… Long live the map makers. Ed Parson, 2008

… Thank God! Denis Wood, 2003

App

lication

Server

Geospatial Data

Map Server

Tile

Server

Tile Cache

Web

 Server

Browser UI

The ‚map stack‘

http://www.alistapart.com/articles/takecontrolofyourmaps

The ‚map stack‘App

lication

Server

Geospatial Data

Map Server

Tile

Server

Tile Cache

Web

 Server

Browser UI

The ‚map stack‘

Source: Microsoft Virtual Earth SDK

App

lication

Server

Geospatial Data

Map Server

Tile

Server

Tile Cache

Web

 Server

Browser UI

App

lication

Server

Geospatial Data

Map Server

Tile

Server

Tile Cache

Web

 Server

Browser UI

The ‚map stack‘

Types of web mapping services

proprietary

open source

commercial

App

lication

Server

Geospatial Data

Map Server

Tile

Server

Tile Cache

Web

 Server

Browser UI

The ‚map stack‘

App

lication

Server

Geospatial Data

Map Server

Tile

Server

Tile Cache

Proprietary web mapping services

Web

 Server

Browser UI

API

How to add data

KML, GeoRSS, …

Image overlaysOwn tiles

Gadgets

App

lication

Server

Geospatial Data

Map Server

Tile

Server

Tile Cache

Proprietary web mapping services

+

Web

 Server

Browser UI

availability of a hugeamount of geo data

many thousands ofservers

quick setup

Why using them?

intuitive interface

accessible by everybodywith an internet browser

App

lication

Server

Geospatial Data

Map Server

Tile

Server

Tile Cache

Proprietary web mapping services

Web

 Server

Browser UI

API

Web

Se

rver

Browser UI

Proprietary web mapping services

Ap

plic

atio

nSe

rver

Geospatial Data

Map Server

Tile

Serv

er

Tile Cache

API

Mercator projection

no access on vector dataor 3rd dimension

pre‐rendered map tiles

Limitations

limitations according toAPI options

licensing issues

optimizing overlay quality

comparing tiles of different vendors

A cartographer‘soptions

using region functionalityfor scale dependent results

optimizing data and user interface for user needs

Basic cartographicissues

What’s the purpose ofthe map?

Who is the user?

Readability

Visual Hierarchy

…

optimizing overlay quality

comparing tiles of different vendors

A cartographer‘soptions

using region functionalityfor scale dependent results

optimizing data and user interface for user needs

Open source web mapping services

Open Layers, Modest Maps

Er, Tile Cache

UMN MapServer

OpenStreetMap DataApp

lication

Server

Geospatial Data

Map Server

Tile

Server

Tile Cache

Web

 Server

Browser UI

Why using them?

creating own map tilesand/or map tiles fromproprietary vendors

programming ownfunctionalities

data on own servershttp://www.sander-partner.ch/be/en/Nawa/index.html

http://chicago.everyblock.com

vector functionality

offline‐ and intranet usage possible

Limitations

more complex setup

more programming

limited server capacities

http://www.sander-partner.ch/be/en/Nawa/index.html

http://chicago.everyblock.com

Conclusions

Web mapping services are not only tools fornon‐expert map makers

Cartographic principles can also be applied in geobrowsers

A good knowledge of available tools is important topick the right solution for a certain use case

BUT: Cartographers should activelycontribute their ideas and principles tothe world of web mapping.