The advent of Google Maps and its’ competitors has lead to a growing awareness and use of interactive, on-line maps. However, although these services are free for “free access” websites, commercial, internal and closed websites pay for Google Enterprise on a sliding scale starting at around $10 000.
MAPexchange is designed to meet the requirements of commercial users without the high costs. In addition, it expands on the functionality provided by the competitors. MAPexchange consists of two elements; a data service whereby users will be able to access maps, data, imagery and interactive mapping tools through the MAPexchange portal, and a development interface which allows these maps and tools to be embedded in your own website and combined with business specific data.
Data and mapping is currently restricted to South Africa, but will neighbouring countries are available on request. Additional data layers will be added in the future to provide a richer mapping environment. Paul Storry, a director of Quartex technologies, explains who will benefit. “The MAPexchange API can be used as broadly as your imagination allows. Some user’s will only want to mark their premises on a map, others will wish to utilise all the functionality from routing and location services to integration with ERP data and business intelligence.
Thus MAPexchange can be applied to virtually any business or industry sector where location is of interest, from property and tourism to engineering.” Some of the features available are: - “find the nearest” to a given point - Point to point routing and driving directions - Loading of business point, line and polygon information - Street and suburb searches - Online addition of features such as points lines and polygons - Display of various South African data sets including topography and street data.
The cost of the service will be dependant on the functionality required. Quartex technologies is a IT services company focussing on the provision of geographic and location solutions for the web and mobile devices.
Contact details: Quartex technologies can be contacted through the web site www.mapexchange.co.za