The web is full of complicated mapping applications which bristle with menus, checkboxes and dropdown choices. These applications are designed by experts, for experts, and rarely cater to the novice user.
But consumers have become used to devices and applications which are simple and intuitive, and actually fun to use – think of the iPhone, FaceBook and Google Maps.
Dr Pedro Harris, the CIO of the NSW Land and Property Management Authority (LPMA), had a challenge for Ajilon – build a mapping application which was rich and interactive, but which didn’t come with a user manual. The result is the Atlas of New South Wales website.
The starting point was the printed book of the same name, which is shortly to be released by LPMA.
It comprises about 200 pages of information about the state of NSW, from the history of the original Indigenous inhabitants to the early European settlers, to the discovery of gold and the gradual spread of the colony westward.
It’s truly an ambitious undertaking, and Ajilon’s challenge was to bring the printed book to life in a brand new website, complete with a new mapping front-end designed from the ground up.
Ajilon consultant Stephen Lead engaged was to create an immersive and engaging mapping experience which allows the user to explore and learn about NSW interactively. Since the site is aimed at the general public, the user interface was kept simple and elegant, following the design philosophy of “don’t make them think.”
Rather than presenting the user with a complicated list of options, a simple menu choice changes the map contents to match chapters in the book. Clicking on a map feature returns the relevant information in an attractive chart, rather than presenting a table of numbers.
Unlike other mapping applications which require many tools and buttons to navigate the map, all map navigation on the Atlas of NSW is controlled by the user’s mouse in a simple and intuitive manner. Searching for places on the map is similarly easy.
Reception to the Atlas of NSW website has been universally positive, and the application has been hailed as a breath of fresh air, which is aimed at the novice user rather than the experienced professional.
Stephen was recently invited to attend the international Esri Developer Summit in Palm Springs, California, on behalf of Ajilon and LPMA, where he presented the technical background to the Atlas of NSW.
To view Stephen's presentation, click here. Alternatively, click here to view a non-technical podcast which discusses the design inspirations behind the Atlas of NSW.
For further information on the Atlas of NSW website, contact Stephen Lead on +61 2 8236 7095, or email Stephen.Lead@ajilon.com.au