China's geospatial platform introduces 18 specialized datasets

The latest version of the Chinese geospatial platform, released on Earth Day, which fell on Tuesday this year, supplemented various geographic information datasets and integrated mapping services, popular science promotion and natural resources management, geographic officials said.

Map World, also known as the National Platform for Common GeoSpatial Information Services, is a government website provided by the Ministry of Natural Resources to facilitate the open sharing of authorized, standardized and unified geographic data.

The updated Map World has introduced 18 specialized datasets, including national parks, world natural heritages, geological relics and mineral crystals, marking "a transition from a traditional basic geographic information service platform to a comprehensive service platform that integrates functions such as mapping services, popular science promotion and natural resources management," said Zhang Bing, chief planner of the ministry.

"The new version of Map World has elevated its professional geospatial services by integrating geographic information and spatial visualization," said Huang Wei, deputy director of the ministry's National Geomatics Center.

"This enables users to immerse themselves in the digital representation of our national territory, discover the wealth of natural resources in the homeland, explore regional spatial planning, appreciate the beauty of islands and seas, track geological transformations, wander through national parks, engage with the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program, and access real-time global port tide forecasts," Huang said.

He emphasized the importance of Map World in providing information, promoting popular science, and offering entertainment, citing that the national parks module showcases their geographical distribution and provides introductions through pictures and videos.

Since its debut in 2011, Map World has garnered more than 1.24 million registered users, with an average daily service access exceeding 1 billion.

People can access the updated Map World by visiting the website https://www.tianditu.gov.cn.