GIS Specialist
Donald W. Hamer Center for Maps and Geospatial Information
Street Maps/Directions/Points of Interest
Multiple map applications provide users with directional information, traffic, basemap options, and places of interest.
- Bing MapsIncludes options for directions, traffic cameras, printing options, basemaps (road, aerial, bird’s eye, and streetside), and sharing by url link and embed code.
- Google MapsSearchable and directions available with shareable link and embed code, includes imagery, streets, and streetview basemaps, Able to identify directions from a given location, what’s here, measure distance, identify coordinates, and print.
- Google My MapsEnables the user to create shareable custom maps based on layers and symbology.
- MapQuestIncludes search for places and directions, along with printing, sharing, and traffic information. Features icons for hotels, food, gas, grocery, coffee, parking, bars, and postal layers as options users are able to add to maps, along with more categories. These layers include contact and address information for these locations.
- Here mapsEnables searching by place, along for points of interest including: tours and guides, eat/drink, parking, gasoline, ATM, cabstand, car rental, and pharmacy; basemap options includes transit, traffic map, satellite, and terrain.
- Open Street MapsCrowdsourced map created by users, includes basemap options of standard map, cycle map, transport map, MapQuest Open, Humanitarian map; Provides a detailed map key of to understand the colors and symbol meaning of lines and areas; includes shareable link, and image download options; with a login users are able to edit; export option; along with additional sites for export options.
Web Mapping API Options
A web mapping api (application program interface) is chosen by developers to provide a framework for a web-based map. A brief listing of web mapping APIs are included, as these sites indicate how they can be approached from a developer perspective and source code.
- E-Dutton, GEOG 585, Open Web MappingThis site provides information on web mapping API options including open educational resources on web mapping APIs.
- LeafletAn open-source Javascript library to create interactive maps, with information on source code and plugins.
- Open LayersInformation on creating a map including features such as tiled layers, vector layers, and support for mobile devices, with information on code.
- Google Maps APIProvides use on Google Maps API for use on android, iOS, web browsers, and HTTP web services.
- ArcGIS API for JavaScriptIncludes information on the creation of an application using a 2D map and a 3D scene, along with integration with ArcGIS web maps.
Comparisons of Online Mapping Applications
- MIT LibrariesCompares CartoDB, Google Mapping Products, ArcGIS Online, Mapbox, Mapbox Studio, ESRI Story Maps, Leaflet, OpenLayers.