Map design software education and training allows you and your employees to design maps and layouts with ease. Map designing software varies in style. Some software works over the Internet while others are used for printed and topography maps. Map designing sets up construction sites, provides directions, maps territories and much more. If your company creates maps you will benefit from map design software education and training.

There are three top makers of map designing software, and map design software education and training is centered around these programs. AutoCAD Map 3D creates 3D maps for topographical use, printed use or online use. MicroMAPS is a fully interactive map designing software for use only on the Internet. SmartDraw creates maps and graphs for printed and Internet use, but does not use 3D software for topographical maps.

1. Learn to use AutoCAD Software, a leading map designing software program.

2. Make software design maps for you with MicroMAPS.

3. Try out SmartDraw, a free map design software download.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Train in AutoCAD Software, a design map software program

AutoCAD Map 3D is a leading map designing software for creating and managing maps. AutoCAD Map 3D works with 3D printers to create 3D maps for its users. AutoCAD Map 3D functions with many different operating systems and has a wide range of training options available.

I recommend: Learn about AutoCAD Map 3D at MasterGraphics. Avatech Solutions offers training for the AutoCAD map design program. Visit the Seiler Instrument Company for AutoCAD Map Design Software training courses.

Learn to make software design maps with MicroMAPS

MicroMAPS is an online Map designing software that allows you to create interactive online maps. MicroMAPS is designed to work with the Internet and is not meant to create printed maps. MicroMAPS allows you to make road maps as well as indoor layouts.

I recommend: Find training and troubleshooting help for MicroMAPS, a maps design software, at the official MicroMAPS website. Read the Introduction to Linked MicroMAPS to learn about linking and working with this software.

Download SmartDraw, a free map design software download

SmartDraw is a free map making software download that is available as a free trial. SmartDraw offers a variety of templates to use and provides a vast amount of tutorials for new users. SmartDraw also includes online tutorials for companies that use their products.

I recommend: Visit SmartDraw.com for information about training and certification in their map design programs. Review the online courses available for SmartDraw at Training-Classes.com.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Many map design software programs are available for a free trial. This allows you to tryout the software and see if it works for your business before you buy the software and training materials.

Map design software can cost hundreds of dollars if you buy one on the retail market. Add the cost of yearly upgrades and you’re talking about a sizable investment. However, you may be able to find just what you need through free map designing software programs and tools.

Use free map design software to:

1. Edit existing road maps to meet your specific needs.
2. Create plat maps for new real estate developments.
3. Generate aerial maps of towns, subdivisions and individual streets.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Share a map design program

Download free map making software and tools from shareware sites.

I recommend: MapCruzin keeps up-to-date information on free programs and map services, including web map clients and web applications. Don’t forget Open Source software like the Quantum GIS program that runs on Linux, Unix, Mac OSX and Windows operating systems.

Take a trial run of software to design maps

Download trial versions. Some companies that design map software allow access to a full program for a limited amount of time. Others offer limited features, but let you use the software indefinitely.

I recommend: SmartDraw and Microsoft’s MapPoint offer free map making software as trial downloads. Use MapPoint for 60 days, which is twice as long as many programs allow. Another trial version of a map program geared to the real estate industry is Maptitude. MapMaker Gratis is a free version of Map Maker Pro with limited export format options and no templates, grids or 3D functions. The professional version, Map Maker Pro, is available for purchase or free to not-for-profit organizations.

Try satellite mapping software

For aerial maps, design software based on satellite views allows you to use arrow keys and your mouse to pinpoint locations. You can also use search terms to focus on specific areas.

I recommend: NASA started it all when they made their World Wind software a free download. Users zoom in from NASA’s Landsat satellite to see any location on Earth. Google has made the process even simpler with Google Earth, which allows you to create content overlays as KML files.

Locate GPS and GIS websites

Check Global Positioning System (GPS) and Geography Information System (GIS) websites for free map design software. GIS programs capture geographical information to allow you to create density maps and also plot how certain decisions will affect locations.

I recommend: Check the Guide to Geographic Information Systems for the latest in GIS software and data. GPS Utility allows you to plot GPS information and add labels to a map. With both freeware and shareware versions, you can transfer information from a GPS receiver to your computer.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you own real estate appraisal software, map design may already be at your fingertips with tools for making plat maps, street maps, aerial maps and flood maps.
• •  Consider purchasing the full version of a mapping program if you're satisfied with the trial version.

Creating and studying maps can be a highly educational and entertaining activity. Cartographers have been making maps manually but the advent of map designing software has revolutionized the map-making process.

Software systems, such as GIS and CAD/CAM, have made the process of designing and making a map fast and accurate. Satellite imagery is another technological advancement that continues to help in the process of making high-precision maps.

Read on to understand map designing software key terms, such as CAD, cartography, GIS and digital mapping.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

CAD (Computer Aided Design)

Computer aided design has many uses - one of which is map making and designing. CAD software uses computer technology to design and draft real and virtual objects to produce accurate maps.

I recommend: To understand more about CAD, read through information at A Digital Dreamer, an online information resource for graphic designers. You can also find useful information at Best Price Computers, a manufacturer of computers.

Cartography

Cartography is the art and science of creating and studying maps. Originally, cartographers made maps manually, but now they use map design software for advanced features and technology.

I recommend: You can learn more about cartography from Net Industries.

GIS (Geographic Information Systems)

Most modern map designing software works on GIS (or Geographic Information Systems). This system consists of tools that help in acquiring data for creating maps and reports; analyzing maps; designing maps and getting the requisite geographic information.

I recommend: At GIS.com, a comprehensive resource on GIS systems, you can learn more about GIS and their applications.

Digital mapping

Digital mapping is the process of making two-dimensional maps of the real world. It includes gathering data through satellite images to create, analyze and summarize maps.

I recommend: For a better understanding of digital mapping and applications, read through the information at Express Computer, an online magazine for technology professionals.

Vector maps

Vector maps are created based on a combination of points, lines, and polygons, which are designated by x and y coordinates. Most GIS systems use vector data for geographical representation.

I recommend: Map Resources, a complete resource for map design software, offers detailed information about vector maps.

GPS (Global Positioning System)

GPS is a space navigation system that indicates geographical position - position on the ground - and aids in navigation to other positions using satellite imagery and information. GPS mapping software is of great use in creating customized maps.

I recommend: To understand basic aspects about GPS and its applications, you can browse through Global Positioning System, a website run by the National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Coordination Office.

Map design software is a great tool to be utilized by all sorts of businesses. Whether you are a doctor’s office, in the real estate field, have a home based business or more, creating a detailed map that informs customers where to go and where you are located is important. There are many different map design programs on the market that offer everything from simple designs to complex applications.

Take the time to learn how to use a map design program so that you can incorporate it into your business. Here are some helpful resources to get you started. Think of your tutorial as "map design software for beginners."

1. Locate free map design software and create maps that suit your business needs.

2. Find a map design program that has additional features and applications for businesses that need to create maps on a regular basis.

3. Locate map design software seminars, tutorials or demos so that you can interface with the application.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find free map making software that allows you to create maps for your business

When it comes to software map design, not everyone needs the Cadillac of software programs for their operation. Many small businesses just need to create a map page for their websites or promotional materials that provides some simple directions or gives the location. Look for free map making software that your company is legally allowed to download and utilize. This will save you the expense of buying a whole program for just a few uses.

I recommend: Visit the website for Software Informer. It lists a multitude of map designing software. Look for the ones that are marked "freeware." You may then download those programs for free directly from the Software Informer website. Map Cruzin is another great resource for lists and downloads of map design software.

Locate enhanced map designing software

If your business happens to be one that requires a lot of maps to be made on a regular basis (think real estate or design firm) then it is worth it to invest in a program with a few more bells and whistles. Common additions to the software will be things like incorporating 'flash' or 3D graphics for a design. Browse through some of the more advanced map design applications to see what fits your business needs.

I recommend: Go to the website for Smart Draw. It offers several different map making software products for sale. Also check out the website for iMapBuilder. This program allows the user to build interactive maps using components such as flash to enhance the map design.

Find map design software seminars to learn how to use the software for your business

Many maps design software companies provide tutorials, seminars or training of their software to a potential client. This allows the client to become familiar with a mapping software design at a quicker pace. The map design software company will often help install and integrate the software to a network of computers that will all be working together.

I recommend: The company ESRI offers yearly conferences as well as webinars and training for people and companies who utilize their software. Also the Microsoft application Map Point allows users to download a tutorial, test drive the software in the browser or get additional information from Microsoft support.