Space Data Wiki Options

[MouseOnMars]

Hello,

The project "Space Data Wiki" is looking for help, volunteers, kind words, ideas, and constructive criticism.

To explain Space Data Wiki. Think of SDW as the Wikipedia of the visual exploration of space images. A user can add a comment to some interesting or notable feature which will start a new wiki page visible in the comment bubble ... the same bubbles you might have seen in Google Earth. They will be able to share that comment and area of the image on Facebook, or upload the image area to Flickr. Many other possible social interactions are possible using the application layers and toolsets provided by the social web.

I have a Web Map Server already setup using Geoserver and I am in the process of developing the SDW web app using Open Layers. I am using the HiRise feed published by Ross Beyer of the HiRise team. I am working on projecting a HiRise jp2 image onto my map to experiment with the commenting. The NASA / Google agreement will eventually furnish us with a full Mars web map service including all the HiRise images as well as other sources. These data sources will be used in SDW. The commenting system can be cross application. I already have a development plugin in NASA Worldwind to allow commenting using that. The comments could also be fed to Google Earth (set up to show Mars).

So my "mission" is to make exploration as accessible as possible, but also a social endeavour.

[MouseOnMars]

Hello volcanopele .

It sounds like you've already understood the project.

Yes, it will be like Google Earth for other planets (not just Mars). People will be able to add a comment about a particular location. The action of adding a comment will start a new wiki page where text and other media can be added. Contributions can be shared on the social networking sites.

You can't actually directly add a comment in Google Earth that is publicly shared. This is why I have a plugin in development for NASA Worldwind where the user clicks on a location directly on the globe to add a comment. The project will have a core database and Web Map Server that can talk to Google Earth, Worldwind and Open Layers (google maps like, open source app), so as many people as possible can participate. For example they won't HAVE to use Worldwind if they have limited hardware.

My first intention was to concentrate on public participation, but as the study I posted shows, there are some powerful leveraging possibilities with "in house" use of social networking systems.

I hope that makes more sense.