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GET ON THE MAP
The paper map is increasingly being added to by
its electronic version as seen on the internet (www.multimap.com)
and increasingly the satellite guided mobile Global Positioning
Systems (GPS). These electronic maps use databases provided by the
Ordnance Survey (www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk)
and you can ask the OS to feature your business, if you are a
leisure park etc, in future maps. The base maps have supplementary
information such as location of businesses, services etc extracted
from a worldwide database maintained by Navteq (www.navteq.com).
The supplementary information is referred to as Points of Interest (POI’s)
If you look at a GPS device you will notice
the lack of information about businesses in rural areas, the
database is packed with details provided by large city based
companies. You can remedy this by submitting your own business as a
POI, it will take about four months to work its way through the
system but once on the database you will appear on all locational
devices produced. So overseas visitors using their GPS when
searching for accommodation perhaps or tearoom will see you
highlighted.
To add a POI go to
www.update.navteq.com and follow these steps:
1 Add you contact details
2 Add your location
3 Under product add Internet and Google
(this information is for Navteq research purposes and whilst
needs to be submitted does not affect your POI)
4 Request either a “change” or “missing”
POI – you can add a file attachment such as a small Word file
with picture about your business.
The online map databases use a similar system
for instance
www.multimap.com use a database prepared by
www.ActiveHotels.com (contact
sales@activehotels.com) and
www.streetmap.com can be contacted Through
www.streetmap.biz/contact.srf to appear on their maps.
Databases for GPS systems
You may need to get in touch directly with the
GPS system manufacturers for information on getting on the databases
they use. TomTom, for example, provides this guide to adding new
points of interest that can be accessed by other TomTom users -
www.tomtom.com/support/ce/support/nav_poi.php. Also see
www.garmin.com/,
www.navman.com/ and
www.magellangps.com/en/, for information on how these products
map locations.
Most GPS systems use satellites to triangulate
a location and a destination. It may be worthwhile looking at this
‘GPS Guide for Beginners’ published by GPS manufacturer Garmin for
information on how the systems work -
www.garmin.com/manuals/GPSGuideforBeginners_Manual.pdf
Services such as Way Point operate a worldwide
database of GPS coordinates which enables you to add Way Points to
their database -
www.waypoint.org/
From what I can gather, some GPS manufacturers
use the ordnance survey data when putting together maps and
directions. It may be worthwhile contacting Ordnance Survey for
further information -
www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/
This site provides a list of waypoints that
users of GPS systems around the world have added to. It also
provides a number of articles that may be useful -
www.swopnet.com/waypoints/
This information
is meant as a starting point only. Whilst all reasonable efforts
have been made, the publisher makes no warranties that the
information is accurate and up-to-date and will not be responsible
for any errors or omissions in the information nor any consequences
of any errors or omissions. Professional advice should be sought
where appropriate.
©
Cobweb Information Ltd 2006
www.cobwebinformation.com |
