Live Search Maps / Virtual Earth

Live Search Maps is a web mapping service provided as a part of Microsoft's Windows Live online applications services suite and powered by Microsoft's Virtual Earth.1

Description

Live Search Maps has detailed street maps for many cities throughout the world. It also has satellite images, with an image resolution that varies across the globe.

Live Search Maps is the public face of the Virtual Earth platform.

Virtual Earth provides powerful mapping capabilities for integrating location information into business solutions. With Virtual Earth, organizations can create applications that enable users to visually interact with complex information. Additionally, its service-oriented architecture enables companies to develop innovative solutions that take advantage of customizable features and imagery, dynamic maps, driving directions, and powerful data visualization and reporting capabilities without significant financial investments.2

Function

• Visualisation tools
  • Maps
• User interface
  • Personal

Why use this tool?

• To geographically present or view data on a map.

 Who will use this tool?

• Data capture
  • Curators
• Data providers
  • Institutions
• Data users
  • Expert
  • Interest groups
  • General public

 How will the tool be used?

• This is an online tool. Does not work well with some browsers

 Where in the data chain could this tool be used?

• Data source
• User’s machine

 When could this tool be used?

• Before data is made available to ALA
• As a post process, after data is with the user

Availability

• Live Search Maps: http://maps.live.com/
• Live Search Maps developer site: http://www.viavirtualearth.com/vve/ Default.ashx
• MSDN Developer Centre: http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/virtualearth/default.aspx
• Licence: Microsoft http://www.microsoft.com/virtualearth/product/licensing.aspx
• Cost: depends on the specific licence option
• Code of Conduct: http://maps.live.com/Help/en-us/CodeOfConduct.htm

Comments

A visual comparison of images from Virtual Earth and other mapping software is available at: Flash Earth http://www.flashearth.com/.