A new mobile application from IGN: what does it offer more than Google Maps ?

La nouvelle application Cartes IGN offre une multitude de données utiles sur l'ensemble du territoire. Courtesy of IGN

The National Institute of Geographic and Forestry Information is launching IGN Maps, its new mobile application intended to help people discover France differently than from Google Maps, for example. All the richness of the application lies in its agricultural and forestry data as well as its historical maps.

IGN Maps is in fact an update of the old Géoportail application. Its ambition is to make it possible to better discover the territory and its developments, while relying on data from the IGN of course, but also from numerous public partners for everything concerning the region. agriculture or forests, as well as OpenStreetMap for businesses.

Many practical features

The application offers a wide range of cartographic and photographic funds covering a multitude of themes: agriculture, forest, protected areas, natural risks, real estate and town planning, sea and coastline, transport, public and administrative services, etc. It also offers many convenient features, starting with “where am I ?”, which returns the address, coordinates and altitude of the location ;where you are, but also creating and saving landmarks, searching "nearby" and route calculation. In this case, it is possible to choose a route on foot, with all the topographical information highlighted.

On the other hand, the application is very practical for observing the evolution of the territory, by comparing maps or aerial views at different periods. At any time, users of the application can also make a report or contribute to improving IGN data.

This application can be downloaded for free from Google Play (Android) and the App Store (iOS). Compared to an application like Google Maps, IGN Maps stands out for its richness of cartographic funds and its orientation towards exploring the territory.