"Google Maps UK Traffic Data Overlay" Greasemonkey Script

UPDATE: 29 March 2007 - This greasemonkey script no longer works, although see http://bbc.blueghost.co.uk/about_geoRss.html for an alternative.

UPDATE: 21 December 2005 - I have rewritten the code from scratch (well done a re-write based on my bbc.blueghost.co.uk project) that should work in Firefox 1.5 and Greasemonkey 0.6.4. Email me with any issues. Just install the version labelled above for FFox 1.5 + GM 0.6.4 Only. (May be bit of a memory hogger currently)

~~UPDATE: 09 December 2005~~ ~~- This script currently doesn't work with Greasemonkey 0.6.4, so use Greasemonkey 0.6.3 if you need this script.~~

The aim of this script is to add a UK Traffic Data overlay to Google Maps. It may be useful to help plan journeys, although I accept no liability for the accuracy of the data, nor does the BBC.

It uses code from my own project at http://bbc.blueghost.co.uk , and calls an GM_xmlhttpRequest to a file there to get the markers xml.

To Load the Overlay click the "Load UK Traffic"at the top of the page next to the "Directions" link.

The current loading status will be displayed to the far right of the peach strip.

Click on a marker to identify the county/city. Click the "Show Delays" to zoom in and load the delays for that area.

The status indicator will tell you what is happening. It makes a request to my server for the data and this is returned and

displayed. Subsequent calls in the same session will use data cached in an array. You can load up as many areas as you want.

Images for markers are located on my ISP (blueyonder) web space as they have 'unlimited' bandwidth.

This script and my other website is Supported by backstage.bbc.co.uk

~~UPDATE: 04 November 2005~~ - There is a new version for Firefox 1.5 and Greasemonkey 0.6.3 .
Right Click here and choose install user script (install over previous copies)

UPDATE: (14 October 05) You can now get this data on Google Earth, see this site for more info : http://bbc.blueghost.co.uk/earth/
This version may be a bit buggy - I'll get round to doing a proper update later

UPDATE: (11 October 05) Thanks to Andy Piper for telling me about the site not working in the new Google Maps site (aka Google Local). I have now updated the script to fix this and it should work on all google maps domains (e.g. maps.google.*, local.google.* etc)

UPDATE: (31 August 05) I haven't had any time to work on this since getting a job, hence no updates.

UPDATE: (31 July 05) I plan to do some more work on this this week to update it with the latest code from http://bbc.blueghost.co.uk and add some more features too.

UPDATE: I have now set the data to be fetched via a 1 hourly cron job. Originally on each request for the locations/travel data, if the data was out of date and update took place there and then - thus giving a slight delay. With the updates now being automatic there should be only a slight delay to transfer the xml file from the server to the client. You don't need to update to version 0.12 to get this fix.

About

GreaseMonkey is an extension for Mozilla Firefox.

I Found Dive Into Greasemonkey very useful in learning how to make Greasemonkey scripts.

Limitations/Bugs

Suffers the same limitations listed @ http://bbc.blueghost.co.uk/about.html
Markers need to be reloaded (click "hide" then "show") when adding directions overlays
Need to add a legend (possibly on the right hand side) for the colour coding.
Add rail indicators too like on http://bbc.blueghost.co.uk
Any others just email me at the address below

New (v0.2) Screenshots

Old Screenshots

Older Screenshots

Load/Hide link and status indicator

County/City markers loaded; A County Marker clicked; The status display when loading area traffic data;

The type of data available from an alert

Any Comments then email me @

Install (FFox 1.0.x) :Right Click here and select "Install User Script"

Install (FFox 1.5 + GM 0.6.4 Only) : Right Click here and choose install user script (install over previous copies)

Changelog

Version 0.2 - For FireFox 1.5 and Greasemonkey 0.6.4 only (may work on 1.0.x)
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21 December 2005 PM
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Fix for new greasemonkey, install older version. Includes a side panel. See screenshots for more
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Version 0.15 - For FireFox 1.5 and Greasemonkey 0.6.3 only (may work on 1.0.x)
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4 November 2005 PM
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Fix for new firefox + greasemonkey, install older version on Firefox 1.0.x
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Version 0.14
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11 October 2005
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Update for Google Local
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Version 0.12
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17th July 2005
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Update a few minor things and a URL
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Version 0.11
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16th July 2005
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Added missing function zoomOut()
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Version 0.1
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16th July 2005
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Initial release