ncParksMap

The program linked to below creates a .kml file suitable for use with Google Earth or Google Maps, which contains markers for the North Carolina Parks, mainly the North Carolina State Parks, along with some associated weather information. The .kml file itself is updated every few hours, to keep the weather data current.

For more information on the NC State Parks, please check out their extensive web site NC Division of Environment and Natural Resources - Division of Parks and Recreation.

ncParksMap.kml - the .kml file to use with Google Earth, or view the .kml file in Google Maps.

ncParksMap.csv - source file of easily parseable (CSV) map data

build-ncParksMap.rb - Ruby program to build the .kml file from the source file

Updates

2008/09/29 - version 0.6

• Converted to use a .csv file instead of other oddly formatted file. Actually, I want to have it read a Google Spreadsheet document live, but haven't figured it out yet.
• Added a few new parks.

2007/01/07 - version 0.5

• Converted to use heredoc wherever I could, for cleanliness
• Display scraped time in local instead of UTC

2007/01/06 - version 0.4

• Added a link for each park to the geotagged photos at Flickr

2007/01/05 - version 0.3

• Added an empty Snippet to each park, which means that first bit of the description doesn't show up in Google Earth's navigator.
• Added an icon for the parks; a tree in a yellow circle framed in black. Only showing up for Google Earth right now, not Google Maps.

2007/01/04 - version 0.2

• added a date/time stamp to the park description data, to get a sense for how 'current' the weather information is.

2007/01/02 - version 0.1

• initial release.