27th April 2009, 12:28 AM
I haven't time to look at all those links tonight, but I will as it's interesting. I have two immediate points though.
Firstly, "Or here... a real (Spanish example of linking GIS to Googlemaps - although simple - click a GIS feature and you get a number - the info bubble could contain anything)" - Highland HER is using Google Maps in exactly the same way as you describe. Layers can be switched on and off, the database can be queried via the map, including multiple selections, and vice versa. I couldn't get the Spanish example to work on my PC though.
Secondly, how does this more complicated mapping perform with slow internet connections? I can vouch for the fact that Highland's mapping works with dial up. But anything more bandwidth hungry - MAGIC for example, or even Pastmap - you can just forget it. Not everyone has superfast broadband, in fact not everyone even has broadband, and local authorities have to make sure their services are as inclusive as possible. I have 0.5MB broadband here via satellite costing me an arm and a leg. There won't be many up here with fast broadband any time soon.
Firstly, "Or here... a real (Spanish example of linking GIS to Googlemaps - although simple - click a GIS feature and you get a number - the info bubble could contain anything)" - Highland HER is using Google Maps in exactly the same way as you describe. Layers can be switched on and off, the database can be queried via the map, including multiple selections, and vice versa. I couldn't get the Spanish example to work on my PC though.
Secondly, how does this more complicated mapping perform with slow internet connections? I can vouch for the fact that Highland's mapping works with dial up. But anything more bandwidth hungry - MAGIC for example, or even Pastmap - you can just forget it. Not everyone has superfast broadband, in fact not everyone even has broadband, and local authorities have to make sure their services are as inclusive as possible. I have 0.5MB broadband here via satellite costing me an arm and a leg. There won't be many up here with fast broadband any time soon.