Google Maps Layer for ArcGIS JavaScript

This script from the gmaps-utility-gis page on Google Code lets you add Google Maps as a layer in ArcGIS Server JavaScript API. The script can be used to add Google Maps as a reference layer in an application that is built on top of the ArcGIS Server JavaScript API.

The finished map allows users to access Google Maps and Street View and all the other Google Maps map layers alongside the ArcGIS map tiles. The Google Maps API is loaded dynamically when the first Google Map is set to visible. This approach will save API load calls as you do not have to load the API unless you use it. This could be useful now that Google has decided to set free usage limits on the Google Maps API.

You can view a demo of the script action and view the documentation here.

Hat-tip: Street View Funny

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Population Summary Map

Population Summary Map

Mapperz have produced a stunning example of how the new ArcGIS JavaScript Extension for Google Maps can be used to link Google Maps with the huge amounts of data on the ArcServer Geodatabase.

The population summary map allows you to draw a polygon on an area of the United States. What this does is create a 'buffer' line which is sent to ArcServer which then returns the population data for that area to the Google Map. The data is returned as a clickable marker so that you can now view the population data for any block in your chosen area.

The census block data is then processed on the fly to the Google Charts API which generates a 3D pie chart. When you click on the census block polygon a chart is created showing a breakdown of the population by age.

Mapperz makes a big acknowledgement to Andy Gup for creating and making this code available to the GIS community. You can read more about how this map was created at the Mapperz Blog.

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ArcGIS API for Google Maps

The ArcGIS JavaScript Extension for Google Maps allows map developers to extend the Google Maps API to use ArcGIS Server services. With the extension, you can add your own data to a Google Map and embed this map in your own page.

ESRI have a number of examples of what can be achieved using their new API. Examples and reference for the API can be found here. Using the API you can:

• Display your own maps on top of a Google Maps base map.
• Execute a GIS model and display the results in Google Maps.
• Search for features in your GIS data and display the results on Google Maps.
• Find addresses using your own address locator and display the result on Google Maps.
• Display attributes from your GIS data on the map using the Google Chart API.
• Allows others to add GIS functionality from your server as a Google Mapplet.

Drive Time Coverage

The Drive Time Coverage map is an example of a map built using the API. It allows the user to click on the map and visualise areas that are within a 1,2 and 3 minutes drive from that point.

Google Route Profiler

The Google Route Profiler is another example of what can be achieved using the ArcGIS API. This map creates an altitude profile of any route produced by Google Maps' driving instructions.


The Mapperz Blog has a more detailed and knowledgeable write up of the ArcGIS API release.

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