Oct/Nov 2006

The combination of ever-more sophisticated aerial mapping and AJAX Internet browser technology is allowing software developers to create increasingly sophisticated and dynamic mapping applications.

In one of the latest moves to take advantage of this, deCarta (formerly Telcontar), the specialist in location-based services, has established a strategic partnership with GlobeXplorer, a mapping specialist. GlobeXplorer is said to have world's largest commercial library of aerial photos, satellite imaging and geographic maps.

They say deCarta customers will be now able to create location-based applications that overlay spatial and additional customer-generated data on GlobeXplorer images. The result: "hybrid" maps which for instance combine road network data and satellite images.

At the technical level, deCarta and GlobeXplorer have aimed to create a seamless interface between deCarta's Web services API (application programming interface) and GlobeXplorer's Image Server, using deCarta's AJAX framework. AJAX is the key to allowing maps to be updated very quickly in Web browser windows without a need for the whole page to be reloaded every time there is a change.

 

Users can either deploy their system through deCarta's hosted Web services platform, or by licensing and deploying deCarta's Drill Down Server geospatial software platform to host the system themselves.