November , 2015
That former adage is truer than ever- it’s all almost location.. And when it comes to the electrical current tech ecosystem, location-based apps too services are par for the course, too for goodness reason. We direct maintain the technology to direct maintain our communities, towns too neighborhoods at our fingertips too larn acquainted with the the world around us at the behavior upon of a button. We similar to lookout where our drivers go, if our laundry delivery service is on the agency too which sushi house is less than a v infinitesimal walk from us. Maps, too to a greater extent than specifically, interactive maps tin direct your service to the adjacent level, direct together a community too organize information through a clearer lens. So, how exercise y'all integrate maps into your arrangement without breaking the bank?
Whether y'all but desire to clarify your location, cook a community or rails service, there’s an accessible tool out at that spot for you. Some require evolution skills piece others are plug too play systems, but all are available for free. Below, we’ve curated six fantastic map edifice tools too thus y'all tin larn yourself on the map.
1- Google My Maps
My Maps offers a high degree of item too customization. You tin add together directions, points of involvement too color-coated place markers inwards dissimilar shapes (a drib pin, star, foursquare or circle). You tin also describe lines to indicated borders or routes too add together multiple sets of step-by-step directions, too. All of this tin endure sorted easy-to-manage layers of information.
My Maps tin also endure accessed through a mobile app.
2- Mapme Mapme is a platform that enables anyone to cook smart too beautiful maps without whatever coding. It allows y'all to plough on too off powerful features such every bit events, jobs, crowdsourcing, rating, reviews with a click of a button. Data tin easily endure imported into maps. The platform is a slap-up solution for all kinds of organizations. It tin endure used past times a local brewery arrangement to map breweries, a instructor tin create a map for the cast too inquire students to contribute information to it, or a publisher to create private maps for articles. For some slap-up examples of Mapme’s possibilities, cheque out this listing of
maps. Mapme’s best characteristic is how slowly it is to larn the community involved too adding. No coding noesis required.
3- ZeeMaps ZeeMaps enables y'all to blueprint too issue interactive maps with a whole arrive at of features, including information imports from excel, csv too fifty-fifty Google docs.
The prissy affair almost ZeeMaps is that in i trial your information is on there, the maps are highly customizable, allowing y'all to direct from custom icons, color regions, multimedia too more.You tin also create custom fields without whatever evolution knowledge. Their 3 tiered access characteristic - viewer, fellow member too admin makes this a slap-up selection for presentations too grouping information analysis projects. ZeeMaps offers gratis every bit good every bit paid versions. You tin cheque out the options here.
4- Google Maps API Probably the best known too the most ofttimes used, the Google Maps API is the measure for online maps that are easily integrated across platforms. Google Map’s API allows for street degree views along with Google Places integration, providing information too fifty-fifty reviews for locations inwards which your audience mightiness endure interested. The maps are customizable past times color, visibility levels too fifty-fifty labels. This high degree of customization tin require some coding but every bit usual, Google provides detailed tutorials. For those who actually don’t desire to direct the fourth dimension to sift through tutorials, at that spot are other services that function with the Google API too apace assist y'all customize. Check it out
here.
5- Mapbox 
Mapbox is a slap-up map-based solution for spatial analysis on the fly, making it slowly to integrate place into whatever mobile or online application. Their finish is to “change the agency people movement around cities too empathise our planet.” Their coolest feature? The tool offers a Smart Directions API, allowing y'all to integrate alive directions into your app. For example, when a courier accepts a task, Smart Directions generates a road specifically for their manner of transportation. If you’re looking to endure the adjacent delivery or service to door app, this one’s for you. It counts Pinterest, Evernote too Foursquare alongside its users. Mapbox calls itself a mapping platform for developers but the web-based editor is slowly too a slap-up house to start. Mapbox has starter packages for upward to 50,000 monthly users too 1 style. For more, at that spot are 2 premium packages to direct from with upward thirty dissimilar styles. You demand evolution skills to role Mapbox.
6- Umapper UMapper allows y'all to create embeddable maps without a ton of coding expertise. Counting National Geographic, USA Today too the Huffington Post alongside its users, UMapper allows for the creation of geogames, interactive maps too for monetization through advertising. You tin also direct from map providers - such every bit Bing, Google too Yahoo. UMapper provides detailed usage statistics on your maps. Packages are available inwards both gratis too premium packages.
By: Ben Lang, Cofounder,
Mapme.
