Bringing a whole town to life on Wikipedia is something new and is a testament to the forward-thinking people of Monmouth, all of the volunteers and the Wikimedia UK team. I’m looking forward to seeing other towns and cities doing the same thing. - Jimmy Wales, co-founder of Wikipedia.[1]
GibraltarpediA uses QRpedia codes, a type of bar code a smartphone can read through its camera (using one of the many free QR readers available) that takes you to a Wikipedia article in your language. QR codes are extremely useful, as physical signs have no way of displaying the same amount of information and in a potentially huge number of languages.
Articles have coordinates (geotags) to allow a virtual tour of the town using Wikipedia's mobile apps (or the Wikipedia layer on Google Streetview) and are available in augmented reality software including Layar.
GibraltarpediA does not use standard black and white QR codes, in order to differentiate between our codes and other schemes and individual's codes.
There are different kinds of QR code—plaques and labels—all put up with the permission of the Government of Gibraltar and/or building owner:
Larger ceramic, metal or glass plaques for places exposed to the elements for articles specific to Gibraltar.
Smaller plastic, ceramic or metal plaques for labelling objects non specific to Gibraltar, e.g. for use in the flora and fauna guide.
Labels for use inside buildings, e.g. for objects within the Gibraltar Museum.
Glass stickers in the windows of shops to give information on their professions
In addition there will be information posters, signs, notice boards and leaflets to help people contribute and stay informed.
Gibraltar related articles on Openstreetmap
Gibraltar related articles on Google Maps
collapsible table of planned plaques
Map all coordinates using OpenStreetMap
Download coordinates as:
KML
GPX (all coordinates)
GPX (primary coordinates)
GPX (secondary coordinates)
The following is a table listing the sites which already have Wikipedia articles on or relating to them and are therefore ready to have a GibraltarpediA plaque installed. The plan is to have each QRpedia code labelled in English and one other language. We are keen to get as many languages as possible on display to show that this project (and Wikipedia) is interested in all languages:
We are very keen for local people to be involved however they wish. Computer skills are not important, it's the interest and the willingness to be involved, there is a wealth of opportunities for community involvement:
Collections of Wikipedia articles on Gibraltar that can be easily saved, rendered electronically in PDF, ZIM or OpenDocument format, or ordered as a printed book.
Places in Gibraltar
Buildings and structures in Gibraltar
Geocoded articles on Openstreetmap
collapsible table of DYKs
44 new/expanded articles on the English Wikipedia Did You Know? (7 in Hindi, some in Danish)
... that Prof.Clive Finlayson has theorized that the genetic similarities between neanderthals and humans are not only due to interbreeding but could also originate from a common African ancestor? (21 July 2012, 784 views)
... that the Gibraltar Museum houses the remains of a 14th-century Moorishbath house, once the private baths of the Governor of Gibraltar during the Marinid dynasty? (26 July 2012, 2,222 views)
... that while the Gibraltar Aerobeacon does not strictly meet its criteria for a lighthouse, The Lighthouse Directory indicates that it merits an exception? (29 July 2012, 3,223 views)
... that the South Mole Lighthouse in the harbour of the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar features two galleries? (1 August 2012, 2,706 views)
... that the 1848 discovery of Neanderthal remains (pictured) in Forbes' Quarry, Gibraltar, was the second in history, but its significance was not realised for another sixteen years? (4 August 2012, 2,666 views)
... that the North Mole Elbow Lighthouse in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar also serves as a control room for the Gibraltar Harbour? (5 August 2012, 1,638 views)
... that the tunnel beneath Parson's Lodge Battery originally carried a railway built to take stone to improve the Gibraltar Harbour? (22 August 2012, 2,101)
... that in Gibraltar, a mole's elbow is a site of control for the harbour? (24 August 2012, 2,899)
... that it is theorized that Jews' Gate Cemetery in Gibraltar was founded on Windmill Hill due to the expulsion of Jews mandated under the Treaty of Utrecht? (16 September 2012, 1,401)
... that the Flemish Synagogue, one of the Synagogues of Gibraltar, was built in response to the informality that had evolved at the Great Synagogue? (13 October 2012, 2,165)
... that the British garrison of Gibraltar relied on water from the medieval Nun's Well for making their supply of beer? (14 October 2012, 2,380)
... that Flat Bastion Magazine in Gibraltar, built by the British in the 19th century to store gunpowder, is now used as a geological research facility and exhibition centre? (17 October 2012, 2,423)
... that the Spanish painter José Cruz Herrera worked in Casablanca for much of his life, where he was a prolific painter of scenes of Moroccan everyday life? (25 October 2012, ?)
... that the area around the Spanish beach of Cala Arenas has been inhabited for thousands of years due to its strategic position facing the Strait of Gibraltar? (29 October 2012, 1,984)
Gibraltar (including the John Mackintosh) Challenge
Images
Anyone is free to to copy, distribute and transmit most images, video and audio on Wikipedia including the Gibraltarpedia images page for commercial and non commercial purposes provided the author of the work is credited, (click on an image for full resolution and for author and license information). Click here for photos of Gibraltar on Wikimedia Commons (use to search for specific images)
Catalan Wikipedians - The Catalan Wikipedians are strong supporters of this project.
Discover Gibraltar - This website has been built by photographer and Gibraltar enthusiast Jim Crone for over 10 years. Jim's generous gift was to licence his website to allow this project to use the wealth of information and photographs therein on an attributionshare-alike basis.
Please add yourself to this list if you contribute to an article, sign it using four tildes ~~~~ or click the Signature and Timestamp icon on the edit bar
^Jimmy Wales, co-founder of Wikipedia, on MonmouthpediaTimon Singh, "Monmouth: The World’s First Wikipedia Town Launches In Wales", Inhabitat, 22 May 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2012.