Business intelligence consists of tools and technologies to access and analyze enterprise information in a useful way to make better business decisions. Web mapping services like Google Maps provide the ability to generate and use maps on the world wide web. Location intelligence consists of integrating the business intelligence data with location information using sources like aerial maps and geographical information systems. This paper describes a particular approach to implement location intelligence mashup by integrating business intelligence data with Google Maps by using various open source software and Google Maps Application Program Interface (API).

Business intelligence tools provide reporting and analytical capabilities which allow vital organizational information to be presented to business analysts and users in the form of reports in easily understandable formats like tables and charts. Organizational data is usually studied by business analysts in the context of geography and time dimension. A report displaying sales revenue per city per month is one such example. Maps provide visual representation of geographic data. With the developments in web technologies, it has become possible to generate and deliver maps on the world wide web using web mapping services like Google Maps. Google Maps Application Program Interface (API) provides a number of utilities to add content to Google Maps which can be embedded in web pages with JavaScript. Location intelligence is the integration of business intelligence and mapping technologies to represent the geographical dimension in terms of maps with business intelligence content embedded in it. The ability to view and study business intelligence data in terms of visual geographical representation using maps enhances the value of business intelligence. This paper presents a location intelligence Mashup conceived and implemented by the author using various open source web technologies, Google Maps API and MySQL database. This mashup displays the sales revenue per city in India for a fictional retail chain stores company.

Location intelligence is the capability to map information from various data sources onto geographic representations like maps. This is possible in cases where appropriate relationships exist between geographic dimensions and other dimensions of data. The geographic dimensions are plotted using the coordinates which are longitudes and latitudes. Location intelligence through visual representation helps in bringing greater understanding and analysis of complex data which would not be possible when the same data is analyzed as plain query results or reports. This in turn helps organizations to improve performance by streamlining business processes and customer relationships. A wide variety of tools and technologies and the possibilities of integration of these diverse technologies using mashups contribute to the rapid growth and usage of location intelligence.

Information Technology Journal, Location Intelligence Mashup, Open Source Software, Google Maps API, Business Intelligence, Web Mapping Services, Google Maps Application Program Interface, Web Technologies, Mashup Architecture, Data Mashups, JavaServer Pages, Java Database Connectivity, DefaultPieDataset Class, CreatePieChart Method, Business Data.