Mileage Expenses with Google Maps

Tripcatcher

Tripcatcher is a free online mileage logger using Google Maps that should prove a great help in submitting your expenses. The application helps you keep an accurate record of your business miles which can save you money on your tax returns.

When you take a business trip Tripcatcher can calculate the distance travelled using the Google Maps API. Tripcatcher can then save the details of the trip, the mileage and other expenses for parking or tolls. If you are making multiple journeys over the same route Tripcatcher can quickly save the details for the added dates without you having yo re-enter all the details.

Currently the map is restricted to UK use because the developers are unsure about the tax rules for other countries.

Live Australian Election Map

ABC.net Interactive Map - 2010 Federal Election

The results in so far in the Australian general election make this the tightest race in decades. At the time of writing pundits are saying the results are too close to call but that it looks likely that neither the ruling Labor party nor the opposition coalition will gain the 76 seats needed to win outright.

ABC Australia have produced a Google Map to display the results of the election as they are announced. The map lets you explore Australia's 150 electorates. You can click on any of the electorates to display detailed results.

The map also includes an overlay showing the overall results and the current vote share for each of the parties. The map has buttons so that you view at a glance which electorates have changed seats and also view ABC's predictions.

Google Maps Drawing Applications

DRAWaMAP

DRAWaMAP is a Google Maps drawing application. The map is designed for mobile phone access but you can access it from your desktop as well.

The application allows you to draw lines, polygons, time polygons and map density quadtrees. It is also possible to change the colour and the weight of the lines drawn on the map. A really great feature of DRAWaMAP is that you can save a drawing to your Google MyMaps or open one of your saved MyMaps to work on.

The developer of the application says that there are even more features coming soon.

Scribble Maps

Scribble Maps is a fun map created using the Google Maps API for Flash. The map allows you to draw on Google Maps and is a quick and easy way to rapidly make and share your own maps.

Scribble Maps lets you draw shapes and scribble directly on top of a Google Map. You can also place markers and text, save your map as an image or send your map to friends. This is a great way to create a custom map if you don't want to dabble with the Google Maps API.

QuikMaps

QuikMaps is a nifty DIY Google Maps tool. The map includes a "scribble" feature that lets you doodle right on your map. The "text label" feature is pretty neat too; enter a text label, then drag it over the spot on the map you want it on.

Add some nice looking map markers, save, then gen some code for your own blog or website.

Gulf Oil Spill: Defenders of Wildlife

Since the Gulf oil spill began in April of this year, we've showcased a variety of resources related to the event. It started with a simple overlay and later led to more advanced files likethis comparison tool and Google's Crisis Response page.

The latest tool to be released comes from the "Defenders of Wildlife", in the form of an impressive "Gulf Oil Spill Response and Recovery" map.

As explained on the Google LatLong Blog, here is what makes this tool so useful:

This Gulf Oil Spill Recovery map was created using the Google Maps API and the Google Earth API. It allows any users, whether they're part of a non-profit group or concerned citizens who want to report what they observe in their backyards, to upload stories, photos and video to the common shared map. The result is an impressive illustration of all the projects - from beach cleanups to air monitoring surveys to sediment sampling - going on in the region to help rescue and restore affected species and their habitats. The map also shows numerous steps that the Obama Administration is taking to mitigate the near- and long-term impacts of the spill. As the map evolves, you'll be able to see how the marine environment and coastlines recuperate from collaborative efforts by average people, non-profit organizations and government agencies.

For more information, you can visit the Defenders of Wildlife website

More imagery from Pakistan flooding

Unlike the imagery that we showed you last week that covered a large area of Pakistan, the imagery we're showing today is quite zoomed in. However, it really shows the devastation facing the area.

This image comes courtesy of GeoEye, who published the image on their site yesterday.

Too see the imagery up close, you can view the high-res version on their site, or download this KML file to see it as an image overlay. Viewing it in Google Earth and toggling to see the before/after comparison is quite shocking.

As before, we encourage you to visit Network for Good to see how you can help with the flood relief efforts.

To 100 million and beyond with Google Maps for mobile

Almost five years ago, we launched Google Maps for mobile to help you get where you needed to go from your phone instead of a paper map. Today, more than 100 million people a month are now using Google Maps for mobile to get from point A to point B, find nearby places, and more.

Over the past five years, Maps for mobile has changed quite a bit, adding more ways to help you explore the world around you. With My Location, you can quickly find where you are on the map with or without GPS. You can put your friends on the map with Latitude. Navigationeven turns your phone into a free internet-connected navigation system with voice guidance and Street View imagery.



Lately, we’ve been especially focused on helping you find the right place at the right time. With recent additions such as Place Pages, you can now pick a nearby place by browsing information such as opening hours and review snippets for the places around you. It’s easier than ever to find those places with Search by voice or the new Places icon on Android. With this latest Android version, we’re happy to see that you’re now searching for places almost three times as often, doubling how many Place Pages are seen a day.

Search result page for Java-enabled phones in 2005 (left) and Place Page for Android-powered devices in 2010 (right).

Search experience in 2005 (left) and Places for Android-powered devices in 2010 (right).

We hope this is just the start of how Google Maps for mobile will continue to evolve and let you explore the world right from your phone. We’re always inspired by how you’re using Maps, and we’d love to hear about a time when you found the nearest mechanic for a flat tire or discovered that hidden gem of a burger joint. If you have a Google story about when Maps for mobile has helped you, please tell us about it. You can also share quick stories on Twitter@googlemobile, and we’ll share our favorite ones. From all of us here on the Google Maps for mobile team, 100 million thank yous for getting your Google Maps to go!

If you’re a business owner, help millions of people find you by claiming your free Place Page available in Google Maps and our most used mobile “app” -- Google Search. Get started atplaces.google.com/businesses.

Oregon's 1.8 Million Voters on Google Maps

Ground Game



Ground Game, from Moonshadow Mobile, is an amazing mobile phone based canvassing tool that gives access to current registered voter information via Google Maps. The tool provides political canvassers with maps of the neighborhood they are walking that show the locations of individual houses containing the voters they are targeting.

With the application you can view relevant information about voters. The application also allows campaign managers to track in real time the location of canvassers on the ground. To view the full capabilities of the application you really should view the video above.

Voter Mapping

From the same developers as Ground Game comes this Google Map of Oregon's 1.8 million voters. Using the map you can zoom in on any area of the state and instantly see voter density and voter registration. 

The Voter Mapping site uses the technology that was developed for the Ground Game app for political candidates.

Friday Fun with Google Maps

1845 London Panorama

In 1845 the London Illustrated News published a panorama of London. IanVisits.co.uk has used the CASA GMapCreator to turn it into map tiles and create a Google Map of the illustration.

Via: Digital Urban

World's Largest Geoglyph

In the USA someone claims to have driven 12,238 miles across 30 states to create a geoglyph that says 'Read Ayn Rand.'

Nick Newcomen says he created the geoglyph over 30 days. He tracked the journey with his GPS logger, turning it off between letters, and then uploaded the track to Google Earth.