Updated: Quick test of Microsoft MapCruncher Beta - results #yam

Microsoft MapCruncher beta is a tool to help create custom layers in Bing Maps. The aim was to easily re-use data generated in a PDF and overlay it onto a Microsoft Bing Map, thereby creating a heatmap layer on top of it. This means the Bing Map could be embedded into a website and users can use standard Bing Map tools to search the map and explore the information more helpfully.

I plotted seven points on the map – London, Glasgow, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Plymouth, Manchester, Leeds and Eastbourne. All were slightly approximated due to the source map being vague. I didn’t plot any other points, e.g. on the coast which I could have worked out due to the shape of the coastline.

Unfortunately as you can see from the resulting map, this has led to a big skew in how the overlay is displayed. Scotland is out of shape and the rest of the UK doesn’t quite map onto the expected shape.

Also the non-map info from the PDF is carried over, e.g. the legend and title, which I guess could be erased. Furthermore, it may be possible to specify a transparent cover.

Hopefully this will improve once out of beta as it will help us digital producer create more helpful maps out of data that is in awkward formats.

Ideally, of course, getting data in raw formats which can then be overlaid onto any map is the best way forward!