The advantages and disadvantages of web mapping

The advantages and disadvantages of web mapping

Benefits of Web Maps

Web mapping has a number of advantages over traditional mapping forms.  These include:

Affordability-  Web server hardware and tools for producing web maps are either relatively inexpensive or free.  Products can be distributed and reproduced either at no cost or at very limited expense.

Collaboration- Web maps enable greater collaboration between users. Google Earth is an example of a collaborative tool, allowing various users to share and disseminate information.

Integration- It is possible to integrate other forms of media, such as photos, into web maps.

Real time information-  Web maps can easily deliver timely information and update as new information is available.

Disadvantage of web maps:

Reliability issues – the reliability of the internet and web server infrastructure is not yet good enough. Especially if a web map relies on external, distributed data sources, the original author often cannot guarantee the availability of the information.

* Geodata is expensive – Unlike in the US, where geodata collected by governmental institutions is usually available for free or cheap, geodata is usually very expensive in Europe or other parts of the world.

* Bandwidth issues – Web maps usually need a relatively high bandwidth.

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Limited screen space – Like with other screen based maps, web maps have the problem of limited screen space. This is in particular a problem for mobile web maps and location based services where maps have to be displayed in very small screens with resolutions as low as 100×100 pixels. Hopefully, technological advances will help to overcome these limitations.

* Quality and accuracy issues – Many web maps are of poor quality, both in symbolization, content and data accuracy.

* Complex to develop – Despite the increasing availability of free and commercial tools to create web mapping and web GIS applications, it is still a complex task to create interactive web maps. Many technologies, modules, services and data sources have to be mastered and integrated.

* Immature development tools – Compared to the development of standalone applications with integrated development tools, the development and debugging environments of a conglomerate of different web technologies is still awkward and uncomfortable.

* Copyright issues – Many people are still reluctant to publish geodata, especially in the light that geodata is expensive in some parts of the world. They fear copyright infringements of other people using their data without proper requests for permission.

* Privacy issues – With detailed information available and the combination of distributed data sources, it is possible to find out and combine a lot of private and personal information of individual persons. Properties and estates of individuals are now accessible through high resolution aerial and satellite images throughout the world to anyone.