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Mapping Technology Preview
By: Jonathan Dalton,
DaltonsAZHomes.com
Posted: Monday, October 8th, 2007, 8:58 pm MST
Category: General Information
About 10 days I received a call from one of the many Canadians who seem to be visiting my blog these days. Looking for a townhouse, want to escape the snow, etc. And, by the way, I work for a company that develops mapping applications for various MLS systems in the United States.
Interesting stuff, less so only because the Arizona Regional MLS had a contract with iMapp as of the beginning of 2007.
Today we were talking again and he asked what was new on my blog (and shame on him for not reading while he was traveling!) After discussing the NAR rants, I mentioned that FBS just picked up the ARMLS contract and how thrilled we all were.
“I know all about it,” he said. “We provide their mapping technology.”
So now I’m staring at not only a potential condo sale but also some inside information on the mapping system once everything goes live. All of which I’ll be happy to share … well, the mapping information, not the commission. Let’s be reasonable.
Interested in seeing what GeoJet Information Solution’s e-mapping functionality brings to the table? Take a look at the website and the online samples. Ours will be a little different here in the Valley due to different tax data structures but methinks (unofficially) that the basic will be similar.
October 8th, 2007 at 11:36 pm
Jonathan, GeoJet does provide mapping to some of our clients now, but that all ends in a few days on November 1. Our new mapping is based on MapServer and OpenLayers, both open source mapping applications that give us a great deal of control over the mapping we can provide. We now can integrate both locally hosted parcel maps (from Maricopa County) as well as national imagery sources such as Google or Microsoft or GlobeXplorer. This means that we — and the MLS — are not dependent on any source for maps or imagery but rather can use the best source without changing the underlying technology. This is one more example of how advocating and following standards is the only way to develop systems and software. We also now have our own GIS Director in-house, whose sole job is to make sure we’re using the best maps available from all sources.
October 9th, 2007 at 12:19 am
Oh sure … just when I feel like I’ve got a leg up on the others here.
Thanks for the information!
October 9th, 2007 at 8:50 am
I went to the GeoJet site to see what it was all about - could not find a demo that did not require me to call them and schedule a demo / time to listen to their pitch before I could just see what the software did! So un-web2.0!
October 9th, 2007 at 8:58 am
That’s strange, Steven … I had no trouble checking out the mapping on the Honolulu MLS … at least the basics of it.
October 9th, 2007 at 9:48 am
Having that kind of freedom of choice should guarantee the best mapping… for us and for our clients. We have the best and most complete listing database… and the professionals to interpret and back it all up. It a real shame that Zillow and Trulia already have better maps then we do. It’s high time for dazzling maps and rich graphical interfaces.
October 9th, 2007 at 9:51 am
Amen.
October 9th, 2007 at 1:14 pm
OK - I found the right place to click and looked over the GeoJet stuff; the new vendor must be awesome!