//---  javascript functions for google map  ---//

    // global variables
    var map;
    var lineCounter_   = 0;
    var shapeCounter_  = 0;
    var markerCounter_ = 0;
    var colorIndex_    = 0;
    var currentPoly;

    var icon = new GIcon();
    icon.image = "http://www.google.com/mapfiles/marker.png";
    icon.shadow = "http://www.google.com/mapfiles/shadow50.png";
    icon.iconSize = new GSize(20, 34);
    icon.shadowSize = new GSize(37, 34);
    icon.iconAnchor = new GPoint(10, 34);


    function mapLoad() {
        if ( GBrowserIsCompatible() ) {
            map = new GMap2(document.getElementById("map"));
            map.addControl( new GLargeMapControl3D() );
            map.addControl( new GMapTypeControl() );
            map.setCenter( new GLatLng( 54.622978,-2.592773 ), 5, G_HYBRID_MAP );
        }
    }

    addLoadEvent( mapLoad );
    addUnLoadEvent( GUnload );