User:Nealindia/GSoC2

Identity
Name: Neeraj Agarwal

Email: nee.agl@gmail.com

Project Title: Extend Maps and Semantic Maps, Add support for KML/GeoRSS, Integrate Thematic Mapping APIs, Add support for Google Earth API

Contact/ Working info
Timezone: +0530 GMT

Typical working hours: 1300-0200 (flexible)

IRC: Nealindia

IM/XAMPP: nee.agl@gmail.com

Project Summary
I am proposing a project on building and extending the Maps extension & Semantic Maps. The idea is to extend the Google Maps API, to provide support for Google Earth API, Thematic Mapping, KML and GeoRSS Support.

The Maps extension currently supports point wise display of markers on the map as well as provide support for geocoding services.

A simple example of a Thematic mapping would be: http://thematicmapping.org/api/piechart.php where the user just needs to provide the data source and then using the Google Earth APIs, the map would be drawn and relevant data (as given in the data source) would be shown.

Also, an example for GeoRSS would be where a user can use his existing Flickr account as the feed source (GeoRSS) and display it on the map.

Another proposed feature is to add directions onto the map. User would easily be able to show directions between two points on the map.

For all above features, an easy to implement way would be instrumented for the user to add a Map.

Here is a list of planned features that will be integrated in the current Maps and Semantic Maps extension:

1) Extend Google Maps API with:


 * Drawing Polylines
 * Drawing Polygones
 * Ground Overlays
 * Tile Overlays
 * Layers
 * Further geocoding features / Reverse Geocoding / Extract Structured Data / Geocoding Cache
 * Street View support / User photos capability / Querying Street View
 * KML and GeoRSS overlays
 * Traffic Overlays
 * Directions & Routes support

2) Support of Google Earth API:


 * Line String
 * Polygons
 * Ground Overlays
 * Screen Overlays
 * MultiGeometries
 * 3D models
 * Camera Controls
 * Ocean capabilities
 * Touring support
 * Time support (create video-like map)

3) Themantic Mapping API:


 * Choropleth map
 * Prism map
 * Propotional Symbol
 * Pie Chart map

4) KML and GeoRSS support for all current maps

About me
I am a third year student from BITS-Pilani India. Computer Programming is something that drives me and I have been involved in this field for the past ten years of my life and I must say that I love it! I have been involved with numerous Open source packages and I believe its time that I give back to the community by active participation.

I would love to be a part of MediaWiki and GSoC and spend my summers writing lots of code for the MediaWiki community and help them in their endeavor of making human knowledge accessible to everyone. I believe that the completion of this project would make a positive impact on the articles of Wikipedia and making it easier for people to visualize the facts about a geographical location.

I have a long experience of working with PHP, MySQL, Javascript, Ajax, C incl. Network Programming (TCP/ UDP), Java and have good knowledge of the usage of many other APIs, including Google Maps, which will help me a lot in this project.

Deliverables
I would deliver an extended version of Maps extension with the above mentioned new features.

Required deliverables
•	Extension of Google Maps API

•	Support of Google Earth API

•	Thematic Mapping

If time permits
•	Integrating other map services as well.

Project schedule
1 Week: Discussing and talking with the community

2-3 Weeks for extending with Google Maps API

2-3 Weeks for support with Google Earth API

2-3 Weeks for Thematic Mapping

1 Week for KML & GeoRSS support

1 Week for testing, documentation.

Participation
I expect to have regular chats/ conversations with my mentor for guiding me, code reviews as well as discussing new ideas as they may come up during the course of the project. I will be maintaining the code on my server for development and trial basis and committing it whenever required. I would be taking help from documentation available online, my mentor and through the IRC channel.

Past open source experience
I have a lot of experience in working with many Open Source technologies like LAMP, Java, etc Have implemented prototypes of many networking protocols like SMTP, DNS, HTTP incl. CGI support, DHCP, etc I have also coded 12 modules for the Joomla/ Virtuemart community for which the link is: www.joomla-modules.com

I have experience with the Google Maps APIs in using it for one of my project at www.streetadsite.com which involves using markers, pop-ups, geocoding services. Have mostly used JS for this and LAMP. It's still under development phase.

Any other info
I love to code most of the time in-spite of heavy academic load. I have done many courses like Artificial Intelligence, Network Programming, Object Oriented Programming, Data Processing etc which have contributed to my strong logical skills. I have won several competitions at my school and my college. Have worked on many other open source projects like WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, OpenSocial, Facebook API, Twitter API, MySpace APIs, etc.

My resume: http://www.neerajagarwal.in/upload/resume.pdf