Cross-platform cloud-based map creation

A computer-based system for creating cross-platform maps, comprising:

• one or more processors;
• a first module configured to receive geographic information system datasets encoded in respective source formats, wherein each GIS dataset includes one or more map assets, each map asset describing a feature, characteristic or element of a respective map;
• a second module configured to translate said GIS datasets into a platform independent format, wherein said platform independent format differs from said source formats;
• a third module configured to extract metadata from at least a portion of said one or more map assets;
• a fourth module configured to store said metadata for subsequent access by one or more client platforms, wherein said metadata is stored in a first low latency non-persistent memory and said map assets are stored in a second persistent storage;
• and
• a fifth module configured to provide said translated GIS datasets and their respective map assets in said platform independent format to one or more client platforms,
• wherein said first module, said second module, said third module, said forth module and said fifth module are implemented using the one or more processors.

An article of manufacture including a computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

• receiving geographic information system (GIS) datasets encoded in respective source formats, wherein each GIS dataset includes one or more map assets, each map asset describing a feature, characteristic, or element of a respective map;
• translating said GIS datasets into a platform independent format, wherein said platform independent format differs from said source formats;
• extracting metadata from at least a portion of said one or more map assets;
• storing said metadata for subsequent access by one or more client platforms, wherein said metadata is stored in a first low latency non-persistent memory and said map assets are stored in a second persistent storage;
• and
• providing said translated GIS datasets and their respective map assets in said platform independent format to one or more client platforms,
• wherein said translating, extracting, and providing are performed using one or more processors.