Government agencies are also moving to make GIS data available on their Web sites. Those with GIS software would be able to download and use these data interactively. Boulder County, Colorado, for instance, uses the Internet as a convenient non-proprietary medium to promote and share its map data with agency users and the public. Online users, like residents of the city of Boulder, can access the county assessor's parcel data, thematic layers, and metadata when they need it. Virginia County's Interactive Mapper provides interactive maps of Virginia counties.
Users select the county, the features to display, and labeling options.
In about 90 seconds or less, the map appears. These maps contain a nice-looking legend, and an index map that allows for zooming in for more detail. In addition to the products from mapping vendors, several information publishers are moving forward with map-enabled Internet applications, laying the foundation for service networks that won't require GIS software or skill to use. GeoSystems of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, has MapQuest, an online mapping service that combines the power of cartography with business data. Developed using Sun Microsystems' object-oriented Java programming language, GeoSystems' Mapplet is an interactive applet with a mapping foundation.