Chapter 6. Geolocation and web mapping

 

This chapter covers

  • Understanding geospatial data and geolocation services
  • Building web maps using the HTML5 Geolocation API
  • Building and using ASP.NET MVC controllers for JSON data services

The convergence of social media, rich web content, and onboard location services in a mobile device has created a genuine opportunity for developers and businesses that understand the value of “where.” When a user asks “where?” what he or she is really asking can be any or all of the following:

  • Where am I in relation to where I want to go?
  • Where is the person with whom I am communicating, relative to my location?
  • How close am I to the product or service I am interested in?
  • Is there anything of interest to me nearby?
  • When will I arrive, and is there anything that might slow my progress?

6.1. “Where am I?”: A (brief) geographic location primer

6.2. Building a geolocation application

6.3. Using the Geolocation API

6.4. Building a service to find address information

6.5. Summary

6.6. Complete code listings