Sometimes we just want a quick way to visualize, and share our spatial data using maps, without the hassle that comes with the whole process. Well your prayers has just been answered........!!
Google and other open source engines are determined to narrow the gap
between desktop and online mapping experience. Some GIS Experts are
feeling threatened because they feel Google is demystifying their
expertise. But personally, I feel it is a wonderful development that
must be embraced and celebrated.
With
the introduction of Google’s map engine, it is now possible to publish
several layers of map data online and reach a wider audience without
investing in expensive desktop GIS applications like ESRI’s ArcGIS and
Pitney Bow’s MapInfo. This would further improve the profile of mapping
and create extensive awareness for location intelligence.
Google Maps Engine is easy to use and you really do not require a formal training to take advantage of its power.
Maps Engine allows users to upload small spreadsheets with locations and
visualize them on a map. They can also compare up to three different
data sets for non-businesses purposes.
These custom maps can have multiple layers, and users who don’t have
spreadsheets to upload can also manually draw lines, mark specific areas
and set place markers. Google offers a total of nine base maps,
including its usual satellite and terrain maps, as well as styles that
emphasize city boundaries, political boundaries and highways. Maps
Engine also offers about 150 different icons that can be used to mark
specific places.
To help new users get started, Google also published a tutorial that offers a few sample data sets and a step-by-step guide to publishing a custom map.
This tutorial is targeting a typical Ugandan map or GIS Analyst and is
offering a simple step-by-step approach to publishing a custom
map online using Google map as a back drop.
Summary of Tutorial
We shall attempt to import sample data for Karamoja essentially covering the following data:
1) Karamoja Water Sources
2) Local Government Area
Requirements
You need internet access and a Gmail account to take advantage of the
Map Engine. So If you don’t have one yet, this is a good time to create
one.
How to Start
Step 1: You can open Google Maps Engine from this link https://www.google.com/mymaps
To start, click on “Create a new map” In the new window, select “Add
Layer” Then follow this with a click on “Import” to add import your
custom data
Note:
Map Engine accepts data in the CSV, XLSX, and KML formats. In this
tutorial, we shall attempt to bring data in CSV and KML formats.
First let us import the Water Sources in CSV format.
Click on the “Select a file from your computer” and browse to the file in your local drive.
Note: If the file is successfully imported, a new window
should open prompting you to select the columns that indicate where to
put the placemarks on the map.
However
you would not need to do anything especially if the imported file has
columns holding the Latitude and Longitude coordinates. Next click on
the “Continue” button
The next window would prompt you to select the column to use for
labelling your point data. In this instance, we’ll use the FUNCTIONALITY
column for labelling then click on FINISH t apply this configuration.
The next step is to thematically colour the WATER SOURCES based on the FUNCTIONALITY.
To do this, click on the “Uniform Style” option and select the
appropriate column in the data that holds the value for the thematic
information. In this instance, we shall select the FUNCTIONALITY column
This should separate the water sources into special classes on the basis of the FUNCTIONALITY.
At
his stage, you can play around with the colours. To change the colours,
place your cursor on each category of Fuctionality e.g. “Abandoned” and click on the
symbol appearing by the side of the class to change the colour.
Repeat this process for each category of functionality i.e. blue for "OK", red for "Abondoned", Maroon for "TDown".
Adding additional layer
Step 3: We are going to attempt to bring the LGA boundary data as an additional layer.
Note: the LGA boundary would have to be brought in as a KML format.
To do this, open the LGA boundary data in QGIS in whatever native format
it is stored e.g. SHP or TAB and save it as a KML format.
In Google’s Map Engine, click on “Add Layer” > Import
Then browse to the file in your local drive. In this case we are importing the LGA Boundary file in KML format.
Ensure that the “Uniform Style” is selected. This should add the LGA bundary as another layer to the existing Mast layer.
This is how you can add other layers. You can click on any feature
displayed on the map to retrieve the “attribution details in a way
similar to using the Info tool in ArcGIS or MapInfo.
You can also configure the attribute table by restricting what column is included in the info click.
You can change the name of eah layer to reflect whatever you want by
simply clicking in the layer name and updating the layer name.
Take Caution: You must know that it is very easy for you to change the
shape of your boundary data or delete it in error. You’ll notice that
when you click on each LGA polygon, it displays all the nodes making up
the polygone. By dragging the selected polygon could inherently alter
the shape of the polygon in error, so be careful.
Sharing your map with others.
Now comes the interesting part:You can share your map with a wider
audience without the need to buy or invest expensive software.
To share your map, simply click on the SHARE icon right above the first map layer in your map.
This would open a new window and you could change the name of the project file e.g. Water Access Map Project. Click on SAVE
Notice the followings in the Sharing Setting window:
1. The URL
link that you can send to just about anyone anywhere in the world to
view your map. All that is required is for the receipient to copy the
URL in an internet browser to see your map project
2.Who Has Access: This provides a powerful option to restrict who has
access to your map data. In this instance, we are restricting access to
specific individuals that we send the link.
Remember whoever receives this link would have READ ONLY access to your
project file. This means that nobody can alter or update your project
file without your consent.
Maps Engine Lite could be a great tool to use to introduce Young GIS Enthusiast
geography, Surveying students to using GIS to interpret data and make
decisions based on that data
Caveat: I must place on record that it appears Google is
discontinuing support for Google Maps Engine starting 2016. So if you
are seriously contemplating a move to Google Maps Engine, it is
important that you bear this ominous fact in mind.
This work was adopted from the original work published by Ireti Ajala from this link http://lagosstreetmap.blogspot.ug/2015/04/tutorial-online-map-publishing-for.html
Please visit the link for more great tutorials.
Feel Free to send me a link to your work (gislimited2013@gmail.com)
I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS TUTORIAL. Labels: ArcGIS, GIS Africa, GIS Consultancy, GIS Tutorials, GPS, Mobile, Mobile Mapping, Spatial Data, Uganda, www.geographicinfosoltns.webs.com, www.geoinfo-solutions.com
