Archive for the 'Multimap' Category

MSN UK Local - New Multimap Maps

Published
by
admin
on January 5, 2009
in Multimap and Web Mapping
. 0 Comments

The MSN Local Property pages have just launched a new version of the property searcher using the Multimap API.  This allows users to search for property geographically and display the results on a map. 

image

It makes nice use of the Multimap marker de-cluttering and info boxes.  Using very simple and small marker icons (like these red houses) is always a good idea.

I also like the way users can easily modify their search:

image

I particularly like all the different methods of sharing the resulting map search:

image

Allowing users to IM a map to each other is a great idea!

Of course it also benefits form all the great Multimap local UK Mapping (e.g. Ordnance Survey maps). 

Multimap Embedded Maps Hack

Published
by
admin
on December 15, 2008
in Multimap and Web Mapping
. 0 Comments

Now I have shifted the hosting of my blog off wordpress.com, I have the luxury of being able to put iFrames and JavaScript in my blog posts and pages.  So I decided it was about time I had a slippy map on my blog and have added one to my sidebar (just look to the right…)

To do this I used the Multimap.com embedded map functionality (which I blogged about earlier).  This time I have hacked the HTML provided to customise the embedded map and make sure it fits neatly on the sidebar.

To start with I went to multimap.com and found the relevant location I wanted for my embedded map (in this case Innsbruck):

image

I then used the "customize and preview map" link in the "link to this map" dialogue box to customise the map to my needs.  This brings up this page:

image

This page provides a simple GUI to customise your embedded map.  I chose a custom pixel size of 200 x 400 (i.e. thin and long) so it would fit nicely in my sidebar.  The resulting HTML for my embedded map is provided in the "HTML" text box in the bottom.  In this case I do not have much room on my sidebar so I wanted to remove the extra links at the bottom to different multimap.com maps, Birds Eye and directions.To do this, I need to hack the HTML returned.  So firstly I copied the HTML out of the bottom text box, which gives me this when I paste it into UltraEdit (a great programmers text editor):  

<div id="MMEmbeddedMap" style="padding:8px"><iframe width="200" height="400"
frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0"
src="http://www.multimap.com/client/embed/?width=200&height=400&lat=47.26525
&lon=11.39771&zoomFactor=13&emid=Q3zd58nstiQM4o37TGjfm9hDXl4MelqK
&mapType=hybrid&moveMap=0,0">
</iframe><div>
<a href="http://www.multimap.com/maps/?lat=47.26525&lon=11.39771
&zoomFactor=13&mapType=hybrid">#]
View Aerial Image of Innsbruck, Tirol (Tyrol), Austria</a> on Multimap.com
<br /><a href="http://www.multimap.com/maps/?lat=47.26525&lon=11.39771
&zoomFactor=13&mapType=oblique">Bird's Eye view of Innsbruck, Tirol (Tyrol),
Austria</a><br />Get directions <a href="http://www.multimap.com/directions/?
lat_2=47.26525&lon_2=11.39771&countryCode_2=AT&displayName_2=Innsbruck, Tirol
(Tyrol)&qs_2=Innsbruck, Tirol (Tyrol)">to</a> or
<a href="http://www.multimap.com/directions/?lat_1=47.26525&lon_1=11.39771
&countryCode_1=AT&displayName_1=Innsbruck, Tirol (Tyrol)&qs_1=Innsbruck,
Tirol (Tyrol)">from</a> Innsbruck, Tirol (Tyrol), Austria
</div></div>

The I edited the HTML in UltraEdit to remove the extra links, change the wording and modify the layout:

<div id="MMEmbeddedMap" style="padding:8px">
<iframe width="200" height="400" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0"
marginwidth="0"
src="http://www.multimap.com/client/embed/?width=200&height=400&lat=47.26525
&lon=11.39771&zoomFactor=13&emid=Q3zd58nstiQM4o37TGjfm9hDXl4MelqK
&mapType=hybrid&moveMap=0,0">
</iframe><div><a href="http://www.multimap.com/maps/?lat=47.26525&lon=11.39771
&zoomFactor=13&mapType=hybrid">Innsbruck</a> on Multimap.com<br />
</div></div>

I use WordPress for my blog, so I have added the embedded map onto my sidebar as a simple text widget.  In this text widget, all I need to do is paste in my edited HTML for the embedded map:

image

Then I saved the changes and checked the appearance on my sidebar.  You can see the results for yourself….

So I hope I have shown that not only is it really easy to create embedded maps on multimap.com, but you can also easily hack the resulting HTML to suit your specific needs.

Happy hacking and embedding!

OS Grid References and the Multimap API (2)

Published
by
admin
on December 4, 2008
in Multimap and Web Mapping
. 0 Comments 
var locations = new Array();

var xy1 = new MMPoint(523000,212324);  // OSTN97 OS National Grid
var xy2 = new MMPoint(323000,212324);
var xy3 = new MMPoint(423000,212324);

locations.push(xy1);
locations.push(xy2);
locations.push(xy3);

var funcRef = convertResultsLoaded;
var converter = new MMConverter( funcRef );
converter.convert(locations, 'osng');

function convertResultsLoaded() {
    console.log(converter.result_set);
};

A while ago I blogged about using OS Grid References in the Multimap API.  Web mapping developers in the UK often grew up with Ordnance Survey (OS) maps, are used to using the associated OS grid references (rather than lat/lon) to specifiy location and want to use them in mapping APIs.

Previously Multimap released a new feature in the API to allow developers to convert grid references to lat/lon for use in the API.  Multimap have a fantastic technical writing team and they have just released documentation on this feature (which is called Coordinate Transformation). 

The documentation on how to use the features in the Multimap JavaScript API is here and the documentation on how to use the features with the Multimap Web Services is here.

Thanks to Manu Gaur for this great documentation.

Happy coordinate transforming!

Multimap API - New Route ‘Actions’

Published
by
admin
on December 2, 2008
in Multimap and Web Mapping
. 0 Comments

Web applications using Multimap API Routing often include custom ‘travel direction icons’ in the route instructions for clarity and a richer user experience.  For example Ford use icons to indicate the direction of turn in their Irish Ford Dealer Locator routing:

image

The RAC has followed a similar approach with their route planner instructions:

image

Previously developers who are created their own travel directions icons needed to know what all the possible text instructions were, so that they could assemble a full set of images, and then parse the route instructions for the descriptions so that the correct icon could be used for each step.  This got worse if you were implementing applications with several languages, as you would have to look for a different set of instructions with each language!

Thankfully Multimap has been working hard to produce  language independent symbol/step_type tokens that can be used by developers to create their own strings or display their own icons.   So now developers do not have to parse variable instruction strings, but just use the new tokens instead.

This new feature involves step attribute called ‘actions’ which can be used by to build step icons. So, for example, you can make your own turn_left.gif and roundabout_1.gif etc and don’t have to parse the instruction to extract the information on which steps should be given these icons, but just check for the relevant actions ("turn_left" and "roundabout"). We expose these actions as an array called ‘actions’ which can have one or more action values

The full documentation on how to use this new feature is here

Happy routing!

Martin loves Multimap!

Published
by
admin
on November 17, 2008
in Multimap and Web Mapping
. 0 Comments

Martin Daly has done a review of embedded map tools and Multimap comes out top.  More details on how to use this are here.

Multimap API - New Mapping in the Middle East, Northern Ireland and Great Britain

Published
by
admin
on October 23, 2008
in Multimap and Web Mapping
. 0 Comments

image

Multimap have recently released new street level maps for countries in the Middle East.  The countries are:

•    Bahrain
•    Kuwait
•    Oman
•    Qatar
•    Saudi Arabia
•    UAE

We have also added:

  • Additional zoom levels of maps in Malaysia
  • Collins Bartholomew Road Atlas maps for Great Britain
  • Ordnance Survey Northern Ireland maps

Here are some examples:

Middle East (zoom levels 13-18)

Two additional zoom levels of street-level maps in Malaysia

Collins Bartholomew of Great Britain (Road Atlas)

Ordnance Survey Northern Ireland (zoom 13-15) – this data is similar to our OS Land Ranger data in GB

Localising the Multimap API

Published
by
admin
on October 22, 2008
in Multimap and Web Mapping
. 0 Comments

image

It is now possible to localise the Multimap API for a specific language.  This means that when I am in Austria, I can develop a mapping application using localisation and see the world from German speaking perspective.  So at last German speakers no longer need to know that Map = Karte.

To do this I add a LOCALE_CODE parameter to my Multimap API request like this:

<script type="text/javascript" src="http://clients.multimap.com/API/maps/1.2/[API_KEY]?locale=de-AT"></script>

Then the API version I get has all of the following localised:

    • labels, tooltips and messages;
    • alternative language map labels (currently available only in China);
    • translated Virtual Earth hybrid aerial map labels (where available);
    • Local Information categories;
    • default units (Imperial or metric) in map copyright bars; and
    • route instructions.

You can see this in action in the excellent demo application my colleague Alexis Harakis put together here.

Localisation is all documented here and the locale codes are described here

Happy localising!

Multimap.com - Now with Embedded Maps

Published
by
admin
on October 20, 2008
in Multimap and Web Mapping
. 1 Comment

image 

Last week Multimap released a new service for small businesses, personal web sites and hobbyists.  The service, available for free from www.multimap.com, provides a single line of HTML to cut and paste into a web page, like this:

image

So basically this allows you to easily embed a map in your website, without having to write any of that pesky JavaScript yourself.

The user gets a slippy map in a choice of map styles (Navteq, TeleAtlas, Ordnance Survey and Barts) or aerial for anywhere in the world (US included, using Virtual Earth maps and aerial). The pasted HTML includes hyperlinks back to www.multimap.com:

The service is limited to 50,000 transactions per year (which Multimap tracks) and cannot be used for internal applications (eg BI, CRM).

The uptake has been amazing, with over 500 web sites implementing the new embedded maps in the 1st week.

So how do I use it?

1. Go to Multimap.com

2. Search for a location

3. Select Link (top right of map)

4. Check the box for T&Cs and cut and paste the line of HTML which will look something like this:

<div id="MMEmbeddedMap" style="padding:8px">
<iframe width="500" height="400" frameborder="0"
scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0"
src="http://www.multimap.com/client/embed/?lat=47.26269&lon=11.3947
&zoomFactor=17&mapType=hybrid&moveMap=-85,-394&
qs=innsbruck&emid=yAstqbmcYmb1ZLXDxu4eDCV95BurZAwb">
</iframe><div><a href="http://www.multimap.com/maps/?l
at=47.26269&lon=11.3947&zoomFactor=17">
View map of Innsbruck, Tirol (Tyrol), Austria</a>
on Multimap.com<br /><a href="http://www.multimap.com/maps/?
lat=47.26269&lon=11.3947&zoomFactor=17&mapType=oblique">
Bird's Eye view of Innsbruck, Tirol (Tyrol), Austria</a>
<br />Get directions <a href="http://www.multimap.com/directions/?
lat_2=47.26269&lon_2=11.3947&countryCode_2=AT&displayName_2=Innsbruck,
Tirol (Tyrol)&qs_2=Innsbruck, Tirol (Tyrol)">to</a>
 or <a href="http://www.multimap.com/directions/?
lat_1=47.26269&lon_1=11.3947&countryCode_1=AT
&displayName_1=Innsbruck, Tirol (Tyrol)&qs_1=Innsbruck, Tirol (Tyrol)"
>from</a> Innsbruck, Tirol (Tyrol), Austria</div></div>

5. To configure and change map size or move the red circle, click on the link "customize and preview map" to update the link text.

So who is using Embedded Maps?

The uptake has been amazing with over 500 web sites implementing the new embedded maps in the 1st week.

Here are some of the websites using embedded maps so far:

http://www.hamiltoncollege.org.uk/contacts.html

http://www.stationcatpottery.co.uk/find%20us.php

http://www.fea-online.com/docs/contactus.html

http://www.stedmundsedmonton.co.uk/index.php?pr=Finding_Us

http://www.carparksdrive-incinemas.co.uk/page13.html

http://www.stjoesrfc.co.uk/8.html

http://raveoneinuk.canalblog.com/

http://www.societies.cam.ac.uk/ballet/class%20details.htm

http://www.baconandeggs.co.uk/The_Firs_B&B/Useful_information/How_to_find_us.html

http://friendsofhershamhounds.blogspot.com/2008/10/next-greyhound-social-walk-west-end.html

http://website.lineone.net/~newcastle_staffs_ac/newccontact.html

http://www.thatchamaa.co.uk/venue_whitehouse.htm

Happy embedding!

Multimap and Geonames

Published
by
admin
on September 17, 2008
in Multimap, Virtual Earth and Web Mapping
. 0 Comments

image

One of the common problems with Web Mapping applications is that what end users regard as a place often does not match the ‘official’ place names in the commercial gazetteer data that web mapping services depend on for geocoding.  For example in London everyone knows where “Soho“, “Bloomsbury” and “Big Ben” are, but in reality these are not official place names.  These kind of unofficial place names are often referred to as “Vanity Areas”.  End users rightly expect that there web mapping application will take them to these places, but if we rely on commercial gazetteer data alone this is not enough.

Sp how can we fix this?  Well, Multimap have integrated GeoNames as an additional data source for address look-ups. You can see it in action not only on multimap.com, but also in the Multimap API. 

From the Multimap blog:

GeoNames is a global geographical database that contains over 6.5 million places, with 2 million alternative names in up to 200 languages, that is continuously updated by users around the world, through a friendly wiki interface. Any changes are integrated into the Multimap databases within 24 hours.

GeoNames contains geographic places such as mountains, seas, lakes, valleys, coasts, and places of interest. In addition, it also contains alternative names so you can find a place like ‘London’ in many different languages (Londres, Londra, Londýn, Londain, Londinium).

A great example cropped up recently with a customer I work with.  They had recently developed a new web mapping application and were demoing it to all their local sites.  They knew that one local web master always tested mapping applications by searching for the small hamlet in which they lived in.  This hamlet is so small it does not appear in any of the commercial gazetteers.  So they added this hamlet to Geonames before doing the demo.  When the web master saw the application and found their hamlet they said it was the best web mapping application they had seen!

It is also possible to integrate Geonames with Virtual Earth.  Johannes Kebeck has done a blog post on this. 

How to grow and sell a mapping company

Published
by
admin
on August 26, 2008
in Multimap
. 0 Comments

image

Juts found this video of Sean Phelan talking about how he started Multimap, grew it and eventually sold to Microsoft.  Interesting stuff, especially on surviving the dot-com crash and the reasons for the sale.   I love Sean’s phrase that Multimap (in the context Google and Microsoft) was a mouse “running around two elephants fighting”.