The Landscape of Web Mapping

Produced by:
GMI
PO Box 63719
Colorado Springs, CO 80962



June 30, 2017


Introduction
Global Mapping International has faithfully provided ministries with the ability to carry out custom mapping to meet their various
ministry needs since the 1980’s. To this end GMI has produced the Global Ministry Mapping System, combining powerful mapping
software with extensive data to enable the mapping capabilities of a range of different ministries. But with the closure of GMI, the
GMMS will no longer be available and our heart is to provide organizations with options to consider as they look for ways to map
their ministry.

To that end the following report provides a frame of reference for a ministry as it seeks to make decisions about this key service.
While there are many mapping products that could serve an organization, this report seeks to provide some insight into a variety of
online tools in multiple categories so that the user can consider which category and specific tool might best support their needs.
GMI’s intent is not to recommend a specific tool, but to highlight multiple potential tools. We believe that in the end the ministry
utilizing maps will need to consider which solution provides the right mix of features and is priced appropriately.

Use
This report is not evaluating desktop mapping solutions. There are multiple solutions in that category as well. However, with the
lighting-fast advances in web-based mapping solutions, GMI decided to focus on web-based solutions as the primary metric for
selection. Note that some of these web-based solutions also have desktop products that integrate with the web in helpful ways. It is
also important to note that pricing details and features were extracted in February and ministries should visit the provider’s
websites for the most up-to-date pricing and features.

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Framework of Mapping Options
As you consider the options presented in this report, there is a basic framework that will help in your decision making.
Fundamentally there are three types of online mapping solutions. It is important that you understand the distinctions and define
which category best meets your needs:
- Map Designers: This is the most basic product. These solutions simply allow you to enter data, design your map and then
either print it for physical use or present it online as a static product. These solutions are focused on helping you quickly map
data and share it.
- Map Services: This is the largest category. These solutions provide a robust set of services around mapping and extend those
services out from their own site to yours via custom tools.
- Map Engines: This is a very specialized category. These solutions are designed for organizations that need to host and serve
up significant mapping services of their own and require high levels of customization and flexibility in delivery. These
solutions are usually designed for decision support more than for data presentation.

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Map Designers
Animaps: A tool that allows a user to create a map on top of Google Maps which contains simple animated data. It provides the
ability to show changes in data over time using mobile symbols and pop up features such as images.

Zeemaps: Built using Google Maps, ZeeMaps allows users to create custom interactive maps showing a wide variety of different data
types. It is designed primarily to take spreadsheet data and map it out, providing the greatest number of features to the client while
also requiring minimal effort.

MapChart: A simple product for manual mapping designed to create simple shaded maps. Maps created contain no embedded
data, or interactive components and are designed to be exported to an image.

MapMe: An online design tool for creating maps that include narrative, links and photos. These maps are designed mainly as
marketing tools to communicate stories to an audience.

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 Comparing Map Designers
As you consider the Map Designer options, it is important to note that their purpose is to generate a product that could be used as a
stand-alone resource. These are fundamentally not services that can be interacted with. These products will be the most
inexpensive, but will also have limited extensibility. As you look at this list think about the equivalent of a digital travel map.

US & Data Security of Some data Upload
API Good Custom Base
Name URL Canada Display data publicly Pricing Data via
Available Zoom Symbols map
Geocoding on Map (password) viewable Excel

Google
Animaps http://www.animaps.com
No No No Yes No Yes No
Maps
Free No

$99.95
monthly or
$999.95
annual. 10
users included.
Google
ZeeMaps http://www.zeemaps.com/
Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Maps
Also 3 single Yes
user options
from $34.95
monthly/
$324.95
annual.

Mapchart https://mapchart.net/
No No No No No No No No Free No

3 single user
options
MapMe https://mapme.com/
No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes ranging Unclear
from $25 to
$165 monthly

EasyMapMake https://www.easymapmake Google

Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Free Yes
r r.com/ Maps

Tableau Public http://public.tableau.com

No No Yes Yes Yes No All Yes Free Yes

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Map Services
Mapbox: A tool allowing for the creation of different types of customizable maps. In addition to customizable maps, it is focused on
allowing for development of different mapping solutions through an extensive API.

ScribbleMaps: A simple mapper that allows manually drawn features as well as some uploaded data types to be placed over Google
Maps. It is designed to basically bridge the gap between basic more low-level features and higher-level functionality and provides a
more mid-level approach to online mapping.

Click2Map: A product that provides mapping solutions centered around customization of maps and ease of data collection. Based on
Google maps, Click2Map allows a variety of options to add data and has mobile app for data collection. Mobile functionality is
particularly stressed. This tool also allows the integration of photos onto map points.

Maptive: Mapping tool built on Google Maps offering several customization tools. There is a low barrier to entry and the ability to
show multiple visual relationships between the various points. This tool is particularly focused on directions/traffic/drive time.

BatchGeo: A tool built on top of Google Maps and designed to quickly map spreadsheet data into points. Resulting maps are
designed to mainly show location and feature data along with some simple data analysis tools. There is a stress on map clustering for
further analysis.

iMapBuilder: A basic cloud-based mapping application designed to create interactive maps. It allows non-GIS users to make a wide
variety of customized maps to meet diverse needs. This tool does provide a crowdsourced map feature by using their
Google/Facebook/Twitter logins. This provides basic security to the jointly managed map.

eSpatial: A tool that allows an organization to create professional-looking interactive maps. The maps are mainly designed to show
data analysis and connections. This tool is a more technical choice with more extensive integration (i.e. Salesforce) and data access.

Mapline: Built on Google Maps, Mapline is a mapping tool designed mainly around mapping point data from spreadsheets. It is
designed to be very user-friendly while offering some map customization. They specialize in making custom and branded map pins
for easy recognition of various brands. This tool is oriented towards business location and comparison.

MangoMaps: A mapping tool designed to allow the mapping of multiple types of existing data. It allows users to create different
types of professional looking interactive maps while also being very user-friendly for non-GIS professionals. This tool allows for the
creation of a “maps and data portal” for your users to access maps you have created in the program.

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ArcGIS Online: ArcGIS Online is a higher level online mapping tool allowing the mapping of different types of data sets. With multiple
customization options for maps it is not designed to be quite as user-friendly for non-GIS users. This tool allows quick development
of mobile apps using geographic data.

Tableau Public: A multi-purpose data analysis and visualization tool that includes a robust mapping function. This tool is often used
for creating dashboards of data for decision making. The public version is a helpful online service but is completely public with no
secure functionality.







Comparing Map Services
Service options will begin to provide more depth of functionality. One of the reasons for this is that they are not focused on a
particular end product but in providing you with the ability to manipulate geographical information to produce multiple end
products that can then be interacted with digitally. You will notice that more of these plans have multi-user options and that some
level of data upload is standard. You will also notice that many of these options have an API that allows you to build their services
into your web sites and applications. These sites are also going to be much more robust in their security and in the multiple levels of
access.

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 US & Data Some data
API Good Custom Security of data Upload Data
Name URL Canada Display on publicly Base map Pricing
Available Zoom Symbols (password) via Excel
Geocoding Map viewable
$42 per us er
No, needs
Yes (extra per month,
ArcGIS Online www.a rcgi s .com
cos t)
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
$500 per yea r
to be CSV or
text.
for 5 us ers .
Devel opment Free for l es s
Yes
envi ronment tha n 50,000
(comes
onl y - requi res ma p vi ews a
wi th
a hi gher l evel month. For Need to
Mapbox https ://www.ma pbox.com Yes s ta rter Yes Yes Yes
devel oper
progra mma bl e Yes
extended confi rm
pl a n for
ra ther tha n a functi ona l i ty i t
devel op
pl ug-a nd-pl a y i s $500
ers )
i ntegra ti on monthl y
Si ngl e us er
$14.99 monthl y
or $99.99
https ://www.s cri bbl ema ps .c Googl e a nnua l . For
Scribble Maps om/
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Ma ps mul ti pl e us er
Yes

opti on need to
conta ct the
orga ni za ti on.

Googl e Si ngl e us er
Click2Map http://www.cl i ck2ma p.com/ Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Ma ps $39 monthl y
Yes vi a CSV

5 us er opti on
Googl e
Maptive https ://www.ma pti ve.com/ Uncl ea r Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Ma ps
a t $2500 Yes
a nnua l

Googl e $99 monthl y,

BatchGeo https ://ba tchgeo.com Yes No API Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Ma ps 10 us ers
Yes

$79 s i ngl e a nd
https ://www.i ma pbui l der.ne Googl e
imapbuilder t/
Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Ma ps
$221.20, 5 Yes
us ers
5 us er opti on
a t $2500
Yes . Sync
a nnua l , 20
wi th pre-
eSpatial https ://new.es pa ti a l .com/ Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes us er opti on a t
defi ned CSV
$7500 a nnua l ,
fi l e.
cus tom opti on
a l s o a va i l a bl e
$90 monthl y
for 1 us er but
Mapline https ://ma pl i ne.com Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes ca n a dd more yes
us ers on thi s
pl a n
2 mul ti -us er
Yes , a uto
opti ons a t
MangoMaps https ://ma ngoma p.com No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
$199 a nd $399
s ync wi th
Dropbox
monthl y

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Map Engines
ArcGIS Desktop & Enterprise: A professional level GIS tool designed to do mapping at a high level for governments and institutions.
Through a mix of the desktop and Enterprise, it is designed to host the mapping solution internally and provide maps to internal
audiences via secure connections.

Carto: A highly extensible product designed to allow for the creation of multiple different types of interactive maps. These maps are
designed to allow for further analysis by the user and viewers of the map. The interactivity is designed for online presentation and
the quality of the user experience is high. This tool allows for many layers of data to be present on one map with extensive drill-
down into the data via the map interface.

Tableau Desktop & Server: A multi-purpose data analysis and visualization tool that includes a robust mapping function. This tool is
often used for creating dashboards of data for decision making. The Desktop and Server package allows for secure and customized
mapping to then be served up onto the web. It also allows for automated updating of linked datasets. This would require you to host
the server software yourself and configure it for use.

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 Comparing Map Engines
Products in the engine category are designed for enterprise level use. These would typically be used for organizations that are
deploying geographic support to thousands of people across multiple platforms. The reason we chose to include this category is that
this option provides the highest level of data security and customization of maps.

US & Custo
API Data Some data Upload
Canada Good m Security of data Base
Name URL Availabl Display publicly Pricing Data via
Geocodi Zoom Symbo (password) map
e on Map viewable Excel
ng ls

No, needs
ArcGIS Yes
to be
Enterpris www.arcgis.com (extra Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes $5,000 base price
CSV or

e cost)
text.

Development
Yes, you environment
can auto- only - requires a Requires a bid:
Carto https://carto.com
Yes update Yes Yes Yes higher level Programmable Yes https://carto.com/pricin Yes
data to developer rather g/
maps than a plug-and-
play integration

Yes, all Yes

Tableau has to (Access
https://www.tableau. $840 Desktop, $4,200
Desktop Yes pass Yes Yes Yes No All to Yes
com Server with 10 users
& Server through Mapbox

Desktop as well)

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Key Issues to Consider
Data Types Available: Consideration needs to be given to what types of data the user wishes to display (points vs lines vs polygons,
custom symbols, etc.). The different services offer different levels of data types that can be added to maps.

Data Collection Process: If the user wishes to map pre-existing or data created external to the mapping service, the various options
offer differing levels of automation related to the data collection and upload process. Many of the products we have highlighted
support the upload of Excel or CSV files. However, they mostly require you to use their web interface to do so. This means that if a
user has multiple data sources, collection of data would require multiple steps including aggregation before submission to the
mapping service.

The sites that have some level of API support or enhanced upload features will provide some workarounds for this issue that may
allow you to upload data onto a single location and then have it regularly update the map without extra steps. However, each
product will do this differently. For example, MangoMaps will soon allow you to connect your map to a file on Dropbox. This means
that every time the Dropbox file is updated, the product will update the map. Mapbox is an example of a product with an Uploads
API which can be configured to take data from a website and sync it with the map that is then displayed in the site. Ideally this level
of integration works best at the Map Engine level where you can host the software on your server and serve it up for your needs.

Where the Data is Kept: Almost all of the products we have listed require the user to keep their data on their servers. For this
reason, you will notice that many have monthly or annual payment models as you are buying space as well as capabilities. Most
offer password protected map usage to deal with the privacy concerns you have.

Quality of Design: As you look at these products, you will see a wide variety of design quality in the maps. Obviously the free or very
inexpensive ones don’t offer nearly the quality of design as some of the more robust solutions. However, two of the Designer
solutions do focus on specific graphical features. Take Animaps as an example. While the quality is not as high as some of the others,
it is focused on allowing you to animate various items on the maps. This is done in a fairly simple but effective way. Take a moment
to watch their showcase animation here: http://www.animaps.com/pb/88280001/6820/New_Showcase. Another example of a
product that focuses on design is Mapme. This product allows you to create visually compelling web maps that include photos, links,
and narrative. See an example of one of these here: https://story.mapme.com/united-way-s-disaster-response-in-india/overview.
This same concept is available from ArcGIS Online. With purchase of this service, you can create story maps like this one of 2016
terrorist attacks: http://storymaps.esri.com/stories/2016/terrorist-attacks/.

User Experience: All this work would be wasted if a consumer were to try and use the map only to have a negative user experience.
As you develop, test the mapping solution within your internet with your consumers in mind and strive to make sure that their
experience is a positive one. It is important that your developer do enough testing on multiple platforms to ensure quality service.
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Recommendations
Map Design Investment: Beyond the Out-Of-The-Box tools provided by many of these products, there may be opportunity to design
specific symbols or other mapping features that will increase the quality of what you are able to present. Just as you will be spending
some resources to design the site itself, make sure you are allocating some resources for the design of elements to go into your web
map product.

The Right Developer: Whether a professional, an amateur, or someone in between, choosing the member(s) of an organization to
develop the mapping solution is a very important step in the process. It is critical that you pick a developer who is able to think
through both the integration of an outside mapping product and the workflow necessary to upload new data and have that data
approved and integrated into the mapping product. Developers familiar with API integrations will be able to work with the product’s
technical support to make sure that you are getting the most integration possible while still having appropriate approvals and
security.

Quality of Data: As you develop your solution, GMI recommends that you invest some time in considering how you will manage data
quality. What level of accuracy are you striving to achieve? This will impact who you allow to update data and the level of validation
or checking you do on data to ensure the integrity. This does not have to be a complex or onerous process but it is important to
document it so that you can ensure you are delivering quality data for your consumers to make decisions and connections.

Clarity around Consumer Action: The ministry should spend time clearly defining what action they would like consumers of the map
to take during and after interacting with the data in the web mapping product. The product itself should be chosen to enhance and
facilitate that action. An example might be that a member of a church planting network might want to contact a specific worker in a
specific area to brainstorm collaboration. In that case, it will be important that the attribute data on that worker show up when the
person clicks on the point on the map.

Conclusion
It has been our privilege to provide you with this analysis of the web mapping space. We hope this due diligence provides you with
insight needed to make your decision. Our hope is that your knowledge stewardship efforts might increase the impact of your
ministry and that more people would be exposed to the gospel as they engage with Christians during their studies.

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