[Geowanking] Wireless network mapping

[Mike Liebhold]

Dan,

I suggest you also check out placelab.org <http://placelab.org/> a 
rather robust system for mapping wifi, and geolocation, developed by 
Intel Labs and 'gifted' to  open source.

The beauty of the placelab approach is the database of wifi ( and other 
) beacons is downloaded to your mobile device so you can privately use 
the onboard data to determine your location without  querying a 
[surveillant] network server. It's inherently "privacy observant"

You can read a bit more here: POLS - A Privacy Observant Location System 
<http://pols.sourceforge.net/>


Andrew Turner wrote:

> Hi Dan - welcome to Geowankers!
>
> You probably should also look into Skyhook's Loki, and Navizon, both
> commercial databases of wifi points and location. PlaceLab was an
> Intel project for mapping out wifi and cells.
>
> GSMLoc.org is Christopher Schmidt's project for mapping mobile cells
> and could serve as a good example of getting good user contribute to a
> data collection system like this.
>
> Also: http://del.icio.us/tag/wifi+geolocation
> http://del.icio.us/tag/wifi+geo
>
>
> As for output - I would also suggest possible GPX (or at least point
> to a GeoRSS/KML to GPX parser) for people to easily download into
> their GPS receivers. Though GPSBabel could do the conversion & upload
> from KML.
>
> Looking forward to hearing more about the project.
> Andrew
>
> On 11/21/06, Dan Efergan <dan at subsubskills.co.uk> wrote:
>
>> Hello everyone,
>>
>> I've literally just joined the Geo list, and am diving in with a 
>> request for
>> some info.  I hope this isn't rude, and that I manage to negotiate 
>> the email
>> without pulling off some list faux pas.  I've searched the archives for
>> relevant data, of which there has been plenty, but apologies in 
>> advance if
>> i've missed something and ask again.
>>
>> I'm working with Bristol City, in the UK, to create a map of the 
>> wireless
>> networks across it's city centre.  With a reasonably small budget, my 
>> aim is
>> to create something that is open, and a first step that will be 
>> supported
>> with future development.  We plan to create both a database of network
>> information with a public API, and an online map which utilizes that 
>> info.
>>
>> (note: we understand other systems exist, namely Wigle, but it's API 
>> is not
>> supported and it's current visualization bad for general public 
>> usage. We
>> plan to output our information back into Wigle)
>>
>> An important step in creating this db, is the formats we upload and 
>> finally
>> output.  I was wondering if people here had any views to add to our 
>> current
>> research.  I'll stick specifically to the outputs (although if people on
>> this list are also involved with apps such as kismet and netstumbler, 
>> I'd
>> also like to ask questions on inputs).
>>
>> We're current swaying towards outputting data as GeoRSS, Kml, and 
>> perhaps
>> GML.  Alongside a simple cvs output.  Does this cover most angles? 
>> Are there
>> any there that just shouldn't be used, perhaps due to an obvious future
>> issue (well obvious to you), or just a lack of understanding on our 
>> part?
>>
>> Does anyone have any pointers towards current open source projects that
>> parse into these formats.  Seems crazy to rebuild parsers if they exist
>> already.
>>
>> Also, while here, we could be looking for technical support producing 
>> this
>> app, in particular for the database app mentioned above.  Working with
>> people already knowledgeable in Geo markup would be a plus, so I 
>> thought to
>> ask.
>>
>> Many thanks,
>> Dan
>>
>>
>>
>> Dan Efergan
>> dan at subsubskills.co.uk
>>
>>
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>>
>>
>>
>
>
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