http://aims.jocogov.org

Open Source Map APIs

Yahoo, Google, Microsoft

http://aims.jocogov.org

Yahoo Map API• http://developer.yahoo.com/maps/index.html• Must have a Yahoo ID• Application ID specific to application• Simple API• AJAX or Flash Implementation

– 50,000 queries per day limit• Traffic API• Geocoding API

– 5000 queries per day• Local Search API• Example:

– http://theurer.cc/maps/y/

http://aims.jocogov.org

Google Map API• http://www.google.com/apis/maps/• Must have a Google ID• Application ID specific to a folder

(subfolders are cascaded)• Geocoding

– 50,000 queries per day limit• Add polylines or polygons• Example:

– http://www.chicagocrime.org/map/

http://aims.jocogov.org

Microsoft Virtual Earth• http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?ur

l=/library/en-us/VEMapControl/HTML/Introduction.asp

• Licensing?????• Can access oblique imagery if available• Access to routes/driving directions• Geocoding• Add polylines and polygons• Interactive SDK

– http://dev.live.com/virtualearth/sdk/• Example:

– http://www.johnlscott.com/

http://aims.jocogov.org

Examples• Leawood Crime Data

– http://maps.jocogov.org/yahootest/main.aspx• Johnson County Employees• RSS Feeds• Batch Geocoding

http://aims.jocogov.org

Conclusions• Advantages

– Free– Easy– Standard/recognizable format– Some value added options (traffic, weather, etc)– Geocode outside of county boundaries– Embed interactive map into a webpage

• Disadvantages– Speed (potentially slower)– Little layer control– Potentially out of date base layers– Could change to fee based service