Geospatial data Acquisition Using the Google Map API

Abstract

Most Korean and overseas major portal sites include map servers to provide map services, and offer open APIs to allow their users to make use of maps or spatial information directly. At the early design stage, geographic spatial data do not tend to require high accuracy, and thus there would be no problem using data which have been obtained and then utilized through map servers provided by portal sites. This study has chosen the shortest route between starting point and destination, using GIS techniques. Moreover, for the chosen route, it also has calculated the elevation for the cross-section, using Google map and GPS measurements. This study aims to create APIs, which can extract vertical profile of routes from the Google Map server, by using JAVA, and to compare centerline profile results obtained by GPS(Global Positioning System) to explore their utilize abilities. The result demonstrated a height error of 0.5 to 1 m, compared to the GPS results, but they were mutually satisfactory. In short, the data extracted in this study are useful for centerline profile drawings in selecting routes, such as streets, Olle roads, and bike lanes.