If you want to include Google Maps in your project or your website using PHP, the use of Phoogle Maps is highly recommended. It is a PHP class that integrates with Google Map API and Google Geocoding API. To know about Phoogle Maps, you can go to http://www.systemsevendesigns.com/phoogle

The version in above example will get work done with at least 5 lines of PHP. Currently, I’m working one project that involves Google Maps API. After a few days studying Phoogle class, I’ve modified and added some functions to satisfy my requirements.

You can take a look and download the modified version of Phoogle class here

My modified version includes:

• Latitude & Longitud conversion to decimal function
• Icon picker function.
• KML appender function

This version also automatically set the center of the map once the class is called, make it a lot easier. The icon picker function give you some options for your marker icon, instead of the default icon.

If you ever want to highlight your own roads and paths, you need to include the KML files and append them into Google Map API. To cater this, I’ve added KML Appender function in this modified version.

I hope with my little contribution, I can help others.