Mapping the future – this teasing prospect was shown to be not just possible, but also practical and affordable, with the launch of a new population dataset at a lively seminar held in London last week. The host was MapMechanics, the leading specialist in digital mapping and geographic information systems.
The new “Not Yet Built” dataset was just one of the highlights of the packed event, which also featured the introduction of more interactive online mapping and faster refreshing of maps in Web browsers. Around a hundred delegates at the event, which was held near Heathrow, were also given a preview of some exciting new features due for full release next spring in version 6.0 of GeoConcept, the powerful GIS software package from MapMechanics.
The Not Yet Built (NYB) dataset is an extension of the Royal Mail’s familiar Postal Address File (PAF) of 1.7 million unit postcodes. Drawing on data obtained from local authority planning applications and supplied by developers and building contractors, as well as from Royal Mail itself, the NYB dataset shows addresses planned and under construction.
This makes it an ideal new source of intelligence for organisations planning the provision of resources or location of future commercial or social facilities. Data is removed from the file as soon as properties are completed or planning applications are withdrawn, and new builds are transferred to the full Postcode Address File (PAF). MapMechanics offers these important address data sets in your chosen GIS format.
Delegates also heard about two new features offered with GeoConcept Internet Server, the version of GeoConcept used to deliver mapping over intranets or the Internet. One of these, GeoConcept On Line Analytical Processing, or G-OLAP, allows users working with Web browsers to drill down into the data behind online mapping on a live basis for the first time. This means they can view and analyse the information in whatever way suits them – both textually and in the form of annotated maps.
The resultant maps are configured in real time to reflect queries submitted by the user, so that each map view delivered to the browser is uniquely tailored to that user’s requirements.
The other new product, GeoConcept Internet Server’s High Traffic Client system, makes it quicker for users to pan around in maps delivered to Web browser software. GeoConcept achieves this by anticipating the next segment of mapping that the user will need, and serving it transparently to the browser, where it waits in memory cache for the user to call it up. The user gains a much more responsive browsing experience, while the Web host benefits because there is less stress on the server, which can handle a higher volume of simultaneous user requests without degradation of performance.
New features in the forthcoming version of GeoConcept itself aroused particular interest at the seminar. The whole interface has been updated and modernised, and gains new features such as semi-transparent pop-up information panels, and similarly-transparent thematic overlays. Users can define the degree of opacity and preview the result before accepting or altering it.
Wizards have been introduced to walk users through processes such as constructing layers and other forms of thematic display, and it is now possible to set up symbols that vary in size automatically according to the display size of the map.
There are extensive improvements in the way GeoConcept handles external data. For example, fields in external databases can be grouped together and the combination can be saved for future use, even though the data itself remains external and has no impact on the size of the map data file. Output has also been enhanced and a PDF generator has been built in for creating map files in Portable Document Format automatically.
The seminar provided an opportunity for delegates to see a variety of recently-introduced products from MapMechanics, including enhancements created by the company to add value to the latest Census data. Among these are a “dominant group” feature, showing the most frequently-occurring attributes in a given area under headings such as lifestyle or occupation.
There was also strong interest in MapMechanics’ systems for establishing daytime populations (invaluable for planning retail or other businesses) and volume of passing trade.
MapMechanics Mobile, a newly-launched system for delivering journey instructions from routing and scheduling software directly to mobile computers, proved another popular attraction at the event. Journey instructions can be delivered by GPRS directly to navigation software on Pocket PC devices, and drivers can feed progress details back to base, where vehicles can also be tracked.
Digital data products from MapMechanics are covered in an extensive printed publication, the Data Catalogue, which is also available in its entirety on the company’s Web site, www.mapmechanics.com.
|
