Build-A-Map is a service that allows users to quickly create interactive and visually appealing online maps using a simple point-and-click interface. Simply publish your map after you are done building, then embed it into your website or application.

1. Ease of use
2. No programming skills required
3. Variety of data sources
4. Rich toolset
5. Extensible platform

Build-A-Map is powered by Google Maps. Using an intuitive point-and-click interface, map your own data with variety of mapping tools. Don't have a tool you need? You can create your own. After you are done building you map, publish it to our servers and use it in your website or application.

Click here to create a new account. You need to create an account in order to publish your maps. Once you create an account, we will send you an email with activation instructions.

Yes, but you will only be able to save your maps locally (browser's cache) and not publish them on our servers.

We run our service on Amazon cloud platform and our servers are located in the United States; your maps are securely stored there. You have an option to keep your maps private, or share them with a limited number of people or publically.

Google has recently introduced daily usage limits on Google Maps API. Therefore, we now require you to provide us with your Google Maps API v3 key in order for us to serve your maps from our servers.

Click here for detailed information on Google Maps API usage limits.

Follow these instructions from Google to activate Google Maps API v3 service and obtain your key.

For detailed instructions see Google APIs Console Help.

When you create your new API key (or edit an existing one), it's very important that you enable it to be used by Build-A-Map. On API Access page of the Google Google's API Console, in the Simple API Access section, click on the Edit Allowed Referes link and add *.buildamap.com/* to the list.

You will not be able to publish your maps to our servers. Also, your published maps will not work.

Go to http://buildamap.com, log in with your account, click "My Account" link at the top of the page, then select "Personal Information". Enter your key in the "API Key" field and press "Save Changes" button.

Map is Build-A-Map's unit of work. It contains multiple layers and can either be saved in the local storage or published on the server. Map can be viewed in either edit or view modes (use Edit and View menu bottons). Map can be edited in the edit mode only, while the view mode simulates the map published and rendered on the server (read-only).

Layers are map's building blocks. Each data source added to your map is exposed as a layer. The following layers are supported:
Build-A-Map - Build-A-Map layer is a layer which holds a collection of features. Any feature created with custom Build-A-Map tools (see Tools tab) can be added to this layer.
KML/GeoRSS - KML/GeoRSS layer is used to supports the KML and GeoRSS data formats for displaying geographic information.
Fusion Tables - Fusion Tables layer is used to render data contained in Google Fusion Tables.
Panoramio - You can add photos from Panoramio to your map using Panoramio layer.
Traffic - Google's real-time traffic information can be added to your map where it's supported using Traffic layer.
Bicycle - You can add bicycle information to your map using Bicycle layer. You will see bike paths, suggested bike routes, and other information specific to bicycling usage.
SimpleGeo Places - Use SimpleGeo layer to search for places near a point (either center of the map or specific address) by category and name.
Google Places - Use Google Places layer to search for places near a center of the map by category and name.

You need to create Build-A-Map layer, which allows placing features on your map. Features are created using Build-A-Map tools in Tools tab.

Feature is a map object created by any of the Build-A-Map tools located in the Tools tab.

Bubble - Draw a speech bubble on the map.
Circle - Draw a circle on the map.
Label - Draw a label on the map.
Line - Draw a multi-line on the map.
Marker - Place a marker on the map.
Polygon - Draw a polygon on the map.
Route - Display directions on the map. Three travel modes are supported: driving, bicycling, and walking.
RT Label - Draw a rich text label on the map.
Ruler - Measure and display a distance between two points on the map.

Select existing Build-A-Map layer in the Layers view. Choose a Build-A-Map tool in the Tools tab and click on the map in the desired location. Feature's HOW-TO tip will be displayed at the bottom of the Properties view on the right.

Select a feature in the Features view on the left or by clicking it on the map, then press Delete button at the top menu. Alternatively, you can use a Delete tool in the Tools tab. Select it, then click on the feature you would like to delete on the map.