Here are my ruminations:
In the AlphaBet, I believe that E is for ESRI? Why? Well the arc-business model that I believe that is emerging includes an opportunity for the Dangermonds to sell their company into the dominating geo-search engine that Maps and Earth Search. Maps without all information search of WWW content are essentially maps of ignorance. Further the scale of free and open content is clearly on the increase. But for me the ultimate next phase that will drive the GIS sciences and currency of map information will be VR and virtual presence and augmentation of the always navigating personal device.
I don't know for certain but I would be really quite excited if suddenly we were to discover that ESRI now could fully draw-on all of the www content that have rendered in Google Maps and Earth? All of their imagery, all of their StreetView, all of the constructions made and to be made using Earth Enterprise Engine, as well as KML by the TB. How might that arrive?
Well a replacement of the Google Earth 3D-Globe and its programmatic design likely needs to be made. The old one from Keyhole-era got them their first two-billion of so users... an new generation that streams 3D and all sorts of VR goodness will be needed? Enter ESRI ArcGIS Pro 64 and their Globe browser, ArcGIS Earth, totally free and essentially a 1:1 or darned near 1:1 re-build of Google Earth IMHO... only without the data. There is a ArcGIS Earth API as I understand it that is also to be included in the ArcGIS Pro. ArcGIS Pro 64 as a development tool is also to be free? So the last issue is how does the "hook" work? We it looks to me that only a real ArcGIS Pro on a desk can generate content that can be viewed on ArcGis Earth or be mounted to the cloud server. Also there likely will be an annual subscription to access the ESRI-isze earth reference data layering?
Thoughts?
Google's Microsofts Move to Mobile Changes Future of Mapping
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan,
Google began to quietly shutter Google Earth Enterprise in the U.S. along with some of the most important business features for Google Earth Pro such as data for parcels, demographics, and traffic counts. By the end of January it shutdown Parcel (APN) Search, sending those relying on the data for daily business requirements scrambling to find alternatives.
The decision, which Google would say was brought on by consumer behavior, continues to alter the future of a market segment.
Google isn't alone. Microsoft killed MapPoint last year. As more consumers leave their desktop for mobile phones, both companies, along with Apple, have been building up their mobile mapping applications, changing the business model, and shuttering data services and tools for desktop.
Now some believe that Google and Microsoft have turned their attention away from business mapping technology and toward mapping services that generate advertising revenue.
Despite the vanishing act brought on by the move to mobile, these traditional desktop business mapping tools that provided the ability to search on assessor parcel numbers (APN) remain popular, especially among industries that require easy-to-use software sitting behind their firewall. The model continues to change, along with the range of options.
Google's tools were affordable, flexible, powerful, and had tangible business benefits, according to Stewart Berry, director of product management for mapping software at Caliper, which develops geographic information systems (GIS) and transportation software. "These products have gone away," he says. "All that's left are APIs, with limited functionality, but at a higher cost."
Parcel boundaries are viewable using the Google Maps API, which provides the ability to style the lines to make them more prominent. Along with the API came new tools, but these are for developers, not consumers of business analysts, per Berry. "When you kill a desktop product and don't offer a comparable cloud product, you leave your customers high and dry."
While Google points to alternatives for parcel data like the Google Maps API, Berry says users cannot search by the parcel ID. The alternatives are for developers and have costs per interaction.
Having the ability to search by parcel number remains a huge issue for some industries such as real estate and construction. "I see the frustration in the removal of the APN layers, so I will offer what my company uses," writes Eric Maturino, an engineer offering advice in the Google Maps and Earth help form. Maturino works at a photovoltaic construction company running through permits and other services multiple times per week.
"At the price of $400 per county, this can be ridiculous, seeing at times we operate in six different counties a month," Maturino explains, suggesting a Web-based service called Parcel Quest Navigator.
The $1,800 annual cost may be steep, but it avoids the hassle of repeatedly buying parcel information and navigating the search. It is a drop in the bucket, he writes. Parcels and addresses are searchable if you know the number.
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Google began to quietly shutter Google Earth Enterprise in the U.S. along with some of the most important business features for Google Earth Pro such as data for parcels, demographics, and traffic counts. By the end of January it shutdown Parcel (APN) Search, sending those relying on the data for daily business requirements scrambling to find alternatives.
The decision, which Google would say was brought on by consumer behavior, continues to alter the future of a market segment.
Google isn't alone. Microsoft killed MapPoint last year. As more consumers leave their desktop for mobile phones, both companies, along with Apple, have been building up their mobile mapping applications, changing the business model, and shuttering data services and tools for desktop.
Now some believe that Google and Microsoft have turned their attention away from business mapping technology and toward mapping services that generate advertising revenue.
Despite the vanishing act brought on by the move to mobile, these traditional desktop business mapping tools that provided the ability to search on assessor parcel numbers (APN) remain popular, especially among industries that require easy-to-use software sitting behind their firewall. The model continues to change, along with the range of options.
Google's tools were affordable, flexible, powerful, and had tangible business benefits, according to Stewart Berry, director of product management for mapping software at Caliper, which develops geographic information systems (GIS) and transportation software. "These products have gone away," he says. "All that's left are APIs, with limited functionality, but at a higher cost."
Parcel boundaries are viewable using the Google Maps API, which provides the ability to style the lines to make them more prominent. Along with the API came new tools, but these are for developers, not consumers of business analysts, per Berry. "When you kill a desktop product and don't offer a comparable cloud product, you leave your customers high and dry."
While Google points to alternatives for parcel data like the Google Maps API, Berry says users cannot search by the parcel ID. The alternatives are for developers and have costs per interaction.
Having the ability to search by parcel number remains a huge issue for some industries such as real estate and construction. "I see the frustration in the removal of the APN layers, so I will offer what my company uses," writes Eric Maturino, an engineer offering advice in the Google Maps and Earth help form. Maturino works at a photovoltaic construction company running through permits and other services multiple times per week.
"At the price of $400 per county, this can be ridiculous, seeing at times we operate in six different counties a month," Maturino explains, suggesting a Web-based service called Parcel Quest Navigator.
The $1,800 annual cost may be steep, but it avoids the hassle of repeatedly buying parcel information and navigating the search. It is a drop in the bucket, he writes. Parcels and addresses are searchable if you know the number.
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Find out which Google mapping tools will help you change the world
The tools below are available to nonprofits to help raise awareness, increase decision-making and engage stakeholders. Explore the free versions of these tools, and if advanced features are needed, learn about our software grants program.
Google Earth
Google Earth lets you fly anywhere on Earth to view satellite imagery, terrain, 3D buildings, from galaxies in outer space to the canyons of the ocean. You can explore rich geographical content, save your toured places, and share with others in this free desktop and mobile application. Google Earth Pro provides additional capabilities such as Movie Maker and GIS data import capability.
Read a case study
Take a tutorial
Learn more about Google Earth Pro
Google Earth Engine
Google Earth Engine brings together the world's satellite imagery and makes it available online with tools for scientists, independent researchers, and nations, allowing them to mine this massive warehouse of data to detect changes, map trends and quantify differences on the earth's surface.
Earth Engine overview videos
Take a tutorial
Google My Maps
Google My Maps allows you to create stylish custom maps to share and publish online. You can add lines, shapes, or places on the map, or import data from Google Drive spreadsheets, as well as Excel, CSV and KML files.
Take a tutorial
Tour Builder
Tour Builder lets you tell stories in their geographic context on the web using the Google Earth Plugin. You can easily create an immersive story with places, photos and videos, and share it with your friends.
Take a tutorial
Visit Tour Builder
See example tours
Open Data Kit
Open Data Kit (ODK) is an open-source toolkit that allows organizations to collect data offline, then bring that data online for sharing, querying and mapping. ODK Collect runs on Google Android - the first free, open source, and fully customizable mobile platform.
Read a case study
Take a tutorial
Google Fusion Tables
Google Fusion Tables is a collaborative data tool in the cloud. Upload data from spreadsheets, CSV or KML files. Find and reuse public data. Merge data from multiple tables. Visualize your data on customized maps and charts that update when your data does.
Take a tutorial
Google Map Maker
Google Map Maker™ allows you to map a neighborhood, a city or even an entire country. You can draw roads and landmarks, add local businesses, and edit locations added by other map makers. Your changes will appear instantly on Google Map Maker for everyone to see.
Take a tutorial
Google Maps API
The Google Maps API lets you embed the robust functionality and everyday usefulness of Google Maps and Google Earth into your own website and applications, and overlay your own data on top of Google Maps. Incorporate Google Maps API for Work into your internal website to map sensitive or secure data, or take advantage of the increased geocoding limits.
Read a case study about free Maps API
Read a case study about Maps API for Work
View Showcase
Apply for a Maps API for Work grant
Google Street View
Google Maps with Street View lets you explore places around the world through 360-degree street-level imagery. You can check out restaurants, plan your next trip or even visit the Amazon!
Read a case study
Browse the Gallery
Spreadsheet Mapper
Spreadsheet Mapper is a tool built by Google Earth Outreach to let you dynamically publish a Google Earth layer (KML or KMZ file) directly from a Google Spreadsheet. Create different balloon templates for different parts of your dataset in Spreadsheet Mapper.
Read a case study
Take a tutorial
