This is an Ajax/PHP/MySQL powered GPS Tracker incorporated into Google Maps.
How it works:
Storm Chaser vehicle with wireless internet uses a web-based application to constantly update a MySQL database with its current location
This page uses leading Ajax technology to query the same MySQL database to obtain the latest coordinates update for a particular person.
The application returns the results in XML format.
The Ajax routine throws the XML result at a JavaScript routine which cycles through it to pick and choose what it wants to use.
The Latitude and Longitude coordinates are obtained and a marker icon is placed and moved on the map.
As the marker moves, the map slides around, following the marker to keep it centered.
The system is extremely scalable and flexible to make nearly any change your imagination could possibly come up with.
This system can acommodate up to 1000 simultaneous markers per open window (limitation of Google Maps as of the time of this writing).
Am I really seeing a vehicle being tracked? No, even though the Ajax technology is being used, the GPS coordinates being returned are dummy coordinates to display an example of what it would look like if it were indeed tracking a real entity (car, plane, whatever).
