Aug 31, 2009
Burning Man API
Each year during Burning Man a new crop of Burners gathers in the middle of the Nevada desert to construct a temporary city. Last year flickr mapped the area through photos using data provided by Open Street Maps. This year, with the release of an API that gives us access to descriptions and locations of the Streets, Art, Camps and Events, technology will have an even larger impact. When combined with a map, the API provides everything you need for a local city guide. Wifi and other data connections will be available on the playa as well, so even if your iPhone’s connection cuts out (and you can’t run your Burning Man app) you might still be able to text (and use foursquare) by taking advantage of OpenBTS’s local SMS project. “While it may sound like fun and games, the harsh conditions of the Black Rock Desert make the system a perfect testbed for mapping temporary places, people, and things,” Burning Man team member Tom Longson says. “[T]hese tools may just be the next best thing for helping disaster hit regions react and respond.”