World's Best Map Applications and Resources

General Reference Section

Since the beginning of renaissance, every major scientific invention facilitated the growth of our civilization. Sometimes, if it did not happen, it was because we had other aims. Few decades ago, we were using maps to study history or geography, to map out a policy or strategy, to travel long distances, or simply to know which place existed where. Maps were used in the news channels when there was a major news or a natural catastrophe.

For many people, the globe, besides their country's map, was the most familiar object associated with maps. Then came the  web applications which provided driving directions, displayed on many websites such as Yahoo and MapQuest. It was a major turning point in the history of internet, as more people realized the growing importance of computers and their use in daily life. Google Earth pushed the boundaries further with interactive maps, satellite imagery and street views.

The culmination of this development was the groundbreaking use of GPS systems in mobile devices which could be used to navigate to any destination in real time. Today, probably there is no mobile phone in the USA which is not equipped with some form of a mobile app for maps. In this page we have assembled some of the best resources on maps and navigation. Jayaram V


Map Resources

Google's Maps: The best from Google, better than, perhaps, in its current state, their search engine, better than even Apple's Maps.

Yahoo Maps: Yahoo maps still a valuable and useful resource and enjoys a committed following.

Bing Maps: I have not yet used it personally.; but since it is from Microsoft, you cannot ignore it, especially if you have window based surface or tablet.

National Geographic Maps: If you love National Geographic and grew up with it you will like their detailed and stunning maps. Browse through National Geographic maps online in their print map collection and Atlas Explorer, or explore your world with MapMachine, and enjoy map-based editorial features like EarthPulse.

Terra Server Glossory of Satellite Imagery : Know what is a Daturm or Hyperspectral

Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection: The PCL Map Collection includes more than 250,000 maps, yet less than 20% of the collection is currently online.

MapQuest Find directions for and explore towns and cities worldwide. Display addresses on a map,view nearby businesses, get driving directions and maps, and plan a trip with city information. Also includes aerial photographs of selected areas.

Cornell's Digital Earth - Use this interactive atlas to create maps displaying land, oceans, borders, roads, lakes, rivers, roads, railroads, faults, mines, seismicity, and other geological, geographical, and geophysical data.

The Greatest Paper Map of the United States You’ll Ever See. The best American wall map: David Imus’ “The Essential Geography of the United States of America” - Slate Magazine

How Google Builds Its Maps—and What It Means for the Future of Everything

Expedia Maps - United States road maps by address, and driving directions and maps of the world.

Graphic Maps - Has overview maps of each continent, and country-level maps.

Atlas of the Biosphere - The Atlas of the Biosphere was created as a Masters Thesis project of the University of Wisconsin's Nelson Institute Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment (SAGE). The project goal was to provide information about the environment and human interactions with the environment. Find maps, schematics, and information about human-environment interactions, directed at the education community.

Great Circle Calculator - A useful site for calculating direct line distances between any two points on the globe.

Green Map System - Chart the ecologically significant places in cities around the globe.

Map Machine - Access to political and physical maps and information for anywhere in the world by the National Geographic Society.

Mapblast - Map server with global coverage, including street maps of some countries. Yellow pages and web site links in USA.

Maps Index - Find maps, city plans, route planer, earthquake maps, satellite pictures and historical maps.

Map a Planet - Explore global imagery of the planets and satellites from a variety of missions in an easy to use web interface. Customize and download your own image maps of the Moon, Mars, Venus, and other planets and moons.

National Geographic Map Machine - Dynamic maps in a variety of formats.

Quick Maps of the World - Small GIF maps of the countries of the world.

Rand McNally - Online maps, driving directions, and travel store.

Brain Line : Map the brain and know the brain parts with this interactive application

Map of the world Map of the world and travel information about the world brought to you by Lonely Planet.

Scale Finder - Converts representative fraction scales to linear scales and vice-versa.

1-Source-4 Maps - Reviews of maps related web sites. Includes driving directions, city, road and world maps.

TerraFly - Aerial photography of the United States, searchable by place name or geographic coordinates.

United Nations: Cartographic Section - General country and special issues maps.

World Atlas - A complete atlas of the world featuring several thousand place names and colorful, accurate maps.

Suggestions for Further Reading

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