tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59131145482651824522024-03-05T04:43:36.066+00:00Dear Green Blog - The team behind Glasgow's Green MapWe are developing a web based 'Green Map' for Glasgow city, Scotland. The Green Map initiative aims to help people develop eco-friendly maps both paper and web based to help people make the the best use of the reuse facilities in their city.
The Map comes in a printed version, plus a web site relying on the Google Maps API. We aim to have a very visual searchable interface where members of the community can search within their designated areas.Kevin McDonaghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01373881288582288214noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913114548265182452.post-51229762430773698362008-02-02T08:49:00.000+00:002008-02-02T08:52:52.892+00:00Cracking Commercial Waste Recycling – 25th February 2008<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrT2pMj3Q7S3W450iaksskcSwmmNbUw64_dHVOFOF6HlBYM7ik-JirYNGAJyGxYK5XI89pt6VJM3zfOZC6-hhxOulDIWvelbqSv_zhKlk2qFSsBu7sgK2r2gBbxdKoIpxCsPCydt5bg/s1600-h/images.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrT2pMj3Q7S3W450iaksskcSwmmNbUw64_dHVOFOF6HlBYM7ik-JirYNGAJyGxYK5XI89pt6VJM3zfOZC6-hhxOulDIWvelbqSv_zhKlk2qFSsBu7sgK2r2gBbxdKoIpxCsPCydt5bg/s320/images.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162303097372983202" /></a><br />Cracking Commercial Waste Recycling – 25th February 2008<br /><br />The Caledonian Environment Centre are organising a series of seminars, the fourth of which will be ‘cracking Commercial Waste Recycling’ The seminar will be held on Monday, 25th February 2008 , in the William Harley Building, Main City Campus, Glasgow Caledonian University, Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow G4 0BA.<br /><br />Scotland’s Councils have made tremendous advances in increasing municipal waste recycling performances to over 30% by the end of the first half of 2007. Although the bulk of the success has been achieved on the back of household waste recycling strategies the UK Government originally accepted that the definition of ‘municipal waste’ includes commercial waste collected by the Councils and this latter stream therefore falls within the diversion targets set out in the EU Directive on Landfill, and the recycling targets announced recently.<br /><br />Council commercial waste collection services differ from household collections in that there is no obligation on businesses to use the Councils’ services. Councils must offer commercial waste collection services if requested (and must also demonstrate that full cost recovery measures are in place). Commercial waste arisings are subject to far greater variations in volumes and frequencies.<br /><br />The Scottish Government has set municipal waste recycling targets for Councils to meet or exceed 40% by 2010; 50% by 2013; 60% by 2020; and 70% by 2025 and there is considerable debate about the country’s ability to achieve this given the current legislative and financial regimes. The fact that the private sector handles a significant amount of Scotland’s commercial waste means that they have a major role to play if the successes secured by the Councils are to be emulated. This seminar will examine commercial waste recycling in all its aspects and try to identify the limiting factors which will have a bearing on success or otherwise.<br /><br />This 1 day seminar brings key stakeholders in the waste sector to consider the options for recycling commercial waste. Programme Details here.<br /><br />Attendees should be prepared to contribute to the discussion session.<br /><br />Audience numbers will be limited to 50 on a ‘first come’ basis.<br /><br />If you would like to attend the seminar, please complete the attached form and return to Mary Harley by fax on 0141 273 1430 or email to m.harley@gcal.ac.uk. Download the booking form here.<br /><br />I look forward to hearing from you.<br /><br />Yours sincerely<br /><br /> <br /><br />Mary<br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br />Mary Harley<br /><br />Office Manager<br /><br />Caledonian Environment Centre<br /><br />Glasgow Caledonian University<br /><br />5th Floor, Buchanan House<br /><br />Cowcaddens Road<br /><br />Glasgow G4 0BA<br /><br /> <br /><br />T: +44 (0) 141 273 1404<br /><br />F: +44 (0) 141 273 1430<br /><br />E: m.harley@gcal.ac.uk<br /><br />W: www.caledonian.ac.uk/environmentUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913114548265182452.post-84117469241534271432008-01-29T22:40:00.000+00:002008-01-29T22:41:52.079+00:00Dear Green Place Film NightPlanting Trees and Facing Detention – Children’s Lives in Glasgow: a film night for the Dear Green Place, at 7pm on Wednesday, 6th February 2008, CCA cinema (CCA 4)<br />Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA), 350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow<br />Admission free (but ticketed)<br /><br />Three short films presenting experiences of children sharing the benefits of planting fruit trees and facing the harsh reality of detention<br /><br />1) Planting A Tree directed by Jenny Brown, Margaret Macintosh and Ruth Glen, in 2007. Two pupils from Rosepark Learning Centre in Glasgow show other pupils how to plant a tree.<br /><br />2) The Wee Apple – Carbon offset you can eat directed by The Children’s Garden,<br />Glasgow Botanic Gardens, 2007. The Wee Apple inspires Young People to eat, dream, think fruit and save the planet.<br /><br />3) Unjust Treatment – Detention of children in Britain, directed by Peter Ross, Chiaroscuro, in 2007. A film about the detention of children in Britain and how it affects them and their families<br /><br />Total running time: 18 minutes.<br /><br />The films will be introduced by Martha Wardrop, with representatives from Save the Children and the Children’s Garden. There will be time for discussion regarding the children experiences of growing fruit trees and the affects of detention following the films.<br /><br />Tickets will be available on the night of the screening, but if you wish to get one in advance please contact the CCA box office a week or so before the screening. All tickets are free.<br /><br />CCA box office: 0141 352 4900<br /><br /><br />Martha Wardrop<br />Email: martha_glasgow@yahoo.co.uk<br />Tel: 07854 817 665Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913114548265182452.post-37352728826426785302008-01-21T20:47:00.000+00:002008-01-21T20:48:44.891+00:00World Green Maps on YoutubeHi, Wendy thought this might be of interest to Green Mappers<br /><br /><br />http://youtube.com/profile?user=greenmapsystemUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913114548265182452.post-80158732995189579672008-01-17T19:28:00.000+00:002008-01-17T19:35:31.358+00:00How can we integrate sustainable housing and regeneration?”Dear Colleague<br /><br /> <br /><br />We are pleased to attach a flyer inviting you to attend a forthcoming masterclass and practice event on “How can we integrate sustainable housing and regeneration?” which is taking place at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre on Thursday 28 February 2008. <br /><br /> <br /><br />If you wish to attend then please complete the on-line booking form, you will find the link to the form on page three of the flyer. You will receive an email shortly after you register, confirming your place and a delegate pack which includes workshop choice form and directions to the venue. <br /><br /> <br /><br />Please Register for SCR monthly e-bulletin.<br /><br /> <br /><br />If you have any problems registering then please contact screvents@idoxplc.com.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Kind regards<br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br />Cathie Pringle <br /><br />SCR Events <br /><br />Tel: 0141 574 1906Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913114548265182452.post-56715125254008781252007-12-06T19:35:00.001+00:002007-12-06T19:39:37.474+00:00Green map christmas shin dig<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiv77MjPYxT64-oFyQRTaU-pMWtsFhJzefOzmzs8EHmZibZ5f_tesUUIdrmO5RqWIOzSZW72TwI9HTFRDXB1Ht5Ab8_drMkT5kjxYaDzQrd5ceW1fvk8Nuh9X6TlAaOkK14TeXzoVjJQ/s1600-h/story.crosby.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiv77MjPYxT64-oFyQRTaU-pMWtsFhJzefOzmzs8EHmZibZ5f_tesUUIdrmO5RqWIOzSZW72TwI9HTFRDXB1Ht5Ab8_drMkT5kjxYaDzQrd5ceW1fvk8Nuh9X6TlAaOkK14TeXzoVjJQ/s320/story.crosby.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140946803288292098" /></a><br />Ho Ho Ho, tis time for a bit of Christmas cheer…...Barrrrr humbug!!<br /><br />To celebrate the season, Team Green Map have booked two lanes at AMF bowling, 1-39 Springfield Quay, Glasgow G5 8NP. Meet at the entrance (inside) between 6:30 and 7pm, Thursday 13th December (next Thursday).<br /><br />Bring friends, relatives and anyone else you think might be up for a bit of bowling. There will be a few festive drinks and the option of going for food after.<br /><br />http://www.amfbowling.co.uk/centres/details.aspx?centreID=6<br /><br />Look forward to seeing you there.<br /><br />Cheers HannahUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913114548265182452.post-84863778437287686032007-11-22T19:35:00.000+00:002007-11-22T19:41:57.684+00:00Spruce Carpet SaleSpruce Carpet, Scotland's only carpet recycling enterprise is having a one day sale. Rugs, carpets, carpet tile, dozens of half price bargains,<br /><br /><br />Sat 24 November - 10am - 3pm<br /><br />308 Broomloan Road, Govan. See Contact Us page for directions.<br /><br />http://www.sprucecarpets.org.uk/news.htmlUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913114548265182452.post-57419370543225170512007-11-22T18:59:00.000+00:002007-11-22T19:33:43.267+00:00Community Recycling debatedThe Glasgow Wood Project, and community recycling in general, was debated in the Scottish parliament on 21 November, in a members' business debate.<br /><br />A motion was put forward by Glasgow SNP MSP Bill Kidd, who said in the debate: "Sad to say, there are at present only two wood recycling projects in Scotland - one in Glasgow and one in Edinburgh.<br /><br />"The Glasgow Wood Recycling Project is modelled on one in Brighton that now collects around 450 tonnes of waste timber a year.<br /><br />"That is a fantastic achievement for a community-based project.<br /><br />"The Glasgow project has a three-year plan to become a self-sustaining wood reuse and recycling business through the collection of wood from businesses, schools and households."<br /><br />Mr Kidd also called for a one stop shop for environment projects: "There are too many hoops to jump through and no joined up idea of what funding is available. I want to see a one stop shop, which does these things, frees up time and encourages more people to set up new initiatives."<br /><br />The debate was congratulated by a number of MSPs and the Minister for Environment Michael Russell.<br /><br />Mr Russell said: "The Scottish Government recognises the valuable role that the community recycling sector plays in helping to deliver our objective of a greener Scotland.<br /><br />"When the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth delivered his remarkable and most successful budget, he announced that, for the years 2008 to 2011, the Scottish Government would make £63 million available to the third sector for a development programme and £30 million available for direct investment through the Scottish investment fund.<br /><br />www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-07/sor1121-02.htm#Col3628Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913114548265182452.post-89720174288137013212007-11-12T21:25:00.003+00:002007-11-12T21:31:35.701+00:00Whatta waste<p>"The UK sent 22.6 million tonnes to landfill in 2004-5...This contrasted with 17.6 million tonnes from Italy, Spain which dumps 14.2 million tonnes, 12 million tonnes from France and Poland which dumps 8.6 million tonnes." ...<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2007/11/12/earubbish212.xml">Read the full article here</a></p><br /><p>Now, I'm sure its true but for future reference and to show we're not spouting idle chit chat:<br /><ul><br /><li><a href="http://statistics.defra.gov.uk/esg/">Recyclying and reuse stats from Defra</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://www.defra.gov.uk/">Defra</a></li><br /></ul><br /></p><br /><p>I couldn't find these specific statistics but we should definetly digg for interesting tid bits and facts. There is a lot of info in there that marries with us well.</p>Kevin McDonaghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01373881288582288214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913114548265182452.post-45389089254268153992007-09-17T08:18:00.000+01:002007-09-17T08:21:07.201+01:00Writers for a greener place and Camera Juan<h2>Writers</h2><br />As I mentioned last week, we're looking for writers.<br />We need people within Glasgow to excite others about the possibilities of reuse in their community.<br />We want some stand out individuals who can voice strong opinions on the current opportunities (or lack of) in Glasgow.<br />We're not interested in just shouting about it like lunatic eco warriors, thats not what we're about. Dear green place wants the attention of some conscientious people who would like to contribute to making a difference.<br /><br />If you would like to write for deargreenplace.org please get in contact with us via info@deargreenplace.org<br />We'd like to soon have a short series of articles on the subject of "Recycling & reuse in Glasgow" how you interpret that would be up to yourself.<br />Outside of this blog, adverts have been locally circulated with the community recycling forum and will soon be passed around via Glasgow's "Lighthouse" art venue.<br /><br /><h2>New Navigation</h2><br />Now that we have dwindled down the categories to the bare essentials we're looking to beef them up (sorry veggies). But how are we going to accommodate all this info?<br />Our map navigation can be seen at http://dev.deargreenplace.org<br /><br />The idea here is that you are switching your search context via the navigation as opposed to a form.<br />The benefits of this are that the user is presented with less superfulous information and has less form boxes to change on a new search.<br />One worry is that this will not be clear enough and confuse people as to what is being displayed.<br />There is a lot of information to be both displayed or hidden and we want to get the balance just right.<br />I've looked to take our inspiration from other sites like Digg who process a lot of information hourly. Looking at the differences between the two(http://www.digg.com/)<br /> we can see that there is a visual indicator of what the bottom categories are on the front page.<br /><br />After selecting any one of the categories it seems enough to just highlight the chosen category. I believe this is because once a user has chose a category it is taken for granted that this user now understands the relevance of the newly presented sub categories.<br />After the this there is colouring and a little separator which communicates the heading and links. This orginsiation of information is something that we can learn from and I'll work to see how the nav can change in order to make finding eco resources in Glasgow super duper easy!<br /><br /><h2>New categories</h2><br />So now we're thinking to move into food and events and Food What are we going to keep info about on these categories though?<br />Food: organic, farmers markets, local produce<br />An event: Name,location,time&date,tags,desc,pictures,ticket price,related events,contact,recurring<br /><br /><br /><h2>Where are you Juan?</h2><br />Where are you Juan? We've started with the videos and we need our camera Juan.Kevin McDonaghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01373881288582288214noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913114548265182452.post-29550134582597226732007-09-12T08:58:00.000+01:002007-09-13T19:46:30.725+01:00Govan Hill needs a bit of a clean up.<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/po-LWpUpVJ4"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/po-LWpUpVJ4" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>Kevin McDonaghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01373881288582288214noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913114548265182452.post-3511214626615472072007-09-08T10:14:00.000+01:002007-09-08T10:32:56.615+01:00Meeting #29<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDPz0r8TzyU4L9tC67e2Oh-kW9agDoKXJuyeMPyQBvfpE9GSJK88wUgTJn9O13zWdAgBGT78gf1gmquhqzffEi1va_mn2uRC460nxUeP88RerWH0UlCUycE1tUf0oeW-nWRq4IGqAxs7Q/s1600-h/girlsreadingmap.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDPz0r8TzyU4L9tC67e2Oh-kW9agDoKXJuyeMPyQBvfpE9GSJK88wUgTJn9O13zWdAgBGT78gf1gmquhqzffEi1va_mn2uRC460nxUeP88RerWH0UlCUycE1tUf0oeW-nWRq4IGqAxs7Q/s400/girlsreadingmap.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107763740727320802" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />It went like this: <br /><h3>Periodicals</h3><br />Blogging the weekly meetings is one thing but we need regular, engaging content. Dear green place wishes to be taken seriously as a major force for pushing green issues to the fore front of Glasgow public awareness so we're going to need the kind of people that can start those fires in peoples hearts. Enlisting the help of writers will be a huge but greatly rewarding task. We need not necessarily only commission new work as there is plenty of pertaining content already available, we could also secure the rights to reprint certain articles with the kind permissions of the owner. There will be a whole host of ways to capture the interest of writers and as always we're open to ideas. Until we do secure the regular writers it's important to make our best efforts in generating this content to the best of our abilities.<br /><br /><h3>Vodcasts</h3><br />Video blogging (vodcasts) is relatively new in the whole scheme of web trends and has only recently been possible with widespread broadband web connections. Brandon took the initiative last week and set himself up in the first glasgow green map interview (You can see it here). We'd like to carry on this trend by getting our 'in housecamera Juan' to start making his way through a series of interviews with each of the green map volunteers to get their angles on to the phenomenon of green mapping and of course deargreenplace.org. A great bonus would be if we could enlist the time of an impartial third party journalist for the task.<br /><br /><h3>Analytics</h3><br />We were suprised to find there hadn't been as many visits as we'd hoped. Only 118 unique visits to the actual map as of the time of writing! At first this was a little disconcerting but really this highlights quite an exciting prospect. After a little reflection it makes a lot of sense that we're not receiving these visits, the majority of our visits came directly from google from people searching for words like 'recycling', 'second hand shops' and of course 'Glasgow'. The very reason that there is a need for deargreenplace.org is because there are not enough everyday Glaswegians talking and taking to heart environmental issues so we can't very well expect them to be searching for it ahead of Brittany Spears on google. That will be one more visit since I just mentioned her.<br /><br /> Every week we're in the eye of a quietly gathering storm but the storm in all its immensity has still to hit Glasgow's collective consciousness after nearly 8 months work. When it finally does hit, thats when we've begun to achieve our original goals.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihINaQonZvIgphRGwHfFnrpdZs0RfmO46qGOMIVQ1jj3xBlblCiMkvUOASTIkDmL5UjeHA5RlBzOB8vAEFzZpRD4bRKTwX37e0YSGkGLMPrR4J8_qKVKGYZ6w-0apOkYfFCxVUemmA5VGS/s1600-h/kevjoe.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihINaQonZvIgphRGwHfFnrpdZs0RfmO46qGOMIVQ1jj3xBlblCiMkvUOASTIkDmL5UjeHA5RlBzOB8vAEFzZpRD4bRKTwX37e0YSGkGLMPrR4J8_qKVKGYZ6w-0apOkYfFCxVUemmA5VGS/s320/kevjoe.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107763500209152210" /></a><br /><br /><br /><h3>Glasgow Green Events</h3><br />We'll soon be implementing our events syndication area of deargreenplace.org where events of all the known Glasgow orginisations will be advertised. We'd very much appreciate if peeps could start getting in the habit of notifying us about any events well beforehand so we can do our best to advertise it to as many interested parties as possible.<br /><br /><br /><h3>New Design bits</h3><br />We whittled down some of the categories, spoke about the forth coming design changes. In other news, Franki is currently troubled by a ghostly disc. No matter though, she taken an oodle load of shop pics which Kevin snatched to upload on to the internets. <br /><br /><h3>Press release</h3><br />The current press release describes our aims well but has no mention of the online map. We going to have to become more press and community facing if we wish to gain more public support and so we'll need to assemble a more comprehensive press pack complete with pictures names numbers and addresses, both physical and online. We changed a few things and then I said I'd add it to our Planner for future amendment.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpImAYDnzRJLIANJVNkbXrCeDmx9K7lcEAfVRs5j03zZcT9WnAWzhg7gRiaUZRZ-PRId9HOAeAfj50RcxkxsDEzw9mkq34U21due1JK0h6Is0td1NqZJuvmKgFxkXAW2EeTWbrMg6Xx4sa/s1600-h/hello.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpImAYDnzRJLIANJVNkbXrCeDmx9K7lcEAfVRs5j03zZcT9WnAWzhg7gRiaUZRZ-PRId9HOAeAfj50RcxkxsDEzw9mkq34U21due1JK0h6Is0td1NqZJuvmKgFxkXAW2EeTWbrMg6Xx4sa/s200/hello.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5107762409287458978" /></a><br /><h3>Govan Green Space</h3><br />Hannah will repping the green map this Saturday in at the Govan green space event in (a park). You'll be able to find her and maybe Frankie there in a little yellow hut. So go and say hi!<br /><br />In <span style="font-weight:bold;">ELDER PARK, GOVAN FROM 12 - 4PM ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 8TH</span>.<br />Only 10min walk from Govan underground, just through the Clyde tunnel from Partick!<br /><br /><br /><h3>Marketing</h3><br />We want to get out there! Up and coming we have the joy that is Glasgow's legendary... freshers week. We should do our best to promote ourselves very openly to those who will most likely be the beneficiaries and biggest supporters of second hand shops in Glasgow for the next years! Just targeting the big three should be enough, Glasgow uni, Starhclyde and the Arty School. Also we have an open day coming up for the ekectron club coming up in October. It would be a really nice opportunity to mingle with all our fellow club mates and do our bit in repping the Electron club. Additionally, we could take advantage of the situation to garner a little public feed back and usability testing.<br /><br />For the life of me I can't remember the tasks. But for those who got them, I'll add them to the planner.<br />Go, go you gosh darned green guys.Kevin McDonaghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01373881288582288214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913114548265182452.post-35230209163650013662007-09-07T16:36:00.000+01:002007-09-07T16:37:13.461+01:00Govan Green Zone Sat 8 SeptemberIN ELDER PARK, GOVAN FROM 12 - 4PM ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 8TH.<br />ONLY TEN MINS WALK FROM GOVAN UNDERGORUND, JUST THROUGH THE CLDE TUNNEL FROM PARTICK!<br /><br />LOTS TO FIND OUT ABOUT - REUSE, RECYCLING - MAKING JEWELLERY FROM RECYCLED STUFF, GLASS PAINTING, PLANT A DAFFY BULB IN A POT FOR THE SPRING - FIND OUT ABOUT ECO PAINTS! A FREE SHOP - COME AND SEE WHAT YOU CAN FIND( FOR FREE), GLASGOW WOOD RECYCLING PROJECT, INFO ON COMPOSTING, SPRUCE CARPETS, STARTER PACKS GLASGOW - THE SUNNY GOVA RADIO ROADSHOW! LUV TEXTILE RECYCLING CRFAT GROUP - GLAGAEL AND THEIR SUSTAINABLE TRADITOINAL CRAFTS, BULLWOOD WOODTURNERS<br />THE CRE8 BUS, C SPACE, GREATER GOVAN ENVIRONMENT TRUST , GREENPEACE, SWAG, FREINDS OF THE EARTH!<br />TELL US WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT CLYDESIDE DEVELOPMENT<br /><br />look at myspace/govan greenzone<br /><br />SEE YOU THERE! THIS IS A COMMUNITY LED EVENT, PLEASE SHOW YOUR SUPPORT!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913114548265182452.post-84325995864510363542007-09-03T21:06:00.000+01:002007-09-04T00:57:30.247+01:00Meeting #28<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KvxqmyFQcXo"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KvxqmyFQcXo" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br /><br />Ok this is a bit of brain dump because I want to get some stuff done for the map. So daddadaddaaa heeeeres last week.. <br /><br />Hannah had been working like an industrial weave machine at the turn of the 20th century, so she was feeling fairly knackered. <br />Regardless, she had pushed on with a killer submission to this years "Eco-Prize" which we should quite rightly win, if only for having the prettiest collection of eco-friendly faces.<br /><br />Our newest recruit Beth pointed out the rather daunting fact that so far there is no mention of recycling no the map!<br /><br />We discussed potential problems following the actual release of the map. Now that the map is released how are we going to make sure that reuse facilities and retailers are pushing it to their full benefit? how can we engage them into continued discussions? <br />How can we incent them to help us help them?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL1SbWMAVO0U-1KcvHAiT_6E9GtJpQPSkzRC6KxNNzDfiw8JKGMZcKAIVQbDpbp06xC3_-SsChxaahg2x53Is77vg_zPrHgEF_dcag80FbtDSm0l0XqVDXdiJu1hFjQNljtloZvcNaW1dT/s1600-h/beth.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL1SbWMAVO0U-1KcvHAiT_6E9GtJpQPSkzRC6KxNNzDfiw8JKGMZcKAIVQbDpbp06xC3_-SsChxaahg2x53Is77vg_zPrHgEF_dcag80FbtDSm0l0XqVDXdiJu1hFjQNljtloZvcNaW1dT/s320/beth.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106090790835986578" /></a><br /><span style="display:block; font-size:0.8em; text-align:center; margin:0 auto 0 auto">Hey Beth!</span><br /><br />Brendan, bless his soul was eager to excite us all to jump into the food game. It is indeed an excellent idea to start getting some sort of organic/vegan restaurant icons on the map, but right now? Maybe we should start getting the model in order by which to collect that data and have a good think about how we can successfully build and maintain it as a relevant a resource.<br />We have to go away and have a think about how we can get that data. Who is already collecting that data? How can we incent organic restaurants/suppliers to provide us with that data? <br />How will we decide on what qualifies as a organic retailer/supplier? A good idea was that of having a percentage based system where we could deduce an organic retailer by the ratio by which they sold organic food.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74KVd4jy92Njr8J1jpZ7a_e9y0wH3ulXVITQOJozNIErn1f8S3FbAf0CtLvyVFznL5OBysJy1vcUK0lzYHPFLYWtZDb4drLmZxNKDoyIrJkw7MzUF0y5I0Dn2wibtXlDe8ah2MybdctOu/s1600-h/joeGez.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0 auto 0 auto; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74KVd4jy92Njr8J1jpZ7a_e9y0wH3ulXVITQOJozNIErn1f8S3FbAf0CtLvyVFznL5OBysJy1vcUK0lzYHPFLYWtZDb4drLmZxNKDoyIrJkw7MzUF0y5I0Dn2wibtXlDe8ah2MybdctOu/s320/joeGez.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106090387109060738" /></a><br /><span style="display:block; font-size:0.8em; text-align:center; margin:0 auto 0 auto">Here are Joe and Gerry, posing in their best 'programmer think' pose.</span><br /><br />Then peeps started contributing into the mix where we could find some of this data, suggesting that it may just be an effort to collect and collate.<br />Hannah suggested Green city. Beth suggested about Hugh Fearnley whittingstall who reputably is a Chef with lists of suppliers in the back of his books?<br />Post a list of orginisations for food.<br /><br />We discussed the idea of the green map as a hub for all eco activity in Glasgow, and that it may just to be organic in its growth like it has been so far as the green map so far is not comprehensive enough to demand such a title. A good initial move towars that area would be to get an event RSS feed onto the site in the guise of "Green Events in Glasgow"<br />It would be nice to get to a position where we could start educating people a little in recycling, not that they don't know but just help the effort to push it to the forefront.<br /><br />Joe exclaimed - "We need some media on the front page!, Media, whats all this writing?!!! No more writing, pictures."<br />To which Brendan and myself jumped up and said we would indeed project our greenest mappest feelings on to the web.<br /><br /><br />EVERYONE - Boil down sub categories<br />FRANKI - Add photos to usb<br />KEVIN - write page for auto dev build page<br />KEVIN - refactor button down to one<br />JOE - implement A-Z<br />CHRIS - Address parser<br />Hannah - Overview of categories<br />JOE - Implement Glasgow green events<br />BRENDAN - review categories and add movie<br />KEVIN - Add gerry to set up planner,repo,xplanner<br />GERRRY - add linux set up guide.<br />GERRY - setup localhost<br />KEVIN - add rake to docs<br />KEVIN - vishar to xplanner<br />VISHAR - data extractor for excel<br />KEVIN - Add Beth, James & Gerry to plannerKevin McDonaghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01373881288582288214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913114548265182452.post-75583708062338333392007-08-18T18:15:00.000+01:002007-08-18T18:41:26.121+01:00Meeting #26 Usability testingContinuing to find out how our map fares up against the real world we had the help of some reuse organizationally related peeps. They turned up specially to help us with a bit of usability testing. All our regular volunteers now wise in the ways of usability attempted to extract all elements which frustrated them about our current Glasgow Green mapping solution.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirgpkGKdrsCmwIO9fr-HWRRHRB5iDVnuDXoaP-AppzuLCsGRDp-E1EWqjMCUtoDEyGy-ufGefs8Ui9oOPED0u3Y5k_YG9CX28eJOe527hKaa2VS9_GXv52DHuJjnJYmFUJ7x0LiPYNMaxj/s1600-h/pic1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirgpkGKdrsCmwIO9fr-HWRRHRB5iDVnuDXoaP-AppzuLCsGRDp-E1EWqjMCUtoDEyGy-ufGefs8Ui9oOPED0u3Y5k_YG9CX28eJOe527hKaa2VS9_GXv52DHuJjnJYmFUJ7x0LiPYNMaxj/s320/pic1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5100095905549000802" /></a><br /> <br /><br />Everyone seems to be right in the swing of things now an usability testing is becoming a very productive process. The good news is that all of the previous issues from the previous two weeks weren't even touched upon because they are a usability dream.<br /><br />So here are the results summed up of our tests:<br /><br /><h2>User #1 Erin, 20's, Helper: Brendan</h2><br /><ul><br /><li>Go buttons can be merged into one</li><br /><li>Bag picture should link to map while that page exists</li><br /><li>move marker to postcode isn't understood well</li><br /><li>users could confirm postcodes and details on map</li><br /></ul><br /><br /><h2>User #2 Paul, 30's, Helper: Sara</h2><br /><ul><br /><li>Feels good about using map</li><br /><li>needs more explanation</li><br /><li>fix back button</li><br /><li>make submit buttons bigger</li><br /><li>more icons like DIY</li><br /><li>Street search needed</li><br /><li>Auto completion</li><br /><li>Shop owners and finders distinction</li><br /><li>Combine go buttons</li><br /><li>entering postcode needs to be made clearer</li><br /><li>home area for map?</li><br /></ul><br /><br /><h2>User #3 Alex, 20's, Helpers: Kevin & Vichar</h2><br /><ul><br /><li>Easy to achieve common tasks</li><br /><li>Good info coverage in details</li><br /><li>Simple searches</li><br /><li>more help with tasks to help suggest how to use the map</li><br /><li>Needs an A-Z directory</li><br /><li>Auto completion of streets in Glasgow</li><br /><li>Is everything on there? Not sure of completion of info?</li><br /><li>Back doesn't work</li><br /><li>No feedback for last search</li><br /></ul><br /><br />Woo! Lots of good feedback but what can we deduce from it fair green mappers? Well I'd say that we're definitely in need of describing the information on the map more. Everyone realises it's a map with resuable stuff on it but what does that mean to them? What is that going to do for their lives? We have to start putting them into the picture, help them visualize how to use the map. We've spoke in the past about breaking the map into three concepts: what is this?, give something and buy something. So these are going to be moved to the front of the map.<br /><br />Also we need signaling of where users are searching, we need more feedback of what they are looking at with icons and maybe more visual feedback.<br /><br />Wooo, go green mappers. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZx0sNXeBfdReNUCmEa7858s2v32sNDn2YHMLcYD8EB7jJIbdAAjePQySmlYBnMX8mGiZO1FOni25rg2nR_UnykI4Cvo1nN1IZEBVZb630m5v_7G_Yat7tEIzf1o5QUE8H1sazswVpFlR/s1600-h/pic2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZx0sNXeBfdReNUCmEa7858s2v32sNDn2YHMLcYD8EB7jJIbdAAjePQySmlYBnMX8mGiZO1FOni25rg2nR_UnykI4Cvo1nN1IZEBVZb630m5v_7G_Yat7tEIzf1o5QUE8H1sazswVpFlR/s320/pic2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5100096051577888882" /></a>Kevin McDonaghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01373881288582288214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913114548265182452.post-52765700168478978082007-08-15T20:46:00.000+01:002007-08-15T20:47:17.007+01:00Green Map Icon orderhi everyone! <br /><br />We've been having great sessions on the icon updating over here, and had a breakthrough in how we think about organizing the set. We are now building a different kind of online tool to review them. We are aiming to open this to the public and Mapmaker comment in early September. <br /><br />You'll be able to take part and see the final version of Green Map Icons, Version 3 take shape this fall, with the goal of completing all (yes!) by Dec 1 (font-making, posters, etc will follow). More news on this soon. <br /><br />Kit Robinson of the Lake Washington - Cascadian Watershed Green Mao (in Washington State, US) has made a really cool interactive map of the Green Maps - it's 'fed' by the Map Profiles in the Greenhouse. We'll be linking it in soon, and hope your projects will show up on it! (so hint, hint! if you have yet to re-register, click Participate! and if your Map Profile's not up yet, please add it.....<br /><br />Congrats to Hannah Clinch & everyone at Radius Glasgow, the new Dear Green Place guide to Reuse is wonderful! It's got many innovative features to its design. See it at our site or www.deargreenplace.org. <br /><br />We also received a big box full of new Green Map created in Taiwan - each one is a work of Art! Thanks to all involved at SOW. <br /><br />and here is our latest press: http://www.licmagazine.com/<br /><br />Feel free to add your news to the Blog! You can also add a comment to someone else's Blog anytime, too! <br /><br />Note there are subtle changes underway on the website, too: Now you can see how many are using it on the home page (on the right) . Your suggestions are always welcome. all the best, Wendy<br /><br />_______________________________________________<br />GreenMap mailing list<br />GreenMap@greenmap.org<br />http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/greenmapUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913114548265182452.post-74901722807690634272007-08-15T20:44:00.000+01:002007-08-15T20:45:12.885+01:00green map data collectionThis is all from memory, so it's a little spotty. I'll open my database later.<br />I kept things minimal, with a separate layer per type of (related) feature(s):<br /><br />ID<br />Symbol(The actual character for the thingy in the green map font)<br />Name<br />Weight<br />Verified<br />Notes (Street Address, Phone Number, URL; these could be individual fields)<br /><br />Symbol allows you to conflate several related things (e.g; farmer's markets<br />and vegetarian restaurants) into a single layer for ease of managment. Also,<br />if you're not uber picky about symbol placement, or are working with a large<br />format output, leveraging the labeling features of your GIS package (esp.<br />ArcGIS + Maplex) can greatly reduce the amount of effort required to manually<br />cope with clutter.<br /><br />Weight is *very* helpful, and sense "B" is unfortunately absent in most<br />greenmaps. I used this in three ways A) I am able to gather data on all<br />varieties of things with respect to the topic, regardless of importance, and<br />later filter them out from presentation as I see fit B) vary the size of the<br />symbol in proportion to its importance, thereby allowing for denser display<br />of information with less clutter (on the Cambridge Green Map the Zipcars,<br />community gardens, and subway symbols are all scaled) C) the city provided<br />data, in a rather natural manner, conflates no bicycle riding on sidewalk<br />zones with the bicyle lane geometry. I applied a negative weight to these<br />features to more clearly set them off in my own databse, while allowing for<br />easy integration of future data revisions by the city.<br /><br />Verified is used in a similar way to the first sense of weight, anything I'm<br />informed of, or suspect might be relevant gets added. But final layout only<br />displays those things which I have been able to verify are present and correct.<br /><br /><br />Something I probably should have included was a field indicating the source<br />of the data. Yes, you can use FGDC metadata for this, but it's a PITA and<br />suboptimal in this case. For many themes I merged a handful of features from<br />several random datasets. More than once I had to go back and figure out where<br />this park or that pond came from.<br />--<br />Free map of local environmental resources: http://CambridgeMA.GreenMap.org<br />--Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913114548265182452.post-42807819274612741492007-08-15T20:43:00.000+01:002007-08-15T20:44:19.375+01:00green map data collectionHi Cip,<br /><br />Susan (professor of planning at the University of Alaska) has just<br />uploaded a pdf and text file showing the form & fields for her<br />database for Fairbanks Greenmap<br />(http://greenmap.org/greenhouse/user/90) - it's in the Mapmaking<br />section of the Tool Center<br /><br />http://greenmap.org/greenhouse/node/2268 (text file, tab-delimited)<br />http://greenmap.org/greenhouse/node/2268 (pdf)<br /><br />Hope this is useful...<br /><br />Thanks for putting these up Susan!<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />Thomas<br />- Show quoted text -<br /><br /><br />On 13/08/07, Jerrad Pierce <belg4mit@mit.edu> wrote:<br />> This is all from memory, so it's a little spotty. I'll open my database later.<br />> I kept things minimal, with a separate layer per type of (related) feature(s):<br />><br />> ID<br />> Symbol(The actual character for the thingy in the green map font)<br />> Name<br />> Weight<br />> Verified<br />> Notes (Street Address, Phone Number, URL; these could be individual fields)<br />><br />> Symbol allows you to conflate several related things (e.g; farmer's markets<br />> and vegetarian restaurants) into a single layer for ease of managment. Also,<br />> if you're not uber picky about symbol placement, or are working with a large<br />> format output, leveraging the labeling features of your GIS package (esp.<br />> ArcGIS + Maplex) can greatly reduce the amount of effort required to manually<br />> cope with clutter.<br />><br />> Weight is *very* helpful, and sense "B" is unfortunately absent in most<br />> greenmaps. I used this in three ways A) I am able to gather data on all<br />> varieties of things with respect to the topic, regardless of importance, and<br />> later filter them out from presentation as I see fit B) vary the size of the<br />> symbol in proportion to its importance, thereby allowing for denser display<br />> of information with less clutter (on the Cambridge Green Map the Zipcars,<br />> community gardens, and subway symbols are all scaled) C) the city provided<br />> data, in a rather natural manner, conflates no bicycle riding on sidewalk<br />> zones with the bicyle lane geometry. I applied a negative weight to these<br />> features to more clearly set them off in my own databse, while allowing for<br />> easy integration of future data revisions by the city.<br />><br />> Verified is used in a similar way to the first sense of weight, anything I'm<br />> informed of, or suspect might be relevant gets added. But final layout only<br />> displays those things which I have been able to verify are present and correct.<br />><br />><br />> Something I probably should have included was a field indicating the source<br />> of the data. Yes, you can use FGDC metadata for this, but it's a PITA and<br />> suboptimal in this case. For many themes I merged a handful of features from<br />> several random datasets. More than once I had to go back and figure out where<br />> this park or that pond came from.<br />> --<br />> Free map of local environmental resources: http://CambridgeMA.GreenMap.org<br />> --<br />> MOTD on Setting Orange, the 6th of Bureaucracy, in the YOLD 3173:<br />> When awful things happen to me, I try to imagine how Douglas Adams would be writing it if I were a character in one of his books. --chaoticset<br />> _______________________________________________<br />> GreenMap mailing list<br />> GreenMap@greenmap.org<br />> http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/greenmap<br />><br /><br /><br />--<br />_________________________<br />http://www.thomasturnbull.com<br />- Show quoted text -Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913114548265182452.post-85131517929183575022007-08-15T20:42:00.000+01:002007-08-15T20:43:25.990+01:00[GreenMap] Greenmap - database for GIS environmentHi,<br /><br />Green Map Bucharest will collect data in a GIS environment, and I need your help to start building the database (which are the attributes you used for print or web)<br />Whoever worked on this, already, and wishes to share the knowledge, will be greatly appreciated.<br /><br />Looking forward to your reply,<br />Ciprian Samoila<br />Green Map Bucharest<br />Project Manager<br />www.greenmap-bucharest.roUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913114548265182452.post-61162996451826815372007-08-05T21:30:00.000+01:002007-08-05T22:49:57.982+01:00Meeting #24 - green map published!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnod_73Ns9-JTZ7LIiVxy5BcYaASlgbXmqt9p0I7RooYMzFTuovz6-cmgFxQ8-Sc8fSSQQRW61D2Hp1hkAV0gS8w2tM_hJOcte7PYz_eaeBlJjphQOSP8Y9x6KsOh7p6WLoSoIbk2sb9E/s1600-h/greenmap.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnod_73Ns9-JTZ7LIiVxy5BcYaASlgbXmqt9p0I7RooYMzFTuovz6-cmgFxQ8-Sc8fSSQQRW61D2Hp1hkAV0gS8w2tM_hJOcte7PYz_eaeBlJjphQOSP8Y9x6KsOh7p6WLoSoIbk2sb9E/s200/greenmap.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095326283207402450" /></a><br /><br />A beautifully inky smelling, brand spanking new Glasgow green map has now been published and is circling it's way around Glasgow's most exclusive second hand shops! <br /><br /><h2>Where can I get one?</h2><br />I hear you cry. You can email us for one at info@deargreenplace.org or you can pick it up from one of the <a href="http://www.mywiredempire.com/greenmap">second hand shops on the map</a>. You'll soon also be able to download it here and from the main site.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHYNviPOIF2DNs1GmrSEmk1Ppp0ub3nAxpeuawgiDKFSwwYBcMG9kDmCy-TaL4FJX-r3z0EngKfFyU-mo9QDNyboagXVbkdbQeNvwG9rbAH2f9Uf7FurZZs4CPHyORAi0smP6cqSYjNpi/s1600-h/upload2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHYNviPOIF2DNs1GmrSEmk1Ppp0ub3nAxpeuawgiDKFSwwYBcMG9kDmCy-TaL4FJX-r3z0EngKfFyU-mo9QDNyboagXVbkdbQeNvwG9rbAH2f9Uf7FurZZs4CPHyORAi0smP6cqSYjNpi/s400/upload2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095319230871102402" /></a><br />Well done everyone!<br /><br /><h2>So what are they doing now?</h2> <br />Oh but we've only just begun. Now that we have one notch in our belt we are beginning to turn our attentions to a web based green map that will be constantly updated by you!<br /><br /><br /><h2>Meeting #24 summed up</h2><br />Agenda<br />1. News / What peeps did since last meeting<br />2. Coo over map.<br />3. Review most important functionality of online map.<br />4. Plan of distribution.<br />5. Online monitoring<br />6. Testing: Franki / Hannah<br />7. Dev: Kevin and joe change add place<br />8. Tasks!<br /><br />We mostly justed cooed and had a think about where our efforts should be focused. We reviewed what we wanted first from the web site and found that first and foremost we need to get it to collect information based on the impact of the paper based map. A form to enable peeps to give feed back. Also its important for us to have it available in a downloadable form as soon as possible. Franki offered to break up her fantastical design into small palatable fantastical areas, each on a seperate A4 page(since most grans don't pack an A1 printer beside the biscuits). <br /><br />The most important priorites for the web map are:<br />1. Feedback and distribution of the download map<br />2. Add categories of Environmental Proj & Reuse Proj<br />3. Content from the map for web<br /><br /><h2>Usability testing</h2><br />Usability testing was carried out by Fanki and Hannah to find that the user could carry out the tasks quickly and instinctively found the areas of the map needed, even with it broken. This user was the news browsing type and had a bit of experience with google maps and so knew how to use all the controls straight away. Notably she enjoyed the experience of adding an icon to the map and found it easy to click the next arrows during the process. <br /><br />Points taken from testing: <br />Add place functionality has improved<br />Messages to help when adding a shop but could be revised.<br />User used home as point of reference<br />The area selection was the next stop after the map.<br /><br /><h2>Tasks</h2><br />Add stats to pages<br />Get Franki disk<br />Get Kevin illustrator<br />Make online form<br />fix zooming in again<br />Divide up map for web<br />Make a synchroniser for the spreadsheet and web DB <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVvOtg-ZwLZWSsBP7WhjWH8G5V3uUtNrhMO3xz0EdafANkwkTO3iuAxYDrlQ_hEDKBRLQYpaY63ei3j9XH7FXMk__VhdNRzLajVBXpYk842HnntUIvt8dWEdtDvBb4-XZEsPY29z5A6_eg/s1600-h/upload3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVvOtg-ZwLZWSsBP7WhjWH8G5V3uUtNrhMO3xz0EdafANkwkTO3iuAxYDrlQ_hEDKBRLQYpaY63ei3j9XH7FXMk__VhdNRzLajVBXpYk842HnntUIvt8dWEdtDvBb4-XZEsPY29z5A6_eg/s320/upload3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095331475822863330" /></a>Kevin McDonaghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01373881288582288214noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913114548265182452.post-30987148583630513222007-08-01T21:29:00.002+01:002007-08-01T21:33:46.698+01:00The Glasgow Green Map is published!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQGta_kgo827dB1Jma7s6bI2gkDSoYXlMWHE89qT0CNUIUH6Ri6UtsQ3y-pa61EXq1ruNnjNUz7tOLBINZ1I8Du0D8NFtjmK2HPqqb7zV8z4EY3ti-LuuxsN76RXieULe17eXc9yo6Q/s1600-h/greenmapflyer.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQGta_kgo827dB1Jma7s6bI2gkDSoYXlMWHE89qT0CNUIUH6Ri6UtsQ3y-pa61EXq1ruNnjNUz7tOLBINZ1I8Du0D8NFtjmK2HPqqb7zV8z4EY3ti-LuuxsN76RXieULe17eXc9yo6Q/s320/greenmapflyer.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5093832985712997410" /></a><br />The first Glasgow wide Green Map, marketed under the eco brand name dear green place, has been published. 20,000 copies of the map will be distributed throughout the city over the next month.<br /><br />This 'Reuse' themed map features over a 120 charity shops and community based enterprises that provide people with the opportunity to donate and buy reusable house hold goods.<br /><br />This is the first time that information about these opportunities has been collated and published. Each year in Glasgow over 145,000 items that could be reused currently go to landfill. This project aims to encourage people to find an alternative way of disposing of these valuable resources and support the community based initiatives that provide these services.<br /><br />The Glasgow Guide to Reuse has been developed by a dedicated team of volunteer map makers, coordinated by Radius Glasgow. Funding for the project was secured from The Glasgow Community Recycling Forum, SUSTand various other agencies.<br /><br />The volunteers continue to develop the web based version of the map www.deargreenplace.org and hope to broaden the map’s content once it has been established.<br /><br />If you would like to obtain a copy of the map please email info@deargreenplace.orgUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913114548265182452.post-39432040139007665682007-08-01T21:29:00.001+01:002007-08-01T21:29:35.723+01:00Message from Green MappNow that the new GreenMap.org is closer to complete, it's time for the<br />next web project.<br /><br />We're considering developing an online webmap tool that makes it<br />really easy for any Green Mapmaker to build an online Green Map. A lot<br />of people have been asking for something like this, so I want to make<br />sure that it's as useful as possible. The idea is that it should be<br />possible for anyone to do - you won't need to know how to set up a<br />database, or understand HTML.<br /><br />If you would like to be involved in the discussion about this webmap<br />tool please email me and I'll put you on the list. The discussion will<br />be by email at first with everything posted on the Mapmaker's Exchange<br />section of the website.<br /><br />I've put the outline of what I plan to do in the Mapmaker's Exchange<br />section at: http://greenmap.org/greenhouse/en/node/2182<br /><br />If you have time, please could you answer these questions now to help<br />guide the development of the webmap tool:<br /><br />1) Do you think this is a worthwhile project?<br />2) Have you made an online map already?<br />3) If you have made an online map, how did you do it?<br />4) If you have not made an online map, have you used one that you<br />like? Please give some examples & links.<br />5) Would you want to let the public comment on or rate sites on your map?<br />6) Would you want to let the public add photos to sites on your map?<br />7) Would you want to let the public suggest new sites?<br />8) Would you want to include lines (for bike paths, walking paths,<br />etc.) and areas (for parks, deforestation, erosion, pollution, etc) as<br />well as points (for sites)?<br />9) How important do you think it is to include your own custom local icons?<br />10) How good is Google Maps coverage of your area? Is there a better<br />alternative?<br /><br />Even if you don't want to be involved in the discussion, please email<br />me any comments or suggestions on how you would like this to work.<br />This project will only go ahead if enough people reply saying that<br />they think it is worth doing!<br /><br />The timing of this project is not certain yet as I will be away for<br />most of September.<br /><br />Hope you're having a great summer!<br /><br />Thomas<br />_______________________________________________<br />GreenMap mailing list<br />GreenMap@greenmap.org<br />http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/greenmapUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913114548265182452.post-88467653337654734892007-08-01T21:27:00.000+01:002007-08-01T21:28:02.119+01:00Green Map messagehi Mapmakers!<br /><br />It's now 2 months since we switched over to the new website. Over 40,000 viewers have seen it so far! 87% are new to the site and they are staying longer and viewing more pages than ever before!<br /><br />In July, we made the registration process easier. It's now updated in 5 different languages, as mentioned in yesterday's Multi-lingual Message.<br /><br /> We also have a new page! http://greenmap.org/greenhouse/en/all<br /><br />This page has all the Mapmaking projects on it (past and present) - it's the first place many website users will visit, including potential Mapmakers looking for available cities and towns. Now, there are too many projects that are not linked to profiles or any information about the project.<br /><br /> If you are an existing Mapmaker, but have yet to register, we urge you to do so in August! In September, we'll be linking Green Map projects that have not registered or responded by email to the ‘Available City’ icon. Help us avoid confusion - please respond directly by email or register asap!<br /><br />We'll also be doing major press and funder outreach in September*, so everyone, please add more images and details.<br /><br /> By then, we’ll add a “Featured Map’ box to the homepage. If your Map Profile has a Map image and either a downloadable or linked map, it will be eligible for this random selection. So be sure you have included both an image and a complete map the public can view.<br /><br /> We also have ANOTHER new page! <br /><br /> http://greenmap.org/impacts<br /><br /> As soon as you write about yours in your Map Profile, it will show up on this page, in random order. These impacts are being reviewed for a new book being written in Japan this season!<br /><br /> We've been listening to your comments and those of visitors, and are making other changes to encourage more social networking and exchange in the Blog & Resources section. We welcome your comments about this or the website at any time.<br /><br />GODD NEWS! We have also added the updated Green Mapmakers Guide to the Tool Center! Many thanks to Tom Hammer, Soon Chung Lim, and Carlos Martinez for the many hours devoted to this project. Login and download from Mapmaking Resources.<br /><br />Now, a request - we are changing the way the testimonials (in Blog) works, and will be adding comments like this:<br /><br /> What a wonderful new site, and what a privilege to be part of this network! Naomi Tsur, Director, SPNI-Jerusalem, 2007 July 31<br /><br /> (Thanks Naomi!) When we upload it, we'll link it to their profile. We'd love to have more comments (even longer ones) by you for this page, please send by email.....(and if you sent one before, opps! We lost it, so please send again!).<br /><br />* yesterday, we found out Green Map will be in a book called "Cool Hunting" coming out soon in Australia, and a new US book on sustainable design will include the website and more. A reporter from Chicago called too, he is covering the ongoing Institute of Arts based project (yea! Nadine Bopp), and we're hearing from so many new bloggers, etc., it really is a good time to register, login & do more....(we will too, as we have news to add on our NYC projects as well).<br /><br /> It’s hot & sticky in NYC, but we are here, ready to help you show the world what you are accomplishing for your communities everywhere!<br /><br />Thanks so much, WendyUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913114548265182452.post-9656359279367450582007-07-28T12:39:00.000+01:002007-07-28T12:40:18.510+01:00Dates for diaryThere are a couple of events for distribution and feed back of the green map that we need to be thinking about:<br /><br />1.Hannah will broadcasting live on Sunny Govan Radio http://www.sunnygovan.org/ live on Friday 3rd 1pm<br /><br />2. Glasgow Community Recycling Forum members – Thursday 16 August Eve – big backer and potential benifactors of green map are coming to do some user testing. They see the green map as providing them with city wide exposure, a key tool for marketing their services and raising their profile.<br /><br />3. Govan Green zone – Saturday September 8 (time to be confirmed) a community event to engage people with green issues. Will be handing out green maps and talking to people about how they access information on reuse and recycling. Good opportunity to get feed back and do a bit of filming perhaps???<br /><br />4. Govanhill Clean Up – Sat 15 September.<br />A community clean up where people will be issued with litter pickers and told to go forth and cleanse the streets, backcourts and closes of the area. Will be there handing out green maps and collecting community info on attitudes towards litter and waste. Perhaps a few additional people would like to do a bit of user testing and filming??<br /><br />If you can spare some additional time on the saturdays let me know. Could probably do with about 4 people per event.<br /><br />Cheers<br /><br />HannahUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913114548265182452.post-65294381640224361742007-06-09T11:07:00.000+01:002007-06-09T11:53:43.068+01:00Usability testing the Green MapHere at the green map we've started usability testing on the dev map. <br /><a href="http://www.mywiredempire.com/greenmap/">Development version of the Glasgow Green Map</a><br /><br />Usability testing is the process of getting people to use a product and modifying it so they could use it better. Traditionally in web design the process of usability testing has been a bit of a mickey mouse affair, when actually it's one of the most important aspects of it's design. You can have a rocking web site but if I can't click the button I'm looking for in two seconds, I'll click something else or the back button.<br />The reason that usability tests are so affective is because they reveal that there is no norm. The norm web browser does not exist, everyone has different habits. It is the aim of usability testing to identify common actions between these many habits and tie them in as closely to your web site as possible.<br /><br />Here is the structure of the green map usability tests:<br /><br /><h2>1. Profile the User</h2><br />Who is this user, what internet web experience have they? Do they have websites they visit regularly?<br /><br />This part of the process identifies how close to the audience demographic your test candidate lies. You'll find out what sites they remember visiting, because if they remember visiting them chances are that these sites will affect their further perception of websites. Even if you only get google out of them you have identified that they can use a search engine, but if you find that they you use looksmart.com there will be a reason for them to have deviated from the norm, what did that site offer?<br /><br /><h2>2. Clicky clicky</h2><br />Once you've profiled the user let them go clicky clicky. Let them get a bit bored of going clicky clicky. Then after their thoroughly bored, you can move on.<br /><br />Let the tester just click around the site. This part of the process is about getting them used to the site, the testing guide as much as possible must remain silent during this process so as not to influence the tester. The testing guide should decline to offer any advice or directions for the short period of this part of the test and should be vigilantly watching what the tester is doing.<br /><br />The testing guide should be watching where the tester is moving the mouse, why they are moving the mouse there, what they are clicking on and how often they are doing these things.<br />On the most part the testing guide is not concerned with actual outcome of the actions but more with the process by which the tester executes them and how easily they manage to carry out their tests. While they are going clicky clicky the testing guide should be very quickly writing down notes that describe the actions of the tester. These don't have to be anything elaborate, just short words and phrases like "clicked home, down, up swirly mouse, clicked empty blue box, down, pause". The testing guides aim is just to capture as much about the process as possible, it can be reinterpreted into more comprehensive notes after the tests.<br /><br /><h2>3. Tasks</h2><br />The tester is given specific tasks to carry out on the site and the guide notes their progress.<br /><br />The most important part of this process is that the guide must let the tester fail. They must watch them thrash about and get lost and ONLY at the VERY last minute offer them a very small piece of advice. The more clearly defined your tests are the better results you can hope to achieve so it is important that the testing guide is pretty experienced in using the site.<br /><br /><br /><h2>4. After the tests</h2><br />After you've been through the tests (and not before) you can explain to the tester exactly what you were doing at each part of the process and why you recorded specific information. While divulging this information it is likely that the tester will want to justify certain actions and it is the right time for the testing guide to clarify exactly what was going through the mind of the tester at that moment. It's funny to have someone else identify your browsing traits and it should be treated this way. No one is under inspection and usability testing is not a competition. Everyones opinions and actions count.<br /><br /><br />If you'd like to do your own usability testing why not carry out this test on our map and then send us the results?<br /><a href="http://www.mywiredempire.com/greenmap/">Development version of the Glasgow Green Map</a>Kevin McDonaghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01373881288582288214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5913114548265182452.post-91387270393546954202007-05-31T21:36:00.000+01:002007-05-31T22:32:27.985+01:00A Hello and Some Notes on The Current Layout (2007.05.31)Hi guys, this is Brendan - I've just joined your Glasgow Green Mappers group!<br /><br />a bit about myself: I'm a displaced Canadian who is living near Merchant City in Glasgow and I think this city has a lot of work to do and this map project will help significantly in outlining the main areas of improvement. I work for a wind energy company and am involved in a couple other green groups in Glasgow.<br /><br />Now down to business - some notes on the current state of the website:<br /><br /><ol><br /><li> The map doesn't show the extent of what has been plotted - this has its strengths and its weaknesses, but I'd kind of like to see, from the beginning, what this map has to offer</li><br /><li> Will the map be larger? Whether you show the extent or show it in its current state, you need to zoom in or out - meaning this doesn't help anyone. I'm lazy and want to click my mouse as little as possible so put everyone on the same page, as opposed to favoring those in the city centre.</li><br /><li> I'd like a box that says: "put in your postal code and we'll show you what is in your neighborhood", which then adjusts the map size to show what is local.</li><br /><li> The settings behind 'name', 'address', etc. are too vague and will lead to people adding items which will look different. This needs to be narrowed down - what about the shop should they be saying? Otherwise, people will add too much or too little. Name - fine. Address - needs expansion. About - needs to be more specific. Opening hours - could easily become (I think?!?!?) a drop down menu. Contact - person I assume? So contact name. Telephone - do I put (+44) or 0 or what? What if I'm calling them from outside the UK? Fax - same as phone. e-mail could be _____ @ _________ and website could be http://_________________. Am I the best person to drop the location of this place? What if I'm just a customer of theirs and put it in the wrong spot? Would having a box for postal codes help?</li><br /><li> Why would I ever want to show things on a 'small map'? Maybe use different language like 'fast map'</li><br /><li> What does 'show random places' mean? Why would I ever want to see random places? If this is supposed to interest me in places I haven't heard of - perhaps this should just list the businesses which have just been posted instead.</li><br /><li> I like the idea of the front page being a map on the left and a giant calendar on the right - then you cover 'where' and 'when' quite quickly.</li><br /><li> I don't like the idea of seeing "show all categories" - why don't you just tell me the various categories? How do I even know that THAT is where to look for the categories listing?</li><br /><li> Articles - I think you need to keep a tight wrap on the articles thing - as in, all articles that are posted have to do with an event, which will be posted as an entry on the big calendar (which then links to the article) or something new being offered by a shop or organisation. So then you need to split articles into "events" and "updates", which can eventually be localized.</li><br /></ol>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0