GeoGed.com Revisited

Since, I wrote my last post on "Out Of The Earth Comes Gedcom" I received a response from GeoGed.com about this post. They mentioned that they are moving as quickly as possible to include US locations, which is great news!

Johann, of GeoGed.com, wants to collaborate about suggestions from my previous post/critique. This is also good news, and I am honored to be able to work with him on this. To make this collaboration as efficient as possible, I will solicit readers of my site in this effort. So, if anyone out there has any ideas or wishes, please post them here as comments, or you can email me, and I will still give you proper credit for them.

Next, I will list, and illustrate my ideas, as I mentioned I would do in my last post...

This may get pretty technical at times, but its better to do this here in order to stir any inspiration 'out there' or feedback or whatever.

Lets start with a brief overview of a Gedcom file, and some basics about how it might be applied to Google Earth. The below is an excerpt from my Gedcom file showing my Grandfather and Grandmother on my mother's side:

0 @I7@ INDI
1 NAME Robert Edward /HUFFINE/
2 GIVN Robert Edward
2 SURN HUFFINE
1 SEX M
1 _UID 5D65A016919E134EAAD73E38EEA20BAB45C7
1 BIRT [birth]
2 DATE 4 SEP 1899
2 PLAC Van Wert Co., Van Wert, Ohio
1 DEAT [death]
2 DATE 8 SEP 1969
2 PLAC Riverside Co., Perris, CA
1 IDNO 6
1 SSN
2 PLAC
1 CHR
1 NOTE @N2@
1 FAMC @F9@
1 FAMS @F5251341@
1 FAMS @F5251099@
0 @I8@ INDI
1 NAME Dora J. /FRANCE/
2 GIVN Dora J.
2 SURN FRANCE
1 SEX F
1 _UID 0F5649CC1C37AE4889BDA860E8DD8EBD21A8
1 BIRT
2 DATE 13 JAN 1902
2 PLAC Prowers Co., Granada, Colorado
1 DEAT
2 DATE ABT 1939
2 PLAC Ft Wayne, Allen Co. Indiana
1 CONF
2 PLAC 1900 Census, Roll 21, E.D. 191(T-1035)
1 NOTE @N3@
1 FAMC @FK164@
1 FAMS @F5251341@

Notice all the PLAC entries above. Now, Google Earth, especially if your using the latest version, will support searches with just a city and state. For my interests, this is not accurate enough. Below are potential entries that could of been included above. I'm realizing, now, some shortcomings in my Gedcom file, or perhaps the software I am using to track my Family History. (I will report back on this subject another time).

Anyway, here is what's missing that would further support integration with mapping programs like Google Earth:

  n  AD DR <1234 Your Street>
    +1 CONT <ADDRESS_LINE> 
    +1 ADE1 <ADDRESS_LINE1> 
    +1 ADE2 <ADDRESS_LINE2> 
    +1 CITY <Your City>
    +1 SATE <Your State>
    +1 POST <Your zip code>
    +1 CTR <Your Country> 
  n  PHONE <PHONE_NUMBER>

So, my point is, look at what's possible with your Gedcom file to import to any type of automated Gedcom to Mapping programs. Well, since GeoGed.com is the ONLY one on this planet, you might be able to realize how leading edge this is for Genealogists. Furthermore, this program must be able to go in and extract not only the Address entries, but extract the DATE of the event, type of event (BIRT, DEAT, MAR), The NAME associated with each event/place, and of course the PLACE (location) of the event.

The question still remains; what basic information should be included in this type of program? Well, I'm all for simplicity, and presentation as my number one approach to this subject.

In Part 2, of this post, I will reveal more on presentation>>> <See Part 2>