Hi Paul,
I was just playing with the Google local search. They have
exposed a nice easy api for searching based on a location proximity.
http://code.google.com/apis/ajaxsearch/documentation/reference.html#_class_G
localSearch
You can set the criteria for location with these methods. The result objects
include a lat,lon as well as the name and address matching the search query.
You can use the lat,lon in your own map ( I use it over OWS layers in an svg
interface) or pass it to an embedded GoogleMap object
.setCenterPoint
.setAddressLookupMode
You will need to get an api key for each website but the result is fairly
flexible if you don't mind having the google logo on your page.
The location search is pretty useful in Europe and USA. You can search for
gas, hotel, or specific business names like Starbucks. I noticed that the
Middle East is less searchable, not much other than major City names. They
don't seem to have used the full GNS in their searchable database. I haven't
tried other areas.
If you really need to build a geocoder here is an article
<http://www.developer.com/tech/article.php/3566631>
http://www.developer.com/tech/article.php/3566631 but it is USA oriented.
It uses http://geocoder.us/, the old geocoder used with Google before their
own api was released.
randy
_____
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Paul Harwood
Sent: Friday, February 09, 2007 5:23 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Geowanking] best approach for proximity?
Hi
I wonder if anyone can help me? I am setting up a site for local shops and
local producers in the uk.
Is a postcode lookup or google maps my best option for calculating
proximity? Has anyone achieved this by IP alone? I don't have a big budget
for this and I am not an uber-geek in any sense of the phrase, so if anyone
can recommend any open source projects... (i'm working in perl), I would be
very very grateful.
Cheers
Paul
Paul Harwood
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.harwood-leon.com
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