An interactive map based on OpenStreetMap, but without sending user data to OSM or others, has long been available as a plugin on Dr. AVG available for download. At the request of some website operators, the plugin has been expanded with new options.
introduction
My previous solution offered one configurator, which can be used to generate and download an interactive map plugin for any location. This was possible in a general JavaScript version as well as specifically for WordPress websites.
The new configurator offers more possibilities. This allows multiple locations to be displayed on a map at the same time. In addition, an identifier can be defined for each location, which is displayed above the location marker. In addition, several different maps can be generated, which can be displayed together on one web page (or even on one subpage).
Why not Google Maps?
Very simple: because Google Maps without annoying permission request cannot be used. And even then, the Google Maps plugin is still not legally compliant. Moreover, we do not want to provide Google with more data to become even more dependent.
Why not OpenStreetMap directly?
OpenStreetMap (OSM) is a fairly privacy-friendly solution. I do not assume that the OSM Foundation will process the data received (particularly IP addresses and user agent and referrer information) without permission. But you just don’t know. Anyone embedding maps from OSM on their website must responsibility required, if anyone wants to know more about it. Someone here could be any visitor to a website that uses OSM.
My Map Plugin removes all doubts about data protection, as the plugin does not transmit user data to third parties. The principle is called proxy. Some call it too Server side everything. This principle is not well known and is currently being revived by Google to escape the ever-increasing pressures on data protection for a while (see my article on server-side tracking).
These options exist
In the meantime, some configurators have been made. The latter is listed below. But even the first configurator still has its justification.
Single map with one location
A map with one location can be downloaded via this configurator. There are two versions for this:
- JavaScript plugin to integrate into any website
- WordPress plugin for WordPress websites via a shortcode
An example can be seen here:
The configurator allows you to manually change the map section and set the zoom level appropriately.
Multiple maps, each with a location
This option makes it possible to integrate multiple independent maps, each representing a location, on one and the same website.
If you only want to integrate one map on each subpage of your website, you can just use the previous option instead. Then you have x times a card, each with its own installation files.
However, if several cards are to appear on a subpage at the same time, a slightly different technical solution is required. This solution is available via a special configurator.
I omit the example here, because other cards are integrated below anyway. A separate demo page also shows how multiple maps are integrated on one page.
Technically, the same thing happens with a single card. The difference is that the otherwise overlapping technical objects become unknown from the second card. A so-called index is used for this. The index defines the number of the respective card. All in all, a full-fledged map script is provided and from the second map a slimmed-down version that uses the basic functions of the full-fledged script and only takes care of the configuration of the map.
One or more maps, each with multiple locations
A new feature is the ability to display multiple locations on a map at the same time. It will look like this:
An indication can be given for each location, which is displayed above the location on the map (for example: “Betonwerk Bautzen I”). The map section is automatically calculated so that all locations can be seen at the same time.
The configurator also offers the option to use only one card several independent maps embed on a website or on a subpage of a website.
The configurator either generates a download for the JavaScript plugin (universally usable) or for the WordPress plugin.
This configurator can be used universally. For one location per map, the dedicated map location configurator may (currently) be more appropriate. Because the special configurator allows you to change the map section and zoom level manually. If there are multiple locations, hopefully this won’t be necessary due to the automated system.
Please remember the Privacy text as specified in the configurator.
Conclusion and prospects
A data protection friendly interactive map is available in many forms as a plugin for websites. The map is very suitable for displaying a location or multiple locations. This leaves only very few cases where it seems functionally beneficial to use the Google Maps plugin. The Google plugin can generally not be used legally. In addition, Google plugins always require consent (at least due to Art. 49 GDPR, but usually also for other reasons). Those who have to use permission requests not only annoy their users but also bring legal uncertainties to the website.
The display of a pre-calculated route on a map with multiple locations is possible. mine prototype works. I will provide a configurator for this when the opportunity arises. The situation is similar to a map with the city limits. It will look like this:
Likewise, several cities, each with city limits, and included. For easier visualization, the actual map layer is hidden here. The labels are also created on the map using OSM functions.
A configurator for one WordPress plugin for multiple maps on a website, each map with one location or with several is in progress.
I am grateful for further ideas and suggestions. Contact options at the end of each page on Dr. GDPR.
I would appreciate your support. It increases my motivation and speed to come up with solutions.