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1.1.3. Web Mapping

Web mapping is viewing geographic information over the World Wide Web, including the presentation of general purpose maps to display locations and geographic backdrops. Web mapping is mainly used for tasks such as planning trips, determining geographical positions, finding landmarks, and obtaining addresses (Whatis.com). But they can be used for much more tasks as well.

Organisations and companies have been providing online mapping services for years. The first well-known web mapping service was MapQuest which was launched in 1996. Since then, several other Internet companies, including Google and Yahoo, have come online with mapping services.

Web Mapping Service Google MapsWeb Mapping Service Google Maps (GoogleMaps)

Most of these web mapping systems have been implemented as a set of proprietary systems. As a result of this isolated development, online mapping services from different vendors cannot interoperate.

Here comes OGC into play: to address the interoperating problems, OGC developed a non-proprietary Web mapping approach based on open interfaces, encodings, and schemas.

You will learn more about these non-proprietary web mapping approaches within this lesson.



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