Fine-grained map coloring web service for javascript

Abstract

In this paper, we focus on data visualization in the smart city. We propose a more feasible and portable technique of fine-grained map visualization for smart city analytics. More specifically, we develop a Web service called FigMap4SC (Fine-Grained Map-coloring Web service for Smart City). FigMap4SC provides a service of coloring fine-grained city maps from them. Existing visualization methods require users to prepare all geographic data and users have to perform many operations. In FigMap4SC, all geographic data and map drawing operations necessary for coloring a city maps are hidden under the service. By preparing only a dataset, users get fine-grained city maps without specialized knowledge. The service can eliminate user’s trouble and operation. Moreover, FigMap4SC exposes Web-API, to which external applications can post the dataset. As a result, any applications and scripts of smart city analytics can integrate FigMap4SC to visualize their own analysis results on colored maps. We have implemented a prototype of FigMap4SC, currently covering Kobe city area only. FigMap4SC has been implemented as a Web application with JavaScript, HTML5 and Maps JavaScript API which can show Google Maps on this service easily. This service was used by the Kobe Fire Department staff which tried on smart city. They evaluated that the visualization was quick and the operation was easy.