Beginning Google Maps Applications with PHP and Ajax

It’s hard to argue that Google Maps hasn’t had afundamental effect on the mapping world. While everyone else was still doing grainy static images, Google developers quietly developed the slickest interface since Gmail. Then they took terabytes of satellite imagery and road data, and just gave it all away for free. We’re big fans of Google Maps and excited to get started here. We’ve learned alot about
the Google Maps API since it was launched, and even more during the time spent writing and researching for this book. Over the course of the coming chapters, you’re going to move from simple tasks involving markers and geocoding to more advanced topics, such as how to acquire data, present many data points, and provide auseful and attractive user interface.
A lot of important web technologies and patterns have emerged in parallel with the Google Maps API. But whether you call it Ajax or Web 2.0 is less important than what it means: that the little guy is back.
You don’t need an expensive development kit to use the Google Maps API. You don’t need acomputer science degree, or even alot of experience. You just need afeel for what’s important
data and an idea of what you can do to present it in avisually persuasive way.
We know you’re eager to get started on amap project, but before we actually bust out the JavaScript, we wanted to show you two simple ways of creating ultra-quickie maps: using KML
files and through the Wayfaring map site. Using either of these approaches severely limits your ability to create atruly interactive experience, but no other method will give you results as quickly.


Download Here