The state of web map viewers
Basic web maps. That’s what many people need from Geographic Information Systems: no more, no less. They want to see some kind of business information in a spatial context, because they need to get some kind of message on location, as well as perhaps proximity, across.
Yet there’s a real difference in quality and appearance of various mapping websites. Take a look here and here and you’ll see what I mean. Both of these use ESRI’s ArcIMS HTML viewers.
Nothing wrong with them per se, only it’s a perhaps a little… well, old. Very 2002. I used ArcIMS for mapping applications around that time, and it worked a treat – web maps online that weren’t just HTML image-maps were great.
Thing is, times have changed. It’s still possible to have an ArcIMS web map service, but the expectation from the end user is something less GIS, and something more map. Or should I say, something more Web 2.0. The standard has been set, and it’s easy to disappoint, unfortunately.
Yet, it shouldn’t be difficult to produce something that’s a little better these days. Since Google Maps completely changed the face of web mapping, there’s no reason that the newer APIs shouldn’t be used – Google Maps API itself being a great place to start. OS OpenSpace is a great place to go, or indeed, to use OpenLayers. Or even choose flash if you have to.
My point being, the role of a map on an organisation’s web site is often to convey information about the location of services. A user is far more likely to get that information using a (newer) intuitive interface, rather than old style, clunky, unwieldy interface that used to be the norm. Again, nothing against the journey we took to get here via the ArcIMS HTML Web Map – it served its purpose very well.
But we’re a long way down that road now, and it’s time to update.
I agree that the world of Web mapping has changed forever and for the better. Thought I’d mention that Esri now has many different viewers running on the latest versions of Silverlight, Flex and JavaScript. Here’s a few examples built on ArcGIS Server, and are based on RESTful architectures:
http://edn1.esri.com/everest/
http://gis.cityofboston.gov/SolarBoston/
http://gis.greeleygov.com/origin/propinfo.html
AndyG
28 Sep 10 at 10:09 pm
Thanks for the links, Andy. I like the SolarBoston site in particular.
For me, I like the JavaScript API mostly – not sure why, but it ‘feels’ cleaner! Flash and Silverlight are great, but I can’t help thinking that there’ll somehow be more longevity with JavaScript – and the fact that some organisations choose to block Flash and Silverlight.
Still, it’s very good that there are many more options available now than there used to be- certainly a reason for organisations to refresh their online web mapping capabilities.
admin
28 Sep 10 at 10:28 pm
I don’t see OpenStreetMap on your list. OpenLayers or the new and highly recommended LeafletJS can present a great slippy map based on OSM tiles. The data is open and free but there’s nothing to stop companies using that data to create a really powerful paid-for service. There are issues, not least that there is a tile usage policy, but the data is freely available and rendering tiles is straight-forward and can be done various ways. Because the underlying data is all available (unlike say Google) special interest maps are quite easy. Take a look and write a blog about what you find.
.-= Chris´s last blog .. =-.
Chris
12 Oct 11 at 10:08 am
Hi Chris
I think you’re right.. and maybe time for me to write a new post (been very remiss on the ol’ blog of late). OpenLayers has itself evolved nicely as well, so yes – should be something that’s equally considered by companies wishing to take advantage of the multitude of data sources out there. And indeed, because OSM is becoming ever richer, there is something in the content of it which may reveal itself to companies unsuspecting: for instance, a company might find something it wasn’t aware of simply by looking at the traditional vendors – simply because someone has contributed something new or different.
Thanks Chris.
Stu
stu
12 Oct 11 at 9:41 pm