jamie
Top Poster
Posts: 6,842
|
Post by jamie on Aug 26, 2019 10:25:20 GMT
Good news, most of the website seems to be working fine now. Parts of the election map section still not loading, but I don’t use that section of the website so can’t vouch they even did work until a few days ago. The main plan builder and census statistics definitely do work.
|
|
|
Post by kevinlarkin on Aug 26, 2019 11:04:10 GMT
As has been noted the website has not been updated for quite a while now. Work and personal reasons mean I have not had any time to spend on it.
The site makes extensive use of a Google technology called Fusion Tables which provides cloud storage of boundary and associated data. Google have announced that this platform will be shut down in December 2019 (I missed the original announcement and only found out about this last month). The problem this week with maps not rendering is due to a new version of the Google Maps API which anticipates the shut down and removes support for Fusion Tables.
I have changed the Plan Builder, Census Statistics and Local Elections 2016 scripts to use an older version of the Maps API which has temporarily restored functionality. However, as things stand everything on the website is going to stop working on 3rd December.
I would like to find an alternative way of providing the Boundary Assistant functionality, particularly the Plan Builder which was the original reason for creating the website, but it is doubtful anything will be in place by December.
|
|
|
Post by finsobruce on Aug 26, 2019 11:40:26 GMT
As has been noted the website has not been updated for quite a while now. Work and personal reasons mean I have not had any time to spend on it. The site makes extensive use of a Google technology called Fusion Tables which provides cloud storage of boundary and associated data. Google have announced that this platform will be shut down in December 2019 (I missed the original announcement and only found out about this last month). The problem this week with maps not rendering is due to a new version of the Google Maps API which anticipates the shut down and removes support for Fusion Tables. I have changed the Plan Builder, Census Statistics and Local Elections 2016 scripts to use an older version of the Maps API which has temporarily restored functionality. However, as things stand everything on the website is going to stop working on 3rd December. I would like to find an alternative way of providing the Boundary Assistant functionality, particularly the Plan Builder which was the original reason for creating the website, but it is doubtful anything will be in place by December. Is there anything that any of us on here could do to help?
|
|
Harry Hayfield
Green
Cavalier Gentleman (as in 17th century Cavalier)
Posts: 2,758
|
Post by Harry Hayfield on Aug 27, 2019 15:37:34 GMT
As has been noted the website has not been updated for quite a while now. Work and personal reasons mean I have not had any time to spend on it. The site makes extensive use of a Google technology called Fusion Tables which provides cloud storage of boundary and associated data. Google have announced that this platform will be shut down in December 2019 (I missed the original announcement and only found out about this last month). The problem this week with maps not rendering is due to a new version of the Google Maps API which anticipates the shut down and removes support for Fusion Tables. I have changed the Plan Builder, Census Statistics and Local Elections 2016 scripts to use an older version of the Maps API which has temporarily restored functionality. However, as things stand everything on the website is going to stop working on 3rd December. I would like to find an alternative way of providing the Boundary Assistant functionality, particularly the Plan Builder which was the original reason for creating the website, but it is doubtful anything will be in place by December. I have liked this statement, not because I like the statement, but because it is the only reaction I am allowed to give. My reaction to this is immense sadness and I believe, given how useful it was for the boundary review (indeed I would not have been able to make a submission without it) I believe that the Boundary Commission to take over responsibility by either a) placing Kevin into their IT department and paying him a salary to update the site with the latest information or b) making a formal purchase of the website to transfer the information to their website for further reviews. I happen to know that several local parties (including all of the ones in Ceredigion) used it as well, therefore perhaps you could ask the all party group on Democracy in the World publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/190731/democracy-in-the-world.htm to make a recommendation that it gets adopted as part of the government's digital democracy project.
|
|
|
Post by bjornhattan on Aug 31, 2019 19:55:12 GMT
As has been noted the website has not been updated for quite a while now. Work and personal reasons mean I have not had any time to spend on it. The site makes extensive use of a Google technology called Fusion Tables which provides cloud storage of boundary and associated data. Google have announced that this platform will be shut down in December 2019 (I missed the original announcement and only found out about this last month). The problem this week with maps not rendering is due to a new version of the Google Maps API which anticipates the shut down and removes support for Fusion Tables. I have changed the Plan Builder, Census Statistics and Local Elections 2016 scripts to use an older version of the Maps API which has temporarily restored functionality. However, as things stand everything on the website is going to stop working on 3rd December. I would like to find an alternative way of providing the Boundary Assistant functionality, particularly the Plan Builder which was the original reason for creating the website, but it is doubtful anything will be in place by December. I know I might be too late to say this, but I really appreciate your site, especially the fact it ranks wards on their census statistics. Knowing that my home ward is the Xth most Jewish, or that some ward I'm campaigning in is the Yth most student, is extremely handy, and I've used it in countless political speeches at my university. Obviously you can download the figures and sort them yourself, but it's always been handy having it online. I also like the electoral maps, especially since it gives pro-2004 boundaries for the Mets (most of Tyne and Wear changed then). If it goes down it won't be the end of the world, but I thought I should at least give my appreciation for your site.
|
|
|
Post by therealriga on Nov 23, 2019 7:48:37 GMT
Doesn't seem to be working now. After "create new plan" the wards no longer show up.
|
|
|
Post by islington on Nov 23, 2019 9:13:31 GMT
I know that of late I’ve been very quiet (uncharacteristically so, some might say), but this is because recent discussion has - understandably - focused on unfolding political events rather than on the boundary-related issues (current and historic) in which I tend to specialize.
But I still look in occasionally and I feel I must emerge from semi-retirement to express my appreciation of Kevin Larkin’s site and my regret that it is no longer functional.
Kevin, if you can find a way of reviving it, or creating something similar, I’d be absolutely delighted. But if you can’t, or if you simply decide you have other priorities in your life, all I can do is express my thanks and best wishes.
|
|
maxque
Non-Aligned
Posts: 8,984
|
Post by maxque on Nov 26, 2019 0:16:36 GMT
The website now has a message saying they will be back in the New Year.
|
|
jamie
Top Poster
Posts: 6,842
|
Post by jamie on Nov 26, 2019 11:11:18 GMT
The website now has a message saying they will be back in the New Year. Late Christmas present to psephological nerds everywhere.
|
|
|
Post by 🏴☠️ Neath West 🏴☠️ on Jan 28, 2020 8:12:02 GMT
It's now got an interesting-looking tease of what the new version will look like.
|
|
|
Post by bjornhattan on Jan 28, 2020 8:34:47 GMT
It's now got an interesting-looking tease of what the new version will look like. I like the new interface compared to the old one, it looks much more modern and a bit less cluttered. The only thing I'd love to see extra (though presumably it would be hard to do) is some sort of integration with notional figures. Even if it's just a way to upload a csv file of data that it then uses.
|
|
|
Post by greenhert on Jan 28, 2020 11:47:43 GMT
When will the new version of Boundary Assistant be ready?
|
|
|
Post by edgbaston on Jan 28, 2020 11:57:40 GMT
When will the new version of Boundary Assistant be ready? I suspect the answer is ‘it’ll be ready when it’s ready’ and in the meantime we must suffer the anticipation
|
|
European Lefty
Labour
Can be bribed with salted liquorice
Posts: 5,515
|
Post by European Lefty on Jan 28, 2020 16:23:30 GMT
It's now got an interesting-looking tease of what the new version will look like. I like the new interface compared to the old one, it looks much more modern and a bit less cluttered. The only thing I'd love to see extra (though presumably it would be hard to do) is some sort of integration with notional figures. Even if it's just a way to upload a csv file of data that it then uses. The problem would be the source of the notional figures and their reliability. This is why part of me would like to down the US route and count by polling station so we have definite figures for every ward in the country!
|
|
|
Post by Pete Whitehead on Jan 28, 2020 18:52:08 GMT
I like the new interface compared to the old one, it looks much more modern and a bit less cluttered. The only thing I'd love to see extra (though presumably it would be hard to do) is some sort of integration with notional figures. Even if it's just a way to upload a csv file of data that it then uses. The problem would be the source of the notional figures and their reliability. This is why part of me would like to down the US route and count by polling station so we have definite figures for every ward in the country! What part of you wouldn't like to do that??
|
|
|
Post by manchesterman on Jan 28, 2020 20:05:36 GMT
I feel like a kid counting down the days till Santa comes down my chimney!
|
|
|
Post by minionofmidas on Jan 29, 2020 12:18:04 GMT
I like the new interface compared to the old one, it looks much more modern and a bit less cluttered. The only thing I'd love to see extra (though presumably it would be hard to do) is some sort of integration with notional figures. Even if it's just a way to upload a csv file of data that it then uses. The problem would be the source of the notional figures and their reliability. This is why part of me would like to down the US route and count by polling station so we have definite figures for every ward in the country! "the US route"? You mean the "entire civilized world and the US route"?
|
|
European Lefty
Labour
Can be bribed with salted liquorice
Posts: 5,515
|
Post by European Lefty on Jan 30, 2020 18:48:52 GMT
The problem would be the source of the notional figures and their reliability. This is why part of me would like to down the US route and count by polling station so we have definite figures for every ward in the country! What part of you wouldn't like to do that?? The part that quite enjoys elections counts and watching the way election night unfolds
|
|
|
Post by bjornhattan on Jan 30, 2020 18:55:29 GMT
What part of you wouldn't like to do that?? The part that quite enjoys elections counts and watching the way election night unfolds They could just not release lower level figures until after the final declaration. Or (for extra theatre) have a declaration at each polling station (without the candidates and delegating the RO role of course). Psephologists could research the most representative area of each seat, as well as areas likely to reflect the nation as a whole.
|
|
European Lefty
Labour
Can be bribed with salted liquorice
Posts: 5,515
|
Post by European Lefty on Jan 30, 2020 19:09:40 GMT
The part that quite enjoys elections counts and watching the way election night unfolds They could just not release lower level figures until after the final declaration. Or (for extra theatre) have a declaration at each polling station (without the candidates and delegating the RO role of course). Psephologists could research the most representative area of each seat, as well as areas likely to reflect the nation as a whole. now that sounds like the ideal solution, with a certain number of observers per candidate at each polling station as well to cheer the result just to complete the spectacle!
|
|