WunderMap - Hurricane Dolly Live Tracking

WunderMap Animates the Current Radar (Rainfall)

This is one of the best way to see a hurricane with Google Maps.
Vast amounts of data collected and represented in a fashion that the user can have as much or as little information displayed.

Below are a few options:

Well done to the WunderMap Team,
http://www.wunderground.com/

Hurricane Dolly's current status

UK Incinerator Map


UK Without Incineration Network (UKWIN) has launched a Interactive Map that show existing and potential new sites for Household Waste Incinerators - Grey markers represent existing incinerators. Brown markers represent potential incinerators.

UKWIN, in collaboration with Friends of the Earth, has developed an interactive map of existing and potential household waste incineration sites.

"The map, which was unveiled today (July 22), documents 23 existing sites and outlines 150 locations that have been scouted for around 80 more facilities to be built and includes a table listing every facility with its location, type, capacity, operational notes and active campaign groups opposing that particular site.

Large urban areas are identified as the areas with most incineration facilities - Birmingham, London, Liverpool and Leeds all accumulating high numbers - while smaller areas such as Invergordon, Inverness, and Jersey's proposed St. Helier facility expose the range of the research undertaken.

UK WIN explains that it placed each location on the map based on facility post codes for accuracy."

Source:LetsRecycle.com

Related: Channel 4 News - 30 new rubbish incinerator plants planned for the UK

The UK is watching you Google! (Building StreetView)


View Larger Map
These are reported sightings of the streetview cars are mapped by readers of the 'The Register' report found via the Guardian Blog
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/07/16/google_street_view_car_hoves_into_view.html

As expected the streets are getting mapped by Google, all the large cities and a few odd small locations (Ullapool,Highland in Scotland?)
is it right or is it wrong the debate rages on.
Remember there is thousands of CCTV cameras recording in the UK nobody blinks an eye. But as soon as you mention your front door been captured 'in a moment of time' everyone becomes paranoid.

Mapperz hopes Bournemouth is captured for the Dual Maps - Holiday Maps
also See Bournemouth

update in blue (see below)
BBC Sport's Olympic Map Released


BBC Sport has a nice custom maps using Microsoft Virtual Earth.
Image Source:Firefox screenshot of BBC Sport's Olympic Map

BBC Sport's Olympic map for the 2008 Beijing Games.

How to use the map Yellow sport icons indicate venues Click to find out more about a venue Blue icons indicate landmarks Click to find out more about places in Beijing Red icons indicate blog posts Click to read an Olympics blog post Green icons are Twitter posts Click for an update from a BBC journalist Image Source:BBC Sport

There are more than 30 venues in Beijing.
Sailing in Qingdao on China's north-east coast.
Equestrian sports in Hong Kong, to the south.

Clicking different icons allows to find more information about venues.

• Find out more about the 37 Chinese Olympic venues

• Read articles from journalists on BBC Sport's Olympics blog

• Read Twitter updates from BBC Sport's journalists in China

The BBC would like feedback...
We would like to hear your feedback on our Olympic map - you can leave your comments on BBC Sport's Olympics blog.

This Map was created using the Virtual Earth API and Custom Maps added using MapCruncher.
If you are interested in the methodology of how this has been created here is a good starting point.
http://msdnrss.thecoderblogs.com/2008/07/16/bbc-sports-olympic-map/
"The inclement weather and a thick cloud layer over Beijing for the last few MONTHS, it has been incredibly difficult to get good satellite imagery. This makes the MapCruncher overlays a huge benefit to the application. The imagery we’re serving up was taken just a few months ago - obviously tons of progress has been made to the get the stadiums ready for August, but what a great addition to compliment the Virtual Earth platform"

View the Map
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics/7493757.stm

New Google Map API Ad Icons (Experimental)

Google Maps API are rolling out some changes with the Ad Manager.


You can now have a maximum of 10 'Advert Icons' on your custom map.

"Over the coming weeks, we're going to making a few changes to the
style of the ads rendered by GAdsManager.

Starting in version 2.119, we're going to be making two small changes. "
Mike(Google Employee)

(make that 3)

1. replacing the current white pushpin style with a new style where the ads will appear to be flat "on the map. see example image
2. "nudging" the ads slightly, so that ads will no longer ever sit on top of any text rendered in the map tiles.
3. also starting to serve ads outside the USA

Mapperz can show an example that is working in the UK.
http://mapperz.googlepages.com/ads_manager_test.html
(If you don't see new icons displayed - try zooming once or panning the map - please remember that it is experimental!)

The one issue that you can clearly see at present is the icons still overlap text on the map tiles.
(this is due to the the tiles being rasters, to solve this google would new to vectorize the text as a bounding box and buffer the vector rectangles to create 'avoid ad/text clashing polygons'.
A tip from cartographic text placement there.)
VectorMagic does a very good job (Sample)

Here is an new icon
http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/imgad?id=CIXc9e63iK6PywEQEBgQMggWzfQHA9oWTQ
and another
http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/imgad?id=CPOInt6BsJf1IhAQGBAyCGKbz0m-eFN1
(looks like each ad has its own id for adwords purposes.)

How do you enable?
Not everyone wants to have 'Google Ads' on there maps so it's an option to include it.

 var map = new GMap2(document.getElementById("map")); //Add the Map
map.addControl(new GLargeMapControl());//Add the Large Control
map.setCenter(new GLatLng(37.423148, -122.084874), 13);//Centre on LatLng
var ads_opts = { //Add Ad Options
 mode: "experimental", //Mode:Experimental -Subject to change
 maxAdsOnMap: 10 //Maximum number of Ads (10 is Max)
};
var adsManager = new GAdsManager(map, "google", ads_opts);
adsManager.enable();

"google" will be where you put your adsense id so any click through would be registered
to your account



Official Example
http://gmaps-samples.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/
adsmanager/adsmanager_new.html

Source:
http://groups.google.com/group/Google-Maps-API/browse_thread/thread/12534906310673ff#
Mapperz New UK Version
http://mapperz.googlepages.com/ads_manager_test.html

Updated see red and blue below

ArcGIS JavaScript Extension for the Google Maps API
"The ArcGIS JavaScript Extension for the Google Maps API allows you to use your ArcGIS maps and tasks in the framework of Google Maps. There are many reasons to use this extension to expose your GIS data. Perhaps your audience already knows how to use Google Maps. Perhaps you're already familiar with the Google Maps API. Or maybe you just like the look and feel of the Google base maps."

Google Maps + Powerful GIS Analysis

Here is a Google Maps Direction Route - with the added profile of the route generated by ArcServer. (click image to see live example)

Here is another example of adding GIS capabilities to Google Maps.


Drive Time Polygons (1,2 & 3 minute driving time polygons) on the fly - overlaid on Google Maps. (click image to see live example)
Custom version http://mapperz.googlepages.com/DriveTime_ESRI_GMAP.html
(Drive Time only works in the US and Canada)

How is this geo-processing action created?


Image source: http://globe5.arcwebservices.com/arcgisoutput/Network_ESRI_DriveTime_US/CreateDriveTimePolygonsDisks.htm

ArcGIS comes with Model Builder here geoprocessing functions Make Service Area Layer, Add Locations are just some of the core processing elements to create Drive Time Polygons.

This is the start of some serious and powerful tools that will and can be built on to 'enrich' the map user.
This provides them with detailed information that can be manipulated and customized to the users specifications on the fly.

Other possibilities at the Geo-Processing Service examples here

• Display your own maps on top of a Google Maps base map.
• Execute a sequence of GIS models and display the results in Google Maps.
• Search for features in your GIS data and display the results on Google Maps.
• Find addresses using your own address locator and display the result on Google Maps.
• Display attributes from your GIS data on the map using the Google Chart API.
• Allows others to add GIS functionality from your server as a Google Mapplet.

The future looks bright with GIS software companies taking on popular mapping API's

Please note there is an ArcGIS JavaScript™ Extension for Microsoft Virtual Earth™ version as well.

Reported by Google Map Mania from this Blog

OpenRouteService.org is taking OpenStreetMap Data and making use of the Street Data and creating Full Descriptive Routes from it.

*Currently only for Germany

Blue Line represents the calculated 'fastest' route. Summary and full 'turn by turn' directions

Currently in German but gives you full turn by turn directions.

"Routing services are probably the most important application for street data - apart from visualizing them on a map. While there are a range of desktop (or even mobile) applications that can provide such functionality also in combination with Open Street Map data, we focus here on an approach based on the concept of interoperable Service Oriented Architectures (SOA). These are regarded as an important concept for forthcoming software architectures in general, and more and more being applied also in the GI (geographic information) sector."

Polygon Avoidance Areas

The same route as above though this time a digitized polygon (red area) defines an area for avoidance, the route is processed in less than 3 seconds.

Try it here
http://data.giub.uni-bonn.de/openrouteservice/index.php


Data Sources
OpenStreetMap
Internal use of Germany Five-Digit Zip Code from ESRI Data & Maps 2003 for Geocoding

Created by http://www.geographie.uni-bonn.de/karto/

ArcGIS 9.2 Service Pack 6 - Announcement

So you just got 9.3?
Now you can fix you 9.2 with Service Pack 6.

Confused? Users are.
Which is the most up-to-date? Which is the more Stable?

ArcGIS 9.2 Service Pack 6 is planned to be available for download later in July, 2008

Might be worth the wait until 9.3 SP1 if some of these are missed in the released version.

9.2 SP 6 fixes - Mapperz quick pick

NIM006823 - When zooming in and using the Identify tool during a redraw, the values returned are NoDATA.

NIM007248 - ArcMap hangs when adding a field to a shapefile after using the Select by Attributes dialog box and leaving the dialog box open

NIM007810 - Construct Features tool fails with error message "Failed to construct features" when attempting to construct polygons from lines

NIM011023 - Deleting or renaming a Cartographic Representation from a feature class causes ArcMap to crash when opening a .mxd

NIM032774 - Group elements in the data frame and in annotation may disappear when editing is projected on the fly.

NIM033517 - When using Select By Location to process a large dataset, the following error may display: An unexpected error occurred in the Select By Location command

NIM034793 - ArcMap crashes when tracing around a large dataset.

NIM035777 - Features disappear when selecting features with the Select Features tool from a layer (shapefile or geodatabase)

NIM034395 - A JPEG with a non-standard header does not display correctly at 9.2.

Windows Vista Woes

NIM032480 - Windows Vista only: Viewing metadata in ArcCatalog and exporting metadata using the Export Metadata dialog box in ArcCatalog fails with Vista SP1

NIM032629 - Windows Vista only: Unable to delete more than two fields from a shapefile in the same ArcMap session. The shapefile is locked after the second field is deleted.

NIM033840 - Windows Vista only: Using the ESC key to cancel drawing of large datasets in ArcMap can render the application unresponsive until the drawing is complete

Careful connecting to 9.3 geo-databases

NIM034190 - An Upgrade message still appears in ArcCatalog when connecting from a 9.2 client to a 9.3 geodatabase. When a 9.2 client dismisses the message box, the next time a 9.3 client connects, the geodatabase must be upgraded

Built-in Help
NIM034715 - Updated help files to fix typos, broken links, and software changes.

http://support.esri.com/index.cfm?fa=downloads.patchesServicePacks.viewPatch&PID=17&MetaID=1406

Satbeams Map


Satbeams generates transparent polygons on the fly for each selected satellite 'beam'.


This example shows signal strength (useful for finding out receiver dish/antenna size)
http://www.satbeams.com/footprints?beam=5223


"The site allows to view the Satellite Coverage maps for most of the satellites all over the globe in Google Maps format. At the same time it is possible to place markers on the map stating which frequencies/channels one can receive at the specific location and view what others can receive from the selected satellite in different places of the world."
Alexander -Satellite Coverage Maps

Current stats (subject to expanding numbers)

Number of Satellites: 226
Coverage maps: 641

Number of receivers: 4933
Number of Antennas: 289
Number of LNBs: 416


Registered Users have more

• Save markers on the map and report which satellites and beams one can receive there
• See the markers saved by other members (perhaps there is someone already receiving selected Satellite/Beam in the neighbourhood)
• Add Satellite equipment to the reception report including the antenna model, receiver and Lnbs (Low-noise Block Converter)
  
• Report different news - frequencies, channels and even new equipment (i.e. receivers, dishes, Lnbs...)
  

As a result, the more people place markers with their reports the more accurate information is available to Sat-TV users all over the globe.

Mapperz notes there was a lot of work done on the website - it took
several months of several people to make the website.
More features to come in a 2-3 months from now. So stay tuned.
Congratulations to the team for creating a useful mapping tool.

related:
http://www.dishpointer.com/
http://mapperz.blogspot.com/2007/08/satellite-finder-map-updated.html

update 02/07/2008 (7pm)

best and worst of the Help

Great to see the ArcGIS 9.3 Help up and running for all users now.

One thing I have noticed is the ‘Geoprocessing Center’ promised is either late coming or still out of date…(anyone know anymore?)

http://mapperz.blogspot.com/2007/06/esri-users-questions-answered.html

The best updated function so far is the 'Near' Command (ArcInfo Only)
Supporting Input points,lines, polygons and multipoint.
(a long time request)

http://webhelp.esri.com/arcgisdesktop/9.3/index.cfm?id=1273&pid=1268&topicname=Near_(Analysis)

old version only supported points as an input

http://webhelp.esri.com/arcgisdesktop/9.2/index.cfm?id=1111&pid=1107&topicname=Near_(Analysis)

Mapperz (via the James Fee 'Spatially Adjusted' Blog Comments

ArcGIS 9.3 Web-based Help Now Available

ESRI finally have updated their Support pages with 9.3 web-based Help

Quick picks

PDF Support (Acrobat 9.0)
(export with layers and attributes)

Postgres Connection
(via ArcSDE)

ArcGIS 9.3 Shortcuts

Animation of Data

And finally ArcGIS understands nominal scales!
(wiki)

so now One inch = 5 miles works. (thank you ESRI)


ESRI 9.3 Help now 'out of beta' and available for all to view and use.

New Features and Helpful 'error' messages have plain English explanations

http://webhelp.esri.com/arcgisdesktop/9.3/index.cfm?TopicName=welcome

The final build number for ArcGIS 9.3 is Build 1770
via Mandown (NZ)

Google Map Maker


Google is now allowing certian areas in the world to be edited by the user


"Google Map Maker is a Google Maps service that allows you add or edit features, such as roads, businesses, parks, schools and more"


Google Map Maker displays in your web browser. The service appears similar to Google Maps, but displays a set of tools that allows you to mark locations and add information. These tools

New Tools allows you to edit content live - but requires a 'google' review before making it to google maps tiles.

Use the Placemark tool to mark a location such as a business or school.
Use the Line tool to mark roads, rivers, etc.
Use the Polygon tool to mark regions, such as a park or neighbourhood. You can enter similar information as with the Placemark tool, but the Polygon tool enables you to mark an entire area.


Scale Dependant for Editing Mode
You need to zoom to a range of 50m to 1km to be able to use Google Map Maker tools. If you use see these tools, try zooming in. To zoom in, use the zoom slider, mouse scroll wheel or right click > Zoom in. To center a point on the map, right click on the appropriate location and choose Center the map.

Metadata (information about the data)

Overview - Basic information about the feature. (name, address, etc.)
Attributes - Specific details about the feature. (road speed, driving direction, photo URL, etc.)
Description - Longer description and comments for reviewers. For example: Comment to moderator - This building has been torn down recently.
Events - Occurrences that pertain to the feature (such a concert that occurs in a park)
History - Record of past edits to the feature (changes made by other users)

Available Locations to be edited (Subject to change)

Antigua and Barbuda
Bahamas
Barbados
Bermuda
British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
Cyprus
Grenada
Iceland
Jamaica
Netherlands Antilles
Pakistan
St. Kitts and Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
Vietnam


Note on Privacy
While you may mark your home on the map by adding the same as a point of interest, Google suggests that you do not reveal such private information in Google Map Maker.
Consider marking it as a Point of Interest

More on this visit
http://googlemapsmania.blogspot.com/2008/06/google-map-maker.html
http://www.google.com/mapmaker/mapfiles/s/support.html
http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2008/06/making-your-mark-on-world.html#links

Mapperz

MAPme.com - A Community Based Mapping Project


MAPme.com a social mapping site which allows everyone from travelers to special interest groups to create and contribute locations by suggesting 'Hotspots' and other information that other members of a map might be interested in.

Filters include 'weirdness' - in this case the 'Dancing Elvis Troupe' in Tokyo


These travel guides are community maps where other members can leave comments or photos or even submit their own locations. Usually, these suggestions will either be added directly to each map, or they go into a moderation queue assigned to the map owner (depending on the type of map).

"Each map is like a new post in a geographic forum”, says John McCann, who managed the development of the site. “We have given the map owners as much flexibility as they could ever need in terms of being able to moderate location data, but we've also allowed for options for public and personal maps – public maps are generally a free for all, and personal maps are for mostly private use".

Global Development
The development of the MAPME project took around 6 months, and was achieved on a shoestring budget by outsourcing work to all corners of the globe. Programmers working in the UK, Philippines, The Russian Federation and Australia patched together the MAPME application using open source software including the CAKE rapid development framework and of course the Google Maps API


Complexness
According to Robin Metcalfe- the lead developer of the project, the most complex undertaking was getting the permissions system right, and working out how to allow users to effectively explore a map that might have 500 or 500,000 markers. “We don't have a map with 500, or even 5000 Hotspots on it yet, but I think our system can handle it”.

Community Mapping
While community mapping is relatively new concept and something that hasn't really taken the online world by storm (yet), MAPme.com is also excellent for creating travel or city guides that are useful in their own right. Take for example this guide to Cebu, in the Philippines;

http://www.mapme.com/map/cebu

Future Applications
Apparently a Facebook Application, and Map Widget (built in Flash) are on the way, but for the time being map in can be exported in GPX format (easily transferable to portable GPS devices) or by KML. You can even keep an eye on any map activity by subscribing to the RSS channel for each guide.

MAPme is a great looking new site in the ilk of Flagr.com and Platial.com but on a global scale which is easier to use and better to look at. With the addition of an exportable map widget, this could easily be the best web 2.0 community mapping site on the net.

Map your World at http://www.mapme.com

Overall there is a lot of content already and subject matter that might call for some over 18's certification but on the whole the site works well with the sense of being part of a geo-community mapping project.

Firefox 3 released
update 17/06/2008 Firefox 3 is now available to download (if you download today you contribute to a world record -hopefully)



http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/?p=downloadday

Firefox 3 - Pledge Map


*Map current on Monday 16th June 5pm GMT.

Firefox 3 is due for release on 17th June 2008. They are attempting to break a new world record for the highest amount of downloads with a 24 hour period.
The current pledges are 1,358,652 and counting - expect the actual amount to be a lot higher.



For a full rundown of what is new and/or improved go to the Field Guide
http://www.dria.org/wordpress/archives/2008/06/12/655/

Students Map Kenya (for Google Maps)

"The map was developed by a team of seven students from three Kenyan universities together with a team from India. Replacing a previously limited online map of four highways, the move has now placed Kenya on the level of other countries served by Google Maps."


Kenya's Data mapped by students is now available in Google Maps

Compare both the 'Map' and Terrain Modes - the difference is amazing.

Before {using Terrain}

After {using Map}


Source:
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/060908-google-launches-kenya-online.html

BBC Broadband Speed Map

The BBC has a UK Broadband Map that is visually showing people the 'actual' speeds they are getting via their broadband connection.


The shows (when zoomed in) the current state of download speeds - not necessarily the speeds they will get when signed up to broadband.
Broadband Map.(Beta)

"Distance from the local telephone exchange is one factor governing connection speed, and people living in the countryside may find their service is considerably slower than those in urban areas."

'Towns triumph in broadband tests'
By Rory Cellan-Jones,Technology Correspondent, BBC News explains from a very small boat in the NW of Scotland where BT have an exchange 9 miles away so residents cannot have normal broadband, but through a university they have installed wifi (wimax?) - via a mast linking them with the Isle of Skye.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7431336.stm
They now enjoy a 3mb download connection.

"BT claims more than 99% of the country can now get broadband, but rural customers may still find it a struggle to get the speed they need for services like streaming video."

Other Broadband resources
http://www.samknows.com/broadband/mapping/mapping.php

News - BBC is now using a large file to get better results.
http://www.samknows.com/broadband/news/
bbc-collects-broadband-speed-data-updated-369.html

Related post
http://mapperz.blogspot.com/2008/01/
sam-knows-broadband-new-mapping-engine.html

Updated 29th May 2008 - With Examples (3D Plugin Required)

A few minutes ago after this updated post- Mapperz has an email from Rob at Map Channels with this updated See Bournemouth Map with the 3D Google Earth Maps.

The New Google 3D Maps Live and Working on
http://www.seebournemouth.com/GoogleMap.aspx

Well Done Rob and full credit for integrating this so quickly - more like this please.



Click the Earth [Map Type] option next to Terrain

Google Earth API Arrives! (The Web Browser Version) WOW!

Another prediction from Last Year has finally
made it.

This a image is not from Google Earth Desktop but Firefox.

http://code.google.com/apis/earth/

more soon...

Here are some New Examples

http://mapperz.googlepages.com/3Doptions.html
Taken from
http://www.google.com/earth/plugin/examples/options/

Allows you to define a location and set different option (Grid, Navigation, Status Bar etc)


What is required?
Not much - but there is a 3D plugin needed to view the new 3D Earth


The Free Plugin is needed if you want to view the 3D Earth.

That's it, enjoy...

For Fun Test out the Monster Milk Cart (Fast PC/Mac with a Fast Internet Connection needed when going super fast)
Other Examples to get you going
http://code.google.com/apis/earth/documentation/examples.html

Mapperz

PGA Ryder Cup Tour Map of Wales 2008


All golf courses and airports have been mapped in Adobe Flex for the PGA Golf Tour of Wales 2008.

"This application was built using Adobe Flex, an open source framework
for building rich Internet applications that get delivered via the
Flash Player or to desktops via Adobe AIR."

"One hundred golf clubs, one Ryder Cup. The Ryder Cup is taken on a tour of Welsh golf clubs by helicopter as a prelude to the 2010 Ryder Cup to be held at the Celtic Manor Resort."

Maps are based on the Microsoft Virtual Earth Platform (but with a google zoom bar).
Map available at
http://www.pgarydercuptour.com/Map.swf
(requires flash)

Lots of locations and lots of content for users interested in professional golf.

Biggest GPS Self Portrait in the World


55 days,over 100,000 km and 62 countries later...


"Artist Erik Nordenankar says he has created the Biggest Drawing In The World. He says he gave DHL a case and travel instructions for a 55-day journey, then traced the route using GPS. The route was more than 100,000km long and went through 62 countries. The result was a self-portrait."

The Mapsters - Nokia Maps Launch


Video courtesy of http://thenokiablog.com/
So this is what happens when maps and drugs mix....

http://www.themapsters.com/ [click on the 23rd May]
only a teaser before that.


Source
http://thenokiablog.com/2008/05/22/preview-nokia-maps-20-mapsters-website/
preview-nokia-maps-20-mapsters-website/

Nokia Maps 2.0 Goes Mainstream

Finally after many months of 'Beta' status the Nokia Maps 2.0 has made it available to the normal users.

So whats changed?
Well from version 1.0 lots but from the 2.0 beta version not very much (a few bugs)

A quick summary:
Car Navigation
Pedestrian navigation
Multimedia city guides

Car Navigation has navigation carousel with three pre-defined navigation views (navigation, arrow and bird-eye) with multi-stops route planner.

(Purchase required based on region 3 day, 1 month, 1 year subscriptions - there is a option for 3 days free trial - this now tied to the SIM card not the IMEI of the Phone - meaning if you change your phone you can keep you licence.)
SIM to SIM licence copying can be done.

Satellite images
Hybrid mode

**Note these two modes use either Wifi or GPRS for displaying the layer they DO NOT come with the MapLoader pre-installed onto a memory card.



Nokia Maps 2.0 uses digital vector data provided by Navteq and TeleAtlas
Either download directly to the nokia device or by using the Nokia Map Loader on a PC. Nokia Maps 2.0 and the current commercial version of the Nokia Maps Loader are freely available for selected devices.

Downloads
Nokia Maps 2.0
http://europe.nokia.com/A4984199
(select your device)

Nokia Map Loader v1.3.8 (for Vista/XP on the PC - use this to save money on data transfer fees)
If your feeling brave there is a new beta version of Nokia Maps 2.0

Created Feb. 11, 2008 but updated on May 08, 2008
nokia_maps_2.0_1803_3.1_u.sis
http://www.nokia.com/betalabs/applications


Other Nokia useful applications recently released.


Mapperz

Update of Nokia Maps 2.0 source:
http://www.infosyncworld.com/news/n/9390.html

Yahoo! Internet Location Platform (New Geocoder) New!

"The Yahoo! Internet Location Platform provides a resource for managing all geo-permanent named places on Earth. The purpose in creating the Internet Location Platform is to provide the Yahoo! Geographic Developer Community with the vocabulary and grammar to describe the world's geography in an unequivocal, permanent, and language-neutral manner.

The Internet Location Platform is designed to facilitate spatial interoperability and geographic discovery; users can traverse the spatial hierarchy, identify the geography relevant to their users and their business, and in turn, unambiguously geotag, geotarget, and geolocate data across the Web."

Basically this is a Geocoder for Places across the World. The accuracy is fairly precise and the easy to understand.

Here is an example:
http://where.yahooapis.com/v1/places.q('10%20downing%20street%20london%20uk')

and also you can geocode UK Postcodes - full UK Postcodes!

http://where.yahooapis.com/v1/places.q('SW1A2AA')
*link fixed

Centroid is the postcode centre. So 51.503201, -0.12617

Checking... on the map.



http://developer.yahoo.com/geo/

Rate Limits
Currently, users of the Internet Location Platform are limited to 50k queries per day.

Terms of Use (Please check this if you intend using this service with other non Yahoo Applications)
http://info.yahoo.com/legal/us/yahoo/api/api-2140.html

Geeky Stuff

"In simple terms, the Service allows you to look up the unique identifier - called the Where on Earth ID, or WOEID - for almost any named place on the Earth; it also allows you to resolve a WOEID you have received from a third party - such as Fire Eagle™ or Upcoming - to the place it represents.

The API is accessed via HTTP GET; the following examples can be cut-and-paste into a web browser to view the results:"
http://developer.yahoo.com/geo/

Mapperz

DEFRA Noise Maps (England)


Defra Map of Bristol day time road noise levels.

Noise maps only cover cities, but cover day noise (Lden) and night time (Lnight) noise levels
4 Layers are available - Road, Rail, Industry and Air noise.

The Noise Mapping England site currently supports the following urban areas only:

Birkenhead
Blackpool
Bournemouth
Brighton
Bristol
Coventry
Hull
Leicester
Liverpool
London
Manchester
Nottingham
Portsmouth
Preston
Reading
Sheffield
Southampton
Southend
Teeside
The Potteries
Tyneside
West Midlands
West Yorkshire

"The noise maps have been produced by Defra to meet the requirements of the Environmental Noise (England) Regulations 2006, and are intended to inform the production of noise action plans for large urban areas, major transport sources, and significant industrial sites in England.
Directive 2002/49/EC - more commonly known as the Environmental Noise Directive (END) - concerns noise from road, rail and air traffic and from industry. It focuses on the impact of such noise on individuals, complementing existing EU legislation which sets standards for noise emissions from specific sources. The END requires:
the determination of exposure to environmental noise, through noise mapping;
provision of information on environmental noise and its effects on the public;
adoption of action plans, based upon noise mapping results, which should be designed to manage noise issues and effects, including noise reduction if necessary;
preservation by the member states of environmental noise quality where it is good."

The Interactive Maps can be found at:

http://noisemapping.defra.gov.uk/wps/portal/noise

Related News Sources:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7403280.stm

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1967803/Noise-pollution-map-warns-of-health-risks.html

Blog

http://bridgetfox.wordpress.com/2008/05/16/noise-mapping/

Google Maps API for Flash New!

"This API lets Flex developers embed Google Maps in Flash applications. Similar to the JavaScript version, this ActionScript API provides a number of utilities for manipulating and adding content to maps through a variety of services, enabling you to embed robust, interactive maps applications on your website."


The demo gallery has several examples and what can be achieved by using the New Flash Version of Google Maps API for Flash.
The Spinning Map looks like a good potential starting point (was this inspired by Flash Earth?)

For Map Savvy Developers out there will already now that Yahoo has had a Flash based API for almost over two years now is on Version 3.5.2 beta. http://developer.yahoo.com/maps/flash/asGettingStarted.html

So the question is why now?
The Javascript version is still useful on its own and is constantly being updated and supported, but the Flash version can expand on what Google Maps has now and can extend the functionality
"Smoothness and speed are a big part of it. We've [Google] designed it so that Flash graphics can be used for each tile layer, marker and info window - opening up possibilities like dynamic shading, shadowing, animation, and video. When the user zooms the map, magnification changes happen smoothly and place names fade in."

Note some developers do not like flash and will avoid it if they can, but flash today has evolved to become a very useful tool to visualize information, displaying this data on maps can greatly enhance and explain complex situations.

More information and Official Source:
http://googlemapsapi.blogspot.com/2008/05/introducing-google-maps
-api-for-flash.html
(contains flash map/video and funky jazz sounds)
Thanks to Rob at Map Channels for pointing the new API out.

So look out for a Google Map Flash API vs Yahoo! Maps Flash API soon.

Google Maps adds 'More' and Explore

Google Maps has added Wikipedia and Photos from http://www.panoramio.com/


This enhances the online mapping application into a more powerful and visual locating tool.

Clicking the 'More' exposes the new available layers.

See it in action

These features seem to be spawned from the Google Earth Desktop application and now made available in the web browser.

So when will Google Maps do 3D?

Source and more information available at Google Maps Mania