WikiMapia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| WikiMapia | |
|---|---|
| Image:Wikimapia.png WikiMapia as seen in Firefox with fullscreen mode | |
| URL | www.wikimapia.org |
| Type of site | Web mapping |
| Registration | yes (not compulsory) |
| Available language(s) | 64 languages, including English |
| Owner | |
| Created by | Alexandre Koriakine and Evgeniy Saveliev |
| Launched | May 24, 2006 |
| Revenue | from AdSense |
| Current status | active |
WikiMapia is an online map and satellite imaging resource that combines Google Maps with a wiki system, allowing users to add information (in the form of a note) to any location on earth.[1] It is one of the top 1000 websites visited,[2] and has over 5 million places marked.[3] It was created by Alexandre Koriakine and Evgeniy Saveliev, and was launched on May 24, 2006 with the aim of "describing the whole planet Earth".
Contents |
[edit] Business model
The site generates some income with Google ads. In July 2007, the founders of WikiMapia decided to start looking for an investor to accomplish their plans.
[edit] Features
WikiMapia allows any contributor to add a "tag" to any location by marking out a rectangle around the location and then providing a language (to be set as default), a title, and one of the predefined location types, such as "police station", "mountain", etc.[4] Currently a total of 64 languages are supported. An optional note can be provided, as well as keyword tags, images and embedded youtube videos, which appear on the place's information window.[5] For non-rectangular places, green bordered polygons can be added. Basic tools for measuring distance and land area are available from the menu at the top of the page.
Optional user accounts were introduced in October, 2006.[6] Since then, a system has been under development whereby users can rise in status. For instance, users can vote in favor or disfavor of other users' contributions, and there are three user levels explained in the Wikimapia FAQ. In October, 2007 a forum started for discussions by registered users.[1]
Places added by new or unregistered users must be verified. Unverified places appear with a yellow outline and can be voted positive or negative on their description window. To be verified they must be at least 24 hours old and receive enough positive votes (for instance 2 positive and 0 negative).[7]
[edit] Interoperability
A GPS receiver can be connected to WikiMapia using a plug-in program (beta, download for Windows OS from WikiMapia site [2]).
Limited WikiMapia functionality is available on:
- Google Earth, using Google Earth dynamic layer in KML file.
- Google Maps Mapplets using special layer.
- Most Java-enabled cellphones using 3rd party software such as Mobile GMaps.
[edit] See also
- List of wikis
- DiaDanh.net Vietnam mashup on Google maps with more than 48,000 points of interest.
- EEmap
- Google Earth
- OpenStreetMap
- Placeopedia
- Windows Live Local
- World Wind
[edit] External links
- Wikimapia
- Wikimapia Forum for discussions
- Official Wikimapia Blog
- Matt Jones' Wikimapia Blog
- Meta.Wikimedia/about the connection with Wikipedia
[edit] References
- ^ Bear, David (2007-01-07). Getting a bird's-eye view of any place on Earth. Retrieved on 2007-11-13.
- ^ Alexa rank 821
- ^ Wikimapia Main Page. Retrieved on 2007-11-13. (See upper left corner)
- ^ Koriakine, Alexandre (2006-12-04). Place types, etc.. Retrieved on 2007-11-14.
- ^ Jones, Matt (2007-01-11). How To #5: YouTube in Wikimapia!. Retrieved on 2007-11-14.
- ^ Koriakine, Alexandre (2006-10-08). Registration started. Retrieved on 2007-11-14.
- ^ Wikimapia FAQ (2006-10-08). Retrieved on 2007-11-14.
de:WikiMapia es:WikiMapia eo:WikiMapia fa:تویکیپدیا fr:WikiMapia ko:위키매피아 hy:Վիքիքարտեզ id:WikiMapia it:WikiMapia ka:Wikimapia lt:Wikimapia mk:ВикиМапија nl:WikiMapia pl:Wikimapia pt:WikiMapia ru:WikiMapia sl:WikiMapia ta:விக்கிமேப்பியா th:วิกิแมเปีย vi:WikiMapia uk:WikiMapia zh:WikiMapia
