racoma.com.phJ. Angelo Racoma on technology, economics, writing, problogging, and getting things done

Things sure happen fast. After my post about higher resolution satellite imagery available for Metro Manila, I got in touch with my colleague, j4s0n, to brainstorm on what we could possibly do with such a development. Just a few days later (about half a day’s worth of work perhaps), he announces his latest Web app, Pinoy Locator.

The concept is simple. Find where you are on the map (or satellite imagery, in the case of the Philippines) and post your shout-out. These are then collected and presented as those cutesy push-pins on Google Maps that pop up messages when you click them.

It’s still a very basic means of using Google Maps to pinpoint one’s location, or even geo-tagging establishments and landmarks, but it’s a good start. As I wrote on PinoyTechBlog,

If you ask me, this could be a good precursor to a contributor-driven directory of places in the Philippines. For now, such geo-data is available, but commercially (meaning you can have it but you have to pay for it). Of course, there’s the issue of accuracy and filtering mechanisms. One problem with Web 2.0 is having too much trust on the user (even if systems can be gamed, after all). But hey, for a country that Google forgot when it put up vector and geo data online with Google Maps, something like pinoylocator is a good start.

So do try it out. Here’s where I live–approximately, at least (lest I get pestered by stalkers). People have been tagging establishments and other landmarks such as malls, rivers, and the like, and it’s great to see the map being filled up with useful stuff. Please feel free to tag your location, too, and even your favorite places.

Maybe we can build up a database of geo-tagged places this way so we can start with a true iBegin or LocalBrit type of Web app. I’ve really been itching to have a more usable and functional version of Clickthecity–I mean, it has good content and comprehensive information on a lot of places but I can’t see them on the map! And what about mapcentral? It has lots of information, too, but the interface leaves much to be desired.

Hey, does anyone have vector or geo-data you would like to share (or perhaps even sell)?

Wow! I didn’t realize this until I tried looking for our new apartment via satellite imagery. Previously, only the client-version of Google’s geo service, “Google Earth”:http://earth.google.com , had higher res aerial imagery of Metro Manila. now, even the online version, “Google Maps”:http://maps.google.com does! I say “higher” because this is definitely better than what Maps had to offer before. Still, it’s not as good as Google Earth, and it’s definitely not up to par with the aerial photos or “Ikonos”:http://spaceimaging.com / “Quickbird”:http://digitalglobe.com satellite images that the surveying companies will give you for a few million Pesos.

Some Snapshots

Here are some screencaps of imagery of my beloved Quezon City.

Both our old and new apartments “are in this area.”:http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=quezon+city+philippines&ie=UTF8&z=18&ll=14.647047,121.057706&spn=0.002263,0.004576&t=k&om=1

Here’s the “University of the Philippines Admin building, where the Oblation is located.”:http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=quezon+city+philippines&ie=UTF8&z=18&ll=14.654821,121.064937&spn=0.002263,0.004576&t=k&om=1

“Here’s the Gateway Mall and the Araneta Colliseum in Cubao.”:http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=quezon+city+philippines&ie=UTF8&z=18&ll=14.621224,121.053023&spn=0.002263,0.004576&t=k&om=1

“Here’s SM North EDSA, sans the new ‘Block’ mall.”:http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=quezon+city+philippines&ie=UTF8&z=18&ll=14.656518,121.031892&spn=0.002263,0.004576&t=k&om=1 This means the aerial photos were probably taken pre-2006, when SM was still using the area as a parking lot.

This could open up a lot of new business opportunities for people who do web apps! This was exactly what I was looking for back when I worked with i.PH–location-based services and geotagging were the hot thing back then. I wonder if it’s still a good idea to do this today. Joel was right. Google’s going to put those aerial photo and satellite imagery companies out of business (at least for the consumer/low-end market, and not those requiring millimiter-level accuracy). Google is giving this stuff away for free!

Web apps, anyone? I hope we beat you guys to it!