Geographic Information System is a system intends to capture, Store, manage, manipulate, analyze the data. GIS system integrate data and convert it into maps. And as we know visuals are more powerful than words so it makes our understanding of data fast.
What is GIS ?
GIS is a tool to acquire geographic data and produce Geographic information. And generally those information are stored in tabular form. GIS can be defined as a “computer information system that can input, store, manipulate, analyze, and display geographically referenced (spatial) data to support decision making processes”.
Simply GIS visualize your data as a map. And these visualization makes the study interesting with interactive maps. It saves the time and make the system decisiveness that is main requirement.
Google Maps has been proving itself since very long, Google Map is one of a kind, location search engine. Google Maps is the location search engine which is laced with the long list of the features . Google maps offers the best ever features to its users. Starting from the navigation they have now reached up to a very big level and advanced features. Now in addition they have allowed their users to make their maps and share them with the other users. My Maps – Maps Explorer are the very useful features offered by Google Maps to its users.
This Feature can be used on the web platforms . Google Maps My Maps – Maps explorer features are very useful for the people who are travel freak or may be for the people who loves to know about the different locations of the different countries.
Explore Maps Story – Google Map Explorer
The Maps in the explore section of the My Maps features are the ones which are made by the people across the globe and have shared it.
To explore the Maps across the world all you need to do is to follow the below steps:
Open the Google Maps on web platform and login to it.
Tap on the Hamburger button located at the left of search tab.
After tapping on the Hamburger button scroll it down and you will see ‘your Places‘ option.
Tap on ‘your Places’ option .
once you open your places you will find four option ,tap on the last one that is ‘Maps’.
Tap on the Maps and you will get ‘see your Maps’ option, tap on it.
Once you open the explore option you can see the maps created and shared over there. Or you can directly open following link if you are already login, you can check the map explorer.
Explore Google Map more features. This is just one feature of My Maps from Google Maps. Google Maps allows you to create your customized apps. So,there are more features to your ease offered by Google Maps.
We all know how much Google has put efforts to make Google Maps the biggest location search engine. Google Maps provide us with so many features like add stop, master navigation, voice navigation, it also helps us to download offline area over wifi such that it will help you to limit your data usage and helps you to save a few bucks. Google maps now allow you to make your own map also as the map maker is graduating to google maps.
Map makers getting close
Earlier Google Maps were not so common to people , but now everyone knows what google maps are and how can they help us to go to some places, malls, nearby shops and what not. Google map also allows us to make our own map by marking the locations or places you had been to or by making the groups of the places which can help you later to look over the locations.
Map makers graduating to google maps in March 2017
This map maker feature of Google maps is expected to be closed by March 2017. Map maker feature of Google maps allow you to mark your favorite restaurants, or maybe your favorite club and resorts or it could be anything.
Google map maker has shifted to Google maps as they are adding one more feature to Google maps , now users can easily add a place, add information about the place or can edit the existing information about the place, moderate the edits and of course you can also see the status of your edits.
one can continue contributing to the google maps about the local knowledge by joining Localguide community , which can earn you points and rewards for submitting edits and providing other information.
So people , now backup your map maker data before it gets Graduate to Google maps.
So, from April onwards we will not be able to mark our own map or grouping the different entities with different makers on Map Maker.
Google maps are now providing us with the Few more additional features in addition to the long list of the Features . Now , we have Save ,Label and Share options in Google Maps. Google maps is providing a new feature every fortnight to its users, adding to it this time they have updated the Google Maps with new options like Save ,Label and share.
Save, Label and Share Location on Google Map
Now, while using Google Maps you should remember that now you can save any place that you have been to and liked it most such that you can use it in future , Moreover if You find any location and want to give your customized name to it you can do that by labeling it, and suppose if you want to share your location or any other place you can do that as well.
Google Maps now allow you to Save, Share and label any location. This feature of Google Maps can also be used on web platforms as well rather than Google Maps mobile application. Google Map also provides direct way to share location or direction to your Android or iOS mobile app.
Lets Check Save, Label and Share Location on Google Map:
open the app in your phone.
Look for any XYZ location , you can either search it or can take your current location. Or with the help of Nearby feature of Google Map you can search for the desired location.
Tap on the card that gets open for that location.
once you open that card you will see few options there, they are Save,share and call.
For saving the location tap on the star button and it will turn yellow that means the location has been saved.
You will find a Share button near to save button , tap on that button and you will get the sharing options for sharing that particular location
The last but not the least is the option for Labeling the location or giving name to any location.
you will get the ‘Label’ option when you open the location card.
Once you open the location card you will see three vertical dots above the card .
Tap on these three vertical dots and the first option you will see is ‘add label’.
Tap on add label and you can give a name to it.
Now that you have already done labeling and saving part, so now you will see the location card is showing ‘saved and labelled’ for that particular location.
Now that we have learnt how to use these features in Google Maps application , let us see how we can do it on the web platform.
Save, Label and Share Location on Google Web Map application
You already know how to use these features in Mobile application , but lets say you are in the office can not use phone in front of the boss , then Google Maps web Platform will help you use these features .
Lets check how to use these features on web:
open Google Maps on the desktop and sign in to it.
Tap on the current location or search for any location.
once the card opens for that location you will see options like save,share,send to phone and Nearby.
when you tap on save it will be saved such that you can use it in future.
You can share it by tapping on the share button.
Moreover, you can also send the location to your phone, and also search for the nearby places of that location.
So this is how we can use all these features Of Google Maps. Save,Share and Label Features can help one to save location for future and can share locations with others through different kind of means, and lastly you can also add labels to the locations.
How this article was helpful for you do let us know by commenting below in the comment box.
Google is one of the biggest search engine and Google maps are also one of the biggest location search engine.Google Maps are helping the people worldwide through their services and making them travel easily with different Routing options. Here we have given a brief description of Making Routes with option like – Avoid Tolls, ferries, Highways or Motorways in between route.
Google maps allow you to use your voice for navigation, allows you to measure distance and time, you can add stop in between your route, you can find the local favorites nearby you, you can rate and review the places nearby you, and what not.
In addition to it Google maps has also introduced one more feature that helps you to avoid any route which may consists of ferries,tolls, highways. Check all features, tips and tricks of Google Map.
Google Maps – Routing – Avoid Tolls, ferries, Highways or Motorways
For avoiding ferries,tolls,highways or motorways you can follow the below mentioned steps:
Open the Google maps phone application in your phone.
Tap on the directions button.
Once you tap on the directions button it will ask you to fill up your current location and destination.
Fill up the current location and destination
Beside the location bars you will find 3 vertical dots.
Tap on those dots.
In the bottom you will find the ‘Route Options’.
Tap on the route options and you will see some options with checkbox.
check the box for any option you want.
If you want to avoid motorways then check the box for it.
2. if you want to avoid tolls then check the box for tolls.
3. if you want to avoid the ferries check the box for ferries
or if you want to avoid all of them then check the box for all of them
Google Web Map Application – Routing – Avoid Tolls, ferries, Highways or Motorways
For using ‘route options’ on web follow the below steps:
open the google maps on web
tap on the directions button
fill up the locations.
beneath the locations bars you will find the ‘options’ written there.
Tap on it to see your options for route options.
So, Google maps are making lots of changes over a period of time for their users , such that you can use it with ease and comfort. Do tell us how much ease of use does “route options” feature of Google Maps get you.
Google is really putting its efforts to make Google Maps one of its kind. Google has upgraded Google maps to a map loaded with so many features . Google has not left any thing to lace Google maps with. Google has already introduced the live traffic congetsion viewer, WIFI only feature, voice navigation , and what not on Google Map?
Now , Google has come up with the very new brand feature of Google maps that adds up to a very platonic change to google maps, that is a very important one as well. this feature helps you to plan a trip with multiple destinations,that means if you want to travel to a particular place while finishing off some work en route to the place you can add those place as well in between and google will help you to finish off this work by making a route for you .
Add stop feature of Google Maps is not limited to the mobile application only you can use it on the web also.
Add Stop in between two locations – Navigation Google Map
Wandering for a way to do it?? I will show it to you,just follow the below steps:
Open the Google maps application in your phone or on web.
Tap on the action overflow or direction button associated at the top left corner on web and on the bottom right of the Phone application.
Fill up the current location and final destination.
Now, before tapping the navigation key tap on the sliding option associated beside the location bars.
Choose the add stop option by tapping on it
Now , it will show one more location bar beneath the final destination bar.
you can add the location for that stop.
once you add the location for that stop it will again show the next bar to add another stop.
That is how you can add as many stop as you want.
At last after adding all the stops you can Tap the Navigation key.
Once, you tap the navigation key, Google Maps will show you the route for your final destination inclusive of your added stops.
Now, Google has facilitated you with the so many features and this “Add Stop ” feature is a very major part of the Google Maps helping people with navigations .
Google Maps stands out of all its competitors , it has made a very big difference in the individual’s lives, they have made a ease of travelling for the people who travels long distances and to the new places frequently. As we know Google has made many changes in its maps. Google has made so many amendments in the Google Maps on a very frequent basis, such that people can use it with lots of ease and comfort.
Google Maps New feature – Master Navigation
Adding to it Google maps has also introduced theMaster Navigation feature for GoogleMaps users. This feature will help you to get the distance and time it will take to reach a place, considering real time traffic and predict the time. Now here the exciting thing about this feature of the Google maps is that it will show the distance according to the route you take and the transit as well!! So,the twist is that it will show the time it will take to reach you there by a car, if you are not feeling like driving a car and want to go for a bike ride you can do that too as google maps will show you the time it will take you to reach there, and if you are a health conscious and prefer to not pollute the environment with the toxic fuels Google maps will help you with this too; yes you read it right that Google Maps will show you the distance, different routes and the time you have to spare to reach that particular place also.
It is not limited to the Phone application only, you can use “master navigation” feature of the Google Maps on desktop or web also. You can also look over 35+ cool features of Google Map.
Master navigation – working procedure
Let’s check how Master Navigation works.
For using this feature you need to have either Google Maps application if you want to use it in your phone or you can use it on web.
Tap the action overflow button. You will find it in the bottom right corner in the phone application, and if you are using it on web then you will find it in the top left corner near the search bar.
Once you tap on that button it will ask you to add your current location and the destination.
Now, you are done with filling up the locations it will give you information about the time and distance for different transits.
when you are travelling via car :
2. when biking mode is on :
3. when willing to walk :
4. If you want to travel by bus :
Moreover, you can also define your route and can ask Google Maps to avoid highways, ferries and tolls to save a few bucks. A detailed article to avoid highways and tolls can be checked here.
This is all about the new feature of Google Maps Master Navigation. Do let us know your experience of using this feature of google maps by commenting below in the comment box.
Google maps are the best navigation tool available across globe till date. People use it for many purposes like navigation, for knowing traffic situations, locations, to find nearby place, upcoming events and what not? Have you ever thought of how to use Google map while your hands are busy controlling steering wheel? Obviously you will not be able to operate Google map while driving. That is the reason behind they introduced Google Map voice option for Navigation.
Google Map Voice Navigation – Make your voice count
Through voice option you can command any place to Google and it will show it to you and will navigate you to that location. This way it becomes very convenient to use Google map even when you are busy driving the car.
Check out the following instruction to use your voice for navigation:-
Open your Google map application in your phone.
Above you will see the search bar.
On the right corner of search bar you will see a microphone icon.
Tap that icon and give the voice command to Google.
Google map will respond according to the command given by you.
You can give Google commands like ‘where do I turn next?’, ‘where is the next Gas station?’ and so on. You can mute or unmute the voice guidance given by Google Maps.
This feature of Google maps is a very important one. How do you get help with this option of Google maps navigation, do mention below in the comment box.
Google Map has changed a lot over a period of time,since the day Google has introduced its map and till the date it has been a very reliable map tool. One can excess map on desktop and on phone as well we have an application for Google maps, that we can download from play store or app store. Google map provides us with so many functions like navigation, finding or searching nearby locations, our history location is also been showed by Google maps. So moving on Google maps also take care of your pocket as well; that means it has introduced an option to control your data usage with Google Map Wifi Only Feature.
So you need to have go Google maps application in your android phone to enjoy this feature.
Once you enable this feature, you will be able to access maps and navigation in your downloaded area or whenever you are connected to WIFI.
Google Map WiFi Only Feature
Google Map Wifi Only Feature – Reduced Internet pack consumption
So you must be curious to know how to save your data on maps and navigation!
We will show you the way to do it, let’s check the following:-
Tap the hamburger or menu icon at the top left corner of your mobile app.
Scroll down to select settings.
Once you open the settings you will find the WIFI only option in Google Map application.
Google Maps Wifi Only Feature – Helping Limit Data Usage
Right beside the’ WIFI only ‘ option is a toggle switch given
Tap the toggle switch to enable the ‘WIFI only’ option.
So, this is how Google lets you save your data in your Google Map Application and save you from burning a hole in your pocket, and parallel to it Google maps also allows you to use your maps and navigations in your downloaded area. Know the list of Google Map features.
Note: I don’t find WiFi only feature available in iOS app, but can be found in Android Google Map application. If you find this feature in iOS app too, do let us know by commenting below, we will recheck and update the article.
So how much Google map helped you with this do let us know in the comment box provided below.
Leaflet is small Javascript BSD Open Source license Map library, which helps in creating interactive map applications. Leaflet js Javascript library provides pre defined functions and variables which can be reused to add map layer, base map, points, line and polygon, where you can easily zoom in and zoom out. Also with the help of library you will be able to catch the events and define a function on it, for example, You can fetch all attributes or detailed information on a click over a polygon features which will be displayed in a popup.
Leaflet js – Getting started Create Map application
With leaflet you can compute the features bounding box, create a layer group, remove or add as many marker or different layer as you want on a map. Adding vector layers, raster layers, adding wms or wfs layer (can be used to serve and render geoserver or map server layers), selecting and hovering over lat-long are some of the functionality which can be easily grabbed by leaflet js map library.
Leaflet map library can be used in different platform like web app, mobile app or can be used in creating desktop application.
Also this small Map library so called as leafletjs is one of the easy to use and well documented library which is widely used by many GIS developers all over the world. Upon leaflet many developers have created different plugins which adds on the functionality to create an interactive map. Most of the plugins are available for free and can be used or recoded and integrated in your application. I found and used many plugins when required to do my clients work, as it save lots of time to do the same piece of work.
Here is the Github link of Lealfet and leaflet docs link:
Lets get started with code section of Leaflet js library:
Firstly you need to setup a Local Server. You can easily install and find either wamp or xammp server or any http server. Once installed or setup, we will first create a project folder in root www or public directory. Thereafter we will get started by creating one html file which we will use to code in leaflet js map example.
Once the html file created, under the head section paste following css and js cdn link of leafletjs map library:
Or you can either save and link those files directly in your local server. Under the body section create a division element with “map” as id:
<div id=“map” style=“height:300px”></div>
This division will render and display the map with the help of leaflet library. Lets initialize the map by adding a tile base map layer or either openstreetmap or mapbox or any other map provider tiles.
var newMap = L.map(‘map’).setView([38.9188702,-77.0708398], 13); //initiating the view providing the latitude and longitude with zoom layer as 13.
Above code will render openstreetmap tile layer. Proper attributes to the contributors can be easily added, which will be displayed at the bottom right corner of map screen in a descent way.
Finally we can add a marker and bind a click event, which will open up a popup with the message:
//binding popup event with leaflet marker and map L.marker([38.9188702,-77.0708398]).addTo(newMap) .bindPopup(“<b>Click cross button to dismiss!</b><br />I am a popup.”).openPopup();
Now we are all done with setup. Lets see how the leaflet getting started simple map example look like:
Above leaflet code will provide a output in browser as provided below:
Output – Leaflet js – Getting Started to create Map Application
Geojson or topojson are two of the most common files which can be easily added as vector layer map with the help of leaflet. Interactive Choropleth map is the best example which you can imagine to create in few hours or minutes of code with this library map.
In simple words you can take leaflet js as a library which will helps you to display and render your vector or raster layer data over browser or client side with some events handling over it. Unlike Google map library it does not provide geocoding or direction api or a basemap layer, but if you have geographical data or GIS data set, then with the help of provided data, your algorithm and leaflet library you can create and display the map as you want.
I hope this tutorial of getting started with leaflet would helped you to kick start with leaflet js library. Do subscribe to our blog, to get all latest updates, tutorials and news of map and GIS. Your comments are welcome either as question, comment or suggestion.
Know live traffic or predicted traffic on Google map. Are you planning for a road trip to either attend an important meeting, or to visit somewhere in a limited time. Don’t get afraid of reaching late at destination due to unusual traffic, as Google Map comes with its supreme feature of knowing live traffic condition at real time as well as predict the future traffic accordingly. Currently Google Map gives real time traffic condition and prediction for over 50 countries. Knowing traffic of a location without visiting the same physically at any time, isn’t it an amazing technology. Lets see an introduction of how Google Map provides live traffic and how one can use traffic feature of Google map on Desktop or laptop and also on Devices.
Know live Congestion or future traffic on Google map
Introduction : How Google detect traffic condition
Lets have a quick introduction paragraph to know how traffic is detected by Google. Earlier, Google provided traffic data based on running algorithm on historical data, which doesn’t comes out to be so accurate. After that Google uses third party data and tools and now with the help of Crowd-sourcing, Google made a very fine judgment of traffic.
Yes, Google gather live data from the crowd. All those people who are currently using Google Map or using Android device with Location tracking or GPS enable, are eventually providing anonymous data to Google with speed and location information. This makes Google to track live data, process the data with algorithm to determine congestion considering all important factors and limitations and ultimately used to render the traffic layer on Google Map for free to all users.
Mostly Google covers highways and arterials roads to predict the traffic, when data is available. This data is stored on Google database servers. Ultimately Google apply mining process on this data and run prediction algorithm to provide “Typical Traffic” or “Future Traffic” behavior.
Know live Congestion or future traffic on Google map
Google Map Traffic Color Shows speed of traffic on road:
Speed of traffic is shown in four different color i.e
Green: Means no traffic.
Yellow: Means there is some traffic, while it is tolerable and you could drive easily.
Orange: Means there’s a medium amount of traffic and you may be delayed with this.
Dark Red: A heavy traffic, means there are traffic delays.
Two other colors indicates:
Blue: This line indicates your direction routes on Google Map.
Gray: Indicates there is no data.
Steps to know live traffic or real time traffic on Google map on Desktop:
1.) Open Google Map on browser.
2.) Now write “Traffic” on the search input box provided, and press enter or search button. This would take you to your current location with live traffic layer displayed.
Or
You may write “Traffic near ‘place’” for example “traffic near Washington, DC, USA”. And press enter. This would display area of Washington DC with traffic layer on screen.
Know live Congestion or future traffic on Google map
3.) Now you may see detailed view of traffic by zooming in or out.
Traffic incidents let several delays. Google Map also indicate incidents while viewing traffic. Here are the few of the symbols you may see:
Accidents
Construction
Road closures
Other incidents
Steps to See the future prediction of traffic on Google Map – Desktop :
This is typical traffic which Google provides as a feature on Map, where traffic for an area based on the day of week and time can be searched and predicted. Here is the way to do it:
Update: Following are the updated steps i have found to predict the future traffic, as there is some UI changes in new Google map.
1.) You can either write traffic on the search box or open up the navigation menu and click on traffic button to get the colourful map displayed which enables traffic condition. By default live traffic is displayed on Google map.
2.) Now in the bottom center of the map, you need to click on drop down to switch to typical traffic.
3.) Now select the day and time to get the future traffic map. As you will click on the map and change the date and time, google will load new layer on map without loading the map where the map displays the predicted traffic at your desired location.
Know live Congestion or future traffic on Google map : Desktop and Mobile
Old Steps:
1.) Write “traffic” or “traffic near ‘place’” on the input search box provided and click on search button or press enter.
2.) Beneath the search box, you would find the two radio button labelled with ‘live traffic’ and ‘typical traffic’. Activate “Typical traffic” radio button.
Know live Congestion or future traffic on Google map
3.) Choose the day and time. This would refresh the new traffic map layer asynchronously, where you can see the predicted future traffic of particular day and time you selected of the location.
Know live Congestion or future traffic on Google map – Android or iOS device:
New version of Google map application for android or iOS device provides an easy way to know the current traffic condition of road.
1.) Open the Google Maps app in your android or iOS device.
2.) Touch the menu in the top left corner.
3.) Select Traffic button.
This would provide you a layer of traffic on Google Map.
Do remember Google do make sure to process and provide accurate traffic details, however there may be chances that due to some less data availability their may be inconsistency. Whats your experience while using Google Map Traffic feature? Do you get accurate data result? Do share us by commenting below. Also if you find any problem in implementing the above steps do comment below.
Geographic Information System is a system intends to capture, Store, manage, manipulate, analyze the data. 
