mapchat deliberative mapping spatial discussion (1)
MapChat is an online map-based discussion tool that allows multiple to interact with a common map, select/draw features on the map, and integrate these spatial elements into a real-time (and/or asynchronous) discussion.
MapChat is an open source tool for integrating maps with real-time (as well as asynchronous) discussions between multiple users. Expression of local knowledge is enabled through text-based, threaded chat conversations, which can be implicitly and/or explicitly integrated with references to map-based geographic locations or features. MapChat is currently in its third version of development. Its purpose is to take the proof of concept embodied by the first version , and implement it more effectively by buildi
MapChat makes use of MapServer technology and related mapping tools by DM Solutions . The third version is being designed to use OpenLayers as the client-side mapping interface. All other client-side code relies on the jQuery JavaScript library and related plugins/resources. Server-side programming uses the PHP scripting language. Map image tiling is based on the ka-Map project. The Zend Framework is used to provide a variety of enhanced resources for the server-side development. Finally, MapChat relies