Re: Mapping Issues Document

> 3. Eventually, someone is going to release an open source version of
> this type of mapping solution: AJAX-based, markers, customizable choice
> of personal and public map, image, satellite coverages, etc. AND, of
> course, the open source version will be available for folks to use on
> their websites in intranets, commercial places, etc. There are already
> server-based ones (utilizing real GIS tools), but nothing as elegant
> and simple as this. Why not beat everyone to the punch and create a
> parallel version of this API that is open and free to use with personal
> data (not the online Google data, but our own images, maps, etc).
> There will always be ways to make commercially interesting ties back to
> Google to make them money (search tied in, etc) and there are few
> downsides... people won't be able to use the new one to access Google
> data online, so there won't be the bandwidth and server costs to it.
> Consider the utility of this for offline, remote, field-based work
> where you can enter your data in the field and see it on a map... right
> now that is the sole domain of higher-end GIS tools, but that's silly
> overkill. Someone's gonna do it... might as well be Google!

Great Idea. If anyone decides to pursue it, I would like to
participate. I have an experimental tile stitcher using Terra Server
public domain tiles. It is located at:

www.provide.net/~bratliff

It lacks a real API. I am looking for other legal tile sources. I am
also looking for help. Like Firefox, it will have to be an improvement
over the competition. Offering support for synchronized maps is a
start.

> 2. Closer ZOOM levels. I would like ZOOM levels to go even closer by a
> few orders of magnitude... although the current closest zoom level is
> fine for road-based mapping, allowing even closer zooms with
> alternative map/image coverages allows for all kinds of new and
> interesting possibilities. Consider: mapping out the locations of the
> vendors at a large flea market (or convention exhibit indoors), with
> each one advertising (through Google, of course) to get their markers
> bigger than the others or to have their space come up first during a
> search. Or on a less commercial front, just allowing a garden club to
> highlight the arrangements of their gardens!

For what it is worth, both Virtual Earth & Terra Server provide aerial
views two zoom levels beyond Google in "Urban Areas" - approximately
.25 meters per pixel.