Ever wish your Demographic Data and Mapping service would integrate with Google Earth?  You spend time analyzing data, creating maps, uploading data (you can upload custom data with Research360) and then you do it all over again in Google Earth.  Stop the madness!  Wouldn’t it be easier if you could just click a button?  You can!  The following 4 screenshots will show you the basics.

To request a live demonstration call 888.848.4436 ext. 4 or click here for our online request form.

First, we create a map in Research 360 and click the “Other Views” button.

Map of Petco Park in San Diego, Themed by Median Household Income ('09) -- CLICK TO EXPAND

Other Views Window

Second, choose between Google Earth; Google Maps; Virtual Earth; or Yahoo! Maps.  You can also specify what data you want to bring over.  You can use standard demographics or view your own data.

Once you click OK, Google Earth (or other option you chose) will open and your data from Research360 will be in there waiting for you.

Google Earth - Displaying a Site, Trade Area, Median Household Income Theme and a simple ZIP Code Flash Report - CLICK TO EXPAND

Now you can manipulate Google Earth to display the data the way you prefer.  From here you can really customize the final output with Google Earth’s editing capabilities.  Change the angle of your view, utilize the 3D Buildings (available in several major cities) or dive right down to a street view.

Unique "Birds Eye View" of your Site and Trade Area - CLICK TO EXPAND

If you are interested in learning more about this feature please contact Geographic Enterprises, 888.848.4436 or request a live demonstration today by clicking here.

Did you know that you can cut the entire United States into ZIP Based Territories of Populations of 250,000 in only minutes?  This is just one simple example of how powerful the Research360 Territory Manager is.

Research360 Territory Manager is a web-based solution for aligning territories to improve the return on sales and service resources. It  works with Strategy Map, is simple to use and is scaled to manage territory hierarchies from the smallest to the largest national salesforces.

For more information: contact Geographic Enterprises @ 888.848.4436 x4

To schedule a live demonstration:  Click Here

Or…Watch this quick 97 second video to learn more.

The 2010 Census is underway but did you know the Census Bureau has been working on it since 2008?  The link below will take you to a timeline so you know what to expect in the  coming months.

Census 2010 Timeline

The final release of the data to the public will likely occur sometime in early 2012.  Research360 can meet your demographic data needs TODAY with the most up to date data in the industry.  Our partnership with Synergos Technologies and their PopStats data is the only source with Quarterly Updates.  Don’t settle for old data in this economy.

Geographic Enterprises | 888.848.4436

GIS or GPS?? Whats the difference?  They both have to do with maps right?  Yes, but its not that simple.  This explanation should help.

Geographic Information System, GIS

Definition:  Geographic Information System or GIS, is a mapping system for capturing, managing, storing and analyzing data and attributes which are spatially referenced to the earth.

Basically, it’s mapping software that you can load a bunch of data and attributes into and visually manipulate and display them to tell a story.  An example would be a map of San Diego showing In-N-Out Burger Locations and Total Households themed by ZIP.  Click here to see the example

Legend has it that the first rudimentary GIS was used by Cro-Magnon man as he drew pictures of his hunting grounds (map) and locations of animal migration routes (attributes).  No really, I’m serious…this improved his hunting efficiency as modern GIS can help you “hunt” for customers.  Please use Research360 for your maps and not cave walls…ok?

Global Positioning System, GPS

Definition:  A satellite navigation system which calculates your position on the earth’s surface with the use of a GPS receiver.  The satellite network is owned and maintained by the US Dept. of Defense and the accuracy of the signal is intentionally degraded for civilian use.

GPS is great tool that many of us use everyday.  The most widely used is vehicle navigation to help us get from one place to another, find a gas station, alternate routes and even display live traffic.  Vehicle navigation is a combination between GPS and GIS since it displays attributes like road networks, points of interest, restaurants, etc.  You’ll also find GPS in some many phones and vehicle recovery systems too.

I know you may be thinking, why isn’t the GPS in my car as accurate as a Stealth Bomber?  Well, I think you may be able to answer that question on your own.  What you may not know is that civilian grade GPS is accurate to about 20 feet (just fine for finding your favorite burger joint) and military grade GPS is accurate to less than a foot.

As you can see GIS and GPS are both very powerful tools that can benefit anyone wanting to be more aware of his/her surroundings.  Whether used for business or personal use GIS and GPS will be a regular part of our everyday life.

Don’t be afraid to ask for directions,

rich@geo-e.com

Working with our partners at Cartifact, we have put together a Free Area Code Reference Map.  Ever since getting Caller ID more than a decade ago, unknown area codes have always sparked the thought “Who and where is that?”  This map and index answer that question in a quick glance.

By the way, if you are not aware of Cartifact, you should be.  They are THE premier provider of cartographic services in North America, true artisans in a trade which is now dominated by software automation for use by the untrained.  Producing large quantities of maps has become really easy. Producing elegant and intuitive maps is still an art and is quite rare these days.

We are offering this map free to promote Research360 and GeoPrinter large format map printing services.  Please let us know what you think.

Stay grounded,

- Kent

How many of us have scribbled directions on a napkin or scrap piece of paper to help us get to a place we aren’t very familiar with. I have – and I am sure you have to. Did you draw any streets on your paper?  Or did you just write turn left here, right there and it’s the 3rd building on the left.  Just scribbling down some directions are just that… directions.  So what would make it a map?

GeoTopic of week: Definition of a map

Maps come in many varieties. Typically in Research360 you will see site, thematic and territory maps. I will cover more on those in a moment.  Based on my professional map drawing experience, yes, I was a cartographer* for AAA, maps require a few items to be called a map.  Remember, these “rules” are not set in stone. To me, if you draw some lines and arrows and it helps me get from point A to point B, I say that qualifies as a map.  Who am I to say what your map MUST have.  The most important and only thing it MUST do is get a message across to the user.  Technically speaking your map will need a title, legend, scale and a north arrow.  Sounds simple enough right?

I am sure you have all created or used a site map, a map representing a location that you are interested in viewing its surroundings.  Let’s say you were opening a coffee shop and you have a site available to you. You create a map with that site but you may want more info. You probably want to make sure you are in a busy area with plenty of people driving by to stop at your location. If this is the case you can add traffic counts to your map. You may also want to make sure there aren’t any Starbucks close by (that is pretty difficult since they seem to be everywhere…they are the cockroach of the retail industry right?…yes, I am a coffee addict.) so locating your competitors and adding them to your map is key.  All this data will help you make a decision based on your surroundings.   As to other data, such as the type of clientele you are after, you will have to create a thematic map.

Thematic maps will allow you to display data that you don’t have as a point or site. Hopefully you know what demographic you client will be. A thematic map will allow you to find those areas that have high densities of your client base. One example of a thematic use the color range “red is hot, blue is not” to show you where your ideal areas are. Now you may be asking, “Why can’t I have all this info on one map?” You can!  It’s very simple to incorporate both maps and can be done in Research360.

To sum it all up, maps need to convey a message. Whether it is directions from your house to your kid’s little league game across town or a thematic site map showing adult population distribution and traffic counts around your soon to be opened coffee shop, your map is a geographical story.

Don’t be afraid to ask for directions,

rich@geo-e

*Cartographer: one who draws maps.

Here at Geographic Enterprises, we talk about how geography as literally being the ‘common ground’ for understanding our world, so we thought this would be an appropriate name for our blog.  We are new at blogging, so please bear with us.  We want to make this beneficial to the community.

Let us know what you think and feel free to share your suggestions and ideas for our blog, our company, and enhancements to any of the products and services we offer.  Thank you for your interest.

Stay grounded,

- Kent