Maps assume enterprise role
The most recent version of that application makes it possible to view photo-realistic buildings from cities around the world, view dawn to dusk views with the "sunlight" feature and swoop navigation from outer space to street level. Like other map functions, Google Earth provides an application programming interface and plug-ins. Additional information is available at http://code.google.com/apis/earth, and you can view a video showing some of the features of that function.
Google is not content to display static maps. The map "ecosystem" supports real-time data. Google announced in June 2008 that the company will license Tele Atlas’ mapping technology for another five years. The deal makes it possible for Tele Atlas to gather information from Google users about inaccuracies in maps and make updates to reflect changes. Current maps reduce some of the unnecessary costs incurred, for example, by delays caused by bridge outages that are not reflected in some maps. Accurate maps, therefore, reduce costs for organizations.
As interesting as Google’s current geospatial functions for the enterprise are, Google is not standing still. In two U.S. patent documents—US20070282792 and US20080059205—Google discloses systems and methods to reduce the time required to deploy customized applications of geospatial data. For an enterprise, mapping solutions that take less time to deploy, maintain and tune translate to better decisions and lower costs.
Yet another innovation from Google, disclosed in US20070143345, performs entity display prioritization. Enterprise managers can display important competitive actions reported in an RSS news feed on a map, and the map shows where a competitor is directing its efforts. Information of that type makes it possible for a sales manager to gain competitive intelligence about a competitor. For example, a real estate professional or a site selection consultant can combine Google services to show in real time what’s available and when other companies are looking at a particular property.
In summary: Google has a map and imagery service and an increasingly robust array of enterprise mapping services available to anyone with a browser. Many of them are not well publicized and are, therefore, unknown to enterprise knowledge managers, business analysts and procurement officials.
Google is focusing resources on making sophisticated geospatial modeling services a matter of pointing and clicking. The approach speeds up what has traditionally been a complex, time-consuming process. What’s clear is that Google wants to bring real-time information flows directly into its applications.