Task:     Create a Google Maps Mashup (10 points)

Your task is to create a map mashup page that uses Google Maps API.

After completing this assignment, you will have:
 

• Learned the basics of Google Maps API,
  
• Advanced your Ajax programming skill and
  
• Improved your JavaScript code hacking skill.

A.    Requirements

(1) Find a GeoRSS or KML file on the Web.

(2) Create a Google Maps mashup page that displays the content of this data file.

(3) Your Google Maps UI must be defined using the following configurations:

• Large map control (GLargeMapControl)
• A map scale control (GScaleControl)
• Only display Satellite Map type (G_SATELLITE_MAP) -- MUST NOT allow users to display other types of maps
• A collapsible overview map in the corner of the screen (GOverViewMapControl)

(4) All markers on the map must be clickable (i.e., on a mouse click, an info window is displayed).

(5) Must use GGeoXML to read the GeoRSS/KML file from a remote Web server.

TIPS: If you run your mashup from 'localhost', you can register a Google Maps API Key for "http://localhost" or "http://127.0.0.1"

Bonus Points!!

You can earn a maximum of 5 extra points by providing the following function in your mashup.

(1) Allow user to input a GeoRSS/XML URL in a text field

(2) Your mashup will dynamically create the map content by reading from the user-defined URL

(3) Report "data error" if the URL is malformed or no valid map data can be read from the source.

B.    Deliverable

Submit your mashup in a single HTML file. In order to for you to receive any points, your mashup must work when it's opened in a Firefox browser on a Windows machine.

Your HTML file name MUST BE in the form

        [your-umbc-username]-mashup.html