Looking for data or map services? Look no more... Mapdex (www.mapdex.org) is a global index of 1,781 servers, serving 32,433 map services, containing over 400,000 GIS Layers, covering more than 4,000,000 columns. Taking it one step further, now you can even add a Mapdex toolbar in ArcMap providing you with direct access to the service. By default, the service returns hits based on a geographic search, resulting in servers providing access to DOQQs, aerial photos, and orthophotos.
In typical, simple search form fashion, users of Mapdex provide a search location (eg. Seattle, WA) and specify the type of data requested (eg. DOQQ). Hits are presented in tabular form and provide the server name, address, information, layer name, and even an option to view in Google Earth (view or save kml). In a sample search, I elected to look for servers providing data for Seattle, Washington. Mapdex returned information on 190 data layers contained in 24 servers.
The Webservice allows you to search the Mapdex database for
servers
services
layers
columns
a combination of the above queries
layers showing a given latitude-longitude envelope
For direct access to Mapdex via ArcGIS or ArcMAP check out the MApdex toolbar at http://www.mapdex.org/MapdexToolbar/. The Mapdex toolbar for ArcMap brings the mapdex search to ArcMap. Currently the Toolbar has only been developed and tested for ArcMap 9.1. With the toolbar you can search for GIS layers from ArcIMS mapservices and add them to ArcMap. Note - The Mapdex toolbar requires the Microsoft .NET framework to be installed on your machine. A nice tutorial for download/install is provided... NICE!
Search "Hits" are served up in a simple tabular layout
Data can be previewed in a nice layout frame
Those interested in staying informed about the development of Mapdex can keep tabs on things by visiting the team weblog at http://www.mapdex.org/blog/
Looking for data or map services? Look no more... Mapdex (
