MapCruncher (VE beta Version) +Quick Guide

MapCruncher (VE beta Version) Quick Guide


Your own Custom Map in Virtual Earth in 3D (London is a bit too flat) Buildings are from Microsoft Virtual Earth.

What is it?
Crunches Maps!
Generates Custom tiles in from one image into tiles at different zoom levels

Okay what do I need?
MapCruncher VE version (beta)
some space on your pc
*not much knowledge on web programming

.net version 3.0 framework is required to use this program (but it's worth having anyway)

How to use it
have a digital version of your map - and make sure you have copyright on the map source.
(tif,gif.jpeg,pdf,png can be used.)
at least 150dpi, try at 300 and your map will be clearer (less fuzzy)


Georeference the image - this shows you how - at least 3 points are needed - 4 is best.


locate both 'locations' and add a marker on virtual earth base, once three locations are done it can be locked.

Lock the Image to the Virtual Earth (VE) map

Rendering.... THE MAP CRUNCHING BIT! (can take a while with big images) - this one took 20 minutes.
The good thing here is that it is an automated process - only 'map crunching' computer time


This is automatic - just have a new folder for the images and html to go.


This even creates a sample html page to get you up and running.

But I want 3D!

OK you cannot view 3D on your local computer - but you can if the 'map crunched' data is uploaded to a webserver (http only)

File sizes - ok the little issue here is that many images created for zoom and panning.
This map is 236MB so it can take a while to upload to a webserver..

But then once on the webserver - you can view it in 3D

try
http://www.mapsinternational.co.uk/ve/samplepage.html
try and let the image load up first (post-cache)

(ok, ok London is a bit flat!)

But this can be done for more undulating areas!

Can this be used for other mapping API's?
Looking into this using Google Maps API, Multimap API and Yahoo Maps API.
(in theory yes)

Mapperz

Yahoo! MapMixer + Quick User Guide

Yahoo! MapMixer + Quick User Guide

What is MapMixer? "The world is a big place. There are thousands of maps out there that provide unique details about any given destination. MapMixer is a new site that combines those maps with Yahoo! Maps to give you a better view of the world. It's easy to mix your own map. Upload an image of your map, use our layering tool to align it with Yahoo! Maps and we'll do the rest! Your map will have all the features of Yahoo! Maps (zooming, panning). You can also syndicate it on your own site or blog."

Quick user guide
Sign in to Yahoo.
Upload your jpeg,gif or bmp.
(no tif support at present.)


Two Points are needed to estimate the geographical position of the image.
Traditionally in a GIS environment this is at least 3 points.

*Top Tip - use the opacity setting


Use the control points on the edges of the image. Yahoo Mapmixer allows you to unpin your image which enables the moving of the yahoo map base



Use the green circle to rotate the image - this helps to get an exact fit of the image.
*rotated image exaggerated here for example of the function.

Reproduced from Ordnance Survey map data by permission of the Ordnance Survey © Crown copyright 2001.

Map Source
http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/freefun/outlinemaps/

"You must not use the images for financial gain. All hard copies and electronically published material produced from Ordnance Survey data must carry the acknowledgment:
Reproduced from Ordnance Survey map data by permission of the Ordnance Survey © Crown copyright 2001."

not sure about the hula hooping mice - a progress bar maybe?

Please observe copyright Christian Spanring explains it clearly