Do any display APIs provide road data?

Question

I am looking for a mapping API (Google Maps-esque), preferably in PHP, which will provide driving instructions between two locations (not necessarily based on the USA), but also provide information about the type of roads used. The information does not have to be very specific - I would be happy to find out if the roads are either urban or motorways / highways. So does anyone have any experience with this kind of thing? Greetings.

Answer 1

Mapping is a unique kind of API. You have several ways in which you can get the data you need. Mapping APIs such as MapPoint (IMHO API only) or Geobase (Telogis) provide a level of abstraction from the actual map data that can be obtained from various providers, such as Navteq or Geographic Data Technologies (TeleAtlas). Both of these manufacturers also offer APIs, but they are many times too low for what many application developers will want to do.

You might want to see something like the Pitney Bowes MapInfo Routing J Server. There is also OGC (Open Geospatial Consortium), which has good information about open datasets and the access of web services to geospatial and street level data.

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Answer 2

. : http://www.bts.gov/publications/north_american_transportation_atlas_data/

Answer 3

, , API Google Maps . :
http://code.google.com/apis/maps/documentation/examples/directions-simple.html

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http://www.bts.gov/publications/north_american_transportation_atlas_data/

Answer 4

The best source for highly detailed free road network data in the United States is the Census Bureau and the TIGER dataset (also described on Wikipedia ).