[AG-TECH] Programmatic access to AG node database

[Thomas D. Uram]

Some time ago, I began to expose the AG Node Listings from 
www.accessgrid.org via a programmatic interface, after this arose in 
discussions I'd had with several people.  I've now finished a first, 
very simple version of such an interface. Using it, one can retrieve 
node information from accessgrid.org as XML, for inclusion in websites 
or other documentation, and as KML, for use with Google Maps, Google 
Earth, or anything else that consumes KML.

I'll write up a document about this interface eventually, but would like 
to include feedback on how the interface might be improved first, so 
please do send feedback.  If you use it, I'd be interested to know how.


Retrieving this information is done using URLs as follows:

    http://www.accessgrid.org/nodeinfo.php?format=xml
    http://www.accessgrid.org/nodeinfo.php?format=kml

One method of query is currently possible, using the country keyword:

    http://www.accessgrid.org/nodeinfo.php?format=xml&country=es
    http://www.accessgrid.org/nodeinfo.php?format=kml&country=es

The latter will return KML formatted data for all nodes in Spain.  Note 
that the value for 'country' is the abbreviation used for internet 
domains (TLDs). Lists of these abound on the web.

One useful thing enabled by this interface is generation of 
country-specific maps of AG nodes. To this end, one would go to 
maps.google.com, select MyMaps, create a new map, and give the URL above 
(with the appropriate country code). From the resulting map, choose the 
Link option.  An example image from GoogleMaps is below (clearly one of 
the nodes has wandered outside of Spain and needs its lat/long 
updated).  Also, there's an image from GoogleEarth of all AG nodes.

Tom











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