iFactor Consulting Releases the Virtual Earth Connector for Smallworld

Greetings!

iFactor Consulting, one of the fastest growing Smallworld integrators in North America, is pleased to announce the release of the Virtual Earth Connector(tm) for Smallworld. This new product offers your Smallworld users access to the renowned data and imagery of the Microsoft Virtual Earth platform, integrated directly with your existing Smallworld solutions. Once you have installed the product, the Virtual Earth Connector uses web services to access street maps, aerial images, and advanced services such as geocoding and image metadata. There is no data loading or development required to use this product, which builds on the native Spatial Object Manager functionality in Smallworld Core Spatial Technology. The Connector can be installed in any Smallworld-based system in a matter of minutes and delivers better performance and reduced costs compared to acquiring and maintaining this data internally.

Find out more about the Virtual Earth Connector and register for a free trial download on our website.

Virtual Earth Imagery

The Virtual Earth Connector brings detailed, high resolution aerial images from Microsoft's Virtual Earth platform to Smallworld users. This includes access to street maps as well as two different aerial map styles, with data covering 72 countries around the world. Microsoft is regularly releasing terabytes of updates into the platform so the availability of data, resolution of images, and accuracy of this system is constantly improving. Once the Connector is implemented, users can easily toggle on Virtual Earth maps as a background for their daily work. The data is displayed in all Smallworld map views, and is also available for use in plotting and other hard copy outputs. The Virtual Earth Connector supports both the Mercator projection as well as custom application projections, allowing you to see data displayed in any projection available in your application.

How It Works

The short video above introduces you to working with the Virtual Earth Connector. The simple interface requires virtually no training for your users, and can be implemented with no programming.

The Virtual Earth Connector integrates with Smallworld as a new type of Spatial Object Manager and provides toolbars and actions to control the functionality from the user interface. This allows it to provide Virtual Earth Images and functionality in a way that will operate with all existing Smallworld-based applications. The Connector is built using the software as a service model, leveraging Microsoft's Virtual Earth data centers and web services APIs. This allows any Smallworld user with an Internet connection to use these data layers. It also eliminates the need to store and maintain huge volumes of data to support these services within the enterprise.

Using Geocoding

The Connector provides access to geocoding and other services from Virtual Earth. This integration allows the user to enter a query directly in Smallworld and see the resulting locations plotted on the Smallworld map. The user can work with these locations alongside facility data, use them to create trail points, and include them in hardcopy output. Through the power of the Virtual Earth geocoding engine, users have access to advanced address interpretation engines, the best in class rooftop-geocoding database, and a platform that is constantly being enhanced. These are the same capabilities provided to millions of users at maps.live.com.
The geocoding interface returns multiple matches and allows the user to work with them in Smallworld editors and the explorer, so no special training is required. The Virtual Earth Connector also supports reverse geocoding, allowing the user to derive the address for any point.

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How Much Does it Cost?

Use of the Virtual Earth Connector requires the purchase of licenses for the software and Virtual Earth services. These licenses are available on a per transaction or unlimited seat license basis to meet flexible needs. As an authorized reseller of Microsoft Virtual Earth, your iFactor sales representative can provide you with current pricing for these items.

How Do I Get It?

Trial copies of the Virtual Earth Connector are available from iFactor Consulting. Click here to register for a free trial license and software download. In only a few minutes, you can install and configure the Connector in your application to see the results firsthand with your data. For more details on pricing and functionality, contact us at sales@ifactorconsulting.com or call 1-800-631-9839.

Core Spatial Technology is a trademark of GE Energy Management Services Inc. Virtual Earth is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Other names mentioned in this document may be trademarks of their respective owners.