EMS : Map Services

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If you need a static map of Australia, use EMS to generate it. The viewport - that is, the exact geographical area returned by your request - is determined based on the area (bounds) that you request, a centrepoint and radius, a centrepoint and zoom level, or the artefacts (geometry) that you want to display on the map, taken in combination with the map resolutions available.

The API offers eight mapping services: four that return a map, and four that return details about a mappable area.

Service Name	Description
Map	Returns map as a binary stream, via a URL, or as base 64 data, based on the bounds implied by <mapData> submitted for inclusion
Map by bounds	Returns map based on bounds
Map by zoom	Returns map based on centre point and zoom
Map by radius	Returns map based on centre point and radius
Viewport by bounds	Returns the viewport that corresponds to an equivalent Map by bounds request
Viewport by zoom	Returns the viewport that corresponds to an equivalent Map by centre request
Viewport by geometry	Returns the viewport that corresponds to an equivalent Map request
Viewport by radius	Returns the viewport that corresponds to an equivalent Map by radius request

The map services can return a map in one of three formats, depending on the request header that you use.

Returned format	Request header
Binary stream	Accept: image/png or Accept: image/gif
JSON with URL Reference	Accept: application/json, image/png or Accept: application/json, image/gif
JSON with base64:	Accept: application/json, image/png Accept-Encoding: base64 or Accept: application/json, image/gif Accept-Encoding: base64

NOTES

The tile coordinate system used by EMS matches that of Google and Bing. In advanced applications, tiles from multiple services may be combined.

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JSON requests return the viewport and the image. Note also that, when developing, a JSON request returns more useful feedback in case of error.

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Owing to the nature of HTTP Accept headers, no default behaviour is guaranteed. If Accept headers are omitted you may or may not obtain a map - and it may or may not be of the type of map that you require.