Amazon Location Service Specialized2020年〜
A service providing location features including maps, geocoding, route calculation, and geofencing
What It Does
Amazon Location Service is a fully managed service for adding location features to applications. It provides map display, address-to-coordinate conversion (geocoding), route calculation, device location tracking, and geofencing (setting virtual geographic boundaries). It uses reliable map data from providers like Esri and HERE Technologies while employing a privacy-protective design that prevents user location data from being shared externally.
Use Cases
Used for delivery tracking applications, store locators with directions, fleet management (vehicle location tracking), area notifications via geofencing, real estate property map displays, tourism guide apps, and logistics delivery route optimization - essentially any application that leverages location data.
Everyday Analogy
Think of it like a car navigation system. Just as a car nav provides map display, destination search, route guidance, and current location tracking all in one device, Location Service provides these location features as cloud APIs. Plus, it has built-in privacy protection that prevents user behavior data from being sent to the nav manufacturer.
What Is Location Service?
Amazon Location Service is a fully managed service for integrating location features into applications. Traditionally, implementing location features meant using external services like Google Maps Platform or Mapbox, but there were concerns about escalating costs with usage and user location data being shared externally. Location Service processes location data on AWS infrastructure, so data is not shared with external map providers, allowing you to use location features while protecting privacy.
Key Features
Location Service provides five key features. Maps displays interactive maps, Places handles address search and geocoding, Routes calculates paths and travel times from origin to destination, Trackers provides real-time tracking of device locations, and Geofences sets virtual geographic boundaries to detect when devices enter or exit areas. These features can be used independently, letting you select and integrate only the ones your application needs. To learn systematically from basics to advanced topics on the key features, related books (Amazon) are a great resource.
Data Providers and Privacy
Location Service lets you choose from two map data providers: Esri and HERE Technologies. Esri offers high-precision map data and rich geographic information, while HERE is particularly strong in traffic information and route calculation. An important feature is that Location Service does not share user location data with data providers. Location data processing is completed within AWS infrastructure, making it easy to comply with privacy regulations like GDPR and personal data protection laws. Integration with EventBridge also lets you build automated workflows triggered by geofence events.
Things to Watch Out For
- Map data providers (Esri / HERE) differ in map styles and features, so choose the appropriate provider based on your application requirements
- Combining Trackers and Geofences lets you build location-based event-driven workflows, such as automatic notifications when a delivery vehicle enters a specific area
