Map Providers - Differences between the options

PandDLong · May 07, 2021, 09:37:30 PM

When I setup iMatch I went with Google as it is the one I am most familiar with as a user on the web and smartphone apps.

I can't say I have been overly impressed with the reverse geo-coding nor of the map detail and labelling within the map panel. For the reverse geo-coding there seems to be sparse information outside of major urban centres.
And in all cases, why present several options which are identical or - for major urban centres are actually wrong (close but not quite right).

For those who have tried more than one provider, are there significant differences between them? In terms of data and/or user experience?

Thanks in advance.

Michael

Jingo · May 07, 2021, 11:46:29 PM

I've been a big fan of HERE maps and have been using them as my map provider and reverse geo provider. I find their API sign-up easy and straight forward (unlike Google) and appreciate the clear nature of things. Hope this helps!

jch2103 · May 07, 2021, 11:58:49 PM

HERE is definitely easier to set up. But I tend to default to using Google Maps (mostly from familiarity, I think).

Mario · May 08, 2021, 11:28:48 AM

Are you sure you are using Google for reverse geocoding? (double check under Edit > Preferences > GPS & Maps). Because they have usually very good results.
HERE is focused on automotive and has very good maps for anything resembling a street or way.
If you want to do reverse geo-coding for a rock in the middle of Scotland, probably GeoNames.org is better. Or manual input

Jingo · May 08, 2021, 01:39:32 PM

Forgot to mention: a couple of years back, I added code to the MAP app to allow me to search the "HERE DISCOVER API" which provided me with more location results... This was for LOCATION data within the map not reverse geo... but I found it offered an option for those that didn't want to use Google Places API or perhaps were note getting results when searching. I really enjoy the HERE API's!

Mario · May 08, 2021, 04:32:54 PM

I don't use HERE, only for development and testing. But I have upgraded to a later HERE API version some months ago, which produced better results.
Not sure what your app did differently, though...?

Jingo · May 08, 2021, 05:44:02 PM

The changes I made enabled a new option to use for location searching that uses the HERE Discover API (https://discover.search.hereapi.com/v1/discover) - it provided a more detailed result list when I was testing it. This was over a year ago though and I never did migrate the code back into the latest standard app as the Google API was working for me.

There are lots of HERE API's that I keep meaning to try to get specific data returns just haven't had the time to try them out yet.

Mario · May 08, 2021, 06:10:58 PM

IMatch uses the discover API, I believe.

Jingo · May 09, 2021, 02:18:13 PM

I believe you are still using the geocoder.api.here.com while I had switched to the "places" discover.search.hereapi.com - to be honest.. I'm not sure if it makes any difference now, but back then I do believe I was getting better place results using the specific API. I had added it as a fourth lookup option so one had the ability to switch around.

HERE offers some great API's with easy to understand documentation... 5 thumbs up!

Mario · May 09, 2021, 04:10:25 PM

Depending on the API key provided by the user, IMatch uses either
https://reverse.geocoder.api.here.com/6.2/ or https://reverse.geocoder.ls.hereapi.com/6.2

Only 6% of all reverse geo-code operations in IMatch are performed by HERE.
And less than 3% of the map panel requests.

I wonder if it makes any sense to put more work into this.
Every 3rd party service I add I have to support, keep up with the recent API changes, the differences and issues of these services etc.

Jingo · May 09, 2021, 06:03:38 PM

My changes were only to the map app Location lookup calls - the find.js program. But, I agree... with the majority of folks using Google and with them still offering a decent amount of free API calls, it probably isn't worth your time/effort to keep up too many 3rd party services. Glad your telemetry provides you with this information... hopefully many users have this turned on!

PandDLong · May 11, 2021, 01:11:27 AM

Quote from: Mario on May 08, 2021, 11:28:48 AM
Are you sure you are using Google for reverse geocoding? (double check under Edit > Preferences > GPS & Maps). Because they have usually very good results.
HERE is focused on automotive and has very good maps for anything resembling a street or way.
If you want to do reverse geo-coding for a rock in the middle of Scotland, probably GeoNames.org is better. Or manual input

Yes, I am definitely using Google - it is the only one I have enabled. Maybe I am spending too much photo time off the beaten path... So I do a lot of manual input.

Thanks to everyone - good info. Looks like I will try HERE (although I understand it may become unsupported in the future). Definitely I will try out GeoNames as I seem to have a lot of those in the middle of nowhere photos.

Michael