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ViaWindowsLive on Via Virtual Earth Blog
The new ViaWindowsLive community site has launched and features not only a definitive set of resources on all Live Services from Microsoft but also a special section on Virtual Earth including a new site gallery for you to upload your sites, new articles on Version 6, including getting started guide, an interactive quick guide, location finder and more. Subscribe to the VWL aggregated blog to stay in touch with everything Live Services related. Find all the great content from this site and much, much more. Explore how other Live Services can compliment Virtual Earth and your applications.
Version 5 URL changed - Error: 'VEMap' is undefined on Via Virtual Earth Blog
It has been reported that the old url to access the Version5 javascript for Virtual Earth no longer works. This is effecting sites worldwide.
The correct way to reference the Version 5 javascript is:
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://dev.virtualearth.net/mapcontrol/mapcontrol.ashx?v=5"></script>
If you have been effected a forum thread has been started here
Silverlight Virtual Earth viewer on Via Virtual Earth Blog
With the launch of silverlight yesterday I was digging around and found this viewer for Virtual Earth by Greg Schechter. It does use the 1.1 alpha of silverlight. It gives some interesting ideas for where Virtual Earth could be headed. Certainly the demo of the performance of silverlight compared to javascript for processing showed a significant increase. This could be very useful.
And of course on the gamer front check this out by Andy Beaulieu and shoot down some UFO's over Birdseye images.
John.
So much new Virtual Earth Imagery Worldwide. on Via Virtual Earth Blog
I subscribe to all the VE blogs and recently the posts about updated imagery has been more and more frequent.
The latest is here and for myself downunder we saw three updates, Canberra, Newcastle and Uluru:
Derek Chan posts 3 Articles in a month! on Via Virtual Earth Blog
A big thank you to the efforts of Derek Chan who posted his third VE article today (he actually had it ready weeks ago but had to wait for Mr Bottleneck here at VVE ;) )
The 3 articles are all relivant to Version 5 of Virtual Earth and deal with the Mini Map, debugging javascript and now custom pins in routes.
All these can now be found in our articles section.
If you have something to contribute send us an email.
John (The bottleneck)
Implementation - Mapping for Fire Service
1 - 5 of 5
Mapping for Fire Service by airport_firefighter on 3 May 08 @ 23:39:00 UTC
Hi all.
I am new to this forum and I am not a developer but I have created an application (with the help of a developer) that will be used throughout our service. The application is basically a database which will be used for pre-incident planning for emergency response to buildings. The application is highly visual and interractive. It includes detailed information pertaining to the building including images, floor plans and videos and has created a lot of interest amongst other fire/emergency service agencies. We have arranged licensing of VE with Microsoft who have been extremely helpful! Basically, the VE map (V 6.1) is used for route plotting and general familiarisation of the area. I am interested if anyone has futher ideas as to improving the functionality of the map in our application before it is released? I would like to incorporate some weather details if possible (wind speed and direction)? Would anyone like to comment or offer some ideas that would help with emergency response?? I can email some screen shots if needed.
Regards,
Pete
RE: Mapping for Fire Service by airport_firefighter on 4 May 08 @ 02:07:00 UTC
One idea I have is to plot where the street hydrants are with a "Hydrant Symbol". Is this possible?
Thanks.
RE: Mapping for Fire Service by (deleted user) on 6 May 08 @ 19:46:00 UTC
Of course the hydrants are possible...
I have been developing MS mapping applications for the fire service for about 5 years now. Back then I used MP2002 which was a desktop application running inside of an Access database. The advantage to that version was that an internet connection was not required. The disadvantage to that was timeliness of the maps and only a road view was available
Features that were in that version...
-All addresses were in the db, and more info was available such as preplans, closest LZ locations, hydrant data, and haz mat data to name a few
-Once address plotted, 1 click routing from Fd or to various hospitals
-ERG implementation based on the haz mat info
Even had an article published on mp2kmag.com -http://www.mp2kmag.com/a112--emergency.services.lannon.mappoint.html
which led many people to contact me for localized versions of the application
I am now using VE, which allows aerial and 3D viewing (more on that later). MapCruncher beta is also being used, so I can add in new developements as soon as I get a drawing. An example is a condo complex down the road, I have all the buildings in and half haven't even broken ground yet.
Another biggie is the 3D thing which I have been playing with in conjunction with the haz-mat/ERG data. Instead of using the Cameo suite, it is now a VE application. The Aloha plume profile was replaced with an algorythm I authored myself, and has 99% coverage matching. The weather info just pulls the weather data from the closest of multiple sources such as the NWS, WeatherBug, and WeatherUnderground. After a challenge on a VE blog, I now have 3D plume implementation capabilities
http://www.mapforums.com/blogs/lfdmike/27-can-i-do-yes-i-can.html
Currently, I am working on response areas. We are a small village that covers areas of several other municipalities automatically, and we are also working with the MABAS system and I am mapping those areas also.
With alot of the 'pro' systems, there are various layers you can turn on and off. You could do a similiar item with GeoRSS feeds. I do not rememember the article I got the idea from, but I did an implementation with all of the houses on a particular road. If you hovered over the pushpins, it gave the name and address. Kinda forgot about it but it is live:
http://maps.lannonfire.com/Beta2.aspx
I am bloggind some of my map progress at MapForums, just been a little busy of late to keep up on it.
http://www.mapforums.com/blogs/lfdmike/
RE: Mapping for Fire Service by airport_firefighter on 7 May 08 @ 05:00:00 UTC
Hi Mike.
You are very generous with your reply. I would like to show you our application in detail. As it copyrighted, I do not want to supply the link here. Please email me and I will allocate you temporary access to take a look. I would like your advice if possible. My email address is prep.support@airservicesaustralia.com
Many thanks...
Pete.
