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Services

Axis Maps is custom cartography for the digital age. We are experts in both the traditions of cartography and the innovations of interactive media. Our strong foundation in the principles of design, our experiences working with a wide range of clients, and our insights from the latest cartographic research and user testing allows us to build custom mapping products of the highest quality.

What we do is not about the software we have on our computers. It's about communicating information and the opportunity to turn data into knowledge. By itself, software solves everyones' problems the same way. We know your data and your ideas are as unique as the audience you're trying to target. Everything we build is custom. Each client, each map offers unique possibilities.

Our mapping services we offer can be divided into three separate, but interrelated, parts: assembling map DATA, creating map DESIGNS, and developing map CODE. A project will flow through each part to some degree, depending on a client's needs. Browse the categories below to learn more:

DATA

DESIGN

CODE

Data > Creation

Database design

World Freedom Atlas

Great data is at the heart of any good mapping project. At the beginning of the project, we will carefully consider the current needs of your mapping project as well as your potential needs as your map expands. For example, by putting your data in an external database, you know that your map will be dynamic, changing when you need it to. You can update the content of your map at any time using your own code or we can build an administrative front-end to allow you and / or your users to easily update the database. Geographic databases can store locations as coordinates or using another identifier (address, zip code, Congressional District) that ties them to an existing geography. We have built our databases in MySQL and are happy to adapt to whatever technology you currently have in place.

The World Freedom Atlas loads over 300 variables/indices for each of the 195 (give or take) countries in the world. Though not a huge dataset, it exceeds the size that is efficiently hardcoded or stored/loaded/parsed from a text format such as XML. Therefore, data are stored in a MySQL database and accessed via AMFPHP. This round-trip client-to-server and back operation takes place each time the user selects a new freedom-related variable.

Static data creation

Lakeshore Nature Preserve

Not all interactive maps need to be dynamic and database-driven. If your data isn't going to change frequently, creating static data directly in the application is an affordable option that can also allow for more complex cartographic styling. We can still include your text content in a separate file so you can easily update at anytime.

The Lakeshore Nature Preserve map contains static data imported from shapefiles and digital elevation models, digitized from aerial photos, and in some cases created manually based on hand-drawn sketches.