July/Aug 2005

Within the next five to ten years, mapping tools will be as ubiquitous as word processors, web browsers and database applications. That's the opening proposition in a new book on digital mapping, Web Mapping Illustrated, from prolific computer handbook publisher O'Reilly.

The author, Tyler Mitchell, maintains that despite becoming increasingly important in everything from routing and scheduling to satellite navigation, digital mapping and geographic information systems remain a complex subject for many developers, whether they are non-expert users or professionals.

This book aims to offer all such people practical help with every aspect of the subject, including advice on where to find legitimately free tools and data, and how to use them.

'Traditional data management tools are not going to be enough for developers to understand or interact with data,' Tyler says. 'Database managers will need to learn to handle geographic coordinate data types. Software developers will need to know how to efficiently render maps. Mapping professionals will need to know how to access remote data sources in real time.'

 

Web Mapping Illustrated by Tyler Mitchell (ISBN: 0-596-00865-1, 368 pages) has a recommended price of £28.50.