Adding interactive online maps to your website

12 July 2007 - By Sean Fishlock

My memories of sifting through pages of the Melways to find the find the quickest way across town are fast becoming frustrating remnants of the past thanks to good old technology.

Spatial information seems to be everywhere these days. Who needs an old fashioned compass, when you can harness the power of our latest batch of gadgets.

One day we’ll be saturated with information about almost any place that you need to go. We have gadgets in our cars and mobile phones that can tell us where we are, when to turn and which direction to head to get to where we are going. Emergency services can pinpoint our location if we ever get into trouble.

So what exactly do these exciting new technologies have to do with websites and Intranets ?

I’ve often talked about how websites can provide information based on who you are, well the next generation of websites will be driven by locality based technologies. They’ll not only serve up information on where you are, but where you’ve been and where you are going as well. It really is an exciting time to be in.

Let’s explore some of the technologies, then how they can be used in real website situations to enhance your e-business aims.

I’ll start by demystifying some buzzwords in management information systems …

Get a Birds Eye View

Geographical Information System or GIS is a broad term describing a range of software programs that allow people to generate useful information, such as maps and statistics from spatial information.

Information for GIS are often collected using satellite technology.

Many councils and government departments use GIS systems for all sorts of information from property and rates information to planning parks and environmental programs.

GIS is also becoming more accessible to us “content consumers” like you and I.

Whereis.com.au operates a successful business out of GIS technology by providing information for people on the best ways to get from one place to another, using everything from parking information to information about the types of roads along the way to make an informed decision.

More recently, Google and Microsoft have taken this a step further, brining out products using pre-packaged satellite photography. These products carry the promise of a virtual experience of faraway places for everyday people.

Google Earth (earth.google.com) has the potential to one day replace the Internet search engine, by enabling us to virtually browse location specific information.

Sccess to this powerful technology doesn’t suit everyone and not suprisingly governments are getting increasingly concerned about the national security risks of this sort of access to geographical information …

Getting Oriented

Global Positioning Systems or GPS is a new technology that is also widely being adopted. It basically tells where something is at a particular moment in time.

GPS combines with GIS to not only tell you where you are, but where you are in relation to other things. The potential of the combined technologies is massive, and diverse, with applications for government, the media and even sport.

GPS can be used in public transport, to determine how far away your trains, tram or bus really is. The US army uses GPS to track the strategic movement of their troops on the battlefield. It is also useful for freighting, logistics and supply chain management.

Like GIS, the technology is also becoming more accessible to us “content consumers” .

Personal use programs such as NavMan are available to determine where you are and helping the “navigationally challenged” like myself to find the quickest way from A to B. Some software uses computerised speech that will eventually find its way into our phones and cars.

The AFL is strapping GPS to footy players to provide injury and fitness optimisation as well as real-time statistics for fans like me on what our players are doing on the field, live on its website.

Just as it is taking off everywhere else, GPS will also play a bigger role in websites in the future.

Websites and Interactive Mapping

Maps and websites go hand in hand. But you don’t necessarily need cutting edge GIS or GPS technology to add a new element to your website.

For companies that work in multiple locations in Australia, or around the world an interactive map can be the sort of application that can be used to convey your locality information.

Datalink sites like Plan Australia feature simple interactive world maps, using Flash technology that showcase the countries the organisations work in. They can update their website information about their work using Datalink’s Freestyler CMS.

Applications for Government Websites

We’ve also worked with various councils to create an roadmap for online service delivery, with the ability for each residents to information sensitive to the context of their home. This represents, in our view, the true next generation of council website.

This will enable a resident to, for example, find their nearest park and what facilities it offers or find out when their rubbish will be collected.

And councils are not the only ones to benefit. Metlink currently uses an efficient Trip Planner and Tram Talk phone service, which I can personally vouch makes it much easier for busy people to find your way around on public transport. VicRoads has a great interactive offroad bicycle network map on their website which is great for those weekend rides.

Cultural Exchange and Globalisation

Applications like Google Earth will someday help people to know more about what life might be like in different places around the world.

Combined with videoconferencing, these sorts of technologies have the potential to save businesses considerably in travel costs and may help investors to get a regional context before making decisions.

One day, I hope, it will help break down barriers and help create a better, more understanding and peaceful world.

Even Small Business Websites Can Benefit

Small businesses have been featuring maps on their websites for some time.

Datalink has worked with Monash Self Storage, a small business whose website we recently developed using our Freestyler Live CMS. Using Street-directory.com.au, the site is able to provide a dynamic map highlighting the locations of their self storage facilities.

On-Demand e-Commerce

Imagine one day being able to walk past a shop, sample and buy their products online directly through our mobile phone without even needing to step foot inside …

These are the sort of potential applications that make the future of locality based technologies so exciting.

Talk to us for ideas on how to take your business into the third dimension on the web.