Stirling, Scotland, 17 January 2018
Scottish Geographic Information Systems (GIS) company thinkWhere is setting its sights on global expansion with the launch of a new cloud-based platform for GIS and geographic data. theMapCloud allows maps, open data and business records to be accessed anytime, and anywhere, through a web-connected computer or mobile device. Using standard web browsers, users can view, retrieve and share maps, geographic data and other open datasets and, as well as providing a platform for GIS and other web applications, theMapCloud can be used for a host of data services and Software as a Service (SaaS) applications.
theMapCloud is initially offered with fully managed datasets from publishers such as Ordnance Survey and OpenStreetMap along with a selection of other open datasets. Designed using the latest cloud and Open Source technologies, the platform provides a truly flexible, secure, scalable, resilient and high performance solution for serving geographic data and applications.
theMapCloud has been developed for organisations that require better access to, and easier sharing of, geographic datasets. At the moment, digital maps and geographic data are held in a wide range of formats and structures across different stakeholders making it difficult to share the information easily. It is therefore an ideal solution for government, local government, infrastructure companies, map publishers and utilities. thinkWhere also offers a range of software applications and services to help organisations successfully migrate to hosted solutions using theMapCloud.
theMapCloud has been developed over the last two years in association with a number of key users in the UK and the USA. It has already been successfully implemented by the Scottish Government to provide access to mapping by around 100 members of the One Scotland Mapping Agreement (OSMA) and other adopters include the British Library, US-based Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT) and the humanitarian NGO, People In Need.
thinkWhere has also utilised theMapCloud for their own ecommerce data store. Called mapTrunk, it is an intuitive web service for purchasing OS MasterMap and is an example of the type of mapping application which can be built upon theMapCloud. The company now also provides the data services for their web GIS products, Location Centre and groundMapper, directly from theMapCloud platform. Looking ahead, the company will continue to enrich the range of geographic and digital map data available on theMapCloud as well as provide an extending range of data, analytics and software services.
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Contacts
Editorial Enquiries – Robert Peel (PR), +44(0)1666 823306, robert@market-it.co.uk
Reader Enquiries – Fiona Thomas, Business Development Manager, +44(0)1786 476060, Fiona.Thomas@thinkwhere.com
Notes to Editors
theMapCloud is a fully-managed cloud-based platform and spatial data infrastructure offering Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) capabilities. The platform adopts a Service-Oriented Architecture, implemented via fully documented, industry standard RESTful API’s. Built with the latest Cloud and Open Source technologies. theMapCloud is highly secure and offers protection via HTTPS encryption and token-based authentication.
The database and GIS technologies sitting beneath the API include Open Source technologies such as PostgreSQL & PostGIS, GeoServer and MapProxy. Hosting is on a cloud infrastructure offered by Amazon Web Services (AWS) and managed by thinkWhere which allows theMapCloud to offer flexible, reliable, scalable and high performance web services and is an established, cost effective solution with options for PAYG.
theMapCloud offers datasets from various publishers as OGC compliant web services (WMS & WMTS). Datasets include GB wide Ordnance Survey commercial and open products such as OS MasterMap and OS Open Map Local, with various styles available for each product. All OS data is managed and updated in line with OS release cycles. Other publishers include OpenStreetMap where the full UK dataset has been re-projected to British National Grid and is available as a data service.
[line]thinkWhere provides an online platform for storing, sharing and using maps and geographic data. Utilising Open Source Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies, thinkWhere has developed cloud-based software applications and tools, backed by a wide range of Open GIS implementation, consultancy and training services.
Originally Forth Valley GIS, the company started in 1993 providing GIS services to Central Regional Council before, following local government reorganisation, developing a shared GIS service for three unitary authorities. In 2007 the company began operating as an arms-length commercial operation and rebranded as thinkWhere in 2007.
Based in the historic city of Stirling, Scotland, with customers across the UK and worldwide, thinkWhere pioneered the development of web-based platforms for collaborative GIS products and services. The company has a 10 year proven track record of delivering solutions at local, regional and national levels in the UK public and commercial sectors. For further information visit www.thinkwhere.com
