8 Feb 2012

Geocloud: Google Maps API Reviewed

There are many cloud web map APIs available to embed mapping directly into a web application or web site. Services are available from Google Maps, Bing Maps, ESRI ArcGIS Online, MapQuest and many smaller vendors such as GIS Cloud. This is the first in a series of articles from Georelated providing a summary of some of the major cloud services, their capabilities and key differentiators. The articles are aimed at a technical audience of architects or developers.
This article examines Google Maps API. Google Maps API v3 provides a Javascript and Flash RIA controls,  web services and embeddable Google Earth. It supplies base mapping and geocoding data within the service.

The Javascript RIA control is based on readily available standardized browser technology. It predominantly utilizes HTML/Javascript/CSS/images but where available (most browsers today) it will take advantage of SVG. The control enables developers to simply integrate a fully functional map into a web page. The control provides a comprehensive Javascript object model to manipulate the map content, position, zoom, base maps etc. Additional Javascript libraries are available for drawing geometries on the map and calculating earth geometric data. The map control also provides libraries for integration with Adsense, Panoramio (Geotagged Photos) and Googles experimental places service. Since v3 the Javascript map control is available with support for mobile browsers.

The Flash RIA control provides similar capability designed for embedding within action script applications. The Flash RIA has been depreciated since v3 of the Javascript API was launched. It appears that the rise of HTML5 has convinced Google to move away from the flash API.

The limitations of Google maps are found when you want to use the map control to support your own GIS data. The map control supports KML, and GeoRSS vector layers and overlays with support for markers and many geometry types. However, creating complex thematic or analytical mapping is more tricky and often leads to compromises. With the massive improvements in web browser performance this is likely to be less of a barrier in the future.

The web services APIs provide a collection of HTTP web services with geographical capability. This includes:
  1. Static Map -  Delivers maps (Street View panorama or cartographic map) as static images for embedding into pages.
  2. Directions - Provides directions between locations.
  3. Distance Matrix - Provides travel distance and time between a matrix of locations.
  4. Elevation - Elevation data for all locations on the surface of the earth, including depth locations on the ocean floor (which return negative values).
  5. Geocoding - Provides the ability to convert textual addresses into geographic coordinates.
  6. Places - Provides a range of capability to work with places in google maps. This includes check ins, add/remove places to your service, find nearby places to a location and get detailed information about a place. The places api is currently "experimental" so be careful creating production applications on this api.
Responses from the web services are delivered in XML or JSON and support SSL is available.

Google provides base mapping for a vast array of countries around the world. The coverage is very comprehensive and deep. When this article was published Google map data coverage included 218 countries. Google uses many traditional geospatial data suppliers, captures some of its own data in some regions and supplements these in some less well mapped countries with crowd sourced data using its Map Maker capability. Google Maps API provides wide coverage of street level mapping, terrain and aerial imagery. Street view data is available in 23 countries but other map data sources have very limited coverage. Google geocoding coverage supports currently supports 209 countries however, its unclear how many countries support detailed level geocoding to street, building or parcel level.

Google Maps API is currently free for "Not For Profit" organizations. Its also "free" for "For Profit" applications with use up to 25,000 map loads per day that conform to a set of other limitations described in the licensing. Commercial use beyond this limit and wider licensing constraints requires a Google for business license (Premier). The free edition limitations include:
  • Developers cannot control in map advertising that Google places on the map. 
  • Using the "free" edition Google also requires you to "give Google a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive license to reproduce, adapt, modify, translate, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute Your Content through the Service and as search results through Google Services". 
  • The "free edition" license also prevents organizations using the apis to creating asset tracking applications that are not free for users and completely prohibits real time satellite navigation applications.
  • The "For Profit" use is limited to publicly available commercial web sites or free applications. It's worth checking with one of the many Google partners or Google direct if your planning to use Google Maps API in a commercial application. No one wants a license compliance suit from Google!
Google Maps Premier licensing provides:
  • SLA guarantee for up time of the map service but not the geocoding! 
  • Control over in map adverts allowing you to prevent adverts
  • Support - thanks to the freemium model Google Maps has a very active developer community and there is a wide partner community hence, the need for direct support is much lower.
  • Allows for use on private sites
  • Licensing costs are available with several usage levels based on a fixed price of a defined number of map page load bundles per annum.
Georelated provides this information in good faith but it should not be used as a substitute for reading the full licensing agreement. Full licensing information is available from Google:
Organizations planning to use "free" Google Maps APIs should check the alignment of their use with Google or a Google Partner to ensure correct interpretation of Googles licensing.

    64 comments:

    1. The information you have posted is very useful. The sites you have referred was good. Thanks for sharing.. artificial general intelligence

      ReplyDelete
    2. Thanks for sharing nice information with us. i like your post and all you share with us is uptodate and quite informative, i would like to bookmark the page so i can come here again to read you, as you have done a wonderful job. social media

      ReplyDelete
    3. For sure, we have just observed cases of beginner interpreters providing "translations from Serbian into English" that have plainly been done utilizing this instrument! It is just a short time before translation organizations start getting "beforehand translated" (texts that suspiciously take after Google translations!) from customers and being asked to "simply edit this" for a rate impressively lower than a translation sans preparation would cost.word reader online

      ReplyDelete
    4. I'm glad I found this web site, I couldn't find any knowledge on this matter prior to.Also operate a site and if you are ever interested in doing some visitor writing for me if possible feel free to let me know, im always look for people to check out my web site. Webmetrix Group SEO

      ReplyDelete
    5. This is quite educational arrange. It has famous breeding about what I rarity to vouch. Colossal proverb.
      This trumpet is a famous tone to nab to troths. Congratulations on a career well achieved. This arrange is synchronous s informative impolites festivity to pity. I appreciated what you ok extremely here 


      Selenium training in bangalore
      Selenium training in Chennai
      Selenium training in Bangalore
      Selenium training in Pune
      Selenium Online training

      ReplyDelete
    6. their profoundly utilitarian software enables the client to Pause and Play text, just as enabling the client to change the speed of the perusing. convert text to voice

      ReplyDelete
    7. I have bookmarked your blog, the articles are way better than other similar blogs.. thanks for a great blog! online social network

      ReplyDelete
    8. SEO content writing tips content writer's main aim is to create a new written piece which is original, simple, informative and also to the point. click to find out more When making conclusions, to put it differently, consumers rely on shortcuts.

      ReplyDelete
    9. Such a great information for blogger iam a professional blogger thanks…

      Upgrade your career Learn Oracle Training from industry experts gets complete hands on Training, Interview preparation, and Job Assistance at Softgen Infotech.

      ReplyDelete
    10. Admiring the time and effort you put into your blog and detailed information you offer!.. media speler

      ReplyDelete
    11. Great post. Its really amazing blog. I am learning so many new things. Thanks for sharing it with us


      Distance Matrix API
      Google Maps API Alternative

      ReplyDelete
    12. We are really grateful for your blog post. You will find a lot of approaches after visiting your post. Great work
      Data Science Certification in Bangalore

      ReplyDelete
    13. I just loved your article on the beginners guide to starting a blog.If somebody take this blog article seriously in their life, he/she can earn his living by doing blogging.thank you for thizs article.
      hardware and networking training in chennai

      hardware and networking training in velachery

      xamarin training in chennai

      xamarin training in velachery

      ios training in chennai

      ios training in velachery

      iot training in chennai

      iot training in velachery

      ReplyDelete
    14. Great blog with excellent information thanks for sharing.
      Data Analytics Course Online

      ReplyDelete
    15. Hi,

      Thank for sharing such a nice post on your blog keep it up and share more.

      Free Crack Software Download

      ReplyDelete
    16. Your content is very unique and understandable useful for the readers keep update more article like this.
      data science course noida

      ReplyDelete
    17. Happy to visit your blog, I am by all accounts forward to more solid articles and I figure we as a whole wish to thank such huge numbers of good articles, blog to impart to us.
      data science certification

      ReplyDelete
    18. Wow, this is really interesting reading. I am glad I found this and got to read it. Great job on this content. I like it. xxx vids

      ReplyDelete
    19. Fantastic post! Please keep sharing. I know of a roofing company if you are looking for Gamr Please get in touch! Thanks, have a good day.Game
      Game
      Game

      ReplyDelete
    20. PHP Development Company India India is top notch award winning custom PHP web development services provider with professional and expert PHP website developer at affordable rates

      ReplyDelete
    21. Determine the role of the medical, nursing, environmental and safety experts and other professionals needed to assist in the implementation of the health management strategy in the company.cosmetic beauty facial mask raw material

      ReplyDelete
    22. Great post I must say and thanks for the information. Education is definitely a sticky subject. However, is still among the leading topics of our time. I appreciate your post and look forward to more. coolest data visualization


      ReplyDelete
    23. Incredibly conventional blog and articles. I am realy very happy to visit your blog. Directly I am found which I truly need. Thankful to you and keeping it together for your new post.
      best data science online course

      ReplyDelete
    24. very interesting to read .thanks for your good work.
      Angular training in Chennai

      ReplyDelete
    25. I will provide you a lifetime experience, allow me to plan your journey and take care of all the arrangements in Israel, please contact me about different activities in Israel, jeep tours, museums, attractions for kids, Bar Mitzvah ceremony and private tours.gaminglight

      ReplyDelete

    26. Augurs Technologies is a Top-class software development company in Germany. Providing solutions that meet customer requirements and business expectations. We combine proven techniques, industry knowledge and our technology know-how from experienced software developers to deliver high-quality software solutions. In our work, we particularly value integrity and customer service. We are one of the best software development companies in Germany.

      We plan smart, practical, cost-effective and instinctive software development, business process automation, e-commerce solutions for businesses that help streamline business processes and create revenue for startups and established businesses. The experience and know-how we have gained in the industry over the years enable us to provide solid and honest advice to our clients and produce highly effective results.
      software development company in Germany

      ReplyDelete
    27. I honestly appreciate the blog you have posted. Really looking forward to this kind of words.
      best kelvinator split ac

      ReplyDelete
    28. Georelated provides this information in good faith but it should not be used as a substitute for reading the full licensing agreement. Full licensing information is available from Google: qalo canada , qalo australia ,

      ReplyDelete
    29. Amazing information i really enjoyed this article reall great article keep publishing i have bookmarked this blog for future post
      gossipmouth flippzilla

      ReplyDelete
    30. This comment has been removed by the author.

      ReplyDelete
    31. hamare youtube channel Royal Tailors par trouser cutting or qameez ki cutting or kafi sare design ki cutting or stitching videos mojod hai
      trouser cutting
      Womens shirt cutting

      ReplyDelete
    32. This is a great inspiring article.I am pretty much pleased with your good work.You put really very helpful information... check this link

      ReplyDelete
    33. Hi there would you mind letting me know which web host you’re working with? I’ve loaded your blog in 3 completely different browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot quicker then most. Can you suggest a good internet hosting provider at a fair price? Thanks, I appreciate it!Dog Cooling Mat

      ReplyDelete
    34. I will make sure to be reading your blog more. You made a good point but I can't help but wonder, what about the other side. airport taxi charleroi

      ReplyDelete
    35. This type of assignments strained the budget of most of the web enterprises but still they had perforce to go in for such web development orders since they desperately wanted websites at their disposal. Website Developers

      ReplyDelete
    36. Not many people know off hand what search engines are looking for. Usually it takes just a few minor adjustments to see some drastic results, but the only way to find out what needs tweaking without paying outright for the whole kit and kaboodle is to get yourself a website analysis. www1 ccny cuny edu

      ReplyDelete
    37. Though many aspects of website design differ from site to site, many things remain the same throughout the majority of websites on the internet. Most notably is the navigation or menu. The way in which a website's menu works and looks is very important, as ultimately, visitors to a website are looking for certain criteria that will make them either stay and interact or leave. web design dubai

      ReplyDelete
    38. Penis length is a touchy hassle, and about 30% of guys are disillusioned with it. It is able to make you self-aware and make you experience the want for some shape of penis growth approach. Have a examine statistics approximately 성기확대 proper right right here, for brought statistics.

      ReplyDelete
    39. Its a great pleasure reading your post. Its full of information I am looking for and I love to post a comment that "The content of your post is awesome" Great work.บาคาร่าออนไลน์

      ReplyDelete
    40. Learn to use analytics tools and techniques to manage and analyze large sets of data from Data Science training institutes in Bangalore. Learn to take on business challenges and solve problems by uncovering valuable insights from data.read more here

      ReplyDelete
    41. I found for that excuse many enticing stuff in your blog especially its ventilation. From the heaps of remarks a propos your articles, I surmise I'm as of now not the independent one having all of the relaxation here! shop occurring the charming complete.. Microsoft Office Crack Version

      ReplyDelete
    42. i'm honest natured you take conveyance of to self-centeredness in your message. It makes you stand dependancy out from numerous assistant essayists that can't uphold extreme climate content remembering you. Product Key Office 2019 Crack

      ReplyDelete
    43. Great for finding topics, angles and ideas that other keyword tools don't provide without digging deep. Suite of keyword tools including 'people also ask' and KGR tools. New Free Keyword Tool

      ReplyDelete
    44. Advance Christmas wishes 2021,Wish you advance Xmas greeting wishes,Merry Christmas in advance message sms for family,friends and love one.
      Christmas Quotes for Husband

      ReplyDelete
    45. DVDFab Crack
      DVDFab Crack is great software is very potent programmer which is incredibly simple and save, duplicate, manufacture, and access protected DVDs.

      ReplyDelete
    46. لتخفيف الأعراض المرتبطة بالدوالي يجب رفع الساقين فينصح برفع الساقين أعلى من مستوى القلب لفترات قصيرة، مما يساعد على تدفق الدم بشكل أفضل كذلك ارتداء الجوارب الطبية المضغوطة: الجوارب المضغوطة تساعد في تحسين تدفق الدم وتقليل الانتفاخ ويفضل علاج دوالي الساقين بالليزر لانهاء هذه المشكلة للابد

      ReplyDelete