Topic 13: Web mapping Flashcards
Learning outcomes:
- Name some common Web mapping tools
- Name some common open-source GIS platforms
- Explain some of the differences between the various GIS solutions
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What is neogeography?
(literally ‘new geography’) is the use of geographical techniques and tools for personal and community activities or by a non-expert group of users. Application domains of neogeography are typically not formal or analytical.
What is the difference between a web map, web GIS, and Internet GIS?
web map: consumers choose what is shown
web GIS: providing analytical tools (user can analyze things)
internet GIS: more sophisticated software, more integrated and distributed analysis
Who invented the world wide web, and when?
Sir Tim Berners in 1989
What is the world wide web?
Open-source information that anyone can access (key moment where democratization of GIS started to happen)
Even now not everyone has equal access (eg., slow wifi)
What is web 2.0?
- Interactive web (think blogs and social media)
- 2-way flow of information
- web 2.0 signal ethics such as democratization, empowerment, citizenship, sovereignty and protection of both the cyber and terrestrial commons
What is web 3.0?
- Networked digital technology that supports human cooperation
- instruments communicating with centeral government to collect information and make adjustments remotely (think of smart cities)
What are the characteristics of a web map/ cartographic website?
web map is an interactive display of geographic information that you can use to tell stories and answer questions
pre-existing maps versus custom-tailored maps?
- completed by map maker before viewing on website (eg., JPEG uploaded online)
- users have some control of cartographic process (eg., choose data shown, scale, and limited design elements)
Low versus high interaction?
- Limited interactivity (eg., zoom in and out, panning
- Medium interactivity
- High interactivity (eg., Google Earth - fly around the world)
Distributed versus user-contributed data?
Distributed: go to portal and use what they give you (eg., federal agencies, Open Data portals)
user- contributed: crowdsourcing, user generated content, crowd mapping, Volunteered Geographic Information Systems
Updated versus non-updated data?
- “real time” update of data on a regular time interval (eg., weather maps)
- never changing data (eg., climate maps)
Key characteristics of web mapping platforms
- Beyond just interacting with a map online
- It is a toolkit that helps you build a web mapping application
- does not need to be installed on the local computer
Google maps: API
- An application Programming Interface (API) is a set of methods and tools that can be used from building software applications
- Google maps API allows you to display maps on your website
- From limited functionality (and mostly free) to the foundation of multi-million dollar business
ArcGIS online
ArcGIS Online is a complete cloud based mapping platform. Make and share beautiful maps and do everything in between. It’s possible only with ArcGIS Online, a scalable and secure software as a service hosted by Esri
