Mapping data Introduce yourself as the facilitator and outline (briefly) your STEM background. Ask STEM Ambassadors (if present) to (briefly) introduce themselves and to say which STEM discipline/industry they are from .

Mapping data In this session we are going to map data onto Googlemaps so that it can be used to determine a route or flightpath. Ask for comment on why maps are important and useful. What are the benefits?

What is digital mapping? Digital mapping (also called digital cartography) is the process by which a collection of data is compiled and formatted into a virtual image. The primary function of this technology is to produce maps that give accurate representations of a particular area, detailing major road arteries and other points of interest.

Terms we’ll be using API Georeferencing HTML JavaScript Raster API, an abbreviation of application program interface, is a set of routines, protocols, and tools for building software applications. Georeferencing, to associate something with a location in physical space e.g. a point of interest and photo/video. HTML, Hyper Text Mark-up Language is the standard language used for constructing web pages. JavaScript, is a higher level and more dynamic language used in web design. It enables the use of scripts which trigger other programs without user interface. Raster, a grid of x and y (and if 3D, z) coordinates on a grid space. A raster image file determines which of these coordinates to colour allowing a pixel image to be displayed.

What will we need? Notebook on your computer A web-browser such as Internet Explorer or Google Chrome Although our product is designed to be easy to use on a tablet, smartphone or other mobile device it’s easiest to design and build it using a standard PC with Microsoft Office software. This example will use Notepad as our web authoring tool and Internet Explorer as our browser. First thing to do is to create a new folder in your secure area. All of your work relating to this project should be saved to this folder. I created a folder called Ingleborough project on my desktop to keep my files in. Next you need to open Notepad on your PC. Notepad can be found by clicking on all programs and then opening the Accessories folder.

Add your script Ask pupils to use the ‘Script’ document produced as part of these materials to copy and paste the relevant script from.

Save your work! In Notepad, click File… Save As… It’s good practice to save your work regularly and in order for your file to be saved in the correct format we have to force the .html to your file. I called my file test.txt and saved it to my folder (Ingleborough project) using the following method: File… Save As… This saves your work in the .txt format so that you can open it up later and edit it in Notepad.

Now repeat the Save As process but delete the Now repeat the Save As process but delete the .txt file extension and replace with .html – you’ll have to physically type this in to the filename field and then change the Save as type field below by clicking on the drop down menu arrow and selecting All Files (*.*) This forces a copy of your file to be saved in html and enables it to be read by a browser such as Internet Explorer. Once saved you can minimise Notepad and open the .html version of the file you have just saved. It should look something like this (slide 9).

Once saved you can minimise Notepad and open the Once saved you can minimise Notepad and open the .html version of the file you have just saved. It should look something like this… As you can see the map is full screen width with our route map barely visible. You can zoom in or out on the detail.

Now we have our base map we can start to edit the code to make it work for us. In order to do this you need to have your browser and Notepad open simultaneously. It’s good practice to save each iteration (edit) of your file with a different name (test1, 2, 3 etc.) just incase it all goes horribly wrong and you have to start from scratch.

Let’s do some editing! Using the text in notepad I have highlighted some of the aspects that you may want to change (look at the document ‘Script for editing’). Each time you save these in Notepad (don’t forget to force the .html file extension) follow it up with clicking on view… and refresh… in your browser. You should notice minor changes each time. If nothing happens check that you have the correct files open… Look at the things that can be changed (highlighted). The script in italics tells you what these changes actually do (if you copy and paste the text below don’t forget to take the italicised text out!

PLEASE NOTE – If you incorporate a Google map into your website you must show the Google logo and state clearly Maps provided by Google. If you want to learn more about creating maps using the Googlemap API visit this site for developers https://developers.google.com/maps/tutorials/fundamentals/adding-a-google-map

RAF examples: mapping data in action Air Cartographers are crucial to helping the RAF fly safe and successfully.  These professionals create and edit key documents used by UK Armed Forces, foreign air forces and some civilian airlines.  Typically, they will create maps that show airways over countries and update charts to help pilots take off and land safely.