Interactive Google Map

[Sarah McMaster]

Hi All- Anyone have any pointers on how to create (and embed) a Google map that web visitors can add their own pins to? We are celebrating our college's anniversary and would like to include a Google map of our region on our website where alum etc can "pin" where they are now....

[Leo Pardo]

Hi Sarah, I've used Google Fusion tables before to create a Google map based off a CSV file. In your case, the first thing that comes to mind is to create a Google form to capture data, transform it to a CSV file and use it in Google Fusion Tables.

How I have used it in my college: http://www.vetmed.tamu.edu/vmth/laminitis/map.html

WikiHow article on fusion tables: http://www.wikihow.com/Create-a-Google-Map-With-Excel-Data-and-Fusi...

[Sarah McMaster]

I will check that out, Thanks!

[Derek Tonn]

Hi Sarah!

Actually, you can use a combination of Google Forms and Timemap.js too, where you can skip the CSV/tables step entirely.  I spent a few months this Winter (in my spare time) building a calendar for a State-wide association that I volunteer with...where event directors fill out a few fields of information via Google Forms, and the inputed information is immediately live inside a combination timeline/map: http://www.mapformation.com/portfolio/interactive/timemaps/projects...

Not much 2013 data in there yet!  But if you scroll back into 2012, you'll see how it works.  And the resulting data inputs are placed automatically inside a Google Drive spreadsheet...which I can then edit and/or add several "moderators" to proof for typos/abuse.

Only one minor problem, which you might need to address (or help me resolve): I need to introduce y-scroll into the informational pop-ups for events with a lot of text/info, but I haven't gotten it to work yet despite help/suggestions from two other web developer forums.  But if you (or someone) had an idea for fixing that minor issue, this example might be very close to what you are hoping to accomplish.  Hope that helps!  - Derek

[Sarah McMaster]

Awesome - thanks Derek!