Geotag Website Updates with GeoRSS & MapQuest

The Expanding Realm of Mobile Internet Access

The modern internet provides unprecedented freedom of movement. Equipped with a laptop and Wi-Fi access, individuals can browse the web from virtually anywhere, such as a local café.

Smartphones, including iPhones, Blackberries, and Android devices, facilitate rapid updates to social media platforms or personal blogs. The speed of technological advancement is remarkable, fostering global connections in astonishing ways.

Geotagging Website Content: A Growing Need

Considering this increasing mobility, a desire arose to find a method for website owners and bloggers to associate website updates with specific geographical coordinates. This involves pinpointing either the user’s current location or the location relevant to the content being published.

Furthermore, the ability to display these locations visually on a map presents a compelling enhancement.

Initial Research and Challenges

The initial search for a solution began with exploration of established platforms like Google and Yahoo. Google offers geotagging functionality through its Maps API, but requires coding expertise.

Yahoo provides a more streamlined approach with Yahoo Smart Maps and its application API, yet still necessitates some level of programming knowledge.

A Coding-Free Solution from MapQuest

The objective was to identify a solution that enabled geotagging without any coding requirements, making it accessible to all website owners. Surprisingly, the answer was found with MapQuest.

This platform offers a straightforward method for geotagging website updates, eliminating the need for complex coding procedures and allowing for quick and easy implementation.

Creating a Geotagged RSS Feed

Prior to integrating with MapQuest, the initial requirement is to ensure your website or blog incorporates a "tag" within its RSS feed for each published post. This tag must specify the geographical coordinates associated with the content. The GeoRSS tag represents the most straightforward approach.

Implementation can be achieved either by directly modifying the code responsible for generating your website's XML feed to include this tag and the corresponding coordinates for each entry. Alternatively, if you utilize a Wordpress blog, several readily available geotagging plugins simplify the process considerably.

In this instance, the "Geotag" plugin developed by Boris Pulyer was selected. Installation involves placing the geotag.php file within your Wordpress plugins directory, followed by activation through the admin panel.

Upon activation, a map interface will be integrated directly into the post editing form. This tool allows users to either search for specific coordinate points corresponding to a desired location, or to simply click on the map itself to select coordinates.

As an example, coordinates representing a location off the coast of Rhode Island – latitude 40 and longitude -70 – were chosen. Saving the post automatically appends these coordinates to the RSS feed for that particular entry.

Consequently, any website or mobile application that supports "geo-enabled" blogs can leverage this location data. With the increasing trend towards GPS-location based Internet content, establishing a geotagged RSS feed positions you favorably for future developments.

Presenting Your Post Locations on a Map

Having successfully integrated the coordinates of each post into your RSS feed, the subsequent action involves embedding a map onto your website. This map will visually represent all your recent posts, marking their locations with corresponding markers. For instance, I aim to showcase the locations of news events within the U.S. that I am reporting on through my website. MapQuest provides a valuable tool for achieving this.

When defining an area on a MapQuest map – the specific location is not critical, only that it’s relevant to your content – you are presented with the option to embed the map you’ve configured. Within the embedding interface, locate and click the "Advanced Options" button to access the map’s settings.

The configuration panel allows you to adjust the map’s dimensions and zoom level, ensuring it encompasses the desired geographical region for your blog’s coverage. Scrolling down reveals a section labeled "GeoRSS Feed," which is now available thanks to the WordPress plugin you previously installed.

Simply input your blog’s RSS URL into the designated "Feed URL" field and then select "Update Feed."

Following this, copy the generated iframe embed code and paste it into the location on your site where you wish to display the map. The map will then display the coordinates of your blog posts, indicated by a small RSS icon.

An interactive element is added when a visitor moves their mouse cursor over the RSS icon. The post’s title and description from the feed will appear in a pop-up window, and clicking the link will direct them to the full blog post.

This solution is particularly appealing because it enables the creation of a dedicated page on your website. Visitors can access this page for a visual overview of the locations you’ve been covering in your posts. This functionality extends beyond blogging; you could track wildlife sightings or chart a European journey for others to follow. The possibilities of geotagging your site updates are truly expansive.

Experiment with geotagging and share your experiences. If you discover alternative or improved methods for integrating geotagged feeds, please contribute your findings!

Image Credit: ilker