Barum Czech Rally Zlín 

Barum rally more accessible with new application

19. 8. 2018 - Barum Czech Rally Zlín

The online interactive maps Barum Czech Rally Zlín is an application first of its kind made specifically for rally. It shows special stages, spectator's areas and other points of interest. You can access it on your phone or laptop anywhere in the world. It can be also used for the search for restaurants and accommodation. In the application menu you can adjust map's layers. The menu contains links to online results, itinerary and the start list.

"I've got this idea for a map application, which would primarily serve the spectators, last year, but I didn't have the necessary knowledge to realize this project. I spent the spring studying technologies, which would enable me to make it. Since I mostly deal with maps in the department of Geoinformatics on the Palacký University in Olomouc, I'm more of a cartographer then a programmer so I need someone who would help me with that part. I found the right person in Adam Hemžal, a former classmate from secondary grammar school, who is studying Information Technologies on the University of Economics in Prague," said Martin Gabryš.

A prototype was made for a purpose of a semester project. The next step was to introduce it to the organisers of Barum rally. "The mayor of Žlutava helped me and got me in touch with somebody at the Secretariat and I showed then our prototype. Then Mr Regner and his son both approved," said Gabryš. However, this only meant more work for them. The map needed data for this year's Barum rally and also other improvements so it would be user-friendly and intuitive. "Martin was working on the data provided by Barum rally. And I was adding them to the map and adjusting functionality," described Adam Hemžal.

The online interactive maps application was released on 13th August 2018. Barum Czech Rally Zlín informed the public about this application on its Facebook page and was immediately met with positive reactions. The application can be found on www.czechrally.com/map or in the Spectator's section - maps. "For me, it was the most demanding project I've ever worked on. We worked every day to make it in time. Luckily, we made it, thanks to efficient and smooth communications with Barum Czech Rally Zlín and my colleague Martin Gabryš, whose brilliant idea began all of this," said Hemžal.

"I've been watching Barum rally since I was a child. Working on a project for Barum rally was a dream come true. I hope that it will serve well and be useful to visitors. And we both welcome any suggestions for its improvement. We would like to thank the Directorate of Barum rally for the opportunity and we hope that our cooperation will continue," said Martin Gabryš. Any suggestions regarding this application, please, send to m.gabrys@seznam.cz.