Alexandre, you can communicate with my on my talk page if you wish. Basically, I would like you to integrate Wikimapia with Wikipedia. How it would work: When contributors draw their rectangles around places, landmarks, etc., the info. box that comes up inviting them to write a note about the landmark should feature a Wikipedia article about it, if there is one. If there isn't one, writing a note for a place on Wikimapia would automatically create such an article on Wikipedia. You could talk to User:Fred Bauder, who runs the Wikinfo project, which uses special software to incorporate Wikipedia articles into its own structure. David Cannon 22:09, 20 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I think Wikimapia is a great concept. Integration with Wikipedia would maximize its usefulness by connecting landmarks with well-written and verified information. It would also allow Wikimapia to "ride" on Wikipedia's popularity. David Cannon 22:09, 20 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Functions suggestions are welcome.

What is ready:

• registration
• move/resize works (you must be a 3-day user), with moves history
• article locking

To do:

• tracking users/anonymous for: obj creation, article changes, place move/resize, comments
• some supplementary statistics for users
• blocking unwanted users
• simple place delete for reg. users
• discussion under user profile

To know:

• is there a possibility for Wikipedia admins to ban vandals? How we could implement it in Wikimapia.
• any suggestions on admin functions - welcome.

--AK

Thanks! Yes, administrators on Wikipedia have the power to ban vandals and troublemakers (by blocking their user name or IP address). They also have the power to delete pages and to "protect" pages from being edited by unregistered users (semi-protection) or by non-administrators (full protection). (This power is used in the case of repeated vandalism). Above Administrators are Bureaucrats, who have the power to create administrators (but normally only after a vote to approve them). We also have Arbitrators (appointed by the Wikimedia Foundation) to handle cases where administrators are alleged to have misused their powers. There are also a small number of Stewards, who are able to exercise administrator/bureaucrat powers on all Wikimedia projects (Administrators and Bureaucrats, by contrast, are chosen for only specific projects. In my own case, for example, I am an Administrator on the English language Wikipedia. I also edit other language projects and other Wikimedia projects (such as Wikiquote) from time to time, but as an ordinary user, not as an administrator. When I edit the English Wikipedia, several tabs appear at the top of the page that do not appear when I edit other projects).

Generally speaking, users who have proved themselves trustworthy get "nominated", and a week-long referendum follows. If there are no, or very few, serious complaints voiced against the candidate, he or she is almost always approved.

Wikimapia does not need an identical system, but as the project grows, you will need some way to empower trusted users to exercise certain powers that it would not be wise to give to just anybody.

For your information:

• Wikipedia:Administrators - this explains the powers that administrators have, and the restrictions they are expected to obey. It also has information about other user levels.
• Wikipedia:Requests for adminship - This shows the process by which we decide whether or not a user can be trusted with administrative powers.
• Wikipedia:List of administrators - this list is self-explanatory.

I hope this helps. David Cannon 22:52, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I've just registered. I found the instruction to use the above words:-) David Cannon 23:28, 8 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, I've done it. Alexandre Koriakine 07:28, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks! David Cannon 09:33, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Approve Mosesofmason --Mosesofmason 12:08, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Approve kessler --Kessler 16:57, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Approve OlivierAuber--Olivier Auber 17:12, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

OK! Alexandre Koriakine 18:19, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Approve vijaygirish2001.

Wikipedian user not found, please provide Wikipedian username - or link to Wikipedia user page.Alexandre Koriakine 18:19, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

approve shaji

Approve jodamiller

hi Approve shanmukhanand

Please approve shibulona

Approve aaho

Approve ceyockey --User:Ceyockey (talk to me) 01:21, 11 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Just a quick comment on your delete function. I tried to delete a couple of placed that were totally unsuitable and/or superfluous (e.g., one building had not one but two rectangles around it, with identical information in both). I found that the correct question screens came up (e.g., ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO DELETE THIS PLACE?), but that after I confirmed it, the place was still there. This happened several times. Is this a bug, or is it something that hasn't been made available yet? David Cannon 23:06, 9 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for pointing it, will be finished today. Alexandre Koriakine 08:12, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Now if you try to delete, then it will be shown that the place will be deleted in 12 hours, with a link for cancellation.Alexandre Koriakine 14:44, 10 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]