geo-extension-waypoints

Geo Waypoints

An exploration of adding waypoint information to Geo data. Waypoints are a sequential series of points, describing routes (which may or may not have been traversed at specific times) or boundaries (which may be on any scale, from a small garden to a continent).

The Problem

To allow the publishing of waypoints in such a way that they are downloadable and parsable.

Participants

• Andy Mabbett

Real-World Examples

• Jiri to Everest Trek in Nepal
  • (or any other treks on that site)
  • relevant mark-up: <tr><td>Jiri Bus Park</td><td>27° 38.173'</td><td>86° 13.909'</td><td>1924</td></tr> ("1924" is the elevation)
• http://members.aol.com/gpspage/waypoints.html
• Freshman Seminar Waypoint Hunt
  • relevant mark-up: <tr><td>BENCH</td><td>40.33855</td><td>-74.66465</td><td><a href="bench.html"><img src="bench_c.gif" alt="[...]"></a></td></tr>

Collections

• POI66
  • example: Amsterdam CS-Alkmaar CS walking route (n.b long page; 612 waypoints)
  • relevant mark-up: <li><div>waypoint 10<br/>Latitude 52.386165<br/>Longitude 4.91199</div></li>

Typical mandatory attributes

• Latitude (WSG84, decimal or Degrees-minutes-seconds)
• Longitude (ditto)
• text label

Typical optional attributes

• elevation
• image
• note ?
• url ?

Issues

• How to differentiate between a route (for example in the shape of a letter "U") and a boundary - in other words, to say whether or not, after the last point, the line returns to the first.
• How to sequence/ timestamp waypoints
  • Perhaps using hAtom and/ or hCalendar?

See Also

• Geo
• Geo cheatsheet
• Geo examples
• geo formats - previous/other attempts at geo related formats
• Geo brainstorming - brainstorms and other explorations relating to Geo (and Geo in hCard).
  • see also hCard brainstorming
• Geo advocacy - encourage others to use Geo.
• Geo examples in the wild
• Geo forms part of hcard, so please use:
  • hCard FAQ. If you have any questions about Geo, check the hCard FAQ.
  • hCard feedback
  • hCard issues
• location-formats - research which led to the development of Geo.
• proposed extensions
  • geo-extension-nonWGS84 - extend Geo for representing coordinates on other planets, moons etc.; and for other terrestrial schema
  • geo-extension-waypoints - extend Geo for representing: sets of waypoints; tracks; routes; and boundaries
• Geo profile - draft