In the business world, things have changed significantly in recent years. Tasks that might have taken months before can now be completed in days. This reduction in time is mostly due to businesses becoming increasingly virtual, agile, and digital-centric.
One of the latest innovations helping to drive success is digital mapping or mapping software.
Digital mapping software enables users to create dynamic, interactive maps from a variety of data sources. It offers a wide range of features and customization options, making it a great solution for businesses and organizations of all shapes and sizes.
Mapping software is remarkably similar to GIS (Geographic Information System). It can be used to create, manage, analyze, and map all types of data, including geographic data. It takes location-based data and presents it in a visual form. There are times when data alone doesn’t cut it. A visual representation helps you understand what your data is telling you.
Some of the best uses of mapping software include:
Navigation is a common use for mapping software. It can help people find the shortest route between two points or get directions to a specific location. It’s also possible to use mapping software to track the location of vehicles or people in real-time.
City planners use mapping software to create detailed maps of cities and towns, which can then be used for urban planning purposes. It can also help identify locations that are prone to flooding, analyze traffic patterns, and determine the best locations for new buildings.
Mapping software is also useful when it comes to monitoring and managing natural resources, such as oceans, rivers, and forests. Migration patterns of animals can be tracked using digital mapping technology. Areas most at risk of natural disasters can also be easier to identify.
It’s possible to create maps of real estate properties using mapping software. The maps can be used for marketing purposes because they might identify the location of properties for sale or rent and analyze the distribution of properties in a specific area.
The military uses digital mapping in many ways, including creating maps of enemy territory or tracking the location of friendly forces. It’s also possible to use it to analyze the terrain and pinpoint any potential obstacles.
Digital mapping software is very good at creating demographic maps for marketing purposes. Marketers can use mapping software to identify areas with high concentrations of potential customers or analyze the distribution of competitors.
Digital mapping software can be used by healthcare professionals to track infectious diseases across a region, and plant locations for optimal accessibility.
Law enforcement officers can use mapping technology to track crime trends by mapping, visualizing, and analyzing crime incident patterns within a particular jurisdiction. Using census demographics, they can also identify and understand the underlying cause of crime in a certain area.
Most mapping software falls into one of the following four categories.
Mapping software can be used to create an infographic, fantasy maps, historical maps, and more. The tools use a static image or template and make it easy to add statistics, color code areas, write commentary, and draw from a library of imagery and icons.
This category is one of the largest and includes Google Earth, MapMe, Google My Maps, and similar online tools.
The tools use satellite imagery, topography, or other map layers together with features such as pin dropping, data overlaying, boundary drawing, file uploading, and text.
These are similar mapping platforms to those mentioned above but are built to support field teams with data collection tools and a mixed dataset. Key features include communication, ease of use, and mobility.
Desktop GIS is a term used to encompass powerful mapping tools used by companies to maintain asset records, document work, and run analytics.
Nowadays, digital maps are everywhere you might look. Almost everyone has used Google Maps, Apple Maps, or another map app at least once.
Plus, how many of you don’t give a second thought when tracking a package or food delivery on a map?
With the help of digital mapping, businesses, and consumers can navigate what was previously accessible only through paper cartography. Technology continues to evolve, and mapping technology is sure to feature more interactive tools in the future. Almost every business now features in the local digital map of its locality.
With digital mapping technology, you can also customize a digital map of a facility to enhance safety and easy movement.
In future years, mapping software will most likely become even more prevalent in our daily lives. In part, this is thanks to the widespread adoption of smart technology and the IoT.
