Tag Archives: mashup

Ofcom Sitefinder Mobile Phone Mast Map

mobile, smartphone, , , ,

Ofcom, the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries, hosts a database, called Sitefinder, giving the location and type of mobile network base stations. Why would you be interested in base stations? Because they’re another names for mobile phone masts or cell phone towers.

The database has been linked with the ubiquitous Google Maps so that by entering a post code or a street address, the area of interest can be shown, with markers indicating the exact locations of the towers. By clicking on the marker, you can see the operator of the tower, what kind it is, the height and the frequencies used.

91% of UK adults have a mobile phone, so it’s not surprising that there are lots of cell towers. You could use this database in two ways. First, if you have concerns about health issues relating to the radio waves you can be more informed about the towers in your area, but secondly, if you are trying to decide which mobile phone operator to use, this map will show you the closest towers to home and work and likely to give the best reception.

MarineTraffic.com – Live Ships Map

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MarineTraffic.com is a live map showing the location of shipping of 299 GT (gross tonnage) or over. Sounds boring but in fact it’s a totally awesome mashup of data. You can zoom into your local coast and see what’s pottering about or you can follow a ship in the news and see what’s happening to it.

Here’s what’s going on in the English Channel:

Here are the ships waiting to go through the Panama Canal.

You can also follow ships that are in the news. Here’s the MSC Opera which lost power in the Baltic and the tug Svitzer Trym in attendance. If you click on a ship you can get further details, including the speed and pictures of the vessel.

Finally, here’s one of the UK’s latest warships undergoing trials. HMS Dragon is a Type 45 destroyer.

There are additional clients for iPhone and Android users. And if you want to get notifications of what your favourite boats are doing, you can sign up for alerts and notifications.

Great resource if you want to see what’s going on, especially if you have a sea view and you want to know what’s floating past.