On Oct 9, 9:53 pm, "maps.huge.info [Maps API Guru]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > p.s. Since you're located in the UK, you might want to take a look at > the open source projects Open Layers and Open Street Maps. They have > no restrictions on usage and map coverage for the UK is excellent. > > -John Coryat
Thanks to all who have suggested we look into OpenLayers and OpenStreetMap. For the moment I just wanted to stem the tide of any further pointers towards OpenLayers and OpenStreetMap (OSM). We are well aware of the OpenLayers project and its excellent API, being long time supports/ promoters and developer users since its early days. We, along with many others are heavy users of OpenLayers within an academic research context and do more with it than simply put pins on a map, or add static image overlays, useful though that is to many people. This is one of its many plus points of OpenLayers and its linked projects (e.g. TileCache), it is certainly a *open* and permissive API and we have and continue to not only develop with it but also where necessary extend and modify the APIs source code to make it do the things we want. In this case Google Maps API as is fits the target use more cleanly and succinctly than alternatives at this time. With some custom data handling it's capable of handling the types of visualisation, and interaction we require and is understood well enough by the various geo and non-geo researcher/software developers that would potentially work on the research proposed. OpenLayers is capable of the same functionality but is a little more roundabout in its approach and definitely not as clean or polished in its UI, also not as familiar to end users (who in this case would be from outside academia), although i don't disagree it is well designed and built with an easy to use and clean (up to a point) API. We have prototypes doing all the things proposed working in several web mapping APIs, including Google Maps, MS Virtual Earth and OpenLayers (which actually draws base layer data from both Google and Microsoft tile servers), but for this work we'd prefer to use the Google Map's API. Out of interest if the TOU restriction is linked to restrictions on source data Google licenses from 3rd parties data providers and which its maps and geoprocessing services are derived then why can the same data be used within OpenLayers without violating the TOU? Where does Google stand on this type of use of Google Maps data within 3rd party client API's? (See: http://tinyurl.com/5xaa2a) We are also well aware and versed in both contributing to and using (if at all possible) OSM data. At this time and we predict for the forseeable future, OpenStreetMap simply lacks both the quality and geographic coverage and resolution we and our users require and expect, even in the UK where the project originated. Unfortunately unlike in other countries private / professional geo data providers and/or national mapping agencies / national/local governments have not come forward with free comprehensive geo data sets that can be used to seed OSM in the UK and be used as a base for densification, updates and quality improvement. The data and maps generated from its hosted rendering services are also not familiar to users, who consistently upon seeing the data ask where the Google map is! > p.s. Since you're located in the UK, you might want to take a look at Please note that these projects are available and used all over the world and are not unique to the UK. OSM is not currently a viable data source for our requirements. Thanks. On Oct 9, 9:53 pm, "maps.huge.info [Maps API Guru]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > p.s. Since you're located in the UK, you might want to take a look at > the open source projects Open Layers and Open Street Maps. They have > no restrictions on usage and map coverage for the UK is excellent. > > -John Coryat > > http://maps.huge.info > > http://www.usnaviguide.com --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Google Maps API" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Google-Maps-API?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
