#uksnow Map 2.0

A couple of weeks back I refreshed my now year-old #uksnow Map and created a second generation version, #uksnow Map 2.0 (cliché intended). The new map works on the same principles as the original map but this time the geocoding and processing is done server-side, which gives the option to explore the tweet data in the future.

Twitter users can help create a live snow map of the UK by tweeting the hashtag #uksnow, a subjective rating out of ten for how heavy the snowfall is, and their location as the first half of their postcode or location name.

The new app has been very popular an has had over 160,000 hits and has recorded 60,000 reports since it went live before Christmas.

The #uksnow hashtag was recently unveiled as the 8th most discussed news hashtag of 2009, which I believe shows how a good visualisation such as this can drive hashtag usage.

Check out the new map at http://uksnow.benmarsh.co.uk/.

If you want to put a map widget on your own website or blog, insert this script tag…

<script src="http://uksnow.benmarsh.co.uk/scripts/embed.js"></script>

…which will embed a widget into your page like below:

Andy Hawkin (@andiih) has created an iPhone/iPod Touch version of the map, and is available to download from iTunes.