New searchable map of the university campus to be launched online Jan. 23
Application allows users to search for a building by name, address, department and facility ID; website preview available
A new searchable online campus map will go live Monday, Jan. 23. Campus users may preview the new application at http://campusmap-test.stanford.edu/. From Jan. 23 on, its URL will be the same as that of the existing campus map, http://campus-map.stanford.edu/. The application was developed and implemented by Facilities Operations' maps and records department.
The new campus map is based on Geographic Information System technology and has a direct link to the university's system of record for space. Users can search for a building by its name, address, department name and facility ID (for example, "01-500"). Search results will create a URL that will link users to the building's location. For example, http://campusmap-test.stanford.edu/index.cfm?ID=01-500 will find Memorial Church.
Kristina Seyer Smith, manager of maps and records, said departments will need to update links they previously created on their own websites with new URLs.
Users will be able to search for locations by the 30-character descriptions each is given in the current version of the map. The new map also can be searched by the official names as found in the university's organizational hierarchy, based on assignments made in iSpace—the tool department space coordinators use continuously throughout the year. Generally, space coordinators are staff within the department who are designated to make entries in iSpace.
"Changes to departments in iSpace will be reflected overnight in the new map application," Seyer Smith said. She added that a department can be located as long as at least one room in the building has been properly coded in iSpace.
The new system also will be tied more directly to the maps and records department's routine updates of the base map of campus. Map updates will be published at least quarterly, and the map's sources are based on real-world coordinates. In the future, layers of data can be added that will allow users to click on "visitor parking" or "libraries" and see the facilities highlighted campuswide on the new map, Seyer Smith said.
The new system was a collaborative effort that included staff from Facilities Operations-Maps and Records, staff in the Branner Earth Sciences Library, Information Technology Systems and Services, and the Office of University Communications. Swati Prabhu of Maps and Records worked with Online Mapping Solutions LLC on the application development.
Geographic Information System technology has uses in many industries and research areas to analyze spatial relationships. For more information on GIS, visit the Branner Earth Sciences website at http://gis.stanford.edu/.