ProjectX Technology

Here at ProjectX Technology we are quite excited to see that Google are working on a new version of their Mapping API.

Version 3 is still in it’s early days in Google Labs, however it is already showing exciting features and improvements, as well as a much better code structure.

I recently built a quick demo of the capabilities of it’s new Geocoding system, to show the improvements on the data being returned. It’s exciting to point out that Google has now listed this as an official demo for Version 3 of their API.

Although there is still a wee way before this API is ready for serious use, it should be a good step forward when it’s ready.

Microsoft have release a new version of Virtual Earth Web Service and Map control. There’s a swag of new features including:

• New Mobile Support – Blackberry, Windows Mobile and iPhone
• Internationalised versions – English, German, French, Italian, and Spanish for users in Western Europe.
• New international reverse geocoding – Users can now find international addresses with reverse geocoding, which is now available anywhere Virtual Earth has routing.
• Extended parsing capabilities – Users can expect better match rates for addresses in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Puerto Rico.
• Pushpin clustering – The new map control includes the ability to zoom in on a map to better visualize a cluster of points.
• New landmark hints in routing – Customers in the U.S. and Canada can now use maps that feature familiar landmarks, such as gas stations and fast-food restaurants, called out by name.
• New imagery metadata – Users can now find out the relative age of a given image, which will help them assess if the imagery is still relevant to their needs.
• New one-click directions – Through the Web Services, customers can now get directions in one click, choosing from route options by shortest time, shortest distance, or traffic flow.

What’s of interest to ProjectX is the reverse geocoding and landmark directions.

The landmark routing is a step in the right direction. Navigation by landmark is a very common way that we explain directions to people. Its nice to see that Micorsoft is lifting the bar.

We use a lot a reverse geocoding and it’ll be interesting to see how comprehensive it is and how fast the webservice is.

We’re working with Zawadzki Limited to bring a high level seminar on “Using Google Maps”. The seminar is in Wellington on Friday 26th September 8:30am to 10:30am. The event is free, but you will need to register for the event.

Here is the overview for the seminar:

Using Google Maps

Google Maps is a great tool for making the data you already hold more accessible to your staff, your customers, or the public. Using Google Maps as your platform, you can:

	make it easy for all your staff to benefit from the geospatial information you already maintain
	link information stores to Maps and help users find and interpret information faster
	engage your public with interactive Maps-based applications

In this two hour session we will cover:

• What types of information can be presented using Google Maps

• How to use Google Maps to visualise your existing information sets

• How to augment your systems with Google Maps as a front-end

• Examples of effective use of Google Maps
  

• What is involved in piloting your first Google Maps application and common pitfalls
  

• Licensing for Google Maps and differences between the Free, Premiere and Enterprise versions

We shutdown the ZoomIn Map API and Geocoder API this morning. We’ve served a lot of maps and now its time for us to offer more higher value services.

Thank you to all the developers and customers that use our API’s over the past couple of years. And a big thank to all the ProjectX developers who worked on the API’s over the years – Ben, Nick, Ross, Tomek, Tim and Thong.

John

Who’s the coolest company in web mapping ??? Unfortunately its not ProjectX, its Stamen Designs from San Francisco. They have become the company in the map visualisation space. Yesterday, they released a new site – Hurricane maps. Add that to their impressive releases for Trulia, Oakland Crimespotting and mySociety.

Stamen Designs have set the bar for map visualisation. We’re glad that Stamen designs is in the visualisation space and they’re pushing the envelope. It gives us something to aspire to !