Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
3
A Participant in the Web of Platform
Online maps do not operate with the same archi-text as GIS; instead, they rely on
application programming interfaces (APIs) to produce mashups. These types of maps
are part of the contemporary Web, where platforms have a more significant role than
hyperlinks. In this context, considering maps in relation to the properties of the
contemporary Web helps us to understand why Google, whose mapping API is currently
dominating the market, is interesting for geographical information. After exploring the
history of online maps with their technical properties, we shall see that this model of
maps is not the only one available. For instance, OpenStreetMap (OSM) distinguishes
itself from Google Maps in that it proposes to “liberate” maps from commercial interests
by providing a geographical database available open data.
3.1. Technical architecture of Web maps
As Jason Farman claims, visualizing a surface on Google
Earth is more like adding a picture on a Website such as
MySpace or Facebook, than creating filters with GIS [FAR 10,
p.881]. This assertion is also true for mashup
-
type maps.
What are the technical characteristics of online maps and how
do they relate to other contemporary Web applications?
3.1.1.
First online maps
The first online mapping systems appeared in 1993 a
short time after the World Wide Web [HAK 08, p.2013], as
simple mapping applications. Their role consisted mainly of
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