Internet Mapping .. the players

Let's list some of the Internet Mapping options:

Hard core GIS - ArcGIS server

• expensive, tonnes of overhead, administrative hell, need for application server.
• tools for web application generation, customisable components.

GIS and image generation - Mapserver

• reduced GIS functionality.
• free, easy to configure and administer, only need web server.

Interactive maps 1 - Flash/Flex 2

• need to build from the ground up all tools and components, resolution.
• very easy to take vector or bitmap images and create unique interactive maps.

Interactive maps 2 - Zoomify

Proprietary Mapping API's - Yahoo, Google, ESRI arcWeb

• they control/track usage, they own the API and can change it at will, they own the data and can add any elements they wish (eg. advertising).
• quick and easy to build a data populated fully interactive map.

Thematic maps - Flash/Flex2

• Combining Flash swf inside Flex 2 (often best way) can be challenging, map itself need be broken into separate interactive objects which need to be pregenerated.
• With Flex 2 charting these are very powerful ways to convey information.

Multimedia maps - Flash/Flex 2

• Pulling all assets (images, video, audio) together.
• Another powerful way to convey information.