
are public, aren't they?

However, I would not like to get into a row with Google; they have done 
   magnificent things with Google Maps and (especially) Google Earth. 
And yet I think we could, as Open Source Community , make a point how 
important it is for us to be able to use Google as a WMS service, and 
also that this could be economically profitable for Google too. It 
certainly would open a big professional market segment for them. 
Essentially, I am looking for a way to get into discussion with them on 
this point.

At the last resort, the alternative is viable too: overlaying WMS images 
on Google Maps, using their Javascript interface. This would mean 
reprojecting everything to the projection they use (standard Mercator), 
and being restricted to 15 discrete zoomlevels only. You can do a lot 
with that, but the first option would be much more attractive of course.

I would be very much in favour of delivering a "proof of concept" of the 
first option, not only how it can be done technically, but also how it 
can be realised without putting a strain on Google's servers.

Jan

Daniel Morissette wrote:
> Steve Lime wrote:
>> Good idea. I'd put any and all ideas on the list and we can sort 
>> through later.
>>
> 
> I've added the KML output idea to the Wiki page.
> 
> 
> BTW, I noticed that Jan Hartmann added the following idea: "Google Maps 
> and Google Earth as a WMS server with Mapserver/Mapscript". If I 
> understand this correctly, that would involve ingesting Google Maps 
> tiles and serving them back as WMS after reprojection, correct? 
> Unfortunately I don't think Google allows that type of use. I seem to 
> remember hearing of a few groups who had created WMS wrappers for Google 
> Maps that have been asked to stop their projects.
> 
> Note that it's possible to go the other way around and overlay Mapserver 
> WMS on top of Google Maps. I don't know if that would address Jan's 
> needs. See an example of this type of integration that shows our Gmap75 
> WMS service on top of Google Maps:
> http://dev1.lan.mapgears.com/gmaps/gmaps_wms2.html
> 
> Daniel