INTERACTIVE MAPPING ON THE
WORLD WIDE WEB
by
Karl Musser
A RESEARCH PAPER
submitted to
THE GEOSCIENCES DEPARTMENT
in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the degree of
MASTER OF SCIENCE
GEOGRAPHY PROGRAM
May 1997
Directed by
A. Jon Kimerling
Many thanks to professors Kimerling and Wright for their guidance on this project. I also thank
Bill Thoen and Susan Huse for paving the way in this field of study. Thank you to all the brave
souls who have created interactive mapping sites on the Web, and I especially thank those people
who responded to my questions about their sites.
Introduction . . . . . . . 3
Methods . . . . . . . . . . 5
Results . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Reviews . . . . . . . . . 7
Guidelines . . . . . . . . 11
Conclusion . . . . . . . . 21
References . . . . . . . . 22
Appendix A . . . . . . . 26
Appendix B. . . . . . . . 27
ABSTRACT: The World Wide Web is a promising new media for cartography. It allows the
creation of interactive maps that can be accessed by the general public. There is a wide variety
both in methods used and in the overall quality of current Web sites. This report reviews the state
of interactive mapping on the World Wide Web and offers some guidelines for creating successful
interactive mapping Web sites.
Most sites that feature interactive mapping lack attention to accuracy and are not sensitive to the
user's ability, or lack thereof, to understand the data, perhaps because few sites are designed by
cartographers. Several authors have complained of the lack of graphical design training in GIS
users (Kimerling, 1997; Monmonier, 1996; Weibel and Buttenfield, 1993) and this lack is
apparent on many Web sites. The Web can be a great tool, but technical ability must be combined
with good design in order to make effective sites.
This project has two purposes. The first is to review the state of interactive mapping on the
World Wide Web. The second purpose is to establish a set of guidelines for the creation of
interactive mapping sites. Guidelines would encourage the use of cartographic principles and
documentation in making easily understandable, high quality maps. Good documentation can
help prevent the misuse of data.
Few papers mention the quality of the sites being created or the implications of the general
public's increased access to spatial data. The consensus seems to be that interactive mapping sites
are not particularly useful yet, but that they have the potential to become a powerful tool in
broadening access to spatial data (Thoen, 1995b). The most prolific writer on this subject is Bill
Thoen. Thoen has written articles for GIS World in addition to publishing articles and a
"WebGIS" resource list on his own Web page. Thoen finds the increased use of the Web for
Interactive maps exciting and believes the quality of the sites will improve as Web technology
advances (Thoen, 1995b).
What motivated you to create the site?
What problems did you encounter in creating and maintaining the site?
Who uses the site? What do they use it for?
What does the future hold for interactive mapping and/or Web GIS?
What makes a good interactive mapping site?
What problems do existing sites have?
What should be included in a set of guidelines for interactive mapping sites?
Would you have used a set of guidelines in creating your site if they had been
available? Why or why not?
The guidelines are based on responses to these questions, the literature (primarily Huse, 1995;
Plewe, 1996; Thoen, 1995), existing guidelines on map design (Kimerling, 1997; Monmonier,
1996; Robinson, 1995), and Web site design (Apple, 1997; Berners-Lee, 1995; Levine, 1996;
Lynch and Horton, 1997; Siegal, 1996). The guidelines take the form of a list of things to be
considered when creating a site. They are suggestions and tips rather than rigid rules or technical
specifications. General suggestions are more likely to be followed and will not become outdated
as quickly as more specific or rigid guidelines. They include references to good examples and
where to go for technical assistance. The guidelines will be distributed to administrators of
existing sites and published on my own Web site. My Web site will be maintained and the
guidelines will be able to evolve as technology changes.
Sites linked to a GIS have commonly used CGI forms in which users can define the parameters of a map, which will then be generated and displayed. Most of the older, more established sites use this method. Examples are the TIGER Mapping Service (http://tiger.census.gov/cgi-bin/mapbrowse-tbl), NAIS (http://ellesmere.ccm.emr.ca/naismap.html), and the Xerox Parc Map Viewer (http://mapweb.parc.xerox.com/map). This method is largely limited to creating maps that have already been anticipated (Newcombe, 1996). Huse (1995), however, was able to use this method to create what is currently the closest thing to a GIS on the Web. Her GRASSlinks, used by REGIS (http://regis.berkeley.edu/grasslinks/index.html) is the only site I found allowing users to do spatial analysis such as buffering, overlay, and reclass operations.
Java can be used to create maps which are more interactive and intuitive. With Java the user can
have much more direct control of the map and the Web designer can include features such as
menus which most users will be familiar with. Java is still a fairly new technology and most Java
sites did not run as smoothly as their older counterparts. Java also suffers from bandwidth
problems. Bandwidth is the speed of transmission over a network. Since Java requires large data
transfers Java-based sites may be difficult to view by someone with a slow Internet connection
(such as access over a modem). Other new forms of creating interactive maps such as VRML
(virtual reality modeling language) currently are difficult to use but have great potential for the
future.
Another possible way to create sites, using X windows, is the most interactive. This basically
gives users remote access to the GIS directly. It is limited, however, as most people do not have
X windows emulation software. These sites were not included in the review because I did not
have the hardware or software available to use them.
I reviewed 55 sites, which included nearly all of the self-styled WebGIS sites and a sampling of
other types of interactive mapping sites. The wide variety in the methods used to create sites have
blurred the categories of sites used by Plewe (1996) and Thoen (1995b). I looked at several
aspects of each site (see Appendix A) including both the technical capabilities of a site and how
well it is presented. Most sites were very good in two or three of the criteria and poor in the
others. A few outstanding sites deserve special mention.
TIGER mapping service, created by Brandon Plewe and Chris Stuber:
This site is probably the best all around interactive mapping site. It was one of the first created
and uses a custom written program. It accesses the Census Bureau's TIGER files, covering the
entire U.S. The site gives the user a tremendous array of options and still manages to be clear and
uncluttered. It is easy to use and very intuitive. The maps follow general principles of map
design and look very nice. The page links to metadata, or data about the data, and
documentation on the site as well as a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) list. The site's biggest
problem is its popularity which can slow it down (Stuber, 1997).
REGIS/GRASSlinks by Susan Huse:
This is probably the best GIS site. As mentioned previously it is the only one to offer spatial
analysis abilities. It also has an impressive array of options, and the available layers are presented
in a menu-like fashion, making it easy for users to see what they are doing. Like the TIGER site
there is metadata and documentation available. The map output is not quite as nice as the TIGER
site though. It lacks some cartographic elements such as a scale. The site is also clearly designed
for the GIS user. Someone unfamiliar with GIS may not understand how to best make use of the
site. Both the GIS software (GRASS) and the application linking it to the Web (GRASSlinks) are
in the public domain.
University of Minnesota's Fornet by Steve Lime
(http://www.gis.umn.edu/bwcaw/mapping.mapit.html):
This site includes the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness server, which is one of the nicer
Arc/Info-based mapping sites. Fornet also includes an example of how to display Arc/Info shape
(shp) files on the Web using Java.
West Virginia's TAGIS by Jamie Leonard (http://poca.osrme.gov/form/feature.html):
Another excellent Arc/Info-based site. This site gives users access to more databases than most
sites. It is possible to get lost in the volume of data offered. It also includes animated "flybys" of
selected regions. This site is slowed down considerably by the use of frames and animation.
Earth and Moon Viewer by John Walker (http://www.fourmilab.ch/earthview/vplanet.html):
Impressive site which shows orthographic views of the Earth and the Moon using a mosaic of
satellite imagery. Day and night regions of the Earth are adjusted, based on the current time.
Users are given many options in changing the view, including control over the center point,
altitude, time, and what image is viewed.
Other impressive uses of interactive mapping include real-time weather maps, like the Weather
Visualizer (http://covis.atmos.uiuc.edu/covis/visualizer); and traffic maps, such as the Vauxhall
site (http://www.vauxhall.co.uk/trnet/tn-finfo.htm). The Xerox Parc Map Viewer is another old
site which has stood the test of time. It generates simple boundary maps anywhere in the world
which are easily customized. The ICE site (http://ice.ucdavis.edu/ice_maps/) is notable for its
excellent explanations of GIS and the data presented and good instructions on how to use the site,
making it user-friendly for somebody that is not familiar with GIS. Unfortunately, the site has
licensing problems, which make the maps unavailable most of the time.
Along with the good sites there are many that are difficult to use. The biggest problem cited by
Web site designers was slow transmission speeds. Nobody wants to wait ten minutes for a site to
produce a map, Web guides recommend avoiding anything that takes longer than ten seconds to
load (Lynch and Horton, 1997). Stuber (1997) noted that most users of interactive mapping sites
are willing to put up with a little sluggishness, but sites should still try to be as fast as possible.
Other problems cited include sites that lack maintenance, have out of date or incomplete data, are
not user-friendly, or lack documentation. Some sites produce maps lacking legends or any
indicator of where the mapped area is located. Examples are the Regio Data
(http://www.pi.net/~hverbeek/server_gis.html) and the Murray Basin
(http://www.agso.gov.au/map/mb_make_map.html) sites. Other maps do not explain the data,
like the otherwise good Berkeley GIS Viewer (http://elib.cs.berkeley.edu/geo_data/) which does
not have legend, labels, or the ability to query, making the maps useless. Some sites simply make
ugly maps, like the Demographic Data Viewer (http://sedac.ciesin.org/plue/ddviewer/) and Java
Interactive Routing (http://www.cs.umn.edu/research/shashi-group/routing.index.html) sites. The
GIS vendor sites are often among the worst in terms of graphic design. These sites often use fake
data and are only partially functional. While they intend to simply show what is possible, vendors
may be better off linking to fully functional sites using their software, as ESRI
(http://www.esri.com/base/products/internetmaps/internetmaps.html) does. The Spatial Net demo
from Object FX (http://www.objextfx.com/products/spatlnet.html) is notable exception to the
generally poor quality of demonstration sites. Very few sites include metadata or sources of any
kind, making their data less useful than it could be. Many Java and VRML sites simply do not
work or take too long to load, hopefully this problem will lessen as the bandwidth capacity of the
Internet is improved. Sites failing to work can also be the result of not being maintained.
Be sure to sign and date your Web pages. Solicit comments from your users. Feedback from
users is the best means of finding out problems with your site and is a good source of suggestions.
Dates are also important due to the rapidly changing nature of the Web. They allow a user to
quickly tell if a site is being maintained and whether the data you present is up to date. Dating
your pages is more effective than saying your data are "current" or "new." On a related note,
maintain your site. You should periodically check your links to make sure they are still active and
check any mapping tools (like query) that you offer to make sure they are working properly.
If you have a GIS-based site, be sure to include metadata if you want your data to be useful. Sol
Katz (1997) maintains a list of metadata related resources, including standards. The GRASSlinks
site demonstrates a nice way to unobtrusively include metadata on your site. Even if you do not
expect others to use your data directly, you should still list your sources. It is also wise to explain
the limitations of your data to help prevent any misuse. The TIGER site includes this sort of
information in a FAQ list. If you want to be helpful to other interactive mapping Web site
designers, you should also include some documentation on how you created your site. Some
sites, such as GRASSlinks and Andy Wick's Cool Java Map Page
(http://maps.purple.org/map/index.html), even include the source code on their pages. Currently
there is quite a bit of documentation on how to use CGI to link a GIS to the Web.
Documentation on Java and VRML is more difficult to come by.
The biggest issue for interactive mapping sites is what type of GIS-WWW interface you want to
use. The basic choice is between a form-based page using CGI and using Java. According to the
responses I received both have their pros and cons. Java is more interactive and versatile, while
forms are faster and more reliable. Java is also not yet supported by all Web browsers and
generally requires more programming experience to implement well. Despite its problems, Java
has more potential for truly interactive mapping. Most commercial browsers and GIS-WWW
interfaces will probably support Java in the future. Bandwidth problems will also hopefully be
overcome. The Mapquest (http://www.mapquest.com/) site uses Castanet software to speed up
their Java performance (Strand, 1997). The best solution is to offer more than one version of
your site, then your users can choose whichever interface they prefer. Unfortunately, many sites
do not have the time or resources to do this. You should base which interface you choose on the
purpose of your site and your users. Some applications may be impossible without using Java. If
you want to accommodate users with slow connections and old browsers you should stick with
forms and basic HTML.
"Creating Killer Web Sites" (Siegal, 1996) offers many tips on formatting pages in HTML. One
useful trick is using blank GIF files to control the layout of your page. Tables can also be used
effectively to control your layout. Recently it has become popular to use frames to display more
than one window of information at a time. Frames limit how much space you can devote to your
map and will slow down a Web site considerably. Since most interactive mapping sites need all
the speed they can get I do not recommend using them.
Be careful of the size of your maps. Several sites I reviewed had maps that did not fit on a 15"
screen and could not be resized. You can use the HTML height and width tags to define the size
of an image. Users with 14 or 15" screens will usually have a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels. To
be sure your map appears correctly you should restrict its size to 535 x 320 pixels (Lynch and
Horton, 1997).
Maps should follow some basic map design guidelines. Like Web pages, maps should have an
informative title and be as independent as possible. It should be clear where in the world the map
is located. This is especially important for large scale (small area) maps. Not everyone knows
where the Murray Basin or Clinch River are located. Small scale maps can show location and
orientation by including latitude and longitude coordinates and grid lines. Large scale maps
should also include a locator map, making it easier for the user to orient themselves. Some
indication of scale should also be included on all maps. Scale can also be shown using
coordinates and grid lines on small scale maps. For larger scale maps I recommend using the
traditional bar scale, or simply including the scale as a fraction (e.g., 1:25000). The TIGER Map
Service and the Berkeley GIS Viewer are examples of maps with scales that change as the user
zooms in and out. Finally, all maps need a legend. The query ability can substitute for a legend to
some degree, but I still recommend one for any map that shows more than one feature. The
Xerox Parc Map Viewer is an example of a site that can get away without having a legend,
anything more complex should have one. Once you have a legend, make sure it is understandable.
Having a legend with a bunch of codes on it is not much good if you do not explain the codes.
Generally labels on your map are also a good idea, although they can clutter up your map. Many
sites have labels as a layer which can be turned on and off, which is a good solution. Robinson
(1995) provides a good guide to label placement.
Other aspects of map design are the same as more general graphic design. Monmonier's, How to
LieWith Maps (1996) is a nice guide for basic map creation. Make sure that type on your map is
readable. Features should be distinguishable, variations in the visual hierarchy should be used to
make important features stand out. Try to avoid making the map too cluttered. The Cool Java
Map Page is an example of a map that is difficult to read because of clutter and a lack of
hierarchy. Use appropriate symbols and colors. Colors in particular are often used carelessly.
Maps showing gradations in data from low to high values (e.g., many thematic maps) should use
light to dark color scales or different sized objects. Primary colors, like those used on the
Demographic Data Viewer site make thematic maps very difficult to interpret. If your map is an
imagemap, the hotspots should be obvious.
The best solution to map design is to put as much of it into the hands of the users as possible.
Many sites give users control over colors and which layers are turned on. Other possibilities
include control over line types, the order in which features are drawn, and what symbols are used
for point features.
Unfortunately I do not have many tips for Java. Most Web guides do not have a section on Java.
Try to keep Java applets as small as possible to minimize loading time. Otherwise, take advantage
of what Java has to offer. You can embed menus into your map to make it easier to use. Beware
of overwhelming users with options. Try to make it clear how your site works.
As I mentioned before almost no sites allow users to do spatial analysis. GIS vendors should
incorporate abilities similar to those in GRASSlinks into their Internet mapping software. It
should also be possible to make custom programs for spatial analysis in Java. The IRIS
(http://allanon.gmd.de/and/and.html) site is notable in that it allows users to manipulate the
database directly, the site includes documentation. While there may be security concerns in giving
users access to the database, this is another way to let them do their own analysis.
I did not have the time or resources to compare the different commercial GIS-WWW interface
tools. The responses I received recommended avoiding making sites that require specific
plug-ins. Requiring plug-ins restricts access to your site, and I did not see any plug-ins that did
anything that could not also be done in Java.
Make sure you have instructions on how to use your site and explanations of your data. If you
are catering primarily to other GIS users, you may not need much explanation. Experienced users
may even be annoyed by too much text, as they want to get to the data as quickly as possible.
You may want to consider offering direct FTP access to your database so that they can skip the
maps entirely. Unfortunately there is no standard file format that has gained common usage
among GIS users, so you may want to offer several options if you decide to use FTP. One
possibility to watch is the Spatial Data Transfer Standard from the Federal Geographic Data
Committee (1997). Novices on the other hand, may not even know what a GIS is. For them you
may want to not only explain your data and how to use the site, but general GIS concepts as well.
The ICE site offers an example of how to accommodate both groups by offering extensive
instructions and explanations as separate help files, which the experienced user can simply skip.
Think globally when creating your site. It is called the World Wide Web for a reason. This is one
of the reasons I recommend using locator maps. Write out the date on your pages since the U.S.
and Europe use different conventions when abbreviating dates. Avoid slang or jargon that may be
difficult to translate. See Lynch and Horton (1997) for other tips on how to accommodate other
languages.
Apple Computer, Inc. "Apple Web Design Guide." 1997.
http://applenet.apple.com/hi/web/intro.html
Berners-Lee, Tim. "Style Guide for Online Hypertext." 1995.
http://www.w3.org/pub/WWW/Provider/Style/All.html
Calkins, John. "Developing GIS for the Web." 1996. http://www.gis.pima.gov/webdev/pubmeth/
Duda, K.A. "Database Query and Map Generation via the WWW." 1997.
http://www.ssc.msu.edu/~geo/wwwgis.html
Essinger, Rupert. "Internet Mapping." ESRI, 1997.
http://www.esri.com/base/products/internetmaps/internetmaps.html
Federal Geographic Data Committee. "Spatial Data Transfer Standards Review." 1997.
http://www.fgdc.gov/SWG/sdtsann.html
Huse, Susan. 1995. GRASSlinks: A New Model for Spatial Information Access in Environmental
Planning. Ph.D. thesis, Department of Environmental Planning, Univ. of California at Berkeley.
Katz, Sol. "Metadata and WWW Mapping Home Page." 1997. http://www.blm.gov/gis/nsdi.html
Kimerling, Jon A. 1997. Lectures in "Map Design and Production." Oregon State University.
Langaas, Sindre. "Commercial, off-the-shelf solutions for GIS-WWW interfacing." 1996.
http://www.grida.no/prog/norbal/docs/giswww/giswww.htm
Levine, Rick. "Guide to Web Style." Sun, 1996. http://www.sun.com/styleguide/
Lime, Steve. "Interactive GIS/RS on the Internet." 1996.
http://www.gis.umn.edu.rsgisinfo/interactive.html
Lynch, Patrick and Horton, Sarah. "Yale Style Manual." 1997.
http://info.med.yale.edu/caim/manual/contents.html
MacLennan, Mark. "CGRER NetSurfing: Maps and References." 1997.
http://www.cgrer.uiowa.edu/servers/servers_references.html
Matuschak, Brian. "GIS on the Web." Electronic Atlas Newsletter. v. 7 n. 9. Sept., 1996.
http://www.electronic-atlas.com/ean79a.html
Monmonier, Mark. 1996. How to Lie With Maps, 2nd edition. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Press.
Morris, Steve. "Web GIS and Interactive Mapping Sites." 1997.
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/UCBGIS/intergis.html
Newcombe, Tod. "Spatial Surfers Try the Internet." Government Technology. July, 1996.
http://www.govtech.net/1996/gt/July/geoinfojuly/geoinfojuly.html
Plewe, Brandon. "Mapping on the Web." GIS World. Jan., 1996.
Robinson, Arthur; et. al. 1995. Elements of Cartography, 6th edition. New York: John Wiley &
Sons, Inc.
Schroeder, Eric. "How do you go from an HTML form to an Arc/Info map?" Illinois State
Museum, 1995. http://museum.state.il.us/research/faunmap/query/how.html
Siegal, David. "Creating Killer Web Sites." Hayden Books, 1996.
http://www.killersites.com/1-design/index.html
Strand, Eric. "Java Creates New Channels for GIS Information." GIS World. May, 1997.
Thoen, Bill. Ed. "GIS Toy or Tool." discussion on comp.infosystem.gis. 1995a.
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Thoen, Bill. "Interactive Mapping and GIS Thrive on the Web." GIS World. Oct., 1995b.
Thoen, Bill. "'WebGIS: Toy or Tool'? Resource List." 1996.
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The following people gave input to this project through personal E-mail (1997):
Tom Abeles, Christiane Boehner, Ted Bowen, Ashley Bryett, Peter Burden, Bernie Conners,
Rupert Essinger, Adam Holt, Jon Kimerling, Steve Lime, Phil Massam, Bob Moore, Bryan
Morgan, Christer Nilsson, Dave Nuttall, Joel Register, Rich Signell, Steve Slatcher, Tracy
Solarek, Lisa Stapleton, Chris Stuber, Maurice Szmurlo, Jeff Talbot, Bill Thoen, Martin Weinelt,
Dawn Wright
Author: The designers and maintainers of the page, if they are given credit.
Organization: The organization, institution, or company that is supporting the site.
URL: The site location or address.
Summary: Provides a brief overview of the site.
Zoom/Pan/Query: Describes if and how well the user can perform these simple functions by clicking on the map.
Layers: Describes the data layer(s) being accessed and whether the user has any control over the appearance of different data layers.
Metadata: Describes what data about the data are present and any documentation on how the site was created.
Cartographic Elements: Describes whether the map includes basic cartographic elements such as a scale, locator map, legend, labels, or map coordinates.
Text: Describes textual explanations or instructions accompanying the map.
Appearance: Describes the visual appeal of the map and any problems with resolution.
Friendliness: Describes how user-friendly or intuitive the site is.
Higher Functions: Describes whether any spatial data analysis by the user is possible.
Multimedia: Describes whether the site has taken advantage of the multimedia aspects of the web,
such as using pictures, animation, or sound.
Title: AnchorageMap
Organization: Geonorth, Inc.
Summary: A street and parcel map of Anchorage, AK. The site uses Arc/Info, Map Objects and Java. You must register to see the site.
Zoom/Pan/Query: Yes, you can zoom and pan. You can query and get parcel information (zoning and tax assessment data).
Layers: None that can be manipulated by the user.
Metadata: None
Cartographic Elements: None
Text: Brief instructions on how to use the site.
Appearance: Nice, better than most Arc/Info-based sites.
Friendliness: Poor. The site is intuitive to those that already know GIS. Novices may have
trouble figuring out what they are doing.
Title: Active Maps
Organization: InternetGIS.com
URL: http://www.internetgis.com/
Summary: Demonstration of the Active Maps Internet server. The site includes several thematic maps of the US. A street map and network map demos caused Netscape to crash. The site uses Java.
Zoom/Pan/Query: Yes. You can also query the database using a conditional statement, although this feature did not work when I tried it.
Layers: None that can be manipulated by the user
Metadata: None
Cartographic Elements: Has a legend. Missing scale, locator map, and coordinates. It is set up to easily add labels and coordinates.
Text: None, expect for promotional material about Active Maps.
Appearance: Poor, maps are fairly ugly. Categories for demographic maps are fixed, creating some maps with only two categories. The colors are OK, but could be improved.
Friendliness: Low
Title: Arc/Info Web Interface Demonstration
Author: Phil Massam
Organization: Univ. Of Edinburough
URL: http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/home/research/massam.html
Summary: A somewhat dated Arc/Info demonstration project. Users are taken through a series of steps to create a map. There is a separate page for each step. The maps do not have real data. The site often does not work. I could not get an actual map.
Zoom/Pan/Query: Can pan and zoom. Can not query.
Layers: The site has two data layers and two vector overlays that can be turned on and off. Users can change colors and line types of the vector layers.
Metadata: None, although there is detailed information about how the site was created.
Cartographic Elements: I could not create a map.
Text: Useful help section.
Appearance: Some of the pages could probably be combined to give the site a more consistent look.
Friendliness: High when it works.
Title: Arkansas Interactive Mapper.
Author: Amandi Quvalis
Organization: University of Arkansas, NASA
URL: http://www.cast.uark.edu/products/MAPPER/
Summary: The site leads users through "cook book" instructions to make maps of Arkansas. Users get to choose area to be mapped and layers. You can also choose colors of line and point layers and the size and resolution of the final map. The site uses GRASS. It is not especially interactive.
Zoom/Pan/Query: No
Layers: The site has 27 possible base layers, 60 possible vector overlays, and 59 point layers. Many of the layers are repeated.
Metadata: None
Cartographic Elements: Has a scale and coordinates, but no legend or locator map. Users can choose whether or not to have labels.
Text: Very good instructions. They take Users step by step through the map making process. Concepts are explained, but the data are not.
Appearance: Nice
Friendliness: High
Title: GIS Viewer
Organization: UC - Berkeley (Berkeley Digital Library)
URL: http://elib.cs.berkeley.edu/geo_data/
Summary: A Java-based interface with GRASS. The site displays a map of Northern California with a list of layers that can be turned on or off by clicking on them. The site is easy to use, but the query does not seem to be working. There is also a separate image map of California dams. The site caused Netscape to crash.
Zoom/Pan/Query: Zooms and pans very easily, simply by scrolling across the map with the mouse. Should be able to query and even do simple analysis, but that did not work when I tried it. Query works fine on the dams map.
Layers: The site has 22 layers that can be turned on and off. You can even have more than one raster map shown at a time, although it makes for a confusing map.
Metadata: Yes
Cartographic Elements: The map has a scale, coordinates, and a locator map. It is missing a legend and any sort of labels.
Text: Good explanations and documentation.
Appearance: Maps are nice, but the lack of a legend and not being able to query makes them useless at the moment.
Friendliness: Fair
Higher Functions: None, although should be able to do simple area calculations.
Title: Blue Skies
Author: Alan Steremberg and Christopher Schwerzler
Organization: University of Michigan
URL: http://cirrus.sprl.umich.edu/javaweather/
Summary: The site contains real-time weather maps of the US. Queries without having to actually click on the map.
Zoom/Pan/Query: Can partially zoom (actually toggles between regional and national scales), cannot pan. Queries very simply. Moving the mouse over a weather station automatically displays data on the screen.
Layers: None, could have eight. Currently they are separate maps.
Metadata: None
Cartographic Elements: The maps have a legend, but no scale or coordinates.
Text: Good introduction. No explanation of the data. Information section is planned for the site.
Appearance: Very nice.
Friendliness: High. Very intuitive, easy to use despite lack of instructions.
Higher Functions: Real-time data.
Multimedia: None, has plans for movies.
Title: BWCAW Map Server
Author: Steve Lime
Organization: University of Minnesota
URL: http://www.gis.umn.edu/bwcaw/mapping/mapit.html
Summary: The site creates maps of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in Northern Minnesota by accessing a GIS via a CGI script. It has nicer cartography than most of the -based sites.
Zoom/Pan/Query: Yes, can query information on lakes, portages, and campsites.
Layers: There are five layers of data users can overlay onto the basemap which contains boundaries and hydrography. Layers include roads, campsites, and portages.
Metadata: None, but there is documentation on how the site was made.
Cartographic Elements: Scale, coordinates, locator map, and labels are all present.
Text: The page has clear instruction on how to use the site and, like the ICE site, it explains GIS concepts. There is also a FAQ which answers basic questions about the site.
Appearance: Very nice maps.
Friendliness: High, the site is straightforward and easy to use.
Title: Caris
Organization: Universal Systems Ltd.
URL: http://universal.ca/new-index.html
Summary: The site contains several maps demonstrating the Caris Internet server. Examples include a road map of New Brunswick with some tourism info on it, parcel maps overlaid on air photos, and several maps that can be queried to determine what other maps are available for that point. Like most demonstration sites, there is not much real data here. The site uses frames.
Zoom/Pan/Query: Yes, maps use buttons to zoom and pan and control which database is being queried.
Layers: The tourism map has four layers that can be queried. Users cannot manipulate layers.
Metadata: None
Cartographic Elements: A Scale, Legend, and Coordinates are available for all maps. There are no locator maps.
Text: Good instructions on how to use the site. No explanation of data.
Appearance: Very nice.
Friendliness: High.
Title: City of Oakland
Organization: Oakland Community and Economic Development Agency
URL: http://199.35.5.101/index1.htm
Summary: The site has parcel maps of Oakland, CA with zoning information, not especially interactive. It uses ArcView and Map Objects.
Zoom/Pan/Query: Yes, can query parcels and get owner information and zoning codes. Can search on an address like a street atlas.
Layers: Users have no control over layers. The map includes some background layers (Roads, boundaries) and aerial photographs which the user can turn on and off.
Metadata: Zoning codes are explained, otherwise none.
Cartographic Elements: None
Text: Includes some explanation of the maps and a brief description of GIS. Also gives instructions on how to navigate through the maps.
Appearance: Very nice except for the lack of cartographic elements. Photos come through clearly.
Friendliness: High
Multimedia: Uses photos effectively
Title: City of Ontario
Author: Robert Flores
Organization: City of Ontario, CA
URL: http://gis.ci.ontario.ca.us/gis/index.htm
Summary: This site is somewhat similar to the Oakland site. It has a parcel map, city projects map, and a map showing polling places. They are not especially interactive. You can search on addresses. The site uses ArcView, Map Objects, and Java. It is hampered by having maps larger than a normal screen that cannot be resized. Part of the legend and pan tools are cut off and unusable. It probably works well on a screen that is 17" or larger.
Zoom/Pan/Query: Can zoom and pan. Can query and get extensive data on parcels. Cannot query projects. Can query polling places to get addresses.
Layers: None that can be controlled by the user. Only one layer can be queried on each map.
Metadata: None
Cartographic Elements: The map has a legend and locator map, although they are difficult to read because they are cut off by the edge of the screen. No scale or coordinates.
Text: None, except brief introduction.
Appearance: Nice, except for the sizing problem.
Friendliness: Fairly easy to use, but no instructions or explanations are given.
Title: Clinch River Environmental Restoration Program
Author: Bill Hargrove
Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
URL: http://www.esd.ornl.gov/programs/CRERP/INDEX.HTM
Summary: The site contains primarily static maps. It is included in the reviews because users can define a stream reach (by clicking on it) and create a video/flyby of the selected reach of stream.
Zoom/Pan/Query: No
Layers: Data layer contains samples of Cesium (shown as floating balls in the video). Background is from a DEM. Neither can be manipulated by the user.
Metadata: Yes
Cartographic Elements: None
Text: Data are explained, could use more instructions on how to use the site and the map could use some cartographic elements (especially a locator map).
Appearance: Videos look good. It is difficult to tell what you are seeing at first.
Friendliness: Good, although the site assumes you know Tennessee
Multimedia: Great animation.
Title: Cool Java Map Page
Author: Andrew Wick
Organization: Virginia Tech.
URL: http://maps.purple.org/map/
Summary: The site is a map based on the Digital Chart of the World. It is more interactive than most maps but is ugly. The map is Java based and can be manipulated by either the mouse or the keyboard. Users can also control the level of generalization (labeled as accuracy on the site).
Zoom/Pan/Query: You can easily zoom and pan. There is no database associated with the map, but you can query latitude/longitude or UTM locations of anywhere on the map. The map also includes URL locations that link to the site they represent.
Layers: There are four base layers, and labels and URL sites. Users can turn these on and of and change what color they are.
Metadata: The source of the data is given and documentation for the site is included, including source code.
Cartographic Elements: Does not have a scale. Legend is not on the map, but is visible when layers are changed. Labels and coordinates are present.
Text: Very little, source and documentation are on a separate page. No instructions, although there is a menu of possible keystrokes.
Appearance: Poor, produces a very ugly map due to lack of visual hierarchy and poor labeling. Labels overlap and are often nowhere near the object they are supposedly labeling. The black background does not help either.
Friendliness: Low
Title: Demographic Data Viewer
Organization: CIESIN
URL: http://sedac.ciesin.org/plue/ddviewer/
Summary: The site makes thematic maps from census data. It is easy to use and gives users a lot of control over what is mapped. Unfortunately it makes truly ugly maps.
Zoom/Pan/Query: No. Users do choose area and scale of the map via a CGI form. Users can pick county, state or county maps. Data can be mapped at five different scales from state to block group.
Layers: Hundreds of population census categories can be mapped. Users also choose number and type of categories.
Metadata: Yes, extensive documentation is available.
Cartographic Elements: None, except for a legend, which does not have real values on it.
Text: Good explanations and instructions.
Appearance: Poor. The maps can only use primary colors, making horrible maps.
Friendliness: High
Title: Dynamic Object Oriented GIS
Author: Peter Korp
Organization: Argonne National Laboratory
URL: http://doogis.dis.anl.gov/
Summary: A demonstration project in using OOGIS and Java to make a map. It does not have much content yet. There is a map of the US with various information displayed, but no legend, so it is not clear what is being mapped.
Zoom/Pan/Query: Yes, using Java applets. It works smoothly. Query gives distances to all objects within some radius. Object codes are not explained.
Layers: None that can be manipulated by the user. Appears to use TIGER base maps.
Metadata: None, although how the site is made is documented.
Cartographic Elements: None
Text: How to use the site and how it was created is clearly explained. The data are not explained at all.
Appearance: Fair
Friendliness: Easy to use, but not informative.
Title: Earth and Moon Viewer
Author: John Walker
URL: http://www.fourmilab.ch/earthview/vplanet.html
Summary: This is more of a remote sensing site than a mapping site. You can create impressive views of the Earth or the Moon from space. Users control the viewing perspective. You can choose the altitude above any user-defined point. You can also view the Earth as seen from any satellite. Users can change the date and time the Earth is being viewed (default is the present time).
Zoom/Pan/Query: Can zoom and pan. Can not query.
Layers: You can choose from five image mosaics, and can choose a map or orthographic perspective.
Metadata: Yes, extensive metadata and other documentation are available.
Cartographic Elements: Latitude and longitude coordinates of the center are given as well as the altitude. Legends are available for some of the images.
Text: Excellent explanation of both the data and the site.
Appearance: Excellent.
Friendliness: High
Higher Functions: Real-time data.
Title: Ecotourism Interactive GIS
Organization: Adelaide University
URL: http://www.gisca.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/eco/ecogis
Summary: This is a map of the "Green Triangle" region of South Australia (the SE corner) showing conservation areas and vegetation types. Users can query information about the different parks and reserves in the region. The site uses and CGI.
Zoom/Pan/Query: Yes, query does not access a database but links to more information about the park clicked on.
Layers: There are 14 layers users can turn on and off by using check boxes. These include hydrography, roads, parks and reserves, vegetation types, and labels.
Metadata: None
Cartographic Elements: The map has scale, legend, labels, UTM coordinates, and locator map. The scale changes as you zoom. Could use a larger locator map, for those not familiar with South Australia.
Text: Detailed instructions are given on how to navigate the site. Very little information about the data is given.
Appearance: Nice overall. The map itself could use some minor improvements (labels are hard to read).
Friendliness: Quite user-friendly, although someone not from South Australia might not know what they are looking at.
Multimedia: Query uses HTML links to connect to park management plans and aerial
photographs of the parks. So far there are only six of these links.
Title: ERIN
Organization: Department. of Environment, Sport & Territories
URL: http://www.erin.gov.au/database/db.html
Summary: The site uses imagemaps to access their database. There are several maps on the site, including a directory of environmental organizations and a habitat map. The site is not really interactive.
Zoom/Pan/Query: Can not zoom or pan. Can query.
Layers: None
Metadata: Yes
Cartographic Elements: Yes, the maps are excellent.
Text: Varies, some maps have good instructions while others do not have any.
Appearance: Excellent
Friendliness: Varies, the data directory maps are high. The habitat map is low, you need to know
the scientific names of species to make it work.
Title: ESRI Internet Mapping Solutions
Organization: ESRI
URL: http://www.esri.com/base/products/internetmaps/internetmaps.html
Summary: The initial page describes the purpose of interactive maps on the web and describes two ESRI products that help create them. They are the Map Objects and ArcView map servers. The site has several demonstrations of sites made with the servers. The three ArcView demos and one of the Map Objects demos did not work when I tried them. The remaining five demos are summarized below - since they are demonstration sites they are pretty light in terms of content. Much of the data has been made up just for the demonstration. 1) San Francisco Street Atlas - this site is similar to other street atlas sites which are reviewed later, but covers only downtown San Francisco. 2) Thematic Map Maker - makes simple thematic maps of states (mapping census data by county), users choose data layer, classification method, and number of classes. The maps are very ugly. 3) Toxic Release Inventory - Similar to the Friends of the Earth site, only for the US. The data are not as nicely presented or explained though and the maps are ugly. 4) Redlands, CA - Maps city improvement projects on a parcel map. You can query the map for a picture and information about the project. 5) King County (WA) Bus Itinerary - Maps the Seattle metro area public transportation systems and allows users to enter in a time, start point, and destination. The best route will be shown with text instructions on which buses to catch at what time. Most of the information below is about sites 4 and 5 as they are the most interesting. ESRI's site also contains links to other sites putting GIS on the Web using Map Objects, but these are reviewed separately.
Zoom/Pan/Query: Yes, all of the maps other than the thematic map maker can zoom, pan, and query.
Layers: All of the maps only have one layer, and background features. Users can not manipulate layers or display characteristics of any of the maps.
Metadata: None, except that the thematic mapping and toxic release maps list their sources.
Cartographic Elements: None
Text: Very little except for the initial page. Most of the demos would benefit from having more than minimal instructions. The Itinerary map is somewhat complex and was hurt the most by the lack of instructions.
Appearance: Quite disappointing. ESRI put most of their effort into showing what can be done and not much on making it look good. Most of the maps do not have any labels or legends, making them difficult to interpret. The thematic maps use color schemes that can place the darkest colors in the middle of what should be a light to dark progression. Maps are also not centered or balanced, making them look odd. The toxic release map needs more background features to help orient users.
Friendliness: As noted, some more instructions would help. The sites assume geographically literate users. The Itinerary map starts with a map of the entire state when the data only covers the Seattle area, forcing users to zoom in several times before they can see the bus routes.
Higher Functions: The Itinerary site is impressive in figuring out shortest routes and comparing them to bus schedules. It is one of the more potentially useful sites reviewed. As noted above it needs some help in terms of appearance and user-friendliness.
Multimedia: Queries on the Redlands site show actual photos of the city improvements
Title: Geocities, Lycos, Maps on Us, Yahoo
Organization: Commercial sites. Lycos, Maps on Us, and Yahoo are all based on maps by Etak Corp.
URL: http://www.geocities.com/BHI/geoviewer.html; http://www.proximus.com/lycos/; http://MapsOnUs.com/poc/maps.samplempa.html; http://www.proximus.com/yahoo/
Summary: These four sites which are almost identical. They are all street atlases which are almost the same as the Street Atlas CD-ROMs which are commercially available. They are all based on TIGER files and cover the whole US and can center on a town or a street address entered by the user. Geocities can also center on an Internet domain name. Yahoo can figure out itineraries for trips up to 1,000 miles.
Zoom/Pan/Query: Can zoom and pan, can not query.
Layers: None that can be manipulated.
Metadata: None
Cartographic Elements: None
Text: All have fairly simple, straightforward instructions.
Appearance: Nice, all are much more glossy looking than the other sites reviewed. They contain advertisements.
Friendliness: High
Title: GeoMedia
Organization: Intergraph
URL: http://www.intergraph.com/iss/geomedia/webmap/
Summary: This is a demonstration site for Intergraph's Internet server. It requires a separate Netscape plug-in to view the maps. The site contains three demos, one of which is operational. That is a parcel map of Huntsville, AL. This is the only site cited by other Web site designers as poorly designed.
Zoom/Pan/Query: Zooms using the mouse. Can not pan. Can query the parcel database by typing in an address.
Layers: None that can be manipulated. Map just shows streets and address numbers.
Metadata: None
Cartographic Elements: None
Text: Almost none other than promotional information about their plug-in.
Appearance: Frame intensive. The map is OK, but small due to frames. The lack of cartographic elements make it difficult to interpret.
Friendliness: Low
Title: Grasslinks for the AGCDC
Author: Simon Cox
Organization: Australian Geodynamics Cooperative Research Centre
URL: http://www.ned.dem.csiro.au/AGCRC/4dgm/grasslinks/
Summary: The site contains geologic maps of Australia. It uses GRASS and HTML. Users choose a raster base map and any desired vector and point layer overlays. The site uses lists to pick layers so you can only pick more than one if they are adjacent in the list. Users also choose the region of map, map size, and colors.
Zoom/Pan/Query: Yes, can zoom and pan. Can query the raster base map.
Layers: The database has 20 raster layers, 28 vector layers, and 8 point layers to choose from. Users control the colors of the vector and point layers.
Metadata: Sources of data are given.
Cartographic Elements: The map has a scale, legend, and coordinates. There is no locator map.
Text: Very little. There are some instructions. There is no explanation of the data.
Appearance: Nice, but could use a locator map.
Friendliness: Low, maps would be confusing to anyone who is not a geologist.
Title: Great Lakes Map Server
Organization: EPA/CIESIN
URL: http://epawww.ciesin.org/arc/map-home.html
Summary: This map accesses three EPA datasets for the US portion of the Great Lakes basin. The site is and CGI-based.
Zoom/Pan/Query: Zooming takes two separate pages, one to choose each corner of the desired map extent. The map does not pan or zoom out (except by starting over). Can query the Permit Compliance System database getting the name and address of the site. Can not query the other databases.
Layers: Has six layers of geographic features plus the three site layers which users can turn on and off through check boxes.
Metadata: None
Cartographic Elements: None
Text: Good explanation of how to zoom in and choose a map extent and categories. Does not explain the data at all.
Appearance: Pretty plain, maps are very simple.
Friendliness: Good, although the zooming could be streamlined and the data could use some
explanation.
Title: IDGIS
Author: Yew Choo
Organization: Texas A&M University
URL: http://starr-www.tamu.edu/choo/idgis/intro.html
Summary: This is a demonstration project using Java and ArcView. It is badly in need of a locator map. The site sometimes causes Netscape to crash.
Zoom/Pan/Query: Yes.
Layers: Users have a choice of six layers which can be turned on and off. Only one can be queried at a time.
Metadata: None
Cartographic Elements: Has a scale and coordinates. Needs a legend and locator map.
Text: Explains how to use the site, but does not explain data.
Appearance: Fair
Friendliness: Fair, easy if you already know GIS.
Title: ICEMAPS
Author: Harvey Chinn and Karen Beardsley
Organization: Information Center for the Environment (ICE)
URL: http://ice.ucdavis.edu/ice_maps/
Summary: The site contains statewide maps of California showing various environmentally related data. The site did not really work when I tried it. The site has a limited number of Arc/Info licenses which prevent access to the maps most of the time.
Zoom/Pan/Query: You can zoom by entering latitude, longitude coordinates for the desired map extent or by picking preset regions off of lists (100+ available).
Layers: Users choose which of 27 layers are mapped via check boxes.
Metadata: Extensive
Cartographic Elements: Has a legend and coordinates, but is missing a scale and locator map.
Text: Has the nicest and clearest instructions of any of the sites reviewed. Explains GIS in general as well as the specific site. Users can change the level of help offered.
Appearance: Nice, but could not access detailed maps.
Friendliness: Extremely high.
Title: Interactive Pollution Mapping
Organization: Friends of the Earth (UK)
URL: http://www.foe.co.uk/cri/html/postcode.html
Summary: The site creates large scale maps of England showing chemical release sites. The site is and CGI-based.
Zoom/Pan/Query: Yes, can create a map by zooming in from a small scale map of England or by entering in a postcode. Can pan but can not zoom back out. Query accesses the Chemical Release Inventory, which is an annual report of the names and amounts of all toxic releases.
Layers: Only one database layer, the data are nicely presented and explained. Geographic features are very general (roads, counties, urban areas). None of the layers can be manipulated.
Metadata: None on the site, but the source of the data is listed and the limitations of the data are discussed at length in a narrative format.
Cartographic Elements: None, but the towns are labeled.
Text: Has an instructional page before you get to the map describing how to zoom and query.
Appearance: Nice, but quite basic.
Friendliness: Very simple, easy to use. Sometimes the map does not work, particularly with
slower connections.
Title: IRIS
Author: Nathalia and Gennady Andrienko
Organization: Pushchino State University
URL: http://allanon.gmd.de/and/and.html
Summary: This is a demonstration of the IRIS Internet Server. It uses CIA world book data to map thematic maps of Europe. The site allows users to view and manipulate the database, choosing exactly what is to be mapped. Users do not have much control over map appearance. The site is very slow and the demos often do not work (also includes Russian forestry and City of Bonn examples I could not get to work). The server opens many new sessions which can rapidly clutter your screen.
Zoom/Pan/Query: No
Layers: Databases include many categories that can be mapped. Only one can be displayed at a time.
Metadata: Yes, also includes documentation on IRIS and on how the site was created.
Cartographic Elements: Has a legend, no scale or coordinates.
Text: Yes, extensive instructions and explanations are present. There are translated from German, making it difficult to follow at some points.
Appearance: Nice when it works. The maps look OK. Cluttering is a problem, although users have some control over this by which datasets they choose.
Friendliness: Fair, users have to actually read the instructions to figure out what is going on. Easy for someone already familiar with GIS.
Higher Functions: Only site to really let users manipulate database.
Title: Java Interactive Routing for Minneapolis
Author: Andrew Fetterer
Organization: University of Minnesota
URL: http://www.cs.umn.edu/research/shashi-group/routing/index.html
Summary: This is a Java-based map of Minneapolis. The map is supposed to calculate the shortest route between an origin and destination chosen by the user. It did not really work when I tried it. The route was displayed on the map, but driving instructions were not given. The site would be more useful if intersections could be entered by typing in names, rather than clicking on them.
Zoom/Pan/Query: No
Layers: None that can be manipulated.
Metadata: None
Cartographic Elements: None
Text: Includes good instructions on how to use the site and has explanation of how site works.
Appearance: Poor, produces very ugly maps. There are no visual hierarchy or background features to help users orient themselves.
Friendliness: Low
Title: Java SDV
Author: Bill Thornton
Organization: Ohio EPA
URL: http://chagrin.epa.ohio/JavaSDV/
Summary: This site has two types of maps. The Java-based maps of Ohio and a sample watershed map did not have any data available when I tried them. There is also a CGI-based map of Ohio that partially works.
Zoom/Pan/Query: Can zoom on the Java maps, there are plans to be able to zoom on the CGI map. Can not pan or query.
Layers: CGI map has 10 layers that can be turned on and off.
Metadata: Yes
Cartographic Elements: None except for a legend.
Text: Not much that is helpful. There are some describing plans for the future. The Java map needs instructions.
Appearance: Poor
Friendliness: Low
Title: Java shpClient
Author: Steve Lime
Organization: University of Minnesota
URL: http://www.gis.umn.edu/fornet/java/shpclient/
Summary: This is an experimental Java site of downtown St. Paul, MN. This site is not very interactive yet. Users can zoom, pan and turn layers on and off. Steve Lime also designed the BWCAW site.
Zoom/Pan/Query: Can zoom and pan, no query. Query abilities are planned in the future.
Layers: Has six layers that can be turned on and off by check boxes.
Metadata: Yes.
Cartographic Elements: Has a legend. No scale or coordinates.
Text: Not much yet, a brief introduction explaining what is planned for the site.
Appearance: Fair
Friendliness: Fair, not much here yet.
Multimedia: One of the layers is a TM image of the area.
Title: Mapblast
Organization: Vicinity Corp.
Summary: This is another street atlas site, it is also based on maps from Etak. It is similar to the Yahoo and Lycos sites, but with a few more options. Like other street atlases, the site creates maps centered on a user-defined address or street intersection. The site allows users to choose from four different styles for their map. You can calculate routes between points, using one of three algorithms. When I tried this, the calculated route used nonexistent highway exits.
Zoom/Pan/Query: Can zoom and pan easily. Can not query.
Layers: None that can be manipulated.
Metadata: None
Cartographic Elements: None, except for labels.
Text: Very little, but the site is fairly intuitive.
Appearance: Maps are OK, but are hurt by the lack of cartographic elements. Labels are hard to read in places.
Friendliness: High
Title: Map-it
Author: Rich Signell
Organization: USGS
URL: http://crusty.er.usgs.gov/mapit/index.html
Summary: This is a very simple site. It makes maps based on latitude and longitude coordinates entered by the user. It is based on GMT (Generic Mapping Tools).
Zoom/Pan/Query: No
Layers: None
Metadata: None
Cartographic Elements: Has coordinates and scale. No legend.
Text: Has a good, brief explanation.
Appearance: Good maps, not much to them.
Friendliness: High, although not as nice as the Xerox server.
Title: Mapquest
Organization: GeoSystems Global Corp.
Summary: This is the best of the street atlas sites. The site has worldwide coverage. The scale available varies but goes down to street level for the U.S., Canada and most of Europe. The site allows users to zoom in from a world map, as well as centering on addresses. Like other sites it can calculate routes (U.S. only). It can also add points of interest to the map (worldwide). The site allows users to modify parameters of the route algorithm (such as whether to favor or avoid highways). The algorithm seemed to work better than the one at the Mapblast site. The site has HTML, Java, and Active X versions. In terms of how much it is used, this is probably the most popular site reviewed.
Zoom/Pan/Query: Can zoom and pan. Can query points of interest.
Layers: Has 14 categories of points of interests which can be added to the map, most of which also have subcategories. Includes things like recreation, banking, health care, etc. Uses pictographic icons so the points can be identified, even without a legend.
Metadata: None
Cartographic Elements: Has a scale and labels. Lacks a legend and coordinates.
Text: Some, mostly hints on how to find places.
Appearance: Maps look nicer than the other street atlas sites. Labels are easier to read. It could use a legend. The map can get very cluttered if you turn on too many of the points of interest.
Friendliness: High, very intuitive.
Title: Murray Basin Hydrogeology
Author: Prame Chopra
Organization: Australian Geological Survey
URL: http://www.agso.gov.au/map/mb_make_map.html
Summary: The site contains a map of a watershed. It is based on Arc/Info and uses CGI for forms. It needs a locator map.
Zoom/Pan/Query: Can zoom and pan. Can query the salinity yield base map.
Layers: Has five layers, can display up to three at a time. Users can turn layers on and off and can choose the color of the layer.
Metadata: None
Cartographic Elements: Missing Locator map and scale. Has coordinates. Has a legend, but it is on a separate page from the map.
Text: Almost none.
Appearance: Fair
Friendliness: Poor, almost no explanation.
Title: NAIS
Author: Glen Newton
Organization: Canadian National Atlas Information Service
URL: http://ellesmere.ccm.emr.ca/naismap/naismap.html
Summary: The site creates a map of Canada from layers chosen by the user. It uses a program custom written for the site.
Zoom/Pan/Query: No, users pick a province or the entire nation to map from a list.
Layers: You can choose from 30 layers to map and picks colors and shading of the layers. Unfortunately can only map one map at a time unless they are adjacent in the list because there is no way to pick more than one off the list. This may be a browser problem rather than a site problem, check boxes work better. Layers available include basic geographic features (rivers, roads, boundaries), stream flows, wetlands, geologic data, demographic data, and the ranges of a wide variety of wildlife.
Metadata: None
Cartographic Elements: None
Text: Almost none
Appearance: Very nice, but the lack of any cartographic elements is a problem. Could also use better control over layers so that users can choose background features.
Friendliness: It is fairly easy, but there are not any instructions or explanations at all. Assumes
you already know how a GIS works.
Title: Online Map Creation
Author: Martin Weinelt
URL: http://www.aquarius.geomar.de/omc/omc_intro.html
Summary: This is another GMT site. It is a little more sophisticated than the Map-it page. It makes a simple map based on latitude and longitude coordinates entered by the user. Users can turn on and off layers and can choose the projection.
Zoom/Pan/Query: No
Layers: There are five Layers that can be turned on and off via check boxes, more layers are planned for the future. Users can also add points by entering in coordinates for them.
Metadata: Yes
Cartographic Elements: Has scale and coordinates. Does not have a legend. Labels can be added.
Text: Yes, good explanations and instructions.
Appearance: High
Friendliness: High
Title: Pennsylvania Statistics
Author: Ian Bowles
Organization: Pennsylvania State University
URL: http://www.maproom.psu.edu/cbp/
Summary: The site makes simple thematic maps of Pennsylvania by county. It is not especially interactive. The site uses CGI, users input parameters for the map.
Zoom/Pan/Query: No
Layers: Over 60 categories of census data can be mapped, these are subdivided into even more categories. Only one can be mapped at a time.
Metadata: Source is given.
Cartographic Elements: Has a legend, missing scale and coordinates.
Text: Short, clear instructions on how to use the site and where the data come from. Data are not explained, users are referred to the Census Bureau.
Appearance: Fair
Friendliness: High
Title: Regio Data
Author: Harm Verbeek
URL: http://www.pi.net/~hverbeek/server_gis.html
Summary: This is a GIS site of the Rotterdam area using Java. It makes thematic maps at the neighborhood level. It is still very much under construction so it is not particularly useful yet. The site does not have any real data yet.
Zoom/Pan/Query: Can not zoom or pan. Can query.
Layers: Can choose variable to be mapped from several databases, no real data yet.
Metadata: None
Cartographic Elements: Has a legend. Missing scale, coordinates, and a title. Have to dig a bit just to find out it is supposed to be Rotterdam.
Text: Contains a help file which explains what is planned for the site.
Appearance: Lack of cartographic elements is a serious problem, there are no clues as to where the map is located. Thematic maps look OK otherwise. Users are given control of the colors used.
Friendliness: Not really operational yet.
Title: REGIS/Grasslinks
Author: Susan Huse
Organization: UC-Berkeley
URL: http://regis.berkeley.edu/grasslinks/index.html
Summary: This is an extensive site that gives users access to a GIS covering the San Francisco Bay Region. This is the closest to a 'true GIS' available on the web and is the only site giving users access to GIS analysis tools like buffering and overlay. The GIS combines data from a large number of sources including: San Francisco Estuary Project, Bay Conservation and Development Commission, Regional Water Quality Control Board, Delta Protection Commission, and various other state agencies. Some layers cover northern California or the entire state, while others are limited to specific watersheds. The site is based on GRASS, a public domain GIS.
Zoom/Pan/Query: Yes can pan and zoom, and can query on 57 different layers.
Layers: Has 57 possibilities for a base (raster) layer and 50 possibilities (many the same layers) for vector overlays and one layer of sites. The user chooses the colors of the layers and the region to be mapped. The layers are chosen off of lists which has the same problem as on the NAIS map (can not pick more than one unless they are adjacent). There is also a new beta version which allows the user to pick the base map from a menu like list of layers with a small map of the layer along with the name and description. There are not as many layers with this option.
Metadata: Extensive, including documentation and source code for GRASSlinks and explains how the site is created.
Cartographic Elements: None, except for a legend which can be added if you only have one or two layers. You can also find the latitude and longitude of a point by querying it.
Text: Good explanations of the data and some instructions for using the site. Assumes some GIS knowledge.
Appearance: Very nice, the beta version is especially impressive. The maps look good, but as with NAIS the lack of cartographic elements is a problem.
Friendliness: Site might be a bit complex for someone not familiar with GIS. While the site is easy to use, users may not understand what they are doing.
Higher Functions: You can calculate areas, reclass, combine and buffer data to create custom maps. Some of these may be hard to figure out if you are not familiar with GRASS. This is the only site I found that has these analysis functions.
Multimedia: Includes air photos as a possible layer.
Title: Spatial Net
Organization: Object/FX Corp.
URL: http://www.objectfx.com/products/spatlnet.html
Summary: This is a demonstration of an object oriented Internet server. Like other demonstration sites it does not have any real data. It contains medical and realty information on a street map of a fictional city. Users pick a point and enter a search radius and choose what to search for (type of medical facility or house wanted). Any items found will be placed on the map and can then be queried for further information. Database information has links to further databases such as doctors or community services near the chosen site. Community services can then be mapped and also queried.
Zoom/Pan/Query: Can pan and zoom. Can query nine types of medical facilities and eight types community services. House searches are based on criteria entered by user (number of bedrooms, bathrooms, square feet, and price). The second demo is of a Sprint telephone network which shows "problem sites," which can be clicked on to determine the nature of the problem, who is being impacted, etc.
Layers: Users can toggle between medical and realty info, but do not really have control of layers. Only one layer on the Sprint map.
Metadata: None
Cartographic Elements: Has a legend, no scale or coordinates.
Text: Clear "cook book" instructions are present. Not much explanation though.
Appearance: Nice. Street map looks a lot better than the Sprint map.
Friendliness: Very intuitive, easy to use.
Multimedia: Really makes use of links within links. The map is always "active." Links include
photos of houses, medical facilities.
Title: TAGIS
Author: Jamie Leonard
Organization: West Virginia Department of Environmental Planning
URL: http://poca.osmre.gov/form/index.html
Summary: This is an extensive site with an interactive map of West Virginia containing a variety of environmental quality related sites. Users can center the map on a chosen street address, watershed, USGS quad, town, school, church, stream, reservoir, airport, cemetery, dam, or hospital. The site is Arc/Info based and has a java and a non-Java version. The site is frames intensive.
Zoom/Pan/Query: Yes, the map starts with a state map and can zoom in to city street level. Contains eleven databases of environmentally related sites, all of which can be queried.
Layers: Contains 13 geographic feature layers which can be turned on and off via check boxes, as well as the 11 site layers (which can also be turned on and off). One of the layers is relief shading.
Metadata: Yes
Cartographic Elements: Missing a scale, but has legend, labels, and a locator map of West Virginia.
Text: Good explanations of the data, could use some more instructions.
Appearance: Very nice.
Friendliness: Good, although it is easy to get lost in the site. Not all of the site data are in the same place. The interactive map can be accessed from several points, not all of which have the same options.
Multimedia: Animation, can do "flybys" over a few selected locations.
Title: Thematic Mapping System
Author: William Yates
Organization: US Census Bureau
URL: http://www.census.gov/themapit/www/
Summary: This is another site making thematic maps from demographic data. Not as versatile in terms of setting the scale as the Demographic Data Viewer site, but it has much more data and makes nicer maps.
Zoom/Pan/Query: No, can toggle between National and State maps. Values are shown in a separate chart.
Layers: Has over 3000 variables that can be mapped from the 1980 and 1990 population census. Users can combine variables to map ratios, percentages and change over time. This ability makes a site a little more useful than other sites mapping demographic data.
Metadata: Yes
Cartographic Elements: None, except for a legend.
Text: Excellent explanations of data. Instruction for using the site are sparse.
Appearance: Very nice.
Friendliness: High
Higher Functions: You can enter equations for the variable to be mapped.
Title: TIGER
Author: Chris Stuber and Brandon Plewe
Organization: US Census Bureau
URL: http://tiger.census.gov/cgi-bin/mapbrowse-tbl
Summary: This is one of the most extensive mapping sites on the Web. It accesses TIGER files and census data. The site works like most of the street atlas sites, but gives users much more control over the map.
Zoom/Pan/Query: Can zoom and pan and can search by town or zip code. Covers the entire US. Does not query.
Layers: There are 21 layers that can be turned on and off via check boxes by the user. You can also map one of 18 census data categories as a thematic layer (two classification methods available, automatically uses six classes). Users can also add their own symbols (16 available) to the map, either by clicking on the map or entering latitude/longitude coordinates.
Metadata: Extensive Metadata available on the Census Bureau's home page. Also includes extensive documentation on how the Web site was created and how to use TIGER files on personal Web sites.
Cartographic Elements: Includes an adjustable scale, legend, labels, and coordinates. There is no locator map, although users do have the option of zooming out to the entire US (Washington, DC area is the starting map).
Text: Includes instructions and a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) list.
Appearance: Impressive, looks very professionally done. Map is of high quality.
Friendliness: High, the site is very clearly laid out and easy to use despite the large number of
options available to the user.
Title: Traffic Net
Organization: Vauxhall
URL: http://www.vauxhall.co.uk/trnet/tn-finfo.htm
Summary: This is a real-time traffic map of southern England. It shows the major highways and where traffic problems are. The site uses the Shockwave plug-in.
Zoom/Pan/Query: Can not zoom, but pans very simply by moving the mouse across the map. Does not query.
Layers: None
Metadata: None
Cartographic Elements: Has a locator map, which can be turned off to get a bigger traffic map. Does not have scale or coordinates. Does have a Legend.
Text: Brief, but clear instructions on how to use the site.
Appearance: Good.
Friendliness: High.
Multimedia: Real-time data.
Title: Twin Cities Traffic Maps
Organization: Minnesota Department of Transportation
URL: http://www.traffic.connects.com/
Summary: This is a real-time traffic map for the Twin Cities freeways. It is not particularly interactive, but you can zoom and pan.
Zoom/Pan/Query: Can zoom and pan, can not query.
Layers: None that can be manipulated
Metadata: Yes
Cartographic Elements: None, although the site is well labeled.
Text: Very little, but does explain where the data comes from.
Appearance: Fair
Friendliness: High, site is easy to use. Not much to mess up.
Multimedia: Real-time data.
Title: Virginia County Interactive Mapper
Organization: University of Virginia
URL: http://www.lib.virginia.edu/gic/mapper/tigermap.html
Summary: The site generates maps of Virginia counties based on TIGER files. Users pick which county and what geographic features are to be displayed.
Zoom/Pan/Query: Can zoom in, can not pan or query.
Layers: There are 19 layers, in addition to the county base layer. Users choose which layers to display via check boxes.
Metadata: Yes
Cartographic Elements: Has a legend and labels. Lacks a scale, locator map, and coordinates.
Text: There is a nice introductory page that explains how to use the site and explains TIGER files.
Appearance: Nice and simple, maps look good.
Friendliness: Very user-friendly.
Title: Virtual Tourist
Author: Brandon Plewe
Organization: Kinesava Geographics
URL: http://www.vtourist.com/webmap/
Summary: This is one of many sites with image maps which contains links to other sites. It was one of the first and is still probably the best of the simple imagemaps. Virtual Tourist covers the entire world. There are other similar, more localized sites. This is the most common type of interactive map on the Internet.
Zoom/Pan/Query: Can zoom in but can not zoom back out or pan. Query links you to other sites.
Layers: None
Metadata: None
Cartographic Elements: None
Text: Varies
Appearance: Good
Friendliness: High
Title: VISA ATM Locator
Organization: VISA Corp.
URL: http://www.visa.com/
Summary: The site creates street maps based on a user-defined address in the U.S. or Canada. It shows the three nearest ATM locations and some information about them. The site uses Map Objects. It is not especially interactive.
Zoom/Pan/Query: Can not pan or query. Can zoom, but is limited to re-centering the map on one of the ATM locations.
Layers: None
Metadata: None
Cartographic Elements: None
Text: Almost none, although it does not require much.
Appearance: Good enough for the specific application of finding an ATM. Lack of cartographic elements and the ability to zoom would make it difficult to figure out where you are if you do not already know.
Friendliness: High
Title: GIS-VIS in a VRML World, Real Cites in Virtual Reality, Virtual San Francisco
Organization: Varies
URL: http://www.epa.gov/gisvis/vrml/; http://www.intoronto.com/; http://www.planet9.com/sfmodel.htm
Summary: I have grouped the VRML sites together because they are very similar to each other. VRML sites are a simple form of virtual reality. Generally they are user-controlled "flybys" of a given 3D scene. While they are spatial representations, it is difficult to include any cartographic elements. Although few do, it is possible to query within a VRML page and links to other pages can be embedded in the scene. VRML could possibly be combined with Java to create very interactive scenes. Many VRML sites still have bugs and cause Netscape to crash.
Zoom/Pan/Query: Yes. If query is present, it is automatic, simply move the mouse over the object to be queried.
Layers: Usually only one. Can not manipulate data, but can change viewpoint.
Metadata: None
Cartographic Elements: None
Text: Varies
Appearance: Interesting views, although the resolution is often crude.
Friendliness: Varies
Multimedia: Virtual reality
Title: Weather Visualizer
Author: Steve Hall
Organization: University of Illinois
URL: http://covis.almos.uiuc.edu/covis/visualizer
Summary: The site contains real-time weather maps of the US, similar to the Blue Skies site. Includes all layers on one map. The database is more extensive then the Blue Skies site. There are Java and non-Java versions of the site.
Zoom/Pan/Query: Can toggle between National and Regional scales. Can query, will display data for nearest weather station. Three different data reports are available.
Layers: Includes nine layers which users turn on and off using check boxes.
Metadata: None
Cartographic Elements: Includes coordinates. No legend, scale, or labels.
Text: Extensive instructions on how to use the site and explanations of the data are present. Even includes section on how to interpret radar and other satellite images.
Appearance: Very nice
Friendliness: High, very intuitive and easy to use despite lack of cartographic elements. Extensive text helps.
Multimedia: Real-time data, includes satellite imagery.
Title: Xerox Parc Map Viewer
Author: Steve Putz
Organization: Xerox Palo Alto Research Center
URL: http://mapweb.parc.xerox.com/map
Summary: This site that allows the creation of simple base maps anywhere in the world. It is somewhat similar to the GMT-based sites, although it offers more control over the maps than they do. This site uses a custom written program.
Zoom/Pan/Query: Can zoom and pan, there are no data layers to query. Can zoom in on a place name if it is in the Geographic Names Server.
Layers: Maps contain only boundaries, rivers, and graticule. Can change colors and what projection is used (four projections possible).
Metadata: Source is listed and has detailed documentation on how the site was created.
Cartographic Elements: None, except coordinates. Does not really need them though.
Text: None on the opening page, but there is an extensive FAQ which explains how the map is created.
Appearance: Nice and simple.
Friendliness: Very friendly, it is a straightforward site. There is not much to mess up.