Google Maps and
Web Mapping
Kyle Mulka
Computer Science in Engineering
University of Michigan
http://maps.kylemulka.com
1
Google Maps and
Web Mapping

This presentation and all links are available
– http://maps.kylemulka.com/mjts/
http://maps.kylemulka.com
2
Purpose

Introduce Google Maps as a platform for
building rich location based applications
and visualizing geographic data
 Demonstrate some of the applications that
have been done to give an idea of the
possibilities
 Provide links to more detailed resources
http://maps.kylemulka.com
3
Outline

Google Local
 Google Maps API
 Related data services
 Demos
 Alternatives to Google Maps
 Further Reading
I will stop for questions several times.
* indicates a demo or website
http://maps.kylemulka.com
4
Google Maps?

Now named Google Local
 http://local.google.com
 Finding addresses
 Finding businesses locally
 Getting directions
 Google Local Demos*
http://maps.kylemulka.com
5
Google Maps Popularity

Very user-friendly interface
 Fast loading of maps
 Smooth scrolling
 Localized search
 Developer/Programmer friendly application
programming interface (API)
http://maps.kylemulka.com
6
What can YOU do?

As a user:
– Use Google Maps to find addresses, businesses,
locations, directions, etc.

As a developer:
– Put the Google Maps interface on your own
page
– Visualize geographically referenced data
– Combine with other services and data to create
great web applications
http://maps.kylemulka.com
7
What I Put On Google Maps







University of Michigan building footprints
Groups’ and individuals’ street addresses from
UofM’s online directory
GPX files taken from a GPS device
Weather radar images
Great Lakes Circle Tour route
User-created markers with text/html descriptions
Demos to come later…
http://maps.kylemulka.com
8
Google Maps API

Stands for Application Programming
Interface
 Used to put Google Maps on your own site
 Implemented entirely in JavaScript
 Documentation available online:
http://www.google.com/apis/maps/documen
tation
http://maps.kylemulka.com
9
Google Maps API

Provides the following:
– Mapping interface
– Street maps
– Satellite photography
– Hybrid of two map types

Simple Example*
http://maps.kylemulka.com
10
Google Maps API

Does NOT provide:
– Geocoding (address to point translation)
– Data
– Directions / Routing
– Web hosting
http://maps.kylemulka.com
11
Questions?

About stuff covered so far:
– Google Maps as it is used in Google Local
– What is possible to create
– What Google does and does not provide you
with the Google Maps API
http://maps.kylemulka.com
12
Getting Started

All this can be found on Google’s site
– http://www.google.com/apis/maps/

Agree to terms of service
 Get an API key
 Read some documentation
 Dive in!
http://maps.kylemulka.com
13
Terms of Service Summary

Your service must be freely accessible to
end users
 No intranet sites (except for development
and testing)
 Must leave Google logo
 Google retains right to add advertising to
map
 Details: http://www.google.com/apis/maps/
http://maps.kylemulka.com
14
Related Data Services

Geocoding (http://www.geocoder.us)
 Higher quality aerial imagery
(http://www.terraserver-usa.com)
 Land use, census, zip code boundaries,
population density, weather
 Lots of other geographic data out there…
http://maps.kylemulka.com
15
Questions for the Audience

What kinds of data might you want to
visualize with Google Maps?
 Do you feel ready to jump right in?
 What things do you need to know about in
more detail?
http://maps.kylemulka.com
16
Audience Response
http://maps.kylemulka.com
17
My Favorite Google Maps
Sites*

toEat.com
 ZipMap.net
 HousingMaps.com
 WeatherBonk.com
 MapBuilder.net
 GoogleMapsMania.blogspot.com
http://maps.kylemulka.com
18
Kyle’s Demos*

Campus Buildings
 Aerial Imagery Comparison
 Weather Radar
 LDAP Group Mapping
 GPS points, routes, and tracks
 Map Editor
http://maps.kylemulka.com
19
Questions About Demos?
http://maps.kylemulka.com
20
Other Web Mapping Services

MapQuest
 Yahoo Maps
 MSN Virtual Earth
 Ka-Map
 Community Mapbuider
 ESRI’s ArcIMS
 Websites of each*
http://maps.kylemulka.com
21
Geographic Information
Systems

Open Geospatial Consortium*
 MapServer*
 GeoServer*
 ArcGIS*
http://maps.kylemulka.com
22
Questions?

Covered:
– Other Web Mapping Systems
– Geographic Information Systems
http://maps.kylemulka.com
23
Developer Resources

Google Maps API Documentation*
 Google Maps API Discussion Group*
 Mapki Knowledge Base*
 Geocoder.us – free US geocoding*
http://maps.kylemulka.com
24
The End
Presentation and Links:
http://maps.kylemulka.com/mjts/
Kyle Mulka
mulka@umich.edu
http://www.kylemulka.com
http://maps.kylemulka.com
25