User talk:Seth Ilys/Dot Project

Would it be possible to copy all the maps to Commons? Ausir 00:36, 19 December 2005 (UTC)

Eulonia, Georgia

Hi, I'm wondering where I should ask for a red dot map for Eulonia, Georgia. Thanks, Badagnani 20:18, 14 July 2006 (UTC)

Is this project completely defunct? Badagnani 06:15, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

Hi, just checking in again; is someone still making such maps? Badagnani 01:05, 22 November 2006 (UTC)

SVG

Please see if you can create/update these maps in SVG format, as well as forwarding this suggestion to other dot-mappers. --Geopgeop 18:29, 22 August 2006 (UTC)

Illinois

Just wanted to let you know that for some of the really small towns I have moved the dot around on the map of Illinois. I am going to post them up, if this is ok to do. Thanks. --Kranar drogin 11:38, 2 January 2007 (UTC)

Location maps

Since Wikipedia has tools to place one or more "dots" on a background map {{Location map+}} and {{Location map~}} and many Geobox/Infobox templates support Location maps within them:

For instance, Tolsona, Alaska was mentioned on User:Seth Ilys/Dot Project: |pushpin_map =Alaska |pushpin_label_position =left |pushpin_map_caption =Location within the state of Alaska |pushpin_mapsize =

See also: Commons:Category:Location_maps_of_North_America

Location maps have (2) pieces:

• Commons: Image: file, For instance:

  

  Alaska Locator Map_with_US.PNG

• Locator template {{Location map USA Alaska}}

which specifies the Latitude of top and bottom, and Longitude of the left and right edges of the Image file.

To me, since approximate coordinates can place a dot anywhere on a Locator background map, it is more useful to create more blank Locator Maps without the dots, for instance for the lower administrative boundaries/levels (in the U.S. counties, boroughs (Alaska) or Parishes (Louisiana).

Secondarily, be cautious of map sources. Many US Locator maps seem to be based on map images downloaded from U.S. Census Bureau FactFinder which do not always match reality. The United States Geological Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and United States Army Corps of Engineers would be better (more accurate maps sources). In particular, the Census Bureau maps for Alaska are not particularly accurate when you zoom in even to Borough (county) boundaries within the state, the US Census maps seem okay for Ohio though.

I have only checked the border alignments of Alaska and Ohio, the latter had needed some tweaks to line up (currently they both align with verifiable border coordinates).

Location maps either need better sub-categorization or names which can be followed from left to right (like the template name: Location map USA Alaska). Alaska should have Location maps for the Boroughs: Aleutians East, Anchorage, Bristol Bay, Denali, Fairbanks North Star, Haines, Juneau, Kenai Peninsula, Ketchikan Gateway, Lake and Peninsula, Matanuska-Susitna, North Slope, Northwest Arctic, Sitka, Skagway, Wrangell, Yakutat. Which would get named: "USA Alaska Aleutians East", "USA Alaska Anchorage" ... LeheckaG (talk) 11:39, 28 July 2008 (UTC)