Just this past week we received updates  about 2 web services that enable anyone to quickly and easily create a map (think Google mashup), customize it, enhance the cartography, embed and share.

TagetMaps (See @targetmap on Twitter)

Here’s details of a cool, new, open community mashup creation service from TargetMaps – the @TargetMap crew sent us a tip off this week via Twitter. The service enables rapid creation of online map mashups, facilitates simple sharing and community collaboration and even offers a paid for option (nominal fee) for those who want to share data with colleagues but not make it open to the public. The social sharing functionality built in to the service is very useful and options are also provided to grab the code and embed your map or see also related maps from other users. See http://www.targetmap.com

The map below is a mashup showing USA hospital locations along with some tabular data.

USA Hospitals

View more maps

Mapbiquity -  Map creation and sharing fast and easy!

Here’s a tip off about a cool, new web service that enables anyone to easily and quickly create, embed, and share a map. Using the service the user creates an account, then you can upload your own data (like a SHP file) – I grabbed some free, public, open data from the Vancouver OpenData sharing resource – note: the app uses the Google maps API. Once uploaded you simply set the area of interest, assign some cartographic style elements (color, styles etc…) then preview, grab the code, and embed on your website… very cool! Here’s the official announcement from Fort Collins, Colorado based Mapbiquity – see also www.mapbiquity.com or follow them on Twitter @mapbiquity