Introduction
Mapping products are tools that allow you to visualize, analyze, and manipulate geospatial data. They can help you solve complex problems, optimize operations, and gain insights from your data. In this article, we will explore how mapping products, such as Google Earth Engine and Azure Maps, can improve accuracy, reduce work, and improve efficiency for your business, with real life examples that are affordable and scalable.
What can I expect from mapping engines?
Map engines or map applications have features such as geocoding and reverse geocoding for location-based services, route optimization for efficient navigation, and mapping visualizations to enhance the user experience. For better decision-making and insights, businesses can use the engines using geospatial analytics.
Features and functionalities include and afford:
• You can access a vast collection of publicly available imagery and data, such as Landsat, Sentinel, MODIS, and more, without having to download or store them on your own servers.
• You can use pre-built algorithms and models to perform common tasks such as image classification, change detection, clustering, and segmentation, or you can create your own custom scripts using JavaScript or Python.
• On most cloud-based engines, you can scale your analysis and processing to millions of pixels and thousands of images, leveraging cloud infrastructure and parallel computing.
• Some engines afford the ability to collaborate with other users and share your results, such as through the Earth Engine Code Editor, the Earth Engine Data Catalog, or the Earth Engine Apps platform
Google Earth Engine
Google Earth Engine is a cloud-based platform that provides access to petabytes of satellite imagery and geospatial datasets. It also offers powerful computing and machine learning capabilities to process and extract information from the data.
With Google Earth Engine, you can:
• Create interactive maps and visualizations of your data
• Perform complex analyses and modeling of geospatial phenomena
• Develop and deploy custom applications and algorithms
• Integrate with other Google products and services, such as Google Cloud, Google Maps, and Google Drive
Some of the benefits of using Google Earth Engine are:
• It is free for non-commercial use and offers flexible pricing plans for commercial use
• It is scalable and can handle large and complex datasets
• It is fast and can perform computations in seconds or minutes
• It is easy to use and has a user-friendly interface and documentation
• It is collaborative and supports sharing and publishing of your work
Mapping products are powerful tools that can help you leverage your geospatial data and transform your business
Practical examples of how Google Earth Engine can help your business are:
• Disasters: You can enhance your disaster response and recovery, by using near-real-time imagery and analysis to identify affected areas, prioritize interventions, and assess damages.
• Agriculture: You can use Google Earth Engine (GEE) to monitor crop health, yield, and irrigation, as well as detect pests, diseases, and weeds. Live real-world application of the engines capabilities are in use for Precision Agriculture making significant improvements in almost aspects of the field: You can use GEE it to forecast crop production and optimize crop management. For example, CropScape is a web application that uses GEE to provide crop-specific land cover data for the United States.
• Environment: You can use GEE to measure and monitor environmental changes, such as deforestation, land degradation, water quality, and biodiversity. You can also use it to assess the impacts and risks of climate change and natural disasters. For example, Global Forest Watch is a web platform that uses GEE to provide near-real-time data and alerts on forest loss and gain.
• Health: You can use GEE to map and analyze the spatial distribution and determinants of health outcomes, such as infectious diseases, malnutrition, and mortality. You can also use it to identify and target vulnerable populations and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions. For example, Malaria Atlas Project is a research project that uses GEE to produce highresolution maps of malaria risk and burden.
Azure Maps
Azure Maps is another cloud-based service that provides geospatial functionality and data for your applications. It also offers integration with other Azure services, such as Azure IoT, Azure Cognitive Services, and Azure Spatial Anchors. With Azure Maps, you can:
• Create and customize interactive maps and visualizations of your data
• Perform geocoding, routing, and spatial operations on your data
• Access and analyze geospatial data from various sources, such as weather, traffic, and mobility
• Develop and deploy location-based applications and solutions
Some of the benefits of using Azure Maps are:
• It is secure and compliant with industry standards and regulations
• If you already use Azure, significant cost reductions are available
• If you use Microsoft 365, links to Microsoft’s tools, such as PowerBI, work fairly seamlessly
• It is scalable and can handle high-volume and high-velocity data
• It is flexible and can support various scenarios and use cases
• It is cost-effective and offers pay-as-you-go pricing plans
• It is compatible and can work with various platforms and frameworks
Some of the real-life examples of how Azure Maps can improve your business are:
• Transportation: You can use Azure Maps to optimize and monitor your fleet operations, such as routing, tracking, and dispatching. You can also use it to enhance your customer experience, such as providing ETA, live traffic, and navigation. For example, TomTom is a company that uses Azure Maps to power its location-based services and solutions.
• Smart Cities: You can use Azure Maps to create and manage smart city applications and solutions, such as smart parking, smart lighting, and smart waste management. You can also use it to improve urban planning and governance, such as analyzing land use, population, and infrastructure. For example, Bentley Systems is a company that uses Azure Maps to provide digital twin solutions for smart cities.
• Retail: You can use Azure Maps to optimize and personalize your retail operations and marketing, such as store location, inventory, and promotion. You can also use it to enhance your customer loyalty and engagement, such as providing store finder, product recommendation, and feedback. For example, Walgreens is a company that uses Azure Maps to provide location-based services and offers to its customers.
Conclusion
Mapping products are powerful tools that can help you leverage your geospatial data and transform your business. Google Earth Engine and Azure Maps are two of the leading mapping products that offer various features and benefits for different industries and use cases. By using these mapping products, you can improve accuracy, reduce work and cost, and improve efficiency and speed of execution for your business, with real life examples that are affordable and scalable.
