New approaches for integrating GIS layers and remote sensing imagery for online mapping services

Abstract

This paper introduces a Web Mapping system, UrMap, which incorporates new approaches for integrating GIS layers and Remote Sensing Imagery. UrMap is an on-line location-based service (LBS) website developed by OleMap Inc. in collaboration with the FORMOSAT-2 Image Application Distribution Center at National Taiwan Normal University and the National Space Organization (NSPO) in Taiwan. The goal of UrMap is to provide electronic street map services and location-based information for the general public in Taiwan. This chapter also discusses the different types of map design strategies between western-style (Google Map) Web GIS applications and eastern-style (UrMap) Web GIS applications. Web GIS applications in different regions and counties are adopting different map design principles and having different strategies for map layouts even though they might use the same fundamental Web GIS technologies.