Ericsson Web & Mobile Maps API (Labs)

Ericsson Web & Mobile Maps API (Labs)

Use Web Maps to embed powerful and flexible maps into your web applications.

• Powerful map component easily embeded into any web page
• Custom layers with your own objects and symbols
• Embedded Java Applet with dynamic map rendering in the browser
• Easily integrated Javascript interface
• Automatic fall back to Javascript only version for browsers that doesn’t support Java Applets
• Free access to map data (TeleAtlas - Vector data)

The Ericsson Web Maps API (Labs) uses Java for the mapping (javascript- fallback if no java available), first load can be a little slow at times.

Working Example

http://saudi.betainnovation.com/controls.html

Web Maps provide dynamic maps which you can integrate into any web application and features a large variety of control possibilities and overlay of symbols. The maps are rendered in a Java Applet which provides fast map browsing and smooth and animated interaction.

The dynamic rendering also let’s you control the look and feel of the map and how your users interact with it.

Currently limited in Mapping Examples. Users would be encouraged to create their own.

More information on the Web Maps API:

https://labs.ericsson.com/apis/web-maps/documentation

Mobile Version (also with an API)

"Mobile Maps is Java based and available both for Java ME and for Android. You download the Java ME or Android library, which provide the functionality of downloading, displaying, and interacting with maps to your applications. It also includes access to the map data itself."

Key Point with the Mobile Maps Version is:
"Through its unique functionality of rendering the maps in the mobile phone application Mobile Maps use very low bandwidth in comparison to many other map services and applications."

Mobile Maps is powered by Idevio and Tele Atlas

More information
https://labs.ericsson.com/apis/mobile-maps/

Source: (Also mentions the new SMS Send & Receive API)
http://blog.programmableweb.com/2009/07/04/5-new-apis-sprint-ericsson-and-volunteerism/

Land of Britain | Map Viewer (Historical)

Land of Britain | Map Viewer (Historical)

Update: 08/07/09

Looking for Vision of Britain Maps?
"A vision of Britain through time - Including maps, statistical trends and historical descriptions"

Mapping includes:

• Topographical Maps
• Land Utilisation Maps
  
• Administrative Maps
  

http://vision.port.ac.uk/maps/
(hint:click bigger map)

Update: 4pm [07/07/09] The BBC have created a video on this mapping application (hopefully all users can see the video not just UK users)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8138486.stm

"The Land of Britain web site was created by the Great Britain Historical GIS Project, based at the University of Portsmouth, with funding from the Frederick Soddy Trust.
A Vision of Britain through Time (new site) covers the whole of Britain, but not at this level of detail."

More information on this can be found here
A GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO LAND USE MAPPING IN BRITAIN
http://riga.iso.port.ac.uk/django_projects/doc/pamphlet/chapter1/


The First Edition Maps, dating back to the 1800's

"We are deeply grateful to Rex Walford, director of the Land Use UK Survey, for letting us draw on the teacher's pack he created with Tony Binns, featuring Brighton area maps from the 1960s and 1990s survey, and to the copyright holder for the Land Utilisation Survey of Great Britain for allowing us to re-publish Dudley Stamp's maps. We thank the British Library of Political and Economic Science for scanning the Stamp field survey sheets, and the British Library for scanning the Ordnance Survey First Series sheet."


A GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO LAND USE MAPPING IN BRITAIN
http://riga.iso.port.ac.uk/django_projects/doc/pamphlet/chapter1/

The Historical Maps overlayed together using opacity side-bars can show users the urbanisation of Brighton and Hove over many years.



More recent (1934) colourful maps show the large development along the coastal towns


Full colour, largescale highly detailed mapping (1967) of Brighton & Hove. Showing the full and large urbanization sprawl of the town and city

The Map Viewer
http://riga.iso.port.ac.uk/django_projects/maps_full/

Full Acknowledgments
http://riga.iso.port.ac.uk/django_projects/info/

Openlayers was used to develop this Mapping Application

Source:
http://www.craigbellamy.net/2009/07/07/a-vision-of-britain-through-time/

US National Weather [RADAR] Animated

US National Weather Animated

"A very good visual way to mix Openlayers and Google Maps with near real-time Radar information"


Animated Weather and Hazard Warning (Fire Risk, Flash Flooding etc)
Very Smooth and Animates in near real-time over the next 24hrs

Speed of animation can be controlled as is the Opacity of the overlays.

Individual Weather Monitoring Stations can also be displayed



At the time of this post South Dakota has Flood warnings across the state
http://radar.srh.noaa.gov/?zoom=3&lat=43.8511&lon=-98.4131&layers=B000TTTTTTTT

Feedback Survey - Good to see they want feedback from users

http://www.weather.gov/survey/nws-survey.php?code=RIDGEII


KMZ Overlays for Google Earth (and Other KMZ accepting applications)

"While the RIDGE radar display allows for the use of interactive toggles with the image, RIDGE images can be best utilized with GIS software. This page allows you to create "kmz" files which are compressed "kml" files compatible with several GIS software applications"

http://radar.weather.gov/ridge/kmzgenerator.php

UK Met office related post (take note UK MET OFFICE ;)
http://mapperz.blogspot.com/2009/06/met-office-google-maps-weather.html

GlobalMapper v11 (Beta1) now with OpenStreetMap

GlobalMapper v11 (Beta1) now with OpenStreetMap

"Global Mapper just got even better."


Open Street Map as a background layer note: OSM Rasters are projected on the fly to British National Grid in this case.
But very useful now the Digitising Tool is updated and dock-able (also shown)


One of the best and affordable GIS software packages around just got a lot better.

Global Mapper v11 (beta1) now introduces OpenStreetMap as background layer for your map projects, It is also available to capture your own content.

New Features: summarised as the list is way too long

- Added free built-in access to global street-level maps from OpenStreetMap.org via the File->Download Online Imagery menu command.
- Added real-time display of current cursor information (location, distance, elevation) to 3D Path Profile dialog. In addition, you can now also click to define a sub-path on the 3D Path Profile dialog and get information about that sub-path displayed.
- Added support for scaling point symbols, adding custom point symbols from PNG, GIF, and JPG files, and easily creating symbols of custom sizes and colors for common shapes, like dots, squares, etc.
- Added toolbar for Digitizer/Edit Tool to make it easier to perform many commonly used operations.
- Added ability to create new line features by tracing them without clicking at each vertex with the Digitizer/Edit Tool.
- Added ability to rotate and scale features using the Digitizer/Edit Tool.
- Added support for numerous new formats, including Vertical Mapper (MapInfo) Grid, QCT, QED, HTF, SPS, BAG, and many others.

All of the other numerous changes are listed in the What's New document that is displayed during installation.

Prior to the v11.00 release we also plan on adding several other major features, including a map layout tool for more easily creating finished maps, PDF export, DWG export, access to better world-wide imagery, support for combining area features, and support for exporting new multi-band files.

Please visit this forum for the latest new and link to the download
A great way to allow many users to comment on new features and find potential bugs before a full released version
Download Global Mapper 11 (beta1) from here: (Includes full version for a limited number of days '15th July 2009')
There is also a 64-bit version of Global Mapper for 64-bit versions Windows
http://www.globalmapperforum.com/forums/announcement-news/4301-global-mapper-v11-00-beta-1-now-available.html

GlobalMapper v11 with be officially released v11.00 in approximately 1 month.

Unregistered Versions do work with this software though you will not be able to export data or overlay more than 4 layers of data. But for the price $349 or $129 (upgrade from v10) you get a lot features for your money.

Well done to the GlobalMapper Team always surpassing expectations.

New Related Post:
In addition there is a very good blog post showing you how to make your own customised maps/imagery for bing maps
http://www.soulsolutions.com.au/Blog/tabid/73/EntryId/610/Getting-your-custom-imagery-onto-Bing-Maps-with-Global-Mapper-and-the-Cloud.aspx

OpenFlights - Route Mapping The World

OpenFlights - Route Mapping The World

OpenFlights is a tool that lets you map your flights around the world, search and filter them in all sorts of interesting ways, calculate statistics automatically, and share your flights and trips with friends and the entire world (if you wish). It's also the name of the open-source project to build the tool.



Search by Click the Icons on the Map or Airport Code, Airport Name or IATA Name- a very handy Aiport Map. Mapping base by OpenLayers

Note: Now, you can click on any airport and see every single scheduled flight:

Testing Stages:

OpenFlights has been going through Alpha, Beta and Gamma test phases, OpenFlights is now in its Delta phase: all core functionality is implemented, but development on new features continues. If you'd like to be informed about major updates to the site visit their blog

For easy access to this, we’ve added a Quick search widget, shown expanded above but normally hiding in the bottom-right corner under the icon. Here’s how to use it, in two easy steps:

1. Enter the airport name, city or IATA code in the box. OpenFlights will automatically suggest matches as you type, and if the airport is already shown on the map, OpenFlights will pop it up.
2. Once you’ve entered a valid name, the Search button becomes active. If you click on this, OpenFlights will load a route map showing all flights from that airport.

But there’s more! In the popup for every airport, there’s now a Routes button, which you can also use to see the map. If you click on the List button for the mapped airport (via popup or the top left corner), you’ll get a list of all flights operating from there; if you click on that button for another airport, you’ll get a list of all airlines connecting the two, even including codeshares.

Source and Image:

http://openflights.org/blog/2009/06/26/route-mapping-the-world/

Visit the OpenFlights Route Map

The Met Office (Google Maps) Weather

The Met Office (Google Maps) Weather

The Met office are experimenting with the Google Maps API - this is a very interesting move. The results are quite impressive and this is a potentially a bold move and a great way to represent weather forecasting on the web.
This includes animating the weather for the next 24hrs using the time bar above the map.


Google Maps API with Meteorological Data overlayed to represent very visually the foretasted weather for the UK. Animation is controlled by the 'Play' Button.

Not only is rainfall overlayed but isobars representing the pressure is also animated.


Isobars (Barometric Pressure) overlay on Google Maps

There is Temperature, Winds(strength/direction) missing currently, this is planned for the future and will be very useful for users.

This is an impressive experiment and greatly improves the very static generated images that currently dominated the Met Office Website.

Well done to all involved, this is what the public want.

The Met Office Google Map (Experimental)

Currently the BBC have Temperature and Winds [Flash required]
http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/forecast/10209

Suggestions - Opacity Control - current radar blocks the background map.
Temperature and Winds layers would be very handy.
5 day forecast possible?
An a final request on the raw data - it possible to have a basic GeoRSS feed for budding developers to create weather overlays for their own maps
GeoRSS weather warnings?

National Trust Map (Beta)

National Trust Map (Beta)


The hundreds of locations of National Trust owned properties are now available on a Google Map, the large national trust icons are 'clusters of' properties zooming in allows individual places of interest be click-able with summary and open times tabs.


"Welcome to our brand new map."

"We are still developing this super tool that will help you make the most of your days out with us.

Let us know whether we're on the right track or if we have room for improvement by leaving some feedback."

So how does it work?

• Each small pin represents a National Trust property. Click on the pin and you will get some property information, local weather, travel directions and more.
• Larger pins represent clusters of places to visit. When you click on one you will get a zoomed-in map showing the area in more detail. Each National Trust property is then shown with a small pin, and as before, you select the pin you are interested in for further information."

Need Inspiration? Then the "Inspiratior" can help you find a day out - just use your desired location Town or Postcode in the tool and choose a distance.


Mapperz - leaving feedback:
Nice work National Trust - now putting both those excellent tools into one box would be a really powerful tool.
Good for school summer holidays and getting families out into the countryside.

Enjoy England Maps

Enjoy England Maps

"You can now select a destination by clicking on a map icon and then clicking on the destination link for information about that area or using the Select a county from this list drop-down menu."


Enjoy England are now using Google maps to enhance their site. This helps users identify attractions near where they choose to visit.

England by Region:

• South West
  
• South East
• London
• Heart of England
• East Midlands
• North East England
• North West England
• Yorkshire
  

The 'Show Only' options allows filtering of information that your interested. Another useful feature is the currency converter for international users.

Related - http://www.england-rocks.co.uk/
from Maps - http://www.england-rocks.co.uk/index2.php

Previous post - http://mapperz.blogspot.com/2007/02/england-rocks-map.html

Society of Cartographers Summer School

Society of Cartographers Summer School

[updated 27/06/2009]


"UK's best meeting place for all those interested in any aspect of mapping"




Where?
The University of Southampton is the venue for the 45th Annual Summer School

The session themes for this year's conference are:

• Emergency mapping
• 2D or 3D mapping?
• Crowdsourcing data
• Ordnance Survey and its data
• Transport mapping
• Alternative data for users
• Collecting and using crowdsourced data

When?

Monday 7th September 2009

Lecture 1 13.45 Emergency mapping - an overview (Keir Clarke, Google Maps Mania)

Lecture 2 14.15 Maps in Action Chris Phillips, MapAction

Lecture 3 14.45 Mapping hazard sites Helen Balmforth, Health and Safety Lab


Lecture 4 15.45 Content - map or virtual globe? Rich Treves, University of Southampton

Lecture 5 16.15 Maps in Action Tim Fendley, Legible London

Lecture 6 16.45 Mapping for Thingfinding Jonathan Rez, FWDesign


Tuesday 8th September 2009

Lecture 7 9.00 Neodata - from Crowdsourcing to Cloudsourcing and where it will take us

Chris Osborne, Cloudsourced.com

Lecture 8 9.30 Crowdsourcing geodata Frederik Ramm, Geofabrik

Lecture 9 10.00 Collaborative mapping; flirting with the music industry Edward Mac Gillavry, Webmapper

Wednesday 9th September 2009


Session 6: Alternative data for users
Lecture 15 11.00 Does the UK need a second large scale mapping database?
Alun Jones, The Geoinformation Group

Lecture 10 11.00 KEYNOTE:
Ordnance Survey: underpinning the nation's decision-making
Vanessa Lawrence, Director General and CEO, Ordnance Survey

Lecture 11 11.30 OpenSpace and Geovation Tim Martin, Ordnance Survey

Lecture 12 12.00 Heterogeneous map mashing
Bill Chadwick, Freelance mapper [Where's the path]

Lecture 16 11.30 OpenStreetMap data in local authorities Matt Lindsay, Surrey Heath District Council

Lecture 17 12.00 Delegates corner 5 minutes to talk about a project or discuss an issue of interest to you ...

Session 7: Collecting and using crowdsourced data
Lecture 18 13.30 New developments in mapping Andy Allan, Cloudmade
Lecture 19 14.00 Mapping Antigua Steve Chilton, Middlesex University Abstract ...
Lecture 20 14.30 OSM data [NOT CONFIRMED]

The draft programme:
http://www.soc.org.uk/southampton09/program.htm

To register for the event
http://www.soc.org.uk/southampton09/index.htm

Google City Tours (Labs)

Google City Tours (Labs)




Google Labs " Google City Tours" which uses Google Maps. The idea is that anyone can locate points of interest and plan up-to three day trips in major cities.

City Tours has a number of tours for pre-set for San Francisco, New York, London and Dublin. Major landmarks, museums and art galleries are available in each of the cities.


Landmarks can be edited on your own tour using the google map. Info windows display this information for the markers includes user rating and the opening hours. The Sidebar shows the order of the walk and the time it should take to walk from one location to the next.


Mapperz Suggestion: The walking directions should follow the walkable path for the streets and not as the crow files in this case. Hopefully this gets an update.

Try it here
http://citytours.googlelabs.com
[Google account require to edit and save/rate tours]

Related post:
http://googlemapsmania.blogspot.com/

ArcGIS 9.3.1 Desktop Download Layer Package Patch

ArcGIS 9.3.1 Desktop Download Layer Package Patch
ArcGIS Desktop (ArcInfo, ArcEditor, ArcView)

Update 27th June 2009: IMPORTANT PATCH UPDATE
"A problem was identified with the installation of the ArcGIS 9.3.1 Desktop Download Layer Package Patch.

In some cases, after applying this patch, it would cause ArcMap or ArcCatalog to crash on startup. An updated version of the patch has now been posted to the ESRI Web site."

source:
http://blogs.esri.com/Support/blogs/supportcenter/archive/2009/06/26/update-to-arcgis-9-3-1-desktop-download-layer-package-patch.aspx

An important patch for users of the new ArcGIS 9.3.1 software

Date Submitted: June 23, 2009 - Last Modified: June 24, 2009

"This patch addresses issues with downloading secure content from ArcGIS Online when using ArcGIS Desktop. This patch is required if you are using ArcGIS Desktop and the sharing capabilities of ArcGIS Online. It is recommended that all users install this Patch."

This patch addresses issues with downloading secure content from ArcGIS Online when using ArcGIS Desktop. Content that is not shared with everyone cannot be downloaded. This patch allows all content from ArcGIS Online to be downloaded. We recommend that all Desktop users download and install this Patch at their earliest convenience to ensure the highest quality experience when working with ArcGIS 9.3.1.

Issues Addressed with this PatchThis ArcGIS 9.3.1 Patch contains critical fixes. It is recommended that all users install this Patch.
Resolves issue with downloading secure content from ArcGIS Online when using ArcGIS Desktop. Files
Installed with this PatchCommon Files
\ArcGIS\bin:
ArcGISCacheMgr.exe
ArcGISConnectionTest.exe
ArcGISFileHandler.exe
ArcGISFileHelper.dll
ArcGISVersion.dll
DADFLib.dll

ArcGIS 9.3.1 Final must be installed before you can install this Patch.

source:
http://support.esri.com/index.cfm?fa=downloads.patchesServicePacks.viewPatch&PID=17&MetaID=1530
includes the direct link to gis931-DLLP-patch.msp 1 MB

BBC Audio Map of the World

BBC Audio Map of the World 'Save Our Sounds'

"BBC wants you to help build an interactive map of the world. So get involved and send in recordings of sounds from where you live. Listen to the sounds of the world - and then send us your audio."



The Map has already a good few audio snippets you can listen to directly from the map.

"Save Our Sounds, but we need your help to create an audio map of the world. We’re especially keen to preserve endangered sounds for future generations.

You can get involved by sending us sounds from where you live, and then listen your way around the world with our interactive map."

View the BBC Audio Map

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/specialreports/saveoursounds/index.shtml

Source: And more 'BBC' Bing Mashups
http://www.bing.com/community/blogs/maps/archive/2009/06/23/bbc-goes-big-on-bing-maps.aspx

iPhone MobileNavigator [NAVIGON]

iPhone MobileNavigator [NAVIGON]


Now Available via iTunes Apps

"Turn your iPhone into a first-rate navigation system with MobileNavigator. Try the feature for yourself and enjoy the excellent user control and superior design that allow simple and intuitive operating. The application includes the latest map material from the market leader NAVTEQ and can be used without an Internet connection, which is of enormous benefit abroad, for example, as no extra charges are incurred. With MobileNavigator you can turn your iPhone into an equally handy and convenient route guidance system."

Features and range of functions:

• 2D and 3D map displays
• Can be used in portrait and landscape format
• Precise voice announcements
• Intelligent address entry
• Reality View Pro (realistic display of motorway interchanges and exits)
• Lane Assistant Pro
• Real signpost display
• Speed Assistant with adjustable audio-visual warning
• Day and night mode for map display
• Direct access and navigation to contacts saved in the iPhone's address book
• The latest NAVTEQ map material including more than two million (EU version) places of interest (POIs)
• Navigation is automatically resumed after an incoming phone call
• Quick access to user-defined POIs in the area and along the route
• Take Me Home function with a single click
• Automatic language selection to match the iPhone's user language

Cost:
Navigon’s MobileNavigator Europe app (iTunes link) is now listed on the App Store for a one-time price of $94.99 [£58] but a note in the description claims that the “special introduction price is valid only until June 30th.”

Similar Products for Windows/PDA's

also S60 3rd Edition Phones

Source:
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Apple/?p=4220

Map Channels - June 2009

Map Channels - June 2009

A busy month for Map Channels: They have released the following 3 new features this month alone.


• 17 Jun 2009 : Iran Election Twitter Map


Mapping tweets about the Iran Election using twitter #tags

• 15 Jun 2009 : Map Feed Converter v1 (beta)

A utility to convert data between KML and tab-delimited format and text to KML.

• 1 Jun 2009 : Map Channels Version 3.02

Which helps you create maps for your own website quickly and easily.

Updated to fix some bugs and add new features.

Also see http://www.mashedworld.com/ for Google Maps and Street View Projects

Look forward to even more to come...

Recently Related:
http://googlemapsmania.blogspot.com/2009/06/iran-protests-on-google-maps.html
To keep up-to-date with the latest from Map Channels use the RSS Feed on the News page
http://www.mapchannels.com/News.aspx

If your bored on a Friday try the Quiz Maps:
http://www.mapchannels.com/QuizMaps.aspx

192.com Mapping Updates

192.com Mapping Updates

"New on 192.com is ability to see the list of people or businesses that matched your search criteria highlighted on the map. This makes it even easier to identify the person or business you are looking for. For example, you may know that a person definitely lives in the midlands. Or you may be looking for a business that is located on the high street or close to the tube.

You can also use the Locations grouping on the Refine Search panel to filter by any area in the UK, from country level right down to postcode."

Image 192.com: Search results for People or Businesses are now mapped.

Other new searches:

You can now search all of 192.com from any page of the site. You can choose to Search All or select a particular section that you are interested in including:

• People
• Businesses
• Places
• Property prices
• Electoral roll
• Directors
• Family records
• Company credit reports
• Visual timelines
• Websites Mapped
  

Websites are now geocoded to a real business locations.


Websites are now geocoded to real world locations


Filtering by Website on a map - unique to 192.com

http://www.192.com/content/help/whatsnew/#maps


Try it out:
http://www.192.com/all/search/

Source:
http://blog.192.com/?p=21

Sustrans Map - Measure Your Route

Sustrans Map - Measure Your Route

"Sustrans is the UK's leading sustainable transport charity. Our vision is a world in which people choose to travel in ways that benefit their health and the environment. Every day we are working on practical, innovative ways of dealing with the transport challenges that affect us all."

The Sustrans Map uses Openlayers and data from Ordnance Survey - a Dotted Eyes creation.

Sustrans aims are:

• reduce the environmental and resource impacts of transport
• enable people to choose active travel more often
• provide car-free access to essential local services
• create streets and public spaces into places for people to enjoy.

The Unique 'Value Added Tool' for this map is the Interactive Route Creation which dynamically shows the user the distance and time it takes whilst digitising your own route:


Custom route creation - displays average time and distance as you build your route.

The refresh display speed of the background maps are not the fastest but the usefulness of the tool overrides this bottleneck.

Link to Sustrans Birmingham Map (as above though zoom in)
http://www.sustrans.org.uk/map?searchtype=search&searchkey=Birmingham