Esri in Redlands, California offers ArcGIS, a geographic information system.
$100
per year
Bing Maps
Score 7.9 out of 10
N/A
Bing Maps is a geographic information and location intelligence solution, that when integrated as a data visualization dashboard for Microsoft Power BI, Excel, SharePoint and Dynamics software allows organizations to visualize multiple layers of business data on a map, such as sales, current customers and competitors. The ability to view data in this context reveals patterns and relationships, allowing businesses to better understand their opportunities and informs key business decisions at all…
I'm very grateful to be able to use it, and I have a master's degree with a focus in Geospatial Analysis. There can be a bit of a learning curve, and I try to build user-friendly ways for volunteers to see & collect data. Meanwhile, if a colleague is less confident with building such a system, it may be more difficult for them to implement.
Bing Maps gives access to clear background aerial imagery. The imagery and street views are quite up to date which helps quite a bit. There should, however, be more features included on Bing Maps.
Simply because the program deserves it. It seems to me that it is a fundamental tool for the storage, analysis, and interpretation of medium and large-scale phenomena, unmanageable with traditional engineering software. Its versatility in the handling of the different "layers" with which the data is handled and interpolation tools, make this software a powerful ally both for companies and for the educational part of the universities.
Once set up, the tools are extremely easy to use. I had a staff member develop a tool for field data collection, that included an external and internal dashboards to monitor progress in days. The field workers that collected the data, barely knew how to use a computer, and within minutes they could use the application that was configured for them.
ArcGIS' web support is quite good. They also have a broad user base that is active in answering community members' questions. For more sophisticated questions, ArcGIS technical support is good at answering questions, although answers usually are not instantaneously available. I'd also say that ArcGIS is working hard at making its technical support more reachable, at least it appears that way.
My students love the "drop" feature in Google Maps, but besides that it truly doesn't compare. I love that you can add, delete, or change layers to this map to better understand its larger affect. There are many more ways to manipulate maps on ArcGIS than on Google Maps. I can also add personal details and information if I want to create a specific map, something that I am unable to do with Google
Home Depot and Lowes are both in the same category and offer great products and services but each have something a little different the other doesn't offer or have. Likewise, Bing Maps is in the same category as Google Maps but offers a little something slightly different in the features.
