In the six years since LINK-GIS’s last major update of the map viewer, many things have changed. The iPhone was on the 3G release. Android devices had hit market less than a year before. The iPad didn’t even exist.
Now, according to the Pew Research Center, around 64% of American adults own a smartphone. A majority of those users use mobile devices to get directions or other location based information.
The 2009 version of the LINK-GIS map viewer didn’t function on mobile devices. While this older technology had enabled LINK-GIS map viewer users on desktop computers to access, view, and print maps coupled with unparalleled data for the Northern Kentucky area; it was inaccessible by many who wished to utilize the map viewer on their mobile device. The time has come to tear down those restrictions and make the LINK-GIS map viewer available to everyone!
Technological advances in the world of GIS have enabled LINK-GIS to migrate from the older Flash player based platform to a newer JavaScript based mobile friendly platform, while still utilizing the same great map services and data. The overall look and feel of the map viewer on the new JavaScript platform is similar to the old Flash platform, but with even easier access to information. Additionally, the new technology will allow for the creation of customized, specialty maps, such as the new Park Finder Application, allowing users to find information about a specific category, such as parks and recreation, in just a couple clicks. More map specific applications are on the horizon.
Perhaps, most importantly, is the transition to the new platform was done entirely in-house by the skilled programmers of PDS!
The new LINK-GIS map viewer is located at http://linkgis.org/mapviewer/ and Park Finder Application is located at http://linkgis.org/parkfinder/. The Flash, or “Classic” map viewer will still be available to the public for a limited time; so users can get acclimated to the functionality of the new JavaScript map viewer. In the coming months, PDS will hold several events to showcase the new map viewer and specialty mapping applications. Information about these events will be in the news section of http://linkgis.org.