Real-time tracking on a pre-drawn Google Maps route?

January 12, 2015 12:07 PM

I lead public walks in Los Angeles. I use Google Maps to plan my routes and social media to allow folks to join us as we walk. Right now, I automatically tweet our location every fifteen minutes. The tweeted links open to a google maps page, which users then must compare to my planned route page. I would like to be able to have our location show up in real time on the map that's already populated with our planned route...

...So far, the only way to do that is to use (on IOS) the Runkeeper App—but that's problematic because many folks don't want to use a specific app. Does anyone know of a way to automatically have my location appear on a pre-made custom google map?

Here's a map of one of our recent walks, so you can see what I'm taking about...

http://runmeter.com/ffd759b01b9ba4fe/Other-20150111-0907

posted by soulbarn to Computers & Internet (4 answers total)

Run keeper was what I came here to suggest as well.
posted by WillRun4Fun at 3:43 PM on January 12, 2015

I also came here to suggest RunKeeper. The 'elite' version ($39.99 per year) lets you broadcast your progress. People following your progress (which could be, of course, people with you) can do so via the RunKeeper Web site, so no specific app required. You can set up 'routes', which should allow your progress against the planned route show (I haven't used this, so can't confirm).
posted by dg at 4:21 PM on January 12, 2015

Glympse may do what you're looking for. The App generates a URL for a tracking map, which then can be shared with your intended audience.

You set how long the map is active for, (up to 4 hours, though you can keep extending it as long as it hasn't expired) so each walk, you would just generate a fresh Glympse URL.
posted by radwolf76 at 6:46 PM on January 12, 2015

Can you use Runkeeper, take a photo of the map, and distribute that?
posted by kjs4 at 7:10 PM on January 12, 2015