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SURFLINE AND PADDLE2LIVE
Tracking a paddleboarder in the open ocean
Posted: 09/22/10 | Visits: 2,471
| Comments: 4 | View Comments
1. JACK SHIMKO
All around good guy, and cancer survivor, Jack Shimko is paddling 150 miles (yeah... a long freakin way...) to raise awareness and cash for cancer research. (Read the full story) Jack approached Surfline about helping out and we figured out we could do a few things - get him some press exposure, help him with forecasting using our LOLA system. (Although it seems that anything other than a major storm was unlikely to stop him). But the main thing we did was to hook up one of our maps to his tracking system so you can follow him in real-time.
2. TRACPLUS
TracPlus hooked Jack up with a SHOUT portable satellite tracking system. This feeds back position, speed, bearing, and altitude to their servers. It was then a matter of some fun coldfusion programming to get the TracPlus and Surfline Servers communicating.
3. XML
We put together a "XML Payload Exchange" with Tracplus. This enables the map to make a request for information and receive a package of XML data containing the location data. Once we've got that into our system we could display it on a Google Map.
4. MAPS
We took the basic mapping system that drives HurricaneTrak and our Custom Forecasting Tools added the location XML file from TracPlus and we can follow Jack live.
If you're interested in the Paddle 2 Live project, you can Check it out here You can also DONATE DIRECTLY through the Quiksilver Foundation
If, for some reason, you're interested in the code we wrote - drop the code monkeys a line and if they're not nerding out about the upcoming AppleTV they'll get back to you with reams of coldfusion and Javascript code. (they don't get as much email as the forecasters, so you can at least pretend you care)
Read more entries from this blog » Comments: (4) Add Your Comment
Money Mike 09/28/2010 09:43 AM * PREMIUM MEMBER - Nickname
Crrrrazzzayyyyy, guys a beast!!
Duddy Hein 09/28/2010 07:48 AM * PREMIUM MEMBER - Real Name
yeah Jack!!!!!! you are the man. Keep it up and we will all see you this weekend at home.stay strong brotha!!
Patrick Miller 09/27/2010 08:30 PM
Some warm weather for you buddy will hopefully make your journey a little easier, we will be waiting for you at the finish line in Newport.
Pete Stirling 09/27/2010 04:47 PM * PREMIUM MEMBER - Real Name
Yeah Jack! One stroke at a time will get you there everytime. Keep it up!
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