Maps and Web-based Data - Participatory Mapping: New Data, New Cartography - page 49

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Maps and Web-based Data
As maps become more similar to other Web platforms, they inherit the same challenges
but also the same data collection methods. What data sources are available online?
What processing work is required to make the data comply with the characteristics of
the map? How can the various actors manage the potential technical flaws to guarantee
the validity of the map?
A representative corpus of techniques for creating maps
online has been compiled to address the above questions 1 .
The selection is made according to the following criteria:
- the maps are mashups: they use a base map to show
third-party data; they are not used for GPS navigation or
mobile applications involving geolocation;
- they are geographical: this excludes Website graphs,
mind maps and other non-geographical visualizations;
1 The corpus results from a watch over digital maps carried out since 2008.
It mainly includes mapping news blogs in addition to technology, design
and information news Websites. The following Websites give a list of the
maps which have been consulted:
- http://mashable.com/2009/01/08/google-maps-mashups-tools;
- http://googlemapsmania.blogspot.fr;
- http://www.programmableweb.com/tag/mapping;
- https://sites.google.com/site/gmapsmania/100thingstodowithgooglemapsma
shups.
A Diigo account showing the resources in question can be accessed online
at: http://www.diigo.com/user/jcplantin/cartography?type=all.