On behalf of myself, Chad, and Hans of Carbon Defense League I wanted to
thank everyone in Buffalo for an exciting weekend. Thanks to Trebor and
Geert for hosting the event and having us come to participate. Unfortunately
due to some schedule combinations and forced cooperations we did not get to
have a brainstorm about our in development Group Mapping application called
MapHub. Also, the description never made it to the schedule so below you
will find a description of the project if you might want to send ideas or
input about the project. Again this is early in development and we will be
finishing much of the initial coding over the summer months in Pittsburgh.
Eventually it will be packaged for use in other U.S. cities and possibly
later internationally.
MapHub
http://www.hactivist.com/maphub
MapHub is a web-based, multi-user, group managed information storage
system and map. Collecting information about people, places, events, and
notes, can help to document unseen narratives and histories where useful
in public or private theme-based group maps. The project is in
development and potential system level changes can be discussed during
the brainstorm session.
MapHub proposes to research the introduction of a geographic and
historical data sharing application in an urban landscape. MapHub
proposes to be a people's map - a map of an urban geography determined
not by traditional methodology but instead by the members who
participate and contribute everyday in the experience of urban life.
MapHub proposes to be both a tool and a system that gives users pen and
paper to record their unique and situated perspectives and then deliver
that documentation to others. Combining culture, history, narrative, and
caution, MapHub might tell the tales that remain untold.
This web-based software facilitates individual spatial and temporal
narratives managed and distributed through a simple social network.
Based on a Geographic Information System (GIS) backend built on open
source packages, MapHub manages data as visual symbolic objects specific
to Groups organized thematically. Aside from having a personal group
based on immediate to distant social or participant networks,
alternative Groups based on themes such as health code violations, past
job experiences, safe biking routes, or corporate violations of local
regulations are possible. These thematic Groups will help to promote
alternative and peripheral knowledge of the cultural, historical, and
current urban geographical landscape of localized spaces.