Two New Data Modules for Bing Maps V7

 

By Ricky Brundritt, EMEA Bing Maps Technology Solution Professional

In September of 2011 we started the Bing Maps v7 Module CodePlex Project. The purpose of this project is to create a centralized location where developers could find and share useful modules that expand the functionality of the Bing Maps V7 API. Since the start of the project, we’ve had 15 modules submitted.

Today, I would like to highlight the two newest modules added to the project and provide a few updates to existing modules.

GeoJSON Module

Download here

This module was created by Brian Norman a Microsoft Bing Maps MVP from Earthware Ltd.

This module allows you to import GeoJSON files into Bing Maps. A GeoJSON feed will be downloaded and parsed into an EntityCollection which can then be added to the map. Additional properties are captured and stored in a Metadata tag on each shape making it easy to relate shapes to their metadata.

GeoJSON is a data format standard used for representing geospatial objects in JSON (JavaScript Object notation). JSON is much more compact than XML which makes it a great format for sharing spatial data online. In fact the AJAX Map DataConnector uses GeoJSON to send spatial data from SQL Server to Bing Maps.

Well Known Text Reader/Writer Module

Download here

I created this module because I wanted a simple tool for quickly visualizing Well Known Text on Bing Maps. This module allows you to easily read and write Well Know Text data from Bing Maps. When reading Well Known Text data it is parsed into Bing Maps shapes; MultiPoint, MultiLinstring, MultiPolygon and GeometryCollection are turned into an EntityCollection of shapes. To write Well Known Text simply pass in a Bing Maps shape and the Well Known Text equivalent will be returned.

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Well Known Text (WKT) is an OGC (Open Geospatial Consortium) standard for representing Geospatial Data. In fact WKT is supported by the spatial types in Microsoft SQL Server 2008 and above as well as SQL Azure.

*Project Idea: Combine this module with the Shape Toolbox Module and make it easy for your users to draw on the map and upload the shape data into Microsoft SQL Server.

*Demo Tip: Use this module to quickly create demos that render complex spatial data. Simply store your Well Known Text in a JavaScript file as a string to save time setting up a web service to connect to your database. Note: this approach is not recommended for production applications as loading all the spatial data via a JavaScript file can make for slow loading of your application.

Other Data Related Modules

GeoRSS Module – GeoRSS is a common XML file format for sharing spatial data as a syndication feed. This module also supports GML, an OGC compliant XML format. This module has been updated to support Complex Polygons (polygons with holes).

GPX Module – GPX is a common XML data format that is used by GPS devices. Many GPS devices allow you to stave points, routes and tracks which can then be exported from the device in GPX format. This module makes it easy to view these files on Bing Maps.

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Microsoft Bing Maps Takes the Fast Route to Efficiency

Microsoft Bing Maps team members Tom Barclay, Brad Clark and Ryan Tracy talk about how their work with Dell Data Center Solutions on their new microsite in Longmont, Colorado, enables them to deliver the world to the world — for less.

http://www.youtube.com/v/SDLc1di2tUQ?version=3&f=videos&app=youtube_gdata

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The Microsoft 311 Service Center with Bing Maps

 

Microsoft now has an all-in-one fully integrated solution for city governments with the 311 Citizen Services Center. It combines the power of several Microsoft technologies and has both a citizen-facing portal and a back-end management module, including interactive Bing Maps for both components. When cities use the 311 service center, citizens can easily report outages, potholes, etc. by locating them on a map. City workers and contractors can use Bing Maps for service request information and updates. 311 Service Center is another great example of how Bing Maps integrates with

Microsoft Dynamics® CRM to show the data the customer is managing, and to speed up the decision process.

To learn more about how your city can benefit from the Citizen Services Center (311), visithttp://www.microsoft.com/gov311 and watch this video.

 

Citizen-facing portal with self-service and multi-access channels


 

 

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Bing Maps Token Service – Upgrade to Keys Today!

For our current Bing Maps Platform customers using the Bing Maps Token Service, we want to remind you that this service will be retired on March 30, 2012. Please be sure to upgrade any of your applications that are using the Bing Maps Token Service to Bing Maps Keys before this date to ensure that your access to the Bing Maps Platform is not interrupted.

What Bing Maps Platform API’s does this upgrade apply to?

This upgrade only applies to the following Bing Maps Platform API’s:

What are the benefits of using Bing Maps Keys instead of the Bing Maps Token Service?

  • Improved performance in accessing the Bing Maps Platform (i.e. the elimination of the requirement to call the Token Service prior to calling the Bing Maps API’s).
  • Unlike Bing Maps Tokens, Bing Maps Keys do not expire.
  • Enhanced management and reporting of your Bing Maps Platform usage (i.e. you can assign a unique Bing Maps Key to each of your applications to separately track the Bing Maps usage for each of your applications).

How can you tell if you are currently using the Bing Maps Token Service?

How do you get started with upgrading from the Bing Maps Token Service to Bing Maps Keys?

To get started, please follow the MSDN article, Migrating from Tokens to Keys, which explains how to obtain a Bing Maps Key, and provides guidance on upgrading your applications to Bing Maps Keys for applications using the Bing Maps AJAX Control, the Bing Maps Silverlight Control, or Bing Maps SOAP services.

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Google Maps – Ads EVERYWHERE

As the jokes were flying about how distasteful Google’s new Map’s info ad venue was, I became curious as to exactly how unseemly it really was. So I looked.

As Glen Gabe pointed out it may very well be necessary for SMB’s to take out ads defensively. Greg Sterling suggested that Google think about a Pandora like subscription so you could search ad free. For me, Google’s ads on the Map info bubble reminds me of ads on “park benches” that sit amid the fumes on street corners.

Here is a slide show that I assembled in 5 minutes to explore the possibilities. Bing is advertising on Zuccotti Park, Bank of America of course advertising on themselves, Chase is advertising on the Lexington Ave  women’s shelter and CPRProfessor advertising on the American Red Cross…. wow. You can click to see a slide show of some of these ads:

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