Virtual Earth & MapPoint B2B

Blog Deprecated....

I should've wrote this a year ago, but I was too lazy to find my credentials, login and actually do it. So, sorry.

Anyway, by now perhaps you know I power the Virtual Earth Blog on MSDN, so if you haven't already point your RSS reader over there. I'm going to try and migrate some of this content over, but in the next few months I'll be deleting this blog.

CP

Come see me @ MIX

I'll be @ MIX working the midnight mashup camp. If you're going to be around and plan on hitting the camp between 8PM and 2AM Monday night, stop by and chat. You can also code against the lab I wrote for Version 5 due out shortly.

Rooftop Geocoding Now Available!

The era of rooftop geocoding is upon us. Rooftop geocoding is now available in MapPoint Web Service. What is rooftop geocoding? With the popularity of aerial photography interpolation geocoding which has been in use for years is no longer sufficient to accurately pinpoint where a location is. Rooftop geocoding specifies exactly where the roof of a particular address is. FYI – interpolation is a process of estimating where on the street a particular location is. The upside of rooftop is many: (1) The point will be properly placed on the address; (2) the point will no longer be in the middle of the road; (3) for routing, we cross-bred interpolation with rooftop to put the point in front of the right address – otherwise routing would be all screwed up.

Here’s what you need to do to get rooftop geocodes. First off, you need to have an MapPoint Web Service account. Rooftop geocodes are not available via Virtual Earth, but they will display on Virtual Earth – a lat/lon is a lat/lon to VE. Rooftop geocoding is not available in the batch system (Customer Data Service). It is available only via the front end APIs – specifically, FIND using the FindAddress() method. When you make your request, set the “RooftopFlag” in FindResultMask (in the FindSpecification.Options class) when calling Find Address.  You’ll get back a find result with two locations, one called “FoundLocation” and one called “BestViewableLocation” the latter of which is rooftop. You can create a batch service on your side to go through your records hitting our front end APIs to get your rooftop geocodes. Let us know if you plan to destroy our front ends – a little warning is always a good thing – just shoot me a mail so we don’t block your IPs. We have approximately 45 million rooftop geocodes, since that's all that is available, but will continue to push more and more out as they become available. And, yes, it is only in the US. I know, I know, no love for the rest of the world, but if you know of someone who actually is creating this data, let me know. We'd be interested.

So, yeah! for everyone since we can now accurately pinpoint 45 million locations on aerial photos. Oh, and we didn't roll this out on the consumer site (Live Maps); not yet, at least.

CP

Illustrating Signal Strength on Virtual Earth

Ironically, I was sent 2 applications using Microsoft mapping today both of which are illustrating coverage maps for the range of their networks.

1 - Cincinnati Bell is using MapPoint Web Service to highlight their wireless coverage on a map.The site highlitghts signal strength with color coding of areas; and, highlights partner companies that pick up the service when CinnBell doesn't have coverage. The app supports full geocoding, zooming, panning and a reset button to get back to square one.

2 - National Public Radio is using Virtual Earth to highlight their radio stations and the network reach on the map. You can search by postal code, city/state, and call letters. Plus, you can even using a route planning function to show all of the stations and their coverages areas along a route. This is slick. Say I'm driving from Seattle to San Diego and I want to see what stations will be accessible and when. You can see the towers along the route drawn on Virtual Earth and as you hover over each of them you can see their respective coverage area. You can also geocode your house and place a marker on the map - kind of random, but whatever. It would be nice if when I moved the map the towers would repopulate on the map. Sweet either way.

 

Virtual Earth Version 3 & 4 Map Controls Compressed

Versions 3 & 4 of our API were compressed yesterday - they went out with the release of the new version of Windows Live Local/Maps, Live Maps, Live Search Maps or choose your favorite name, but remember Virtual Earth is the platform and not the web site.

Anyway, versions 3 & 4 were considerably reduced in size: Version 3 was reduced from 338k to 92k and Version 4 was reduced from 442k to 104k. You should see performance increases in your application if you're using either of these controls. Also, since it was done yesterday and my phone and inbox haven't been blowing up, I'm going to assume the upgrade was seamless and there were no breaking issues. There could be potential issues if you downloaded the control and modified it - not a best practice and against recommended guidelines - but, if you were brave enough to do that you probably have a contigency plan in place for when we make changes.

CP

Evidence of Virtual Earth's Power in the Enterprise

We've recently published a case study and video highlighting British Petroleum's use of Virtual Earth - see it here: http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2007/mar07/03-07crisisresponse.mspx. Now, I love to demo this application - it's a powerful illustration of what Virtual Earth brings to the table in terms of data visualization. If you're trying to prove to someone that you want Virtual Earth in your enterprise or need some validation of geography as a backdrop for data, well, here it is.

Sweet Home San Diego - You're in 3D!

Along with a few more cities, plus more bird's eye and our first exposure into the GlobeXplorer library. Also, Chicago you finally get your bird's eye (Germany too). And, Norway? Are you kidding me? Check out Oslo! And how about some International 3D? Britain, you finally can see some 3D. Here are the full details directly from our internal VEIPP (Virtual Earth Imagery Processing Pipeline) Team, completely unmodified and formatted crappy for vintage feel (crappy format didn't work, so here's the info);

Vexcel/3Di/Boulder hi-res Orthos:            
 Austin (from Harris) 
 Cheektowaga        
 Calgary 
 Glendale        
 Toronto, CAN 
 ManHattanNY_2        
 Hamilton_blk2 
 Portland_blk2        
 Buffalo 
 Ottawa, CAN        
           
Vexcel/3Di/Boulder BUILDINGS/TEXTURES     
 Portland, OR 
 Paradise, NV  
 Plymouth, GBR      
 San Diego, CA 
 Spring Valley, NV  
 Cardiff, GBR      
 Chula Vista, CA 
 Seattle, WA  
 Bristol, GBR      
 EastLA, CA 
 San Francisco, CA  
 Gloucester, GBR      
 LongBeach, CA 
 LAX, CA  
 Wolverhampton, GBR      
 Compton,CA 
 Malibu, CA        
 Glendale, CA 
 Roseville, MN        
           
Pictometry/BLOM Obliques (NA): 
USA
CookCoIL (Chicago); Ventura, CA; Broomfield, CO; Pinellas, FL
CharlestonCoSC

UK 
Bedford; Chesterfield; Hull; Ipswich; Lowestoft; Morecambe; Carlisle; Tamworth; Aylesbury; Exeter; Kettinger; Newport; Pontypool; Stafford; Rugby; Taunton; Torbay

Germany
Bremerhaven; Celle; Delmenhorst; Esslingen; Ibbenbuerren; Oldenburg; Osnabrueck; Rheine; Wilhelmshaven; Aachen; Bremen; Flensburg; Fulda; Hamln; Herford; Minden; Muenster; Wetzlar; Ahlen; Arnsberg; Emden; Lippstadt; Wesel; Kassel; Neustadt

Italy 
Naples; BOLZANO; CAGLIARI; Trieste; MESSINA

Spain 
Pamplona; Seville

Switzerland  
Bern; Geneva; The Hague

Norway 
Oslo; Trondheim

Netherlands
Rotterdam; Utrecht

Belgium  
Antwerp

France 
GRENOBLE; LIMOGES; TOURS

GlobeXplorer Orthos:            
 Ventura-1f-0706          
 StLouis-1f-0304          
 SantaBarbara-1f-0706          
 SanDiegoCounty-West-1f-0106          
 SanDiego-East-1f-0105          
 SanBernardinoCounty-CA-1f-0106         
 RiversideCounty-CA-1f-0106         
           
                    

:

 

MWS 5.2 is now Live!

I mentioned this a few weeks ago, but for those customer who use Microsoft's MapPoint Web Service, today marks a fantastic day. With the release of Version 5.2 we have moved out of the Microsoft Extranet system (which is great and all), but now you are no longer held to the strict password resets required by Microsoft. Moving forward, you will establish Windows Live ID (formerly Passport) accounts for all of your users. So, when you login to the Customer Service Site you will do so using your Windows Live ID. "Wow, that's great, but big deal." No, you don't understand. Your batch system is also covered with Windows Live ID. Sooooo, no longer are you required to change your password every 45 days, then make a code change to your batch upload application, then test it, the push it to production, then test it, then wait 45 days to do it again. No, no! Now, you get your Windows Live ID, set your password - code change, test and push to production - for the last time! Or, however frequently you see fit. This is big and you should be happy - you know who you are - you've been complaining about this since I joined the group and we finally got it fixed! Yeah!

InfoNow parts ways with MapQuest for Microsoft

It's official - InfoNow is now a Microsoft partner and will be pushing the Virtual Earth and MapPoint Web Service platforms for its customers. Why is this significant? Oh, I don't know....maybe because they are one of if not the biggest integrator of MapQuest technology into customer applications....maybe because they've been seen as thought leaders in the industry and have a great pulse on what they need to do to best serve their customers....maybe MapQuest has been slow to innovate when compared to Microsoft (and Google)....maybe MapQuest is losing customers every day and InfoNow doesn't want to be victim to losing their customer base because the platform they're pushing is losing the battle. All possibilities, all possibilities. The good news is that if you're an InfoNow customer you now have an option to join about the AJAX mapping train (or opt for the MapPoint Web Service maps). You won't lose much if any functionality by moving and how cool are you to have access to tiled maps, aerial photos, bird's eye imagery and an integrated 3D envorinment that runs in the browser? Pretty cool, is how cool you are. Here's a link to the official press release from InfoNow. Where are those MapQuest defenders now?? You can still have your MapQuest.com, just don't expect to see it on many other web sites.

Farallon Geographics Builds Web Based GIS Redevelopment Project Tracking Portal for Boston Redevelopment Authority

Check the press release here: http://www.fargeo.com/company/press/2007/03/farallon_geogra_2.html.

This is a great example of how Virtual Earth can help in government applications. You can see screen shots of the application via the link which illustrates the use of pushpins, vector line and polygon drawing, raster overlays, Bird's Eye imagery and 3D all integrated into a site with an existing application. You can extend the use of your applications by integrating Virtual Earth via the APIs.

Plan out your Trips with TripHub.com and Virtual Earth

http://www.prnewswire.com/news/index_mail.shtml?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/03-26-2007/0004552820&EDATE

Check out TripHub.com's use of Virtual Earth - You have to sign up to get access to most of the features, but a sick little site highlighting ways to map out your travel itenerary and the events associated with your trip.

Going to ETech 2007?

ETech (Emerging Technology Conference) is in San Diego which is reason enough, but now you have another reason - ME! Ha! I'll be presenting a 45-minute session titled "Virtual Earth in the Enterprise" March 28 @ 5:25 You can read about me and my session on the ETech site. This will be my first trip to ETech, so I'm looking forward to it. And, to get to come to my home town that's just gravy. John Curlander from the Virtual Earth team will also be presenting @ ETech. His presentation is Thursday @ 11AM titled, "The Making of Virtual Earth." John came to Microsoft through the Vexcel acquisition and is the reason we have such awesome 3D photo-textured models. His discussion is a must see.

Microsoft Hosting Summit 2007

If you're coming to the Microsoft Hosting Summit Tuesday, March 20 expect to see a kick ass Virtual Earth demo by none of than yours truly. I'll be presenting an application you've probably seen before, as well as, one you probably haven't. I'll get 4 whole minutes during Andy Lees' presentation. Hope to see you there!

SuperPages.com - Maps Powered by Virtual Earth

Superpages.com recently launched their new "map-based searching" using Virtual Earth. The site looks, oh, too familiar - almost as a replica of Windows Live Local; however, there some more aesthetically pleasing portions of the site.

 Pros:

• The site is very clean; great colors for the UI and pushpins.
• I love the "saved" and "recent" map searches features. This is slick for when I want to go back and search for the same thing again.
• Keyword searching - not just category searching, but keyword searching adds a level of relevance.
• The AJAX movement of opening and closing tabs on the left is slick and intuitive.
• Guided Tour - I love this. I get so much hate mail from people who want us to bring back MSN Maps and Directions. This levels out the learning curve for those who don't like change.

Cons:

• It looks too much like Windows Live Local. Not that I'm ashamed of our UI, but I was hoping to see something different to change the game a bit.
• I want to be able to re-order the tabs on the left and I can't.
• I want to be able to close some tabs on the left and I can't.
• No pan/nav refresh of results. When I move the map I want the data results to change - this is mandatory!
• No right-click menu.

So, some good things, some bad. Overall, it's just another map-based searching site which seem to popup quite frequently. I do like the site, I just was hoping to see Superpages change the game a little more.

CP

Aesthetically Pleasing Uses of Virtual Earth

The MSN Branded Entertainment and Experiences Team has created several unique mashups using Virtual Earth and I wanted to get them documented in a single blog post.

LeBron James Bike-A-Thon - The "King for Kids" Bike-a-thon is a fund-raising event hosted by NBA All-Star LeBron "King" James. The site integrates Virtual Earth to highlight (1) the path of the bike-a-thon using out drawing tools; and (2) a collection of places of interest along the path of the bike-a-thon. What's unique about this site is that in the popups contain data ranging from just text to photos to 360 degree photos to embedded video! It's an awesome example of the flexibility Virtual Earth provides for creating not just locator and mapping applications, but Mapvertisements (or map-based Marketing / Advertisement mashups), as well.

Ford Edge (Ideas from the Edge) - This Ford Focus sponsored site highlights about 25 cities in the US with an brief description of the why the city is a fun place to go. Once you select a specific city you can drill down and see places to "eat, see, trek, play and indulge." You can also search for places and things to do through their local search engine or user generated content. Or, if you want to sit back and see how the site works you can just watch the demo This demo is also a great way to illustrate to you end users how to operate your web site with Virtual Earth - I've heard many complaints that certain users get to a web site and "don't know what to do with the site." People are funny.

Westin Sights & Sounds of the City - This is one of the most beautiful web site I've ever seen. Virtual Earth is only a piece of it, but a critical piece. I chose to highlight Maui, because I actually stayed at the Westin Maui Resort and Spa in Ka'anapali last May and it was just a fantastic experience. I'm a Westin guy, so I actually stay at a lot of their hotels, but this one was for pleasure. I digress. The site highlights a few of Westin's premium hotels from around the world on the map. The map also contains places worthy of your time such as points of interest and restaurants, etc. What's unique about this site is that once you drill into a hotel, you get a 360 degree photo of the hotels amenities with music (some nice ukulele for Maui) and voice over testimonials about the hotels. Check out the unique "pushpins" too - pretty pushpins - who said you were limited to a crappy pushpin icon?

Nokia New Year's Eve - This past new year's Nokia launched a site that allowed users to be a party of a global party. This site is hip example of music and artistry. It took some effort for me to find Virtual Earth, but sure enough it's there and very cool! Once you land on the site, select a city (Rio, for example) then select the link to "Add a photo of video" - this launches Virtual Earth within the Flash frame. You'll see a world-wide map with icons representing locations of people who have uploaded videos and photos - there are some great ones in Rio. :) However, this is a great example of community mapping. Allowing users to add pushpins of interesting places, then add pictures and videos to really immerse themselves into your site is an effective way to maintain return visitors to your site. Can I go so far as to say, "Global Community?"

Kudos to the BEET team for building out some killer sites. I've recently been engaged with them to get even more creative and roll out more of these sites. Marketing Managers take note that Virtual Earth is a platform that can support your enterprise needs from the basic locator to business intelligence applications to brand awareness marketing efforts. Microsoft is your one stop shop for mapping!