Density map based on geographical data

[YorkshireSteve]

Hi all,

On a client's website we have a catalogue request form, which has a postcode field (among others). When visitors submit their request their location is geocoded into latitude/longitude coordinates, with which I hope to produce a map to display visualise where the greatest demand is. This will then be compared with locations of their outlets so we can hopefully get an idea of the areas which the client should focus on selling their services.

I have used Google Maps, but am not sure if this is the best option for this (I don't want to plot individual points, but group them into an area). Does anyone know how this would be best achieved as I think it will result in a very powerful tool (especially if I can just pass it a bunch of coordinates which are then plotted onto a map).

Look forward to hearing how this might be done.

Steve

[whoisgregg]

Google maps is good for this, you just need to be able to "cluster the markers." There are plenty of solutions out there you can play with using those terms to search for them. Good luck. :)

[russkern]

I have Used Microsoft Mappoint for this exact thing in the past and it actually worked very well... This is an offline option however... so if that doesn't matter, you may try the free 30 day demo they have.