Embed Basic Google Maps into Websites
February 10, 2009 by Timothy
Filed under GIS Tips, Google Maps
Google Maps are becoming more and more common on websites. They are being used to show business locations, directions, news happenings, etc. Very rarely now can you go to a website without encountering a map. Although Google Maps appear very high-tech, they can be easily placed into any website or blog with just a few steps. Make sure you are not missing out on the technology available today.
To Embed a Google Map:
1. Decide where you would like to have the map located.
I have decided to place a map on my Google Mapz page under the Create Map section. This example is being done through Weebly (A free, simple to use website host and editor).
2. Go to Google Maps and zoom in on the extent of desired map.
I have zoomed in on the Washington, DC area.
3. Select Link from the top right hand corner of the page.
This will give you the option to copy the actual page link or embed with html.
4. Copy HTML code from embed window.
Highlight code and right click to copy or Ctrl + C.
5. Paste HTML code into web page editor.
Make sure you are placing this where HTML can be read and not directly as plain text. To paste, right click in area and choose paste or Ctrl +V.
6. Publish web page
The map is now embedded within my web page with a matter a minutes. Try it out today!
Related Books
Beginning Google Maps Mashups with Mapplets, KML, and GeoRSS: From Novice to Professional
ArcMap Annotation Properties
January 4, 2009 by Timothy
Filed under ArcGIS, Cartography, GIS Tips
Map annotation that is created either through the annotation tool or by creating annotation by converting dynamic labels can be edited further beyond just the font and placement.
For example if you change the scale of the annotation, it will not adjust. You can delete the annotation and recreate it. However, there is an easier way!
To change the reference scale of map annotation:
1. Right click on the data frame in the Table of Contents.
2. Choose Properties…
3. Go to the Annotation Group tab.
Notice that this is the where annotation is managed when you convert it from labels to be stored in the map. Annotation that is created manually through the annotation tool is also managed here.
Under this tab you can turn annotation on and off.
4. Highlight the annotation group to be changed.
5. Click Properties…
6. Change the reference scale to the proper setting.
Under properties you can change:
- annotation name
- associated layer
- reference scale
- visibility scale
7. Click OK to confirm changes.
The reference scale has now been updated to the correct scale, and the annotation shows correctly.
Related Books
Getting to Know ArcGIS Desktop: Basics of ArcView, Arceditor, and Arcinfo
Making Maps: A Visual Guide to Map Design for GIS
Designing Better Maps: A Guide for GIS Users
Create ArcMap Annotation
January 4, 2009 by Timothy
Filed under ArcGIS, Cartography, GIS Tips
Annotation is a valuable resource for creating labels. Annotation can be created in two ways: either manually through the labeling tool or by converting the dynamic labels into annotation. The later is a big time saver when creating a lot of labels.
When creating labels through conversion, you are given the option to save the annotation in a geodatabase or the map document. If you will be using the annotation in another map project then use the geodatabase option. Otherwise, saving in the map would be fine. When you convert to annotation, the labels are created at the current scale.
1. Set desired font and layout.
2. Turn on labels.
3. Right click on layer to have labels converted.
4. Set annotation settings.
5. Select storage type and which features to create annotation for.
Notice the reference scale on the top right. This is the scale at which the annotation will be view correctly. Learn how to change this in the ArcMap Annotation Properties.
6. Click Convert.
The labels have now been converted to annotation. You can select the text and change its location along with other properties as well.
One thing to note with annotation is that if you change the scale, the annotation does not adjust. You can delete the annotation and recreate it using the previous steps. However, there is an easier way by following the steps in the ArcMap Annotation Properties post! You can also learn how to turn on/off map annotation without having to delete it.
Related Books
Making Maps: A Visual Guide to Map Design for GIS
Designing Better Maps: A Guide for GIS Users
Google Helps Educate Spatially
Google Earth
Google Maps
This mapping software provides more than just directions. There is the ability to study various regions. The subjects that can studied are Art History, Climatology, Earth Science, Environmental Science, History, and Physics.
Google Sky
This product is fairly new. It provide a fascinating view of outer space. With Google Sky, telescopes are a thing of the past. You have the ability to study the stars, planets, galaxies, and even mythology.
Google SketchUp
This is a 3D modeling software. You can model furniture, cars, and buildings. There is even the capability to place these object spatially in Google Earth.
http://www.google.com/educators/geo.html
Other Google Products
Related Blogs
Geo Greeting – A Fun Way to Introduce Google Maps
iPhone in Education: Google Earth now available on iPhone and iPod Touch!
GIS workshop teaches new technology skills
Geophysics vs. Geography: Divergent Viewpoints on the GeoWeb
Teaching Kids the World of GIS
Kids are like sponges. They will soak up anything. It is up to us to help provide children with quality material that they will be able to use for a life time. Here are some good websites, books, and games that teach kids about GIS.
Websites
- GIS 4 Kids
- National Geographic Games for Kids
- Maps 4 Kids
- GIS Kids Slideshow
- Kids GIS
- Mapmaker, Mapmaker, Make Me a Map
- KidsGeo
- Geb Geography For Kids
GIS…what’s that?
Some of you who are new to the world of GIS maybe wondering what it is. GIS is an acronym for Geographic Information System or Geospatial Information System. This system is used to store, analyze, visualize, and manage data that is spatially referenced (spatially referenced means attaching information to a physical location).
You may not realize it, but you have probably used GIS in some sort of fashion already. For example, we all have used online maps such as MapQuest, GoogleMaps, YahooMaps, and Live Search Maps for directions. This is GIS in a simple online user application. However, what we see with these maps are more than just a visual representation of how to get from point A to point B. Each item that we see can contain even more information hidden beneath the symbol. You notice that roads and location have a label attached to them, well this data is located in a hidden attribute table that is attached to the symbol. Both the symbol (location) and the attribute data are located in a GIS. Some other information behind these directional maps includes: street segment length, speed limit, and address ranges. All of that information helps create the final direction map that you requested.
A GIS can do more than just create directional maps based on a user’s input. It also organizes and analyzes data in an amazing way. This data is usually stored in some type of database (I’ll discuss the database a little more in-depth in another post). There can be relationships within the data that develop a mind blowing matrix. With the way the data is organized, you can query (either by the attribute table or by the spatial location) and manipulate it to create amazing visualizations and reports.
Although some of the terms and processes mentioned may not make sense right now, they will soon sink in as you gain some handson experience.
