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: 15% [?]

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: 11% [?]

This past week, Google Maps and Tele Atlas agreed to a five-year partnership. The Dutch-based mapping company will provide Google with more maps and geographic data, allowing Google to disseminate the information to over 200 countries. The agreement broadens Google Maps and Google Earth, but also allows for a mobile platform – specifically for the much anticipated Google Android.

After the release of ArcGIS 9.3 last week, ESRI has now made web help available. The help documentation is apparently very easy to understand. A few of the help features include ArcGIS 9.3. shortcuts, PDF Support and nominal scaling.

As Bill Gates retired, we take a look back at his predictions on mapping. In 1995, Gates said, “You’ll be able to jump into a map so you can navigate down a street or through the rooms of a building.”

EveryBlock, a virtual map that keeps track of news for every city block in Chicago, New York and San Francisco, just added Charlotte and Philadelphia to the list.

Popularity: 6% [?]

With Monday’s unveiling of Google’s Map Maker, Google account holders now have the ability to edit and add to certain Google Maps. The Map Maker currently only allows for map editing in a select group of countries including Cyprus, Iceland, Pakistan, Vietnam and the Caribbean nations. Functions of the tool include custom map creations, borders and regions, places of interest and road networks.

ESRI released their downloadable application, ArcGIS Explorer 480, this week. The upgraded version still offers the same basic function of geoprocessing services, but with major improvements such as KML improvements and increase in performance.

Nokia acquired Plazes, an LBS social mapping network. Plazes provides updates of friends’ activities in a find me/follow me type of service. The social mapping application will take Nokia one step closer to “bringing people and places together” and also acknowledges the rise and demand of LBS.

Microsoft and Virtual Earth launched a program that allows state and local governments to share their imagery, called GoVE. All of the imagery from these governments, municipalities and aerial photographers gets sent to Microsoft, which in turn is published by Virtual Earth.

Popularity: 21% [?]