Contents
TravelTime
What is it?
A location-based search platform that delivers location results by journey time rather than mileage.
What does it help customers do?
Find out which is the best location API reachable within a given time period. The API creates a polygon around where’s reachable within the specified time and filters a website/app’s data points using this shape.
Useful features
- The search area changes depending on the mode of transport (walking, cycling, public transport and car) and time of day of travel
- Display locations in a list by shortest time to longest time (by minutes)
- Calculates estimated cost of the route and CO2 value
- Delivers routing information from A to B when a search result is selected
- Venn diagram – enter 2 or more start locations to identify which area is best for more than one start location
What doesn’t it do?
- Mapping – a 3rd party interface must be used to display the data on a map
- Points of interest – only uses lat/long points given by the developer team or use 3rd party points of interest suppliers
- Search by mileage e.g. where can I get within 5 miles?
Where it’s used
- OpenTable
- VisitBritain
- Countrywide
- Zoopla
GET AN API KEYCitymapper
What is it?
Citymapper is a transport app that delivers routing information from A to B.
What does it help customers do?
- Calculate the time it takes to arrive at a chosen destination
- See walking, cycling, public transport and taxi routes all on one screen
- See a breakdown of how to access the end location with public transport service timing information
Useful features
- Shows the next leaving times for public transport services
- Enables users to select rain safe routes
- Integration with Uber for taxi bookings
- Integration with transport information shows delays and disruptions
What doesn’t it do?
- Search by time or milage e.g. Where can I get to within 30 minutes/5 miles
- Use 3rd party data for location points – this means it can’t be adapted for a website’s unique data points
Where it’s used
- Foursquare
- Timeout
- Dojo
Google places
What is it?
Google’s location-based API delivers a location-based search on apps and websites.
What does it help customers do?
Customers can find location-based information specific to the website/app. Developers can enter their own specific data and create unique Place IDs for each location. This means when a customer searches for a location, all relevant Place IDs are served back.
Useful features
- Detect the user’s current location using GPS for an automatic location search
- Display all relevant locations using map pins
- Once a search result is selected, see how to get there using directions (public transport, car, walking) and the time it takes to get there
- Display locations in a list by shortest distance to longest distance (by miles)
- Google maps already has a huge database of existing locations if the site/app doesn’t need specific Places IDs
What doesn’t it do?
- Search by time e.g. where can I get to within 30 minutes?
- Adjust available Place IDs due to time of day
Where it’s used
- Expedia
- AirBnB
Mapquest
What is it?
A host of APIs that provide different solutions – geocoding, mapping, routing and traffic monitoring.
What does it help customers do?
Radius searching using miles or minutes, visualise locations on a map and see how to get there using directions and traffic.
Useful features
- Generate map images of various sizes
- Can deliver traffic-influenced route information to reflect real time traffic congestion
- Suggests optimal routing for fastest and shortest routes using a range of transports
- Can calculate the estimated fuel usage for a journey by specifying the type of car and driving style
What doesn’t it do?
- Supply their own points of interest – but can generate these using data fields
- Calculate travel time searches using public transport
- Estimate route financial cost and CO2 value
Where it’s used
TomTom
What is it?
Allows websites and apps to use TomTom maps and routing information within a 3rd party site.
What does it help customers do?
Calculate the time it takes to get from A to B using real time traffic data as well as visualising this on a map.
Useful features
- Plan the fastest, shortest and most eco route based on real time traffic and historical traffic
- Routes can be planned that go through specified points so that routes can reach various locations
- Uses maps based on the Navigation Data Standard – an association that looks to constantly update mapping information to deliver accurate maps
- 19 zoom levels on the map to display high quality map tiles
What doesn’t it do?
- Supply their own points of interest – but can generate these using data fields
- Location-based search (miles or minutes)
- Limited transport modes