spotMapper

SpotMapper: developed within the VITALITY project (Spoke 6, WP1) is a Web-Based Tool for Geospatial Analysis of Local Services Distribution

This presents SpotMapper, a novel web-based Geographic Information System (GIS) tool designed to analyze and visualize the spatial distribution of local services in urban environments. The tool integrates Google Places API with OpenStreetMap to provide real-time spatial data analysis capabilities. SpotMapper enables researchers and urban planners to conduct comprehensive geographical surveys by implementing an interactive area-selection mechanism and supporting over 30 service categories.

The application employs a client-side architecture built on JavaScript, utilizing Leaflet.js for spatial operations and visualization. It addresses the growing need for accessible geospatial analysis tools in urban studies, particularly for examining service distribution patterns and accessibility. The tool's distinctive feature lies in its ability to perform rapid spatial queries within user-defined polygonal areas, while offering data export capabilities for further statistical analysis.

Initial testing demonstrates the tool's effectiveness in mapping service clusters and identifying spatial patterns in urban environments. SpotMapper represents a significant contribution to the field of urban geography and planning, offering a user-friendly interface for both academic research and practical urban analysis applications.

Keywords: GIS, spatial analysis, urban planning, web mapping, service distribution, Google Places API, OpenStreetMap

• Search for local services by drawing an area on the map
• Display results on interactive map
• Real-time search
• Filters for over 30 service types
• Export results to CSV format
• Responsive and user-friendly interface

• JavaScript ES6+ with native modules
• Leaflet.js for map management
• Google Places API for location search
• OpenStreetMap for map layers
• HTML5/CSS3 for user interface

To use the application you need:

1. A Google Maps API Key with the following services enabled:
   • Maps JavaScript API
   • Places API
   • Geocoding API

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/grazianoEnzoMarchesani/spotMapper
   cd spotmapper

    

2. Open index.html in your browser to start the application.

1. Enter your Google Maps API Key in the modal that appears when you first open the application.
2. Draw a rectangle on the map to define the area you want to search.
3. Select the types of places you are interested in from the sidebar.
4. View the results on the map and in the list on the sidebar.
5. Download the list of places as a CSV file if needed.

Contributions are welcome! Please fork the repository and submit a pull request for any improvements or bug fixes.

This project is licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0 - see the LICENSE file for details.