API for get a Random Place (YQL!, Google Maps,...)

Question

Hi, How can I pick a random place from anywhere in the world (but not in sea obviously) using some Service like Yahoo Geo, YQL, Google maps or something like that?? Thanks!

Answer 1

I'm no expert and I have not tried this myself but from what information I can find online this should at least get you part of the way there. You would also need to figure out how to try with a different random GLatLong point if the reverse geocoding did not return a suitable placemark.

See reference: http://code.google.com/apis/maps/documentation/services.html#ReverseGeocoding

Related stackoverflow question: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/990148/how-to-add-random-markers-to-a-map-but-avoiding-the-sea

Google search: google maps api random land location

Hope this helps, cheers.

Code:

var map;
var geocoder;

function initialize() {
  if (GBrowserIsCompatible()) {
    map = new GMap2(document.getElementById("map_canvas"));
    geocoder = new GClientGeocoder();

    var point = new GLatLng(-90 + 180 * Math.random(), -180 + 360 * Math.random());
    geocoder.getLocations(point, checkPoint);
  }
}

function checkPoint(response) {
  if (!response || response.Status.code != 200) {
    alert("Status Code:" + response.Status.code);
  } else {
    var place = response.Placemark[0];
    var point = new GLatLng(place.Point.coordinates[1],place.Point.coordinates[0]);
    var marker = new GMarker(point);
    map.addOverlay(marker);
  }
}