Java API for Google Maps (or similar) [closed]

Question

I was wondering if there is a Java library that acts as a wrapper for the Google Maps API. What I am interested in is displaying a satellite map of a specific region (lon, lat) on my desktop application. It doesn't have to be Google Maps specifically, any map service would do the trick.

What I need though is a library to work with a desktop client, no javascript, GWT etc.

Any ideas?

Answer 1

If you are just looking to display a satellite map image for a specific latitude longitude (without the google maps panning/zooming etc), then you should check out Google Static Maps.

You just need to build a URL string, then make an HTTP request (from your java implementation) for the image (in whatever format you like). You can specify a whole bunch of parameters in the URL to get the satellite image you are after:

From the URL:

http://maps.google.com/staticmap?center=40,26&zoom=1&size=150x112&maptype=satellite&key=ABQIAAAAgb5KEVTm54vkPcAkU9xOvBR30EG5jFWfUzfYJTWEkWk2p04CHxTGDNV791-cU95kOnweeZ0SsURYSA&format=jpg

EDIT: Ok, I actually deleted this answer because I discovered section 10.8 in the TOS explicitly forbids accessing static maps from outside a browser. But then I discovered this FAQ update which seems to allow it. I might ask a Google person and get the final word.

EDIT: Thanks Paracycle, not sure if that is a new addition to the FAQ, but in any case it is pretty explicit, you are not allowed to do this.

Answer 2

Google maps does not allow for using it's images in desktop applications. Microsoft has a collaboration with USGS at http://terraserver-usa.com/. There is a freely available web service with a WSDL. You can use common Java WSDL binding libraries like Axis or CXF to create java object to access the service.

Also, NASA has the World Wind project which has a Java API. The images are not the Google images but much of the Google images are based off of these images.