Web mapping services: Development and trends

Abstract

Web mapping services like Google, introduced in 2005 have altered the online mapping experience. Not only could maps be viewed in a fast and simple way but there was also the possibility to create Mashups through APIs, leading some to proclaim the “democratization of mapping”. Addressed here is the development of these mapping services, how they impacted the existing Web mapping environment and possible future areas of development. An emphasis is placed on the technical developments from desktop to mobile applications, as well as the development of base maps and map types from pre-rendered tiles to editable map styles in different viewing modes from bird eye view, 3D, and augmented reality. While the first maps produced with APIs were mostly static point maps, new features have enabled dynamic and interactive applications with “GIS-like” functionalities, often supported by third party implementations.