There has been an interesting discussion going over on James Fee’s blog on the merits of ESRI’s new javascript API and Flex API. James has thrown his lot in with the JavaScript API, and a host of Flex/Flash developers have been exposing their technology’s merits. While we don’t use either of ESRI’s APIs internally we did have to make a choice between Flash and JavaScript/HTML when we were developing Maker. At the end of the day we ended up blending the two approaches - implementing JavaScript where it made sense and utilizing Flash when we needed powerful vector rendering capabilities.

One of the most useful references for me in this process was a workshop Tom Carden gave at ETech last year on the data rendering capabilities of a variety of approaches. The readers digest version of the workshop went something along these lines:

HTML/Javascript - handles 100-1000 data points - loads in .1 seconds
Flash - handles up to 10,000 data points - loads in 1 second
Java/Processing - handles up to 100,000 points - loads in 10 seconds
OpenGL - handles upwards of 1,000,000 points - loads in 100 seconds

For Maker we wanted to be able to handle 10,000+ points/polygons and there was no way JavaScript was going to be able to handle it. Of course rendering the data was just one of many problems. Not only did we have to render the data but also parse it from the server out to the client while running the mathematical operation enabling you to take advantage of the structured data being sent. The team came with lots of clever tricks to pull it off, but the level of performance afforded by using Flash for rendering the vector data was not available with JavaScript. Processing could be a very cool option as the technology matures. Silverlight could also be a great option if they can get the plug-in universally embedded into browsers as with Flash.

While Flash was a great option for the tiling and vector rendering we did not want to build out the entire application in Flash for a variety of reasons. In GeoCommons everything outside of the map itself is JavaScript/HTML. This is probably rudimentary for many folks, but reading the debate on James’ blog I think sometimes developers lose sight of picking the best tool for the job. Oftentimes it is easy to get wedded to an approach just because it is what you know well. We were complete Flash rookies when we started, but got some great help from Tom with Modest Maps, Axis Maps with the Flash development and cartography, hired some full time resources, and learned a lot on our own. It ended up being a great approach for the specific problems we were facing. As long as you are using standard interfaces in your development, you should be able to fluidly adapt to the technology that makes the most sense for your set of problems.

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VectorOne posed the question whether or not geospatial technology could drive political consensus on environmental issues. Environmental issues such as flooding, disease, conservation, and/or water quality require top geographic information, spatial analysis and integration. The GIS and spatial technologies industry should assist anyone making decisions to better understand these issues and make informed decisions based on intelligent information and geodata.

Geodata is not available to all – the Farm Bill (H.R. 6126) prevents the FSA from providing geospatial information to the public. Visit Surveying, Mapping and GIS for more details about what Sec. 1619 Information Gathering entails.

Google Maps is still number one. Cowen & Co., an industry analyst firm specializing in covering Web services, found Google Maps as the “de facto leader” in the online mapping solutions space. The analyst firm stated the competitors’ lack of innovation gave Google its success. They also cited Google’s Streetview and public transportation services as main reasons for success.

Geocoding can provide vital information to marketers. Appending demographic census track data to latitude and longitude coordinates is critical for businesses targeting demographics. Many businesses are using Geocoding as a local search tool, a routing tool, and as a store locator.

Florida tries to coordinates a statewide effort for GIS. This is the fourth time the state tried to develop a coordinating body. With the active Atlantic hurricane seasons, and the death of 208 residents, the state realized that coordination of geospatial information during the hurricanes would have saved lives. The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) is taking the lead in formulating a statewide GIS strategic plan.

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What factors are holding up online mapping performance? There are three reasons why online mapping is still not at its best: Local listings, mapping errors and crowded mapping. Local submissions take time and can contain errors leading to information that is mapped improperly. Overlapping information (such as too many markers) can cause crowded maps.

Blue Marble Geographics plans to answer the need for highly accurate mapping through their products. After combining their Geographic Calculator and Geographic Transformer into one desktop product, users now have control over the use of geodetic datums to ensure accuracy and coordinate control when transforming geospatial data. The company is expanding their products so surveyors, GIS and engineering firms will be able produce highly accurate maps.

GeoEye-1, the world’s highest resolution commercial satellite , launched this past weekend. The satellite will orbit the Earth’s surface taking pictures exclusively for online mapping. The U.S. Government and Google Maps are some of those planning to use the high-resolution satellite camera.

A new interactive map was developed to show the National Hurricane Center’s latest storm advisories. The StormTracker Map shows current center location and forecasted positions. The map has an easy user-friendly layout and all users need to do is click on their desired location to reveal its information.

ArcGIS 9.3 is receiving applause for its error report system. If a crash occurs, users can send an error report to ESRI. The Geodatabase Development Team even posted a video that talks about how ESRI investigates and acts on all error reports.

Popularity: 20% [?]

Urban Mapping has created a multi layer paper map called Panamap. Powered by their “MapAction Technology,” users can view different layers of the map in different angles. The map provides three images that “are interlaced by alternating horizontal strips from each. The resulting compound image is calibrated to a specially designed polymer lens substrate. Lenses contain between 60 to 200 micro-lenses per inch, depending on the desired outcome. This is mounted to a backing, die cut and packaged.” Currently, you can get Panamaps for Chicago and New York City.

The world’s leading technology firm for GIS software, ESRI, has been named an approved prime contractor on the SeaPort Enhanced (SeaPort-e) online portal by The Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC). ESRI can now provide the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Marine Corps, and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) a broad range of engineering, technical, and programmatic services related to GIS and IT

MapQuest released a new beta version of their site in response to the growing competition from other mapping sites like Google Maps. The new MapQuest added a map on the home page, and now offers a “copy and paste address field.” Despite their efforts, users are still not satisfied with the “zoom in and out” function. Many question if this is “too little, too late?”

The London’s Metropolitan Police launched the first crime mapping test site. Based on Google Maps, the beta displays crime stats for neighborhood levels in a user-friendly interface. Users can also find local cops, report a crime, and learn about crime prevention, victim support, and details of their local criminals. The creation of the crime map brings ‘hope that this new service will continue to evolve for a long time as the ability to filter by crime type, hotspots, and trends would be exceptional. You can also get the raw data as well as look at the mashup on the UK site from Finder!

Google launched their Gears Geolocation API. This new service provides “a way to get a more precise estimate of a user’s location using the cell-ID of nearby towers or on-board GPS.” Mobile devices with Gears will be able to access their location more accurately. This new tool allows “third parties to plug into their sites and automatically take advantage of both tower and GPS-based positioning.” Currently, Gears only works on Internet Explorer and WinMo.

Popularity: 17% [?]

Microsoft Virtual Earth and ESRI’s ArcGIS have integrated. Microsoft’s mapping and imagery content will be available for use inside ArcGIS 9.3. Users will be able to access ‘resources that add comprehensive depth to their projects.’ The new service is not free; it will be $200 a year per user.

ArcGIS Server 9.3 is going mobile. The TD Group announced the release of Freeance™ Mobile 2.0, a new application that incorporates ESRI’s ArcGIS Server 9.3 Postgres database integration for GPS enabled BlackBerry smartphones. Features include GIS searching and database reporting, and linking database records to GIS map features using reports.

After last week’s release of Google’s walking directions, they have decided to simplify the Google Maps layout. Google aims to create a less cluttered look, allowing for a bigger map display and moving the search to the top of the map. The motto for the new layout is: “less is more.”

ESRI posted their results of the 2008 ESRI Q&A. The answers reveal that ESRI will support ‘the ability to check out licenses and borrow licenses from a central license manger for use in that field’ and that they will continue to support Visual Basic for Application in the future. We’ll be attending the ESRI User’s Conference next week, so stay tuned for some feedback from that!

Popularity: 13% [?]