Azure Maps is a suite of

cloud-based Cloud computing is "a paradigm for enabling network access to a scalable and elastic pool of shareable physical or virtual resources with self-service provisioning and administration on-demand," according to International Organization for ...

, location-based services provided by

Microsoft Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational corporation and technology company, technology conglomerate headquartered in Redmond, Washington. Founded in 1975, the company became influential in the History of personal computers#The ear ...

as part of the company's Azure platform. The platform provides geospatial and location-based services via REST APIs and

software development kit A software development kit (SDK) is a collection of software development tools in one installable package. They facilitate the creation of applications by having a compiler, debugger and sometimes a software framework. They are normally specific t ...

s (SDKs). The service is typically used to integrate maps or geospatial data into

applications Application may refer to: Mathematics and computing * Application software, computer software designed to help the user to perform specific tasks ** Application layer, an abstraction layer that specifies protocols and interface methods used in a ...

. Azure Maps differs from Microsoft's other enterprise mapping service, Bing Maps, in its pricing model, focus on privacy, and its level of integration into the broader Azure cloud ecosystem.

History

Azure Maps was first introduced in public preview mode under the name "Azure Location Based Services" in 2017, primarily as an

enterprise Enterprise (or the archaic spelling Enterprize) may refer to: Business and economics Brands and enterprises * Enterprise GP Holdings, an energy holding company * Enterprise plc, a UK civil engineering and maintenance company * Enterpris ...

solution. The services was intended to add mapping and location-based functionality onto the existing Azure cloud services suite, seen as a critical part of Microsoft's broader Internet-of-Things (IoT) strategy. The preview version included APIs which could be used to develop location aware apps for use cases such as

logistics Logistics is the part of supply chain management that deals with the efficient forward and reverse flow of goods, services, and related information from the point of origin to the Consumption (economics), point of consumption according to the ...

and

mobility Mobility may refer to: Social sciences and humanities * Economic mobility, ability of individuals or families to improve their economic status * Geographic mobility, the measure of how populations and goods move over time * Mobilities, a conte ...

. In 2018, the software was renamed "Azure Maps," and became generally available to the public, and a number of new functions were added, including route calculation, travel time calculation, and incorporation of

real-time Real-time, realtime, or real time may refer to: Computing * Real-time computing, hardware and software systems subject to a specified time constraint * Real-time clock, a computer clock that keeps track of the current time * Real-time Control Syst ...

traffic data and incident information. Azure Maps was integrated with Azure IoT Central in 2018, which added tracking, monitoring, and

geofencing A geofence is a Virtuality, virtual "perimeter" or "fence" around a given geographic feature. A geofence can be dynamically generated (as in a radius around a point location) or match a predefined set of boundaries (such as school zones or nei ...

capabilities. A set of mobility APIs on were added in 2019, with applications such as use in

public transport Public transport (also known as public transit, mass transit, or simply transit) are forms of transport available to the general public. It typically uses a fixed schedule, route and charges a fixed fare. There is no rigid definition of whic ...

apps and shared bicycle fleet management. “Azure Maps Creator,” which converts private facility floor plans into indoor map data, was also introduced in 2019. Some commentators linked these services to Microsoft's broader development of

augmented reality Augmented reality (AR), also known as mixed reality (MR), is a technology that overlays real-time 3D computer graphics, 3D-rendered computer graphics onto a portion of the real world through a display, such as a handheld device or head-mounted ...

products. In 2020, Azure Maps Visual for Power BI was released, integrating location-based features and mapping capabilities into Microsoft's business intelligence software. An elevation API (which was later retired), geolocation services, and an

iOS Ios, Io or Nio (, ; ; locally Nios, Νιός) is a Greek island in the Cyclades group in the Aegean Sea. Ios is a hilly island with cliffs down to the sea on most sides. It is situated halfway between Naxos and Santorini. It is about long an ...

and Android

were introduced in 2021. In 2022, support for historical weather, air quality, and tropical storm data was made generally available and custom styling for indoor maps was also introduced. In 2023, Azure Maps was certified as

HIPAA The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA or the Kennedy– Kassebaum Act) is a United States Act of Congress enacted by the 104th United States Congress and signed into law by President Bill Clinton on August 21, ...

compliant in a move to target healthcare and health insurance companies.

Functionality

Geocoding

Geocoding is one of the core functionalities of Azure Maps, converting addresses or place names into geographic coordinates. Batch geocoding is used to process large amounts of address data, a function used for route optimization and

spatial analysis Spatial analysis is any of the formal Scientific technique, techniques which study entities using their topological, geometric, or geographic properties, primarily used in Urban design, Urban Design. Spatial analysis includes a variety of techni ...

Reverse geocoding

Reverse geocoding Reverse geocoding is the process of converting a location as described by geographic coordinates (latitude, longitude) to a human-readable address or place name. It is the opposite of forward geocoding (often referred to as address geocoding or ...

derives

human-readable In computing, a human-readable medium or human-readable format is any encoding of data or information that can be naturally read by humans, resulting in human-readable data. It is often encoded as ASCII or Unicode text, rather than as binary da ...

information from geographic coordinates like

longitude Longitude (, ) is a geographic coordinate that specifies the east- west position of a point on the surface of the Earth, or another celestial body. It is an angular measurement, usually expressed in degrees and denoted by the Greek lett ...

and

latitude In geography, latitude is a geographic coordinate system, geographic coordinate that specifies the north-south position of a point on the surface of the Earth or another celestial body. Latitude is given as an angle that ranges from −90° at t ...

, used in navigation and by geographic information systems.

Routing

Azure Maps uses map data and routing algorithms to calculate the shortest or fastest routes between locations based on factors like vehicle size and type, traffic conditions, and distance. Routing also supports multi-modal routing, which include multiple modes of transport in a single trip, including cycling, walking, and ferries. This functionality is used for location-based searches and route optimization in applications like fleet management, proximity marketing, and

emergency service Emergency services and rescue services are organizations that ensure public safety, security, and health by addressing and resolving different emergencies. Some of these agencies exist solely for addressing certain types of emergencies, while oth ...

s as well as logistics and delivery,

urban planning Urban planning (also called city planning in some contexts) is the process of developing and designing land use and the built environment, including air, water, and the infrastructure passing into and out of urban areas, such as transportatio ...

, ride sharing apps, and outdoor activities.

Map visualization

The platform supports map visualizations that can be modified to reflect real-time data (including from IoT sensors) as well as historical data patterns. Visualizations include heat maps, street maps, satellite imagery and other custom data layers. Maps are rendered using raster or vector tiles which reduce the load of displaying large data sets or complex maps. This can be used in various applications in areas like transportation,

smart cities A smart city is an urban area that uses digital technology to collect data and operate services. Data is collected from citizens, devices, buildings, or cameras. Applications include traffic and transportation systems, power plants, utilities ...

, retail and marketing,

public health Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals". Analyzing the de ...

, and

environmental monitoring Environmental monitoring is the processes and activities that are done to characterize and describe the state of the environment. It is used in the preparation of environmental impact assessments, and in many circumstances in which human activit ...

. For example, it can be used for tracking the spread of diseases or measuring the impact of changing climatic patterns.

Geofencing and spatial analytics

Azure Maps supports polygonal geofencing, which enables the definition of custom geographic boundaries. Geofenced areas can be monitored in real-time for events of interest. For example, an application could send an alert when equipment or persons enter or leave a defined area. Tools for analyzing historical geofencing data are also available via the APIs for optimization purposes.

Industry usage

Azure Maps' geofencing function has seen usage in the construction industry, designating hazardous areas for safety purposes and sending alerts if anyone enters the area. Private facility maps are used by construction companies for monitoring large construction sites to increase productivity and prevent accidents or damage. In emergency management,

New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...

based company Beca has used Azure Maps to provide analysis on the impact of earthquakes to users, including information on the severity and location of an earthquake and the impact on affected properties. Alaska's Department of Transportation uses Azure Maps as part of an information system providing weather-related warnings and analytics to road crews. Airmap, an airspace management platform for drones, uses Azure Maps. Azure Maps has also been used in conjunction with Azure Monitor for risk monitoring by an insurance company. Other companies that use or have used Azure Maps include

BMW Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, trading as BMW Group (commonly abbreviated to BMW (), sometimes anglicised as Bavarian Motor Works), is a German multinational manufacturer of vehicles and motorcycles headquartered in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. Th ...

Banco Santander Banco Santander S.A. trading as Santander Group ( , , ), is a Spanish multinational financial services company based in Santander, with operative offices in Madrid. Additionally, Santander maintains a presence in most global financial centres ...

, Jvion,

MV Transportation MV Transportation, Inc., based in Dallas, Texas, is the largest privately owned passenger transportation contracting services firm in the United States. The company can provide paratransit, fixed-route, campus and corporate shuttles, and student ...

, C.H. Robertson, Wise Skulls,

Tata Consultancy Services Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is an Indian Multinational corporation, multinational technology company specializing in information technology services and consulting. Headquartered in Mumbai, it is a part of the Tata Group and operates in 150 ...

, Providence Health and Services, Gas Brasiliano Distribuidora S.A.,

Shell plc Shell plc is a British Multinational corporation, multinational petroleum, oil and natural gas, gas company, headquartered in London, England. Shell is a public limited company with a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and second ...

Persistent Systems Persistent Systems is an Indian multinational technology services company based in Pune. It is primarily engaged in cloud computing, internet of things, endpoint security, big data analytics and software product engineering services. History ...

, Phase 2 Dining and Entertainment, Symbio, HID, Globant, and

Insight Enterprises Insight Enterprises Inc. is an Arizona-based publicly traded global technology company that focuses on business-to-business and information technology (IT) for enterprises. The company is listed on the Fortune 500 and has offices in 19 countries. ...

Partnerships

Azure Maps and TomTom have been partners since 2016, and TomTom provides location data to Azure Maps and can process data from Azure Maps for mapping purposes. In 2021, Azure Maps partnered with

AccuWeather AccuWeather, Inc. is a private-sector American media company that provides commercial weather forecasting services. AccuWeather was founded in 1962 by Joel N. Myers. The company adopted the name 'AccuWeather' in 1971. AccuWeather is headquar ...

to make climatic data available via its APIs, making weather data along all parts of calculated routes available for mobility and logistics purposes. Microsoft has partnered with

Esri Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc., doing business as Esri (), is an American Multinational corporation, multinational geographic information system (GIS) software company headquartered in Redlands, California. It is best known for ...

, the developer of

ArcGIS ArcGIS is a family of client, server and online geographic information system (GIS) software developed and maintained by Esri. ArcGIS was first released in 1982 as ARC/INFO, a command line-based GIS. ARC/INFO was later merged into ArcGIS De ...

, and there is cross-compatibility between Azure and ArcGIS so that data from Azure Maps can be integrated into ArcGIS and vice versa. Azure Maps partnered with

Moovit Moovit () is an Israel-based mobility as a service provider and journey planner app. It is owned by Mobileye and was acquired by Intel in 2020 until Mobileye's IPO in 2022. Moovit uses both crowdsourced and official public transit data to provi ...

in 2019, a startup providing software that interfaces with public transport data. Moovit's database on global public transit networks, including information on which stations and facilities are wheelchair accessible, was linked to Azure Maps. This service was noted for its use increasing accessibility to public transport for the visually impaired by means of voice activated route planning assistance.

NORAD North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD ; , CDAAN), known until March 1981 as the North American Air Defense Command, is a combined organization of the United States and Canada that provides aerospace warning, air sovereignty, and pr ...

has used some Azure Maps functions for their

NORAD Tracks Santa NORAD Tracks Santa, also called NORAD Santa Tracker, is an annual official program in which North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) publishes the tracking of Santa Claus, who leaves the North Pole to travel around the world on his missi ...

website during

Christmas Christmas is an annual festival commemorating Nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a Religion, religious and Culture, cultural celebration among billions of people Observance of Christmas by coun ...

holidays.

Components

REST APIs

Various APIs cover the major functionalities across Azure Maps: * Data registry API * Geolocation API * Render API * Route API * Search API * Spatial API * Time zone API * Traffic API * Weather API

SDKs

Azure Maps SDKs uses MapLibre-style specifications and

open source Open source is source code that is made freely available for possible modification and redistribution. Products include permission to use and view the source code, design documents, or content of the product. The open source model is a decentrali ...

MapLibre GL-based libraries as a rendering engine. The Web SDK is used for developing web apps with maps and location-based data and functionality. It includes a map control module as well as modules with drawing tools. It also supports Azure Maps Creator and various spatial data formats. The platform also includes a set of REST SDKs for developers integrating Azure Maps REST APIs into Python, C#, Java or JavaScript applications. Azure Maps also includes Android and iOS SDKs used for developing applications for Android and Apple devices.

Azure Maps Creator

Azure Maps Creator is a tool for generating custom maps for locations like large office complexes, construction sites, or university campuses. These maps can then be integrated into applications and used with other Azure Maps functions for purposes such as wayfinding and maintenance and security in

building automation Building automation (BAS), also known as building management system (BMS) or building energy management system (BEMS), is the automatic centralized control of a building's HVAC, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), electrical, light ...

contexts.

Azure Maps Visual for Power BI

Azure Maps is integrated with

Microsoft Power BI Microsoft Power BI is an interactive data visualization software product developed by Microsoft with a primary focus on business intelligence (BI). It is part of the Microsoft Power Platform. Power BI is a collection of software services, apps, ...

, a graphical tool for producing data visualizations. Since July 2020, Power BI can be used in conjunction with Azure Maps for developing map-based data visualizations. This functionality entered general availability in May 2023.

References

External links

*https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-maps/ {{Microsoft Microsoft software Microsoft cloud services Web mapping Cloud computing Cloud infrastructure Cloud platforms Web Map Services